sowden

I can' t decide. I want the tC, make no doubt about it. But i'm looking around and I could get a nice 3-series used for about $5,000 less. I think the BMW is much better and nicer. Not to mention faster. What do you think will be the solution.

dgHotLava

the BMW will have much higher maint costs....
and because it is used it will need maint sooner and more often than a new tC...

(myself i love BMW's but they do have their own flaws...)

tc_is_for_turbo_charged

First off, I have two cars I bought used and my tc I bought new. It is hard to compare buying a used vs new. I am a big fan of BMW's (see my future mods ) and have owned a used one and I can tell you that mainanance is a pain.

If you are looking for a used 3 series look for a used one the same price as what a new tc goes for and compare those. Then you have a better basis for what you are and aren't getting with new vs used. In this area for 18K you are looking at a 5 year old 323 with about 50K miles on it, that's half way to 100k on the car when you drive it home the first time.

323 has about the same options as a new tc but with leather and a better stock suspension. Power to weight is about the same as a tc too. I believe it has a 2.5l inline 6 vs the tc's 2.4l 4 cyl. Gas milage is about the same. Not to mention the bmw has rear wheel drive, great for performance, much crappier in rain and snow.

I was in the same boat as you when I bought my tc. After driving the tc I was convinced I got a great car for the money. After adding the trd shocks, struts, and bar I have been grinning ear to ear every time I drive it. DC header and exhaust are on order and God forbid they EVER come out with the supercharger. . .

Your call bud.

IwannaScion

what does the tC have?

dgHotLava

obviously, the tC has Front wheel drive....

mrbridge

Watch your mileage with BMWs. They aren't as sturdy as MBZ or Japanese brands. And maintenence is a pain in expense.

-s

Ghost04

This may surprise you but there's actually a method to BMW's numbering scheme. the first number is the series of the car. (3, 5, 6, 7, 8 (Trust me 6 and 8 exist, just rare))
Then the next to numbers are the cubic liters of the engine. So a BMW 323 is a 3 series car, with a 2.3 cubic liter engine.

Now if only M-B would jump on this bandwagon, and start making sense too

Edited because the stupid quotes were off again... damn drunken posting.

jmiller20874

Most new MB's use that type of scheme,

C240 = C-class 2.4L
C230 Kompressor = C-class 2.3L Supercharged

S500 = S-class 5.0L

tc_is_for_turbo_charged

Although the naming scheme is correct for most bmw's the 323 initially came in 2.3 but can also be found with the 2.5 just before the 325 was offered.

Lexus IS300 = 3.0 I6
Scion IS240 = 2.4 I4 (HA!)

Also, bmw's will take the mileage. My 740i had 289K on it when I gave it away. Original engine and trans. Cracked the head when it overheated/heater core blew. 2500 to replace heatercore, 9000 to replace engine. Loved that car though.

imjonk

how is it the original engine if you spent 9K to replace it? or maybe i'm not getting the order of events....

IwannaScion

is front wheel drive good? and doesn't that mean that it's not as good as rear wheel drive seeing as how the car is being pulled rather than being pushed. Then again, I know nothing about cars, so if someone could enlightenme

thanks,
Matt

TheKnown

its just a different feel really. understeer vs oversteer is the main thing. AWD is the way to go to solve this

LucidBD

i drive a BMW now and selling it for a tC. not gonna trade it in. dealer will rippoff
i have spent alot of money in this car, and repaired almost everything

tc_is_for_turbo_charged

After head cracked it needed engine replaced. Too much money on an old car.

sowden

what kind? how much?