Did My Friends Parents Waste Money?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Crispy
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Did She Waste Money

  • Yes

    Votes: 27 87.1%

  • No

    Votes: 4 12.9%
  • Total voters
    31
Crispy

Crispy

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United States
Allen, Texas
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crispychicken49
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crispychicken49
So today, err this morning, I was talking to my friend on Xbox Live. We were talking the usual stuff, you know Halo, Call of Duty, the sorts of stuff you talk about on Xbox. I forget how, but the topic of BMW's rolled up. He mentioned, that his mom's BMW was the greatest BMW of all time. So I jokingly pointed out that it was a waste of money. This then caused a discussion back and forth, and he finally said to go on any forum and ask the community what they think. So I'll give you the details.

His mom had a good sum of money to spend, and the choices were a pool or a car, specifically a BMW. (Note the mother is highly competitive just like her son.) Also note that her back yard is very small, so to run her a pool would be about 30k, give or take. Well, since she didn't do her research, she decided to go up to Classic BMW and PRE-ORDER a brand new BMW X3, and then proceed to check all the boxes for special features, including a flappy paddle gearbox, in which she still doesn't know is there. :lol:

Well, here are the extra's installed, at least the ones I know of.

-Diesel Straight 6 Twin Turbocharged.
-Exclusive Space Gray Paint.
-Exclusive Red Interior.
-18 Inch Alloys.
-Leather Steering Wheel.
-Leather Seats. Made from cowhide.
-Heated Seats.
-Interior Trim Made From Walnut.
-Flappy Paddle Gearbox. (Not sure how those got in there anyway.)
-Traction Control.
-Stability Control.
-Automanual Gearbox.
-Anti Lock Brakes.
-Servotronic steering assistance.
-Multifunction steering wheel.
-Automatic air conditioning and a climate comfort windscreen.
-Interior mirror with automatic anti-dazzle function.
-BMW Business audio system including HiFi loudspeakers.
-An additional storage package.
-Ski-bag. (What? We live in Texas. They won't drive that car to a ski lift anyway.)
-Apple Integration.
-Front and Side Airbags.
-6 Point Seat Adjustment.
-AM/FM Radio.
-Satellite Radio.
-Bluteeth.

Now, I used sources from the internet to find out all the optional extra's based on what my friend told me. Now, what they didn't tell me is how much it cost. Well, using internet sources I could calculate the cost of the car (in a rough estimate) for USD. So I brought out the calculator. I found the total cost to be around the $80,000 USD mark. She claimed to need the space, even though she has only one child, and she is a CEO of a company. Now, for the petrolheads like me, lets see what kind of toys that we could buy for 80k.

-Porsche 911 Carrera S (997)
-Mercedes S400 Hybrid
-BMW 750Li

Now, if she wanted a BMW X3, and since she wanted a pool, why not make the smart decision, buy a used car, and a new pool! 💡 Remember how I said a pool would run her about 30k? Well, I found this X3 on AutoTrader. It's for $14,000. This means she could buy a pool and a car.

But of course that is my opinion, and I came here looking for yours. I provided the facts for reviewing. It's time to finally settle the verdict.
 
It's only a waste of money if she decides she doesn't like it. I'm sure many of us would pick a 911 over an X3, but if that's not what you want from a car then you can't really compare apples with apples.

Some of the options specced are a bit daft - I wonder how much use she'd get out of the flappy paddles, for example - but that twin turbo diesel is one of the best engines currently in production. It's ridiculously powerful and torquey and still gets good mileage.
 
crispychicken49
Now, for the petrolheads like me, lets see what kind of toys that we could buy for 80k.
Click to expand...


$80k huh?

I'd buy (what I see as) the greatest BMW of all time:

BMW-M5.jpg


Some specs:
  • 507hp 5.0 liter Formula 1 inspired S85 V10 with double VANOS (which is like VVT)
  • Black (as my choice of color because it's a subtle color I believe)
  • Stiffened Aluminum chassis
  • RWD
  • Dual clutch "SMG" gearbox developed by GETRAG with flappy paddles also
  • Comfortably Seats 4
  • Weight of about 4,000 lbs
  • BMW I-drive
  • Bluetooth
  • Adjustable everything :lol:
  • Seats that support you when cornering (in M mode)

On craigslist now for about $50,000 (which I bet you could bargain down a little)

Leaving me $30,000 into which I could invest into the car (new exhaust system, maybe?)
and then use the rest for college classes.
 
Yes, $80k on an X3 is a waste of money. There.
You're still making yourself look like a child for bringing up this topic and telling the story behind it.
 
It's a huge waste, as the X3 is the least good car they make. Should have bought a 3 or 5 series, or maybe a lightly used X5 if she really wanted an off road vehicle that can't go off road.

$80k is too much for any car that isn't good in every aspect, even if she likes it. She should have been able to bargain down the price and get some options free if she is spending that much.

