Sorry to ask such inane a question but here's the deal.

I won't be able to afford a 2011+ for a couple to a few years while the wife and I pay down some debt. Not a big deal or anything just don't want to dive into two new cars this year and still need to pay off my CC after our move. Anyway, I am in the mood and need a new car. I just want something enjoyable and sporting so I have come to ask the opinions of fellow 05-09 owners.

What it's come down to is between an '03-'04 BMW 330Ci and a stretch for an '05-'07 GT.
Requirements: Manual Transmission

The thing is that right now I am in an '03 Honda Accord, I commute 85 miles a day. Gas mileage in the Accord averages at 29 to 30 mpg. That's going to be hard to let go of.

The BMW obviously offers better fuel mileage but lower power. 50/50 weight balance but still only 230Hp. The BMW offers great suspension from the factory and a 6 speed manual.

Now I need insight as to what your opinions, thoughts, praises, hates, loves for either.

I know I will be getting into a 2011+ in a few years so I need a good prep car. My current vehicle is an auto so any manual is better than none.

Foreseeable problems: I like both and if I really like them when I get them I might just keep them longer. A simple stage 1 super charger on the BMW gets the car moving to an under 5 second 0-60! Still getting as good or better fuel mileage than the 335i we have now. The Mustang is not so hot on fuel, given my commute, this is a very hard issue. I like the 05-09 GT body style, I LOVE the 2010+. I still respect the former though and think it would be a fun car.

Worries for the Mustang: Handling, I have heard good and bad about this subject. Gas mileage... Interior quality vs anything I am currently driving. Problems to look out for. etc.

Thanks everyone!

 

The only thing I would worry about with the BMW. Everything is very expensive to repair. And they have lots of gremlins. They are great cars dont get me wrong. But I am not sure I would want one out of warrenty.
I am turning in my 06 m3 this week with 75k on it. And If I were going to keep it, I would need to dump a good amount of money on it.

I know it is less for non M3 cars but they are still costly.

Just my .02 cents

Good luck on whatever you choose.

 

The suspension on the 3 series is going to be much tighter. I've driven a couple of 3 series, around the years that you are looking at 330, 328 & M and they are impressive handling wise. The M had wicked power at all RPM's.

My 09's stock suspension leaves a little to be desired since it feels "slushy" though it handles a million times better than my '99 V6 with shocks, struts and Ford C lowering springs. The feel and actual handling are two different things with these 05-09's I think.

The exhaust note and torque compared to the 328/330 would sway my vote.

Problems I've heard with S197's:

• Two piece spark plugs break when removing on 07's and earlier
• Some have problems filling their gas tanks in earlier models as well, not sure of the year (I've had no major problems yet with this)

Edit: Oh yeah, I hate how big the 05-09's are compared to earlier SN95 Mustangs and the BMW's mentioned you feel a little more connected with the car because the new Mustangs are so big. I'd still choose the Mustang unless you are going with an M :P My gas mileage is ~20 but that is mostly city type driving for what it's worth...

 

ive bin in a bmw 335i twin turbo and as much as its a sick car and i love bmw's theres something about being nodded or flashed and waved by other mustang owners the roar of the v8 and the pipes that makes me happy to get back into my cs at the end of the day

 

The 08 Bullitt handles well from comfortable freeway to hot and heavy two lane mountain roads, is nicely appointed inside, sounds and drives awesome. My all around mileage for approx 75% highway/25% traffic is 23.5 and it'll automatically adapt to regular (87) fuel incl E10. Straight hiway at 65 cruise = 27mpg actual. I've seen a few listed on ebay fairly regular.

The 2 piece plug was fixed with a redesigned head for S197's manufactured 12.07 and after. Many of the 08 Bullitt features (CAI, 315HP, adaptive spark for 87 or 91, improved shifter, strut brace & firmer suspension) were carried forward to the '10. So you get pretty much the same car as a '10 for an 08 price.

And of course there's that Steve McQueen thing. And that green!!


PS: No German, Japanese, Korean, China or India et al made cars for me. American taxes have been levied against us and our grandchildren for an alleged economic stimulous. It would be detrimental & counter-productive IMO to send profits to corporations offshore - whether its purchasing new items or parts & accessories for used items - particularly at this stage of our so called economic recovery.

 

I just drove my modded GT vert on the New Jersey Turnpike the other day, and averaged 26 miles per gallon. Not too shabby for a V8! So if you're sensible with the car, then the MPG may be better than you expect. Mine also has only 6900 miles on the clock, so it can only get better.

I love BMWs. In fact, I desperately want to own a German car next, so I am not blinded by my love of the Mustang. However, I'd never take a 6 or 7 year old 3 series, except perhaps an M, over the newer Mustang. JMO, the hassles of the Bimmer will not be worth it unless you are buying in the higher echelon of their brand.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

Any way to keep the accord as a DD and have a Mustang or BMW as a weekend car?

