I am in the market for a small two-door coupe. You will see that my car knowledge is fairly limited and I tried my best on researching before making this post (to avoid duplication). If I repeated anything, I hope you can forgive me. I also apologize for my verbosity. Thank you for your patience and help.
Over the past 3 years my '08 335i coupe had a series of issues. First the transmission oil leaked (~50k miles), then the water pump went out (~58k miles). Very recently the ABS/traction control malfunctioning light came up on the dash (~63k miles). Each repair cost north of $2k and I've decided to put an end to the constant headache and therefore plunged myself into the market for a new car.
I live in North Jersey and work in New York City. So I don't drive to work. My car is used exclusively for pleasure (grocery runs, numerous short road trips, several long road trips, and very occasionally, tossing it around at speeds deemed safe by His Majesty's Government). Last year I put on less than 5k miles on the car. In other words it's as much of a toy as it is a tool. 99% of the time it will have no more than two people in the car and no special cargo/luggage.
I entertained the idea of convertibles briefly but I heard bad stories about their upfront cost, maintenance cost, increased wind noise due to odd roof shape, and reduced sound insulation (primarily with soft tops). As a result, I made a pass on them.
My budget is around $50k with some flexibility (±20%). Cars that cost less don't really catch my eye while I struggle to justify spending significantly more than that. I can do lease/finance/cash depending on the deals. But if I did make a purchase (as opposed to leasing), I intend to keep it for longer than 6 years. I can buy new or used. I am also not time sensitive (which is good as I heard there's a long waiting list for M2).
I'm considering the below:
Lexus RC350, Audi TTS, Chevy Camaro, and BMW M2. Do you see any other vehicle in this price range I ought to investigate?
I have scheduled test drive sessions with all the above cars. If you have driven/owned/used any of them, I would love to hear your thoughts. Additionally, if you know any reputable dealers of the above brands in the northern Jersey area (as well as North Carolina), I would appreciate a referral.
Being a current owner of a BMW, I'm partial to the brand. I enjoy the excellent service experience at the dealership, the surge of adrenaline from the exciting engine, and the generally upscale build quality of the interior. But I do have some questions that I hope this forum can help me answer:
Additionally, I have heard rumors on a 2018 model refresh. Does it make sense to wait (I know, what a bad question!)? Do you expect BMW to add active cruise control and blindspot detection? Do you expect them to hike the price considerably?
These are my questions for now. Thanks again for your help.
Over the past 3 years my '08 335i coupe had a series of issues. First the transmission oil leaked (~50k miles), then the water pump went out (~58k miles). Very recently the ABS/traction control malfunctioning light came up on the dash (~63k miles). Each repair cost north of $2k and I've decided to put an end to the constant headache and therefore plunged myself into the market for a new car.
I live in North Jersey and work in New York City. So I don't drive to work. My car is used exclusively for pleasure (grocery runs, numerous short road trips, several long road trips, and very occasionally, tossing it around at speeds deemed safe by His Majesty's Government). Last year I put on less than 5k miles on the car. In other words it's as much of a toy as it is a tool. 99% of the time it will have no more than two people in the car and no special cargo/luggage.
I entertained the idea of convertibles briefly but I heard bad stories about their upfront cost, maintenance cost, increased wind noise due to odd roof shape, and reduced sound insulation (primarily with soft tops). As a result, I made a pass on them.
My budget is around $50k with some flexibility (±20%). Cars that cost less don't really catch my eye while I struggle to justify spending significantly more than that. I can do lease/finance/cash depending on the deals. But if I did make a purchase (as opposed to leasing), I intend to keep it for longer than 6 years. I can buy new or used. I am also not time sensitive (which is good as I heard there's a long waiting list for M2).
I'm considering the below:
Lexus RC350, Audi TTS, Chevy Camaro, and BMW M2. Do you see any other vehicle in this price range I ought to investigate?
I have scheduled test drive sessions with all the above cars. If you have driven/owned/used any of them, I would love to hear your thoughts. Additionally, if you know any reputable dealers of the above brands in the northern Jersey area (as well as North Carolina), I would appreciate a referral.
Being a current owner of a BMW, I'm partial to the brand. I enjoy the excellent service experience at the dealership, the surge of adrenaline from the exciting engine, and the generally upscale build quality of the interior. But I do have some questions that I hope this forum can help me answer:
- How's the M2's reliability? Consumer Reports rated the '16 2 series as one of the most reliable car models. Does that translate to the M2?
- I learned that BMW crippled their originally fantastic warranty program. Currently is there a way to extend the manufacturer's warranty and maintenance agreement to beyond 4 years? Perhaps 6 years? Or even longer?
- Active/adaptive/radar cruise control is something that I really want to have in my next car. Most of my road trips involve cruising on busy Jersey highways. Cruise control that can adjust the speed automatically can be a real boon. Sadly from the looks of it, this option did not make it into the US for the M2. Is there an aftermarket solution? Or should I wait for the 2018 model refresh?
- I use an Android phone and like Google Maps very much. Is there a way for Android Auto to work on the BMW iDrive system?
- How's the Dakota leather in the M2 for long-term use? I heard conflicting stories (in terms of comfort and durability) about the only available leather option in the M2.
- The M2 does not have active blindspot detection? Seriously?
Additionally, I have heard rumors on a 2018 model refresh. Does it make sense to wait (I know, what a bad question!)? Do you expect BMW to add active cruise control and blindspot detection? Do you expect them to hike the price considerably?
These are my questions for now. Thanks again for your help.