135i or 370z

ct63084 · 08-09-2009, 09:34 PM

Yeah same here i don't own a Z but if your going to get a BMW get a 335 or a M3. The 135 can get on the price range of the 3 series with options on it.

Lone Wolf 75 · 08-09-2009, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ct63084

Yeah same here i don't own a Z but if your going to get a BMW get a 335 or a M3. The 135 can get on the price range of the 3 series with options on it.

I also cross shopped the 135i and the 335 Coupe with the 370Z. The problem that I found was that most of the BMW Dealers here load the hell out of the cars they have on the lot, making the BMWs much more expensive than the 370Z's. One of the lots I went to did not have a single BMW under $54K

What it came down to for me was that I could get a fully loaded 370Z or a very basic BMW with no options. It's my opinion that a person is always better off getting everything they want as far as options go, otherwise you may kick yourself later for not getting that "difficult to install later" option.

Another thing I did was research on the various forums. I found that the Z forums (here and at my350z.com) were pretty friendly and I fit the demographic. As it sounds like you have discovered, the BMW forum community is a little less friendly, I also think I would be slightly out of place there, since I don't turn my nose up at other cars and say such things as "Oh, it's only a 'insert substandard manufacturer here', it's not a BMW." You could also go to a meet and ask some of the regulars how they like their cars. I did this a year or so ago when I was getting ready to replace my Subaru. I went to a 350z meet and even went for a ride in one of the members cars. Owners will give you an honest view of what they like, don't like, wish was different, etc. about the car. For me, after that meet, I was ready to go and purchase a 350Z. But then my life kinda changed for a year or so and then I decided to wait until the 370Z came out.

Regarding the financing, if you have good credit and get 3.9% from BMW, you can very likely get 3.99% at Pen Fed - see the sticky in the Purchasing forum.

Paul

tstrick9 · 08-09-2009, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ct63084

Yeah same here i don't own a Z but if your going to get a BMW get a 335 or a M3. The 135 can get on the price range of the 3 series with options on it.

I agree with this opinion...the 335 is the way to go for the smaller bmw's. Besides the 135 is ugly.

CCCLXXZ · 08-09-2009, 09:37 PM

Both are awesome cars. I had the same decision a few months ago...

The 1 is smooth and refined yet peppy. A great car to drive in...

The Z is a drivers car... great feedback from the wheel and seat. A great car to drive...

Honestly a BMW is a BMW, but the Z has personality.

Enjoy your choice!

Nick

chris410 · 08-09-2009, 09:50 PM

Both cars are pretty similar, if you plan on keeping the car for a long time I'd say the Z. BMW's tend to get pretting maintenance intensive as the miles pile on. For the record my wife and I between us have owned 3 M3's...great cars but as the miles came on (65K) range they need more attention.

Either one I'm sure you'll be happy...performance stock VS stock they are close with of course the edge going to the Z when it comes to handling. However, from a looks perspective, I like the Z better. Good luck...either way!

havasuwiley · 08-09-2009, 09:59 PM

get the z,a baby beemer just would't do it for me

Trips · 08-09-2009, 10:00 PM

Just coming back to Nissan from BMW I say if your not sure look at it this way a 4 year warranty everything covered then save your money because as soon as it's out of warranty look out for the repair bills. I ran over something on the freeway and cracked the transmission oil pan and it set me back 700$ Ouch! another negative is if you Modify the Mods are more expensive and your warranties out the door because any problem you have there going to blame your mod, Now Nissan is less expensive to Modify and less expensive to repair for the life of the car. now what do you really want?

o0javi0o · 08-09-2009, 10:20 PM

Ask yourself, what are your needs.

Brazilbro · 08-09-2009, 10:45 PM

I looked at both cars too. I was really looking more at the BMW because of the turbo. I wasn't looking to take a step backwards after the evo in a N/A car. The cheapest I found was in the low 40's so i figured for that price I could bolt on a turbo and still have a sexy 2 seater.. plus everyone I showed the BMW too said it was ugly.. and after having the evo i didnt want another guy magnat.

speed_BMW330i · 08-10-2009, 12:11 AM

What a coincidence, I drove down to both a BMW and Nissan dealership this afternoon to check out both the 135i and the 370z. I'm probably a few months away before I buy, so I'm not ready to commit yet, but I wanted to check them out in person.

Price:
The 370Z is cheaper, even if its fully decked out. However, if you want to save about $5k or $6k on a Bimmer, you may want to consider European Delivery. I've done the math on an almost fully loaded 135i (with Nav, leather, comfort access, you name it) and it comes out to around $40k with ED. You throw in a $1,000 to $1,500 profit to the dealer and your within spitting range of a fully loaded 370Z.

I've attached a BMW Wholesale Pricing list for the MY 2010. You may want do check out the math for yourself.

Interior:
Neither are gonna be mistaken for Bentleys, but the Bimmer does have a slight edge. As a "luxury car" they do have a few options that the 370Z doesn't offer, but nothing really major. The problem with Bimmers is that they make you pay for stuff that is standard on Japanese luxury cars. For instance, the base 135i doesn't even come with a freakin car alarm or leather.

