[lenato]

hello fellow members,

I'm in a huge dilemma here. and I need some opinions.

I have to say bye to my lovely e92 m3 (love that thing) but it has to go for some reasons.

it is time to buy a new car and after consecutive searching I have decided my possible options.

taking into consideration that it will be my daily driver and I rarely go to the track ( once in 2 month.. etc)

I'm a working student/engineer so I don't care about practicality/space. an extra seat for my gf is all I need.

here is my options in mind:

* 2015 Cayman GTS brand new

- price : 95000 usd
- heavily optioned ( i don't like stripped cars)
- I have test driven a Cayman s and i have to say it feels amazing and the handling of a mid engine car is intoxicating.. all in all amazing driving experience (freaking love that NA flat 6)
- higher prestige / looks amazing
- higher maintenance ( more headache) / insurance cost
- if i get this car my OCD will generate a raging beast over a door dent or a scratch (dam those who fling their doors open into other cars)



* 2014 m235i full m performance kit ( excluding m performance brakes )

- price : 82000 usd (yes it's an official stealership in a zero tax country (I live in dubai , UAE) )
- full typical bmw options
- I have test driven this car and I have to say this thing is fast and fun (also no noticeable turbo lag)
- I know that by getting this car I would be transitioning from a full blown M car to a wannabe M car but it doesn't bother me at all.
- compact size (love small cars)/ good looking car
- little to no maintenance cost
- if I get this car I will surely go pp-performance stage 2 which puts this car at nearly 400hp while still keeping my full bmw warranty
and maybe armytrix catless exhaust in the future

other unlikely options

* 2014 m4

-price : 122000 usd
- i have test driven my friend's m4 and I can see the reason behind all the hype about it but I still think the m235i can be better as a daily driver.
- there is a queue for this thing and i don't find it worth it / less likely to go with this option / can't properly afford


*I would have kept my M3 and waited for the M2 but I need a new car and I'm not a patient person

I do realize that by posting on a 2 series forum I'm asking for biased replies but please i would like to hear your honest opinions (if possible).
so consider yourself in my place and tell me what would you take and why.
I'm leaning towards the Cayman GTS but I'm afraid I might regret my decision and keep thinking "what if I went with the m235i"
both cars are very tempting to me, I wish I could have both

Thanks for reading.

[lbahoshy]

I would go with the Cayman GTS if I were in your shoes without a doubt...

The Porsche is simply on a different level in how it feels and how it makes you feel when you drive it. This is a BMW forum but I'm being unbiased especially if you don't need any back seats.

With the price in Dubai being relatively similar between these cars, I think it's a no brainer. In Canada the Cayman GTS is almost double the price of a M235

[MikeT]

No advice here, but when I read posts like yours, I've got to ask... Do the ridiculous prices in your country result in any sort of gray market? In other words, do people find a way to buy cars in low-cost countries like the U.S. and import them? Or is that impractical due to import tariffs and/or restrictions?

[missxmelon]

Cayman GTS for sure... I doubt you'll have any regrets.

[mvallido]

visit me in Bahrain. I can get you an M3 or M4 for less than the asking price of M235i in Dubai. Then you can drive the 2015 M3 or M4 from Bahrain to Dubai. PM me if you are interested.

[hyperzulu]

I would go with the Cayman. The M235i is a great car, but I'm not sure it'll be quite as satisfying as the Cayman. Even if you hate some things about the Cayman, it'll be a car that lives on in your memory.

[overcoil]

2015 M3 would be my choice for ultimate car.

[tccox]

Cayman

[one1er]

Cayman...I love the M235i, but if I had the money (which I don't) and no need for the back seats (which I really do) there wouldn't be a single doubt in my mind...cayman GTS is such such a superior machine...

[Tony_YYZ]

If the Cayman is in consideration, then I wouldn't bother looking at an M235i at all.

[lbahoshy]

Originally Posted by MikeT

No advice here, but when I read posts like yours, I've got to ask... Do the ridiculous prices in your country result in any sort of gray market? In other words, do people find a way to buy cars in low-cost countries like the U.S. and import them? Or is that impractical due to import tariffs and/or restrictions?

BMW (and other car companies) price their cars according to what the local market can sustain. The price of the Cayman GTS in Dubai is actually reasonable and comparable to Canada but the BMW price is quite inflated.

[Lucky13]

I wish I had a "dilemma" like that. If you don't need to carry people get the Caymen.

[missxmelon]

Originally Posted by Lucky13

I wish I had a "dilemma" like that. If you don't need to carry people get the Caymen.

Haha, same.

[pikcachu]

Probably Cayman is the best option... doesn't get any lighter than that

[Delnari]

GTS

[dan99]

If you can afford the gts, then go for that, it costs about twice that of the 2er

[lenato]

thanks everyone for the replies.

I'm highly considering going for the Cayman GTS now, even thought the m235i is a great car but I guess it's not worth the money where i live.

[mike@tpc]

if the cayman was as closely priced to the m235i here, I would probably be driving a cayman. doesn't mean I don't love my m235 though.

[VMRWheels]

With the Cayman only being ~$13k more than the M235i... I'd side with the Cayman.

[pikcachu]

Originally Posted by pikcachu

Probably Cayman is the best option... doesn't get any lighter than that

having said that the cayman was a bit loud and hard to maintain a conversation at times with the engine right behind you...

suspension might be a bit stiff for daily driving.... if the louder sound and ride is not an issue then go for it...

[Vervain]

Holy smokes the GTS is nice. Go for it! I personally feel it would be in a different league

[Spitfi-r]

Agree, go for the gts. If the gts and m235i were priced that close I'd be driving the cayman.