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Graduating soon...torn between 4 cars

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miami90

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I'm a semester away from graduating with my Bachelor's, and with a job lined up, I'm looking forward to getting my first "REAL" car. I currently drive a pos, please don't ask

So, with that in mind I'm going for a new MK6 GTI or a used 135i, E46 M3, or 370z touring/sports. I want a small, fun car that I can use as a DD without any problems, and one I will be comfortable with for a couple of years. I'll be getting a DSG/SMG though, because driving in the DC metro area is a real pain. I've been infatuated with the GTI since the MKV came out, and I am leaning heavily towards it, but the though of driving a 135i or M3 everyday make me giddy, and the 370z is my fourth option.

I wanted to know what some owners of these cars thought and any general insight on what to expect from each as a DD and all around fun car. I don't generally speed (fly by people 100mph!) or race, but I would prefer zippy and low end power so I know the 135i and the GTI will give me that, but what of the M3?

(Repost from Mk6 forums for more insight)
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
Gas isn't as important to me as some other aspects of a car. My family has a V8 Grand Cherokee and an '08 Touareg, I'll live with that. But the 135i is the most enticing other car to than the GTI.

Also, I like the looks of all 4 cars, even if the 135i looks like a girly car.

Haters keep hatin :)
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
I edited mine dw haha.

As of now, it's

1) GTI
2) 135i
3-4) E46 M3 and 370z

The GTI has been my dream car for a while now, but there's something about a turbocharged inline 6 that keeps me second guessing.
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
I have driven the GTI and 135i, and I love how both of them handle, and there are certain aspects to both I enjoy very well. I have yet to drive an E46. I have sat inside a 370z, and the visibility is TERRIBLE, which is why it's 4th on my list. I just wanted insight on previous owners of these cars and if they can give me tips on what to expect from each.

How are GTI maintenance costs for instance? Are there a lot of electrical problems? My family's Touareg was a nightmare
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
#10 ·
135 will come with a better warranty. 36,000 warranty on the GTI is a freaking joke to be honest. BMW comes with 100k. You can chip the 135 and that pig will put down something like 400whp, which ****s all over the GTI. My bud has one and to be honest it is a great car. I personally would rather have one than my GTI. A new car is just throwing cash away if you ask me, unless you're 110% in love with it. I love my GTI but honestly I regret making such an impulsive decision and buying it new. Should have thought about a slightly used nicer car for a similar price.

370Z is gonna be fun but it's kind of a tank. It will also get the poorest mileage of the bit, with the possiblity of that e46 M3. The E46 also has way more power and is a lot classier than the GTI.

Then again, you might not be massively interested in power.

GTI: 200, ~220hp chipped to Stage 1, lots of fairly inexpensive upgrades to get more power like a K04 turbo
E46 M3: ~333 hp (naturally aspirated, no turbo bro, it will be harder to pull more power out of this without boosting it)
135i: 308hp stock, lots more with modifications. My bud is chipped with a turboback and with his meth kit going on soon, will be doing something like 420hp. It's got torque all day long.

370Z is just a pig. I'd avoid it.
 
#11 ·
I also thought between a 135/335 and the GTI. I came from a mk4 gti. As great as the BMW is, I just couldn't justify a payment that big on a used vehicle that has fuel pump issues. To date there are really no major problems with the TSI besides the intake manifold issues, which I think they must have done something with in 11 because I am k04 and have had zero issues whatsoever. The gti is a classy quick car for the price and I have no regrets...especially when you can make it a beast with minimal money. Fwiw this was also my "after college new vehicle." I could have afforded something more expensive, but I think it's more fun for a cheaper price and use extra cash for mods :thumbup:
 
#12 ·
The 1 series is a very small car inside. My cousin has one and I feel claustrophobic in it (but I'm 6'3 tall). The GTI is a much more versatile car, but maybe that is not important to you.

Given the very low speed limits that you have in the US and how strictly they are enforced, I just do not see the point in getting anything faster than a GTI, but that's just me.
 
#14 ·
I've driven all four of the vehicles you have listed and owned 2 of them. M3 is great, but in the price range of a GTI you're looking at nothing newer than an 05-06 M3. They're fun cars to drive, but if you're in bumper to bumper traffic, you're really not going to get a chance to enjoy the high revving inline 6 of the M3.

