I’m trying to decide between buying out the lease of my 2022 BMW 330i (with only 10,600 miles on it) for $28,000, or getting a brand-new Honda Civic Sport Touring Hybrid for $34,000.
What would you do?
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How does it drive? Would it be a significant step down from the silky-smooth beast that is the BMW?
Honestly it handles terrifically, fairly quick. 0-60 about 6.2 seconds, quarter mile under 15 seconds, very comfortable, 45 mpg about. Ticks all the boxes for me. The CVT transmission takes a little getting used to but works beautifully and is very smooth. Also really well built.
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Buy the BMW, without a second thought.
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Why? My worry is that, at three years old, the old German built-in obsolescence starts to kick in. As a leased car, maintenance has been free. If I bought it, that changes dramatically. Or am I wrong?
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Really ? What obsolescence are you concerned about ?
Just a personal preference. Here in the UK, the electric vehicle infrastructure is still way behind the curve, and I wouldn’t consider anything electric (even Plug in hybrid) at this point.
I know the other vehicle is not ‘full electric’ but the BMW has largely taken its depreciation hit, has minimal mileage, and that particular model has a great engine. I guess that market conditions in the US will be different than here, but I would go with the BMW without hesitation.
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Some people just need a change after a few years, others are not in the least bit bothered - which category do you tend towards? That’s quite an important factor. IMO, if your BMW has not given you trouble, it is a good quality product and is built to last. As SRO points out, the Honda has a CVT transmission (not sure if there are models without this?). CVT was the one thing which I really disliked in my Lexus - you need to test drive one to ensure you are okay with them. Objectively, get yourself a warranty for the BMW and keep it for several more years. That should be the most cost effective option, provided the $28k is good value in your market. Depreciation on new cars is the largest cost of motoring.
Peter
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BMW 330i. I love BMWs and had 330D XDrive from new 2017 on 4 year lease, extended for an additional year. Never had any problems with it. Now I own 520D 2013, older car and have spent money on it. But I really am a BMW fan and I love the way they drive.
If well maintained the BMW 330i will be good for many years to come. Also depreciation will now be less as it’s 3 years old.
That said Hondas are bullet proof mechanically. It’s new and the spec is very good.
BMWs put a smile on my face and for me that’s important.
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After driving many different makes of car as police vehicles, one stands out head and shoulders over the others for me….BMW.
I’m with Dan!
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Rest assured, there is no obsolescence in a 2022 BMW, particularly not in a 330i.
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Maintenance isn’t free, you’re paying for it
Martin
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You clearly like the BMW. Assuming it’s been well maintained and trouble free it makes total sense to buy it. They will run for years. I wouldn’t want a hybrid as you are lugging around two engines and while you can run on electric a lot of the time you still have to service the oily bits. We have a fully electric car, maybe you could broaden the search to include one of those. If not, stick with the 330.
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Having just missed the opportunity to buy my lease car I probably wish I had.
It was also relatively low mileage, but the price they wanted had gone up significantly which put me off as well as a few other considerations, and the whole ICE vs hybrid vs full electric choices are really annoying when there is a push in a particular direction but you cannot charge at home off-road.
I’d be inclined to purchase it if the price is fair - you know the car’s history and could always sell/part-exchange later on if you decided you wanted something else.
I’m currently without a car which will prove to be quite inconvenient for a variety of reasons in coming weeks.
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Another option if available might be to extend the lease or wait if there’s a while until the contract actually ends.
Check out trends for used car prices where you are as they’ve gone up/continued to be high in the UK in the last couple of years due to supply chain problems.
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I’d always let emotion make the decision for me. I prefer to drive what I think I want. That doesn’t mean new or expensive, it currently means 7 years old, old fashioned and dirty on the outside. In the past it’s meant preferring Ford to a VAG product. Looking forward it might mean driving a 90s “classic” not a newer car.
If not emotional then I suppose maths/ownership experience. If you’ve only done 10,600 miles, your lease payments have probably paid for more than that so you have some equity in that BMW.
How does that $28,000 compare to market value where you are? For ownership experience, my wife’s family have been Honda buyers because they loved the cars and TBH when I drove my late mother in law’s Accord, I could see why.
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Buy the Honda, it’s made in Canada.
( be sure to pay extra for the paint option in royal blue:wink:
)
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Any and all. Even minor stuff can be eye-wateringly expensive.
I like the one in green and white hoops!
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