Pls help me Decide, fellow enthusiasts

[far2000]

hi people, i am a benz fan and i currently own a toyota corolla 140i 2006 model and within this week will trade in my car 4 a new vehicle..this was my third toyota and has given me excellent service with me doing aroound 65000km in 16months...i will no longer be doin this much mileage and lookin at getin a decent luxury compact...

my first option is a brand new 116i prefacelift with power sunroof and partial leather combo.....the local bmw dealer has this prefacelift model in stock 4 the last 4-5months and is willing to give the car at BASE MODEL PRICE...which basically means im scoring a sunroof and leather interior (around 2000 dollars options) for free while also trading my car..the downside is the arrival of the facelift.....

is the above deal worth it 4 me or should i just order a new f/l base model...as i can not afford the extras...this is goin 2 be a purchase over 60months .......

anytin i should look at concernin the pre f/l models?????

my second option is a MAZDA 3 2.3individual full house with all options except nav/dvd and heated seats.....

third option is runx RSI (141KW)


ALL 3 VEHICLES ARE IN THE $30 000- RANGE WHICH IS MY BUDGET....

Im serioulsy confused!!!!!!

thanx guys 4 ure time.......

 

[NarutoRamen]

Honestly man...if you're getting a good deal then you might as well take the best deal. But other then that take what you really want.

 

[Centurion]

You want that bimmer badly don't you Since you can't afford any extras I would unquestionabably rule out the face lifted model. Although the 1er is a desirable car the most reasonable thing to do in your situation is to buy the Mazda.

The whole point of buying a luxury car is have the opportunity to opt for fantastic engines and options not available for non-premium car. If you can't afford to properly spec a luxury car with leather seats, metallic paint cd-disc changer and one or two other goodies like sunroof or heated seats, then you can IMO not afford the car.

Further more cars with entry engines like the 116i are pretty much unwanted since most people who opt for a BMW, MB or Audi buy one with atleast a 1.8 or 2l engine. That is the reason why you are being offered a 116i with two nice options at base price. No body wants bimmers with 1.6l engines which is why they have terrible resale values.

You might not look like a stunner in the Mazda but I think it is a good looking car and with a 2.3L(260hp!!) engine it will offer much more joy than then a bare 116i, aka a poor man's bimmer.

This ia a no brainer.

 

[far2000]

Honestly man...if you're getting a good deal then you might as well take the best deal. But other then that take what you really want.

yea, well i would like 2 own a bimmmer, but also lookin 4 value 4 money...i will be getin a confirmation on my trade in on monday then i have 2 make a choice...

 

[far2000]

You want that bimmer badly don't you Since you can't afford any extras I would unquestionabably rule out the face lifted model. Although the 1er is a desirable car the most reasonable thing to do in your situation is to buy the Mazda.

The whole point of buying a luxury car is have the opportunity to opt for fantastic engines and options not available for non-premium car. If you can't afford to properly spec a luxury car with leather seats, metallic paint cd-disc changer and one or two other goodies like sunroof or heated seats, then you can IMO not afford the car.

Further more cars with entry engines like the 116i are pretty much unwanted since most people who opt for a BMW, MB or Audi buy one with atleast a 1.8 or 2l engine. That is the reason why you are being offered a 116i with two nice options at base price. No body wants bimmers with 1.6l engines which is why they have terrible resale values.

You might not look like a stunner in the Mazda but I think it is a good looking car and with a 2.3L(260hp!!) engine it will offer much more joy than then a bare 116i, aka a poor man's bimmer.

This ia a no brainer.

thanx 4 the advice bro, u have some good points... ...yea, i was looking 4 value 4 money and thats how i saw the mazda 3....the owner of the bmw dealership also owns the mazda/ford dealership.....the 116 is coming with cd-changer, black metallic, power sunroof, partial leather, full 100000km motorplan and fogs....the mazda has the better engine and mayb also looks..... and is silver..both the 116 and mazda3 are on the showrroom and the mazda 3 is slightly cheaper than 116i....
im leaning more towards the mazda, but i think i will decide on monday after lookin at both cars then mayb i will let the heart choose ... ....
but the status of owning a bmw in africa is verrry pleasing as well...!!!

 

[Centurion]

I can understand you Farouk, I would be temted to opt for the bimmer myself but do this. Take the cars out for a thorough 30min drive on high ways, twisty roads and then let your heart decide.

 

[far2000]

Mazda - THE NEW MAZDA3 SPORT AT A GLANCE

the last 1 - mazda 3 2.3 Individual.....

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

I'd go for the Mazda in this instance. The 1.6 engine in the BMW is just too small.

