Sick of waiting for a car.

[jimsowden]

Indulge me. I've been working all summer and looking to get a car for the new school year in september. This would be my first, even though I'm 18. I've had an annoying amount of close calls and what not, but that is to be expected. I'm trying to get a higher milage e46 BMW 323i. (If you have one, please PM me) Seeing as how I'm going to be needing one soon, I started branching out into Audis, but no luck as well. I'm looking at some Japanese Automotives at the recomendation of my Dad, like the Honda Civic. I just don't see it comparing to a nice black bimmer though. Any thoughts/suggestions?

[iJon]

Look for an old model Acura TL Type S. Damn good car, pretty good gas mileage and very fast in my opinion (260hp v-6 vtech). Out of all the cars my parents have owned over the years the Acura's have given us probably no problems at all while my mom's BMW, Caddy and my Jeep have many more issues from time to time.

jon

[173080]

Are you a true enthusiast who would appreciate the refined and performance-oriented experience the BMW could provide or you just want one "because its pretty"?

If its the former, you will find it very difficult to sway from BMW to other brands especially if you have already driven the Bimmer. I'm sure you would be happier if you settled for a slightly older E36 or E39 than a newer Acura. I know I would be.

If you just want one because "you'd look cool in a bimmer" then I suggest you go drive a comparably priced Acura after driving the BMW and if you can't tell an obvious difference then the Acura would be a good choice.

[puckhead193]

what about an older lexus GS their fast esp the GS 430/400 and look good. Or a lexus IS 300

[jimsowden]

Are you a true enthusiast who would appreciate the refined and performance-oriented experience the BMW could provide or you just want one "because its pretty"?

If its the former, you will find it very difficult to sway from BMW to other brands especially if you have already driven the Bimmer. I'm sure you would be happier if you settled for a slightly older E36 or E39 than a newer Acura. I know I would be.

If you just want one because "you'd look cool in a bimmer" then I suggest you go drive a comparably priced Acura after driving the BMW and if you can't tell an obvious difference then the Acura would be a good choice.
I'm definitly looking at e36s. I just love the bimmer feel and sound. The look (and looks) are just added pluses. AHH, why am i doing this to myself?

[Abstract]

Maybe you're aiming a bit high for an 18 year old. I don't know your financial situation or how much your parents give you, but I wouldn't get a car that's too old just because it's a BMW or Acura or anything of the sort if I wasn't 100% sure I could pay for maintenance and replacement of parts. On a Bimmer, these components may cost a lot.

I'd think about going the Acura route as well.

[Les Kern]

$4? $5? $6 a gallon? What will it take you to go green and get THIS? (http://www.zapworld.com/cars/smartcar.asp)

[OnceUGoMac]

Indulge me. I've been working all summer and looking to get a car for the new school year in september. This would be my first, even though I'm 18. I've had an annoying amount of close calls and what not, but that is to be expected. I'm trying to get a higher milage e46 BMW 323i. (If you have one, please PM me) Seeing as how I'm going to be needing one soon, I started branching out into Audis, but no luck as well. I'm looking at some Japs at the recomendation of my Dad, like the Honda Civic. I just don't see it comparing to a nice black bimmer though. Any thoughts/suggestions?

Are you buying the car or are you a spoiled rich kid?

[saabmp3]

Are you buying the car or are you a spoiled rich kid?

Oh boy I was waiting for this. I wonder if he know the insurance differences between the BMW and the Civic? Add to that the maintenance differences!

Anyways, I drive a Saab (second one), when I was looking for it I also tried out BMW's, Audi's, MB's, you name it. There are no looks with a BMW. Maybe when you first get it you'll have some oohs and ahhs, but that's true with any car. If I were you, and I had the proper amount of money, I'd look at a MB C320. It's a coupe (good for HS and College so you don't become the DD), it's fast, it's good on gas, and you WILL get looks in it. Trust me, a MB seems to be more impressive than a BMW to the lay person.

