Need unbiassed car buying advice (325 vs TSX vs 9-3)

[ri0tnerrrrrd]

Hi all. I'm in the market for a "near luxary" car or whatever you want to call it. I've driven as much as I could over the last few weeks and I've gotten it down to 3 (actually 6) choices.

2006 BMW 325 or 2004 BMW 325
2006 Acura TSX or 2004 Acura TSX
2006 Saab 9-3 2.0 or 2004 Saab 9-3 Arc

This will be my first car that's new (or close to new). I'm 24, been driving a 96 Saab 900 the last few years. I'll probably put about 10K down and finance the rest.

The Saab will probably end up being the cheapest of the 3, but they depreciate in value pretty quickly. They also tend to spend a ton of time in the shop, as I've witnessed by owning 2 oldish Saabs. Maybe this won't be as big a deal if I actually have a warrenty for once. I really loved how it drove. It was probably my best test drive.

The Acura is a very reasonable price and comes loaded with standard features. I was less than excited by the acceleration in my TSX test drive, but all they had at the time was an auto...so I need to drive a stick to really see if I like it. They hold their value pretty well, and I read good things.

Then the BMW. The best "value" in terms of low depreciation, so I could sell it in 5 years for a lot more than I could sell the other cars, but it also costs a lot more. At first glance the 325i is only a couple grand more, but if I try to match the standard features of the TSX the price blows up, especially on a new one. I suspect most that read this are more BMW experts than the other 2 cars, so I'll ask some specific questions: I live in the northeast for now (I might move somewhere warmer in the next year or so). Can I get away without the xi? The car was redesigned in 2006....is it that much better now than in 04?

Any other advice you can think of would be great. Anyone else consider the TSX and the 9-3 before deciding on the BMW?

Thanks in advance

Jamie

 

[tool fan]

Tha Acura is nice but if you have the cash flow the 2006 325i is a nice ride. I am very impartial to SAAB altogether.

Kind of hard to come onto a BMW forum and ask for unbiased opinions on what car to buy when a BMW is an option.

Welcome aboard and regardless of what you buy, (even if it is not a Bimmer) we look forward to seeing you post ...often.

 

[bmw046series]

Go with the 3er.

 

[epj3]

Test drive all 3 and buy which feels best to you and which one you feel as if you can spend the $$ on. I'd def say go with the BMW or Acura. Both are going to be great cars, but you need to figure out which one you want more.

Also, Can you live with RWD in the winter? If not, the acura is your best choice.

 

[MrElussive]

Welcome to the forum!

The TSX is the best value and offers really good build quality for the price, the 9-3 Sedan gets expensive when you load it up with options but is a very unique and capable car, and the 325i will have the best overall quality and luxury (as well as offering the best handling performance). This decision would be easy for me since the TSX and 9-3 are FWD...I would just go with the BMW as no serious sport sedan should be FWD.

 

[ri0tnerrrrrd]

Thanks for the advice so far.

Does anyone with a 325i have anything good or bad to say about "living with a RWD in winter"?

Also, what are your thoughts on the 06 vs 04? Is it worth the extra money to get the new one?

 

[wood_e]

RWD in winter isn't that bad if you have the correct tires. I had a camaro a while back with performance rubber and I could get stuck on LEVEL pavement. I bought some snow tires and it was a night and day difference.

 

[epj3]

RWD in winter isn't that bad if you have the correct tires. I had a camaro a while back with performance rubber and I could get stuck on LEVEL pavement. I bought some snow tires and it was a night and day difference.

Well the 325i isn't the only rwd bmw...they ALL are, and all pretty much drive the same in the winter. The new 3 series have an amazing traction/stability system that is WORLDS beyond what any of my cars have had. My '88 325is and my '89 535i had NO traction control what-so-ever (other than my feet!) but had limited slip differentials, which made it a little easier to get going. I never ever had a problem and I HAD to drive those cars in the snow!! My M3, well, we'll see how that is. My friend has a '94 325i with a limited slip and stability control, and with that combination and SUMMER TIRES, he got around fine for the most part for the 1 or 2 snows we had.

It really depends if YOU can handle it, and understanding that when the snow is as high/higher than the car's ride height, you aren't going anywhere.

