New car (possibly)

shotime

shotime

Privitize it
I've got an offer from the owner at work to buy my SHO for his son. It's got 90k mi and I'm just about ready to tear the whole thing apart and most likely drop at least $5k into it. After it's still a 97 SHO with 90k and worth the same as before I started. So here's what I'm thinking. They've got a mint 96 F-150 4x4 w/ 120k on it I can trade for my SHO and pocket some money. That would be a great work/winter truck, mileage doesn't matter because I can tear a 5.0 apart with my eyes closed. Instead of my econobox Focus, which I'm using for work now and would have no use for, I'm thinking about a nice high end entry car. Right now I'm inbetween a 325 Coupe and a C230 sedan....C Coupes are ugly IMO. I know a couple people here have 3 series. What I'd like to know before I take the plunge is about:

Insurance
Maintenance, because I over maintain my cars
Reliability/build quality
Overall driving characteristics, as I've only rode in an older C class

This is going to be a car I keep a very long time so I want the best for around $30-40k. I'm open to other vehicle suggestions also. (NO FWD!!!!) I guess if I get rid of the SHO I'll have to change my name......
 
good luck in which ever you choose..:) don't ask me about selling my babies..I have a collection because I can't seem to part with any of them:lmfao
 
For my 2002 BMW 330xi sedan:

Insurance: It's less than I thought it would be. Depends mostly on the driver's rating as well as whether it is a primary vehicle and driven to/from work. Repair costs can be high, but occupant injury rates are low.

Maintenance: Maintenance is free for the first few years. Mine was for 36 months or 36000 miles, but I believe it's longer for current model year cars. You can also purchase extended maintenance contracts when you get close to the end of your free maintenance period.

Reliability/build quality: Excellent so far, and I am very picky.

Overall driving characteristics: Feel, feedback, and responsiveness are all excellent. Always goes exactly where you want it to go.

My 2 cents - If you plan to keep your vehicle for a long time, make sure you configure it exactly the way you want it. You don't want to regret skipping a particular option when you'll be stuck with that car for years.
 
I always customize my cars so as long as the big options are there (5 speed, sunroof) that's really all I need. Working on cars is like crack to me so I want something I can work with.
Here's what I came up with:

2004 325Ci Coupe

Titanium Silver Metallic
$475

Interior
Black Leatherette

Aluminum Brushed Columns Trim
Packages
Sport Package
$1,000

MSRP
$30,500

Price as configured
$33,720

Options
Power Glass Moonroof
$1,050


I've got the same problem as you Poorboy, I can't seem to give up my cars. I hate the thought that some dirtball will wind up with it. Actually, the owners son trashed every car he's had. :( It's just too much right now to keep up with how I maintain them. I keep our 5 cars spotless (only the 5.0 is garaged) so I'm working about an hour a day on just my stuff. I don't have the time to work at the dealership 40+ hours a week, and then do 3-4 more customer details plus mine and work on my Xpel dealership.
 
Get the 330 Ci with Performance Package, Moonroof, and Xenons. All worth it. If you really want a detail paint, don't get silver. I keep telling myself I've put in the effort, but the big pop just isn't there.
 
I was close to picking up the 2004 325i (sedan), so I did the legwork to find out the "costs" of the car. The car didn't seem any higher to insure than other cars in its price range. Maintenance program was for 4 years, I think. The car drove well, but was a little low on HP. The shifter worked well. I sat in the non-power adjustable leatherette seats. Felt like rubber and it had several levers to move different parts of the seat. Would go with the leather.

I ended up with the G35 because of the LSD, higher hp, 6 speed, lower overall price and good resale value, but I think the build quality of the 325 is better as well as the driving position.
 
I like M3's but I'm just affraid of buying an abused one. I know someone that got a used 97 and it's a money pit. Lack of power in a 325 doesn't bother me as I can always make it faster and I'd like to put in some Katzkin leather/suede seat covers inplace of just leather. Leather is too slippery for going around corners. If I get a chance Sat. I'm going to run up to the BMW dealer and check a couple out, the MB dealer is litterally next door also. I'm still not sure which one I'll get but I'm looking at spring '05 to buy as I never buy a car going into winter. If my experience with Ford was better I'd love an 05 Stang, but our Moutaineer has been in the shop every other month for 2 years, my moms 98 Taurus which looks brand new has some build quality issues, my brothers Escape just had everything rebuilt but the engine, and my old Sport Trac had reliability problems of it's own. Who knows, if my Xpel dealership (as well as another business venture I'm waiting to get a patent/trademark for) takes off I may just spring for a new M3. The good thing is, I'm not married so she can't say no!
 
Yeah there is that - well I got nothing against beemers (I used to work for BMWFS once upon a time) and Mercedes but for less than 30K I would get a G T O baby - read a review in MT where they compared it to the Mercedes AMG - basically you can get two GTO's for one AMG - either that or the new Subaru (heck even the Saab 9x looks schweet) - but if I can only choose Merc or Beemer - I would go Beemer -
 
groebuck said:
Yeah there is that - well I got nothing against beemers (I used to work for BMWFS once upon a time) and Mercedes but for less than 30K I would get a G T O baby - read a review in MT where they compared it to the Mercedes AMG - basically you can get two GTO's for one AMG - either that or the new Subaru (heck even the Saab 9x looks schweet) - but if I can only choose Merc or Beemer - I would go Beemer -
Click to expand...

Biimmmmmmmer. Its Bimmmmer. :D Sorry to be technical, gotta represent the BMW. Choose what you want for price and long term investment. Oh and don't forget about the detail supplies:lol
 
BEEEEEEMEEEER - technical my foot I worked for em B! :lol

actually we just called em the 3 the z or the M (when I worked for em we got to get them as leases for 90 days - so basically we all had a brand new BMW every three months - and you could pick - from a 318 all the way to the 740il!)
 
Right G. How come there is a magazine with the spelling "Bimmer"? Must I use the all mighty Google Engine to find why Bimmer is correct?:flamed
 
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