Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Sims
The "numbers don't work" for the 335D even with the $4500 incentive; it's worse than buying a hybrid. It is priced far too high relative to the 328i. One would have to drive it in excess of 200,000 miles to break even compared to the 328i. I conjecture the market will mainly be novelty buyers. It will be interesting to see how the market evolves with turbo-boosted gasoline engine and plug-in hybrids becoming available.
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Well, I have to say that when the list price of the 335D approaches an M3 ($60,000), one does have to wonder about how they're spending their money.
Like all the German manufacturers, they've put diesels in their best selling American cars for the American market, hence the 3 series, the larger Mercedes and the big Audi SUV -- all of which are already expensive, and now more so as a diesel.
VW is the only manufacturer who put a diesel in their mid-to-smaller car -- the Jetta, which in L.A. is completely sold out. If one comes available, there are multitude of buyers with cash in hand ready to plunk down whatever it takes to buy one. I've seen only one diesel 335 on the road. Meanwhile, I've seen at least 20 TDI Jetta sedans and sports wagons, and a whole mess of older diesel Golfs and Jettas.
The lesson BMW should learn from marketing diesels in America is to talk to people like Red Beard. He's completely correct about the fact the 1 series in diesel form should be sold here.