I was on the verge of getting a 370z before I ended up in a 135i. I was pretty much ready to buy but then I decided to test drive the BMW. Comparatively, the 135i is a much better car in my opinion. It just has that German feel to it, obviously. The 370z felt very cheap inside, even closing the doors was not as reassuring as it is with a BMW or VW/Audi, Benz etc.

I put a good amount of money down and got the payments where I wanted and off I was in a brand new, 2010 135i. The car was a lot of fun, I started modding it, juicebox3, intake, turboback exhaust. I would say It was putting down very close to 370whp, but still I grew tired of it. The interior is nothing to brag about, I had the M Sport Package, with the leather power seats, black on black, but it was very boring. The base audio system was completely terrible. You really could not turn it up loud at all. It was just a single CD player, and while it did have an iPod connection, you had to view your ipod tracks on a single line, which was a complete pain in the ass to try to pick what to listen to. Of course if you get the nav which is like a $2k option, you can view that information on the larger nav screen. Anyway, the car is very small, and I grew tired of trying to make it work to suit my needs.

Today, I am back in a VW, a 4dr Autobahn MKVI GTI and I couldnt be happier. This car has everything I really need, and is certainly the most all-around practical car I've owned. It's fun to drive, the interior looks great, the sound system is a thousand times better than the BMW, and I actually feel very comfortable in the GTI on long trips.
 
#15 ·
OP, do you drive a RWD car now? I would think you're going to get a fair amount of snow in DC and powerful, RWD cars are going to fishtail all day. A GTI will be better, but if you're looking for fun to drive, German cars, look at Audi's. Same price range as Merc's and BMW's and you could find B8 A4's with no problem....a few mods and you've got plenty of power...and quattro. '08 S4's wouldn't be too hard to find in that area either. Just my thoughts.
 
#16 ·
I've had some electrical issues with my MK6 GTi, but I still love it. In retrospect, I wish I got the 4dr and I wish I waited to buy one used. I would consider an extended warranty on the MK6.

My Ranking:
1. MK6 GTi
2. 135i (expensive, but fun)
3. 370z (very fun, Japanese, big car)
4. e46 (old, expensive maintenance, mileage should be much higher than previous 3)
 
#17 · (Edited)
As both a BMW E46 and VW owner, along with being a VAG mechanic with a lot of BMW knowledge, here is my ranking:

1. Mk.VI GTI. Most practical of the group. Best aftermarket as well, since performance parts and other modifications don't cost an arm and a leg. The 2.0TSI and 6MT is a near-bulletproof drivetrain when taken care of and properly upgraded, and the DSG isn't far behind it in reliability when cared for. Only downside to this one is FWD, but the fuel mileage, winter capabilities, and sheer pluckiness of this car will more than make up for that. And I know of a few Mk.VI GTI's that will make an E46 M3 it's bitch.

2. E46 M3. Amazing car. Had it been offered as a 4-door, I would have gotten an E46 M3 sedan instead of my 330i M-Sport / ZHP. Tons of power and handles great. But good luck finding one that hasn't been ragged out by some hamfisted hipster with Daddy's credit card. And speaking of Daddy's credit card, go over to a site like Turner Motorsports and price out some performance and handling modifications and suddenly a K04 GTI looks cheap. Winter driving in these is also impossible. Oh, and don't even think of getting the SMG in one. That transmission is jerky, unstable, lacks a hill-hold, and is a royally expensive pain in the arse to fix when it breaks (which is more often than not).

If you go with an E46, find a good 330i or 330Ci M-Sport / ZHP instead. Cheaper, more reliable engine with more power than the standard 330i, reliable 6MT or 5AT, better fuel economy (mine averages 25/34mpg), a four-door is offered, and the only thing they don't share mechanically with the M3 is the engine itself. Stock for stock, a ZHP will be a slight step above a Mk.VI GTI in performance (0-60 in 5.3 seconds versus 6.7 for the GTI and both top out in the 150mph range), but the aftermarket for both cars can keep either one in the hunt. ZHPregistry.net is a great place to find one. Or you could just buy mine. :laugh:

3. 135i. Newer BMW electronic systems are a cluster**** and a nightmare waiting to happen. And as someone stated earlier, the 1-Series is grotesquely small. I'm 5'11" / 150lbs. and I cannot comfortably drive or fit in one. Backseat room is a joke, even for someone my size. Even the 1M looks like a bloody chick car. And if you think modding an E46 M3, a platform that has been around since 2001, is expensive, wait until you look into doing the same to a 1-Series. Suddenly, a Stg.III Golf .:R looks cheap. In all honesty, the E46 is the newest BMW I'll ever own.

