02-24-2015, 02:46 PM
As someone who has owned one, I still think an E30/E36/E46 is a pretty bad idea.
They are "reliable" cars in the sense that if buy one and overhaul the cooling system and suspension you probably won't have any major issues, or you can pay a premium for one that has been well taken care of, but you're still going to need to have cash/time on hand to keep up with any future issues that arise.
Like someone said earlier, if you don't worry about the little things and just drive it into the ground they become "more reliable," but that's true of anything. Seems like a better idea to drive an N/A Honda or Mazda into the ground than a BMW with self-dissolving gaskets and factory water pumps with built in grenades. :dunno:
I guess it really means what your personal definition of reliable is. Ifyou need a car that has the highest probability of requiring only regular maintenance during the time he own it then go with something Japanese and dead simple. Miata, Mazda3, CivTegLude, etc.
If he doesn't mind having to throw a part at it from time to time, then your options really open up, and maybe an E30/36/46 or something with a turbo isn't such a terrible idea.
Whatever you do decide to buy, like Sully said earlier, make sure you get a clean example. It's better to pay $5k for a car that retails around $5k and get a good, well maintained, lower mileage example. It'll cost you far less in the long run than something that typically goes for $8k but you found one for the deal of a century at $5k. They're usually cheap for a reason.
Case in point I paid $7k for my M3 back when typical market value for a nice one was closer to $10k. I've now spent like... wayyyyyy more than the car is worth on it. I wonder how much better off I'd be now if I had spent $10k for a well maintained one from an enthusiast seller.
EDIT: Also never spend your max budget. If you're holding $5k cash spend $4k on the car. There will always be something you need or want to do on a car right after you buy it, and it's good to have some cash left over. And if you end up not needing to do any repairs after a while, you have some pocket money for nice tires or new shocks or brake pads to liven it up a bit.
They are "reliable" cars in the sense that if buy one and overhaul the cooling system and suspension you probably won't have any major issues, or you can pay a premium for one that has been well taken care of, but you're still going to need to have cash/time on hand to keep up with any future issues that arise.
Like someone said earlier, if you don't worry about the little things and just drive it into the ground they become "more reliable," but that's true of anything. Seems like a better idea to drive an N/A Honda or Mazda into the ground than a BMW with self-dissolving gaskets and factory water pumps with built in grenades. :dunno:
I guess it really means what your personal definition of reliable is. Ifyou need a car that has the highest probability of requiring only regular maintenance during the time he own it then go with something Japanese and dead simple. Miata, Mazda3, CivTegLude, etc.
If he doesn't mind having to throw a part at it from time to time, then your options really open up, and maybe an E30/36/46 or something with a turbo isn't such a terrible idea.
Whatever you do decide to buy, like Sully said earlier, make sure you get a clean example. It's better to pay $5k for a car that retails around $5k and get a good, well maintained, lower mileage example. It'll cost you far less in the long run than something that typically goes for $8k but you found one for the deal of a century at $5k. They're usually cheap for a reason.
Case in point I paid $7k for my M3 back when typical market value for a nice one was closer to $10k. I've now spent like... wayyyyyy more than the car is worth on it. I wonder how much better off I'd be now if I had spent $10k for a well maintained one from an enthusiast seller.
EDIT: Also never spend your max budget. If you're holding $5k cash spend $4k on the car. There will always be something you need or want to do on a car right after you buy it, and it's good to have some cash left over. And if you end up not needing to do any repairs after a while, you have some pocket money for nice tires or new shocks or brake pads to liven it up a bit.
Now: 07 Porsche Cayman S | 18 VW Tiguan
Then: 18 VW GTI Autobahn | 95 BMW M3 | 15 VW GTI SE | 12 Kia Optima SX | 2009 VW GTI | 00 BMW 540i Sport | 90 Mazda Miata | 94 Yamaha FZR600R | 1993 Suzuki GS500E | 2003 BMW 325i | 95 Saab 900S