[rondocap]

OK, so a bit unusual here - but I figure there are a lot of 335i drivers here who came from the GTI. (It was my last car too)

The Prius feels like a watered down 335i in every sense of the word - except the MPG. It's a whole different type of car, but still an automatic.


OK, so last july I got my Prius Plugin. I drive about 2,000 to 2,500 miles a month.

I really do think it's a very efficient car and mostly good. At first I had an issue with it being uncomfortable, which were fixed by adding leather to it.

There is no denying that it's very efficient. Feels good to fill up for under $30 and go far.

My issue; I'm bored as can be driving it. I just don't look forward to driving it. At first the whole MPG thing got my attention, but now it's like pushing a vacuum cleaner.

Second issue: I leased it, and obviously will go over the allotted miles and have to pay for them - but my intention was to buy it out at the end of the lease anyway.

So what's my situation? I may trade it in for a nice Volkswagen GTI, manual and fully loaded with nav/leather/etc. It gets about 22 MPG city and 31 MPG highway. I know, not 55mpg - but I've owned a GTI before and it will be much more engaging to drive. Plus I'd not be leasing, just financing it.

I've basically gotten an offer to switch it out for the Prius, thus me not having much negative equity normally associated with lease early buyouts. I'd be as upside down on the GTI as I would be on the Prius lease so it's a wash, and I don't lose any money out of pocket.

Basically dealer will give me $25k for my base Prius Plugin, which is pretty good considering how far they've dropped.

Oh, but the MPG is so good...help me out here guys. Am I wrong to trade it in for a little fun?

Notes:

I also have a paddle shifting BMW 335i, but the prius/GTI is my DD.
I use the car for work; I give estimates and things of that nature at homes. Obviously the Prius is more neutral, and the GTI a bit more boyish, but in the color/rims I am getting it's not too flashy so should not stand out. (I want fun driving, but neutral outside for people not to notice too much)

[Revlis]

Do you drink a lot?

I ask cause I am a rambling long winded guy... and you lost me somewhere along Prius and MPG.

Of course most everyone here will say GTI. I'll wager anyway.

In the same situation I'd get rid of both and buy a car I love to drive everyday. Life is too short to spend any effort worried about MPG. Barring Full size GMC 4X4 at 8 mpg anyway.

[Revlis]

OH and FWIW the GTI has grown up chops. It's one of the few cars out there that really does fit anyone age wise I think.

[Frankless24]

Maybe a 335d? They get about 40mpg and are great to drive from what I hear. Fast as hell too, maybe not as quick as the 335 but definitely a torque monster.

The only other thing would be a new 328i with the 4 banger that gets like 34 on the freeway with the 8speed auto?

Just throwing a couple options out there for conversation.

[VTECaddict]

Why not DD the 335i?

[rondocap]

My wife is driving the 335 now, and I didn't want to put so many miles on it. Plus, it's a bit flashy as I use it for work to give estimates. (The Prius no one notices, and the GTI is louder but still seem as more of hatchback and not that expensive)

[BashShah]

Why not a VW Jetta or Passant TDI.
Get a stick, and enjoy you DD and great fuel economy.

Also note the automatic TDI with dsg tranny has better fuel economy..,. Believe it or not.

Better torque than puris, you won't hesitate as much sitting in it.
Get a highline model enjoy most of the bells and whistles.

Puris just sucks ass.
Just my 2 cents.
PS: I have a 2007 335i sedan auto with sport and premium package and idrive.
It's my DD.
But if I was putting the miles you are, I'd get a TDI or 335d in a heart beat.
The issue, 335d cost more than double of a jetta TDI.

[rondocap]

The TDI cars I do like, but they are pretty expensive too for a nice one with nav- I just have a heard time not getting a nice GTI over the TDI. GTI is just a bit more exciting, even if the gas is worse.

[williamf]

I am not sure if you made your situation clear. When I read your first post it sounded like the 335i was just your weekend car, but then you said your wife drives it. My answer to your question is different depending on if the car is a weekend car or not.

If it is a weekend car and you don't intend to do radical changes to it, then learn to be feel comfortable making it your DD. You will have more fun and the overall cost of maintenance and depreciation on one car will be less than on two cars. Period.

