What should I go test drive?

[Evan]

I could get a DSG MKV GTI,... and drive it for a couple years without doing anything else.

without doing anything else.....other than fix it constantly? :lol:

[JustinG]

Don't like XJs, only like WJs.

See:

I have accepted the fact that all the cars I don't like are intelligent, financially responsible, and low-stress ownership experiences, and everything I do like completely sucks balls. It is what it is.

;p

Im pretty sure you are the first, last and only person I have ever met that has said they like a WJ.

WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU?

[Jake]

Im pretty sure you are the first, last and only person I have ever met that has said they like a WJ.

WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU?

Dood. An XJ has all the refinement of the Ranger I'm DDing now... aka, it'd suck to DD long-term, which is what he's going for here.

[JustinG]

The XJ was recommended as a joke

The WJ comment still stands though.....

[SlimKlim]

^ Everything is wrong with me.

I could get a DSG MKV GTI,... and drive it for a couple years without doing anything else.

without doing anything else.....other than fix it constantly? :lol:

Explain please.

I know there was a recall that affected about 50k cars, but before buying one I would run the VIN # to make sure the repairs had been done. Obviously any and every issue that ever happens with that trans is going to be discussed at length on the internet, but no one goes and posts about how good their transmission has been to them. The same thing happens in the BMW world, and results in a lot of owners thinking the reverse drum on their E46 auto trans is going to fail the second it hits 100k, when in reality a small percentage of the cars are actually affected.

http://www.vwgolf.net.au/showthread.php?...y-that-bad

I found a lot of threads with a lot of people having issues, but I think a lot of them are dated and were models involved in the recall.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct-Shif...d_vehicles

It seems like a lot of owners have no issues with them whatsoever, provided they get their fluid changed on time.

:dunno:

[Evan]

no explanation necessary, just playing on VW reliability stereotypes.

i think jayrays has been problem free, but his is still pretty new.

[SlimKlim]

just playing on VW reliability stereotypes.

Helpful.

[.RJ]

Don't like XJs, only like WJs.

See:

I have accepted the fact that all the cars I don't like are intelligent, financially responsible, and low-stress ownership experiences, and everything I do like completely sucks balls. It is what it is.

;p

How much for a ZJ?

[JustinG]

How much for a ZJ?

What's a ZJ?

[SlimKlim]

I think they are the old school Grand Cherokees with the square headlights before they went to the WJ. I know the WJ gets a lot of hate and its "unreliable" compared to other Jeeps, but when I actually read about it "unreliable" was mostly faulty window switches and regulators and weird stuff with the brake light circuits. None of which I find intimidating in anyway, especially in a Jeep with basically free parts.

I'd rock the hell out of a 2002-04 Grand Cherokee Overland but I'm not cool with 13mpg.

[ScottyB]

i think the bigger problem is your budget. the cars you want just require more money to stay in driveable shape. if you want to commute in an aircooled 930 or an E39 M5, you gotta have twice the car's worth to back up the repairs.

wait, save up more, then buy what makes you happy. i doubt the E36 is going to get that much worse in the meantime.

alternatively - do what Channing did and DD a classic. you could probably buy a Tii or an MGB or something for less than the price of your current car, and it'll feel like you're commuting at the speed of sound.

[JustinG]

I think they are the old school Grand Cherokees with the square headlights before they went to the WJ. I know the WJ gets a lot of hate and its "unreliable" compared to other Jeeps, but when I actually read about it "unreliable" was mostly faulty window switches and regulators and weird stuff with the brake light circuits. None of which I find intimidating in anyway, especially in a Jeep with basically free parts.

I'd rock the hell out of a 2002-04 Grand Cherokee Overland but I'm not cool with 13mpg.

I know......

