How much will the base 2008 M3 cost in the US?

[lucid]

I am curious as to what people's expectations are given we have seen the European numbers and have past data to relate what that might mean for the US. How much do you think the BASE 2008 M3 will cost in the US?

[rjs]

cars are so cheap in america

[paulyd]

who said less than $55k??!! haha, yeah right!

[aerisolphaln]

I'm really thinking BMW will price this thing at the RS4 level, as they are doing in the UK.

If that's the case, I guess I'll be getting my first Porsche instead of my first M.

[esquire]

oddly, i can't help but vote, even despite how pointless this thread is.

[m_bazeepaymon]

Originally Posted by esquire

oddly, i can't help but vote, even despite how pointless this thread is.

lol exactly wat i was thinking

[Tobizach]

Originally Posted by chitown08

who said less than $55k??!! haha, yeah right!

And who picked over $65k?

[Eurofreak]

i would say 60-62k after taxes

[aerisolphaln]

Originally Posted by Tobizach

And who picked over $65k?

I did.

BMWUK is pricing the M3 a few hundred pounds less than the RS4. If that trend holds true for the US, we're talking about a base of greater than 65k. Thank god I'm an anesthesiologist.

[lucid]

The poll is meant to survey people's expectation of the MSRP before taxes.

[Carnage]

Originally Posted by esquire

oddly, i can't help but vote, even despite how pointless this thread is.

I think it's going to be 1 zillion bijillion dollars(before options and TTL)

[Smoltz]

Originally Posted by aerisolphaln

I did.

BMWUK is pricing the M3 a few hundred pounds less than the RS4. If that trend holds true for the US, we're talking about a base of greater than 65k. Thank god I'm an anesthesiologist.

Yeah but the base equipment level in the UK is most likely higher than what the US will get.

-Adam

[Dieselino]

Originally Posted by chitown08

who said less than $55k??!! haha, yeah right!

Yah that would be nice!

[Dieselino]

Originally Posted by aerisolphaln

I did.

BMWUK is pricing the M3 a few hundred pounds less than the RS4. If that trend holds true for the US, we're talking about a base of greater than 65k. Thank god I'm an anesthesiologist.

Very good and valid point, I hope to god it is not true. The other thing to remember is that how Audi prices their vehicles over in the US will be different then how BMW does. The US is the #1 consumer for M vehicles while Audi is still regaining ground for the bad press it had way back when in the US.

Also the RS4 is a more limited production vehicle in the US. The M3 will sell alot more then the RS4 in the US and world wide. What this means is that Audi has to charge more to turn a profit because they are selling less units, where as BMW can afford to sell the car for less because it will sell alot more vehicles in the US especially since as I had mentioned the US is the #1 consumer for M vehicles.

[ruff]

Audi overpriced the RS4. BMW usually prices below Audi. BMW can't price the M3 too high or it will start losing sales to p-cars. I would guess 58k for the e92 and 56k for the e90 M3. It will all depend on the U.S. speced cars standard equipment list. Still hoping the price is a few k lower.

[carnuts3]

Originally Posted by aerisolphaln

I did.

BMWUK is pricing the M3 a few hundred pounds less than the RS4. If that trend holds true for the US, we're talking about a base of greater than 65k. Thank god I'm an anesthesiologist.

It's not only what you can afford, it's what you're getting for the money. IMO, not worth it at +/- $70K - no way.... Porsche at $80K is a better deal.

[Ryan(e92)]

Originally Posted by carnuts3

It's not only what you can afford, it's what you're getting for the money. IMO, not worth it at +/- $70K - no way.... Porsche at $80K is a better deal.

+1 I completely agree. If I cant get an m3 decently loaded for 70k out the door im not gonna do it.

[Epacy]

Originally Posted by Ryan(e92)

+1 I completely agree. If I cant get an m3 decently loaded for 70k out the door im not gonna do it.

Yeah, but think what you get in addition to that.

Maintenance Plan 4 yrs 50,000 miles = $0
Warranty 4 yrs 50,000 miles = $0

That maintenance plan is super nice.

$70k is OTD. You start with Porche at $80k.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Ryan(e92)

+1 I completely agree. If I cant get an m3 decently loaded for 70k out the door im not gonna do it.

that all depends on what you consider decently loaded.

1) 60k base
if you assume for the sake of argument, that the base price of the car is 60k, you'll only be able to buy around 3600 in options with tax and licensing (roughly 10%) amounting to 6350.

60,000 base + 3,600 options + 6,360 tax & licensing = 69,960 out the door


2) 57k base
if we luck out and the car comes in at 57k base. then you'll be able to get 6,600 in options.

57,000 base + 6,600 options + 6,360 tax & licensing = 69,960 out the door


and all this avoids the issue of GAS GUZZLER TAX. keep that in mind as it will probably diminish your budget for options.



now compare this against the 335i coupe. the options in the US cost.
- sports package 1000
- automatic transmission 1275
- paddles shifters 100
- active steering 1400
- park distance control 350
- premium package 2,550
- cold weather package 750
- comfort access 500
- active cruise control 2,400 (nobody ever gets this)
- navigation w/ i-drive 2,200
- heated front seats 500 (if you didnt already opt into cold weather)
- ipod/usb adapter 400 (most people don't get this)
- sirius satellite 595 ( " )
- hd radio 500 ( " )



It becomes quickly apparent that to even moderately load THIS car (the 335i coupe), it will cost more than 6500 in options (sports, premium, navi, comfort access, and automatic transmission for those considering the M3 with the M-DCT transmission). And you can bet there will be more options with each option costing more on the M3, than on the 335. Even on the generous assumption that we get the car for 57k base, a moderately loaded M3, after tax and licensing and gas guzzler tax, will still cost in excess of 70k out the door.

[imolazhp_ci]

i think base will be $53,795. that's 12% over the base price of the E46 M3. that is a HUGE increase. and it's also the same price increase from the E39 M5 to the E60 M5.

[lucid]

Correction on the base 911 price quoted earlier by someone: base 911 MSRP starts at $72,400. Although it has less hp, it is much lighter. Also, the 911 comes with a similar 4 years/50000 miles warranty, but it does not include the "pay nothing" feature, meaning the owner has to pay for breakpads and routine maintainance fees, which I guess can run up to a couple of grands depending on how one drives the thing and considering the 911 needs constant attention mechanically. If BMW prices the base M3 above $65k, I will go for the 911. I suspect most people would do the same.

[Epacy]

Esquire, how are you calculating $6300 for tax and licensing?