...after I saw he traded up his Max, now I want to get a new car. I've really had my eye on the M3 but it's so expensive. Here's my stats:


Model: 2003 Maxima SE, TE (Polished Titanium)
Features: 6-speed, loaded except Navi
Mileage: 3,000
Price Paid: $26,200
KBB Current Trade in value: $20,725


Ouch. Looking online, the beemer lease* is between $800 - $900 per month . I think that is outrageous, but I've wanted that car for so long I can taste it. *(I don't want to buy anymore, I am too paranoid to enjoy the car and I like having new cars often)

Can someone please tell me I'm out of my mind? Or, if anyone has leased an M3 recently, are they really charging MSRP?

What to do...what to do

 

M3...

 

I'd be glad to...YOU'RE OUT OF YOUR MIND!



Why would you want to roughly double your monthly payments to lease a BMW? Are you really unhappy with your 2k3?

 

Definitely out of your skull...

 

a Lease is like the gayest thing ever buy that b1tch

 

I don't think IMO that the Beemer is worth 2x the payment. Unless you like impressing friends. My co-worker has an M3 and he's always raving about the M3 until he drove my new 2003 SE Max. He was like Damn this is a nice car with ***** 2 . Don't get me wrong BMW's are awesome cars no doubt about it .

 

No, I love the car but I think I really want a sports car again. When I bought the Max, things were a little (actually very) shakey at work. 7 months later things worked out very well and I feel I'm in a better position to get the car I really want.

Perhaps when I lower it (Teins and GR-2's on the way) it will give me the handling that I'm lacking?

If the M3 was $700/month I would do it in a heart beat. $800 I would really have to think...$900 I don't think I could stomach that.

 

let me know if you are going to sell your Max I am looking for another one to add to the family

 

Negotiate. Leases aren't necessarily bad. But like all things, there are bad leases and good ones. Calculate how much you will have to pay out and then try to estimate the the M3's resale value at the end of the lease.

If you know then, what you know now about the maxima's resale, you might have been better off leasing the maxima

 

Well out side of being here are my reasons for wanting to lease again:

1) I am so paranoid that I'll get a scratch on my car I never park it anywhere it is out of site.
2) I like to have new cars every few years.
3) You don't have to worry about problems, just get a new one and you're all set!
4) Plunking $55,000 down on a car is WAY to much money for me. I would buy an investment property or condo for that kind of quan!

 

Tell me about it

 

why don't you look into more afford sports cars like the G35 coupe or 350Z or RX-8? plus you'll have money left over to take out any girl you pick up afterwards.

you know that joke...what's the difference between a porcupine and a BMW? porcupines' have the ****** on the outside.

 

However $900/month for a 3 year lease is like $32,000 and you have nothing! Pay another 20 and you own it. Pay for it over 5 years, drive it for another 5 for free. Yeah, everyone would LIKE to have a NEW car every few years, but it doesn't add up. Be smarter with the cash and you will have a nicer house, better retirement accounts, retiring earlier sound nice?

 

I've had a leased car and I disagree...

#1 - You do need to worry about scratches and where you park the car, unless you want to get killed on the 'wear-and-tear' charge when you take it back. Same thing goes for the interior. I'll admit, I worry alot about my Maxima but at least I know I don't have to get it inspected in 2 1/2 years if I want to get rid of it like I would with a leased car.

#4 - You say plunking down 55k for a car is alot to you...which it is, but how about putting 30k (or more) towards the car and then giving it back. Because at $800-$900 a month for a 3 year lease that's what you would be doing.

I don't know, it doesn't make sense to me. But that's just my $.02.

 

Keep the 6-speed max

 

I leased a Durango through Key bank. It was in good condition but had some scratches. They didn't even look at it when I returned it (although an inspecter came by to look). I've spoken to others who haev leased through BMW and they said the rules are a lot looser.

I hear what you are saying with the 30k, but I'm going to take a bath on the Maxima as is and I just don't like being locked into a car. I'm so confused.

 

Shing told me something once after I drove his S2000 (I wanted one). He said that car payment was the only check he was happy writing. Sometimes after paying it, he would go out and drive.

Aside from affording it, dont do anything to take away from family and such, but if you like cars, like to drive and it makes you *happy to pay for it*, then do it.. Honestly, I cant wait for the payment book on the G. I've already called to make sure the paperwork was in the works. I want to pay my sales tax and make this thing 'real'. it doesnt feel real yet.

 

First, there is nothing WRONG with leasing, at all. It's an option that is financially sound for many people.

Second, I don't think anyone that spells "Bimmer" incorrectly should buy one. It's just not right!

 

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm........M3

 

You'll never get them below MSRP. It's a virtual supercar, and people literally pay whatever the dealer has on the sticker (at least around here). It sucks, but that's one car that I truly believe is worth it's MSRP.

 

SCREW THE M3!!!! Go find urself a copy of best motoring vol.5(or 4) and watch the M3 get its *** handed to it by an S2000. Then tell me if u think the M3 is worth that much $$$. I'de say spend half of the M3 cost get an S2000,SC it or get a turbo kit,And be just as happy if not happier.