But the only way for you to decide properly is like luw said, extended test drives. But I think you need more than 30 minutes. In 30 minutes you're still impressed by little things (design etc.) and dont have enough time to accurately way up the real world pros and cons. Over longer periods issues like seat comfort, road noise, refinement, ergonomics, engine responsivness etc. become more apparent.

You feel every bump and thump and a lot of road noise in the BMW, and for me this would negate the attractivness of the superb handling. Not sure about the mazda.

Good luck with the decision.

 

[Mr. M]

Difficult decision if you ask me. Owning a BMW at your stage is definitely something very exhilarating. I think if you find the engine to be sufficiently powerful, then get the 1er. If not, then get the Mazda. I seriously do think you will stick with the 1er longer if you can live with the engine.

 

[Zafiro]

I have owned two Mazda's, the latest I own was a 323F from year 2000.

+ Incredible reliable car
- Very noisy, (meaning you hear a lot of windnoise and tirenoise, same problem with Mazda 3 but still mazda 3 is slightly better)
- bumpy ride on potholes


My mum currently own a bmw 118i, 3 months old, no problems so far.
I dont agree with Mr M. that the ride is bumpy, only in the cities where there are bumps and potholes the ride is being affected. Take the car to the freeway or a country road and the ride is comfortable and very good. In the end I think it depend on how good roads your country has and depending on that the ride can be affected in a negative or a positive way.
I dont find the 1er to have annoying windnoise, its after 150km/h you hear windnoise but below that speed the car doesnt sound much, its a lot more worse in the Mazda.

A bimmer is a lot nicer to drive than a Mazda 323, better steeringfeeling, better fuelconsumption and better handling but not as fast as a 323F. In the long run I think a japanese car is more reliable.

My conclusion: I find the engine in 116i to be a little underpowered ( 118i is a better choice imo) but If the engine in 116i is no problem for you I pick it over a Mazda. 1er is so much nicer to drive.


My advice to you is to try to drive them before you decide.


PS if resale value is important you might choose Mazda 3 instead, (however I dont know which car has better resale value, bmw 116i or mazda 3????)

 

[far2000]

thanx 4 tha advice people, i will testdrive both vehicles tomorrow afternoon and let u guys know how it goes...

 

[Giannis]

No this is a difficult question, since each car has different pros and cons. Here's what i think.

Mazda 3: To begin with, i think that 260hp on the front wheels isn't a good idea. Of course it will kick arses on straight line, if you can hold it, but that's it. You'll get a lot of understeer and overall it won't be that much fun to drive. On the other hand, this car is full extra, which means you get a lot of goodies that make your life easier and makes you enjoy the car even more, stuff that doesn't exist in the bimmer.

BMW 116i: This is a much prestigious car, compared to the Mazda, not to mention the BMW driver tag, that many (including me) are jealous of. It has better quality materials and is more sport oriented. The 1.6 engine is not strong enough for a BMW, but you can live with it. 10.3secs for the 0-100 is an ok time, if you ask me. It may not be as loaded as the Mazda, but the sunroof and the leather seats are very important, especially when you don't pay them.

If i were you, i would go for the 116i. Even though it's a bit underpowered, you can easily live with it, since it has good quality materials and leather seats. At least it's a BMW

Though, i have not driven neither of the cars and i suggest you do so, both in highway and downtown roads so that you have an all-around driving experience with the cars.

 

[Nikos120i]

hi people, i am a benz fan and i currently own a toyota corolla 140i 2006 model and within this week will trade in my car 4 a new vehicle..this was my third toyota and has given me excellent service with me doing aroound 65000km in 16months...i will no longer be doin this much mileage and lookin at getin a decent luxury compact...

my first option is a brand new 116i prefacelift with power sunroof and partial leather combo.....the local bmw dealer has this prefacelift model in stock 4 the last 4-5months and is willing to give the car at BASE MODEL PRICE...which basically means im scoring a sunroof and leather interior (around 2000 dollars options) for free while also trading my car..the downside is the arrival of the facelift.....

is the above deal worth it 4 me or should i just order a new f/l base model...as i can not afford the extras...this is goin 2 be a purchase over 60months .......

anytin i should look at concernin the pre f/l models?????

my second option is a MAZDA 3 2.3individual full house with all options except nav/dvd and heated seats.....

third option is runx RSI (141KW)


ALL 3 VEHICLES ARE IN THE $30 000- RANGE WHICH IS MY BUDGET....

Im serioulsy confused!!!!!!

thanx guys 4 ure time.......

Well...it all comes down to what you enjoy. Do you enjoy power or comfort?

First of all let me understand something...the Mazda you are talking about, is it the Mazda 3 MPS with 260 HP??

If yes...then I would go for the Mazda! Keep in mind that this Mazda has a front LSD (limited-slip-differential) which makes things much better if the car tries to understeer. Understeer is possible, but much more controllable with an LSD...just take your foot off the gas pedal...and instantly the nose dives back in.