If you have to have two cars because the wife is going to drive one, then I vote for the GTI. You can still have a lot of fun with that car.

[Beamer325xi]

Not sure what the price rage is but kia optima hybrid is nice! Check them out fun to drive great on has lots of features fully loaded brand new is 33,000 or so and 50mpgs

[SanquintinB]

Golf TDI if you do a lot of highway miles. Audi A3 TDI also if you want something a little nicer

[bbbuzzy]

+1 on Williamf's advice above. If you have the Prius to "save money" by not putting miles on the 335, that's not going to work. Having a second car will almost always cost you more once you've figured in ALL the expenses (financing, taxes, insurance, registrations,maintenance, etc.

[fazman]

If you have a place to charge the car, why not get a Nissan Leaf or a Tesla? You know that NJ has no state tax on all electric cars! You also get about $7500 in federal tax credits when you buy/lease a tesla. If you have a garage to charge the car in... that might be your most economical and best bet!

[theblackmamba]

The 335 is not a Ferrari here.

Buy a used Honda, Toyota or Nissan under $5k and you'll have a daily.

It's not an accessory either, no need to pair it with a fine wine.

[ChasVS]

What don't people understand that you NEVER get a return on the purchase price of a Prius through the higher mileage/gas price savings? You end up paying more on your car payment each month, but then feel good about less frequent fill ups?

Get a KIA Optima for your DD if you want a sporty, fuel efficient, reasonably priced sedan.

[racermp]

golf TDI.

focus st?

[FOM E92]

Keep the Prius. If the 335 is for fun, then utilize the Prius for what it was meant for, beige ubiquity in commuting. You'll appreciate the "fun" car more in the end.

[Castle]

Originally Posted by VTECaddict

Why not DD the 335i?

^^ THIS!

BMWs depreciate too fast to have them sitting in a garage. Your car's value loses thousands of dollars every year, only to be driven during less than 1/3 of that time?. If you like to drive the car, drive it everyday and be happy. Get instead an SUV for heavy work like winter or hauling stuff.

[vapore0n]

Lets see the math:

- Replace a 50mpg car with a 30mpg car = 20mpg difference
- 2000 miles per month
- assuming 87 octane at 3$ per gallon
= $300 a month extra in gas.
(expect more based on actual gas prices and millage)

In the end, fun car = expensive
economic car = more money towards other things.

Not to mention Toyota = reliable = less $ in maintenance

If it were me, Id take the middle side.
A good tdi car.

[rondocap]

my wife DD the 335, so it's being put to use. I drive it for fun when I can, too.

I couldn't resist guys, I bought a 2012 GTI. I sold my 2011 GTI to get the 335, and always missed it. This time I went manual and 4 door, nav, leather.

MPG? Oh well, right now I rather enjoy myself. 50 MPG is no joke to leave behind - but the first few curves in the GTI today and I was home.

[VTECaddict]

I would have gotten a Golf TDI and upgraded the suspension. A bit slower, but would still be fun to drive and a lot more economical.

But congrats on the GTI. Always liked the MkV and MkVI GTI.

[Kayani_1]

For my wife we just bought a 2013 Kia Optima Hybrid. It is a fairly large size sedan it gives good gas mileage and it looks way better then that ugly turd called Prius. So far mostly Houston city traffic jams 8K miles worth resulted in pretty neat 37 mpg.

Now it is no BMW but it looks good, great warranty, lots of room, not bargain quality interior, cheaper service and fuel efficient. I do not mind driving it occasionally because it is a good family sedan and drives pretty nice.

I on the other hand daily drive my tuned N54 335i on Cobb aggressive stage 1 through same Houston traffic jams to the tune of 20 mpg. I am hoping with alpina B3 tranny software upgrade I will get better gas mileage. As the factory 6-spd likes to not shift up to 6th unless you are traveling around 50 mph.

However, the smile my tuned N54 335i puts on my face every day is price less. Even though city traffic jams cause it to have sorry gas mileage on highway it is not that bad at all. As I averaged a 27.6 mpg to California from Texas in it. So it all depends how your commute is.