Anyways, I'm getting off kilter here. Again, look to the Audi. Quattro. Say it again, Quattro. It's beautiful, especially as an inexperienced driver (which you are until you take a race car driving course) who wants to go fast.

Finally, the saab (which I ended up with). The new 9-3, although a beautiful looking car, doesn't have what I love about the old 9-3. The ability to carry lots and lots of stuff. Ontop of that, I get 35 MPG on the highway AND it's faster than a 323i (think pretty slow in the world of european sedans). The 9-5 is large (I used to have a 9000 which is the old 9-5 basically in size and model spot) and blah (my mother has one).

Anyways, cheers on choosing a car.

BEN

[Dr. Dastardly]

Just curious, how much do you actually make a year?

I don't know why any teenager should have a $30,000 car. Why not put a down payment on a condo or something and pick up a used Civic instead?

[EJBasile]

A teenager driving a BMW or any expensive flashy car has to remember a couple things.

1. Insurance
2. Maint. ($$$$)
3. Repairs
4. Speed Limit (I know)

Especially if a teenage boy, that jacks up your insurance. Do you do good in school. Did you take driver's edu.

Getting a high mileage BMW (or any car for that matter) will only result in repair costs and such. Fuel pump, alternator, starter solinoid, air conditioning, transmission, etc. European cars cost a ton to fix here in the U.S.

If you really want luxery get an Acura or maybe an Infiniti. They are sporty fun cars. The Acuras will last forever. The infiniti G35 is an aweosme car and the I35 (I had as a rental once- basically an old style nissan maxima) is sooo quiet. I don't really know what your price range is though.

Used Jaguar X-types are cheap too. I had one a while ago. It was a fun little car. It featured the nice prowl of the Jaguar under the hood :). AWD standard. Not the most reliabe car, but better than the old Jags.

Check autotrader.com or cars.com

[Abstract]

"It's the car. Chicks dig the car."

[sushi]

"It's the car. Chicks dig the car."
If you need a car to get a chick, I pitty you.

Sushi

[savar]

A teenager driving a BMW or any expensive flashy car has to remember a couple things.

Where did people get this idea from? He's working all summer and he wants a "higher mileage" BMW. They aren't that expensive -- well within the range of a smart kid's summer earnings...as low as $3000. I'd hardly call a '93 bimmer an "expensive flashy car".

Also, recommending a Jaguar...totally non sequitur. How can you say the above and then recommend a Jaguar!? Those are the worst cars on the road.

Of course, everybody is right about the maintenance on BMWs...its very high.

[Scarlet Fever]

the idea of a car is to get you places. Beamers get you places the same as pretty much any other car. If you are rolling in it and can afford to fix up beamers, go for it. If you are a uni student with stuff all income, go for a cheap second-hand car with low fuel (or gas, as the Americans like to call it) usage.

Going for a car with high milage is a bad idea, because the older the engine gets the more you have to get it repaired to keep it running. Especially a German car like a BMW, Merc or Audi, with their high repair costs.

I want my first car to be a second-hand Holden Barina (Vauxhall Corsa etc). great little car with good economy, suprisingly spacious inside. Every car after that is going to be a hybrid. Fuel is too expensive:P

[Platform]

If you need a car to get a chick, I pitty you.

Sushi

Yeah......then she is in for your money not you ;)

[RandomDeadHead]

Like some of the other have said, get an Acura or Infiniti. Those are as nice as a BMW, and last much longer. And to top it off, they are cheaper to fix. You can take an Infiniti to your local Nissan dealership to have work done much cheaper then the upscale Infiniti dealership. A friend of mine has a early 90's Q45, with 270,000 something miles on it. Its rusted and beat to ****, but the damn thing just won't die. The same is true with Acuras.

[mad jew]

Yeah......then she is in for your money not you ;)


Is that so bad? :p



jimsowden, settle for nothing less than a BMW. :)

[iGary]

Get a Civic.

