Here's my situation, I currently lease a 07 Z4 3.0i with 15k mi/year for 3 years. I got this car at an incredible rate and negotiated the price well under invoice. Thank goodness for factory incentives.

My commuting situation has changed and my total miles commuting is about to change to 21k miles/year (just for work, it used to be 10k miles/year) so I need to purchase/lease another vehicle because not only will I be severely over mileage but I will also be out of warranty and free service once I exceed the 50k miles mark.

So far, the best three deals I've found are on an 06 325i red, 6 spd, sunroof with 20k miles for $23500 and a 07 4 door GTI with all the options minus Nav and leather with 10k miles for $20000, an 07 Audi A4 with everything, 7k miles for $24000.

I've been leaning on the 325i simply because I've always found BMWs to be mostly reliable and I feel the base model E90 325i should be pretty solid for long term use. The Audi and GTI are tempting but the reliability of the A4 somewhat concerns me and I am not the biggest fan of FWD nor the VW brand. However, I think one big advantage of the A4 would be the interior appointments and refinement which should ease my somewhat insane commute.

325i
Pros:
Great deal, should depreciate well
RWD
Free 30k miles of service or 3 years
Functional/Familiar Interior
Like the body styling
Will join family of BMWs
I like red cars
6 speed
Should be reliable?

Cons:
High miles
Same engine as in my current Z4
Would like to possibly try something new

A4
Pros:
Low miles
Best interior
Nice body styling
Never tried Quattro before and may swing for that
Never owned an Audi before
Seems like the perfect German highway cruiser

Cons:
New body style is coming out in a few months
Unknown/Doubtful reliability
Rattles?
Somewhat high rate of depreciation
2.0 Turbo while nice isn't a BMW I6

GTI:
Pros:
Reportedly good driving dynamics for FWD
Good interior for it's class
Reportedly great for racking on highway miles, comfy cruiser
I like the styling
Most economical
Low miles

Cons:
Good interior for it's class might be outmatched here in this company
FWD
Even though I like the styling, I probably like it the least out of these 3
Long Term Reliability?


What would you guys do?

One possible alternative would be to put about 25k miles /year on the Z4 which means I'll be returning it with 30k miles over, out of warranty, and out of maintenance service. Then again, that may possibly be cheapest since my rate is .20 for each additional mile, I'll only be paying $6000 more + lease return fees + service requirements + etc.

Yet I feel that money can go towards retaining a car instead.

 

ewww is that a question, nothing beats quattro!!!
325 are slow as hell!
gti fwd but still a vw upgrade and go for the audi

 

go audi man, nothing wrong with them at all. 2.0T i love that car... thats a steal...

 

go for the A4. If it really has every option, that is a great price................................ go for it

 

i'd say go with the a4. just chip it and you'll forget all about the I6. its also the best looking and nicest interior

 

the A4 will most likely get the best gas mileage as well since your using it more for work.

 

In light of your choices I would vote the Audi (go for Quattro). The BMW is nice but having something different spices up your day! The depreciation on the A4 isn't quite what you'd think. The BMW 3 will have another remodel come the 2009 model year as well.

 

yeah don't think of the 2.0 as slow in comparison, specially after a chip. you wont look back.

 

Go with the A4....

 

go with the audi.

handling/styling/performance is all better