By the way, do you believe the story? Sounds like something a child would come up with. "my mum's got a BMW with every option", "my dad's got a Ferrari" or the classic "my daddy is stronger than your daddy". Just doesn't quite ring true to me.....
 
She might be competitive, but for the wrong reasons. Seems to me like she went to the dealer and ordered the top shelf model without thinking. That's not being competitive, that's simply showing off to your friends because you're a shallow asshat. I have a feeling this woman isn't too deep a thinker, is she.

If she was truly competitive and not simply shallow and boastful, she'd have shopped around to not only get a lovely and impressive car, but also get it at a bargain price. That's two wins in one. The only good thing I see about the car she bought is that it's a diesel.

Oh, she lives in Texas. Well that explains it.
 
A BMW X3 with every option comes to just over $61,000, where did the other $19,000 come from? Even a fully loaded X5 comes out just over $80,000. A diesel engine does not add that kind of a premium to a car. I'd expect it at the most to be a $5,000 premium and that's really being inflated.
 
Joey D
A BMW X3 with every option comes to just over $61,000, where did the other $19,000 come from? Even a fully loaded X5 comes out just over $80,000. A diesel engine does not add that kind of a premium to a car. I'd expect it at the most to be a $5,000 premium and that's really being inflated.
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I believe he's talking about the last gen X3, which there is still no way it cost $80,000.

This is why I asked where they live, as I don't remember the last gen having a diesel in NA and the current gen doesn't either.
 
If it's the last gen the US didn't get the diesel engine at all, and I'm not even sure the rest of the world did either. And I'm guessing they are from the US since the prices are shown in USD.
 
Joey D
If it's the last gen the US didn't get the diesel engine at all, and I'm not even sure the rest of the world did either. And I'm guessing they are from the US since the prices are shown in USD.
Click to expand...

The UK only got diesels, because we don't buy petrol powered soft roaders. Bigger cars need torque, drivers need fuel economy. Best off both with diesel, not enough of either with petrol.

I can't see any reason to buy an X3 at all, let alone one with anything other than the 2.0d. It's not a sports car so it doesn't need more than 180bhp.

It looks hideous, is poorly made compared to all other BMW's, rides poorly, is slower and handles worse than a 1 or 3 series, has no more space than a 3 Touring, can't go off road and is very expensive (if not quite $80k) and gets worse mpg than a normal car. What is the point of it?

By the way, that was about the 1st gen X3, but much still applies to the new one, even though it is supposedly much better made.
 
Mike0105
By the way, do you believe the story? Sounds like something a child would come up with. "my mum's got a BMW with every option", "my dad's got a Ferrari" or the classic "my daddy is stronger than your daddy". Just doesn't quite ring true to me.....
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I do because I've seen and been in the car before. (He lives very near me)

Joey D
A BMW X3 with every option comes to just over $61,000, where did the other $19,000 come from? Even a fully loaded X5 comes out just over $80,000. A diesel engine does not add that kind of a premium to a car. I'd expect it at the most to be a $5,000 premium and that's really being inflated.
Click to expand...

I did a rough estimation based on the numbers provided in the link. And the diesel was cheaper.

Cale
I believe he's talking about the last gen X3, which there is still no way it cost $80,000.

This is why I asked where they live, as I don't remember the last gen having a diesel in NA and the current gen doesn't either.
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It wasn't available to buy straight from the dealer, however she did import it straight from Germany and had it shipped straight to Classic BMW, 6 months before the car was released to the public, so that could also put the price close to $80,000.
 
Keef
Oh, she lives in Texas. Well that explains it.
Click to expand...
:rolleyes:
crispychicken49
It wasn't available to buy straight from the dealer, however she did import it straight from Germany and had it shipped straight to Classic BMW, 6 months before the car was released to the public, so that could also put the price close to $80,000.
Click to expand...
I don't believe that's what she did. You can throw all the money you want at BMW, they're not going to sale a car to one individual 6 months ahead of release; too many things to still work out in that time frame. Otherwise, we'd have F10 M5s already on the road.
 
McLaren
:rolleyes:

I don't believe that's what she did. You can throw all the money you want at BMW, they're not going to sale a car to one individual 6 months ahead of release; too many things to still work out in that time frame. Otherwise, we'd have F10 M5s already on the road.
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Well, it was 6 months from when they bought it, to when they actually got it. I don't know if she waited an extra 5 months however, so that may be the case.
 
crispychicken49
Well, it was 6 months from when they bought it, to when they actually got it. I don't know if she waited an extra 5 months however, so that may be the case.
Click to expand...
There's no reason it should have taken 6 months from the date of purchase to the date of arrival.

What I'm confused though now, is that you said she had the car shipped to Classic BMW 6 months before it went on sale to the public, which to me says, she had the car in her possession 6 months before the rest of the public. And I know that's not true. Classic doesn't operate that way.
 
