Buy or lease... BMW or Ford...

[Hi Ho]

Doesn't sound like a fair comparison. I want a new car. I don't need one. I love my 07 Mazda 3 5 speed. I want a new car for the same reasons we want to upgrade our HT gear. New fancy features and gadgets.

The new Ford Fusion is one of the sexiest family sedans on the road, IMO. I love the overall styling. I like the way it drives and I like how quiet it is on the highway. I don't want to own one. I don't trust that the turbo charged engine won't blow up after a few years and I am not exactly encouraged by the number of recalls Ford does. That's why the 19,500 mile/year lease for about $420/month a local Ford dealer offered me on a Fusion Titanium with virtually every option is very enticing. I would not be trading in my Mazda. I would be putting as little down as possible because I know that putting money down on a lease is a bad idea.

Then, there's BMW. I have always wanted a BMW. I love their styling and ever since I was a young child I have wanted to own one. I could lease a 228i nicely equipped for about $100 more per month then the Ford. The BMW wouldn't have all the fancy features and it only allows for 15,000 miles/year on the lease but... it is a BMW.

What would you choose?

BTW, I think the new Mazda 6 is at least as sexy as the Fusion but after driving both back to back I just can't get past the turbo charged power and dead silent cabin offered by the Fusion which is frustrating because I think the Mazda is a better car in EVERY other way.

 

[Irvrobinson]

These are two very different cars. At an architectural level the Fusion has a transverse engine and front-wheel primary drive, which means a big lump of weight is concentrated on the front wheels. I don't like transverse engine cars, because I don't like the way they handle. I've also never driven a FWD car with steering feel I like. I wouldn't worry about the longevity of the turbo engine, but I'd use synthetic oil and change it a lot (like every 5K miles). The Fusion is also a lot bigger and heavier than the Bimmer, so while it does look cool (I agree), and the ones I've been in have been made well, they are not sports sedans. Ford does offer an AWD version, but AWD never fixes basic architecture issues, like most Audis have too. Ugh.

The BMW is a rear wheel drive car with 50/50 weight distribution, it's a foot and half shorter in length, and it weighs a lot less. It has an 8-speed automatic to the Ford's 6-speed. I think the Ford is actually made better, but I like the BMW's engineering *for driving* a lot better. The new electric steering is said to have less feel, but it will still beat the pants off the FWD Ford. In my experience BMW reliability is highly variable, and I've have bad and good experiences with them. BMW dealers can be a PITA.

I'd pick the Bimmer in that comparison, hands down, but for about the same money you can have a Ford Mustang and a lot have more fun than either one, or your Mazda for that matter. Even the base car has 305hp...

 

[ParadigmDawg]

If the BMW is a car you have always wanted than get it. You will still want a BMW if you get a Ford. If you get a BMW, you will not want the Ford...

 

[walter duque]

If you want a BMW lease it, don't buy. I had one and it was the biggest piece of junk I've ever owned.

 

[Rickster71]

Since you've asked. I wouldn't go near either one.

Car manufacturers sell cars by instilling emotion in the buyer.
That's how they've been selling mediocre cars for many decades.

Turbo's have many great attributes. A few flaws are the added heat that's introduced to the engine and lubrication system. The other is that after you shut down the engine, the turbo continues to spin at an extremely high speed. It spins without oil pressure to lubricate and cool its bearings.
There are aftermarket products like Turbo Timers and After Oilers. Just added expense and complexity; that's a subject for another day.

BMW's are very nice and very unreliable. While there may be a few good models, for the most part I'd stay away.

Good Luck and be careful out there.

 

[jliedeka]

There's nothing wrong with getting a BMW if you are going to lease it. At least you won't be responsible for repairs.

I'm foolishly considering buying a used Bimmer 335i convertible. I'll probably end up getting a Mustang convertible but BMWs are pretty posh. Trade-off is expensive parts.

Jim

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Neither is my 2c
If you want really fast yet with some luxuries car which doesn't cost and a leg get Infinity. G37 if still available or Q50s

 

[Irvrobinson]

There's nothing wrong with getting a BMW if you are going to lease it. At least you won't be responsible for repairs.

I'm foolishly considering buying a used Bimmer 335i convertible. I'll probably end up getting a Mustang convertible but BMWs are pretty posh. Trade-off is expensive parts.

Jim

I'm not so sure you're being foolish. I'm not a convertible fan myself, but my wife is partial to them. I can't think of a better four seat convertible than the 335i at the moment. There's far more difference between how a 335i drives and a G37S drives than there is between how any two decent $2K speakers sound, yet on this forum we go on and on about speakers. Let the curmudgeons stick to their driving appliances.

if you're going for a used 335i I'd make sure you can get the service records. The good thing about BMWs is that you can often find pampered examples that are maintained beyond BMW recommendations, which is actually a very good thing. IMO, since BMW started including maintenance for the first four years they've had very sketchy schedules. The biggest risk with a BMW has been automatic transmissions. If you're getting a manual transmission that eliminates perhaps the worst exposure. If you must have an automatic I'd stay away from high-mileage examples. The cooling systems also tend to be under-engineered, so it's a good idea to consider water pumps and radiators maintenance items at 60K miles or so.