Looks:
I have to say that the 370Z really says "sports car", while the 135i is more of a sporty coupe. I kinda get the feeling that if you purchased the 135i, after a few months you might get the feeling that you had a normal coupe, without the "whoa" looks of a 370Z. With a 370Z, every time you see it you're gonna be reminded that you have a sports car, no doubt. But looks are subjective.

Driving/Handling:
I'll leave that to the pros on this board, as I'm still trying to learn to drive a stick. Having said that, how many people (not including the hardcore racers on this board) are really good enough drivers to be able to tell the difference in terms of handling and performance. I think for most drivers, both of these cars are more than enough to meet their driving expectations.

Reliability:
The Bimmers have suffered from some HPFP issues, but it doesn't seem to be that bad and BMW has extended the warranty for 10 years on the HPFP. Overall, I think BMW's have a pretty good history of overall reliability. As good as Honda, probably not, but better than Audi or MB or any domestics.

Practicality:
Hands down, the BMW wins this round. Although if you have a second car, this may not be an issue.

If you have any questions on European Delivery, you can wiki it or try some of the Bimmer boards. All I can say is that anyone who doesn't buy a car via ED must have some money to burn, because ED is the easiest way to save some major cash, unless you're purchasing a car that has a ton of incentives.

Hope this helps.

Personally, I'm leaning towards the 370Z for 2 reasons, one is price and the other is the styling.

Martin

charsu · 08-29-2009, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speed_BMW330i

What a coincidence, I drove down to both a BMW and Nissan dealership this afternoon to check out both the 135i and the 370z. I'm probably a few months away before I buy, so I'm not ready to commit yet, but I wanted to check them out in person.

Price:
The 370Z is cheaper, even if its fully decked out. However, if you want to save about $5k or $6k on a Bimmer, you may want to consider European Delivery. I've done the math on an almost fully loaded 135i (with Nav, leather, comfort access, you name it) and it comes out to around $40k with ED. You throw in a $1,000 to $1,500 profit to the dealer and your within spitting range of a fully loaded 370Z.

I've attached a BMW Wholesale Pricing list for the MY 2010. You may want do check out the math for yourself.

Interior:
Neither are gonna be mistaken for Bentleys, but the Bimmer does have a slight edge. As a "luxury car" they do have a few options that the 370Z doesn't offer, but nothing really major. The problem with Bimmers is that they make you pay for stuff that is standard on Japanese luxury cars. For instance, the base 135i doesn't even come with a freakin car alarm or leather.

Looks:
I have to say that the 370Z really says "sports car", while the 135i is more of a sporty coupe. I kinda get the feeling that if you purchased the 135i, after a few months you might get the feeling that you had a normal coupe, without the "whoa" looks of a 370Z. With a 370Z, every time you see it you're gonna be reminded that you have a sports car, no doubt. But looks are subjective.

Driving/Handling:
I'll leave that to the pros on this board, as I'm still trying to learn to drive a stick. Having said that, how many people (not including the hardcore racers on this board) are really good enough drivers to be able to tell the difference in terms of handling and performance. I think for most drivers, both of these cars are more than enough to meet their driving expectations.

Reliability:
The Bimmers have suffered from some HPFP issues, but it doesn't seem to be that bad and BMW has extended the warranty for 10 years on the HPFP. Overall, I think BMW's have a pretty good history of overall reliability. As good as Honda, probably not, but better than Audi or MB or any domestics.

Practicality:
Hands down, the BMW wins this round. Although if you have a second car, this may not be an issue.

If you have any questions on European Delivery, you can wiki it or try some of the Bimmer boards. All I can say is that anyone who doesn't buy a car via ED must have some money to burn, because ED is the easiest way to save some major cash, unless you're purchasing a car that has a ton of incentives.

Hope this helps.

Personally, I'm leaning towards the 370Z for 2 reasons, one is price and the other is the styling.

Martin

greatly appreciate your analysis.
tough choice really.
but as a single college student, id go for the 370z.
BMW 135i was my ideal car but i had figured that i dont need the luxuries, and the status... and the problems......
its a mini bimmer alright, but NOT the bottom of the food chain as some of the members alluded to.
plus after the warranties expires... alll hell break loose... in theory
japanese cars are notorious for their reliability.
hope i was helpful in your decision with my random thoughts

Benibiker · 08-10-2009, 01:16 AM

I think the BMW will spend more time in the shop and the Z will spend more time on the road...

spearfish25 · 08-10-2009, 01:57 PM

In response to a person stating earlier that the 135i has an advantage for being a BMW, I would argue that the BMW has no 'prestige' appeal in this situation. You're talking about a 135i...the bottom of the BMW totem pole. No one will say "wow, that's one of the smallest, cheapest BMWs in the whole lineup." Being a BMW doesn't get the 135i ahead in my book. As for the 370Z, it sits at the other end of the food chain in the Nissan lineup right with the GT-R. People will oogle it.

whoady4shoady · 08-10-2009, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25

In response to a person stating earlier that the 135i has an advantage for being a BMW, I would argue that the BMW has no 'prestige' appeal in this situation. You're talking about a 135i...the bottom of the BMW totem pole. No one will say "wow, that's one of the smallest, cheapest BMWs in the whole lineup." Being a BMW doesn't get the 135i ahead in my book. As for the 370Z, it sits at the other end of the food chain in the Nissan lineup right with the GT-R. People will oogle it.

