WTF should I buy (A consolidated list of bad decisions)

[JustinG]

Had no idea a base Fiesta ST was that cheap.

That's the answer.

[Senor_Taylor]

At the Ford Dealership a few weeks ago, the sales person was trying to push us on a Focus ST1 For like 18-19 out the door after everything.

I have a feeling his parents aren't going to bite on anything with less than 4 seats or as small as a fiesta.

I think a Focus is perfect if he can ignore the awful interior.

[ryangreen1]

All DI motors, N55 included, will have carbon build up on the intake ports over time.  Figure a $400-600 cleaning every 30-60k.

The older (N54) motors had issues with the fuel system, turbos leaking, and were generally more prone to issues and BMW extended the warranty on some parts.  The N55's seem more reliable.  All newer BMW's have electric water pumps that will shit the bed somewhere around 60-80k, budget $1000 to replace.  My 135 has been trouble free, but I've only put 8k miles on it.

If maintenance and cost of ownership is an issue, you may be barking up the wrong tree here unless you have the budget for a CPO car.

sorry, but forget German cars.  in your price range, and age, best of luck to you if you want to try.  VW is even a stretch.  


ultimately came to realize it gave me anxiety whenever i drove it because i was subconsciously waiting for the next link in the chain that would break. 

The funny thing is my parents seriously want me in a German luxury car because its more "professional" and "grown up". Honestly that maintenance doesn't seem too bad for German car and if its just little things other than that I can definitely live with it. But that's how I feel about the forester just waiting for something bad to happen. Can you still even get an e92 CPO or are they too old now?

Too bad there's currently 1 manual coupe 335i with less than 75k miles for sale on autotrader and it has the terrible red interior. There's plenty of hard top convertibles, whats the major difference between those and a coupe? Less trunk space? Heavier?

5.0 mustang

SS Camaro

BRZ/FRS

Z4

NC Miata

I've driven a last gen camaro and didn't really like how huge it felt for a 2 door car, and not being able to see literally anything out of it. Z4 would be interesting but I really would like back seats. I would keep a BRZ stock for all of 2 weeks, and my parents say I need to "grown up" and stop putting exhausts and lowering everything. Only miata I'd every buy is a NA, don't think the NB or NC look good.

I’m going to ignore all your criteria and suggest a brand new Fiesta ST (can be had in the 16k range) or Focus ST (18 to 19k). Both fall roughly into your budget, are plenty fast, and have a warranty.

At the Ford Dealership a few weeks ago, the sales person was trying to push us on a Focus ST1 For like 18-19 out the door after everything. 

I have a feeling his parents aren't going to bite on anything with less than 4 seats or as small as a fiesta. 

I think a Focus is perfect if he can ignore the awful interior.

Either a new or CPO Focus is 100% the best decision I could make, but you're talking to the person who put gold rims on and slammed a mom van. My friend just got a brand new Focus ST and its really nice and pretty quick. Y'all have way higher standards for interior than me cause it seemed really good, especially the seats, and I think a C5 corvette interior is pretty solid.

[Senor_Taylor]

Yeah, don't get me wrong, the ST has a better interior than anything I've owned, but I think standards are relative to what you're spending. I don't even think the ST1 has heated seats and it has the tiny little infotainment system. Read up on the different trims because you're not going to get the ST2 or ST3 for as good of a price.

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[ViPER1313]

There has to be a meme here somewhere. Selling a Subaru with a small oil leak “because it’s unreliable and going to kill me in maintenance costs” and looking at German luxury cars is like saying you can’t afford to smoke weed then diving head first into a heroin addiction.

[ryangreen1]

There has to be a meme here somewhere. Selling a Subaru with a small oil leak “because it’s unreliable and going to kill me in maintenance costs” and looking at German luxury cars is like saying you can’t afford to smoke weed then diving head first into a heroin addiction.

Seriously. They just really want me to sell my "race car" that they say I ruined with the mods and get literally anything else. Its their money so I'm really lucky with whatever I can talk them in to.

[.RJ]

The funny thing is my parents seriously want me in a German luxury car because its more "professional" and "grown up". Honestly that maintenance doesn't seem too bad for German car and if its just little things other than that I can definitely live with it. But that's how I feel about the forester just waiting for something bad to happen. Can you still even get an e92 CPO or are they too old now?

Too bad there's currently 1 manual coupe 335i with less than 75k miles for sale on autotrader and it has the terrible red interior. There's plenty of hard top convertibles, whats the major difference between those and a coupe? Less trunk space? Heavier?

You dont want a hardtop convertible.  Lots of motors and pumps and more shit to go wrong.