Honestly I wouldn't want to put 85 miles a day on either the BMW or the Mustang. The price per mile for either of them gas/maintenance/depereciation may make it more economical to keep a cheap daily driver and a "fun car/project" car. Especially wants you start getting into mods things get tough when you have to drive so much every day.

 

The Bullitt is certainly my favorite of the '05-'09 even though it was an '08-'09 model. Plus the green is so killer! Unfortunately I can't really find any in my price range. Which, right now is pretty cheap as I don't really want a payment to be a whole lot higher than what I have now. I also know that, or what I have heard, is that with some of the programmed tunes, the GT's get a mpg or two better much of the time.

Certainly I feel as though with the Mustang even if later I trade it in on an 2011+ I will probably lower the car. I would love the look below. I want smooth crisp and menacing. Something I have seen only the Terminator Cobras really achieve with no effort. I didn't necessarily want a project car but I think either car would become one anyway.

The BMW's do always have that cost attached. I would love an M but good Christ, no 6 cylinder should get big block gas mileage.

There are no extra mileage warranties that can be bought if the car is out of the original warranty are there? I have seen some of the BMW guys talk about buying some warranty plans on line but not certain on the details.

The other concern I have in the Mustang is the high belt line. I am a short guy at 5'8" so I have to jack the seat up pretty good to be comfortable. The last time I was in an S197 (non 2010+) the doors were pretty high up. I like my visibility.

Thanks for the input guys, keep it coming! This is what I would like, just not in Shelby form:

 

Unfortunately no. Currently it's not in the budget to have both. I don't have my own garage as I live in a high rise. Besides, the wife isn't going for the buy an extra car for a fun car. I don't want to sink enough money into the new car that it becomes strenuous on the car. On the Accord, I am using as a trade in, not much of one but still a trade in to help as I haven't saved much to get into the new car. Once I pass 200K on the odo. I am going to risk not having any trade in value at all on the car. Not to mention who will take the car off my hands at 200k, for more than an awful amount? So the thing is that either I drive a fairly fun car with pretty good gas mileage or I drive a Civic. Seeing as how I am lucky enough that my wife is ok with me getting a manual and possibly a Mustang, I am feeling pretty lucky as is. May not get many chances like this again. Once I miss this boat, I don't see it coming around again and then I'm stuck in Prius like hell.

 

Well, clearly you know a gorgeous looking Mustang when you see one. Here's mine



I drive an older E39 5 Series (Touring) as my daily driver. It's chalk and cheese to the Mustang. The BMW is comfort orientated and perfect for my 100 mile a day commute. However, whilst I admire my BMW, I love my Mustang. It's a sensory overload type car and I defy you to get bored of it. With a little fettling, you'll have it handling nicely and it won't be shamed by any BMW this side of an M3/M5.

You may ask why I still drive the BMW as a daily. Well, as Mustangs are a lot more expensive here in the UK, I intend to keep mine for a long time (well, may 5 year old daughter says she's enheriting it!!) so I want to keep it mint. Fuel is also a concern, especially at the equivilent of about $9/gallon over here. Saying that, the BMW (2 litre straight six) only manages 28mpg, so not brilliant.

Go for the Mustang. You won't regret it

 

You sir have exactly what I am wanting!

I do know that even the 330 won't give me the fun I will have in the GT. That is one factor I have always thought that the Mustang had over its competition.

I know why you would keep the E39, especially in an area where they are much easier to be serviced and not so specialized like they are here. Also, I think your daughter will love the then vintage Mustang. I am beginning to think that as interesting as it might be to have 2 beemers in the garage, I think 1 will be enough. It's still a couple of months before I have to make up my mind but these pictures sure lean my hand to the Mustang very quickly.

 

I think you summed it up nicely in your previous post

"May not get many chances like this again. Once I miss this boat, I don't see it coming around again and then I'm stuck in Prius like hell"

Who knows what tomorrow may bring? Get the Mustang whilst you can and enjoy it!

 

I've had this discussion on other forums about BMW ownership. I was told, it is quite simple: if you plan on owning a BMW past the 60,000 mile mark, get ready to pay out the nose for maintenance. The quality is not what it used to be - and this from a guy who has owned a few, but who can also wrench on his (he races a Z3 in SCCA).

The wife just got, what I believe to be, a better looking, equally outfitted (perhaps more so) and completely awesome for a German car: the VW CC VR6 4Motion. Google it.

And get the Mustang. Make it a V-8, though.

 

I hear this all the time, but usually it's from folks that are not into cars, and don't even understand that a Chevy Aveo is actually a Daewoo.

A Toyota Tundra is built in America by Americans, sold by an American, serviced by an American, delivered by an American, and supports Toyota North America. Yes, it is a holding company of Toyota Japan. But to deny the positive effect Toyota has on the American economy simply because it's not an American brand is foolish.

Should one buy a Dodge Ram 2500 instead, which is actually built at Chrysler's Saltillo plant in Mexico? Would it have been okay and acceptable for an American citizen to buy a Dodge when it was owned by Daimler, a German company? These issues are no longer easy to figure out by brand alone, folks.

