Well I should hear word from my insurance company reagrding the payoff of my car. My birthday is coming up on October 14th, and I want to have a car by then. I have set my budget cap at $11k, no more! Some of you know what I REALLY plan to get, but I want input of other cars. Currently I have a one track mind for an E36 M3. I have ALWAYS wanted one, and I plan to keep it FOREVER. I have located the one I want:naughty: The biggest thing that I wish my WRX had was a sunroof! With that said, throw me some ideas of good cars that are: $11k or less 97 or newer Sunroof Reliable Sporty Kinda Luxury/performance balanced Safe Sexy, lol. Also, I plan to keep the car forever. The E36 M3 is the benchmark for this purchase.
That Mercedes is a ticking time bomb. It's a 1995 E320 w/ 240k on the clock. It leaks oil and coolant, plus the drivers window doesnt roll up. Im driving it now and almost pass out from the oil fumes. I can pay a $220/month car note. It is WAYYY less than the note on my bugeye. I was considering another bugeye, or even an STi. I dont like the S2k enough to buy. The M3 owns it, lol.
Audi was in my mental list also. I have to look into vdubs more. I really like the R32, but I doubt they are $11k, lol.
Bugeye with aftermarket sunroof FTW! I went through all of these same decisions when I bought mine. The problem is that everything I liked more was more $ and I wasn't willing to pay. An 02-03 was the best overall option for me given my criteria.
r32s are around 20K for a beat down one. because they only made the good ones for one year, they're holding value. I love those, but not for that much $ and a HORRID repair costs. Besides, a MK4 GTi 1.8t is just about as fast. An 3rd gen Audi A4 1.8t quattro 5spd would be hottttt... but, it's practically a bugeye that costs more to repair/modify. If I didn't care about resale value, I'd buy an OLD 2 door 325is and completely restore it with high-end/M parts. Make it show quality... but you can dump 30K on one of those and it's still only worth 10K, so I haven't.
IS300, A4, and a 3-series BMW would all be ones I'd be looking into. Or a 2004 WRX when a sunroof is in fact an option.
EG chasis civic with a KA20 swap. Cheap, reliable and fuel efficient. Get one with a sunroof. Not super sexy, but I don't know what you are going to find for $11k. Good Luck!
Stick with the E36. I test drove one the same time I test drove a bugeye. I liked it but it wasn't too much faster (easily make that up in the wrx) and cost WAY more insurance wise...like twice as much. Or maybe a S4?
You can't really do much better reliability wise, support wise, performance wise than the suby. I would personally try to find a 2000RS. It will fit your budget and then some and insurance I would assume would be decent. Outside of suby I like the older is300's.
I have a 1999 M3 waiting for me to sign off on. Audi's are definitely an option. No Honda's! IS300's always looked funny to me. Thanks for the input guys!
You should get an E30 m3. Almost twenty years old and a decent one will cost you all 11k but they are the sexiest m3. Beyond that I like the S4 but the back seat is almost unusable. I fould by bug eye for $8500 in Ohio. That is $169 a month for 5 years so you could get back into one if you wanted.
I think the M3 is a great idea. They're generally reliable cars. They sound AWESOME with the right exhaust too. Good luck man!
As for now my mind is set on an Audi A4 B6. For $10k-$12k, its a great car. Not sure if I am going 1.8t for boost, or 3.0V6 for raw NA (maybe a poopercharger). I shall return to Subaru land in a few years, maybe sooner!
Get the 1.8T then PM me if you need any parts for it. My B6 A4 Stage II was much faster than the 3.0 V6. The stage III kits are monsters.
Will do! I am shopping for a good one now. It is the closest car to WRX that I actually like. I was hunting an STi, but I REALLY do not like the insurance quotes or the payments right now.
i know its a 95 but http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.j...oors=&transmission=&max_price=12000&cardist=7
2002-2005 models. I really want one PERIOD. Banks are not financing cars Pre 2002 in many cases. Personal loans are on hold w/o collateral! So in a nutshell my E36 M3 dreams are slowly dwindling. ECONOMY FTL!!! My credit union is reviewing one last M3 for me. It is a 99 w/ 85k miles! It meets all the criteria, execpt the year!!!!! CRAP!!!! I am buying a car after my birthday on Tuesday. We shall see what the outcome is.
screw the A4 how bout this, my buddy is a Vdub masta and he picked up the puppy for real cheap cause the guy could not afford to pay the labor. here are some pics PM yo # if interested EDIT info and prices below below, below this one yo lol Damn I am bored at work today.
check out Georgia's Own Credit Union, they were great when I needed a auto loan. and it was at only 2.99% apr... good luck.
Yo T, here is more info on the vdub I posted. 123K, 7k w/wheels 6K w/o wheels. all of this stuff has < 100mi, I can vouch for this dude being an excellent VW tech. Timing belt (all tensioners and rollers were replaced as well) Water pump New serpantine belts and its tensioner Major service (oil filter and change, plugs, fuel filter, air filter, cabin filter, and injection service) cam shaft gasket valve cover gasket crank case breather coolant flange with temp sender all front control arms upper and lower with tie rod ends alignment UPGRADES: upsolute performance chip forged diverter valve (adjustable) Neuspeed sport springs with a 1.5 drop tinted windows Blacked out headlights Badgeless grille Smoked side markers Smoked tail lights Brand New 18" Audi RS6 style wheels with cooper 235/40/18
i saw a 06 sti at the vw dealership on cobb parkway with a sun roof. thats the first one that i have ever seen.
Well, just got off the phone with Georgia's Own Credit Union. Any car 2001 and older, AND under 100k miles, will only be financed for 24 months. That makes a good E36 M3 damn near $600 a month! I never even got a chance to run my GOOD credit. Freaking economy! BUT....I do get under 3% on a used vehicle 2002 and newer, lol.
Found one in Marietta at Global BMW. Going to test drive it Saturday if the weather permits. Me no likey Nissans Didn't we discuss the notion of NO CAR PAYMENT OVER $300 :fawk: Plus, all the ones under $18k are freaking blue. No more blue!!!!
Imho used cars like that are a money sink. If your short of cash might as well get something nice, and reliable. Plenty of cars like that for under 12k Actually, i got my sister an Alitima back in 2005 for 273 a month with 2k down. a NEW one!
Thats awesome! I may go shopping. The E36 M3 was a car that I ALWAYS wanted, but never got. Thats why I really wanted it. So for now, any clean, kinda luxury (german or japanese) car under $12k is what I am hunting. Thanks for all the help guys.
hey T I got an idea, take a loan out against the banana (has a clear title and is an 02) then buy what ever you want.
Damnit man, I can't decide on crap! I find something that I like, then I fall asleep only to awaken with a changed mind! I can't wait for the day that I have an overflow of $$. I am buying one of every car, lol.