[Ricer X]

Well said...alot of fanboyism here...surprise....

At any rate, may would argue that ppl that own a 3 series are ppl that can't afford something better. Just saying...

Stop hating and respect other fine cars for what they are...someone else's choice.

[jeremicium]

Agree with everything you said Ricer X.

Is the 335 better than a GTI...Yes. My wife has an 07 GTI, we paid 26k for my wife's GTI...$50k for my 335. I expect the 335 to be better for the extra $24,000! APR tune, Koni yellows, and H&R sports springs on the GTI and it performes 90% as well as the 335, for about 40% cheaper. Her car has 76,000 miles on it, and has been amazingly reliable, only one mechanical issue at about 65,000 miles, and I think that was related to modifying the stock suspension. The car is solid and rattle free, so to call it junk is just proposterous.

That being said, the issue of FWD vs. RWD is 100% true, as is the 50/50 weight distribution of the bimmer. The bimmer is more fun to drive, better to throw around corners, and the acceleration is much more linear than a GTI with a tune. On the other hand, with the Koni and H&R springs, the GTI has much less body roll around corners than the 335.

Personal opinion, if you have to budget yourself at around $25,000, i'd go with the GTI. Not too likely your going to get a CPO 335 for 25k, and there's a good chance that a used $25k 335 will give you lots of expensive mechanical issues.

Final note, as much as we both love her GTI, the wife intends to do a lease on a MY 12 or 13 3 series in the next year or two.

[bmwauug]

I've owned both - a 2010 GTI, MT, with H&R Springs, APR Tune (Stage 1) and Anti Sway Bars - agree, minimal $$$s for a tremendous performance return when modding...

335i - awesome out of the box stock. Hard to compare, but the X factor goes to the BMW. Overall better quality, balanced etc.

That said, with a 25k budget, hands down, go with the GTI - it is an amazing cars for the money - and one of my all time favorites (owned 3, the mk6 is the best). Budget open, pick up a newer 335.

[Nalod]

If you have to ask, then get the GTI.

Go to a BMW site what do you expect anyway?

What does your wife want to drive?

The DSG new technology vs true blue failed 335 technology?

The 335 is a beast. A used beast.

Financial answer: Get the VW
Sausagefest answer: Get the BMW.

And its "Bimmer" not "Beemer".........and nobody that owns one calls it either!

Unless you have a license plate frame that says "BMW" on it! Cuz everyone gotta know!

[idrift4wd]

there is no way a gti is better in anyway.

335i is a superior car. lmao stock for stock.

[jeremicium]

Originally Posted by idrift4wd

there is no way a gti is better in anyway.

335i is a superior car. lmao stock for stock.

I can think of a way that a $25,000 GTI is better than a $25,000 335. GTI gets you from point A to point B, in a very fun manner, with no out of pocket expense for 50,000 miles, try that with the $25,000 335.

[bmwauug]

Originally Posted by jeremicium

I can think of a way that a $25,000 GTI is better than a $25,000 335. GTI gets you from point A to point B, in a very fun manner, with no out of pocket expense for 50,000 miles, try that with the $25,000 335.

Agree - buy the 335i when you can afford it. IMO, buy new, with the options you want. Compromising will just give you regrtes - should've gt this otion, those wheels, that bumper etc..

[h8tow8]

I'm certainly learning a lot here folks, appreciate all the comments, to reiterate what I'm taking away from this discussion,

Price

• The GTI is not better than 335i, but then again the GTI doesn't cost $50K new either...

Reliability and MPG

• Question is how does a Used 2007 BMW 335i w 50Kmi compare with brand spanking new $25K GTI... not just in terms of brute performance but also Reliability and MPG. Reliability and MPG (21/31 vs 19/27 MPG) I think the GTI is the clear winner.

Performance

• In terms of performance 335i will win...

• It's worth mentioning that if you through less than $3K at GTI (K04 turbo upgrade) you'll probably leave the 335i in the dust in 1/4mi as I shall now illustrate here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHQvSLqU7Is and here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwFFJS30Oy8
  No doubt you'll get better performance from 335i if you throw $3K mods

• If money is no object, then you can always throw APR's Stage 4 at it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtO2dh8BCPA

Verdict (Personal Opinion)

• I love BMW, everything about it... most important the feeling you get when you get into cockpit of 335i. However with a $25K budget if you're looking for best value go with new GTI... If your looking for overall performance go with BMW

[brocklanders]

can you get either of those cars for 25k, i for one would never own an out of warranty modern bmw. also i test drove gti's in july the one i was looking at was more like 32k. my opinion, put 25k down on the new gti-r. 265 hp all wheel drive, i think they are around 36k, and have a tiny monthly payment.

