The "Hey MM, what car should I get?" thread - Maeng edition

[Jeff]

How about a sebring convertible?

Sounds good to me. :thumbup:

[Steve85]

Element is a great car for an average size family, especially a young one with "rear-facing child crash cell containment module" , travel crib, strollers..and the 4000 diapers needed for a weekend. That said, you are 3-4 years away and I would think about what a 9K vehicle will be like 3-4yrs from now when you need it. :dunno:

Stick a 2x4 under the gas pedal for now in the STi and resurrect this thread when you see this:

[.RJ]

Yikes. :runaway:

[BLINGMW]

Stick a 2x4 under the gas pedal for now in the STi

haha best idea yet

We can probably make a real nice one up for you for significantly less than $9k too.

[Maengelito]

As much as it pains me to say it, I won't be keeping the STi. The Forester XT is much more practical and costs less.

You can get an e46 wagon for that price range but in the upper mileage, 85-100k on the odo.

I've started looking at E46 iX sedans and wagons since some of them happen to be at the top of my price range. Obviously the cheap ones are gonna have a lot more miles on them. Would it just be a never ending money pit if I got something in the 2003ish model year/~90k mile range? Also I've heard that the AWD systems from E30s were crappy (although I don't know what made them crappy) so did they fix whatever it was on E46 AWD systems or is there something I should look out for?

[JustinG]

From my research....some cooling issues with some of the plastic bits, but if you buy from an enthusiast its already been fixed.

[Apoc]

FWIW, I've found the pit/age ratio for BMWs to hit the pain threshold at about 7 years.

[Maengelito]

FWIW, I've found the pit/age ratio for BMWs to hit the pain threshold at about 7 years.

yeah, I've been thinking the same thing but don't have any real data to back it up.

[Apoc]

All I have is anecdotal evidence, but I've known about a half dozen people who weren't "car guys" that bailed on theirs around that time. They're built well for the short run, but things start to break in earnest around the 7 year mark. It's not one specific thing, based on what I've seen, more of a not aging well in general.

I think they're fine if people know something about cars and want to do their own work, but parts can get expensive. I'd own another BMW in a heartbeat, but I wouldn't consider having it much past that time frame... and that's not just a warranty whore talking either because I could see owning a Subaru well past that time.

I think the bottom line is the Germans make really nice cars, but they don't last "worry free". Generally speaking, Japanese cars do.

[D_Eclipse9916]

Replace the plastic bits with metal, and you shouldnt have problems. But stupid shit does come up. My master cylinder plunger broke this weekend cause bmw was stupid and makes their pedals plastic, which over time moves and cracks and goes sideways, ruining your master cylinder.

Honestly its worth it though. I would say it would cost in time and money about 20% more than an equivalent japanese car, but I feel is way more worth it. The little things on German cars that really make you appreciate it is shocking. From the outside I never thought much about it, but after driving the m3 a while, even a cheap E36 has things that make you go, well that is nice. If you want a lesbo car go ahead and get the forrester, if your looking for a bit more refinement than go elsewhere. I wont suggest an e46 or E39 if your looking to not touch it.

[Mike]

I'm not so sure Maeng is worried about looking like "a lesbo." In fact, he may welcome it... could get him in some interesting situations.

[Mike]

=?



Do it, Maeng! Do it!

[D_Eclipse9916]

Do it, Maeng! Do it!

lol one of my ex-girlfriends had a forrester and even she called it a lesbo mobile. My sister avoided the forrester after I suggested it to her, she as well called it a lesbo mobile.

[Maengelito]

haha, well I'd merely blend in with half of Charlottesville drivers that have Foresters and Outbacks. The other half drive Volvos.

Mikey, I live in Charlottesville, not LA. You've got it all wrong, its more of a flannel and birkenstock wearing, granola eating, hemp purse kinda crowd here.

[Mike]

Those ones are a mixed bag... Super cute and money or super butch and RUN AWAY.

[Steve85]

Those ones are a mixed bag... Super cute and money or super butch and RUN AWAY.

Sorry,....Lesbos or Foresters?

[REED]

edit: damnit, forgot about the price range........carry on

The other half drive Volvos.

uhhhh jackpot!

AWD: check
Manual: Check

[Mike]

Volvo wagons = sex. TOUGH to find in manual.

[ScottyB]

i saw a light blue (lighter than that first one) wagon with gold BBS LM's when i was in atlanta and it was love. lowered, exhaust (mmm turbo 5), sounded like a big turbo. saw it 2 other times and nearly stalked the guy to his house.

not that i'd own one, just saying :lol:

[Maengelito]

I had considered Volvos and Volvo wagons but I feel like they're slightly more expensive and you get slightly less "car" compared to E46's, if that makes any sense. And as Mikey said, they really are tough to find in manual transmission, especially in combination with the AWD. I think the C30s are pretty cool in a quirky way but its built on the Mazda3 chassis and probably costs twice as much. Overall, if I were to buy a Volvo, it'd have to be either pretty new (which isn't going to happen considering comparably priced cars) or pretty old (pre-Ford ownership of Volvo) from the "boxy, but good" era.

No comments regarding the E46 AWD system? Anyone want to enlighten me on what made E30 AWD systems so crappy?