McLaren
There's no reason it should have taken 6 months from the date of purchase to the date of arrival.

What I'm confused though now, is that you said she had the car shipped to Classic BMW 6 months before it went on sale to the public, which to me says, she had the car in her possession 6 months before the rest of the public. And I know that's not true. Classic doesn't operate that way.
Click to expand...

No, I said she bought it 6 months before, but she got it in her possession when anyone else could.
 
I'm going back to what you said earlier.
It wasn't available to buy straight from the dealer, however she did import it straight from Germany and had it shipped straight to Classic BMW, 6 months before the car was released to the public, so that could also put the price close to $80,000.
Click to expand...
The way I'm reading it is that she had the car 6 months before it was released to the public b/c she imported it from Germany to Classic.
Well, it was 6 months from when they bought it, to when they actually got it. I don't know if she waited an extra 5 months however, so that may be the case.
Click to expand...
Your next post implicated that it took 6 months from when they signed the paperwork to when the car actually arrived at the dealer.

That's why I'm a bit confused. The 2nd sounds more reasonable, but not something that should be happening.
 
McLaren
I'm going back to what you said earlier.

The way I'm reading it is that she had the car 6 months before it was released to the public b/c she imported it from Germany to Classic.

Your next post implicated that it took 6 months from when they signed the paperwork to when the car actually arrived at the dealer.

That's why I'm a bit confused. The 2nd sounds more reasonable, but not something that should be happening.
Click to expand...

Ah, yeah I see what you mean. I think I should have worded that better. :lol:
 
crispychicken49
It wasn't available to buy straight from the dealer, however she did import it straight from Germany and had it shipped straight to Classic BMW, 6 months before the car was released to the public, so that could also put the price close to $80,000.
Click to expand...

I don't even think that's legal and I'm not sure she could even register a car made for another country. When I bought my MINI I asked if there was a way I could order a UK spec one and was told that I could, but I wouldn't be able to get it insured or plated.
 
The whole importing of said X3 sounds like a load of bollocks to me. By the way, was this an MY11 X3 or the older generation? Because the new X3 is built in BMW's South Carolina plant which renders bringing one over from Germany completely pointless.
 
I wouldn't even expect the options list, pricing, and all that to be finalized six months before being officially available...


But as others have said, who cares what your internet friend's mom did?
 
Murcie_LP640
The whole importing of said X3 sounds like a load of bollocks to me. By the way, was this an MY11 X3 or the older generation? Because the new X3 is built in BMW's South Carolina plant which renders bringing one over from Germany completely pointless.
Click to expand...
That's a good point because even the E83 was never actually manufactured in Germany. The closest point to Germany was the assembly plant in Graz, & that's in the south-eastern part of Austria.
 
Whatever they spent on it... it was wasted money... because the X3 is the worst BMW product in the line-up today. Perhaps of all time. Spec it right, with non-run-flats and a big motor and it'll be relatively fun to drive, but still:

You're getting something that rides as stiffly as a 1-series, that has less off-roading capability than an X6, that has much less space than an X5, that's more expensive than a 3-series (also available in AWD) of the same size, and that's uglier and more awkward than any and all of its competitors in the segment.

It's the absolute last car I'd ever buy from BMW. Even if it's almost as good on the racetrack as a 3-series (which is why the ride is so insufferably bad... they needed to stiffen it up to keep it from rolling over).

But still... her money. Her problem. I know people who've bought cars for flimsier reasons and with even less forethought.

Like a guy on one board who bought an IS300 because he wanted a safe, comfortable and spacious car for his pregnant wife.

Yeah. Right. And the 911 is for taking the kids to school, right?
 
Well first off if you simply added all the option's individual prices together that's not how it works. Dealerships almost always (including the one I work at) package options together. For example the entertainment bundle in a Nissan Sentra comes with ipod integration, better speakers, different looking stereo.... If you add those up separately it's much more than the package. A fully loaded package is much cheaper than all the individuals.

Also the ski bag may not come with the car in Texas, some options are regionally based.

IF the car somehow cost that much it's the PDI and freight charges they dinged her on. Depending on the car the dealership may or may not charge the extra shipping/freight to the customer for the new car as it is a special order on top of what they budgeted. If the story is true and she said this is exactly what I want and nothing else, the charges likely apply. The dealership then would say instead of those costs why not buy this model we have at the lot right now. If anybody has family across the pond you know how much shipping costs. To send a damn package of Resse's peanut butter cups to family in Ausralia is like $20. So a car coming on the boat is one heck of a cost (plus the truck from the docks).

Waste of money? Yep. Why I bothered writing all this out and thinking this much? Not a clue.
 
Biggest waste of money in that story was the two xBox's required to have the conversation in the first place!
 

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