Help me spend my money!

[ViPER1313]

540i 6-speed ungodly high miles but cheap - <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/2235870075.html">http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/2235870075.html</a><!-- m -->

[WRXtranceformed]

You should buy DJ's mom's ballin Mercedes wagon and use the rest of the money to do an MT swap and something fun to the engine

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[ViPER1313]

You should buy DJ's mom's ballin Mercedes wagon and use the rest of the money to do an MT swap and something fun to the engine

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=9585

+1, or just leave it stock and rock the 80s luxury.

[ScottyB]

+2 on the mercwagon. it's really perfect for your intended use. that was a great time period for Mercedes.

others that aren't E36's:
integra gs/gs-r
crown vic P-71 interceptor
protege MP3/P5/mazdaspeed protege

[JustinG]

Turbo + Manual = Win!

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct...page=thumb

[D_Eclipse9916]

VW/Audi scare me with electrical stuff.

I haven't really done much research, but I hear the diesels are better about some of that. You could get a 5-spd '03 or '04 TDI Jetta or Golf in your price range. Interiors look decent, and 45+ MPG might help make up for the lack of power and wrong-wheel-drive. I'm not a FWD fan either, but we do have winter around here and it is a DD....

I need to drive one, maybe too boring for you, but I sure have been thinking about them recently... :dunno:

BTW good luck finding an E36 with interior not falling apart.

My E36 was the only one ive ever seen that the interior was not falling apart, didnt have any squeaks or rattles and even the door panels were not falling out. I then rippped it all apart :lol:

5-6 grand? Limiting yourself, anything really nice will have a crapton of miles. Anything in there that is fun....will have a ton of miles. Your graduating....why dont you wait 5-6 months and get 10 grand together and get an exponentially nicer car?

[Goodspeed]

I'm surprised this thread is still going after the needle-in-a-haystack, lower mileage, manual SC300 I posted. BUY IT.

[D_Eclipse9916]

PS- I hate to see it, but Adam's SHO was 99% as fast (in a straightline), but 100X more comfortable than a goddamn e36. I hated my e36 around town. I loved my lexus SC, but its a big ass boat, and the coupe is a really limiting factor compared to a sedan.

Since the obvious have been said...ive always liked for some reason earlier Subaru Legacy....especially with their optional BBS Wheels and in red. Like this, except with the gold bbs wheels, and in manual. Find em all day around 100k for 5k. And the legacy wont be an abused POS like most GC8 imprezas are now.
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[ScottyB]

that one's still in the "original HG is a time bomb" MY range. they aren't that luxurious either, although they ride nice.

[Jake]

I like those Legacy's a lot. Especially (only) with those wheels. I'll have to do a search on the HG issues. Don't know much at all about older Subies.

And I have seen other E36's with good interiors... Just have to be patient. I know they don't age too well if not cared for, but I think they're comfortable enough.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BLINGMW]

I really don't think it matters if they're cared for or not. The glue fails, the clips break. I imagine this is accelerated by being kept outside, maybe garage kept helps, but I think it's an inevitability for these cars. I found a 318ti with a nice interior, now it's 1 yr later and my headliner's torn away and door panels ripping off, and it's been in the garage.

Fortunately my plastic cooling system hasn't given up yet....

[ViPER1313]

SHO interiors don't fall to pieces when someone looks at them wrong, and they are way cheaper than E36s :thumbup:

[CaptainHenreh]

Sounds like you have made your decision...what is in the water down there?

Am I the only person who isn't impressed by the E36? I mean, it's ok I guess but it's nothing I mumble about in my sleep...

[ScottyB]

Am I the only person who isn't impressed by the E36?

i like 'em, and respect what they can do but there are alot of cars out there that I'd want just as much or more.

[WRXtranceformed]

I wouldn't touch a newer BMW out of warranty, you wouldn't catch me thinking twice about driving and maintaining an old ass model.

[Mike]

SHO interiors don't fall to pieces when someone looks at them wrong, and they are way cheaper than E36s :thumbup:

because they come prebusted from the factory.

[Apoc]

SHO interiors don't fall to pieces when someone looks at them wrong, and they are way cheaper than E36s :thumbup:

because they come prebusted from the factory.

[ViPER1313]

SHO interiors don't fall to pieces when someone looks at them wrong, and they are way cheaper than E36s :thumbup:

because they come prebusted from the factory.

Haters gonna hate :bootyshake: .

Jake - it does sound like you are pretty dead set on an E36, but out of all the other possible cars in the price range, which ones actually interest you? Are you interested in spending under your budget and fixing up a car with the remainder, or spending over the budget to get something nicer? Are you leaning more towards luxury or sporting ability? Sports cars don't make great luxury cars, and the reverse is true as well.

[Jake]

Jake - it does sound like you are pretty dead set on an E36, but out of all the other possible cars in the price range, which ones actually interest you? Are you interested in spending under your budget and fixing up a car with the remainder, or spending over the budget to get something nicer? Are you leaning more towards luxury or sporting ability? Sports cars don't make great luxury cars, and the reverse is true as well.

Out of what's been mentioned and in my budget... the most interesting to me are the E36 and the older Legacys that DJ brought up.

I don't mind spending less and doing some minor work. I'm expecting to re-do the audio system. Don't mind doing a saggy headliner. Little things are fine. What I don't want is the "buy DJ's Mom's wagon and do a 5-speed swap" ideas. No time for that sort of project -- I'm looking for a relatively turn-key purchase.

That said, I'd be fine with waiting a little bit, saving a little more and looking at slightly newer and nicer. The two standouts for the "a little more" category are the E46 330i and (surprise?) Volvo S60 Type-R.

Keep in mind that coming from a first-gen Miata, my definition of "luxury" is pretty rudimentary. To have heated leather seats, power locks, stock suspension and a relative lack of wind/engine noise is a great start.

[BLINGMW]

To have heated leather seats...

I remember when I used to think of leather seats as something I would want... Could someone explain to me why anyone would want them in a used car? Dead skin is a stupid material to use in a seat that is designed to hold you in place while being exposed to extreme temperatures and sunlight. A leather couch? Sure fine, it's inside and you might *sit* naked on it or wallow about in comfort. But in a car, I would greatly prefer a high quality fabric, be it a race car or a luxo cruiser. Leather only has perceived value because of the status attached to it. Maybe it makes sense in the back of a limo. And somehow it is still seen as a plus in a 10 year old front bucket seat when it's cracking and dried out. Amazing. :dunno: