So let's say that next year, you could purchase a brand-new VW GTI or a 10-year old M3, for the same money and financing, to use as a daily driver. You have a winter beater/part hauler, so this car will be a long-term purchase for good weather and the occasional autocross. Considering the pros and cons of each, (warranty vs no warranty, 0 miles vs 45,000 miles, 0 owners vs 1 owner, OMG it an M3 vs OK its GTI) vs which would you choose and why?
The GTI is a much more versatile DD. Hatchback, good gas mileage, good in inclement weather.
The M3 is a much better track car. Not necessarily a better auto-x platform, but a better track car.
I really haven't warmed up to the V8 M3's, I'd probably get the GTI.
A 10 year old M3 would put you in an e46 ...
Having driven a V8 M3 I can say its a hell of a car. The main problem is fuel for me, its thirsty.
I have not driven the latests Golfs, but no sure why you would cross shop such different cars?
GTI or WRX. Drive and enjoy.
Squeeze another $5,000 out and mess around with an old BMW 2002 or 240Z.
This 240Z that needs an engine; http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ank/cto/3946582621.html
This engine: http://fortwayne.craigslist.org/pts/3895416200.html
M3. Absolute power corrupts absolutely 
Seriously that's a hard call -- but I have a hard time rationalizing financing for something that depreciates. I suspect, long term, that a low-mileage, well-cared for, rarely-tracked M3 will be a better long-term investment that a GTI, but again, that's only a suspicion. Plus the "big depreciation" has already occurred on the M3.
Wait for the 2015 GTI.
The E92 M3 is one of the best all-around automobiles ever made. Drive it to work every day, take any client to lunch in it, take the wife to dinner and a show in it, then on the weekends autocross the snot out of it and own everyone at the next track day with it. The GTI is a great hatchback, but just another VW in the sea of cars you pass each day.
Zoo nailed it, M3.
I'd much rather have the M3. If it's a maxing out the finances to make it happen for a DD, then GTI - I would want a healthy reserve for the M3.
fornetti14 wrote: Wait for the 2015 GTI.
By 2014, I mean the next generation. It may be the 2015, but it comes here early next year.
Financially speaking, I would tend to want the new car with the multi-year warranty, rather than the possibly hard-driven, exotic, eye-wateringly expensive to repair, used car without a warranty. That's the choice you've given us, though I personally tend to look more for a lightly used car when I buy.
Emotionally, the M3 all the way.
Anything but the GTI. Non-defeatable traction control = I won't drive it.
I'd go for the GTI personally. All indications show they really nailed the 7th gen platform.
To me DD = New Car and Toys = old used cars. I don't like to have to worry about my DD. And having a warranty is very nice.
I tend to keep cars for a long period of time. So my 2001 Focus started to get significant mods in 2005 after the warranty was over and by 2010 was replaced as the DD by a Transit Connect.
Hal wrote: To me DD = New Car and Toys = old used cars. I don't like to have to worry about my DD. And having a warranty is very nice. I tend to keep cars for a long period of time. So my 2001 Focus started to get significant mods in 2005 after the warranty was over and by 2010 was replaced as the DD by a Transit Connect.
I'm the exact same. I spend enough time screwing around with the track toy that I don't want more free time being used by maintaining the DD.
GTI's are boring and not particularly fast unless heavily modified. My 2 cents.
They are a great DD though. Therefore, M3!
M3 hands down! Totally different cars though...
Where's the "None of the above" Option?
I agree with the M3. The germans have a way of nailing the high performance car that can also do daily duty. The M3 and the 911 both exemplify this.
The biggest depreciation hit already happened on the M3. The rest is a slow slide to the bottom and an eventual uptick as they get older and more rare. VW may make a good car.. but unless it is an A1 chassis car or aircooled.. nobody wants an old VW
And I would never let the "break my wallet" stereotype scare you from BMW. I found that most parts are pretty reasonably priced and the cars are actually pretty easy to work on
For a DD German car, I'd get the one with the warranty. You'll need it.
If it had to be German and I didn't care about being w/o the car while down more often than I'd prefer, I'd get a Porsche. Preferably a Boxster S. Probably more reliable than either of those and at least it's a real sports car.
While my BMW was one of the simpler ones.. the 318ti.. it was -the- most reliable car I ever owned. This includes several new cars. It's only serious let down was a fuel pump that was my fault (ran the tank to dry about a month before) and the power locks
This was a used and abused BMW hatchback that had been totalled and rebuilt and then driven hard and put away wet more times than I can count and used in all weather.
Like I said above, they are tough cars that are easy to work on and the parts are not that expensive
amg_rx7 wrote: For a DD German car, I'd get the one with the warranty. You'll need it. If it had to be German and I didn't care about being w/o the car while down more often than I'd prefer, I'd get a Porsche. Preferably a Boxster S. Probably more reliable than either of those and at least it's a real sports car.
Sounds like you owned a lot of german cars ... And they always broke down on you.
I sarted thinking about this more and these are the german cars I owned:
1987 GTI 16V (140k miles)
1987 Audi 5000 CS (200k miles)
E30 (200k miles)
E36 (160k miles)
E46 m3 (60k miles)
None ever left me stranded except for the GTI. I hit a rock and it broke the plastic swirl tank where the 2nd fuel pump is. Not the car's fault and it was a snap to replace.
Most of these cars I bought used and with a lot of miles on them.
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