Keep my BMW 335i coupe or sell for the new BRZ/FRS?
 

Hey guys
I have an 09 335i with relatively low mileage.
Its fully loaded and plenty of fun, but I've never been able to hold onto a car for too long and the BRZ/FRS just sounds like a lot of fun. I've been looking into numerous options, and I thought I would entertain the idea of getting a subie.

I'm sure it would be a whole new kind of experience seeing that these cars are much slower, but it seems like it will be a different kind of exciting. There just seems to be so much hype about the engineering behind the car? I've also heard there will be very limited numbers produced which is another bonus.

I don't know too much about this new car so any pointers on the pros and cons or anything else worth knowing would be nice.

What would you guys do in this situation?

:thumbup:

if you have money to burn, why not get the FRS/BRZ as your 2nd/weekend car.

Unless I have extra $$$ for maintenance on the BMW when it is out of warranty, I would sell it/trade it in before it is out of warranty. Just depends on your finances and if you can swing the BRZ/FRS. But BMW cars are expensive to fix if something happens.

+1 this is so true. My family has gone german for our past few cars and our BMWs have always been the worst. I no longer want a BMW or German car for that matter until I can afford the work after the warranty expires.

Get a FRS and start autocrossing. You won't miss the 335i.

i have a 335i as well. i plan to keep it as a nice DD and make the brz more track oriented rather than modding the 335. mods should be waay cheaper on the brz as well.

Drive it and compare the enjoyment to the E92 and go from there. Low-rpm torque and overall weight are very different... it will be interesting to hear your comparison!

Unless your about to cross into 40K miles ... stay with the 335i
a bit longer till you see RELEASE series 1.0 ... its got to come
with some sort of body kit if NOT the TRD one ... and it may even
get the HID lights (before they start selling those as an added option)

sell that computerized euro trash and cop some of that Japanese reliability.

Why would you step down instead of stepping up? Keep

Total cost of ownership is higher on european vehicles ...
I am learning this first hand the hard way... I am for sure
going with a different car ((subaru brz)) before my car hits
38000 miles.

lol. a BMW is anything but a step up, IMO. software problems, window motor gltiches....if that's "stepping up" i'll pass. if you lease cars to change em' out like people change clothes BMW is the way to go. otherwise have fun paying out the nose in post warranty expenses. flame on. :happy0180:

You are entitled to have your opinion and so am I.

that's what forums are all about, buddy. :happy0180:

335i is a car with zero personality. It is a highway cruiser. Put your foot down, go forward really fast. Just a car that doesn't appeal to me at all.

None of us have driven an FRS yet, but it's going to be a much more involving experience. It will be more sensitive to driver inputs, you will feel the road and what's going on, and I think it will bring you into the experience of driving and having fun while driving much more.

Of course maintenance costs and the worry free ownership experience is just the icing on the cake.

Stepping down based on what, brand snobbery? BMW lost the plot years ago as pure drivers cars. The 335i is a nice insulated GT, but if the OP wants something legit involving, then he'd be stepping up in terms of driver/machine oneness.

If you need to buy a recent BMW that's interesting to drive, you need a facelifted 1st-gen Z4, E46 ZHP, Z4//M Coupe. I haven't driven a 1/M, but if it resembles the feeling of a 135i, it'd be a mess.

Brand snobbery, "I know it all what car is fun to drive" snobbery, what's the difference?

E90 owner here, interested in both models but more BRZ due to standard HIDs.

Sadly this is true. They just don't make them like they used to, and with "ultimate service" (aka extended intervals) many are neglected. Often I see E46's leather interiors that are more worn and tattered than an E30 some twenty years older!

Having said that, I don't see it as a move down -- perhaps just in a different direction. Neither is better or worse, just fills a different space.

The FRS/BRZ is slower, gets about the same mileage, has less space, uses crappier materials, and has less options.

I'd definitely get the FRS!