Don't even consider the Z cars. Horrible brakes, horrible engine sounds, horrible owners community stigma (JDM, yo!), and horrible build quality (the 370Z improved this, but it's still a Nissan).

And as one more tidbit of advice, look into a sedan or 5-door hatch. From what you've said, you want a practical DD, and in my experience, going from a 2-door to a 4/5-door was the best decision I made in the realm of owning practical cars, especially if you're like me and (try to) keep a car as long as you possibly can.
 
#18 · (Edited)
miami90 said:
I'm a semester away from graduating with my Bachelor's, and with a job lined up, I'm looking forward to getting my first "REAL" car. I currently drive a pos, please don't ask

So, with that in mind I'm going for a new MK6 GTI or a used 135i, E46 M3, or 370z touring/sports. I want a small, fun car that I can use as a DD without any problems, and one I will be comfortable with for a couple of years. I'll be getting a DSG/SMG though, because driving in the DC metro area is a real pain. I've been infatuated with the GTI since the MKV came out, and I am leaning heavily towards it, but the though of driving a 135i or M3 everyday make me giddy, and the 370z is my fourth option.

I wanted to know what some owners of these cars thought and any general insight on what to expect from each as a DD and all around fun car. I don't generally speed (fly by people 100mph!) or race, but I would prefer zippy and low end power so I know the 135i and the GTI will give me that, but what of the M3?

(Repost from Mk6 forums for more insight)
Click to expand...
I was in a similar situation, Graduated May 2011, coming out with a job, and ready to have a my first "real" car. I choose the GTI, for a couple of reasons

1) Sport, Speed, Fun
-I wanted something Sporty, and generally speedy. Some cars i were looking at were: Mazdaspeed 3, WRX, LancerGT, Mustang, Camero.

2) Price vs Quality
-Of all the cars i looked at, and test drove, the interior of the GTI was BY FAR the best. Everthing felt well made, and built strong. I remember sitting in the Camero and feeling that everything was cheap and plasticy. That was defiantly not the feeling when sitting in my GTI. I honestly felt like i was sitting in a luxury car (I got the SunRoof and Nav Package on my 2011), and for half the cost.

3) DSG
- As I mentioned i was looking at some other Manual Only Cars. Now I am not opposed to driving Manual (which is why they weren't ruled out) but ORIGINALLY I was going to be living on Long Island, NY where traffic is terrible. The fact that I could throw it in drive for my traffic laden commutes, and then pop it into sport/manual for the fun times, WON ME OVER... big time.

4) Practicality
- I went with a 4dr. In my opinion 2Drs are just not Practical. I don't have a family or anything yet, but I don't plan on getting rid of this car soon. I also ALWAYS drive when me and the GF go out alone or with friends (Maybe a Control issue, or maybe i just love driving the GTI :laugh: ). The extra Room in the hatch also allowed me to Drive my GTI when I moved to Florida for my work (although i was ****ting bricks the whole time on the auto-train worried about my 2 week old GTI).

Overall, its Practical, Cheap for the Quality, and FUN to drive. Just be careful because these folks on VWVortex are awesome, and looking at all the mods are your car can be very addicting, and potentially very wallet draining... I've been trying to resist a new Exhaust, springs, and wheels, but the more i see these on cars the more i want them..
 
#19 ·
I've had no electrical or really any other issues with my mkVI GTI that I've had since fall of 09. The Toureg you mentioned is probably from the generation known to have a ton of issues, and isn't indicative of the whole brand. I think VW learned a lot from those initial Toureg mistakes....they have caught a lot of flak for that one.

Someone above mentioned that it's not worth it to buy a new car, my opinion is the opposite. If this is your first real car then one thing you can learn right away is how to wash it without putting tons of swirl marks all over it to keep it looking better than practically every other car on the road. Used cars almost always come covered in swirl marks and other imperfections. Granted you can learn how to use a DA polisher or pay somebody who actually knows what they are doing hundreds of dollars to polish it out (be sure to go to somebody you find on autopia or based on some other recommendation).

For me it's worth it to get a brand new car in the color I want, with the options that I want, with the most current design fixes, and with the paint in perfect condition when I drive it home so that all I have to do is try and keep it that way.

I love my mkVI and don't have any regret about buying it, I plan on keeping it for a long time. :thumbup:
 
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