Looking for a used car (opinions please)--->

[ACURA95]

The best thing you should probally do is compare the two options of keeping the bimmer and getting a used car that could also be a headache and hurt your wallet. Everyone has made some good suggestions and they will be kind of hard to top.



Sit down and write a list a pretty much everything that you need to do to the bimmer and figure out how much its going to cost you over say the next 1.5 years.



Write a separate list on how much a preowned car is going to cost you over the next 1.5 years including downpayment, tags, and monthly payments.



Compare the two and see which one is worth it. I definitely aggree with accumulator on the resale value. You have already taken your biggest hit.

 

[Glossequation]

Every time I see a dude in a 3 series, I want to ask him, "hey so your wife let you borrow her car"...be a man and step up the 5 or 7.



Or be cheap and get a tired rice beater like an Integra--essentially the model for all cheesy slow street cars, or maybe its the Civic...while your at it, add some 18's, cut (or heat) your springs--cause doing it the right way costs too much, and add a wavy fiberglass APC body kit and a 4 " exhaust...

 

[Glossequation]

The 5 series, at best only has the 330 engine, it's one of the more underpowered cars

hah? what happened to the 4.4 282 HP V8??

 

[Glossequation]

It is always interesting to hear an opinion from a person who doesn't own the car

Dude, no matter how you cut it or explain it, it is not a 911 and yes I have driven one, a GT2 to be exact.



THAT car will make you sh**t your pants :up

 

[DETAILKING]

It's pretty much a no brainer for me. Like I said I am just looking for a something in the 1 to 1.5 yr time frame. Buying something slightly used will minimize the depreciation, and since it's under waranty, repairs will not be an issue. I basically miss havin the warranty because things do go wrong and on a BMW they cost a lot to fix. Maybe I should of bought an extended one. I will have no payments I will buy outright.

 

[Thomas Dekany]

Dude, no matter how you cut it or explain it, it is not a 911 and yes I have driven one, a GT2 to be exact.



THAT car will make you sh**t your pants :up

Who wouldn't like a 911? It is an excellent car but this girly car will beat your 911 any day of the week and seats 4 or 5 peole.



BTW, what do you think would happen if you were to drive a ferrari or Lamborghini? The porshe is not THE car. So what if you drove one! The BMW is still the benchmark. (3 -5-6-7 series).

Your commentsare very childish. How old are you?



http://www.hpamotorsport.com/

 

[DETAILKING]

It's great to state opinions, but the tone of some of the posts in this thread are starting to bother me. I take pride in the car I drive, and I respect that MOST fellow autopians feel the same way. Just because a lot of girls drive say "a celica" doesn't make that a girly car....PLEASE. If Carmen Electra pulled up in an F-350 extended cab Diesel would you laugh in her face about the "man wagon" she just bought?



People buy cars for different reasons, and spend a different proportion of their income on them too (by choice or not....so be it). Why should the guy that believes a car is just something to get him from "point A to point B" that buys the neon, corolla, or sentra not be allowed to be proud of his car and care for it in an autopian way??? Why does someone feel the need to slam that persons decision? What about the guy that still rents or lives with mommy and daddy in order afford that boxter, or M3??? If that is what makes them happy so be it...poor decision or not. Not everyone can afford a new BMW, Mercedes, or Porche. It's also common that people that can, don't even buy a car in that price range. I don't look at the type of car a person drives to judge their status.....It impresses me more how they take care of it no matter what it is. I've seen too many luxury cars with BLACK wheels and filthy paint......sad.



In my situation, I just bought a house that I LOVE and to be honest, would rather fork my extra cash into small projects and upgrades than on the maintanance costs and possible repairs of my BMW (a winning investment not a losing one). I am very excited about that. It's all a balance and trade off.....I'm just looking for something that will hold it's value relatively good, and will not cost much of anything on repairs (under warranty) that I enjoy to drive. After a one to 1.5 yr time frame then I'll look at the new model line ups and start over....but even then, what will I choose? Probably the car that I enjoy driving the most for thats what is most important to a true enthusiast. I'm sad to see my BMW leave, but excited in enjoying my new ride (whatever it is) and working on my new house. After those projects are complete I'm also looking forward to the 2006-2007 model lineup, for I'll probably be in the market for something then. What will it be? Something flashy and expensive to impress others? Maybe....maybe not......but I'll tell you one thing, cost aside, after all the research and test driving, it will be something that i truely enjoy to drive.

 

[EricZ]

Every time I see a dude in a 3 series, I want to ask him, "hey so your wife let you borrow her car"...be a man and step up the 5 or 7.

