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There has long been a huge disconnect in KBB vs market value on the 6MT G37. When I sold mine, there was a negligible difference in KBB values vs a plain old Journey sedan. This configuration wasn't exactly popular when it was new, but just like then, there is still demand for clean or tastefully modded examples -- it'll just take time and patience to find that buyer. In hindsight, it's a classic. How many 15 year old 335i's are still rolling around? I still get carfax updates on my old G lol. It's been totaled, has a salvage title, and is rolling around somewhere in Michigan IIRC with 190K on it.
I feel like their summary is spot on. The ****ification of this segment. I can see moving into something like an X3 M40, Macan S, SQ5 etc, but gosh these redesigns are terrible. I'm sure like a lot of y'all, I've been passionate about cars since I was a kid, and maybe I'm just getting old, but there is absolutely nothing I'm enthusiastic about right now. Every refresh, redesign etc seems to be a step back. Sure, if I won the lottery I could fill a barn full of cars, but there is nothing that excites me. Nothing that makes me think -- that is going to be my next ride. Even thinking back 7+ years ago when I still had my G37 I was researching a handful of cars as replacements. Now, I'm just happy, if not a little bored, motoring around in my Golf. Haven't modded anything significant in years, and don't really have any plans to, which kind of sucks, because researching and planning was part of the fun. It sure feels like all the reasonably practical, fun to drive, affordable cars have been killed off.
I feel like their summary is spot on. The ****ification of this segment. I can see moving into something like an X3 M40, Macan S, SQ5 etc, but gosh these redesigns are terrible. I'm sure like a lot of y'all, I've been passionate about cars since I was a kid, and maybe I'm just getting old, but there is absolutely nothing I'm enthusiastic about right now. Every refresh, redesign etc seems to be a step back. Sure, if I won the lottery I could fill a barn full of cars, but there is nothing that excites me. Nothing that makes me think -- that is going to be my next ride. Even thinking back 7+ years ago when I still had my G37 I was researching a handful of cars as replacements. Now, I'm just happy, if not a little bored, motoring around in my Golf. Haven't modded anything significant in years, and don't really have any plans to, which kind of sucks, because researching and planning was part of the fun. It sure feels like all the reasonably practical, fun to drive, affordable cars have been killed off.
Oh yeah the redesigns are so bad. If we get an SUV, it'll be the 2020 X3M (ECU's on 21+ cost a lot more to be unlocked and tuned) or possibly a 2022 X3M with the LCI refresh that looks pretty good. I do like the new Elantra N's as a possible replacement vehicle because they have everything they need to be a really fun car right out of the factory. Their styling is debatable, but since the refresh in 2024, they look better. Also on the table is still an E90/92 M3 or possibly even an F90 M5 if the bank account can handle it. Even though the M5 is more of a "cruiser" type vehicle, I think it would still be tons of fun and very capable in the corners and wouldn't hardly need a thing modified on it to be awesome. Liike you said Lego, we are just passionate about cars, which can make it really hard to pull the trigger on anything!
Oh yeah the redesigns are so bad. If we get an SUV, it'll be the 2020 X3M (ECU's on 21+ cost a lot more to be unlocked and tuned) or possibly a 2022 X3M with the LCI refresh that looks pretty good. I do like the new Elantra N's as a possible replacement vehicle because they have everything they need to be a really fun car right out of the factory. Their styling is debatable, but since the refresh in 2024, they look better. Also on the table is still an E90/92 M3 or possibly even an F90 M5 if the bank account can handle it. Even though the M5 is more of a "cruiser" type vehicle, I think it would still be tons of fun and very capable in the corners and wouldn't hardly need a thing modified on it to be awesome. Liike you said Lego, we are just passionate about cars, which can make it really hard to pull the trigger on anything!
I can see an X3M on the short list, the interior was ok up until 2025. The M takes a pretty big hit on depreciation, making it reasonably budget friendly. I do worry about long term ownership costs, but I only drive 3-4K a year, so I can probably justify something like that with minimal mental gymnastics. Just wish is had a power tilt/telescope steering wheel (like Audi and Porsche) to be little more friendly to share with my wife.
There has long been a huge disconnect in KBB vs market value on the 6MT G37. When I sold mine, there was a negligible difference in KBB values vs a plain old Journey sedan. This configuration wasn't exactly popular when it was new, but just like then, there is still demand for clean or tastefully modded examples -- it'll just take time and patience to find that buyer. In hindsight, it's a classic.
Unmolested RWD Sport models are also becoming difficult to find. Most of the nicer cars I see purchased on Reddit are Journey AWD
Then disappointed as I read the top portion full of 100K+, Korean, inherent FWD and EV models *yawn*. The IS500 got me a little excited, but then I decided to read a review MT linked and it reminded me of the reviews that the Red Sport receives: Motor is insane, but....dated, handling is uninspiring, braking is not on par, etc. etc.
Then there was the bottom portion. I drove one of those Taurus SHO's back in the day and it was indeed a sleeper. The Impala was also a novelty, but I was already in CA when it was released so I never saw one in person.
A sales rep I used to call on customers with owned an E39 M540i and that car seemed alot faster than the specs noted in the article. And whisper quiet inside as well. Seemed like the perfect car at the time and I think it was one of the reasons I fell in love with Sport Sedans. Before the advent of tiny displacement twin turbo motors, so the reliability was decent on these bimmers.
