G21 D3S vs G21 B3 - A Financial Arguement

[churchie386]

New G21 D3S (with metalic paint and vernasca interior) is £57,680.00. The equivalent G21 B3 is £69,680.00.

Ahead of test drives and road tests verdicts, do people think the B3 is worth £12K more than the D3S?
I guess at 10/10s, the B3 would be unquestionably the one to have, but for day to day use, I'm sure the D3 S no lesser the car.

Which would retain the most value (e.g. over three years and 30K miles)? Based upon F31 (and/or F30), logic says the B3 given its rarity, and going forward, with the "demise" of diesel and increased popularity of petrol, I can see the B3 still offering the best residuals.

What do others on here think?

[Jonnywishbone]

Short answer is B3 and I’ve put my money where my mouth is.

Longer answer might depend on what mileage you do. I’ll put about 5k annually on the new car so the D3S was not even a momentary consideration for me. However unless I was doing moon miles I’d still go for the B3 as to me the comparative exclusivity and extra grunt (admittedly rarely accessible in the real world) are worth it. I’ve also never owned a diesel so now would be an odd time to start.

As far as residuals go, the GMFV on my car is £28k after four years. It’s hard to speculate whether a D3 would beat that proportionally, though I suspect not given the degree to which diesel is being stigmatised and marginalised. Personally I’ve made my peace with the depreciation: spending that much money on a new car doesn’t make rational sense notwithstanding the fact you might save a few grand on one car versus the other. Might as well either just go all in with the car you really want or else be sensible and buy a used car.

[Frosty]

It is certainly a conundrum, as I am sure part of the exclusivity of the B3 will be down to the hefty difference in base model starting prices.

The D3s is not going to be a slouch either.

[Bob]

I'd agree with Jonny, if the viability of your decision to buy relies on a residual position, buying a new ALPINA is probably the wrong choice. Just consider some of the recent trade-in values that have been offered on D3/D4/D5 models particularly, and I can't see that situation improve over time. There are many UK towns/cities considering ULEZ or similar now, and in 3/4yrs time that will likely be a reality for many, so demand will be further depressed for diesels.

In terms of the choice between a D3 or B3. There is definitely still a place for modern diesels but realistically if you're only doing 10k a year that probably means petrol is the wiser choice, and especially if your average journey is less than ~20miles or frequently low speed/stop-start.

Whichever model you choose, I'd also considered options very carefully. The prevailing assumption is that ALPINAs are luxurious, yet there are quite a few F3x D3's particularly, that have virtually no options and they struggle to sell.

[rc944]

Id never buy a diesel performance car. Dont get it.

[B10BRW]

Id never buy a diesel performance car. Dont get it.

It is a good job a lot of people have, the D3 saved Alpinas bacon.

[bobbly]

Id never buy a diesel performance car. Dont get it.

It is a good job a lot of people have, the D3 saved Alpinas bacon.

Quite correct. No D3= no current ALPINA, and possibly for some years, now. Good job many of us 'got performance diesel' or we'd get none of them,

Cheers
Bobbly

[Metrics]

Good point Brian

Anyone else a little worried for Alpina’s future?

BMW seem to be creating more and more models to cover every niche. Look at M340i & M340d, available as estates, now of course with the M3 Touring planned. Adaptive suspension options, Individual colours and of course significant finance offers.

Don’t get me wrong these cars are no means Alpina, but they’re a lot closer to what ticks the boxes in an Alpina buyer’s mind, minus the lovely wheels and branding. Is the brand’s position/USP/value being eroded?

[Jonnywishbone]

I’m a BMW fan and my last two cars have been BMWs but speaking personally, the USP is that they’re not a BMW and that they make so few I’m unlikely to see another one on the road on any given day. So even if BMW made a car like a B3, D3, B5 etc then the corresponding Alpina would still be much more appealing.

[Charles]

Anyone else a little worried for Alpina’s future?

Not at all!

Like an iceberg, the vast majority of the relationship between BMW and ALPINA is unseen. There is no way ALPINA could survive on the revenue from car sales alone - be it back when the D3 first appeared or today, so there must be (and is) something else that pays the bills.

[B10BRW]

Anyone else a little worried for Alpina’s future?

Not at all!

There is no way ALPINA could survive on the revenue from car sales alone - be it back when the D3 first appeared or today, so there must be (and is) something else that pays the bills.

The cars are just a hobby for Burkhard, he makes most of his money from Wine, lots of it

[Charles]

Perhaps a bit more than the wine as ALPINA do most of the engine development work for M division, I believe.

[Metrics]

Good points well made gents. As long as it means more Alpina models well into the future then I'm happy. As Jonnywishbone says, Alpina models are so much more appealing

[B10BRW]

Good points well made gents. As long as it means more Alpina models well into the future then I'm happy. As Jonnywishbone says, Alpina models are so much more appealing

Saying that, what are Alpina going to do about the aberration that is the new 4 series.
Even Alpina would struggle to do anything with that pig ugly beast

[Metrics]

Good points well made gents. As long as it means more Alpina models well into the future then I'm happy. As Jonnywishbone says, Alpina models are so much more appealing

Saying that, what are Alpina going to do about the aboration that is the new 4 series.
Even Alpina would struggle to do anything with that pig ugly beast

Hopefully a whole new front bumper?