Your Good Friend Tells You He's Going To Buy A BMW 3-Series-How Would You Talk Them Out Of It?

Your Good Friend Tells You He's Going To Buy A BMW 3-Series-How Would You Talk Them Out Of It?
Two days ago, it was the Infiniti G37.

Yesterday, the Audi A4.

Let's finish off the holiday weekend right because I KNOW you've all been waiting for this one the most...001 KNOWS his peeps! ;)

Today, the BMW 3-Series gets put on the stand, awaiting judgement!

We've all been in this situation before.

You're at the local watering hole, hanging out with your friends and one of them shows up and says- "I just test drove the BMW 3-Series today and I can't stop thinking about it! I'm going to buy one tomorrow!!!!

In this case we are using the BMW 3-Series but we'll choose the most popular models out there, over the next few weeks and ask you how to talk people OUT of the purchase.

You probably ALL know how to talk someone INTO buying something, but how good are you at talking someone OUT of making the purchase?

So here we go with round one...

WHAT do you tell your friend that convinces them to change their mind and NOT buy the BMW 3-Series?

What are the key flaws that will sour them on the purchase?

And what do you recommend to them instead and why?

Can't wait to read some of the answers!

Do we know how to have fun, or what?

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ChipChip - 9/7/2009 1:18:01 AM
+16 Boost
I'm on my 3rd 3-series right now (335i coupe) and as fantastic as they are, one thing has always bothered me. The sheer number of them on the road. I can't tell you how many times I've sat at a busy stoplight only to look around me and count sometimes 10 3'ers. The previous bodystyle 1999-2005 E46 3 is probably the most popular used upscale car right now, BMW sold so so many of them. It's kinda annoying feeling like you're just like everybody else, even though the car's have always been phenomenal to own.

If I was encouraging a friend to buy something other than the 3-series, I would say "be different, get a 135i, slightly used Porsche Cayman or if you prefer the sedan, maybe a new Audi S4"

This is more than likely my last 3'er. But as a repeat BMW owner, they do have a way of keeping you in the family.


Bmw8terBmw8ter - 9/7/2009 1:44:41 AM
+9 Boost
That's my only gripe about the 3 series. That EVERYONE drives one. And it's never a 330i or xi. Or a 335i or xi. It's either the weak and modest 325, or the newer 328. They're all over the place. And they're driven slower than a Ford Crown Victoria.


DustbusterDustbuster - 9/7/2009 1:42:38 AM
+5 Boost
I'd tell my friend: Last year, the 335i would have been hands down the car to buy in that class (a recommendation I actually did make in '08 more than once). But this year, I'd go for the new S4 which I find more interesting and will certainly be more rare.


darzavdarzav - 9/7/2009 1:56:40 AM
+2 Boost
Id say go ahead and buy it. Its a good car. Where i live, the 320i is the only BMW that dominates the road. A well specced 335i would stand out brilliantly.


SpeedoholicSpeedoholic - 9/7/2009 1:59:44 AM
-6 Boost
I'd simply tell him: "Put your glasses on", by the time he does, he'll probably realize how stupid he is.


dhkss2002dhkss2002 - 9/7/2009 2:32:00 AM
-5 Boost
To be honest, he purchased the benchmark, so why would you talk him out of it? If his nuts are shriveled, I'd suggest the C-class and the A4, necessarily in that order.


nguyenvuminhnguyenvuminh - 9/7/2009 4:45:29 AM
+6 Boost
Badgewhore - :-) that's funny.


WillisWillis - 9/7/2009 6:55:06 AM
+8 Boost
I would tell him to go to Autolies and read what all the members write in this thread.


What's up with these stupid topics lately?


PUGPROUDPUGPROUD - 9/7/2009 7:52:42 AM
+4 Boost
AGENT 001 IS A GIRLY_MAN!!!! You keep this up and you'll talk us out of this site..."Your best friend wants to add AutoSpies to his favorite list. What would you say to talk him out of it ?"


abqhudsonabqhudson - 9/7/2009 9:30:09 AM
+1 Boost
Harsh riding and noisy on runflats - the car does not seem to be designed for these tires. In contrast, the One Series cars seem to do great on runflats. Drive them both and you'll see. No spare tire is a killer if you live in the west and regularly tour away from the big cities - as the runflats are pretty much unavailable. If you still have to have one, do what a lot of 3 series owners do - put on good tires and carry a plugger kit or buy a wheel and carry a spare.


AgentOrangeAgentOrange - 9/7/2009 11:02:33 AM
-1 Boost
Several weeks ago my son told me that he was looking at a new car and that he was considering a C230 or a G35.
I advised him to test drive a 3-series before making a decision.
He bought the 3-series.



