[325 Baller]

My dad is currently looking at getting a new car for a 24month lease before the new m3 comes out (i know its been rumored january but he doesnt like first production cars). He priced out a new CLK-350 convertible (yes MB the dark side which im not too thrilled about, but he has a MB now) and the lease payment with trade in is really cheap, 205/month. My thought was why doesnt bmw have an answer for the clk then i realized they do, the 3 coupe/convert. But he refuses to get an old body style car when the new ones will be out middle of this year. So that led me to think, why not an e46 m3? I priced it out comparitvley(sp?) and it was about 100 more/month which still seem slike a good deal to me. I also thought the e46 m3 would be a good idea because he could learn how to handle all that HP and learn how to use the SMG so when the new m3 comes out he would know how to control it and everything. So my question is, what are your thoughts?



or



Im currently in love with BMW's so im very biased, just wanted to know what you guys thoughts are...?

[BMW F22]

honestly, if I could get an M3 I would get it/lease it. No maintenance fee or anything. Handles better and looks nicer too. Maybe he can wait until the Geneva Auto Show and make up his mind then.

[325 Baller]

He already knows he wants the e92 its just his current 02 CLK 320 is getting a little old and he wants to trade it in before its not worth while any more. I would much rather him get the current m3 for 24 months but the CLK is cheaper, and ultimatley its his decision. He asked me to make him a report showing the pricing of the 2 cars and the advantages of one over the other, so maybe ill just sway the info towards the m3. lol

[Ghunger]

Eh, I'd just give him the facts, if he's already leaning twords the E90 M3 I doubt it would take much convincing to get him into an E46 M3 in the interim.

[vladinecko]

if he is ultimately going to get the new M3, which may be a year or two from now, i see no reason why he should spend more money for the current M3 if he doesn't mind the Benz. i'd go for the cheaper, if it's just a transition car...

[325 Baller]

thats true, you have a good point vladinecko. I mean hes going to ultimatley get the new m3 so i guess if he gets the clk for 2 years its not a big deal. Im just biased towards BMW thats the only reason i said the M3 lol. Thanks for the help.

[vladinecko]

i don't think the CLK is a bad car though. of course it's not the M3, but it's still an excellent car. plus, for the money he saves up on the lease, he can buy some extra accessories/options for the new M3 when it comes out.

[325 Baller]

true i discussed it with him tonite and hes going to get the clk on a 24 month lease and pay the lease in full and then once the m3 is released he is going to trade it into BMW or something im not 100% sure how it works but i think lets say its a 50k car and the risidual is 25%/year and after 2 years it would be $25,000 and he trades it in after 12 months the car would be worth $37,500 and MB would be expecting the car to be worth 25,000 at the end of the lease so he trades it into bmw for the $25,000 price because thats what he can buy it for when the lease is over so the extra 12,500 would be applied towards the new m3. I dont know hes a numbers guy so he understands all of this. Yes i know the numbers arent right i was just using easy numbers, ill post pics of his new car when he gets it. He said he was probablly going to order like may so he will recieve it like july? Thanks for your help Vlad.

[ward]

an 02 isn't that old,
if he's concerned about value, he should keep what he's got until the car he wants is available.

Why spend $$$$ on a car he doesn't love? it's not going to be that long of a wait

[325 Baller]

i dont know but i think my dads just jealous that he now has the oldest car in the family. My mom has a 05 530i, I have an 06 325i and he has a 02 ( i actually think its a 2000) CLK 320. No worries im just happy hes soon coming to BMW.