So the Mazda is a VERY VERY powerful car with plenty of grip...but with more fuel consumption than the 116i.

The BMW is a BMW. Better build quality, a driver focused interior, low and much better driving position (especially with the sport seats) and RWD...but it's a shame you can't exploit the full benefits with such a poor engine. I drove the 116i and no matter how nice I'll try to put it...it is slow...especially compared to the Mazda 3 MPS. With the BMW you might also get better re-sale value.

So it really depends what you really want. The Mazda is better on a straight line and on a track...so it has much better performance than the BMW...but the BMW has other good stuff...less obvious...and sometimes with much less meaning to some people.

The rest is up to you! I hope I helped.

 

[Zafiro]

First of all let me understand something...the Mazda you are talking about, is it the Mazda 3 MPS with 260 HP??

I ask the same thing?
If you talking about Mazda 3 MPS with 260hp than thats my choice but if the Mazda 3 has the same engine power as the 116i than my choice is the bimmer.

OT: A swedish carmag tested Mazda 3 MPS to an Audi S3 and the Mazda beat the Audi. The Mazda was more fun to drive and with a better pricetag. Mazda 3 MPS with 260 horsepower is one hell of a car if you ask me.

 

[cawimmer430]

Well having just helped my sister get a 118i, I can give you some advice, courtesy of the local BMW salesman, Mr. Meindl.

Between the 116i and 118i, the 118i is the better choice by far. Although the 1-Series got a facelift recently, the 116i is still the old engine and I believe it is first of all not available with the start-stop function that can help conserve fuel. Furthermore the new 118i engine is more powerful and get's better fuel economy than the old 116i. If I were you, I'd pay a little extra for a 118i and enjoy more power and better gas mileage than the 116i.

Hope this helps.

 

[Nikos120i]

Me too...Mazda 3 1.6 vs BMW 116i...I'd get the BMW for sure!

The MPS has front LSD...that's why it beat the Audi S3. I also think that the MPS has front double wishbones (like the Alfas and like F1 cars) so the whole tyre tread stays in contact.

The car is just simply mindblowing...

 

[NarutoRamen]

I ask the same thing?
If you talking about Mazda 3 MPS with 260hp than thats my choice but if the Mazda 3 has the same engine power as the 116i than my choice is the bimmer.

I'm with you on this one. If it's the normal Mazda 3 then go for the bimmer but if it's the MPS then it will probably be more fun even if is a Mazda.

 

[Maximus Decimus]

thanx 4 tha advice people, i will testdrive both vehicles tomorrow afternoon and let u guys know how it goes...

Buying a car is an emotional decsion. At the end of the day your heart will make the decision for you. Here is my $.02 though. RWD is more enjoyable driving experience than FWD. That much power to the front wheels will create serious torque steer. Going from the Corolla to the 1 you will be amazed at the difference it makes in separating the wheels that propel and the wheels that steer. And last but not least, BMW's have strong resale value. Always something I consider when buying a car.

Although I obviously prefer the BM, I would not get the 116i. I need more power. I can't imagine that over 60 months the monthly payment difference would be that much more between the 116 and something with a little more power. The smile that additional power will put on your face is worth every penny. Eat out less 1 time per week and you've probably made up the difference.

Over the long run, a sufficiently powered baby bm would be the better choice imo.

 

[Nikos120i]

Buying a car is an emotional decsion. At the end of the day your heart will make the decision for you. Here is my $.02 though. RWD is more enjoyable driving experience than FWD. That much power to the front wheels will create serious torque steer. Going from the Corolla to the 1 you will be amazed at the difference it makes in separating the wheels that propel and the wheels that steer. And last but not least, BMW's have strong resale value. Always something I consider when buying a car.

Although I obviously prefer the BM, I would not get the 116i. I need more power. I can't imagine that over 60 months the monthly payment difference would be that much more between the 116 and something with a little more power. The smile that additional power will put on your face is worth every penny. Eat out less 1 time per week and you've probably made up the difference.

Over the long run, a sufficiently powered baby bm would be the better choice imo.

Well...torque steer isn't that obvious at the Mazda since the MPS has front LSD...therefore it controls the torque much better and it evenly distributes it in the front wheels.

That's why I believe the MPS is the better choice. Because of the LSD and only because of that. I really think that it is much more fun than the 116i

 

[Maximus Decimus]

LSD should definitely help. My ex gf had a mazda 3, have to say it is a fun car. I haven't driven the MPS so I can't really talk to it. Then again I haven't driven the 116i either, I have driven a 120d which I thought was fun. Diesel's are great. 116i just sounds like it would be underpowered. If the 116i is the only 1 series under consideration, I think I would pass on it as well.