I've always been partial to German cars and Corvettes. Of course, I do all of my own maintenance and most repairs, so things that cost other people a lot cost me a lot less. As for Japanese cars, a former neighbor of mine used to own a rather large independent Honda and Toyota repair shop in San Diego, and he became wealthy. He would always chide me about owning such unreliable cars (his view, not mine), and said that I should buy a Honda, like his prized S2000. I once asked him, if Hondas are so reliable and almost never break, why are you so rich?

 

[Adam]

I once asked him, if Hondas are so reliable and almost never break, why are you so rich?

Because people keep them until they wear out. Well, and original Honda parts are darn expensive.

I had a 1998 Prelude for 12 years. I wasn't very, shall we say, religious about taking it in for service. Oil changes would occur around 20k miles or more, and I didn't baby it. Still ran like a champ. I did decide to sell it (to a guy who knew folks like you, so he could fix a lot for cheap) before it fell apart, but I'm sure it would still be running fine now had I done just a few things to it. I'm not so sure my 2010 Fusion will be in such fine shape eight years from now...so odds are, I won't have it then.

 

[Irvrobinson]

Because people keep them until they wear out. Well, and original Honda parts are darn expensive.

I had a 1998 Prelude for 12 years. I wasn't very, shall we say, religious about taking it in for service. Oil changes would occur around 20k miles or more, and I didn't baby it. Still ran like a champ. I did decide to sell it (to a guy who knew folks like you, so he could fix a lot for cheap) before it fell apart, but I'm sure it would still be running fine now had I done just a few things to it. I'm not so sure my 2010 Fusion will be in such fine shape eight years from now...so odds are, I won't have it then.

Ah yes, The Battle Hymn of the Honda. I'll bet your Ford will last just as long and work just as well, it just might be recalled several times between now and then. And of course its resale value won't be anywhere near as high.

 

[Adam]

Ah yes, The Battle Hymn of the Honda. I'll bet your Ford will last just as long and work just as well, it just might be recalled several times between now and then. And of course its resale value won't be anywhere near as high.

Oh, I'm not a Honda lover. I did like the quality of the Prelude. Hated the cost of original parts, though, and I didn't think their offerings in 2010 offered me much value.

The Fusion might last that long, but given the rattles it had off the lot (and the ones it's developed), I don't think it was made as well. Hopefully the engine and such were built with more care. *fingers crossed* Plus, I have a hybrid. I probably want to punt this thing before the battery goes under.

 

[MidnightSensi2]

I'm a mechanical and composite engineer by training (scary, right?!) ..so..I'll offer my advice:

Mechanically, both cars are very solid. I would not worry about the effects of a turbocharger on the BMW, and rattles in the Ford's tend to be from the thermal expansion and contraction of the plastic panels. I'd rather be in the BMW in a car accident, and I'd rather drive the BMW. The electronics in the BMW's are annoying though, too many dings and menus and stuff getting in the way - but, that's just my personal opinion.

..
From the 'business' end:

Ford has had some really aggressive lease deals - and the cars aren't bad. They work.. my sisters had good luck with her Fusion and its cheap.

BMW, three or four years ago, had some amazing lease deals: you could get a well equipped 3 series for like 300/mo, they figured an 83% residual. Was a sweet deal then, but, obviously when the cars came back BMW had over estimated their resale value and took a huge hit - ending the stupidly low lease deals on them.

Mercedes has the CLA now as well, might be worth checking out. Not sure how it compares in price with the BMW your looking at, but, think they target the same market.

 

[Irvrobinson]

Mercedes has the CLA now as well, might be worth checking out. Not sure how it compares in price with the BMW your looking at, but, think they target the same market.

We have a Mercedes sedan, and one contrast I've found with the BMWs is how much more Mercedes factory parts and aftermarket parts cost. If you can't do the work yourself the Mercedes dealers seem to charge more for service too on comparable jobs. IMO, the new MB cars are also fugly. I like their build quality better, and MB seems to do better engineering for longevity, but for their prices the cars shouldn't be fugly. As for BMWs, I could still kick myself for not getting a 1M Coupe when they were available.

 

[jliedeka]

I looked into the CLA and I think it offers the worst of the Ford and BMW. You get the unreliability of a German car with the rattles and comparatively cheap interior. If I were buying a daily driver, I would probably get an Acura TL. It's not as exciting as a BMW but it's pretty posh, cheaper, and more reliable.

Jim

 

[MidnightSensi2]

Re the electronic steering versus hydraulic... 'maybe' it's not as in tune with the road, but, sure saves weight in parts and fluid. Porsche got electronic steering right imo.

