I need a 4 seater as a backup family car and am split between the RX-8 and the BMW 325 Sedan. My budget is around $30K, the 325 only costs slightly more (I would have to forgo some options so it will not be fully loaded) so money is not the problem, I would appreciate any thought or insight to help me make the decision.

 

How many people do you need to taxi around? Are you planning on taking long driving trips where you will be using the back seat? Are there needs for large trunk space? And is gas mileage a big issue?

The 325 seats 4 very comfortably and the 8 seats four semi-comfortably (if there full sized adults). The rear windows are kinda small in the 8 so it may be any issue for someone who gets car sick in the rear.

Also expect to get somewhere between 18-22 mpg on the HWY and about 13-18 mpg in the city in the 8(seems to vary greatly between cars). The 325 will push about 28 mpg on the HWY at cruising speeds.

And last but not least are you looking for the fun factor? Because the 8 is full of it and the 325 needs more. The 8 corners better and has more of a cool factor than the 325. And I got my 8 with just about everything (M/T, GT package, Navigation, and Rear spoiler) for $33585 out the door, which included taxes and licensing in WA. State.

 

I have an RX8 GT (6 speed) and my wife has a 2001 325xiT (5 speed) w/sport option & leather. The 325 is a complete car -- terrific balance between ride and handling, adequate back seat room (a bit more in the sportwagon version), comfortable seats, adequate power for spirited driving, and except for a glitch or two, very reliable. It is not in the same league with the RX8 as to EITHER acceleration or handling. Although the 325 handles great, the RX8 is in another zone. And, unlike a 330, the 325 is simply not competitive with the '8 in acceleration (it also lacks low end torque but does not have the great top end), although it is a great, responsive engine and fast enough for most purposes.

In particular, if back seat passengers want to look out the window or move around a little, go with the 325. My wife won't ride in the back seat of the '8, or invite anyone else to, because the windows, in addition to being small, are well ahead of the passenger's head -- so there's little or no view to the side. (Me, I worry about the view from the driver's seat, which is just fine.)

I always prefer to drive the '8 but also enjoy driving the 325. Hope this helps.

 

I would say RX-8 by far. If you were going for the 330 it might be a little closer but there are just so many BMW's on the road and the 325 is so run of the mill. If you are just stuffing kids in the back seat then I think there is no other choice but the 8.

 

your joking right?? should this even be a comparison :D

 

The cars are completely different but I think they are comparable because of the price.

I was actually looking at the same two cars and decided to go for the 8. Both cars are great but you are looking at two distinct animals. We went for the 8 mainly because the BMW felt kind of boring and just did not do it for me. My wife and I love the excitement that the 8 brings.

Recently I've been driving my father's BMW 328 and I don't regret one bit getting the 8. It's fun, fast and draws lots of attention.

 

I guess it depends on if you want a sports car, or more of a sedan.

It also matters if you use the rear seats a lot. The 8's are decent, but not what I'd want to have people in for a long drive.

 

The key is in your phrase "backup family car," which I think is kind of funny. Who really gets a family car, then gets a backup? It seems most people get a family sedan and then consider a sportier car for their more selfish desires, thus your rationalization by calling it a "backup family car," which is what I probably also would have done if I had kids!

I don't think you're REALLY looking for a backup family car, right? This is why I would recommend the RX8. On the other hand, if you ARE REALLY looking for a backup family car, I'd get the 325.

 

OK, OK, I am not really looking for a "back up" family car, it's just a reason I give my wife. I really want the 8 but I have 2 kids (11 & 13) and a wife to drive around sometimes. My wife already has a new Mercedes E320 and a Nissan Maxima for family cars. I currently drive a Camaro Z28 and will be selling it soon after I get the new car.

Thanks for all the inputs, I think you guys talked me into it (the 8), and my wife will be happy with a "backup family car".

I am used to the Z28 crude power and hope that the 8 will be a bit more refined at a slight cost of horsepower.

 

There goes Jeup again. The build quality of BMW's has gone way down these days. It is not better than the RX8. Don't you know this? Good luck at MIT. Yeah right.