The BMW red interior is fucking pimp, I will fight anyone that disagrees with me.  As far as appearances, I dont know what to tell you there.  Most everyone around here driving around in off-lease base model 3-series are driving the most basic shit you can buy with a propeller on the hood, DGAF about cars or driving and only the appearance of what's sitting in the driveway and its terrible.  I apologize that you have to be lumped into that crowd.  I dont think you can get CPO cars, but if you buy from a dealer you can negotiate in an aftermarket extended warranty.  Some are good, and some arent worth the paper they're written on.  Either way, any E9x car that sees 8-10k miles a year if you're not turning your own wrenches you should expect anywhere from $1000-2000/year in maintenance and upkeep.  The car I bought got about $3k (retail shop prices) of work when it was sent out the door and its cost me a fair bit out of pocket since (battery, belt tensioner, coils & plugs).

Hell, you can lease a brand new Civic Si 4 door/6-speed for $199/mo, too, if you're really hung up on having something newer, presentable and warrantied.

[ViPER1313]

To echo RJ, buying a car for appearances is BS. As a car guy I respect someone who bought a Toyota Sienna more than someone who leased a 320i. At least he or she bought something practical and not an overpriced econobox trying to appear like he or she has money.

[.RJ]

To echo RJ, buying a car for appearances is BS. As a car guy I respect someone who bought a Toyota Sienna more than someone who leased a 320i. At least he or she bought something practical and not an overpriced econobox trying to appear like he or she has money.

Every day my position that humans generally make terrible decisions founded in emotion and confirmation rather than logic and data is reinforced.

[ScottyB]

because its more "professional" and "grown up".

that's a shame. any possibility you can tell your parents "yeah nah i'm good" and just buy a car with your own money that you like? i'm not saying a slammed forester wouldn't look a bit odd in the parking lot of certain businesses, but i don't think you really want the approval of the kind of people that would look down their nose at you for it.

CPO BMW is your only option if you want one, and that's probably either $$ or high mileage. otherwise as RJ said you're looking at about $1500/yr in upkeep to keep your parents happy about its reliability.

Every day my position that humans generally make terrible decisions founded in emotion and confirmation rather than logic and data is reinforced.

i mean this is car enthusiasts in general right? we're all uniquely retarded when we can't just drive a camry and get on with life. i've learned to embrace it.

[Apoc]

Yeah... why would anyone buy anything because they like the way it looks?? Idiots!

[ryangreen1]

Most everyone around here driving around in off-lease base model 3-series are driving the most basic shit you can buy with a propeller on the hood, DGAF about cars or driving and only the appearance of what's sitting in the driveway and its terrible.  I apologize that you have to be lumped into that crowd.  I dont think you can get CPO cars, but if you buy from a dealer you can negotiate in an aftermarket extended warranty.  Some are good, and some arent worth the paper they're written on.  

To echo RJ, buying a car for appearances is BS. As a car guy I respect someone who bought a Toyota Sienna more than someone who leased a 320i. At least he or she bought something practical and not an overpriced econobox trying to appear like he or she has money.

Yea I'll just get another corolla before I get a base model BMW thats a slightly nicer econobox for twice the money. I couldn't care less about the brand name. Aftermarket warranty saved me 2 grand on the forester when the turbo blew, so if that's an option on whatever I want to buy I'll do some research on it.

that's a shame.  any possibility you can tell your parents "yeah nah i'm good" and just buy a car with your own money that you like?  i'm not saying a slammed forester wouldn't look a bit odd in the parking lot of certain businesses, but i don't think you really want the approval of the kind of people that would look down their nose at you for it.

Idgaf what people think about my car since most people hate it anyway, including one of my best friends. Everyone in my parents neighborhood owns a new white crew cab Colorado and new white Tahoe, while the wives drive base model leased German cars so that's how they think.
I wish I could just buy something with my own money, but I'm in pharmacy school which is basically a full time job I have to pay a ton to work, and don't have much time to work an actual job so I don't have too much money saved up. Definitely not complaining about whatever I end up in because its a way better situation than most people, I'd just like to find a nice middle ground in something I'd enjoy.

[.RJ]

Yeah... why would anyone buy anything because they like the way it looks?? Idiots!

the difference is buying what you think someone else thinks looks good.

I think we've beaten this one up pretty good buy now.  Looking forward to what you end up in, so many good car choices now.

[ViPER1313]

What happened to the old MM? That MM would suggest buying 5 old Merkurs or a field of E30s.

I miss that MM.

[Senor_Taylor]

I'll buy a field of E30s. Where's Chan?

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[Jake]

If it's any consolation, I want to buy an old school bus and make it the ultimate towing/camping/partying/whatevering machine.

[ryangreen1]

They got old and responsible and started recommending CX-3s to anyone who would listen

[WRXtranceformed]

This forum has always been like a financial AA meeting, where everyone is passing around a secret bottle of booze

[Apoc]

They got old and responsible and started recommending CX-3s to anyone who would listen

hashtagnailedit

[.RJ]

I thought it was CX-5's?

Clearly I havent been reformed yet, as I'm hovering over the 'bid now' button on a Porsche 968.