Pretty much. Having owned both, though, I prefer the interior in an import, the drive-line in a domestic, and think the mechanical quality is very similar with the nod going to American cars for drive-line durability and Import cars for accessory/interior/fit-finish durability and longevity.

Imports are stepping up their drive-lines, and domestics are stepping up their interiors, though.

Mainly, I prefer the high-revving V8's in domestics (The new mustang redline is what, 7K? as was my Z06, I LOVE! revving out a big V8!), and the "wrap around" type cockpit feel of an Import.

I am waiting to see if Nissan installs a better driveline in the new "370" Z, or if Ford makes a more "cockpit" like cabin for the 2015 mustang.

I really think 2014-2018 will mark the point where import and domestic cars are so similar that brand-preference and style preference are the main deciding factors.

I feel similar about my 370Z. It is a fully loaded Sport/Touring car, but for some reason, it does NOT feel like I am driving a $40K car. It feels more like I am in highschool. I tend to dress like a highschooler, too (gym shorts and a T-shirt usually), when I am not in scrubs. It really doesn't help, lol

I love it, but I certainly do not think it impresses anyone. It just looks cool/youthful/fun.

A 335i would have cost me about the same and gone a LONG ways further on the "I am a professional with a real career" path than my 370Z, which almost screams "Mommy and Daddy bought me this as a graduation present!"

However, the fact remains that I value my opinion over that of others when it comes to something MY money pays for--so I bought what I wanted and am happier for it. I just don't expect anyone to think much of it when I pull up in it. Luckily, my car is not a substitute for a personality. I can be a raging **** at times, though, so maybe I missed my calling on the BMW. Japanese and American. I need a German car next.

Audi ftw

wish my iphone let me use the "stir the pot" emoticon

Here's my opinion on this subject and I think I have a pretty good perspective from which to comment as I sold a 2007 335i Coupe for the 2012 Nissan 370z Touring w/Sport & Nav Package that I'm driving now. BMW makes amazing cars, most of which are some combination of high performance and luxury. Yes, you pay more for the BMW brand but I don't think you pay that much more when you consider that all maintenance is included for the first 5 years or 50,000 miles (something you do not get with Nissan). The majority of the cars that Nissan makes are a combination of value and reliability with the GT-R and 370Z being the the exceptions. Now don't get me wrong, I think the 370Z is a great car and very value priced for what you get but it's not an amazing car. Also, let me leave no doubt in anyone's mind, a stock 335 or 135 will beat a stock 370z every single time. The 335 and 135's are fast, wicked fast (0-60 times are around 4.8 secs). M Series cars are even faster. It all comes down to what you want to spend. You're going to pay more for a BMW, but you're going to get a higher performing car and you're going to pay less for the Z and still get a good performer.

Stock 335 or 135 is right in line with the Z. Not really faster at all.......

Agreed. You can chip them and get decent gains. An M3 or 1M will dust a Z stock, but the *35i series isn't smoking a Z stock for stock. They're nicer cars, imo, but not "blow off your doors" faster.

Stock for stock, they aren't much faster...also that "free" maintenance is far from free. You're paying for it along with the badge. A dealer can throw in a "free" maintenance plan when you're negotiating the price of the Z for instance. It's like with anything companies throw in for free.

I don't think they are really any faster at all. They are definitely nice cars. They are luxury sedans though.

Here are the stats I found on the 35i that are fairly revealing.
2012 335I
Curb weight: 3591 lb
Power: 300 hp @ 5800 rpm
Torque: 300 lb-ft @ 1200 rpm
PRICE AS TESTED: $55,745
2012 BMW 335i Sedan Test – Review – Car and Driver



2012 370z sport/touring
SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM 332 @ 7000
SAE Net Torque @ RPM 270 @ 5200
Base Curb Weight 3291 lbs
$37760 370Z 2dr Cpe Manual Touring
2012 Nissan Z Nissan 370Z coupe Car Buying Guide at CARandDRIVER.com- 2012 Nissan


So there you have it. 370z lighter and has more HP. BMW edges it on torque but also red lines at a much lower RPM. So just viewing these numbers I find it hard to believe the 335 would be any faster. Maybe off the line due to its peak torque coming at a lower rpm..


EDIT: Definitly agree the m3 ,m1 are faster. M3 by a lot, m1 not too much. normal bmers though are not

holy crap, no wonder BMW acceleration is scarily smooth. My friend driving a 335i and didn't realize until a couple seconds later we're already approaching 80mpg.

A BMW is not about straight-line speed, and neither is the 370Z. BMW's suspension is much more composed than the Z's, in their "sport" line. The gear-boxes are slicker, and the engines much more refined.

It's a different kind of vehicle, regardless of "raw" paper data.

You are getting more than just "a badge" with the money you spend when you buy a BMW that gives comparable "paper numbers" to a Nissan product.

I disagree to be honest,i think my 370z feels cool,hip,i wish i had your car feeling when i drive my car,do not get me wrong i do not act like a douche,i have also owned BMW in the past and i would not choose a 335i over my Z,i would choose a M3 anyday of week.

Give me a choice between a GTR and any M series i would pick the gtr HANDS DOWN

I'm thinking about a CPO E92 M3 right now. Honestly the only thing holding me back is the fact that I'm not enough of a douche to live up to the badge.

