135i or 370z

Modshack · 08-10-2009, 05:12 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".....

Sardis · 08-10-2009, 08:13 PM

This has been covered so much in reviews and forums. The Z is a more focused sports car and the 1 is a nicer car to drive around in terms of ride qualities in luxury. Pick which benefit you enjoy more.

As for status the 1 was created to be a more focused BMW, which appeals to the old school fans such as myself, who miss the days of the old Bimmers.

For me, the hype was a bit of a letdown on the 1. It only comes in at about 100 pounds less than a 3 and isn't that much cheaper. The 1 is going to be redone soon and the rumor is a truly sports car focused "m1" lightweight, turbo charged 4. That could be the first captivating BMW in awhile for me.

Until then Z is the more focused sports car of the two

Asheth · 08-10-2009, 08:43 PM

From the rumors I had read the 1 will get a lighterweight version same power don't know if it will release here in the states though. But the BMW lineup is stacked I cant see where they are going to put it at if they do they could have easily upped the horsepower but didnt then you run into competition against the 335i and M3 then how do price it? You have the Z4 also which is a closer car to the 370z. IMO

marcussoori · 08-10-2009, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCZ

Please watch the Latest Best motoring video before you make your decision....

And don't forget to check out the Best Motoring brake test of the same cars while you're at it!

GingaBreadMan · 08-10-2009, 10:50 PM

Even though the 370z is a amazing vehicle, free maintenance is a huge benefit. I'm not a big Bimmer fan as far as ownership is concerned, but those are nice cars 2 lease imho. If ur a tuner type of guy go with the 370. If u just want a car with a little oomph and ur not looking 2 mod the Bimmer might be a good lease/buy.

dalparadise · 08-11-2009, 02:56 AM

On a similar note -- 6-7 years ago I switched from a BMW Z3 to a 330 Convertible with the M-sport package, because I wanted to retain the sportiness of the Z3, but gain the practicality, refinement and prestige of the E46 convertible. The move was more pronounced than that being discussed here -- from a $36,000 car to a $49,000 one -- but about three months after I had done it, I started regretting it.

The 330 lacked the head-turning capacity of the Z3. The so-called refinement was another way of saying they took the edge off that I liked so much in the Z3. The Z was raw and tossable. You could hear the engine and the shifter vibrated on top of a massive transmission tunnel. I dug the lack of comfort and convenience more than I realized. It made a statement. Everybody asked about the Z3. Nobody cared about the 330. Not that that was a deal-killer, but it made a difference. By that time, there was no way I was going to a Z4.

Now, many years later, I drive a 06 MX-5 and I know it's to recapture that Z3 aura. I originally planned to wait for the 370Z Roadster, but after driving a 370 coupe, I think I won't be missing a beat on the sporty side. The car is raw. It's unrefined, yet luxurious. That's a rare dichotomy in this price range. I'd hate to get into a 135 and find that I'd settled for a civilized car with background blending looks that can't fully deliver on either sport or luxury in terms of feel or driving experience.

Admittedly, I've only driven one of the cars in this equation, the 370. But, it made enough of an impression to not need to drive the other. That's coming from a reformed Bimmerphile.

armensti · 08-11-2009, 03:16 AM

pretty much it comes down to what you want. dont take advice from anyone because if you get a car based on someone elses advice you might end up regretting it. so just do a lot of hw and test drive both of the cars.

to me the 135 looks to weak. i know it has a 300hp tt engine but it just doesnt look the part compared to the z. the z out performs it on everything but comfort so thats another thing to take into consideration .

lando76 · 08-29-2009, 08:39 PM

Jesus the 135i is just plain jane boring. Ohhh but it has twin turbos that put out 32hp less than a non turbo 370z. Seriously look at the car its lines its wheel gap the back end all ugly. The designer for this car must of had a hangover that day....

WUKILLABEEZ78 · 08-29-2009, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by need4speed

If one of the wu waz readin' this they'd hunt u down n car jack whateva u drivin.
I can't believe how u people really feed into this status stuff.
That's y I'm in luv with the import tuning culture. Kids buy 15k econo cars
N entry sports cars n mod them to blow the doorz off snob azz punks like
60% of the people in here.
I said it b4 n I say it again. U could hav the flyest car in the world
But if u don't got da skill? It ain't worth Sh%t.
And most u status talkers are u 90% of the sh#ttiest drivers out there.
I put 100 bucks that sum kid in a genesis coupe n intake will destroy u in a highway battle.
JUST STOP THE STATUS BULLSH#T

Status stuff? WTF are you talking about? You think I'm a snob or into status because I said $40,000 isn't much to spend on a car? Instead of thinking that you should think that maybe one day you'll feel the same way after you become more established. I'm not some 18 year old snot-nosed kid who has never done anything in my life and comes to car forums to dream about someday being able to afford one. I'm a grown man son. The 1 series is the least expensive car BMW makes so it is CHEAP for a BMW. And for people like me who have done things in life (you don't have to be a millionaire to feel $40,000 isn't an expensive car) it's a cheap car overall. I'm not a snob for saying that, I'm just at a different place in my life than you are. Maybe you'll get there one day and maybe you won't. Some people never grow out of the street racer/ricer/need for speed phase you're still in. Money has nothing to do with mentality. If you knew who you were talking to you'd be surprised.