I'm on my third.

[sushi]

Yeah......then she is in for your money not you ;)
So very true.

...and then comes along another with more money and off she goes! :eek:

Sushi

[sushi]

Is that so bad? :p
Not at all as long as you love to pay, and pay, and pay, and pay...

Kind of like a revolving charge account that you never can to pay off.

BTW, been there done that that is why I know all too well.

Sushi

[Bakey]

If you need a car to get a chick, I pitty you.

Sushi

I'm pretty certain he's quoting a movie!! But I can't remember which one... ;)

There's a bit of a clue in that the phrase has been surrounded by quotation marks... :rolleyes:

Anyway, what's an Acura!?! UK boy says don't touch a Beemer unless it's either an M3 or an M5... okay, I know I'm not being helpful here!! ;)

What about a Celica? or an MR2 [or as you guys call them MR-S]?

Fairly cheap to insure, good MPG, got the looks and they're Japanese which usually means they don't fall apart like European cars... recent 'Which' style reports of the top ten cars in the UK were all Japanese with a couple of Korean models thrown in for good measure, the only European car to make it into the top ten was Merc bang at number 10!! The Honda Civic took the accolade of first place...

[iJon]

Are you buying the car or are you a spoiled rich kid?
Who cares if he is a spoiled rich kid. If he or his parents can buy him one then why not. He is asking us opinions on cars, not his wallet :rolleyes:.

jon

[iGav]

Anyway, what's an Acura!?!

A Honda basically.

[OnceUGoMac]

Who cares if he is a spoiled rich kid. If he or his parents can buy him one then why not. He is asking us opinions on cars, not his wallet :rolleyes:.

jon

Because if I were his parent and he asked me to buy him a BMW, I'd laugh at him in the face and tell him to get a job and buy it himself.
:D

[livingfortoday]

You should get a bike!

No paying for gas, cheap repairs, and it can beat any car at off-roading! Not to mention the health benefits, and that it's just fun!

[18thTomorrow]

18 year olds should not be driving Beamers.

[rt_brained]

If you know what's good for you, you'll hold out for the Bimmer. You need this vehicle for your self-confidence and it's important at your age for others to accept you into the 'cool' cliques. Hondas can be tuned, but they're far too common to impress girls in your age group or the handfull of MILF mothers who are going to line up to break in your new (used) back seat. Sure, parts and upkeep are expensive on BMWs, but a used Toyota Tercel with 1/3 the mileage might have twice the dependability but hey, a Tercel won't do anything to establish you in the BMW=money=power=cool crowd either.

YOU ABSOUTELY POSITIVELY MUST HAVE A BMW. IT NEEDS YOU. AND YOU NEED THE POONTANG.

[Lord Blackadder]

A BMW will automatically whack your car insurance up between 30%-100+% over something more conventional. Especially since you are 18 and male.

Plus the BMW's clutch, brakes, exhaust, suspension and other such components can carry a 50-100% premium in replacement cost over many cars. For example, a 323's clutch replacement will run around $800 in parts and labor, whereas my Nissan Altima will cost me about $400 for a clutch job.

I would avoid an Audi - I have had two experiences with Audi Quattros, an A4 and a 90. Both were just as expensive as the BMW and rather less reliable. They are well built and fun to drive but they required constant repairs.

When I was 18 and shopping for a car, I really wanted a performance car BAD. I found two cars in particular that made me drool: a 1989 Porsche 944S and a 1994 BMW 325i. Both were in my price range to buy, but the insurance costs were way more than I expected and maintanence costs were ridiculous for a new driver.

As a rule, Japanese cars are a bit cheaper to own here than German cars. I suggest you look at a used Acura integra, Ford Focus or even a Civic for a lightweight car with good handling. For something rear-drive and sporty check out the Nissan 240SX - they stopped selling them back in '96 though, so finding a nice one might be tough. I can also recommend the Infiniti G20 - good handling, good looks, a tad underpowered but the SR20DE engine revs very smoothly up to 6500.

