M3 vs.330i ZHP

[a1gio2]

Ok, Ok, I know...apples to oranges.

I am leasing a 2015 M3 and it goes back in about 10 months. I am very happy with the car and would like to get another one, but its just too damn expensive.

I am trying to be sensible and get something less expensive that I can still enjoy. I do not track my car, and its used for daily driving. No new cars, with the exception of M cars appeal to me. A new 3 series to me feels like a Honda Civic.

What do you think of getting into a low mileage, mint conditions, albeit highly priced 330i ZHP?

I know the insurance will be less than half, but i'd be insuring it for about 3x its KBB value.

Is this car going to feel archaic and boring to me? Will it give me any excitement and feeling of getting a good value for my money?

[SakhirM4]

I had a 2004 330i ZHP and loved it. It was very smooth and fun to drive. Traded it for a 2006 M3, which was not the same animal at all. And then traded the 2006 M3 for my M4, which is a very different animal again.

The 330i ZHP is a very nice car - it just depends on what you want and enjoy in a car.

[mkoesel]

Do you need four doors? If not there are a number of reasonably priced new cars out there that ought to be at least as much fun as a decade+ old 330i while having much more modern interior, safety equipment, etc. And certainly much more engaging than a current model 3 Series or Honda Civic.

[a1gio2]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

Do you need four doors? If not there are a number of reasonably priced new cars out there that ought to be at least as much fun as a decade+ old 330i while having much more modern interior, safety equipment, etc. And certainly much more engaging than a current model 3 Series or Honda Civic.

I would prefer four doors. My motivation is to have a great driving experience, relatively low maintenance and insurance costs compared to an M car.

I love BMW's, but not of late. A new 320i doesn't do it for me, for instance.

[Sassicaia]

Make no mistake the 330i ZHP is in the top cars BMW ever made when taking into consideration price, performance and fun factor.

Certainly not to be compared to an F80 in terms of performance, but factor in the price and the 330i ZHP is pretty hard to beat IMO.

[damnitBobby]

You'll be stepping back in time thats for sure. I think it would be too big a change on all levels (power, refinement, technology, exterior looks).

Going from a F80 M3 to a plebeian 330i, I bet you regret it 2 months into ownership.

[BimmerBahn]

+1 on the '04 ZHP.... Great car and still miss mine. It didn't throw you back in your seat during hard acceleration, but it was sure fun to drive in the twisties.

However, something to consider is a mint ZHP is still a ~10 yo car. I'm not sure if I were buying now I would take that plunge unless I fully understood the history, etc. of the car.

Good luck!

Cheers,

[Aaaaaaaaa]

GolfR or Focus RS?

[blake9220]

Originally Posted by damnitBobby

Going from a F80 M3 to a plebeian 330i, I bet you regret it 2 months into ownership.

2 Months is generous! Whenever I've gotten a 340i loaner I want to return it by the time I get home!

[///M4ster Yoda]

Originally Posted by blake9220

2 Months is generous! Whenever I've gotten a 340i loaner I want to return it by the time I get home!

I agree. He will regret that decision much sooner as in that day.

[cotmfk]

The plus side about regretting the decision is that the 330 will still be worth basically the same amount in two months. It's already a ten year old car. Most of the depreciation has already hit.

[phantomF80]

Originally Posted by ///M4ster Yoda

I agree. He will regret that decision much sooner as in that day.

I am not sure that would necessary be the case. F8X is definitely a better performance car, especially on the track. But on the street, I definitely didn't think my F80 was as fun as my E46 ZHP. That car was special, and I regret selling that car for sure. And you can't compare E46 ZHP to any E9X or F3X cars, they are just not in the same league in term of feel and fun factor.

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by phantomF80

I am not sure that would necessary be the case. F8X is definitely a better performance car, especially on the track. But on the street, I definitely didn't think my F80 was as fun as my E46 ZHP. That car was special, and I regret selling that car for sure. And you can't compare E46 ZHP to any E9X or F3X cars, they are just not in the same league in term of feel and fun factor.

I agree! Wish I still had mine, too!!

[FirstF80InSpace]

Originally Posted by blake9220

2 Months is generous! Whenever I've gotten a 340i loaner I want to return it by the time I get home!

Imagine how I felt when I stepped into a white 320i loaner when I went for my break-in service.

[KevinM]

E39 M5

[FC]

I'm sensing a bit of nostalgia towards the ZHP here. I special ordered one of the first ZHP's and did Euro Delivery. It was my first new car and my DD for 6 years. I loved that car. It really was great.

However, it had no torque below 3krpm, and the open diff was pretty bad. Couple that with DSC from 15 years ago and it was not fun times. You loaded that car with people and performance was downright lacking unless you were beating on it. Loved it and miss it but let's not start making stuff up here.

It certainly was special, looked great, handled very well and was a lot of fun. But it was not perfect, and by today's standards it misses a lot of tech.

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by a1gio2

Is this car going to feel archaic and boring to me? Will it give me any excitement and feeling of getting a good value for my money?

For the first question, yes for sure. For the second one, depends on your nostalgia factor

Personally I would go e46 m3 or e36 m3 or e86 m coupe if I went vintage. No thanks on non m cars

[E92 M Sport]

Originally Posted by KevinM

E39 M5

This^
Zhp was a great car but E39 M5 was an even greater car. Prob twice the price though, $20k vs $10k or less. M5 would still have some punch vs the zhp.

[adc]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

For the first question, yes for sure. For the second one, depends on your nostalgia factor

Personally I would go e46 m3 or e36 m3 or e86 m coupe if I went vintage. No thanks on non m cars

+1

I bought a new ZHP in May 2003 and loved it, but not as much as the E36 M3. nicknaz has it right.

[cotmfk]

Originally Posted by KevinM

E39 M5

+1... still miss mine! Even though the motor blew!!!

[a1gio2]

The problem with E39 M5's is that I would want one in exceptional condition. The condition that commands a high premium, and for that price I wouldn't want to daily drive it and I could buy a new M2.

I'm still leaning towards a ZHP. I would want a mint condition car and they are trading at a premium. Its difficult to acquire an agreed upon value insurance policy for daily driving.

[Tacoma]

I still have an E46 (not ZHP) 330i along with the F80 CP, both manual transmission, so can make a direct comparison.

Needless to say, the F80 is vastly superior in all aspects (not even close) except for the fun-to-drive factor in daily driving. The E46 is smaller, lighter and better road feel, and because it's not nearly as powerful, the engine needs to work harder, but that's where the fun factor comes in as the engine loves to be revved and you want to do it.

So to answer the OP's question "Is this car going to feel archaic and boring to me?" It's YES for feeling archaic but a definite NO for boring.

Having said that, it's really apples and oranges here as the OP said. I wish BMW make cars like they used to make them that are more fun to drive. But we are in 2017 and the E46 330i in whatever form is too old.