The biggest risk with a BMW has been automatic transmissions. If you're getting a manual transmission that eliminates perhaps the worst exposure.

Yes!

Also air conditioning and electronics. Now, with all the integration - electronic problems are becoming costly because they replace the entire unit (computer with the audio and display firmware, frontend/GUI, GPS system, temperature control units, etc).

I've always been partial to German cars and Corvettes. Of course, I do all of my own maintenance and most repairs, so things that cost other people a lot cost me a lot less. As for Japanese cars, a former neighbor of mine used to own a rather large independent Honda and Toyota repair shop in San Diego, and he became wealthy. He would always chide me about owning such unreliable cars (his view, not mine), and said that I should buy a Honda, like his prized S2000. I once asked him, if Hondas are so reliable and almost never break, why are you so rich?

I think for people who want to get from A to B... German, American, Japanese... they're mostly a safe bet provided the terms of the lease are good. Buying, it changes things.

Also, if your the mechanic type, can save some money, but some repairs now simply require specialized equipment to diagnose.. I agree with your pro-active approach on oil. It's cheap and good for the engine. I also think checking lubrication of suspension parts is essential, as, a simple bearing can wreck havoc on an entire system.

 

[MidnightSensi2]

I looked into the CLA and I think it offers the worst of the Ford and BMW. You get the unreliability of a German car with the rattles and comparatively cheap interior. If I were buying a daily driver, I would probably get an Acura TL. It's not as exciting as a BMW but it's pretty posh, cheaper, and more reliable.

Jim

Did you drive it? I'm very curious as to what they drive like. The interior of the CLA looked pretty luxurious in photos, but, I haven't seen one up close. Curious on your thoughts!

Yeah, Acura's are good cars.

 

[MidnightSensi2]

We have a Mercedes sedan, and one contrast I've found with the BMWs is how much more Mercedes factory parts and aftermarket parts cost. If you can't do the work yourself the Mercedes dealers seem to charge more for service too on comparable jobs. IMO, the new MB cars are also fugly. I like their build quality better, and MB seems to do better engineering for longevity, but for their prices the cars shouldn't be fugly. As for BMWs, I could still kick myself for not getting a 1M Coupe when they were available.

Yeah, those 1M's Coupes were cool!!

Nod, the new MB's are very swoopy. heh. Here are some photos of the CLA:
CLA-Class 4-Door Coupe: Turbocharged Sports Car | Mercedes-Benz

 

[Irvrobinson]

Re the electronic steering versus hydraulic... 'maybe' it's not as in tune with the road, but, sure saves weight in parts and fluid. Porsche got electronic steering right imo.

Agree, on both counts. Frankly, I'm not sure why electric-assisted steering should have any less feel than hydraulic-assisted steering, knowing how they work, but somehow BMW eff'd it up, by my experience. I actually like Porsche's electric-assist on the new Cayman better. Also, electric assist uses less engine power and saves fuel.

Also, if your the mechanic type, can save some money, but some repairs now simply require specialized equipment to diagnose.

I haven't found that to be true, yet. Of course, our newest car is from 2009, so perhaps I'm in for a rude surprise soon. For DIY people GM, Ford, Honda, and now Toyota do make it easier, because they publish service information with Helms. You can buy the same factory service manual the pros get. Porsche and Mercedes offer service information through ALLDATA, but I find the database annoying to use. BMW service information is widely available on Ebay, and that's all I'll say about that.

Of course your point is that you sometimes need a diagnostic tool that can interoperate with the manufacturer's embedded processors and firmware in the vehicle. That can be true, but like I said I haven't run into the issue yet. The only thing that really scares me off are intermittent electrical issues, because they can be very difficult for anyone to diagnose. That's happened to me once, almost 20 years ago with a Ford truck, and I just gave up and traded it.

 

[Midwesthonky]

Tough choice! If money isn't the issue and fun factor is... Maybe not such a good thought process.

I looked at Fords back in February when my car was totaled. I like what they have done, but it's little details that bugged me like the heated seats not working on a brand new car in winter. So that test drive did not go over well. I don't care for their infotainment system and find it hard to use. Oh wait, several months ago, Ford announced a deal to go away from using Microsoft for their infotainment system. Wonder why?

One drawback that I can see with the BMW is the lower mileage. If you drive a lot and if the BMW is more fun, then you run the risk of having to park it months before the lease is up so you don't take a mileage penalty.

Good luck making a tough decision.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

TBH: I visited NY 2014 Autoshow and most mercs were open. The only one which truly felt luxurious inside was S550 (Far from stock I assume with another 150k in options)
Not big fan of neither BMW or Ford interiors.

Bottom line: If you want a reliable car - get a Japanese one. Acura or Infinity are good choices.
Do keep in mind that Acura TL-S with front wheel drive (AWD is optional) is not very stable - too much power on the front axel