BMW M340i vs Mercedes A35 AMG - advice please!

[bobsavage789]

Hi everyone!

I could do with the advice/thoughts on what to go for from the many learned petrolheads on the PH fora:

It's nearly time to replace my trusty Mk. 7 Golf GTI, and I've narrowed it down to 2 options: the M340i and an A35. I tend to get bored of cars quite quickly, so another Golf is out of the question. I reckon this will be my last automotive indulgence before children make any sort of snazzy car unaffordable.

i know they're both very different cars, but they seem to represent the best mix of performance, fun and just enough practicality. Either would have to be a PCP, with my current GTI being the deposit (I've had it valued ar around £14k). Here are the quotes I've received:

M340i (with a few options I wouldn't want to go without): £14k deposit; 36 x £301.10; GFV of £18422.06; 8000 miles/year

A35 (also with a few options I wouldn't want to go without): £8.5k deposit; 36 x £341.73; GFV of £22,800; 6000 miles/year

A few things I need to bear in mind:

1) I won't be able to save much over the course of the plan, so any future PCP deposit would have to come from whatever the car's worth after 3 years (minus the GFV). The M340i seems the better option in this respect.

2) Running costs seem way higher for the BMW (insurance is more than double!): is it worth it? Would a 330i be an adequate substitute, or would I feel a pang of regret every time I saw an M340?

3) I found the A35 to be a more exciting drive, but would it be intolerable on a daily basis, even with the adaptive suspension?

All advice welcome! Thanks in advance!

[rassi]

M340i by a country mile! Performance and 6 cylinder engine would more than justify the potentially higher running costs

[cerb4.5lee]

I personally really like both of those but the M340i would edge it for me. The performance and engine are very impressive in the M340i and the 3 series in general is a great all round car.

[Tea Pot One]

I had an A45 FL and an M240i convertible. I loved both.

If I were you the M340i is by far the more appealing. The A35 is great but you will tire of it compared to an M340i which basically you won't tire of. The engine in the M340i is in a different league for everyday 'reward' tbh. No, I haven't driven an A35 but the A45 is of the same ilk and is far more tiring on a day to day basis.

[gizlaroc]

I would think there are much better deals than £14k down and £300 a month on an M340i?
That is £700 a month.

Have a read of some of the M340i threads on here and bimmerpost etc.

[Court_S]

I’d be going for the M340i too; the B58 is a cracking engine that works really with the ZF8.

That doesn’t sound like the best deal though.

[Sam.F]

In terms of choice of car I'd have the M340i every time - faster, more characterful engine, better ride.
Please, please don't drop £14k on a deposit for a PCP though!

[AliMc99]

Another vote for the m340i. I’d also agree with the OP that the finance quote looks expensive- <£600 month should be achievable- be worth looking looking at the deals TRLTony offers on baby BMW.net

[bobsavage789]

Sam.F said:

In terms of choice of car I'd have the M340i every time - faster, more characterful engine, better ride.
Please, please don't drop £14k on a deposit for a PCP though!

I think I already know the answer to this, but why not?

[gizlaroc]

As long as you know you will lose that £14k then it won't matter that much.


However...


That is £29k over 3 years.

You can contract hire one for £26k doing 8k miles a year.

Look on leasing.com



Deal on babybmw as mentioned earlier......


BMW M340i xDrive Saloon Sports Auto.
(standard spec includes metallic, leather, heated seats, folding mirrors, OS7 Live Cockpit and pro Media, Adaptive Suspension, Variable Sport Steering, Climate control, Reverse Camera, Acoustic Glazing, M Sport Differential, Adaptive LEDs, Ambient Lighting,
Parking Assistant)

LIST PRICE £48,555 OTR
dealer contribution £6555
BMW contribution £1500
Customer Balance £40,500

Finance Examples (Low deposit scheme)
Customer deposit £583 then 47 x £583.23 plus optional GFV payment of £18,121.73
based on 8000 miles pa and 4.9% APR.

Higher Deposit example
Customer deposit £5000 then 47 x £480.06 plus optional GFV payment of £18,121.73
based on 8000 miles pa and 4.9% APR.


That is £2k less for 48 months rather than 36 months.

Worth getting in touch and asking for a quote over 36 months, probably won't be all that different a month. Probably around £610 at a guess. That is £21960, so £7000 cheaper than the deal you have over the same period.

[panholio]

You’re about to completely misunderstand pcp.

£14k down is madness. It does not mean any equity at the end, it just means a lower monthly. They’ve also quoted you top whack.

