03-05-2018, 12:43 PM | #1 |
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M340i vs C43
It appears that AMG is gearing up for a big fight with the much anticipated M340i by sprucing up the C43. The MY2019 model gets a new grille that resembles the C63 and a power bump up to 385hp. It keeps the V6, though; their new inline 6 won’t be available in the C Class until the W206 model arrives in 2020.
I'm really hoping BMW delivers with the 340i. It needs a minimum of 380hp and needs to take back the class leading dynamics that the 3er was known for prior to the F30. Somehow, I feel pretty good that BMW will deliver. https://www.caranddriver.com/news/20...-middle-c-news |
03-11-2018, 05:25 PM | #3 |
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M340i all the way
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Currently: '22 Ferrari F8 | '24 Mercedes G63 | '24 Porsche GT3RS | '24 Volkswagen GTI
Previous BMWs: 340i, 740i, 745Li, M3, M4 Previous Others: Audi, Ducati, Honda, Infiniti, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, Mitsubishi, Porsche, Toyota, Volkswagen |
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04-17-2018, 02:09 AM | #4 |
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i almost bought a 2017 C43.
Ended up not because it was just too expensive and it wasnt particularly playful a car. It also after a while though the materials quality of interior is great it felt overly styled. So I traded in my 2013 328i for a 2017 A4 , and will wait for the m340 / m440i. if the G20 m340i does come out in spring 2019 vs whatever C43 is out (i mean do you really want a C43 with a v6 they are imminently going to abandon for the m256 i-6 in the w206) i'd get the m340i. now if they make a w206 c53 or somethign like that like the e53 and its rear wheel drive then ok maybe worth considering. but I don't think an AWD c43 with a v6 they are going to eventually kill stands up too well against the m340i |
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04-20-2018, 05:00 PM | #5 |
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I don't see the C43 as an M340i competitor.
The C43 is sort of between an M3 and M340i, but still closer to the M3 than an M340i, given all of the options. And when optioned as closely as possible to an M3, the price difference favors the C43 by about $4K. And the M3 is the superior performance automobile, as a lot of the C43's price is a lot of tech and cosmetic add-ons with little performance add-on options. The fancy sport seats are well over $2K in the C43, and they are not better than the standard M3 seats that are included in the base M3 price. So there's that. |
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04-30-2018, 10:25 PM | #6 | |
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you spec a 340i well enough and its within grasp of the m3 240i->m2 etc the (m)340i is a direct competitor to the C43/S4
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05-23-2018, 12:20 PM | #7 | |
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06-26-2018, 04:32 PM | #8 | |
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The steering and suspension on the 340M sport are a joke compared to the C43 anyway. |
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07-18-2018, 01:33 PM | #9 | |
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BMW killed the S65 engine and replaced it with the S55. Yet, I don't think anybody in their right mind prefers the S55. I suspect the same may hold true for the outgoing Benz V6 since the 53 engine also includes electrification. |
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07-18-2018, 03:24 PM | #10 | |
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07-18-2018, 03:36 PM | #11 | |
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My wife drives a 340i with MPPSK now. We took over a lease on one back in March. I have a M2 with the M Performance Exhaust. The C43 with AMG exhaust sounds better than both imo. Keep in mind, we've also owned a 335i with the performance exhaust in 2014 and another 6 BMWs prior to that. The Benz sounds excellent. If you haven't heard a C43 with AMG performance exhaust upgrade, you should. We now have a 2019 C43 on order, arriving in November. We are incredibly disappointed with the 340i. The handling is mediocre at best and the power delivery, while good, lacks excitement. The C43 delivers on those fronts. We've owned 10 BMWs in 17 years and the 340i is our least favorite. YMMV |
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07-18-2018, 03:46 PM | #12 | |
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07-18-2018, 04:32 PM | #13 | |
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07-20-2018, 03:57 PM | #14 | |
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After thinking about my initial comments, I see, and agree, that the C43 is MB's direct competitor to the non M 3 series. Holy thread resurrection Batman! MB's move to create the C43 pushes the price point a great amount higher respective to the current 340i Msport with which it initially competes with. The new G20 M340i is not out yet, and when it does come to market it will replace the outgoing 340i Msport. Hopefully, BMW will not push the M340i price point towards the C43 because that will create a sales problem in my view. The C43 is MB's tweener that loads in a lot of included was well as optional tech that pushes it's price point between the top base 3 series and the real M3. With the advent of the C43 a potential buyer can choose between paying more, for nearly no more performance, for an AMG C-class, or a top base 3 series, or the top performing 3 series based real M car. That choice is created by the C43's tweener price point. Yes, it's all part of the automobile industry where image and marketing are at times more important for sales than the historic engineering efforts that created that image in the first place. I hope the new G20 M340i is not a direct price point answer to MB's "AMG" C43 resulting in a price bump. The F30 335/340i Msport performs admirably and competitively to the C43 at a lower price, even though it's an older model by comparison. I'm hoping the new G20 M340i will easily match, or better still, out perform the C43, and do so at it's lower price point. After all, BMW not only competes with MB and Audi in Europe, but they still compete with the new and very impressive Kia Stinger and Genesis G70, Alfa Romeo, Jaguar, Cadillac, etc in other markets too. To conclude, after further review of the available information, I too agree that the C43 is a direct competitor to the 340i Msport/M340i. And cheers to keeping the marketing hype in check and not allowing the hyperbole to raise the cost of great performing cars that mere working mortals can afford. Last edited by RPM90; 07-20-2018 at 04:37 PM.. |
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07-20-2018, 04:09 PM | #15 | |
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You can option a 330i with a load of tech that will do nothing to improve it's performance over a base 340i. But, you can then also add all those same options and more to the 340i and the price difference is still maintained. After further consideration, I agree that the C43 is MB's direct competitor to the 340i Msport and the coming new M340i. Given the M340i's lower price and direct and comparable performance, it's likely the M340i will beat that competitor and do so at a lower price point. That's a win for us sport sedan fans. Each buyer has to decide if what they want are all the high cost up to date technology add-ons vs base performance. For me, I keep things very simple as I am not that enamored with having a tone of options that I have no need for. That then allows me to get the 3.0 inline 6 that I prefer over a higher optioned and nearly same cost 2.0T. Others don't see it that way as they want and enjoy having all the connectivity and heads-up displays or the newest digital dash. That's fine. It's great to have choices. Still, when comparing cars and variants final price doesn't tell us the full story, nor most of it. |
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07-23-2018, 01:31 PM | #16 |
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Mercs have the worst leases. You get way more car for your money from other brands. Plus it's not like the Mercs are more fun to drive either, quite the opposite actually.