[ElectricCo]

Originally Posted by mikes4

While some of you are saying, "nobody cross shops a 335 and GTI"

I am that guy. While shopping for my last cars I went from almost securing a deal(bad timing/title issue) on a preowned 335 to 1 month later owning a brand new 2010 gti.

I absolutely loved the e90 335 6MT when I drove it but the planets just didn't align. At the time when I absolutely had to buy a car, I couldn't wait around for a pre owned one and just went to the vw dealer and picked up the GTI.

Someone was saying the e90 beats the GTI on standard features? Im not sure if you've looked at a base e90 vs a base gti but the argument could really go both ways on that one. The most important standard features on the GTI (to me) are Bluetooth, Sat radio, and Heated seats. All of which are options on the 40k+ BMW; which is embarrassing in my opinion, but like I said, I love them enough not to bitch about it.

The GTI is a great car if thats what you need and want. Having owned one for a year I have discovered that it is extremely practical if you have to carry....anything. Folding down the rear seats (standard) allows you to pile heaps and heaps of whatever suits your fancy into the car. Put a roof rack on the top and you can fit even more. It gets excellent gas mileage on the highway and around town. The seats are wonderful the transmission shifts nicely, the clutch is light and easy to modulate. The engine in stock form is pretty potent and will spin the tires to your hearts delight from a dig. In the rain it will do it all the way through 3rd.

That being said I personally believe front wheel drive cars to be designed by the devil. That wheel spinning power is sweet when you want to go frying your tires around town, but when you are effectively trying to merge in a hurry so as not to be a traffic pancake the GTIs tendency to give you no power till 3k rpm and then wheelspin; is infuriating. I don't even bother using full throttle in first anymore because I am absolutely certain that gear was designed to induce tire smoke and wheel hop and do nothing else useful, such as get the car to second in an efficient manner.

Don't take my annoyance as the car being terrible. I'm just a jaded german car guy who came from an s4 and a 540i. Cars with power that accelerated gracefully in a hurry.

That being said, I'm selling my GTI 2010 candy white, 18k miles. 6 speed bluetooth, heated seats, sat radio $19k obo looking for a 135i


To Hooy: who said VW owners are people who can't afford something better. I know I'm wasting my time e-arguing with you, but your assumption that people buy GTIs because they can't afford something "better" is misguided and elitist. Like I said, I previously owned a BMW and an Audi. My brother went from a 5 series to a VW to a range rover sport. Not all people buy cars to show the world how much money they have, like it seems you think they should. A car is a very personal choice and your assertion that grown men cant drive GTIs is a little childish.


best of luck to you!

well said! i am also new here. i purchased a CPO 2011 335i a few weeks ago and traded in my vw cc 4motion. i was looking to get something smaller and sportier and was looking hard at a new GTI. I have owned 4 VW's over the last 10 years and was very close to getting the GTI. the GTI is a GREAT car for the money, not to mention you can fit a ton of shit inside of one. however, i sorta stumbled onto the 335i and am glad i did! although i paid more for the 335, it was worth it. the car feels extremely solid (no rattles), handles better than the GTI and it's faster.

[Q4P]

I fail to see how a person can cross shop a RWD luxury sports vehicle with a FWD hot hatch. Two completely different cars for 2 completely different buyers. They both drive differently, handle differently, are at far different spectrums with class as well as luxury and price.

I could see someone cross shopping an Audi S4 to a BMW 335i or a GTI to an MS3 (which I had and absolutely hated) but not a GTI to a 335. If you are cross shopping these; then the 335i is probably too expensive for you...you are probably way better off with the GTI. I am not trying to be mean here but I am telling the truth, think about it for a second. Even though you are buying a 25K used car; it's still a 50K car if you catch my drift (and maintenance and repairs will be done on a 50K car.)

As far as reliability it's a completely moot point. A 335i we know is not a reliable car but I sure as hell wouldn't trust a VW after owning a Touareg and seeing the shit my friend went through with his Passat and seeing what another friend went through with his Jetta. VW is consistently ranked the least reliable vehicle on the market; add a DSG tranny, a DI motor with a turbo and you will eventually have a bad combination.

Sure you can install an APR kit for the VW but then you have one terrible daily driver that torque steers like there is no tomorrow and cant grip until 60 MPH.

[accel]

If you do not care of difference between fwd and rwd platforms, go gti.

[derrick603]

Originally Posted by jeremicium

I can think of a way that a $25,000 GTI is better than a $25,000 335. GTI gets you from point A to point B, in a very fun manner, with no out of pocket expense for 50,000 miles, try that with the $25,000 335.

