335i coupe or 350z?

[karl922]

Hi all,

Ive been waiting ages to buy myself my dream motor (350z) for a long time now and as im just a week away from being ready to buy, i find myself looking at the bmw 335i coupe in se trim more and more.

The bmw is much classier, faster, cheaper to run and seats 4.

I just dont want to make the wrong decision and regret it. what would you buy out of the two and why?

Please help me make my mind up!

cheers.

(Oh ive got 17k max to spend on either.)

[Chris71]

350Z. I don't care how competent the BMW is, it's a 2-door repmobile and that doesn't stir me as much as a coupe.

Incidently, I had a go in a Zed the other day and was very impressed. The main thing that struck me is the criticism of a bland engine is unfounded. It has the classic 'half a V12' V6 noise, and very pleasant it is too.

The next five houses to be - and I swear I'm not making this up - all have a current-gen 3-Series. It's the standard 'doing alright' home counties company car. They are very good, but they just don't personally do it for me.

[Animal]

Buy the 335i. It's a more practical car, and it's faster and more economical.

I bought a 350z for, AFAIK, it's only 2 advantages over a 335i Coupe: looks (it is a great-looking car) and price (a lot less than £17k).

[Polarbert]

350Z blatently. Have you heard what that engine can sound like with an aftermarket exhaust? Amazing.

[rich85uk]

driven neither but own a 330 and wanted a z at one point.

z only has 2 seats, but will be more fun and sounds better than a 335 and im guessing the engine is more of a peach (335i lump has been critised as being souless) also looks more special.

335 looks like any 3 series, and there for you WILL see atleast 4 everytime you go for a drive in yours. it will probably be perfect at nothing, but good at everything.


oh and for the record i would have a 335, im not that bothered how common they are. i like them and thats what matters

[surrey7er]

Just a thought, but the 335 has plenty of tuning potential if that's your bag... Moreso than the z I understand...

[agentsmith]

350Z for me, looks so much nicer imo.

[CarbonM5]

You will buy which ever you prefer-you are already baised toward the 350Z so the 335i would have to be a significant improvement over the 350Z in many ways.I have not driven a 350Z to confirm this but my haunch would be that the 335i has a superior powertrain,better structural stifness and mechanical durability.

The point was raised about the commonality of the 335i to other 3's but you have to appreciate the level of engineering in this car-aside from a dull paint job the car is a stunning,exhilarating drivers car.

Drive both to see.

[soad]

agentsmith said:

350Z for me, looks so much nicer imo.

Ditto - sound lovely too.

[Lost soul]

Chris71 said:

350Z. I don't care how competent the BMW is, it's a 2-door repmobile.

What utter Tosh

[marcosgt]

agentsmith said:

350Z for me, looks so much nicer imo.

335i for me for exactly the same reason!

M.

[jke11y]

I have a 335i, bought for the following reasons - there is nothing else that you can buy for 20k that is still warrantied, solid built, cost me buttons to make 400bhp and that my girlfriend will drive. As said above, outstanding at nothing but bloody good at everything else.

Its not going to please everyone, as its still just a 3 series, albeit a very fast, comfortable and fairly economical one. And you can bet anyone that thinks a £40k-when-new flagship 3er is the same as a £20k 318 that they have not been in one.

[Mr E Driver]

Just to throw a spanner into the quandary how about a the 335d (instead of the 335i) and you could map it to 350 bhp and still get 42mpg? I know to some of you the smelly fuel is a turn off but with the sensible head on it sort of makes sense

I had the same choice and after nearly 18 months with it I'm still happy I made the right choice IMO of course!

[Hitch78]

335i is a far superior car. The 350z is fun, I'm even considering one at the moment, but the 335i does not have the woeful interior, increasingly chav image, zero boot space and only two seats.

If you are say under 25 and want a car to impress your mates, or if you are looking at it as a second car to be used for weekend thraps and track days go for the Z. If you're going to live with it all day, every day, you'll want the better car; that is the BMW.

[Deranged Granny]

I like the noise and engine and looks of the Z. The interior though, is plastic cheapness.

[Richard-G]

jke11y said:

I have a 335i, bought for the following reasons - there is nothing else that you can buy for 20k that is still warrantied, solid built, cost me buttons to make 400bhp and that my girlfriend will drive. As said above, outstanding at nothing but bloody good at everything else.

Its not going to please everyone, as its still just a 3 series, albeit a very fast, comfortable and fairly economical one. And you can bet anyone that thinks a £40k-when-new flagship 3er is the same as a £20k 318 that they have not been in one.

this, i have a 325 e92, (thats geek for 3 coupe) and its great, tbh both cars are great so its win win, you would have a good time all the time in the bm, you would have an awesome time sometimes in the Z. Both engines sound great, but the z does sound slightly better, however you wouldnt see which way a 35i went if it was really pushing

[ManOpener]

I've never really liked the Z. To me it just looks bloated, fat and slow. Been in one, it went alright though, but sounded a bit naff and wasn't well built.
Been in a 335i saloon, never the coupe. Until recently I thought the saloons looked more ballanced than the coupes, but I'm not so sure now. Personally, I'd have the BM- felt much faster and more composed, far better to be inside and more comfy (though the one I was in didn't have the stupid run-flats).

[aeropilot]

Hitch78 said:

335i is a far superior car. The 350z is fun, I'm even considering one at the moment, but the 335i does not have the woeful interior, increasingly chav image, zero boot space and only two seats.

If you are say under 25 and want a car to impress your mates, or if you are looking at it as a second car to be used for weekend thraps and track days go for the Z. If you're going to live with it all day, every day, you'll want the better car; that is the BMW.

This.


But, my choice would be the 335i.

Edited by aeropilot on Monday 24th May 19:39

[Chris71]

Lost soul said:

Chris71 said:

350Z. I don't care how competent the BMW is, it's a 2-door repmobile.

What utter Tosh

So I'm not allowed my own opinion? I said the 335 might well be a better car, but a 2 door derivative of a typical fleet car doesn't stir me in the same way that a coupe with it sown identity might. It's a personal thing - I'm not a big fan of M3s or go-faster Imprezas for the same reason, and I doubt I'm the only one.

[Patrick Bateman]

I'd go for the 335.