BMW 325I

[mAdD INDIAN]

btw, the lowest BMW 3-series is the 320i which is only sold in Canada. It has a 2.2L inline 6.

 

[Asharus]

Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN
btw, the lowest BMW 3-series is the 320i which is only sold in Canada. It has a 2.2L inline 6.

I thought they still made 4-cyl versions in Europe, like 316 or 318s

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Originally posted by: Asharus

Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN
btw, the lowest BMW 3-series is the 320i which is only sold in Canada. It has a 2.2L inline 6.

I thought they still made 4-cyl versions in Europe, like 316 or 318s

They do make the 318 in Europe.

Sorry I meant in North America, the lowest model is the 320i which is sold in Canada.

 

[cnwk64]

Originally posted by: hans007

"i drive a BMW ness" is the chief reason to buy one. I knew a guy who right out of college with no job (Well he has a job now, but when he bought the thing didnt have one). LEASED a 325i completely stripped to the barest model for like $450 a month , a 2003 model when the 2004s were out too.
And guess what happened... well my friend and her 2 chick friends met him, and they were like WOW you drive a BMW. and basically were gushing with excitement. I guess thats what you pay for.

I am going to BMW, first thing tomorrow.... oh wait, I got G35, and chicks love it....

 

[TechnoKid]

Be different. Get an Aston Martin instead. Or an Audi. I don't particularly care for Mercedes, except for the new E class.

And yes, a used, one year old BMW 3 series is a great value, often lease returns because many people lease BMW 3 series. The warranty is a bit better, imo, on a one year old than a brand new one.

 

[bolido2000]

.

 

[hans007]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

I would easily take an A4, or a Used 325 or 323 over a Maxima, or most other Nissans any day of the week.

So would I (not a 323 though!) - IF they were of similar year and miles. But, I'd rather drive a ferrari than a maxima as well. Why can't I compare them? The ferrari is not in the same price point, and neither is the maxima and 325why. While you're buying your late 90's 325why for $16k I could be buying a 2002 Maxima, with far less miles, for the same price. Oh yeah, and I'll roast your car's ass too And have room for the kids, and have a warranty. Oh, but you'll have RWD...

1999 323i w/ 77k miles for $17000 or 2002 Maxima w/ 33k miles for $17000 (and remaining factory powertrain warranty)

Geeze, which one is the better buy? :Q

a 323 and 325i are exactly the same car. the 323 model , has the same engine as the 325, it was only called the 323 during the period because the higher model at the time's engine (328) was only .3 L larger displacement. people wouldnt buy the higher model if it was only .3L more. at least marketing wise apparently it made sense.


they did the same thing with the e39 5 series. the 540i and 740i has a 4.5L engine, but the model makes it seem like a 4.0 L so that it wouldnt outsell the 750 which had a 5 L and only .5 L more. the 540 is now the 545 and the 740 the 745 since the 760 is out.

 

[PKPunk]

I'd say a big NO to getting a brand new 3 series. Either save the money and by a used one or buy another car because the current 3 series bodystyle came out in 99. And BMW only keeps their body styles for 6-7 years (I'm not sure if it's 6 or 7) so the car you just paid 34k(37K out the door) will start to look OLD around 2005. And lets face it your buying that car for the name badge and the look in addition to it's performane, and once look changes the name badge won't really carry the car as a status symbol. If you want a cool car with luxury badge I'd either get a G35 or TL or a used IS300, I ended up buying a is300 last year (the tl wasn't out yet) because I think it's cool looking and cheap to service since it's basicly a toyota. If you go with a used IS300 you can get a good deal on that's 2 years old for around 23k and you'll get good a premium name badge and a current body style and a fun to drive car and importantly a long term reliable car. Or go for a used g35, I'm sure it's just as reliable in the long term.

 

[Doggiedog]

Originally posted by: z0mb13

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Don_Vito

Originally posted by: krunchykrome
Hell no. You can find a barely used 325i for $20K with reasonable miles. For $35K, go for the G35 or an Audi A4.

Where? The 3 series have insanely high resale - I would be very surprised to see a "barely used" 325i for less than the high 20s.

AFAIK a barebones one STARTS at the high 20's. The thing with the 325i is that if it wasn't a bmw it would sell for $5k+ less. You're paying a lot for the badge. If that's important to the buyer, and they don't mind the fact that a HUGE number of cars can kick their ass for much less money, then it may make sense.

wow why r u so anti BMW?

nissan fanboyism showing??

Because Skoorb is the resident 325 expert after having driven an automatic one once

I still don't get the vehement hate for the 325 considering you've never driven the stick. Just because the car doesn't do 0-60 in 6 seconds doesn't make it slow. The car is amply fast enough and it does everything well.

It's like arguing who is a better athelete. The 100M track star or the decathelete.

 

[Wooster]

if you are into that nice interior stuff, get a TL. it comes standard with basically everything but navigation. and its more reliable.

I was surprise no one mention Lexus IS300. It came with everything loaded (w/o navigation). How this car perform?

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: bozack

Originally posted by: JoeMomma
Wrongo. 325 is the base BMW in North America. The 323 ended production after the 2000 model year, replaced by the 325 for 2001. Obviously you are not even close to knowing what you are talking about.

Joemomma if you actually had the capacity to read an entire thread you would see that this was already mentioned about 10 or so posts up....nice to see you are on the ball, also as I said before the new base model will be the 1 series which is a far cry from the 325....obviously I didn't realize they had discontinued the 323 as I see so many out and about that are newer, and last I checked wasn't there about a 10 hp difference between the 323 and the 325?.

