Debating getting into a 08 650I from a 06 Z4M.. need opinions

[IraXI]

Hey everyone! Ive been around the forums for a while with a couple different bmw's but never really lurked the 6 series forum. As the title says, Im contemplating getting out of a 06 Z4M roadster into a new 08 650I coupe. The Z4M is awesome but I initially got it becuase I was being promoted to a position where I get a company car so i figured Id just drive it on weekends. However as times gone on I find myself very rarely driving it and with winter coming in New England Ill be paying for a BMW to sit in my garage while I drive a toyota highlander around everywhere. At work however I have the option to not take a company car (I dont travel for work) and they give me a bit extra in my bonus check every month (an extra $400). So essentially if I take the $400 their giving me extra for not taking a company car and add it to my current Z4M payment, I am now in a lease payment range on a 650I.

So What would you do in my position? Keep a Z4M vert and drive around new toyota (I work for toyota, I get any new toyota I want for 5k miles then turn it in and get a new one) or not take a company car, get out fo the Z4M and pick up a 650I to drive around full time? I am young, no kids... but if I only have one car I want a back seat. I figure if I put snow tires on a 6 series it will do pretty well in the snow.. I didnt have any issues doing that with my g35 coupe on snows. So 6 series owners... what would you do if you were in my position? Looking foward to hearing opinions

[nv6425]

Hey Ira, this is quite the difficult situation! I just picked up my wife's 6 series yesterday and can tell you this....it is unbelievable! The not-so-rational side of me says you should drop the company car, take the $400 cash and get into a 650i as quick as you can! The more rational side of me says you should drop the company car, take the $400 cash and get into a 535xi as it will be better in snow, but still an awesome car!

Good luck in whatever you decide, but be forewarned, don't drive a 6 series unless you are serious about buying it as you will fall in love - GUARANTEED!

[KenNicely]

You could do what I did. I have a 2002 Jeep that I keep parked in the driveway. It is long since paid off. That is my snow vehicle. I drive my MB SLK when the roads are clear. I drive the jeep when the roads are bad and salted. In Philly that is about 2 months of the year driving the jeep part of the time. When I got the SLK I figured it would be a summer car, but it is just too much fun. I am now waiting for my 2008 650i to come in and I plan to follow the same schedule with that. The only real problem I have with this arrangement is that I have to make sure to drive the jeep at least a couple of times a month to keep the battery charged.......oh and bees set up camp in the door jams this summer. Otherwise it works well.

So I would say upgrade and watch for a truck or SUV to become available for the snow days.

Ken

[Leonardo]

Hi, well I did a similar sort of thing. i had a Z4 M Coupe and a 330d which I used for everyday driver. I traded them both in for a 645Ci convertible which is a great car to drive any time....you get 4 seats, a fast car and a convertible in one. and if you get it with the right extra's (active cruise control, active steering, head-up display etc) then you can'tt beat it. I'm sure the 650i coupe will be the same.

Leonardo

[jeff650]

Well, since you asked.....here is my 2 cents worth.

As much as I love my 650, I would not do the change you're considering. You have a nice fun ride in the Z, and have the opportunity for a tax-free, continually upgraded Toyota of anything in their lineup. You've got a Z that is equity, and are considering changing that to a rental (lease) that won't have any value at the end other than the smile from driving it. While the company will toss some more money to you if you don't take the company car, that is also taxable income, so the net is much less.

I've enjoyed a lot of nice cars over my years (49 - years, not cars), but I must admit that at my age now I wish that I had not extended myself to quite the level I did when I was in my twenties to have great cars. I could probably put a nice Ferrari 360 spider in my garage right now with the money invested by getting a fun used BMW 2002 instead of a new 320 (back in '82), or an nice Alfa instead of the Lotus, and so on and so on. They still would have been great to drive and I'd have had a lot of fun.

My opinion is that if one has to consider the financial aspects so strongly that you're using lower lease payments to squeeze into the car, you frankly shouldn't be extending that much. Buying an $80k car isn't all that rational - you have to be in a financial position where you can toss some logic to the wind and not have to worry about the payments. Lease it if it makes best sense because you can use right off the business expense, not because it's the way of getting the cost low enough for you to afford it.

So I'd drive the Z with glee on the weekends and on those gloriously sunny days, pick something from Toyota's lineup that meets my other driving needs, and start thinking of some good investments that will make you not have to fret the financial issues about buying a sweet car when you get a little older.

[SARAFIL]

Well, since you asked.....here is my 2 cents worth.

As much as I love my 650, I would not do the change you're considering. You have a nice fun ride in the Z, and have the opportunity for a tax-free, continually upgraded Toyota of anything in their lineup. You've got a Z that is equity, and are considering changing that to a rental (lease) that won't have any value at the end other than the smile from driving it. While the company will toss some more money to you if you don't take the company car, that is also taxable income, so the net is much less.

a. I think his M is also leased and he'd probably find someone to assume it so he can get the 650

b. If his dealer is anything like mine, he is probably already paying tax on the value of having a demo. My dealership does a calculation based on the average value of our vehicles in inventory and we are taxed on that value if we have a demo vehicle.

I'm in a very similar situation (lease a M roadster that is my weekend/summer car, and get a new car as a demo from the dealer) and I've contemplated this as well, but I came to the conclusion that I like having the M because it is a very enjoyable weekend car and I enjoy the freedom of the demo because I can drive whatever I feel like driving (convertible in the summer, SUV/4WD/AWD vehicle during the winter, large vehicle if I am going out with family or friends, a truck if I need to move something, etc.) If I were to get one car, it wouldn't be as fun as the M and probably wouldn't be as flexible for my needs.

[jowct]

Cannot provide a totally on-point response, but just turned in my Z4 3.0 for a 650i for the following reasons: the latter is incredibly civilized (hate to admit it, but like jeff650i am no longer a spring chicken) and refined and the fit and finish are superb; the handling and brute force V8 make the car a pocket rocket (my choice of slang showing my age again); far more comfortable for long trips--anything over half a day's drive; tons quieter--the top is beautifully finished and insulated; the endless surprises in even little goodies I didn't know were on the car--the electric receptacle under the glover compartment, all the things I-Drive does or tells me such as fluid and air levels, the pip on the speedometer telling me where cruise control is set, ad infinitum; and finally, I have a car that, because of all the above, my wife will happily join me on those long trips without griping (unjustifiably, of course) about the wind, the noise, the harsh ride, the seemingly 10 ft tall semi wheel we're passing on the right, and so on. Again, realize my reply is not a wholly valid comparison, but hope it helps. Oh, yes, and one last thing: at my age it's abundantly clear that you don't regret the things you do, only those you didn't do. Good luck.