135i or 370z
 

I went to Nissan and BMW yesterday and I am completely torn between the two. I was able to pull a White MT Touring w/ Sport package for 36,000 or I can have a Black 135i with coral red interior, MT, sport package and 4yr/50,000 mile free maintance including oil, brake, wipers etc for 37,000 and some change. The Z apr is about 7% the BMW is about 3.9% so whatever I pay more for the BMW now I make up in the long run! Suggestions please

Since pricing would be the same, which one do you like better? You can probably get a better rate on the Z if you try and find financing yourself.

Theres a thread comparing the two cars on here too, links to edmunds comparison I think..

If you're asking this on a 370Z forum, you should already know what people are going to state ;)

I have test driven both and both are right there as far as performance stock for stock.
The handling is far better on the Z hands down..edmunds did a comparo and they also chose the 370.
The BMW probably has an edge if you boost the turbo via a Vishnu PROcede and it will have it putting close to 400 whp. The New Z is going to be highly mod friendly in the long run soooo..

I read some where(could be this site,I've searched but can't find it) the 135i engines are taking a crap around 30,000 miles! It has to be taken out and tore apart! The way it was written I think the poster works for BMW.

For roughly the same price Id take the BMW. More "adult", free maintenance, back seats, more storage space, great performance, BMW name (if you care about that)...just a few reasons.

Can Nissan Beat BMW? 370Z vs. 135i

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I'd consider a 135i over the 370Z if I had the need for a backseat (I don't, that's what my G sedan is for). But ultimately I don't think I'd buy it. There are better 4 door sedans out there that offer more than the 135i for less $$$. In addition, the 135i isn't "adult" to me at all. It's like a junior 3 series and just screams "starter car" to me. It's like Peyton Manning-lite (sorry Eli) compared to the 3 series. Eli is a great performer but Peyton still does most things better than him and is more polished. It doesn't look that hot to me either, the front is cool but the side profile and rear don't look so good, esp. when compared to the 3 series. I'd say 370Z > than the 135i unless you need a backseat. They're completely different cars though and I wouldn't cross shop them (I know many will though).

I know they were having some problems with the early 335 turbo pumps, not sure if that was corrected or not.

Since when is a $40k car a "starter car"? No doubt the 3 series is really nice...its also much more expensive than the 1 series.


I have been following the 135i since it came out last year and I was convinced it would be my next car until I saw the 370z. Now the choice will be tougher. The main thing driving me towards the Z is the price ($5k or so cheaper msrp wise + more wiggle room than BMW). But if I could get either one for more or less the same price, like the OP can, then I would choose the BMW.

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.

they both drive alot diff. one is a torque monster with a softer suspension. the other is NA with a tighter feel and steering. your best bet is to test drive them both and see which one you like.

the interior of both cars is also TOTALLY different. One is a cramped two seater with everything based around the driver and the other is a very bland though well done luxury interior that is designed essentially the same for every BMW.

Completely different cars in practice. This shouldn't be that much of a struggle. I test drove both, Z is way sportier...the interior in the 1 series isnt that great. All depends on you...also prepare to pay more if you want aftermarket on the 1.

Normally I would write a lengthy response going over my thoughts on sport versus luxury, the price of maintaining a bmw versus a nissan, capacities, and so on. However, I think everyone else here (including the video and link to the article) sums all that up, so I will just say that the i35 is effen ugly in a "why did I spend $40k on a car that blends with every other car?" kind of way.

I dont know what planet you are from to think most people start with a $40k car. Obviously the amount of money you make might make that seem like nothing, but I guarantee the vast majority of people on this board would consider that a lot of money for a car, especially a first car! I guess some people have different values...


But back on topic...I suggest test driving both. Obviously the people on here will tell you to get the Z and if you were to go to a BMW board they would prob tell you to get the 135i. Dont think you can really go wrong either way.

bmw>nissan in terms of engineering and curb appeal

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

Interesting comparison. I love the Zed but over on the Big Money Wasted (BMW) forum, I noticed none of the members voted for the Zed. Man, I have never come across a more biased, one eyed bunch of people. These people would buy a Chinese car if it had a BMW badge on it. Unbeleivable.

I test drove both and I just dont know! I love the way the Z looks, so sporty and aggressive. Im not really in love with the look of the 135, but the interior is gorgeous and the quality is amazing. I know the Z is sportier and is not made to be a luxury car, and I can agree that the interior of the Z is a big step from previous years. Where im torn is the there is something great about being able to step into a 1 and preform just as well as a Z and still be practical, have back seats, have a much more quality interior and such a smooth and stiff ride. The engine on the 1 is just so smooth and the truth is I can spend about 1200$ and be at about 400whp! You can not get a Z to make that much HP for 1200$. Im just so in love with the Z history and how its such an attractive car, its really a true sports car!

Sounds like you are leaning towards the 1. Like I said before, dont think you can go wrong with either!

Tha Z is a legend. This is the first generation for the 1 series. Even though people are comparing these two cars i think they are very different. I dont own a Z so this is not a biased opinion, but i know performance wise the Z wins. And as far as the Cool Factor the Z wins also. The 1 series is bland. JMO

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.

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

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!

get the z,a baby beemer just would't do it for me:icon17:

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?

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 :eek: 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

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

Ask yourself, what are your needs.

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

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.

135i versus 370Z
 

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

Learn to write properley.:mad:

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

What this guy said.

thats way to much car for a 16 year old. How about a 2002 nissan sentra?

16 year olds are bad drivers.

:tup: Looks like you got that covered! UR Mom's Altima will never be confused for a status car...;)

:iagree: His statement is just ludacris.