BMW M235 quandry

This is a less than sober post. Some of you may remember my post of 3 & 1/2 years ago asking for advice on best way to sell a Greg Norman Land Rover. Well, I sold it. Drove it for a year & sold it for what I think was a high wholesale price. After paying taxes, registration, tags, & tithing; I came out about $125 a day for a year on that deal. I didn't follow any of your suggestions but maybe should have. Several of them were pretty interesting. I took the proceeds & bought Berkshire Hathaway & have since about doubled that money.

I've done it again. I bought raffle tickets from BMWCCA foundation for a new M235. I can take the car or $41k. I want the car but I think I'd really like a '15 M3. I have a '98 M3 which I love but it's getting rather long in tooth & a '76 2002 with a built '90 M3 engine plus lots of other goodies. I could just take the money & pay off the mortgage but I figger that at my age maybe I should buy 1 last kick-ass car before I rent a hearse. I have the $ to trade up to the new M3 so no problem there.

I'm old enuff so that I should be wise enuff to make this decision but you input would be appreciated.

Sorry if this sounds like bragging, I guess it sorta is. As I said, a less than sober post.

Dibbs on the '98.
(No, seriously)

I'd say good luck but you've already got that covered.

M2Pilot wrote: I should buy 1 last kick-ass car before I rent a hearse.

well there's what my answer would be

I'd stay with the M235, the M3 has gotten to be too big and heavy (all relative, I know).

The $ that you speak of to get the M3 could be used for a set of track wheels and tires, pay for hpde/track days, etc.

Also congrats on your luck, send some my direction!

Take the 41k, your trade up money and go buy a brand new Porsche Cayman.

In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker:

I'm a Roundel fanboy, but even I cannot find any flaw in this logic. That's exactly what I'd do, or even use that 41k and buy a lightly used R.

See if you can schedule a drive of each at the local dealer?

Much easier to figure out what you like spending time behind the wheel of when you're actually there rather than spec sheets and reviews. Have heard both cars are great but there seems to be a consensus that model bloat has made the M3 quite a large car (albeit lighter than the previous generation). Regardless both M325i and M3 are 3,400lbs + which is likely significantly heavier than your other BMW's though these have way more power as well.

I'd have to drive the 235 and M3 in order to decide.

golfduke wrote: In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker: I'm a Roundel fanboy, but even I cannot find any flaw in this logic. That's exactly what I'd do, or even use that 41k and buy a lightly used R.

I am also a roundel fanboy and I'd be happy to have a new 3/4 series as a run-o-the-mill sedan but not the "before the hearse" halo car.

Having had a few students with the new Cayman S this past season there is no doubt where I'd spend the money if I had it. They are really just that good.

In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker:

yeah, just an outrageous value for a track machine. The only thing I'd rather have instead of it would be a GT-R.

The new BMWs just don't do it for me. I'd keep the proper M3 and 2002. Those cars will be more fun to drive and easier and cheaper to maintain long term. Plus, they'll also appreciate in value instead of a new roundel.

M235i is a good car, slap in an LSD, a cobb, and some thicker sway bars and nicer shocks and you'll have a car that's every bit as good as a current M3.

I think there's a lot you could do with that money. A kick-ass car doesn't have to cost $41K, especially on the used market. And if you pick a car with low depreciation (appreciation?) you can have fun and not lose your shirt.

nderwater wrote: I think there's a lot you could do with that money. A kick-ass car doesn't have to cost $41K, especially on the used market. And if you pick a car with low depreciation (appreciation?) you can have fun and not lose your shirt.

This, there's much better value to be had by taking the money and spending it cleverly than by blowing it on the full retail price of a brand new car you're not even totally sure you want.

This is an opportunity to cast off the heavy coat of logical and prudent decision making. Take the money and buy what you want most. Only you can decide which one you like better. I'd pick the Cayman personally. If it had to be a BMW I'd choose the M4 because I prefer the 2 door body style.

Take the cash and do nothing with it for about six months until you figure it out for yourself.

Take the money, figure your estimated taxes and pay them now. Then you won't be playing with money you don't really have.

M4 in periwinkle blue.....

If/when you get the car how readily available will they be? You maybe able to make more money by trading in BMW on something else.

Maybe I'm missing something...you said you bought tickets, but never actually said if you actually won the car or if you're just waiting to find out.

What do you want our of a "last hurrah" car? I've seen plenty of guys buy a corvette at 62 and within 3 years they can't get in or out of it any more.
When you use a car on track, what do you do? What do you want to do? If you're circulating with friends, pretty much anything that will keep up is fun, it's the track after all.
How much road time will the car get? Do you have a spouse/kids/grandkids you want to share the car with?

The roundel magazine just reviewed the 228xi track pack and said they would actually take the 228 over the m235i because of how much better the car feels without the weight over the front axle (and about 200-300lbs) lighter was not what I expected to read from BMW CCAs own mag.

I agree with the Cayman sentiment. Do you find this generation a lot better than "last" generations Cayman R?

I also say to drive both before deciding which one to buy.

Cayman. It's high on the list if I want to blow small house mortgage type money.