My $.2
Justin

 

Yeah, you're right on this, but the M3 is stock, and the S2000 isn't. If you put enough money in a lot of other RWD cars and trucks, they'll outperform the M3 as well. But by the way he's talking, it sounds like he wants "out of the box" performance. Hell, when I put the Hotchkis full suspension kit on my truck, it'll outperform tons of more expensive vehicles as well (as high as .94 G's on the skidpad on a club cab Dakota).

 

I was in the same situation 2 months ago, I got offered 25,000 trade on my 2k2 max at the dealer on a 2k3 g35c. I realized I was getting ripped off AND they would not discount on msrp on the g35c. Funny thing though one week later a buddy of mine rolled up to my house with a friend of his who happened to be in the market for a 4 dr sdn. He had been looking at a4's and such so i told him my 2k2 was for sale. Long story short he gave me 35,000 with the 19 inch wheels and tires with about 50% tread left. Now i sit and wait till the 3 or 4th of june to get my 6mt g35c. I say try selling it yourself before you trade in, sure worked out in my favour.

Note: all dollars in this post are canadian.

 

Leasing ONLY makes financial sense if you drive 12K miles or less(or 15K?) per year and normally trade-in every 1, 2, or 3-years.

Benefits:
1)Always driving a new car.
2)Driving a more expensive car for the same payment per month.
3)Flog it EVERY day withOUT hesitation.
4)No warranty hassles.
5)Don't get ***'d on depreciation when a new 3.5L Altima and Max come out 5-months later.
.
.
.

Negative:
1)Can't permanently mod.
2)Limited miles per year or added costs.
3)Wear and tear can cost BIG $$$$$.
4)Don't "own" anything.
5)Always a car payment.
6)More expensive to insure.

IF I had to do all over again, I'd have leased my Maxima. However, the BAAAAAaaad depreciation is hindsight now. Timeeehs' G35C is tempting though.

 

I DID mean stock for stock. All the cars in best motoring go stock for stock on some of the most challenging courses Japan has to offer. The M3 came in 5th or 6th while the S2000 finished second behind an R34 GTR.

 

I've yet to find a car that's got the combination of power and control that compairs to the M3...well except the Porche 911 Turbo.

 

m3 vs s2000??? how can those be compared? there is no one size fits all sports car.. or 4dsc for that matter. Get what fits you.. its like saying jeans suck! get shorts!

 

Ice, you need to talk to my salesperson before they adjust his medication and he starts lowballing maxima trades again

 

That's just the thing. I'm 31 now and I guess I'll get married and have kids within the next 10 years and I figure that I'll have to say to my single life and start thinking about diapers, braces, and college funds. No room for a high-performance german luxury car when you've got mouths to feed.

I'm glad you are happy with the G. I really do love my Max, but I hate the feeling of driving a 4 door (which I never open the back 2 BTW) and giving up the one time in my life when I can be somewhat selfish. Everytime I tell someone what kind of car I drive they're like "Oh". I work so hard that I want a car that shows it...to me and everyone else.

But on the other hand, a large car payment can be used for a ton of other things (savings, home improvements, retirement, etc.). I think what I'll do is pay the $800 / month for my Max loan and see how it feels.

 

both are acceptable...but you're right "Bimmer" is the true spelling. "Beemer" I think refers to the motorcycles.

snobby "Bimmer" people -> <-me

 

You'll forgive me, but one test does not mean jack ****. I could have a good day in an S2000 and totally screw the pooch driving the M3, but that doesn't mean the S2000 is superior in any way. Besides, how in the hell can you even compare the two? They aren't even in the same league...

 

it only *costs* you depreciation minus the cost of the car you'd have to get to work anyway..

 

SOOOoooo got any interior pics yet?

I need to know what the backseat and trunk look like, since I've only seen the 350Z's or lack there of.

 

The trunk on the G is definitely smaller than the Max (about 1/2 when I saw it - no room for my big kicker) and the back seat isn't as roomy but you can definatly put people back there.

I would like to see the interrior of the 350Z to see what they did with all that back seat space Is the trunk bigger?

 

If you going drop that much coin on a car why not lease a CLK55 AMG Coupe?
0-60 in 4.8sec.

 

Because it doesn't handle like the M3 does. I'm seriously looking at the SLK32 AMG, but the damn things only come in an automatic. I love that little car...

 

Leasing to customers is just another way for companies to make money. To me, it makes more sense to lease a vehicle for business purposes rather than personal use. Why? A business owner can 1) expense the monthly cost of the lease from gross earnings, 2) expense the cost of maintaining the vehicle, and 3) depreciate the value of the vehicle. A personal lease on a vehicle is in reality renting. At the end of the lease, a leaser will end up with nothing except the joy of driving a vehicle he/she doesn't own. Just my humble two cents.

 

And, me too!!! Don't worry, we know exactly how you feel!!!




ADMAN

 

Damn that color looks good in that picture...

 

Nice ride! There was one (the same color) behind me the other day at a traffic light making a left. We finally made the turn (tires chirping and all) and he was behind me again making another left into the costco parking lot.

Congratulations!