Well his car is nicer, but really not much faster at all, if at all.

Nice, but not my style. I'm the kind of person that, when getting a 3 Series, would HAVE to get the 330. Whatever I buy will have to be top of the line in its class, i.e. I would never buy any LX or DX Accord... or a non Type-S Acura, where S is avail.