The Chevrolet SS was a wolf in Sheep's clothing, and a part of me wishes I would have held out on buying my G37 a year and test drove one of these, but at that point I was deep in the JDM rabbit hole as I had owned the previous generation G and loved it.
When I was rotating the tires on my spare car (my son’s old pickup), I was talking with a fellow enthusiast about his IS500. All I can say is that pictures do not do that car justice. The interior that analysts criticize as boring and dated, looks really elegant to me. More analog than digital, which I prefer. That ultrasonic blue mica color with the custom BBS wheels from Japan looked great in person (example pic above, not his car) and the custom exhaust on that V-8 sounded great. Why do I not see more of these cars? IS250s are nearly as popular as white teslas around these parts, but IS500s are rare. He also showed me 2023-24 Nismo Zs with very low miles being advertised for only 50k (sticker is 67k new). He thought those were a great value. Hell, the older Nismo Zs are selling fast online at 40K.
And yeah, the "dated" interior appeals to me. I guess I'm in the minority that wants to use buttons instead of navigating menus on a touch screen. I think the weakest link is the transmission kinda sucks compared to the ZF and some of the DCT options, but I believe it can be "tuned" so to speak.
And yeah, the "dated" interior appeals to me. I guess I'm in the minority that wants to use buttons instead of navigating menus on a touch screen. I think the weakest link is the transmission kinda sucks compared to the ZF and some of the DCT options, but I believe it can be "tuned" so to speak.
I know it might sound odd, but I can't picture myself driving this car, Even the guy I spoke to (early 30s) seemed like a poor fit for his own car. Lexus just gives off a vibe that I can't quite get my arms around. I think I'd personally feel more aligned with an M340i, and I consider myself a JDM fan.
I know it might sound odd, but I can't picture myself driving this car, Even the guy I spoke to (early 30s) seemed like a poor fit for his own car. Lexus just gives off a vibe that I can't quite get my arms around. I think I'd personally feel more aligned with an M340i, and I consider myself a JDM fan.
I'll be 50 next year, I could manage in a subdued color like black or a dark gray. The M340i is a hell of a car, but at that point, I'd probably just go with the X3 M40 or X3M for the extra practicality. Ideally whatever the next car is will be something I keep 10+ years, and I just don't see that being a BMW. And I say that as someone who didn't think I'd still be driving a Golf R 7 years later
Savagegeese has a few vids of the IS500 and they talk about it vs the M340. It's a lease vs buy proposition. Or go CPO on the BMW since they take a pretty big depreciation hit and bail when the warranty is up. The IS500 really maintains its value.
I'll be 50 next year, I could manage in a subdued color like black or a dark gray. The M340i is a hell of a car, but at that point, I'd probably just go with the X3 M40 or X3M for the extra practicality. Ideally whatever the next car is will be something I keep 10+ years, and I just don't see that being a BMW. And I say that as someone who didn't think I'd still be driving a Golf R 7 years later
Savagegeese has a few vids of the IS500 and they talk about it vs the M340. It's a lease vs buy proposition. Or go CPO on the BMW since they take a pretty big depreciation hit and bail when the warranty is up. The IS500 really maintains its value.
Likewise. As someone that keeps cars for 10 years or more, I realize to my disappointment that the BMW is not a fit, despite finding most of their offering very appealing. I also have friends that have owned BMWs and most say they would never own another; many are not car enthusiasts, so maybe that's the issue? My mechanic of many years also has stories (still prefers Bimmers over Mopars, which are now as pricey to repair). Also, when you see how fast BMWs resale craters once they can no longer be covered under a CPO warranty, its telling. I love the Golf R, but a 50K hot hatch seems more than I can justify, especially with used 2023 Nismo with 6k miles Zs going for 50K. Those are surely going to become collectibles as I cannot see Nissan surviving much longer. If my car was totaled today, I honestly have no idea what I would buy next. This is a first for me as I normally pursue the next car a year or so before buying.
The B8.5 is also the top of my list. I really like the looks of the G sedan, but growing up with standard transmissions is really making miss three pedals. I need the AWD for my winters and the S4 really suits the bill. The supercharger whine is really appealing and they can be decently fast with basic mods. I would even keep the G if it had a better auto in it, but that just isn't an option for a reasonable price. The S4 suits the bill. I could have bought my buddy's 6spd 340i with the M performance package for a very reasonable price but I just wasn't ready. Newer M340i, RS5 sportback, ATS-v (no awd), even GLC63 are on consideration, but the value hunter in mean tells me to get a 2016 S4. It's just all internal debate at the moment on what to do next, but eveytime I see the G in the parking lot....has been thinking other thoughts.
The differences are in the details, but in broad overview your cars are rather similar. So why have two?
Short answer, I’m pretty boring
Longer answer, circumstances sorta called for it. Been going back to my hometown more and more (family stuff). Enough that air travel is best. Once I’m there, it’s nice to have a car. So the S4 will stay out there, the G37 will stay with me.
Could’ve just got a Prius or something but YOLO
Also considered a real sports car, but came to terms that I’m just a sporty 4-door kinda guy. Love the comfort and convenience, but with a stick-shift (a format that’s going extinct so fast)
Fair enough. Get in line.