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BMW Questions..... My First Car? Maybe, Probably Not
- Thread starter ipodtouchy333
- Start date
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While I'm not a BMW owner, I'm only a few years older than you and I agree with a few others, get a cheaper car as you are only 16. Get something inexpensive (used, at the prices you have pointed out) and use that as your primary car until you are a more experienced driver OR until you finish college. Personally, I was about to buy a new car about a year ago but a change in education brought me into Philadelphia and there was no need for me to turn in my 96 Oldsmobile. The car still runs great when I drive it when I am in New Jersey visiting friends and family.
Bottle lime: save your money for more important things (food, gas, insurance, fun, etc...) and get a cheaper car which won't hurt your pocket when filling up at the pump. Go with an older Honda or Toyota, I'm sure you won't be disappointed with either. 😱
Bottle lime: save your money for more important things (food, gas, insurance, fun, etc...) and get a cheaper car which won't hurt your pocket when filling up at the pump. Go with an older Honda or Toyota, I'm sure you won't be disappointed with either. 😱
thechidz
macrumors 68000
I owned a 318ti. such a cool little car and I think its the only Bimmer with a 4 cylinder? so it will be the best option in terms of fuel efficiency
I agree.
Plus pre-2000 BMW's end up having a TON of electrical issues sometimes. Its a hit or miss.
twistedlegato
macrumors 65816
Just to throw out another idea, i HIGHLY suggest a Infiniti G20.
Looks great. Good interior. Nice mileage. Four door.
Amazing cars if you ask me. It's Japanese, and very reliable, yet quite luxurious.
Looks great. Good interior. Nice mileage. Four door.
Amazing cars if you ask me. It's Japanese, and very reliable, yet quite luxurious.
miniConvert
macrumors 68040
A 3 series would be a good idea, don't get a 318 though - get one with a bit more oomph.
An M3 - well, that's a different breed of car altogether (I have the E46 and E93) and a very special breed at that. At 16 I probably wouldn't recommend it, but then I was young too when I got my first. Your insurance will be, erm, high 😉
I personally think an E46 shape 3 series with a decent engine would be great - but if your budget wont stretch to that then an older one would still look good and still, at the end of the day, be an Ultimate Driving Machine.
An M3 - well, that's a different breed of car altogether (I have the E46 and E93) and a very special breed at that. At 16 I probably wouldn't recommend it, but then I was young too when I got my first. Your insurance will be, erm, high 😉
I personally think an E46 shape 3 series with a decent engine would be great - but if your budget wont stretch to that then an older one would still look good and still, at the end of the day, be an Ultimate Driving Machine.
one1
macrumors 65816
Buying a car is easy, maintaining it is the hard part. No 16 yr old that works for his own money can pay for the PROPER upkeep of an ///M so scratch that off your list.
I can buy a Ferrari tomorrow and be broke, but I can buy it. Couldn't drive it because I couldn't pay to maintain it. I guess that would work out...... majority of Ferrari's don't get driven anyway. 😛 Garage queens.........
Of all the BMW's I have owned the E46 were the best all around car, E39 in second place.
I can buy a Ferrari tomorrow and be broke, but I can buy it. Couldn't drive it because I couldn't pay to maintain it. I guess that would work out...... majority of Ferrari's don't get driven anyway. 😛 Garage queens.........
Of all the BMW's I have owned the E46 were the best all around car, E39 in second place.
Prof.
macrumors 603
Seeing you are 16 and just learning to drive and have the highest probability of getting in an accident within your first 3 years, I would recommend you not getting a BMW or any luxury car for that matter. Not to mention, being only 16 years old, you'd prolly won't be able to afford premium gas for that car. Also, if something were to go wrong with the BMW, to get it repaired would cost an arm and a leg. The more expensive the car the more it will cost to have the parts replaced.
I recommend you get a used Ford Focus or a used Chevy Cobalt.
I recommend you get a used Ford Focus or a used Chevy Cobalt.
magid
macrumors 6502
In the states that is.
Anyway, check out bimmerfest.com There is a lot of info about all of the bmw models. I would look at a e46 or e36 3 series.
I bought a '95 bmw 525i for $5,000 when I was 17 and the car has been absolutely awesome. Incredibly reliable and very comfortable. There are a few nick nacks here and there that could be worked on but for the most part the car is fantastic and I love it, even in the current oil craze. The car doesn't get the best gas mileage around town so I simply ride my bike when Im not going to travel a distance and I spend about 60-80 dollars on gas a month (USA). Mind you the car also has a autobahn tank, so it costs a little bit more to fill that guy up than most 4-door sedans.
Hrududu
macrumors 68020
A friend of mine has a 96 328is 5 speed thats a great car. All the comfort features like leather, power everything, kenwood stereo, dual zone climate control etc. Its got the 2.8l inline six that makes about 190hp. Pretty quick little car that STILL gets up to 35Mpg on the highway in 5th gear. Its been reliable too. No problems and its got over 100k on it. The car only cost him $5000 too. Its a good balance of luxury, sportyness and economy for the price. Here are some pics of it next to my Z.
Attachments
hi
don't know what's the equivalent standard in the USA, but over here the EURONCAP is a relevant source of safety information. Cars that scored high 5 years ago are primitive compared to cars made with current tech.
http://www.euroncap.com/
don't know what's the equivalent standard in the USA, but over here the EURONCAP is a relevant source of safety information. Cars that scored high 5 years ago are primitive compared to cars made with current tech.
http://www.euroncap.com/
uncleSmurf
macrumors regular
ride your damn bike. last thing we need is another 16 year old who thinks they're invincible and hot **** driving a bmw.
yes i felt like being mean there for a min. but no really, get a bike. Or take public transportation. Or walk. something.
yes i felt like being mean there for a min. but no really, get a bike. Or take public transportation. Or walk. something.
NightFlight
macrumors 6502
Buy an older BMW if you don't give a **** about reliability and the maintenance costs that go along with it. 🙄
I would never recommend a decade old European vehicle. Electrical problems will be abundant and those bits are not cheap to fix or replace. Basic replacement parts for BMWs are not cheap, a brake job on a 5-er is going to cost you an arm and a leg. If you are buying a BMW for around 10K you can already assume it is going to need some basic maintenance. I have a friend who bought a 328i back in highschool with all required maintenance done and then some for about 10K and it was severly problmatic for the three years he owned it.
Just out of curiosity, why does a 16 year old need a 5-er in the first place?
MrSmith
macrumors 68040
wkw
macrumors 6502