Used Acura CL coupes from the mid-late 90's are cheap and plentiful, with an optional 5 (yep, 5) cylinder. You might be able to find an Acura TL V6, but beware insurance costs. Volkswagens have overly-high resale values but the VR6-equipped Jettas/Golfs are fast and good-looking.

For something different (if you insist on sportiness), look at getting an SVT Contour(Mondeo) or SVT Focus. They look decently racy, either one will outrun the 323, and they are not too expensive - if a bit cheaply made. The V6 in the contour is pretty nice, similar in size to the VW VR6.

The BMW is a great drive but they make you pay for it, and there are a lot of other cars out there that are 80% as fun but way cheaper to own. And remember, you've got quite a few years left to get an expensive car.

[OnceUGoMac]

If you know what's good for you, you'll hold out for the Bimmer. You need this vehicle for your self-confidence and it's important at your age for others to accept you into the 'cool' cliques. Hondas can be tuned, but they're far too common to impress girls in your age group or the handfull of MILF mothers who are going to line up to break in your new (used) back seat. Sure, parts and upkeep are expensive on BMWs, but a used Toyota Tercel with 1/3 the mileage might have twice the dependability but hey, a Tercel won't do anything to establish you in the BMW=money=power=cool crowd either.

YOU ABSOUTELY POSITIVELY MUST HAVE A BMW. IT NEEDS YOU. AND YOU NEED THE POONTANG.

It's so true. :D

[jimsowden]

Thanks for all the input guys. To clear a few things up, if i bought the bimmer it would be totally on my own dime, not a cent from my parents. The honda they will help me a couple of thou with. I'm not spoiled at all, though I am fortunate for the oppertunities I've recieved. My friend, 17, has a 328i fro '97 (e36 then) with 160 on it. While it's pretty fast, I'm sure it will need some money soon. I found a car tonight at a dealership ('01 civic for 9200) and we put a deposit on it. So that will be the car I have for the time being. I may sell it to get my coveted e46 down the proverbial rode.

Thanks for all the input. I can always trust the MR community to give me some fair advice, wether I like it or not.

[Scarlet Fever]

good choice :p
sounds pretty cheap as well
do u know the milage on it?

[iGav]

eh? how did we get from a BMW to a Civic? :eek: :p

[EJBasile]

I have owned a BMW 3-series, an A4, and a Jaguar X-type. (every little sport luxery except for a C-Class).

The most problematic car was my A4 I have to say, and was fairly expensive to fix. The Jaguar had some problems, and was very expensive to fix. The BMW was probably the most reliable, but it still was very expensive to fix.

I still say get a Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, etc. Even though they won't be as cool looking or fun to drive, they will be reliable. Only get a really nice car if you have a very good job to pay for the repairs and insurance or your parents are going to shell out the money for eveything.

[jimsowden]

eh? how did we get from a BMW to a Civic? :eek: :p
yeah, i know.

[macartistkel]

Well I have a friend who has been waiting on getting a car for almost two years now--he is finally going to buy the new toyota limited 4RUNNER (2006) in a month. I have heard my friend talk about getting this vehicle EVERDAY for a year and half, but with all the deliberating and back forth he has done, he has finally made his final decision!

No matter what, I reccommend researching everything you can about the car you want---just don't go overboard about it like my friend--he has ran his obsession into the ground. But in the end it will pay off because he is getting exactly what he wants.

He has also done the same about the 15" Powerbook--he keeps going back and forth. I told him to f'ck it and get the 17" Powerbook!! Decisions are not that hard!!! :)

[LifeIsCheap]

I'm pretty certain he's quoting a movie!! But I can't remember which one... ;)

There's a bit of a clue in that the phrase has been surrounded by quotation marks... :rolleyes:


Batman is the movie you're after I believe ;)