Would love to hear your guys opinion on my options

[meths4]

Had a 2010 S4 but got rear ended, they counted it as a total loss, ordered a 2011 mid-august and dealer said will arrive 11/3. But I found a used 2009 M3 exactly the way I would of wanted it under 20k miles for mid 50k, its MSRP is $70k new. I've driven the 2010 for almost a year (got it 11/09) and I love everything about it except for skinny steering wheel, but I feel like if I can get a M3 the way I want it around the same price range, it's hard to pass up, no?

I negotiated with the dealer when ordering that I would get $200 over invoice plus 1500 loyalty rebate added on, so if they try to change the price higher I think I'm just going to walk out and get the M3. Right move or no?

I know it's all up to me, but just wanted to hear what you guys would do if you were in my shoes.

Thanks

[viceprp]

Like you said, in the end its up to you. If this is your DD then I would get the S4 but the M3 would be pretty fun too. I personally would take awd over rwd anyday because I just feel safer in rain/snow.

[awdjunkies]

Like you said, in the end its up to you. If this is your DD then I would get the S4 but the M3 would be pretty fun too. I personally would take awd over rwd anyday because I just feel safer in rain/snow.

+1. Besides if the price difference isn't that much? I would rather have the piece of mind, going with a new car as opposed to a used one, (even if it is a gently used one). Also remind yourself that in the end it is your money and your decision.

[fatbrembos]

like everyone has said it is your money so the decision at the end of the day is yours

BUT

i mean its a m3, i mean ive always been a vw/audi person but honesty if you can get a car that is faster, so much more fun to drive, and something that stands out like an m3 why not? yes audi has quattro, but dont you live in the oc? does it ever rain there? is quattro all that important to you?
those are questions that you have to ask yourself in this situation.
Personally id get the m3, not only because youve already had a s4 (aka change it up a bit) but because its the best car in its class right now
according to every magazine, every tv show, or pretty much anything, its the best car in its class. And honestly if its a good price for you then why not.

The one thing that i can say is negative is the fact that the s4 would be brand new and the m3 is used, but like i said this is my own opinion, i know plenty of people will disagree with me, but hey its your car your money your choice

let us know what you end up doing

good luck

[Mr_Brown]

Before buying a used but almost new M3, I would have a dealer check over-revs; make sure the engine was not abused. Then I would drive the crap out of it on a test drive before buying the S4.

[csaudis4]

It is a better fun for single young men for sure, and i fall into that category, so I have considered over and over on the M3 to be honest, BUT

there are basically two things:

1. I'll never like the interior of a BMW, yes, even if i've owned 135i and happily drove for months. I would conclude that most people after driving an Audi will not appreciate BMW's interior. That instrumental panel in there is simply unacceptable, not to mention how much i felt better with the DIS in the S4 after i switched back to VAG family... of course, you could be a total performance guy and wouldn't care as much about the interior. Some BMW fans may also argue that BMW has better interor for their simple and integral design, but i'm not a simple guy, so i think bmw's interior is way overly simple for me.

2. This kind of performance engines are always owned by a guy who appreciates its power, i.e., it is most likely that it's been harshly used if not so-called abused, not to mention some improper modification. All of us can imagine what mods will bring us even if you try to be careful with the mods sometimes. It's not whether you are professional enough to avoid issues from mods, it's that mods will almost always bring some kind of potential issues to the car. So whenever i consider a performance car, including GTI, 135i, STI, and even S4 in the past, I would usually pass the used ones, esp. those that has over 5k miles on them (5k is even too much for me). At the same time, i know you can always have a independent party check on the car and see if there's anything wrong or if it's been modded at all. However, i can't imagine how professional and high-end and hardcore an engineer need to be to be able to penetrate how it's been used in the past. Maybe the owner has done some real hard launchings, driftings, or burn outs. And I wouldn't be comfortable driving it in the future thinking of how he did the car like when fall in love with a girl thinking how her ex did her ;p Well, this problem won't exist if i was buying a 70k+-mile used vehicle, that's like dating a women with kid, i wouldn't mind her ex's had those a few moments with her, cuz the kid is already there lol

Kind of cheesy comparison, but that's how i feel. ANyway, good luck on the new car.

[Dasquade]

Like csaudis4, i wanted to bring up the 'poor' interier of the 'lower types' of BMW. Same for the 5 serie imho. I bought my Audi mainly because of its interier looks. But like he pointed out, it depends what you prefure most and what your tast is.
On the other hand, if you are more into the performence of a car, i think you will be better of with the M3. Knowing it is more of a (true) racer, i'm sure it will have more mod abbilities availible then the S4.
Personally i would go for the S4 (again).
Around here:
M3, tons of them and don't really turn heads.
S4, less but still present. Don't really turn heads (as they don't really look different then the already nice B8 platforms), untill you floor them.

Maybe you should also consider the effect if you decide to sell the car in XX years?

[PKL]

Since you live in Southern California the obvious choice (IMHO) is the M3.

Quattro is totally unnecessary in LA, and the M3 is the nicer car.

*FYI I am guaranteed moving to Los Angeles this spring. I was dead set on the S4. Until I drove an M3, and my friend reminded me I don't have any use for quattro. I much prefer the M3.

But they are very different!

[JetBlue]

First off you are over paying for the car. $50K max and probably closer to $48K. They are out there if you put in any effort at all. The M3 is an incredible drivers car and I love driving it but unless you are going to push it on a regular basis the S4 is a beter daily driver.

[L0U]

m3s are a recipe to std's. S4's get you a cleaner ride.