What is your problem? You came onto this thread and started slamming people's cars left and right. Then you get all pissy when people contradict you. What did you expect, we'd all just sit back and accept your "wisdom"? This guy wanted to talk about possibly replacing his 3, and you decided to tell him he has a girly car and then jump on the soapbox to tell us all about every car you've ever disliked. Please, there are plenty of Mustang forums with members who love this kind of dribble. Go join one.

 

[Brad B]

I saw the comment after I posted and I figured it was pretty ridiculous. Here's a couple of pictures which may help the uninitiated realize the car is much more than a pretty face...it is an engineering masterpiece, and drives like one too!

I owned a Boxster, Have a Carrera C4S now, and will someday own ANOTHER Boxster.



I couldn't agree more. :xyxthumbs

 

[imported_Intermezzo]

If Carmen Electra pulled up in an F-350 extended cab Diesel would you laugh in her face about the "man wagon" she just bought?

LMAO!! Nah, Carmen can drive whatever she wants...I sure as heck ain't gonna laugh at her!



BTW, great post DK. I'm very biased towards BMW's and so if it were me, I would never let the 3-series go mainly for two reasons. First, even though maintenance costs will be a bit high on the 3 series, it still makes a lot more financial sense to keep it instead of getting a replacement car (unless that replacement car is at least 3 years old). Second, going from such a well rounded car like the 325I (rear wheel drive, good interior room, unmatched handling & precision for a sedan) to any one of those front wheel drive cars you are thinking will be tough. Having 200+ HP does not make up for being a front-wheel drive car.



Also, congratulations on your house.

 

[tkr128]

People buy cars for different reasons, and spend a different proportion of their income on them too (by choice or not....so be it).

I agree with you completely. People choose cars for different reasons. My mom chose her Corolla because it was the only car she felt comfortable driving. She simply could not see out the back of the Avalon or the V6 Camry my father tried to talk her into, and thus was not comfortable with them. She absolutely loves her car. Just because there are "better" cars doesn't mean it's the better choice.



It seems like you're leaning towards the Jetta. They're great cars! I rode in a GLX a while back and was very impressed. I liked the little details, like lighted window switches in the rear and the curtain airbags, something you don't see very often in a car at that price level. I'd probably go with the TSX though because I'm used to Japanese cars. You may feel the same way with German cars and the Jetta may be a better choice in that case. Tough decision!



Good luck with the "new" car!

 

[imported_Dude]

I don't know. I was looking at the 3-series just a few months ago. If I have that sort of taste in cars, maybe it's time for the surgery?

 

[ncal]

Anyone who feels a need to affirm their masculinity with a product not only lacks self-confidence but is a the hugest marketing tool ever. I pity that individual because they are trapped in a 1 dimensional world of stereotypes, marketed realities, and lack of personal thought. Buy what you want and enjoy it because you do. Not because some idiot pretends he knows what defines a masculine vehicle.

 

[SergC]

Dude, no matter how you cut it or explain it, it is not a 911 and yes I have driven one, a GT2 to be exact.



THAT car will make you sh**t your pants :up

Yeaa... I believe you...You are an expert on 911's...Seeing one from the distance makes you one

 

[DETAILKING]

I pity that individual because they are trapped in a 1 dimensional world of stereotypes, marketed realities, and lack of personal thought.

YUP

 

[imported_Intermezzo]

I don't know. I was looking at the 3-series just a few months ago. If I have that sort of taste in cars, maybe it's time for the surgery?

I normally put up the "This is my Wife's Car!! Not Mine!!" sign whenever I'm driving our 330I.

 

[imported_memnuts]

Tony, LOL





Why did the Camaro go away??? Because females preferred Mustangs and would not buy their share of f-bodies.

Does that make the Mustang a woman's car? Of course not.



By the way, what twisted mind considers a 3-series a woman's car? What's a woman's car? That macho characterization does not even exist anymore.

3 series Bimmers are very nice, balanced and sporty sedans that I would love and would be proud to own and drive.



I drive a 4 cylinder Ford Escort wagon daily! I wonder what some people think of my manhood?

( for newer members: I own 4 Muscle cars )

 

[Glossequation]

What's a woman's car? That macho characterization does not even exist anymore.

Hmm...so a dude in a Beetle with a daisy in the dash is totally manly? Or a guy in a SAAB convertible? C'mon...



People can drive whatever the hell they want, you've just got to be realistic and know when someone's got a car that's projecting a certain image.



As much as people might not want to admit it, car's are in large part a big reflection of who we are.

 

[Glossequation]

Tony, LOL



Why did the Camaro go away???

Because the mullet got attached to the camaro, along with rear louvers and an IROC sticker on the side. No matter what GM did, most people still had the Joe Dirt image in their minds.

 

[DETAILKING]

Because the mullet got attached to the camaro, along with rear louvers and an IROC sticker on the side. No matter what GM did, most people still had the Joe Dirt image in their minds.

So be it.....I loved my 1997 Z



In memorandum