Well, I bought my CPO 2007 335i (premium pkg, sport pkg, etc.) 1.5 years ago with 32k on the odo for under 26k. No real problems so far. Close enough?

[idrift4wd]

Originally Posted by jeremicium

I can think of a way that a $25,000 GTI is better than a $25,000 335. GTI gets you from point A to point B, in a very fun manner, with no out of pocket expense for 50,000 miles, try that with the $25,000 335.

youd expect to pay less being that its a volkswagon.

and a 335i is a fun car.

[twerle]

Originally Posted by h8tow8

Hi folks,

I'm new here, we sold my wife's car last week before SAAB mess became official (SAAB 9-3 Aero 2.8 Turbo).

Anyway, I'm torn between buying a New 2012 GTI or '07/'08 335i. I'm looking for some advice. My budget is set at $25K and I really love Beemers, thought a used 335i for around $25K could be great option if they go that low with reasonable miles and maybe some remaining warranty?

Like most folks buying these cars 2nd hand I'm scared of potential of having stuff go wrong. Really don't want to spend too much on maintenance and warranty related stuff which of course would be non-issue w new GTI. Thought I could get it chipped w APR's software and maybe high-flow cat/DP which should make it pull pretty hard from roll

Alternatively if I get beemer I could add JB and have some fun w that? I know they're totally different cars (small 4 banger vs. rear wheel drive 6). Any advice would be much appreciated.

Tks!

I have a 2010 lexus is250 with 16k miles and a 2007 335i sport pkg black on black with 100k
Every time that i drive the lexus i wish i was driving my bimma, the lexus is a lease and im stuck till 2013
Hey, lexus is much better then VW and i still like the 335i 10x better, and i got the lexus with 0k miles

[Likwid]

I currently own an '08 335xi and a '06 GTI, and the GTI feels like a pig after driving the 335 for any length of time. The 335 has lots of power, but the GTI steers like it is on rails.

I have the JB4, and it really wakes the 335 up.

[dragazn]

If reliability is an issue here, I said get the GTI. Why? We all knows what kind of headache comes from 335i, even new, therefore to top it off you are going to get a 3yr/old car and that is a big gamble risk right now, for the same amount of money you are paying. The GTI will not give you any headache for 50k, even if it does, it is cover under the stealership, unlike 335i.

[h8tow8]

Originally Posted by twerle

I have a 2010 lexus is250 with 16k miles and a 2007 335i sport pkg black on black with 100k
Every time that i drive the lexus i wish i was driving my bimma, the lexus is a lease and im stuck till 2013
Hey, lexus is much better then VW and i still like the 335i 10x better, and i got the lexus with 0k miles

I don't know about Lexus being much better than GTI... The IS|250 aweful!! (personal opinion), I drove that car... it feels and is super lazy, It's too heavy for 200hp...

It's perfect car for women who wants to drive a "Lexus" for name brand but knows nothing more about cars. I don't like 328i that much but I think 328i is much better buy than IS250.

Getting into a Ford Taurus would feel great after driving IS250 Enough bashing... Good choice on the 335i w sport package though.

I'm learning now that spending $25K on used 335i might just not be enough.. if I want 335i I need to fork out closer to $30K and make sure I get something CPO or just give up on my dream of owning 335i would hate to buy one w high miles and no warranty.

[whoosh]

It's interesting to me that you are citing 0-60 times as a performance benchmark when comparing these two vehicles. I think you're missing the plot on the elements that make a BMW a superior driving platform over the VW.

[h8tow8]

Originally Posted by brocklanders

can you get either of those cars for 25k, i for one would never own an out of warranty modern bmw. also i test drove gti's in july the one i was looking at was more like 32k. my opinion, put 25k down on the new gti-r. 265 hp all wheel drive, i think they are around 36k, and have a tiny monthly payment.

Ure right, I just noticed that AWD Golf-R w manual transmission.. it's mid $30's but should resolve the torque steer concerns with chipping GTIs. Will try to stop by local VW stealer to take it for ride. I use to love the sounds of old R32's although this one prolly won't sound that good being a 4 banger now.

[rbocc13]

factor in the maintenance and problems with the out of warranty 335 into your budget and see if u can swing it, you dont want a 335 and not be able to pay to maintain/ fix a potential problem....hence why i ended up with the 328

[SouthfloridaE92]

Gti.. Cheap to mod, get a apr or revo software, downpipes, intake.. And maybe exhaust.. And you'll have your self a quick lil car, that's still reliable and worry free