Despite all their strides since parting with Chrysler and BMW's complacency/laziness since 2009, I'd say the only thing Mercedes has on BMW is the S-class and AMG GT/S-coupe (8-series is a snooze fest). |
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07-23-2018, 01:43 PM | #17 | |
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Money factors of 4% and residuals in the mid to high 50% for 36 months aren't enticing for BMWs. For anyone cross shopping a similarly priced 5 series and an E-Class for example, the terms would favor the Merc given the aggressive discounts to be had on them. |
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07-23-2018, 01:58 PM | #18 | |
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Online at least, Mercs do lease higher, but you only know for sure once you crunch the numbers at the dealer. |
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07-25-2018, 05:03 PM | #19 | |
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Yes. I'm looking for my next car. My 2016 340i lease is due this September. I'm thinking of buying it because the new 3 won't be out until next spring, at least that is why my dealer is saying. Meanwhile I've been shopping other brands and cars to see what's available. The best leases I found is for Audi A4 and Alfa Giulia. There are good discounts on A4s and especially on the Giulias. Combine the discounts with competitive rates and they make some good leases. I looked into a new 2019 M240i to hold me over until the new 3 comes, and the monthly was ridiculous. Optioned modestly, like my 340i Msport, the MSRP was near to my 340i's MSRP. But, the lease rates absolutely suck. I would be paying between $125 to $150 more for that 2 series compared to what I pay now for my 340i. As for buying my 340i, I can see why BMW is lowering their residuals. 3 years later and only 25K miles nearly all value estimators show my car worth a bit less than what I would have to pay to buy it. The worst part is that to get my 340i certified my dealer is saying it will cost me somewhere around $2600. Add that to my cost to buy and I'd pay more to keep my 340i than to buy a same year certified 340i from the dealers lot. |
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07-25-2018, 05:11 PM | #20 | |
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08-02-2018, 03:15 PM | #21 | |
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The problem is that even the dealer doesn't know for sure when the factory will start to build the new G20. All 3 of my last BMW orders came in about 8 weeks, which is more than acceptable to me. My current lease is up towards the end of Sept. But, there is no word on when G20 production will start. "Official" coming out party is expected in October in Paris. It's then likely the G20 build will start some time soon after, but when exactly? Dealer does not yet know. Let's say G20 build starts in November. My order would be in line with all the others. Even if it took a quick 8 weeks, that means my G20 would be at my dealer the beginning of Jan. 2019, which is a bit longer than 3 months. That's doable. However, that's not guaranteed. More and most important to me, we don't have any idea of what the new G20 will really look like, and especially, we have no idea what it will drive like. There are no reviews of the G20 to go on, and after my two F30s I am leery to commit and wait for the new 3. Sure, it's no problem to extend the lease, order the new 3, wait, and when it comes if I don't like it then cancel the order. But then I lose out on all the great deals there are right now on the competitors cars. Alfa has very aggressive pricing discounts and pretty good leases to move their Giulia and get them into the market. Likewise, Audi A4 leases are quite exceptional right now and normally they are not. Same goes for the A3 as a competitor to the BMW 2 series. I looked for a 20148 M240i and can't find any that would give me the good incentives BMW has right now on a 2018 lease or buy. The 2019 M240i is priced a bit higher and the lease numbers SUCK on top of it. The monthly is way too high compared to what I have now with my 340i Msport. I'm not cheap, but I am rationally frugal with my spending. I want and expect the best deal. Right now BMW is making it very hard for me to continue with them with both the 2019 M240i and the not yet existent M340i. I may go with a lease extension, but I need my BMW dealer to give me some incentive to do that. I'm just made him an invoice offer based on the fact that I have no idea what the G20 will really look like nor what it will perform like. I'd consider both a G20 330i Msport or M340i. Also, with previous BMW orders I was able to lock in current incentives and lease numbers and then use whichever numbers were better when the new order arrived. I don't know if BMW will do that for new G20 orders since they are so far away. If my sales guy doesn't go for it, no problem, there are plenty of other great cars out there at great deals. If the G20 proves to be an exceptional new BMW, then I'll come back in 3 years. Last edited by RPM90; 08-02-2018 at 03:32 PM.. |
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08-10-2018, 07:42 AM | #22 |
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Drove a c43 and a 340i w m performance and IMO the C43 is the better car hands down. Sound, handling, engine thrust, interior, felt smaller but still big enough, etc. Plus in Canada you can get a c43 decently equipped for 68k-70k before tax with premium pkg, amg drivers package (amazing exhaust sound among other things) and a couple of other items. To get a 340 with equivalent power and sound, interior fittings, etc you're at about $73-75. I've never seen myself as a Merc owner but if I'm buying a small sports sedan I'm picking the c43 all day. Sure the m340i will improve the BMW but I'm also sure it will increase the price too. Maybe I'm just getting tired of bmw or old or both....
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