My next vehicle purchase - fun vs responsibility vs stupid

[MongGrel]

I take it you haven't yet enjoyed the other TridenT threads.

Yes, yes I have.

()

 

[A5]

Well, if you're trying to do controlled drifts and traction control is rather unpredictable and flakey... or are near a shift point (which changes dynamically even in manual mode) in a turn with a computer that forces you to upshift and you're at the limits of grip... I'm just saying that the car abruptly shifting mid-turn doesn't really inspire confidence.

Don't drift on public roads?

 

[agent00f]

Don't drift on public roads?

I don't think he's drifting as much as messing up corners. It's kind of a meme in car reviews to turn off those features to "get the most out of the vehicle", but the dirty little secret is all but very few reviewers out there are good/fast enough to out-do features designed to keep the car out of a ditch. Most enthusiasts parrot that belief, but people who've actually driven fast know better.

 

[TridenT]

Still on the prowl for another car.

Trying to figure out what's gonna work.

2008-2010 N54 BMW 335i auto
2011-2012 BMW 335i auto/8speed-if-possible
2011-2012 BMW 335is w/ DCT
2009-2011 BMW M3 w/ DCT

All with hardtop convertible. Preferably coral red interior. Black exterior. I've been experiencing price creep in my budget highly. Started with N54 BMW sedan but then got interested in convertible. Wanted less turbos, so N55. Wanted better transmission, so 8-speed... Then saw 335is with DCT... and then was like, "Well, for the price... is an M3 really that far off?" So, now I'm even considering the M3 with DCT.

But, you know, I don't feel like spending $1000+/month for insurance, payment, and gas at the moment. So, there's that too. I know I could buy the M3 and afford it but I don't know if I could justify it. A lot of money.. especially for a cheap guy like me.

Life.

 

[jlee]

Still on the prowl for another car.

Trying to figure out what's gonna work.

2008-2010 N54 BMW 335i auto
2011-2012 BMW 335i auto/8speed-if-possible
2011-2012 BMW 335is w/ DCT
2009-2011 BMW M3 w/ DCT

All with hardtop convertible. Preferably coral red interior. Black exterior. I've been experiencing price creep in my budget highly. Started with N54 BMW sedan but then got interested in convertible. Wanted less turbos, so N55. Wanted better transmission, so 8-speed... Then saw 335is with DCT... and then was like, "Well, for the price... is an M3 really that far off?" So, now I'm even considering the M3 with DCT.

But, you know, I don't feel like spending $1000+/month for insurance, payment, and gas at the moment. So, there's that too. I know I could buy the M3 and afford it but I don't know if I could justify it. A lot of money.. especially for a cheap guy like me.

Life.

A "cheap guy" should not be BMW shopping.

Of course, you know this already.

 

[zerocool84]

A "cheap guy" should not be BMW shopping.

Of course, you know this already.

He's not cheap, he buys $100 trash cans.

 

[Herr Kutz]

Still on the prowl for another car.

Trying to figure out what's gonna work.

2008-2010 N54 BMW 335i auto
2011-2012 BMW 335i auto/8speed-if-possible
2011-2012 BMW 335is w/ DCT
2009-2011 BMW M3 w/ DCT

All with hardtop convertible. Preferably coral red interior. Black exterior. I've been experiencing price creep in my budget highly. Started with N54 BMW sedan but then got interested in convertible. Wanted less turbos, so N55. Wanted better transmission, so 8-speed... Then saw 335is with DCT... and then was like, "Well, for the price... is an M3 really that far off?" So, now I'm even considering the M3 with DCT.

But, you know, I don't feel like spending $1000+/month for insurance, payment, and gas at the moment. So, there's that too. I know I could buy the M3 and afford it but I don't know if I could justify it. A lot of money.. especially for a cheap guy like me.

Life.

I've been pricing out lightly used 13 BMW 5 series, but after reading a little more about their reliability I went to test drive a 2017 Forester (no homo). They fixed one my main issues (the touchy throttle pedal) so if I actually wind up springing for a vehicle this year it's high on the list.

 

[XavierMace]

The 8 speed wasn't introduced until the F series and it's hardly an improvement over the DCT.

 

[TridenT]

I bounce back and forth on the M3 and 335 with convertible vs coupe/sedan. One is more practical, other is more fun. One is 400+lb lighter. One is not...

The 8 speed wasn't introduced until the F series and it's hardly an improvement over the DCT.

Well, I'm definitely not thinking 8-speed > DCT. I'm just trying to get 8-speed over the 6-speed if possible. Ideally I'd get DCT. I mean, I would like to have a 2011 M3 Convertible with DCT but that's also $$$.

 

[z1ggy]

Wait - You finally got a job ?

 

[tortillasoup]

He's wasting his time on garbage vehicles anyhow.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I bounce back and forth on the M3 and 335 with convertible vs coupe/sedan. One is more practical, other is more fun. One is 400+lb lighter. One is not...

Well, I'm definitely not thinking 8-speed > DCT. I'm just trying to get 8-speed over the 6-speed if possible. Ideally I'd get DCT. I mean, I would like to have a 2011 M3 Convertible with DCT but that's also $$$.

Have you actually driven any of these cars?