I was referring to the beerfest reference :beer:

[SlimKlim]

i think the bigger problem is your budget. the cars you want just require more money to stay in driveable shape. if you want to commute in an aircooled 930 or an E39 M5, you gotta have twice the car's worth to back up the repairs.

wait, save up more, then buy what makes you happy. i doubt the E36 is going to get that much worse in the meantime.

alternatively - do what Channing did and DD a classic. you could probably buy a Tii or an MGB or something for less than the price of your current car, and it'll feel like you're commuting at the speed of sound.

I could handle the maintenance on a GTI, E46, or probably an Audi even though I'm fairly certain I don't want a car with 18 control arms. The reason I'm looking for a $10k or less car is so I can have a DD with a tiny payment, and a relatively wide cash stream that isn't previously committed to anything. That way on a monthy basis I could decide to do a little something with the M3, or throw a chunk of money at the car loan, or use it to fix the daily (or have it fixed), save it for responsible adult things or spend it all on hookers and blow if I feel like it.

But really, the reason I'm looking for stuff in this price range is so I can do what I want with the M3. If something happens to the daily I can fix it out of my M3 budget and push back some project on that a little bit, nothing will happen fast on it anyway.

Obviously, just because i can doesn't mean I should, and that's why I'm not going to buy the totally awesome E34 M5 with 80k-something miles for sale on Bimmerforums right now. I'm just trying to get my head wrapped around what the reliability of some of these cars really is to get an idea of what I should expect if I bought one them. Not what the stereotypes are or that one thread where the DSG trans fell out of the car in the middle of the night and killed the dude's family.

But as previously discussed, that information is really hard to find because you either have crazed enthusiasts doting over the things or furious owners of broken heaps cursing everything that manufacturer ever made ever to the 6th layer of hell.

And yeah, I could've kept the miata if I wanted to go with the Channing Theory. Driving that bitch on the highway at 55mph felt like a car chase scene in a movie every time.

[ScottyB]

maybe it would be more worth your while at that point to just dump the money into the M3 that's necessary to get it how you want. you could do a ZIPCAR or some kind of rental when the M's down.

i dunno. people like us are all hunting for the same kind of DD that just doesn't exist. its a tough search, but sometimes things fall in your lap...so at least you can bide your time as things pan out.

[Evan]

just playing on VW reliability stereotypes.

Helpful.

stereotypes dont come out of thin air.

If youre keeping your m3 then just buy a mazda3. no brainer.

[G.Irish]

My take is if part of the reason you're buying the car is to have an economical alternative to the M3, then I'd avoid anything that has a history of maintenance issues. One big repair will easily kill any cost savings you might've had. Get something simple and roll with it for awhile. If you get tired of it, you can always sell it and still not be losing too much money.

If you want something German and interesting you've already got the M3, no need for two cars like that. However, maybe the answer for you is to sell the M3 and get the one car that will satisfy all of your automotive urges.

[SlimKlim]

Good point Gerald, selling it has been considered many times but I just don't know if I could bring myself to do it.

Also a good point about one major repair potentially breaking the bank. The answer may very well lie in Mazda3, TSX, TL, or maybe even a really well optioned 04ish Accord with a stick. I've always thought that would be kind of a unique car, blander than creamed wheat from the outside but actually pretty nice when you get in it.

Then again, EVERY used car out of warranty regardless of how reliable it's supposed to be has the potential of requiring a big repair, even Hondas. :dunno:

just playing on VW reliability stereotypes.

Helpful.

stereotypes dont come out of thin air.

If youre keeping your m3 then just buy a mazda3. no brainer.

But it will turn into a pile of rust at 60k miles. Stereotypes right? :wink:

[.RJ]

The newer Accord coupes are pretty sweet. My folks have one with the V6, its nice inside and decently fast, a 4 cyl with 3 pedals ought to be good.

[.RJ]

How much for a ZJ?

What's a ZJ?

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[Jake]

The newer Accord coupes are pretty sweet. My folks have one with the V6, its nice inside and decently fast, a 4 cyl with 3 pedals ought to be good.

You could actually option out a V6 Accord EX with three pedals. There are like 7 of them in existence, but I think they're kinda neat.