BanningZ · 08-29-2009, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WUKILLABEEZ78

Status stuff? WTF are you talking about? You think I'm a snob or into status because I said $40,000 isn't much to spend on a car? Instead of thinking that you should think that maybe one day you'll feel the same way after you become more established. I'm not some 18 year old snot-nosed kid who has never done anything in my life and comes to car forums to dream about someday being able to afford one. I'm a grown man son. The 1 series is the least expensive car BMW makes so it is CHEAP for a BMW. And for people like me who have done things in life (you don't have to be a millionaire to feel $40,000 isn't an expensive car) it's a cheap car overall. I'm not a snob for saying that, I'm just at a different place in my life than you are. Maybe you'll get there one day and maybe you won't. Some people never grow out of the street racer/ricer/need for speed phase you're still in. Money has nothing to do with mentality. If you knew who you were talking to you'd be surprised.

Well said sir.

Attempting to read need4speed's comment makes my head hurt.

WUKILLABEEZ78 · 08-29-2009, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BanningZ

Well said sir.

Attempting to read need4speed's comment makes my head hurt.

10-4, thanks. He's obviously still young (that really isn't an excuse, I'm only 30 myself)... If he knew the person I am and what I've done in my life he wouldn't think I'm a snob that's for sure...

charsu · 08-29-2009, 10:56 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

need4speed · 08-29-2009, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WUKILLABEEZ78

First of all a $40,000 car is definitely a starter car for a lot of people, it depends on how much $$$ you make. I wouldn't buy a 135i, I'd buy one for my daughter (if I had one) when she turned 16. Anyway, the 135i IS BMW's starter car, it's the cheapest car they make. The 3 series isn't that much more expensive than the 135i. The 135i starts off at $36,675 with no options and the 335i coupe starts off at $43,025 while the 335i sedan is $41,125. I don't call $5,000-6,000 to be much more when comparing cars and anybody that can afford a new BMW would cross shop the 1 series and 3 series depending on what they were looking for.

Huh? I'm sorry but this statement is very pretentious and doesn't make sense.
My cut off point for a Z is $36k. Not because I can't afford more. Its because I want to be financially responsible. I have a mortgage. I bought my altima out right for 29k.
And now I sold my g35 for 24k. Paid 9g's in bills and now I'm saving the rest. Hopefully I will make the whole 36k by the rollout of the 1st 2010 models. I can easily take that money. Put a down on a porsche. Which would be about the value of both your cars plus an extra $10k. Then make 60mo payments of $750. But I can get a z. Have 90% of porsche performance and save 40k which could be 3 years of state university for my kid when he's old enough for college?
Everyone has a reason for making puchases the way they do.
And its a beautiful thing u can make a 45k purchase for your 16 yr old daughter without thinking about it. If it were a perfect world we all would. Honestly I have a hard yime believing you though considering u drive a car sub 42k n ur truck is 4 years old n is worth about 16k right now. Ur 08 g35 can easily be had right now mildly used n loaded at $32k

But reality is. Some people. This is the closest they will get to a dream car.
Some will have to settle for 4banger genesis coupes. Some will have to buy used 01 preludes n modify those. To be there sports car. Many in our country just can't even afford a sports car.
So count your blessings that god blessed you with so much.
And show love for the Z on the z forum. Let's not arrogantly brag about our financial status whether real or ficticious?

Red370 · 08-30-2009, 12:27 AM

actually, model wise, it IS the bottom of BMW's food chain. Think of it as BMW's version of the Cobalt/Corolla/Lancer/Civic/Focus......

Not a bad car really, I kinda like em. But by no means is it a head turner.

Modshack · 08-30-2009, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BanningZ

Well said sir.

Attempting to read need4speed's comment makes my head hurt.

He's an A$$...Every one of his posts must now go through a moderator before showing up on the forum. This one must have been before he got the Ban...