 

Really, you can't go wrong with a BMW :

http://research.cars.com/go/crp/summ...d=31&year=2004

http://www.abstyling.co.uk/bodykits/bmw_e46%284%29.htm

http://a138.g.akamai.net/n/138/3538/...233/233888.jpg

AWD is a nice option to have.

I'd say go for the BMW and add a nice body kit. Will probably be cheaper in the long run, and you could buy a real sports car.

 

If you just look at Shiri's first link (http://research.cars.com/go/crp/sum...1&year=2004) then you will see that during the first 90 days the reliability is 2 out of 5, and then reliability is supposed to get much worse. BMW reliability is doing horrible now, I would take the Mazda.

 

Bmw 3 series is a overpriced sedan, not fast, not fun.


get the rx-8.

 

my mom owns a 325ci and the only thing good about it is that it's a BMW. It's not fast, it's not fun. Buy an 8 good sir, I implore you!

 

I got a chance to drive a late model E46 325i sedan. First of all, if you think the RX-8 is slow, then this thing is downright anemic. The handling wasn't impressive and felt pretty numb.

As far as build quality goes, even though the car was only a few months old, a few of the interior trim pieces had fallen off. The division between the leather on the seats and the vinyl on the sides of the seats was really sloppy and obvious.

My feeling overall was "This is it??" I've been told that the 330 is much nicer, and if you get the performance suspension then the handling is actually pretty good, but all of that is easily $10k past your budget. The bottom line is that any sub-$40k BMW is garbage.

 

I've driven tons of 325's and wouldn't/couldn't call them garbage. Compared to the 8, they aren't all that fun. Compared to the A4, IS or G35, they are tons of fun. The thing with the 325 is they have to be manual and have to have the sport package before they come alive. Taken as is, they're no more fun than a FWD boat, like a TL-S.

 

Well, maybe I was going a little too far calling it garbagte, but my point was that I was shocked to find out how everything about the car was so sub par, especially considering all the BMW hype and the price tag of well over $30k.

 

I think the BMW is quieter, and *feels* faster due to the good power down low. They both cost about the same to insure, maintaince will likely be similar. Gas mileage will be much better in the bimmer. The BMW is larger, more comfortable, more refined, and higher, thus only four star rollover rating vs five stars for the RX-8. The bmw has 3 seatbelts in the back seat and a much larger trunk. Either car will satisfy your need for driving. The bmw has a firmer feel stock. The paint on the bmw is far superior, I still see my old (1992) 325i around town and the paint is perfect. The RX-8 has a tinnier feel. They are both great cars. The bmw will stay nicer longer. Avoid quickly outdated accessories like the navigation systems on both cars. Within 5 years you will be able to buy a after market nav for less than $400 that will do more than the systems mazda and bmw is putting into either car. Either car can be had for under 28K if you option them right. Avoid the sunroof, it just adds cost, windnoise, and a hole in your roof while taking away headroom. BMW has a program to save some cash called euro delivery where you pick up your car in europe and drive it around europe for a while, then you give it back to them and they ship it to your local dealer. They pass the tariff savings on (now it comes into the US as a used rather than a new car) to you.

I'm still trying to decide between the two, so I think I'm just going to wait. The RX-8 just feels too slow to me, I drive a lightly modded RX-7 that is just waaay faster, so that is hard to give up.

New three series is due out next year, should be lighter with more power.

My $.02

 

Well, my family has an 325i and an 8. mum drives the 325i and i drive the 8. i occasionally would driver her car, but rarely.

from my experience. i gotta say that comfort levels, the 325i>8.
convience levels? this goes to the 325i again
amount of space and functionability .... sorry, but the bm has this one too
economy? hats off to the 325i again

fun? sorry, but the 325i is boring... yes, compared to the 8 that is. i'd like my 8 to have a few more characteristics of the bmw, but i know its almost impossible to have the best of both worlds. however, the sheer fun and joy u get from the 8 kinda makes the 8 stands out.... even tho the 8 is not the most practical of cars (its a nightmare getting passengers out when u parked into a parking space... i learnt to let them out first b4 parking), however, i have learnt to love it anyhow.