<div>First, let me say as a long time BMW owner, I realize the Cayman S is a better car overall and more exclusive. I currently own a BMW, and am looking to buy my next car andhave a BMW 335i twin turbo on order. For those of you who arent familiar with it, the BMW 335 is a new twin-turbo coupe coming out with 300 HP and 300 lbs/torque. When I spec it outmy 335i the way I want it, the MSRP is 48k and change. Anyone now who is ordering Navigation on it however, is delayed 3 months, so even with the #1 allocation spot at my dealer, instead of getting it in September now, I won't get it for another 5 to 5 1/2 months (in December at some point).</div>
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<div>Here's my dilemma:
On Autotrader, there are a lot of 2006 Cayman S's listed in the 58k to 61k range, most slightly used with 200 to 6000 miles with decent options. I'm sure you could get them for about 2-3k less than what they list on there I would think, and the supply of them on dealership lots seem to be going up fast for Caymans (tell me if Im wrong here, but most posts seem to indicate this). I would guess that in 5-6 months, they will sell for 5-7k less than what they are selling for now as they seem to be depreciating at a good pace and dealers seem to be givingsteep discounts on them now.
So, in 5-6k months, you can pick up a 2007 BMW 335i for 46k to 48k, brand new. OR, you can pick up a slightly used, but 2006 Cayman S, with low miles probably 1000 to 7000 miles, for 50 to 52k (do you guys think this is possibe? It seems like right now, you could get one for 56k to 60k, so in 5-6 months, I have to think you could get one for 50k to 60k, especially with the 2007s then coming out). Im not talking a fully loaded Cayman S b/c it seems like you can price these to all hell with 15k+ in options if you wanted. I'm talking what most people get, maybe something like Preferred Package (or maybe Preferred Package Plus), Xenon's,
Sport Chrono, maybe PCM. So the basic, but important, options.
The carshave almost the same exact horsepower, the 335i has about 50 more lbs of torque, but the Cayman S weighs 600 lbs less. 0-60 for the Cayman S has most tests doing it in 4.8 to 5.0 seconds, the initialBMW published tests for the335i is 5.3 seconds, but BMW always underestimates times, soI bet it hits 5.15 to 5.2 in real world tests.
Which do you buy? Do you get the 2007 335i brand new, or do you get a 2006 Cayman S used but still a 2006 with very low miles? Essentially a Cayman S will be about 4k to 5k more. And you'll have less warranty left, maybe 6 months / 5000 miles off the warranty since it will be slightly used.
Also, assume you don't need rear seats (I'm single and dont have any kids).</div>
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<div>I realize this is a Cayman forum so Im likely to get all Cayman S-biased responses, but humor me anyway. I'm posting the same thing on a BMW board I frequent. Also, no suggestions to get a regular Cayman, the HP will be too low and it will be way tooslow for my taste.
Thoughts, everyone? I'm debating whether to go through with my 335i order or wait till December and buy a Cayman S (since I wouldnt get either car until then, anyway). I'm starting to wonder if just waiting, paying 5k more and having a little less warranty left and essentially buying a 2006 with under 5k miles is a better deal. Or,get the new2007 BMW 335 twin turbo so its a newer model year, clearly less sporty and less exclusive than the Cayman S, but has backseats IF I ever need them, and is ALMOST as fast and with a full warranty rather than several months gone off a used one, and has some cool new technology/features/design, but is lesssporty and less exclusive and likely not crossshopped as much (normallythe newZ4M coupe or Z4M roadster would be, but I have a Z3 now, so keeping those 2out of my equation and think Id preferthe Cayman S over the Z4M coupe).</div>
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<div>Anyway, let me know your thoughts. Thanks in advance!</div>
Edited by - Tracer on 07/14/2006 12:04:38 PM