08-10-2009, 08:43 PM	#48 (permalink)
Asheth Track Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Glen Burnie, Maryland Posts: 917 Drives: 09 Blk 6mt Rep Power: 18	From the rumors I had read the 1 will get a lighterweight version same power don't know if it will release here in the states though. But the BMW lineup is stacked I cant see where they are going to put it at if they do they could have easily upped the horsepower but didnt then you run into competition against the 335i and M3 then how do price it? You have the Z4 also which is a closer car to the 370z. IMO __________________ 180 customs Headlights - Yantech Backup Camera - Projekt 1 - Stillen Gen 3- EVO-R V2 Foglight, EVO-R CF Diffuser, Carbon Fiber Element Steering wheel - Fast Intentions TDX/RHFC's - RJM A.F.P. - Z1 Oil Cooler - 2015 Nismo Conversion.

08-11-2009, 02:56 AM	#51 (permalink)
dalparadise The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Houston Posts: 354 Drives: 2010 Z Roadster T/S Rep Power: 16	On a similar note -- 6-7 years ago I switched from a BMW Z3 to a 330 Convertible with the M-sport package, because I wanted to retain the sportiness of the Z3, but gain the practicality, refinement and prestige of the E46 convertible. The move was more pronounced than that being discussed here -- from a $36,000 car to a $49,000 one -- but about three months after I had done it, I started regretting it. The 330 lacked the head-turning capacity of the Z3. The so-called refinement was another way of saying they took the edge off that I liked so much in the Z3. The Z was raw and tossable. You could hear the engine and the shifter vibrated on top of a massive transmission tunnel. I dug the lack of comfort and convenience more than I realized. It made a statement. Everybody asked about the Z3. Nobody cared about the 330. Not that that was a deal-killer, but it made a difference. By that time, there was no way I was going to a Z4. Now, many years later, I drive a 06 MX-5 and I know it's to recapture that Z3 aura. I originally planned to wait for the 370Z Roadster, but after driving a 370 coupe, I think I won't be missing a beat on the sporty side. The car is raw. It's unrefined, yet luxurious. That's a rare dichotomy in this price range. I'd hate to get into a 135 and find that I'd settled for a civilized car with background blending looks that can't fully deliver on either sport or luxury in terms of feel or driving experience. Admittedly, I've only driven one of the cars in this equation, the 370. But, it made enough of an impression to not need to drive the other. That's coming from a reformed Bimmerphile. Last edited by dalparadise; 08-11-2009 at 02:59 AM.

08-30-2009, 12:27 AM	#59 (permalink)
Red370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Kaiserslautern, Germany Posts: 4,391 Drives: your mom to church Rep Power: 296	actually, model wise, it IS the bottom of BMW's food chain. Think of it as BMW's version of the Cobalt/Corolla/Lancer/Civic/Focus...... Not a bad car really, I kinda like em. But by no means is it a head turner. Last edited by Red370; 08-30-2009 at 12:29 AM.

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08-10-2009, 08:13 PM	#47 (permalink)
Sardis Base Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: CA Posts: 72 Drives: EX Z Owner Rep Power: 16	This has been covered so much in reviews and forums. The Z is a more focused sports car and the 1 is a nicer car to drive around in terms of ride qualities in luxury. Pick which benefit you enjoy more. As for status the 1 was created to be a more focused BMW, which appeals to the old school fans such as myself, who miss the days of the old Bimmers. For me, the hype was a bit of a letdown on the 1. It only comes in at about 100 pounds less than a 3 and isn't that much cheaper. The 1 is going to be redone soon and the rumor is a truly sports car focused "m1" lightweight, turbo charged 4. That could be the first captivating BMW in awhile for me. Until then Z is the more focused sports car of the two

08-10-2009, 10:50 PM	#50 (permalink)
GingaBreadMan Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: New York Posts: 313 Drives: 09 370z Sport 6spd Rep Power: 16	Even though the 370z is a amazing vehicle, free maintenance is a huge benefit. I'm not a big Bimmer fan as far as ownership is concerned, but those are nice cars 2 lease imho. If ur a tuner type of guy go with the 370. If u just want a car with a little oomph and ur not looking 2 mod the Bimmer might be a good lease/buy.

08-11-2009, 03:16 AM	#52 (permalink)
armensti Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: CA Posts: 447 Drives: 370Z/Tring/Spt/6MT Rep Power: 16	pretty much it comes down to what you want. dont take advice from anyone because if you get a car based on someone elses advice you might end up regretting it. so just do a lot of hw and test drive both of the cars. to me the 135 looks to weak. i know it has a 300hp tt engine but it just doesnt look the part compared to the z. the z out performs it on everything but comfort so thats another thing to take into consideration .

08-29-2009, 08:39 PM	#53 (permalink)
lando76 Base Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: ca Posts: 107 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 16	Jesus the 135i is just plain jane boring. Ohhh but it has twin turbos that put out 32hp less than a non turbo 370z. Seriously look at the car its lines its wheel gap the back end all ugly. The designer for this car must of had a hangover that day....