[JimmersBimmer]

I'm comparing 328i RWD versus 328i X-Drive residuals:

Lease: 48mo/24K km/yr
328i RWD residual = 39%
328i X-Drive residual = 46%

I have driven (and prefer) RWD - I have driven RWD the past 7 years ('07 328, '10 IS250) - and would like to buy one as my next car.

Is BMW Canada THAT bent on selling X-Drives in Canada that they make it more expensive to lease RWD even though the MSRP is $2600 LESS than the identically equipped (Sport pkg, paddle shifters) X-Drive?

If I wait until the MY 2015s come out September/October, will I see more parity between the residuals for the two types of vehicles?

Any thoughts?

[Dan_335i]

RWD is hard to sell after u give vehicle back to dealer. so lease payments are higher. get the rwd if u plan to buy out the vehicle. I choose rwd for my car and winter driving was fun
residual for my vehicle is 49% or 46% on 3 year lease.

[335BOY]

Interesting, who knew. THEY didnt make it more expensive. In Canada more and more people want awd so thats reflected in the residual which makes your lease more expensive. Weird

[casualDIYer]

I too prefer RWD over AWD. The shameless marketing of AWD as a wonder technology really has a lot of people convinced they are getting a better car with AWD. I think a lot of people buying the badge see it as a 'premium technology' sort of thing. I hear things like 'better traction', 'better safety', 'better handling', none of which I found to be true since traction comes from tires, safety from seat belts and airbags, and handling from the suspension and steering. On the other hand what I have found about AWD is higher costs, poorer mileage, heavier vehicle, and more understeer but maybe it's just me.

I think AWD is basically a fad of the 2010s.

[335i_4D]

Originally Posted by JimmersBimmer

Is BMW Canada THAT bent on selling X-Drives in Canada that they make it more expensive to lease RWD even though the MSRP is $2600 LESS than the identically equipped (Sport pkg, paddle shifters) X-Drive?

Yep, exactly.

When I've bought my 1st BMW, it was a RWD, and it was cheap (beginning of autumn).
When I made the mistake of exchanging it for an X1, they did tell me that it was worth less since it wasn't AWD (I did exchange it in October, silly me).

Had 2 SAV, then decided to go back RWD.
Started to shop in end of March, so technically in spring.
When spring comes by, and you're interested in buying a RWD, they tell you it's a rare car, and that they have many buyer lining up.
Still was able to have a really good deal.

Long story short: buy (or lease) what you like, and deal with the exchange later.
If they have a RWD in stock, you may be able to squeeze a great deal out of them (and pay even or less than AWD, even with residual).