[PrazVT]

Hey guys - could use some objective inputs

So the last 41k miles I've been driving my perfectly spec'd out, custom ordered '15 228i:
- M Sport
- 6MT
- Track Handling
- Premium + Tech Packages
- H/K
- Black w/ Red Leather
- Dealer installed Dinantronics Stage 1 (311hp / 328ft-lb)

Awesome, fun car (even if I'm sitting in SF Bay area traffic alot of the time).

One thing that's bugged me about MY car is the number of interior squeaks and rattles that have developed. Compared to my previous F30 328i, my dad's '17 X1 M Sport, or even my mom's '15 MDX, this car is noticeably noisier inside. I haven't seen any complaints about this from anyone else, so I hope this is atypical? The dealer has quelled the noises for the most part, but if I don't have the music turned up I can hear the buzzing / rattling around me and it can get annoying to me.

Outside of that, the car is slowly approaching the end of warranty and I usually change cars by then (and also to salvage selling / trade-in value for my next car).

So I'm trying to decide whether to keep the car (and buy extended warranty) or get something else. I'm planning on paying off the last $13k any day now.

Alternatives in the same league or better (in terms of luxury, sport, etc.) are few in my eyes right now.

- BMW M240i 6MT; marginal upgrade? More weight in the front? Is it weird to go from a 228i to a M240i?

- BMW M2; bit of a budget stretch and I'm guessing it's hard to get one below MSRP?

- 2018 Audi A4 (6MT, Sport Plus pkg, Tech pkg); more space, little more comfort, good handling from what I've read; it's not RWD but at least it's AWD.


Aaand that's about it in terms of cars I actually desire and can afford (let's say $50k max +/-). I'm not really a muscle car guy so Mustang / Camaro aren't really my thing.

Am I being crazy? I got out of my car when I got to work this morning and was just admiring it...which makes me kind of doubt why I'm considering getting something else.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Maybe logic will win over the emotional aspect of it lol.

Thanks.

Praz

[morphomeman]

You are not at a great spot on the value curve in terms of trading it in or selling it. From now on, the depreciation per model year will flatten out considerably. So if you can force yourself to wait a bit, you may be able to stretch for that M2. By that time, some of the luster may have worn off that model, so you may be able to get a better price as well.
One note: if you like the car, don't go any bigger. A4 is about as big as I would go.

[PrazVT]

Originally Posted by morphomeman

You are not at a great spot on the value curve in terms of trading it in or selling it. From now on, the depreciation per model year will flatten out considerably. So if you can force yourself to wait a bit, you may be able to stretch for that M2. By that time, some of the luster may have worn off that model, so you may be able to get a better price as well.
One note: if you like the car, don't go any bigger. A4 is about as big as I would go.

That is a good point. I noticed when estimating the KBB value, that from 40k - 50k miles, the value didn't change too much. Right now my plan is to drive my car less (ie take the X1 or MDX most of the time) and wait and see. I like your idea of just waiting for a while.

I agree the A4 is about as big as I'd go too. Thanks for the advice!

[BEM-S4]

Along with the waiting strategy for $ purposes, it sounds like either a 230 or 240 gran coupe would be right up your alley. Little more practical, should be gorgeous by all credible estimates, and even if you go xDrive it will be rear biased. A4 I have no idea I haven't looked at one in quite a while but check and see what variant of Quattro, Haldex, FWD masquerading as performance AWD bullshit they put in it. It could be good or it could be bad, I honestly have no idea.

If you are looking at the A4 I would also look at a C300 as well. I am not 100% sure but at least the C450 (now C43) had a rear-biased AWD setup that was performance oriented.

[Stones1970]

A4 has a nice chassis but the steering is very light (in all settings) and numb, making the car feel even bigger around you than it is. Try it; a lot of people seem to love the car. Also as a fellow Bay Area resident, I just will not get AWD when I don't need it. I have a feeling that in 20 years, it'll be almost impossible to buy an RWD anything. Enjoy it while you can.

[aozer]

i went from 228i to m235i. no regrets here, but my 228i was completely stock. modded 228i to m235i/m240i might not seem like as much of an upgrade.

also, my 228i was totaled and i got full msrp back from insurance so i didnt have to take a financial hit. if i was putting down money out of my pocket the switch probably wouldnt be worth it.

[PrazVT]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

Along with the waiting strategy for $ purposes, it sounds like either a 230 or 240 gran coupe would be right up your alley. Little more practical, should be gorgeous by all credible estimates, and even if you go xDrive it will be rear biased. A4 I have no idea I haven't looked at one in quite a while but check and see what variant of Quattro, Haldex, FWD masquerading as performance AWD bullshit they put in it. It could be good or it could be bad, I honestly have no idea.

If you are looking at the A4 I would also look at a C300 as well. I am not 100% sure but at least the C450 (now C43) had a rear-biased AWD setup that was performance oriented.

