BMW i3 Vs. BMW 328d: Which To Buy?

Car Wars is where we pit some of today's hottest cars against each other and then, in a commenting fight to the death, decide which one we'd buy. Today we have two eco BMWs for about the same price.

The BMW i3 debuted recently to great fanfare among people who are not gearheads and simultaneously great dismay among people who are gearheads. It's a $41,350 (before $7,500 federal tax rebate) electric hatchback from one of the most enthusiast-oriented car brands in the world. I love it while my coworker Travis Okulski thinks it's the spawn of Satan.

And by that I mean he thinks it looks like it was brutally sharted out of Baelzebub's asshole, because it looks like an orange and black turd. Okay, he didn't actually say that. He thought it doesn't look weird enough to warrant its disappointingly ordinary ugliness. I, on the other hand, think it looks cool.

He would rather buy a BMW 3 series diesel. It starts at $38,600 for the sedan and $42,950 for the wagon. It comes with a stirring 181 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, you can get it in a manual, and it looks like a real car. I, however, think it's a watered-down bloatmobile.

I would buy the i3. Travis would buy the 328d.

Follow us down to the comments to see our debate in full.

Photo Credits: BMW