You sir should get a FORD mustang 5.0 and be on your merry way.
:thanks:

It's a preference thing but personally I would go for the 86. I autocrossed an E90 for a season and I just couldn't stand how it felt compared to my other options at the time (stock MR-2 and STS prepped 240SX). The BMW felt too big and numb for my liking. Consider the other factors mentioned like repair costs and I think the 86 is a reasonable choice but definitely give it a test drive if/when possible and see how you feel about it.

I really like my e92 and that it has a bit more power than the 86 - so ill probably we keeping it for a bit and seeing if they sneak a FI version out - or what cosworth come up with

I'd keep the 335i for a while. The Zx6 is a nice car for the car enthusiasts, but, having seen it and tried it, it is a bad car if you want a in general nice car. The car feels very cheap, though it is not that cheap at 30.000 €. If you go to track, do races, then yes get it, if you still need comfort, and gadgets, good interior quality, keep the 335i. Till then you may think about an some other new BMW like the 2 Series.

sell sell sell!

You comparing a $50k car to a $25k car. You're likely to be disappointed when you step down.

Brett

I'm a little surprised at how many people complain that German cars are that expensive to maintain. My current car (2004 C320) has over 125k clocked on it and I do all my work on it myself. Only had minor issues so far (alternator just went out) and all have been inexpensive to fix.

German cars, like any car are not that expensive if YOU DO THE WORK YOURSELF. Dont complain if you take it to the dealer as dealer service is expensive anywhere.

Looking at the FRS/BRZ purely by what's on paper misses the point of this car. It is supposed to be fun to drive. I would agree with you if the car drove like the others you've listed but from all the reviews so far it's a fantastic car to drive. Base purchasing purely on price I would actually buy a used Boxster/Cayman than any you've listed.

When you consider that the BMW 335i weights 3607 lbs and has 300 HP compared to the FRS/BRZ weights between 2600-2700 lbs and has 200 HP, you're talking about a 1-1.5 HP to weight ratio difference. While you will probably be able to feel the difference, that could be made up in weight reduction and performance parts.

I sat in the BRZ for the first time last night and it was such an impressive feel. They really did an outstanding job of designing/developing the car for the driver. Doubt you would be disappointed.

If its that old, I think upgrading to the frs/brz will be really worth it. Just use it as a weekend car like others have said

*le sigh*

Leave Ford alone god damnit.


@OP, keep the 335i as a DD and turn the FRS into a track rat. Get the base model FRS and do what you want to it for the track, keep the 335i as a fun/comfortable daily driver... but your warranty should be ending either this year next year or the year after if your car sat on the lot before you bought it, so unless you've got CPO/extended maint you'll take a serious shot to the wallet if you aren't doing the work yourself.

I take it, from this assertion, that you've driven a 335i in anger?


There are some things that you don't want to do yourself on a BMW. Like service the VANOS. I could do it, but for the love of God do I not want to.

Fancy valvetrain=costly repair.


I <3 pushrods.

If this is your criteria you will be very disappointed with the FRS over the 335i. If you care about throttle response, steering feel, turn in, handling, or whether your car comes with an LSD or not, the picture changes.

Keep the beemer, buy a FRS if you can afford it but I don't suggest sell it for the FRS....I have a "06 330i and sure as hell I won't sell it for this car.....don't get me wrong, the FRS might be "pure" in term of driving, but it can't be compare to BMW.....it's like apple to orange....it's your car, dont let anyone says otherwise.

335i a highway cruiser? You obviously have never driven a 3 series

I have? Anyways, it's a well balanced car and all that, but come on. It's a quiet, refined, soft, un-involving, vague steering, people mover. The 3 series has turned into an appliance with no character. Put your foot down and you go fast, hit a corner and you'll be wishing for steering feedback, cursing understeer, and wondering why BMW is too cheap to put a LSD on a 40 grand car.

Eh? But it does do exactly that. I am not sure of the full spec of the one I was in, apart from it having an autobox, but it can chew up highway miles effortlessly.

Can it do other things? Yes. That is why it is such an excellent all-rounder executive saloon/coupe.

Stay with the BWM