Pretty good point. You wouldnt believe how many people thought the Z would cost me close to 50 when i started talking about getting one. To me and many others it looks close to a super car.

Modshack · 08-10-2009, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25

In response to a person stating earlier that the 135i has an advantage for being a BMW, I would argue that the BMW has no 'prestige' appeal in this situation. You're talking about a 135i...the bottom of the BMW totem pole. No one will say "wow, that's one of the smallest, cheapest BMWs in the whole lineup." Being a BMW doesn't get the 135i ahead in my book. As for the 370Z, it sits at the other end of the food chain in the Nissan lineup right with the GT-R. People will oogle it.

Similar to how the Boxster is perceived by the Porsche "Faithful".....

08-09-2009, 09:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
CCCLXXZ Base Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chicago Suburbs Posts: 164 Drives: T/S/MB/6 370z Rep Power: 402	Both are awesome cars. I had the same decision a few months ago... The 1 is smooth and refined yet peppy. A great car to drive in... The Z is a drivers car... great feedback from the wheel and seat. A great car to drive... Honestly a BMW is a BMW, but the Z has personality. Enjoy your choice! Nick __________________ Mods - Maxim Works Exhaust Manifold, FI HFC, Mines Y-Pipe, Saclam Silencer

08-09-2009, 09:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
chris410 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 345 Drives: 10' GT500 Rep Power: 17	Both cars are pretty similar, if you plan on keeping the car for a long time I'd say the Z. BMW's tend to get pretting maintenance intensive as the miles pile on. For the record my wife and I between us have owned 3 M3's...great cars but as the miles came on (65K) range they need more attention. Either one I'm sure you'll be happy...performance stock VS stock they are close with of course the edge going to the Z when it comes to handling. However, from a looks perspective, I like the Z better. Good luck...either way! __________________ Chris Current: 2014 WRX Stage I + SPT / 2013 Hayabusa 202HP Former:09 370Z 7-AT PW/Ark Type 2 exhaust/Evo R lip/TSW Nurburgring carbon

08-09-2009, 10:00 PM	#7 (permalink)
Trips Administrator Join Date: May 2009 Location: Disneyland, Ca Posts: 8,732 Drives: 🔰 Rep Power: 10	Just coming back to Nissan from BMW I say if your not sure look at it this way a 4 year warranty everything covered then save your money because as soon as it's out of warranty look out for the repair bills. I ran over something on the freeway and cracked the transmission oil pan and it set me back 700$ Ouch! another negative is if you Modify the Mods are more expensive and your warranties out the door because any problem you have there going to blame your mod, Now Nissan is less expensive to Modify and less expensive to repair for the life of the car. now what do you really want? __________________

08-10-2009, 01:16 AM	#12 (permalink)
Benibiker Base Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Honolulu Hawaii Posts: 235 Drives: Red 17 370Z Touring Rep Power: 16	I think the BMW will spend more time in the shop and the Z will spend more time on the road... __________________ 2017 Pure Red 6MT 370Z Touring

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08-09-2009, 09:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
ct63084 Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: FAIRFIELD CA Posts: 219 Drives: 2004 MAZDA3 Rep Power: 17	Yeah same here i don't own a Z but if your going to get a BMW get a 335 or a M3. The 135 can get on the price range of the 3 series with options on it.

08-09-2009, 09:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
havasuwiley Base Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: lake havasu city az Posts: 131 Drives: 09 370z, 03 z06 etc Rep Power: 17	get the z,a baby beemer just would't do it for me

08-09-2009, 10:20 PM	#8 (permalink)
o0javi0o Enthusiast Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Dallas, Tx Posts: 458 Drives: '15 ///M3 6MT Rep Power: 17	Ask yourself, what are your needs.

08-09-2009, 10:45 PM	#9 (permalink)
Brazilbro A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 1,131 Drives: Juke/240Z Rep Power: 849	I looked at both cars too. I was really looking more at the BMW because of the turbo. I wasn't looking to take a step backwards after the evo in a N/A car. The cheapest I found was in the low 40's so i figured for that price I could bolt on a turbo and still have a sexy 2 seater.. plus everyone I showed the BMW too said it was ugly.. and after having the evo i didnt want another guy magnat.

08-10-2009, 01:57 PM	#13 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1857	In response to a person stating earlier that the 135i has an advantage for being a BMW, I would argue that the BMW has no 'prestige' appeal in this situation. You're talking about a 135i...the bottom of the BMW totem pole. No one will say "wow, that's one of the smallest, cheapest BMWs in the whole lineup." Being a BMW doesn't get the 135i ahead in my book. As for the 370Z, it sits at the other end of the food chain in the Nissan lineup right with the GT-R. People will oogle it.