My requirement (as of today) is that the car has a 6 speed manual. The only other car I can think of as a possibility is the Golf R, but I need to understand how the AWD system works. Initial reviews I've read about the new A4 seem to be positive. I think Magna(?) is supplying the new Quattro Ultra system. May need to actually drive the car once. Two of my cousins have the previous gen A4 (one sport w/ the 19in wheels and one regular) so I may drive them and see how they feel (ie. do they feel FWD or no).

[PrazVT]

Originally Posted by Stones1970

A4 has a nice chassis but the steering is very light (in all settings) and numb, making the car feel even bigger around you than it is. Try it; a lot of people seem to love the car. Also as a fellow Bay Area resident, I just will not get AWD when I don't need it. I have a feeling that in 20 years, it'll be almost impossible to buy an RWD anything. Enjoy it while you can.

I agree about the traditional need for AWD (weather). I guess I see AWD in Audis and Acuras as a partial remedy to the lack of RWD. Plus the A4 w/ the sport plus package comes with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires. Having Super Sports on my 228i, I can appreciate that level of grip - and the Bay Area is a good place to have max summer tires.

I too have read the steering is a bit boosted, though if its true in all driving modes, that would kind of suck.

[PrazVT]

Originally Posted by aozer

i went from 228i to m235i. no regrets here, but my 228i was completely stock. modded 228i to m235i/m240i might not seem like as much of an upgrade.

also, my 228i was totaled and i got full msrp back from insurance so i didnt have to take a financial hit. if i was putting down money out of my pocket the switch probably wouldnt be worth it.

Logically, I tend to agree with you - hard to rationalize spending $$ on a marginal upgrade. I don't see any 1:1 competitors w/ the 2 series (RWD, fun, same power, 6mt). *sigh*.

How about another 228i? lol

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by PrazVT

My requirement (as of today) is that the car has a 6 speed manual. The only other car I can think of as a possibility is the Golf R, but I need to understand how the AWD system works. Initial reviews I've read about the new A4 seem to be positive. I think Magna(?) is supplying the new Quattro Ultra system. May need to actually drive the car once. Two of my cousins have the previous gen A4 (one sport w/ the 19in wheels and one regular) so I may drive them and see how they feel (ie. do they feel FWD or no).

Don't laugh but if you are looking to save a few bucks give the GTI a shot while you are at the VW dealer for the R. I drove one the other day and in all honesty it was an absolute blast. $ value I cannot think of anything better out there with performance that I could tolerate DD. I am actually thinking of picking one up in Sept for an extra car.

[123Britt]

As a daily:

M240i > M2

228i to M240i is a significant change

[snaketh]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

Don't laugh but if you are looking to save a few bucks give the GTI a shot while you are at the VW dealer for the R. I drove one the other day and in all honesty it was an absolute blast. $ value I cannot think of anything better out there with performance that I could tolerate DD. I am actually thinking of picking one up in Sept for an extra car.

I test drove a 2017 GTI a few weeks ago. It was a great drive and massive discounts because end of model year. Was tempted to buy it there and then. However no more 2-Door which I love the look of vs 4-Door. Also the 2018 has some pretty significant infotainment upgrades. The wheels are a bit meh but trivial to change.

My vote for OP would be to test out the LCI when it comes out. Maybe the new rims, updated dash and iDrive will sway you. The A4 has a great interior but the ride isn't anywhere near as engaging as what you have.

[wanofakind01]

Believe MY18 m2 will still be on USAA list for discounts to get it under msrp. You won't find too many m2's marked up anymore given the saturation in the market. MSRP or slightly under depending on dealer.

[aozer]

Originally Posted by PrazVT

Logically, I tend to agree with you - hard to rationalize spending $$ on a marginal upgrade. I don't see any 1:1 competitors w/ the 2 series (RWD, fun, same power, 6mt). *sigh*.

How about another 228i? lol

yea, when my car was totaled the only option i considered was to get another 2. there just isnt anything else like it.

if its gonna be in the 2er family then you might as well go for the m235 or m240. no point in starting with the weaker platform, especially if you plan on any future mods. you can get a well optioned CPO m235 with low miles in the low 30's now. the struggle is finding one that is manual.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by snaketh

I test drove a 2017 GTI a few weeks ago. It was a great drive and massive discounts because end of model year. Was tempted to buy it there and then. However no more 2-Door which I love the look of vs 4-Door. Also the 2018 has some pretty significant infotainment upgrades. The wheels are a bit meh but trivial to change.

My vote for OP would be to test out the LCI when it comes out. Maybe the new rims, updated dash and iDrive will sway you. The A4 has a great interior but the ride isn't anywhere near as engaging as what you have.

Yeah I care about handling and price and actually want the 4 doors. I mean don't get me wrong I prefer the 2-door (we had an R32 2-door) but that would defeat half the benefit of a practical additional car.