I can't help but smile wryly when I see a "Buy American" sticker on a 1980s issue Ram Van. The driver hasn't done anything to stimulate the automotive industry or keep anyone employed in 20+ years, but they'll turn their nose up at a new Honda that was, again, built and sold in the United States.

I'm ALL for supporting my fellow countryman, but I've come to doubt that anyone really knows what that means anymore. Rather, we stick to only the surface and berate others for buying "foreign" brands in a global marketplace. Sadly, the stimulus plan itself was the true detriment to America...oh, the irony!

 

The BMW's fuel economy is not such an obvious win as you think. Remember that the bimmer requires premium fuel. It may get (slightly) better MPGs than the GT. But the gas will cost you 10-12% more. I just did a side by side comparison at http://www.fueleconomy.gov, and the annual fuel cost for a BMW 330ci is $2113 compared to $2268 for the Mustang. That's a difference of $155, or less than $3 per week. (Numbers based on: 45% highway driving, 55% city driving, 15000 miles/year and Reg.: $2.72 per gallon, Prem.: $2.96 per gallon) When I plug in real world gas prices I saw today ($2.43 regular, 2.75 premium), it became a $64 dollar/year difference (BMW $1964, Mustang $2025).

Factor in reliability and repair costs, (not to mention the fact that the Mustang has more passenger room AND trunk space than the 330ci), and it looks like the decision is obvious:

Get the Mustang.

 

Wow, well too many emotions to go around on this one.

The only GM product I have attempted to purchase was an Aussie Pontiac G8 GT and because it was an Aussie product I had more faith in it then any of the others. GM has had so many Toyota's under their badge it should be criminal.

The Tundra, this should be named, the Complex. Not like Mtv's Jersey Shore DB "The Situation". The Tundra is a hard one, and it's hard not to say that someone shouldn't buy one in order to help pay the salaries of the people building them here in the states. A tough one sure.

My current Honda, over 85% US built including US built parts. Another conundrum.

Supporting one's fellow countryman... There are thousands of US troops abroad. They too need everyone's support. I tried for years telling myself I didn't need it until my life nearly fell apart. So if anyone wants to know they are supporting a fellow countryman, just sayin'

I don't like or want to berate anyone, but I like to respect a good product. At this point I would like to put my money on the only US manufacturer that I feel is portraying the best auto's the US has to offer and keeps trying to compete.

Some would argue that Ford still uses cheap materials, this might be true, they might also have vehicles that ride too softly or to high. Again, from their stand point they have to please a broader public than most companies. I can already tell that BMW is trying to fit the American mold more and more. Soon they too will have more VW like vehicles on the road than their at one time road going prowess.

OK, on a side note, I am thinking very highly of this idea to get the '05-'09. I don't know if I can afford the range of the '08-'09 with the spark plug fix but I will see what I can do.

 

You bring up a great point. The reason the 2011 Mustang was so enticing was not only great fuel economy in a V8 but no matter what it's still a Ford. I can get parts for it for much less than our 335i. Seems like this notion is still holding true here.


Side note, anyone know if the seats go up and down vertically?? Leather or cloth.

 

Yes power seat does vertical. I''m 5-9 so itts great to get higher

 

Agreed on all points. I was just voicing a general rant as I am very easily distracted, lol

 

drivers seat is 6 way power w/lumbar support. passenger seat is manual slide only, power passenger is optional on 08 up(I think). my wifes 07 has leather, she likes it, looks nice, I sweat in it too bad...I love the cloth seats in my 06- enough the spare 09 also has cloth

to me clotrh seats feel more secure- you dont slide around at all in them and they are cool on long trips, not frying pan hot in summer or rock hard in winter...to me they both look great, so no leather for me. finding cloth will be harder than leather, like 2/3 built were 'premium'...with cloth you wont get the IUP dash either- which means no leather wheel(unless its got the 05-06 interior sport appearance pkg option like my 06). For the 09 I bought a leather take-off wheel from ebay, its still in the trunk...I love the leather wheel, just dont care for the seats personally.

the V8/Stick makes for one heck of a fun car...mines over 4 yrs old, still as much fun as the day I got it...at 70 mine averages 24 highway(w/3.55 gear) the wifes V6/Auto gets about 1 better, the 09 gt I still havent driven yet, so no idea of mileage w/3.31 gears in a gt/stick...

I was raised ina 'no foriegn cars' household, and will most likely die that way...yeah, the wifes avalanche was assembled in mexico, but it was between that and a hyundai(NOOOOO) she was eyeing...so for whatever reason, I'll buy from the big3, (so they can invest more in china/thailand?)...will say though, that if the mustang was the same car/built in mexico or asia, I wouldnt own one let alone three...the wife might, but I'm kinda hard headed. I just pray they start building stuff here again instead of closing plants and importing more...a ranger would be a great kids first car in a couple years, but if they import that darn thailand thing, I'll just find a used one.