14 hp, basically the same 2.5 motor though.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Wooster

if you are into that nice interior stuff, get a TL. it comes standard with basically everything but navigation. and its more reliable.

I was surprise no one mention Lexus IS300. It came with everything loaded (w/o navigation). How this car perform?

it tries to be a bmw and fails

 

[StageLeft]

I still don't get the vehement hate for the 325 considering you've never driven the stick. Just because the car doesn't do 0-60 in 6 seconds doesn't make it slow. The car is amply fast enough and it does everything well.

My sentra is amply fast enough too - to get to work.

The 325i IS slow for a car in its price range that tries to be a sports sedan. 185 horsepower in a car that weighs 3200 lbs at $30k+? Get real!

 

[davew0670]

My parents had a very good friend selling his 325i. My wife hated her accord so we drove the bmw. We decided to sell our accord and purchase the 325i because it was truly a awesome vehicle. We were going to ask around $6000 for her 98' accord. It had 2 cigarette burns in the seat, the emblem had been stolen. A huge scratch on the side and both front rims were beat up from her curb checking. Carmax offered us $8600 for the car. I about shat my pants. anyway that was the last we saw of that car. We will most likey purchase another BMW when the time comes.

 

[Doggiedog]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

I still don't get the vehement hate for the 325 considering you've never driven the stick. Just because the car doesn't do 0-60 in 6 seconds doesn't make it slow. The car is amply fast enough and it does everything well.

My sentra is amply fast enough too - to get to work.

The 325i IS slow for a car in its price range that tries to be a sports sedan. 185 horsepower in a car that weighs 3200 lbs at $30k+? Get real!

0-60 in 7.2 seconds is slow? What about cornering? Transmission? Road feel? Since when is the definition of a sports sedan just straightline performance?

Again for the nth time, you drove an auto, autos are slower. Drive a 325i stick and come back to me.

 

[HamSupLo]

It's a getting to be a super long thread...so what did the inital poster decide on? did he get the BMW. and btw, Nissan forever! 03' Altima V6

 

[sxr7171]

Originally posted by: Mill
No fvcking way man. 330 or don't get a BMW. Try a 3.0 Quattro, G35, or a similar car. BMW is great but the 325 is kind of blah. That being said you could get a 1.8t and get an APR chip and upgraded injectors and your car would be going great.

I seriously agree. You have to have 330i, in fact I think too many poseurs drive a 325i.


I also agree with the Audi A4 as an alternative, but it is a completely different driving experience. It is a lot more forgiving, and you are just never going to have that beautiful power steer that you will in a 330i. Both cars can take a really nice turn but they do it differently and you better know what you're doing in the 330i if you want to take really fast turns.

 

[sxr7171]

Originally posted by: Don_Vito
I tend to disagree with Skoorb that the 325i has nothing to recommend it. It is actually a reasonably quick car with the legendary BMW handling, shifter, etc. I recently drove a buddy's 1995 325i and it was a revelation - I was flatly amazed by the driving experience, and this was a car he spent $10.7K on. It was a hell of a lot nicer to drive than my 2001 Maxima SE, a car I like quite a bit.

The 318i, not sold in the US, is definitely a watered-down BMW, but to me the 325i, with its creamy inline 6, offers a real BMW driving experience. You do pay a premium, and so on paper it is a poorer value than the TL or G35, but to me it is not a terrible value.

You cannot compare a 1995 325i to a present 325i, do you know what the weight difference between the two is? Besides those older BMWs due to their lower weight handle better than today's 3-series.

 

[Nebor]

I'd say that the 325i is definitely underpowered, in my opinion. I'd go for the 330i if I could. THat being said, there's no way I'd take any japanese car (g35, is300) over the 325i.

Basically, you're comparing the evolved economy cars of asia to an Ultimate Driving Machine (tm). No contest.

 

[skyking]

Meh, all this arguing over buying <wasting a bunch of money> on a new car or cars. I'll keep driving my beater and buy another piece of rental income property...............................

 

[Asharus]

Originally posted by: skyking
Meh, all this arguing over buying <wasting a bunch of money> on a new car or cars. I'll keep driving my beater and buy another piece of rental income property...............................

As long as it can get you from point A to point B, why not?

 

[sxr7171]

Originally posted by: Nebor
I'd say that the 325i is definitely underpowered, in my opinion. I'd go for the 330i if I could. THat being said, there's no way I'd take any japanese car (g35, is300) over the 325i.

Basically, you're comparing the evolved economy cars of asia to an Ultimate Driving Machine (tm). No contest.

You've definitely got the right philosophy on cars. If I couldn't afford a 330i, I'd still take a 325i and make the best of it.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: sxr7171

You cannot compare a 1995 325i to a present 325i, do you know what the weight difference between the two is? Besides those older BMWs due to their lower weight handle better than today's 3-series.

According to Edmunds, a 1995 E36 325i weighs 3087 lb, and a new E46 325i weighs 3216. Not exactly a night-and-day difference.

 

[Vich]

For 34K i would get a G35 couple/sedan with AWD.
YOU NEED AWD DRIVE!!!!


<-- WRX owner here

 

[sxr7171]

Originally posted by: Don_Vito

Originally posted by: sxr7171

You cannot compare a 1995 325i to a present 325i, do you know what the weight difference between the two is? Besides those older BMWs due to their lower weight handle better than today's 3-series.

According to Edmunds, a 1995 E36 325i weighs 3087 lb, and a new E46 325i weighs 3216. Not exactly a night-and-day difference.

140 lbs is a pretty good difference, and I was thinking of the 2003 model which was 3285 lbs and that's 200 lb difference. I have to admit that it isn't the night and difference that it seems like I was referring to.