[mb67]

I was going to test drive a CPO Mercedes SLK but on the way there I decided to stop by the BMW dealership where I bought my '07 Z4. I then left with my CPO 228i convertible.

[MikeT]

Other cars I considered at the time: Cayman, Mustang, Audi TT, Jaguar F-Type.

[msej449]

Audi SQ2.

[MarcoZandrini]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

There are other cars?

Appliances, yes. Cars, no.

[German1967]

S3, R

[USA-RET]

Was trading a 2015 C7. Looked at Audi TTS and Porsche Cayman. M240i was a better performer for around town than the other two.

[WAFU7]

Originally Posted by airjesse

Boxter (981), ftype, v8 vantage. Eliminated the last two based on upkeep costs and reliability. The boxter was nice but the driving feel in the 240i was more to my liking. Probably because it just feels more like cars I'm used to. Maybe one day I'll get a boxter or 911 but doesn't suit me right now. Also; always wanted a blue vert and bmw had them the Aston I will always lust after. If I had a lot more money that would be my choice. What's interesting is that for all these cars I actually preferred older models. Old boxter has the flat 6 still. Old f type has a better front end (opinion). And older astons just feel to me to be more elegant than the newer ones. I may be saying the same thing about the 240i when they release the new series, depending on the grille. Finally— 240i really over the top because of back seats

I've owned my M240i 6MT for 4 years now, but I'm contemplating on doing the reverse to the question posed by the OP - trading it in for a V8 Vantage manual coupé. I know that it'll mean higher bills all round ... but it's an Aston Martin. Just seeing it on the driveway will be a buzz; hopefully, that will translate to making every drive an event.

The shame of it is that the V8V will likely end up being 25 to 50% less user friendly as a DD than the M240i. The current car is just so damned usable; I'm not sure there are many (any?) other cars that tick so many boxes so well.

[4Hockey4]

Bought 16' 235i used with 23K on it when it came off 3 year lease, with CPO. Had to have RWD, MT and 6/8cyl. I preferred over the Mustang/Camaro types, loved Cayman but too much $$ for garage queen/track car...yea trying to pull off both.

[airjesse]

Originally Posted by WAFU7

I've owned my M240i 6MT for 4 years now, but I'm contemplating on doing the reverse to the question posed by the OP - trading it in for a V8 Vantage manual coupé. I know that it'll mean higher bills all round ... but it's an Aston Martin. Just seeing it on the driveway will be a buzz; hopefully, that will translate to making every drive an event.

The shame of it is that the V8V will likely end up being 25 to 50% less user friendly as a DD than the M240i. The current car is just so damned usable; I'm not sure there are many (any?) other cars that tick so many boxes so well.

I've lusted after the v8v since I was a teenager so I couldn't fault you. As I said above I was considering it, just couldn't stomach the bills.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by 4Hockey4

...garage queen/track car...yea trying to pull off both

It's not hard at all to do both: buy car, pour street/track $$$ into it, don't drive it much, track it when you feel like it (or not) – bingo, done!

Ask me how I know. For example, I'm now in the process of preparing a sheet showing what I've spent on my car in the way of track-oriented upgrades, additional wheel/tire options/combinations (I own three at the moment), and a bunch of down-in-the-weeds things I've had done or purchased in the interest of making the car my own and getting rid of as much money on the car as possible.

Presently, the amount is $20,362. It ranges from TC Kline coilovers, a Wavetrac LSD, a Dinan piggyback, front-half PPF, full-car ceramic coating, and a ton of other things for the track or that I couldn't resist purchasing. If the amount seems large (it should), it doesn't include, in order: labor, tax, or shipping. Add them in, and it gets really ugly.

[Joe T.]

I went to a dealership to buy one of two e46 M3's they had back in 2016, and ended up buying a 228i instead, which I traded towards an M235 two years later.

Probably saved myself a lot of hassle, but could have bought both M3s and still saved money compared to the M235. Love the F22, but still wonder what could have been, haha.

[zstokes]

I was in on this 2008 Cayman on BaT last week, but it slipped past my limit.

So on Saturday I bought my M240i, and I'm very happy. My choice was always between a 987 Cayman, and the car I ended up with. This is my first "fun car" purchase.

I'll put a Porsche next to it someday, but this little car is wonderful.

[Moflow]

I wanted "The next Supra" for a really long time, but when it came out as AT only, i had to look elsewhere.

[celsdogg]

I actually had a bracket of 16 cars (mostly BMWs) that was decided by coin toss. Of none BMWs, there was the SS, RS, 911, Challenger, Cayman, and a not likely Evora. There was a time I also considered a Evo or BRZ.

[Ajowhan]

I mainly wanted a convertible but Im not digging any of the mustang and chevy on my budget. I like the ZL1 but its a little bit higher.

I really like the miata but the boss in my life say no and so other than that, I am left with the m240i vert. Glad I did the m240i over the miata. I leave stuff in my trunk for convenience and miata would not have work mainly due to space.

[PeanuKeeyes]

I was looking at the M2 and a Cayman, but back then, I was just starting my career and had just bought a house so the sensible choice became the 228i that already came with several upgrades including the M235i exhaust and diffuser. It’s been a performance bargain, very capable on road and track (with modest upgrades). Might add a 987 Cayman to the garage eventually but I have no plans to part with this thing.

[Scoot13]

I was pretty set on the M240 due to small car good motor and ability to modify.


But, I did consider a Miata RF, I think that's what its called, the hardtop, anyway I read it is impossible to get a set of golf clubs in it so that killed it for me.

I did seriously look at an Audi S5, but the interior was an exact copy of the Q5 my wife drove for a few years so it felt like the same car on the inside.

So cliff notes: Miata RF and Audi S5

[Beaugeste]

2021 Genesis G70 6M/T
I had a deposit down on it, joined the Genesis Forums, I was looking to enter the sports sedan market, but every time I checked in, I had no word on whether the car was ordered or not. I was getting fed up. found my 240i on a Nissan dealership, and she was at the right price point. I fell in love during the test drive, and I have no regrets.

[kennungesser]

Audi S3, Gulf R. AWD a must here in the winter. At least my dang driveway makes it a must.

[petrosexxual]

I simply wanted the ///M2 at the time, Pre-LCI, N55 equipped. At the time they wanted $65K. Could not justify paying that much at the time, the seats were too similar, the power output essentially the same in the real world. I do regret it in ways, simply for the extra tire width(wider wheelbase overall) and a LSD out of the box. I still have my manual M240i, about 3.7 years later. No regrets outside of the LSD, even with tiny tires.

For a $53K MSRP in 2017, this car does lack in ways(M2 included), obviously modern tech(if that's your thing), and quality of interior materials at this price point. Can't complain, chose this over the F82 ///M4 and simply couldn't afford the ///M2 at the time, with ///M4 prices only being a $70+/month over the ///M240i manual at the time, mind you a weird period for the F22, 6 months of Pre LCI ///M240i models

[230iZTR]

I went pretty far into the pre-purchase planning phase for a street/track BRZ turbo build. By the time I totalled it all up, the BMW made more sense because it was already turbo'd.

Then it was down to the 230i and a GTi, and the 2 won out because it was RWD and looks significantly better.

I also considered a Camaro SS 1LE...but the availability and wait to reserve one was problematic at the time.

[bobkat09]

Mercedes C-Class coupe