M53RM53R - 9/7/2009 11:17:14 AM
+4 Boost
What if I had told my other friends wanting to buy an A4 and a G37 to buy a 3 series?! :P


veyron1001veyron1001 - 9/7/2009 11:49:23 AM
0 Boost
Where I live I have seen more Ferraris than the new Audi in person. I have seem 3 Ferraris so far


PerformanceGuyPerformanceGuy - 9/7/2009 12:08:39 PM
+1 Boost
Depends on what they like in a car. My brother in-law was cross shopping the 3 series, G37, and A5 last week and ended up choosing the G37 as the all around better car. So in the end it depends on one's preference.


Htay7500Htay7500 - 9/7/2009 12:13:30 PM
0 Boost
I'd tell him get a stick and maybe consider an E30.


RedwoodRedwood - 9/7/2009 1:21:39 PM
+3 Boost
Is this a trick question? Okay, okay, I'll play along. The cupholders are terrible and there isn't as much storage space as there should be in a car that size.


DogLbDogLb - 9/7/2009 1:36:11 PM
0 Boost
just dont get the 325/328...and dont skimp on the sport package


1234xyz1234xyz - 9/7/2009 2:03:06 PM
+2 Boost
a) overpriced by 3-5k min
b) everyone will think you're an a-hole
c) you probably will be an a-hole
d) sales team are a-holes
e) serv team a-holes
f) great cars tho!


LexSucksLexSucks - 9/7/2009 2:46:43 PM
+4 Boost
Depends if that person knows cars, knows what he wants out of cars, and is smart enough to find out which cars provide what he desires. Then whatever car that person chooses is good enough.

If the person isn't really into cars? I'd tell him to save his money and buy something else.


rxh8me9000rxh8me9000 - 9/7/2009 3:28:28 PM
+2 Boost
Hmm lol this is a tough one. I traded my 2001 330 for a 2009 135.I have plenty friends with the 335 coupe and sedan and the M3. If I had to say anything to convince a friend not to get a 3 series it would be these things.

1.Ride is harsher than most of its competition.
2.Price is a little above its competition.
3.Brake feel is not as solid as a G37.
4.Too many of them on the road.
5.On a side note- If anyone has heard of westchester bmw i would not recommend going there for service. Quite a few times i have seen the techs come sideways out of the entrance to "test drive" the cars after repairs.

I love my 135 though. BMW underrated both the 135 and 335. I put my car on the dyno at a track in nj called englishtown or raceway park if anyones familiar and it put out 287 hp at 5740 and 294 lb-ft at 3100 rpm.I flashed it with the proceed v1 and made 348 hp at 6160 rpm and 363 lb-ft at 3860 rpm.


BMW4me4everBMW4me4ever - 9/8/2009 2:08:40 PM
0 Boost
I have a 135 coupe also, with the short shift kit. Did you up the suspension on your car or leaving it stock?


rxh8me9000rxh8me9000 - 9/7/2009 3:32:40 PM
0 Boost
I have a feeling the next article is going to be "what would you say to talk your friend out of buying a Lexus IS" or a C-class


theoptimisticpessimisttheoptimisticpessimist - 9/7/2009 4:02:18 PM
0 Boost
I tell my freind I can't wait for September 15th when auto show season starts.


MarkYMarkY - 9/7/2009 4:26:37 PM
+6 Boost
I tell my friends, if you are heading towards a highway exit and you ask yourself, "where is the apex", buy the BMW. If you are wondering, "what's an apex", buy a G37 or Lexus IS. Both will be cheaper to own and you'll never notice the performance difference.


Agent001Agent001 - 9/7/2009 4:28:02 PM
-1 Boost
In all my time running AutoSpies.com, a more intelligent comment has not been made.

Brilliant.

001


_43LE_43LE - 9/7/2009 10:57:15 PM
+4 Boost
"In all my time running AutoSpies.com, a more intelligent comment has not been made."

Proof that Autospies agents are never biased...


BMW4me4everBMW4me4ever - 9/8/2009 2:10:01 PM
0 Boost
That is a very true statement.


upwardsupwards - 9/7/2009 4:28:06 PM
-1 Boost
It depends if he wants real leather or not.


veyron1001veyron1001 - 9/8/2009 11:06:46 AM
-1 Boost
All you need is this. Test drive the GTR.


PerformanceGuyPerformanceGuy - 9/8/2009 1:18:38 PM
-1 Boost
Good point, but BMW does not have an answer for the GT-R, so not really fair to compare. Test driving the G37 would be the better option.


koobahkoobah - 9/10/2009 5:30:04 PM
+1 Boost
Why did I get this in Autospies email under Spy News and how the fuck is this news? Instead of posting stupid ass questions like this, the "Agents" should focus on automotive news. If one wants to buy a BMW, Infiniti or any other car, let them buy it and stop these senseless posts.


AudiphileAudiphile - 9/14/2009 1:44:32 PM
+1 Boost
I would tell my friend the same thing if he were buying an Audi A4/S4 or Mercedes C-class - these cars get very pricey with options, and maintenance is expensive. If performance is your highest priority, get the BMW 335i/M3, the Audi S4, or Mercedes C63 AMG. If you just want basic 'point-A-to-point-B' transportation with a touch of class, look elsewhere.
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