help choosing new car 335i or M?

I've got a baby (first one) coming in Sept and can't decide what to do with the car situation.

Current car for me is a 2005 330Ci convertible, manual, performance package. I love it, but can't see myself struggling to put a baby seat in the back. I unfortunately need a sedan. Ugh.

After spending months in denial, I have finally come to accept my fate and have been wavering between a 335i, an M3 sedan, and a 535i. I of course want the M, but cannot seem to convince the rational side of my brain. The M3 is gorgeous. My conscience unfortunately says it would be way too much of an expensive toy given the sticker price difference. It also irks me with the gas mileage. That V8 sucks it down and I live in a fairly urban area. I have been giving my wife crap about her SUV mileage and the M would probably get worse. I would likely finance this car as I would keep it for about five years.

The 335i I would have to get in steptronic, which bugs me as well (resale is absolute crap on sedan manuals - step also would allow my wife to drive more easily). The car drove fine, but didn't have the evil grin factor of the M. It didn't have the same fun factor as driving the 335Ci manual I drove when it first came out. If I chose a 3 sedan, I would probably special order and lease this car for three years.

My last option is a 5 series. With the upcoming redesign, I could probably get a really good 2-year lease deal.

Thoughts?

The E90 is getting the facelift for next year, so you may be able to get into one for cheap. The 335i and 535i both have 0.9% APR finance rates right now through BMW.

The 335i is the most economical. You'll get the best gas mileage and you'll still have the back seat. If you enjoy tuning, the 335i has the most number of available parts. The 335i still gets to 60 in around 5 seconds, even in steptronic. The ZF automatic is leaps and bounds beyond the previous Getrag transmission.

The 535i is a good comfort option. It's bigger and beefier with lots of comfort. It's not as economical as the 335i due to the increased weight, and it's also a little bit slower. The car will be much more comfortable to drive, and the Steptronic on that car has that really sweet shifting stick. It's going to be the best option for toting around a kid due to the larger cabin space. You can still tune this car, but it has the fewest options available.

The E90 M3 is your sporty option. The Sedan has very similar stats to the coupe, and it's very sexy looking since it has the coupe front end. The specs for interior and options are about the same as the 335i, so the only difference would be the power and transmission choices. The M3 comes in the 6MT, and also the M-DCT transmission. If you need something that's easier to use that a manual for the wife, the M-DCT is the best option. The thing you need to take into account is that the M3 has the worst fuel economy and is going to be jerky and stiff in the ride quality. That's probably going to upset the baby.


All in all, I think the 335i is your best option. You'll get the best fuel economy, and it'll be smooth. The 535i is heavy and just as expensive as the M3. If you desire more power, you can get a Dinan or AA tune with exhaust and other goodies. Just be sure to get it with the sports package.

I drove 335, 135 and M3 back to back and to be honest with you during street driving where rpms are less than 5000, 135 and 335 felt like they had more grunt than the m3. M3 was brand new and I could not go higher than 5K rpms so I couldnt ring the engine. below 5k rpms M3 does not feel super fast.

M3 FTW