From what I’ve seen the TRL deal quoted can be bettered slightly as well.

[bobsavage789]

gizlaroc said:

As long as you know you will lose that £14k then it won't matter that much.


However...


That is £29k over 3 years.

You can contract hire one for £26k doing 8k miles a year.

Look on leasing.com



Deal on babybmw as mentioned earlier......


BMW M340i xDrive Saloon Sports Auto.
(standard spec includes metallic, leather, heated seats, folding mirrors, OS7 Live Cockpit and pro Media, Adaptive Suspension, Variable Sport Steering, Climate control, Reverse Camera, Acoustic Glazing, M Sport Differential, Adaptive LEDs, Ambient Lighting,
Parking Assistant)

LIST PRICE £48,555 OTR
dealer contribution £6555
BMW contribution £1500
Customer Balance £40,500

Finance Examples (Low deposit scheme)
Customer deposit £583 then 47 x £583.23 plus optional GFV payment of £18,121.73
based on 8000 miles pa and 4.9% APR.

Higher Deposit example
Customer deposit £5000 then 47 x £480.06 plus optional GFV payment of £18,121.73
based on 8000 miles pa and 4.9% APR.


That is £2k less for 48 months rather than 36 months.

Worth getting in touch and asking for a quote over 36 months, probably won't be all that different a month. Probably around £610 at a guess. That is £21960, so £7000 cheaper than the deal you have over the same period.

Thanks for this: very useful.

Forgive my ignorance, but I'm not sure how you've reached those totals: £14k + (36 × 301) = £24836 (you said 29k). What have I missed?

[Wills2]

They are offering X3M competitions for £549 in and £549 a month at the moment I'd get that instead:

https://www.stratstone.com/new-cars/bmw/x3-m-compe...

[bobsavage789]

Wills2 said:

They are offering X3M competitions for £549 in and £549 a month at the moment I'd get that instead:

https://www.stratstone.com/new-cars/bmw/x3-m-compe...

Dang that's tempting; even over 4 years. Can't imagine the insurance would be affordable though...

...oh heck: I'll get some quotes anyway.

[bobsavage789]

panholio said:

You’re about to completely misunderstand pcp.

£14k down is madness. It does not mean any equity at the end, it just means a lower monthly. They’ve also quoted you top whack.

From what I’ve seen the TRL deal quoted can be bettered slightly as well.

I know it's probably madness and I won't ever see most of that money again, but I'm sort of resigned to this being my last chance of having a truly premium performance car (unless by some miracle I survive to retirement age).

I probably can't go over £400/month, so unless I plough in all my built-up equity up front (as it were), the monthlies would be too high.

Or I hope sales are slow and they start taking more off the price...

I've also thought about buying outright 67 plate Jaguar XE S, which is a bit of a left-field option, but would mean I kept all my equity... albeit in a slightly inferior car (certainly on the inside).

[gizlaroc]

bobsavage789 said:

Thanks for this: very useful.

Forgive my ignorance, but I'm not sure how you've reached those totals: £14k + (36 × 301) = £24836 (you said 29k). What have I missed?

Apologies, I think I calculated that you were doing it over 48 months to balance out the deals compared to the 48 month deals I was quoting from Babybmw.net and then put down over 36 months in the post anyway, confusing matters.

That X3 deal would be where I would put my money.

Edited by gizlaroc on Saturday 2nd November 14:25

[Mr Whippy]

I’d just wait 12 months and buy a nearly new one for peanuts.

£14k down and the same monthlies and own it outright in 3 years instead. Probably.

Initial depreciation on all these more expensive BMWs is eye watering.

However you pay for it, you’re better off not paying for it.

Get it 1yr old and enjoy.

[gizlaroc]

I agree, you will easily pick one up for 30k at a year old with 10k miles or less on it.

I reckon you would be looking at...

£30k
£3k deposit
47 x £330
£15000 balloon.

Or

£30k
£14000 deposit
60 x £301

Owned outright.

I guess the question is, is having it now rather than next year worth an extra £10,000?

[Mr Whippy]

Generally BMW are doing better on long term residual than short term.

Just go look at M6/M6GC.

£30k for 6yr/40k kinda thing, £40k for 3yr/20k.

So well worth running it from 3-6yrs!


Obviously the higher price they go the worse they are, but 340i is well into the costlier range of stuff BMW does.

[Wills2]

bobsavage789 said:

Dang that's tempting; even over 4 years. Can't imagine the insurance would be affordable though...

...oh heck: I'll get some quotes anyway.

You'd be daft not to take that deal vs a A35? No contest!