Ha - didn't intend to but I made a funny. 2 doors half the benefit of 4 doors.

[casualDIYer]

Go with the 240 RWD. AWD is more gimmick than a practical add on. The A4, not sure about that. I had an A3 rental for 2 days and had to bring it back because the seats were killing my back. I hope the A4 isn't that bad. Thinking VW? Golf R. A little track weapon. Being a VW though it's not really a question of if it will break but when and how much.

[p912guy]

Wow, didn't realize the A4 could be had with a 6MT, but I see it can, or with the 7 DCT. Even so, 0-60 is just barely under 6.0 seconds. If A4 is a consideration, you'd probably need to add the 3 and 4 Series to your consideration, which is more apples to apples with the A4. I plan to keep my m235i vert at least 6 years, so I'd be in the camp of keeping it and getting whatever extended warranty makes you comfortable. I think it would be the best way to go from a financial standpoint.

[3rdcoast228i]

Originally Posted by PrazVT

Am I being crazy? I got out of my car when I got to work this morning and was just admiring it...which makes me kind of doubt why I'm considering getting something else.

Cars are a money pit, I say if you are happy with it keep it. Only you can decide what financially makes sense. The 228i is a great car.

[CAMOETO]

Originally Posted by snaketh

I test drove a 2017 GTI a few weeks ago. It was a great drive and massive discounts because end of model year. Was tempted to buy it there and then. However no more 2-Door which I love the look of vs 4-Door. Also the 2018 has some pretty significant infotainment upgrades. The wheels are a bit meh but trivial to change.

My vote for OP would be to test out the LCI when it comes out. Maybe the new rims, updated dash and iDrive will sway you. The A4 has a great interior but the ride isn't anywhere near as engaging as what you have.

I sold a mostly loaded 2016 GTI Performance Pack to get into a m240i. In no way, shape or form are the two cars comparable. The GTI is a fun car that has the convenience of a hatch, but it's a cheap econobox. The GTI looks like a teenager's car, had initial build quality issues, some of which were never remedied, lacks features, has a poor infotainment system, and a crappy sounding engine. Performance is ok, but nothing special. Want it to go fast with an APR tune or similar? Be prepared to immediately drop $1500 on a new clutch in addition. Good luck putting that power down with FWD. I also mentioned it'a Golf, right? ;-)

What the GTI has going for it is the manual is more refined than the 2-series manual, is light and nimble, and has more communicative steering. They are also easy to source at 18-20% off MSRP brand new.

Getting a Golf R remedies some of the issues, but at this point in time you're dropping $40k+ on a Golf, and it still sounds like crap...

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by CAMOETO

I sold a mostly loaded 2016 GTI Performance Pack to get into a m240i. In no way, shape or form are the two cars comparable. The GTI is a fun car that has the convenience of a hatch, but it's a cheap econobox. The GTI looks like a teenager's car, had initial build quality issues, some of which were never remedied, lacks features, has a poor infotainment system, and a crappy sounding engine. Performance is ok, but nothing special. Want it to go fast with an APR tune or similar? Be prepared to immediately drop $1500 on a new clutch in addition. Good luck putting that power down with FWD. I also mentioned it'a Golf, right? ;-)

What the GTI has going for it is the manual is more refined than the 2-series manual, is light and nimble, and has more communicative steering. They are also easy to source at 18-20% off MSRP brand new.

Getting a Golf R remedies some of the issues, but at this point in time you're dropping $40k+ on a Golf, and it still sounds like crap...

I wouldn't call it fair to compare the GTI to an M240 that costs 2x as much. That said if you're budget constrained, need an additional car for bad weather, haul some crap around etc I'd be hard pressed to find anything for $20k-ish that's better. Assuming you need some utility but still want something not horrible / borderline fun to drive.

[CAMOETO]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

I wouldn't call it fair to compare the GTI to an M240 that costs 2x as much. That said if you're budget constrained, need an additional car for bad weather, haul some crap around etc I'd be hard pressed to find anything for $20k-ish that's better. Assuming you need some utility but still want something not horrible / borderline fun to drive.

Agreed. If you get a bare bones S model, it can be had for $20k after 20% off. In that case you don't get any of the nice stuff though such as the performance pack that gets it so much positive press coverage.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by CAMOETO

Agreed. If you get a bare bones S model, it can be had for $20k after 20% off. In that case you don't get any of the nice stuff though such as the performance pack that gets it so much positive press coverage.

I have seen a lot of sport models for $23 ish which gets you the good stuff (unless I'm mistaken) and am thinking by sept quarter end with big updates in 2018 coming the leftover 2017 could be had even a little closer to $20.

You don't get Nav leather that sort of thing but all the performance bits are there. A fully loaded autobahn or whatever they call it pushing close to $40 msrp makes zero sense to me.