 

[XavierMace]

I bounce back and forth on the M3 and 335 with convertible vs coupe/sedan. One is more practical, other is more fun. One is 400+lb lighter. One is not...

Well, I'm definitely not thinking 8-speed > DCT. I'm just trying to get 8-speed over the 6-speed if possible. Ideally I'd get DCT. I mean, I would like to have a 2011 M3 Convertible with DCT but that's also $$$.

The 2011+ E82/E88 135i's are DCT.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Wait - You finally got a job ?

 

[TridenT]

While doing some research, I, unfortunately, lost interest in one car: the E90/E92/E93 M3. I knew it would be overly costly to maintain but $2500 (the new design rod bearings are $600 alone) plus the possibility of having to rebuild/purchase two throttle actuators out of the gate is insane. (And then rebuild them possibly every 50k)

It would already be $1k+/month to just drive the car a thousand miles a month. ($600+ car payment, $200+ insurance, $200+ gas)

Ain't no way, brah. Here's a pretty comprehensive review of someone who purchased it recently. Really great review/overview IMO.

I'll look into the 2011+ 135i. Only reason I am not big on it though is that it's so small and seems impractical. Also, soft top being the only convertible type is not big for me. At that point, I'd get the coupe.

 

[MixMasterTang]

How f'ing long does it take to shop for a car? Not like you're going to be married to it.

 

[TridenT]

How f'ing long does it take to shop for a car? Not like you're going to be married to it.

You don't know that! I had my civic for 5.5 years and the only reason I separated from it is because it was destroyed in a car accident. (Not of my fault)

 

[TridenT]

I've been pricing out lightly used 13 BMW 5 series, but after reading a little more about their reliability I went to test drive a 2017 Forester (no homo). They fixed one my main issues (the touchy throttle pedal) so if I actually wind up springing for a vehicle this year it's high on the list.

I'm definitely going to try to buy a car this winter. I just have no idea what car. I'm losing mah mind!

 

[tortillasoup]

I'm definitely going to try to buy a car this winter. I just have no idea what car. I'm losing mah mind!

You liked your civic, right? Why not get a Prius and be done with it. It's a low maintenance car that isn't trying too hard to be sporty. Performance should be a bit better than the Civic and the fuel economy and maintenance will be lower. The only thing to look out for is if and when the hybrid battery goes. But for between $1K- $3K for a potentially bad battery and $4K for the car, it's not too expensive to own a Prius because most everything else works great on the car provided all the recalls/TSBs are addressed (as in any vehicle).


Waffling over a performance car is a waste of time considering how much you liked your civic anyhow and you got rammed on the side by ironically a Prius. I think god was trying to tell you to get a Prius by smashing into the side of your Civic. Prius has a 10 yr 150K mile warranty on the battery so either take a risk with an older model or get a newer model if you're so concerned with the battery life. Prius battery warranty rates are less than 1%, it's a very reliable battery pack.

You start looking at performance european cars, it's just going to be endless threads of you posting about how crappy your expensive car is and with the final post being a video of you Elliot Rodger style wanting retribution...

 

[JulesMaximus]

E550 coupe brah! 400hp at the wheels, good looks, comfortable ride, style. I love mine.

 

[TridenT]

E550 coupe brah! 400hp at the wheels, good looks, comfortable ride, style. I love mine.

That is quite debatable...

It is, however, cheaper than the M3. Maybe I'll look into the E550. I'm not big on Mercedes tho.

http://www.kbb.com/mercedes-benz/e-...8&condition=very-good&pricetype=private-party

 

[jlee]

That is quite debatable...

It is, however, cheaper than the M3. Maybe I'll look into the E550. I'm not big on Mercedes tho.

http://www.kbb.com/mercedes-benz/e-class/2012/e550-4matic-sedan-4d/?vehicleid=373829&intent=buy-used&category=sedan&options=5281877|true|5924513|true|5868400|true|5723199|true|6037273|true&mileage=62888&condition=very-good&pricetype=private-party

A Mercedes out of warranty scares me more than a little.

Buy another Civic.

 

[TridenT]

A Mercedes out of warranty scares me more than a little.

Buy another Civic.

Yeah, I was just viewing prices. The next step was to go look at warranty and other problems.

In my mind, Mercedes > BMW in terms of cost to maintain. I'm not sure how easy/plausible it would be to fix on my own either. Just because of restrictive electronics these days... I don't know if Mercedes makes certain stuff impossible to do unless you went to a dealer.

 

[jlee]

Yeah, I was just viewing prices. The next step was to go look at warranty and other problems.

In my mind, Mercedes > BMW in terms of cost to maintain. I'm not sure how easy/plausible it would be to fix on my own either. Just because of restrictive electronics these days... I don't know if Mercedes makes certain stuff impossible to do unless you went to a dealer.

With BMW, particularly the 335i's, part failure is a major problem. I found a forum post where a guy with a 70k mile 335i had three HPFPs, both turbos, and the VANOS solenoid replaced under warranty. Now imagine that out of warranty...

 

[JCH13]

Volvo is about the lowest cost of ownership of the luxury brands. Well, Volvo and Acura. Get one of those if you're worried about cost but still want luxo options.