 

[frolf]

Well the 325i isn't the only rwd bmw...they ALL are, and all pretty much drive the same in the winter. The new 3 series have an amazing traction/stability system that is WORLDS beyond what any of my cars have had. My '88 325is and my '89 535i had NO traction control what-so-ever (other than my feet!) but had limited slip differentials, which made it a little easier to get going. I never ever had a problem and I HAD to drive those cars in the snow!! My M3, well, we'll see how that is. My friend has a '94 325i with a limited slip and stability control, and with that combination and SUMMER TIRES, he got around fine for the most part for the 1 or 2 snows we had.

It really depends if YOU can handle it, and understanding that when the snow is as high/higher than the car's ride height, you aren't going anywhere.

yo traction control and lsd won't do shit for you if you run on summer rubber in the winter. my gf used to rag on me about rwd (she drives a jetta) and then i put my winters on as soon as the snow fell, her mind was changed instantly. tires make the difference. the world drove with rwd til the 70s, got along fine. open dif, lsd, fwd, rwd, doesn't matter much if your tires suck

 

[wood_e]

Eric, I meant generally in RWD tire selection matters...

Generally, I agree if you drive a RWD car in winter, you're going to need a winter set of tires.

 

[epj3]

Eric, I meant generally in RWD tire selection matters...

Generally, I agree if you drive a RWD car in winter, you're going to need a winter set of tires.

Adding to that - don't assume all seasons will be good in snow... they can't TOUCH winter tires! it's so much cheaper and easier to buy a 2nd set of wheels with dedicated winter tires, than to wreck your car because you cheaped out on some all seasons.

 

[Abdoman]

If you have the money - the 325, I don't think the TSX compares to the 325. I have driven my friends' and I definitely like the 325 much better - the TL is some serious competition for the 325 though. Can't comment on the Saab, but I think one guy on this board has one.

 

[nadroj]

Hi all. I'm in the market for a "near luxary" car or whatever you want to call it. I've driven as much as I could over the last few weeks and I've gotten it down to 3 (actually 6) choices.

2006 BMW 325 or 2004 BMW 325
2006 Acura TSX or 2004 Acura TSX
2006 Saab 9-3 2.0 or 2004 Saab 9-3 Arc

This will be my first car that's new (or close to new). I'm 24, been driving a 96 Saab 900 the last few years. I'll probably put about 10K down and finance the rest.

The Saab will probably end up being the cheapest of the 3, but they depreciate in value pretty quickly. They also tend to spend a ton of time in the shop, as I've witnessed by owning 2 oldish Saabs. Maybe this won't be as big a deal if I actually have a warrenty for once. I really loved how it drove. It was probably my best test drive.

The Acura is a very reasonable price and comes loaded with standard features. I was less than excited by the acceleration in my TSX test drive, but all they had at the time was an auto...so I need to drive a stick to really see if I like it. They hold their value pretty well, and I read good things.

Then the BMW. The best "value" in terms of low depreciation, so I could sell it in 5 years for a lot more than I could sell the other cars, but it also costs a lot more. At first glance the 325i is only a couple grand more, but if I try to match the standard features of the TSX the price blows up, especially on a new one. I suspect most that read this are more BMW experts than the other 2 cars, so I'll ask some specific questions: I live in the northeast for now (I might move somewhere warmer in the next year or so). Can I get away without the xi? The car was redesigned in 2006....is it that much better now than in 04?

Any other advice you can think of would be great. Anyone else consider the TSX and the 9-3 before deciding on the BMW?

Thanks in advance

Jamie

Yes you can live with out the xi easily i saw an artical some where (dont rember where maybe roundel) that said his e90 3er with snow tires took on the snow with ease. I think as long as you just get some snow tires you would be fine in the winter

 

[///M SPEED]

The TSX for the money (with the options) my be the better buy, however don't forget the warrantee you will get with the 3-series. You pay virtually nothing for the first 4 years.....

 

[getupkid3]

I live in WI with a 3 series and even a good set of snow tires will still have you praying for your life during some snow storms. RWD is never good on slick, snow-covered roads, even with the best of snow tires, but the car is well worth owning, especially in the spring, summer and fall months.