Love the car but I've never had a good experience with an M3 owner on the street.

every time i share the road with a bmw driver, they find it necessary to floor it, swerve in my lane in front of me, close enough to remove the clear coat off my bumper (all this with little or no other traffic prohibiting safe distance driving), or just switch into my lane while next to me, as if my car didnt exist, running me off the road (if i didnt feel like filling out an accident report, waiting for my car to be repaired, filing an insurance claim, etc.). they all try to prove something. egotistical b**t*rds

im sure there are decent people who own bmw's (some of you guys), but i have yet to encounter one while driving

This is true. It's why I said that while the Bimmers are probably nicer vehicles, they're not way quicker. My Dad had a Z4, and while it wasn't as fast as other vehicles in the price range, it by far had the best clutch, the nicest overall driving feel out of anything he cross-shopped. Fantastic fun, that little car, and extremely well built. But, even then, badge does make up quite a bit of the price, even though BMW is not as big a deal in Europe.

Maybe I intercommunicated. My car looks how it feels--as you describe. I simply meant that it's a fun, playful thing, not a serious, respect-demanding thing.

It's like comparing Bill Gates to Jack Black. Everyone likes hanging out with Jack Black, but go somewhere with Bill Gates, and "Yes" is all you will hear.

I have a friend that is an MD. He drove an E46 back when they were the current model M3. Very cool, down-to earth guy, and he never was snotty to anyone that I ever saw.

Yes you are:icon17:

:iagree: labeling folks based on the car they drive is rarely fair to the individual owner. Even if there's a generalized reputation that comes with some certain brand image, you shouldn't base judgment on a person based on the car they drive, unless that car is a Prius. :roflpuke2:

Whatever happened to the days of just appreciating other beautifully engineered vehicles? I feel like the people who think you are trying to prove something with your car, are the ones who are trying to do so with theirs. I went to a meet this weekend where there were Lambo's, Mazerati's, Ferrari's, Ford GT's and all sorts of other 6 figure + cars. The Z costs about 1/6 of some of the rides and people who owned the high end exotics still wanted to check out the Z and appreciated it for what it was. They could have been like "who is this kid pulling up in a yellow $30k sports car think he is parking next to me Lambo?" But instead, I pulled into a group of people taking pictures of the car! :tup:

Why can't everyone have that sort of mutual respect?

Didn't even know people drove cars other than BMW's......

:stirthepot:

Of course they do. But I understand what you mean. Us non-BMW owners didn't even know someone's manhood could come in "extra small" size. :stirthepot:

Non-BMW owner? Sorry I don't associate with your type.

;)

Coming from the guy that was rocking a z06:icon17:

Bill Gates is a douche.

You're a douche.

That's what a douche BMW owner would say.

So when/if I get an M3, where are all of the cuddle parties?

:icon17:

:icon18::roflpuke2:

Econ's house. Bring beer & condoms

I figured that was implied. :icon17:

**Bring Smirnoff Ice and Condoms.

someone brought up the Z4. i drove a Z3 and felt that the clutch was like that of a tractor. horrible. can anyone who has driven both give a brief comparo? not that i would ever buy one, just wondering if they improved it, or if thats what bmw actually considers to be "refined".

I brought up the Z4. I only drove a Z3 once, and it was a very long time ago, so I can't really remember how it felt. But the Z4's clutch was smooth as silk. It was fantastic, in my opinion.

I think we'll be seeing some cool things from BMW in the near future. Check out some of their recentnly filed trademarks:

•X2, X4
•M1, M2, M7, M10
•2 Series
•2 Series Active Tourer
•M35, M40, M55, M300, M350, M400, M500
•M130, M135, M140, M230, M235, M240, M330, M335, M340, M430, M435, M440, M450, M550, M650, M750
•M50d
•Compactive, Compactive Tourer, Gran Tourer, Urbanic
•E1, E2, E3, E4, E5, E6, E7, E8, E9
•i1, i2, i3, i4, i5, i6, i7, i8, i9
•Z8
•GC, Gran Coupe, BMW Gran Coupe, 6er Gran Coupe
•SportMode, CoolMode, Air Collar, BMW Turbotec, Drive eCharged, LifeDrive, i Pedelec
•Corniche, Shadow, Wraith, Cloud, Dawn

CoolMode
http://onlyhdwallpapers.com/thumbnai...per-158842.png

I love seeing rich girls driving around in brand new 5 series. I was coming back from a local off road park and on the highway. My jeep was covered in dirt and the exhaust has been chopped so it kind of smells (rock chopped it off). I was passing in the right lane and they both looked over and kind of rolled their eyes at me in obvious disgust sine they though that I was some stupid redneck, which I am to some some degree but I clean up nice haha. I couldn't resist so yelled over to them to call me and they just rolled up their window in the usual fashion. I love messing with people who think they are better then everyone else and they were perfect targets. I would love to have an M3 but I do seem to notice BMW drivers are a on the worse end when to comes to stuff like this. Then again, ricers are the exact same way only their cars tend to be pretty crappy.

This actually makes you look like the douche, lol.

That was the idea. I have only ever seen people give those kinds of looks in response to a simple wave when they think they are better then you. In this case, they were driving a BMW. My response of " call me" was just to have a little fun since i highly doubt i will see them again.