Just some advice from a guy who has driven in his share of snow for a pretty good chunk of time annually.

 

[brahtw8]

I live in WI with a 3 series and even a good set of snow tires will still have you praying for your life during some snow storms. RWD is never good on slick, snow-covered roads, even with the best of snow tires, but the car is well worth owning, especially in the spring, summer and fall months.

Just some advice from a guy who has driven in his share of snow for a pretty good chunk of time annually.

I disagree. I live in Wisconsin. I drive 25-30k a year all across the state. I drove an E36 325i for three winters on Michelin Pilot Alpin snow tires, with no drama or problems. I drove my E46 M3 all last winter on Dunlop Wintersport M3s, again with no drama or problems. In both cars I drove long distances in the midst of the heaviest snow falls of the year.

As long as you understand basics of car control and don't do anything foolish like hitting the brakes while turning, snows will get you through just fine. I believe a well-balanced RWD car with snow tires is often superior to the average FWD with all-seasons. The skills learned in car control clinics and HPDEs translate perfectly to driving in low-traction. I highly recommend such events to anyone who wants to drive a RWD in snow.

 

[epj3]

I'm with Brahtw8. Except for getting moving (which is due to the all-seasons I had), both my e30 and e34 were a breeze in the snow. Never got stuck, never spun out, etc. And by the way - my e30 and e34 both had a very primitive traction control system.... called it "MRF" which stands for "MY RIGHT FOOT"

I am pretty sure your dsc, asc, tscwhatever you have on the e46 and e90 will be much better than MRF.

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

Thanks for the advice so far.

Does anyone with a 325i have anything good or bad to say about "living with a RWD in winter"?

Also, what are your thoughts on the 06 vs 04? Is it worth the extra money to get the new one?

The main difference between the 2004 325i (E46) and the 2006 325i (E90) is the 2006 has a 3.0 I6 with a different engine setup than the current 330i (for the sake of simplicity here) while the 2004 has a 2.5 I6. The 2004 only had 184hp and 175 torque with a 5 speed transmission, which feels slow and was slow. The 2006 has 215hp and 185 torque along with a 6 speed. Since acceleration seemed important to you, the difference between the 2004 and the 2006 in acceleration is an entire second. Auto the 2004 had a 0-60 of 8.3 seconds, while the 2006 has a 0-60 of about 7.2-7.3 which is almost as quick as an automatic 2004 330i. The 2006 325i has the same engine as the 2006 330i which puts out 255hp and 220 torque.

The 2006 also has better features such as a start button, swiveling headlights, intelligent brakes, and you can argue the build quality is better as well as the handling. I'd say it is worth the extra money to get the 06' 325i, I personally didn't like the old 2.5 I6 it seemed underpowered for that car, the brakes were soft and it got poor gas mileage in the city. Test drive the 2004 model as well as the 2006 you'll see that they're completely different cars. Unlike other car companys when BMW redesigns their cars they completey rebuild them.

As for driving in the winter without AWD, so long your tires have ample thread left, be they all seasons or snow, they'll do fine. Just be careful and stay off the road in a snowstorm.

 

[bmw046series]

Rear-Wheel Drive Cars are perfect in the snow if you know how to drive.

The Following Diagram is why it is so good, a lot of people consider it a mid-engine car. Balance.

 

[sinisterE36]

i never had a good experience with saab so i cant say much good about them
honda/acura are almost bulletproof and somewhat cheap compaired to most other car makes that their compaired to.
bmw is just as good if not better but their maintence is kinda high if you are unable to do some of your repairs.
i like both honda/acura & bmw because of the aftermarket performance support they have, the saab should have some aftermarket support if its a turbo (which would be the only type saab id buy) but like i said im not really a big fan of saabs.

if it were me id put 5k down on a 04 tsx and with the rest buy a 92-94 e36 for about 2-3k and do some mild mods and be happy .
im not much really for new cars cause i like to modify ( or improve by using performance parts) and it often voids your warranty on a new car when you do so.
but from what i see it almost looks like u want a sedan and not a coupe but if you like the new 3 series wait a few months because the new e92 is gonna be turbocharged and that might be what your looking for since your coming from a saab previously.
btw...... to the site