My next vehicle purchase - fun vs responsibility vs stupid

[TridenT]

Since my car was stolen a year ago, it has been on the way out. It has 188k, it's a 2000 honda civic ex. It still has getup and go but the AC is broken, the catalytic converter needs to be replaced... blahblahblah. Costs and time to fix the car aren't worth it anymore. Eventually, it will have to go because everything is becoming a hassle with the car. I'm buying time with it right now until I can get the next best thing.

I'm trying to decide on what to get. I've got time but I wouldn't mind deciding now what to get and learning what I need to know before I go out hunting. I'm going to be in the bay area, possibly doing a lot of commuting or possibly none at all. It's up to me!

Budget - $15k but less is better.

What I've been thinking:

E90 BMW 335i (thinkin' 2008). 4-door, can mod with JB4 to get more hp (room to grow, essentially), luxury(can get some nice features!)... Could get a convertible hardtop coupe but I'm unsure. I would like 4-door with moonroof but idk maybe a convertible hardtop would be good too. Hard to find in great condition for $15k but can be done.

E46 BMW M3. 2-doors is annoying, the car would likely be 10 years old at purchase. Just asking for lots of expensive repairs. Tech features would be dated and I'd have to go aftermarket for anything to work with my phone but I'd lose some features from doing that too. But m-power,amirite? $15k will get me one but not a great one.

2010+ Toyota Prius. More cargo room than the rest so far. Practical. Fuel efficient. Possibly economical depending on length of ownership, gas price, and driving use. Relatively environmentally friendly. Good feels. Boring but I ain't getting in much trouble. (Probably, who knows. I manage to with a 15 year old civic)

Prius C. Same as prius but now smaller and less cargo room. So, more practical for parking but not much else?

More complicated options:

Keep car, use it when hauling people or needing to haul things. Buy motorcycle gear. Buy a 250/300. Sell it 3 months later. Buy a 600/899. Sell it some months later. Buy a BMW S1000RR. Become roadkill. Maybe die happy.

I'm not sure on what my overall plan is but I thought it'd be like this: I get a motorcycle, that's my quick fun to go places by myself thing. I own a prius or a pickup truck. That's my get things done and take people places thing. Motorcycle will be bought eventually... And right now I already have a car that does get places and can hold 4 passengers.

Unsure what to do, ATTG. You're my only hope, save me!

 

[PhoKingGuy]

I used to have an E90 335i that was the best car I've ever owned. I would not buy a 15k one that most likely has been beat on unless you can spin your own wrench.

 

[TridenT]

I used to have an E90 335i that was the best car I've ever owned. I would not buy a 15k one that most likely has been beat on unless you can spin your own wrench.

Why don't you have it anymore? Did you ever mod it?

 

[Q]

2000-2004 Mustang GT, easy/cheap to mod, reliable, can get one for low(er) miles for under $15k.

 

[xSkyDrAx]

Miata
Is
Always
The
Answer

 

[TridenT]

2000-2004 Mustang GT, easy/cheap to mod, reliable, can get one for low(er) miles for under $15k.

I don't feel like having a mustang. :/

Miata
Is
Always
The
Answer

May as well get a literbike at that point. It's more practical than a miata in the bay area...

 

[AMCRambler]

I don't feel like having a mustang. :/



May as well get a literbike at that point. It's more practical than a miata in the bay area...

Did someone say "Literbike"?!?!? Cue JM in 5...4...3...2...

 

[TridenT]

Did someone say "Literbike"?!?!? Cue JM in 5...4...3...2...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2j6NirzDSKM What's not to like? (It is a long video and takes a while to get to the lulz parts)

 

[McLovin]

"removed"



Posting such pics as this in the garage is not allowed...

AT Moderator
Bartman39

 

[jagec]

Miata
Is
Always
The
Answer

The 2016 won't be out for at least a few months, and do you really want to buy the old, heavy one at this point?

That said, I bet that 2015 Miatas get some pretty serious discounting once the new metal is here.

 

[TridenT]

The 2016 won't be out for at least a few months, and do you really want to buy the old, heavy one at this point?

That said, I bet that 2015 Miatas get some pretty serious discounting once the new metal is here.

A new miata is also going to be well over the $15k budget...

 

[xSkyDrAx]

The 2016 won't be out for at least a few months, and do you really want to buy the old, heavy one at this point?

That said, I bet that 2015 Miatas get some pretty serious discounting once the new metal is here.

It was only a half-serious suggestion as the options OP provided were also only half serious.

From high maintenance used luxury cars to a prius to some plan of progressing to a big ass bike in a year lol does not seem too well thought out, plus it's Trident.... :hmm:

With that said I agree that the NC miatas will hopefully get a nice price drop once the ND start's going on sale. :thumbsup:

 

[slugg]

Honestly, I really dig the Prius C. On paper, it's kinda stupid, but I checked them out in person and they were pretty damn cool. Unfortunately, they're not available in stick, which is a total deal breaker for me, but probably not for you. In person, they look great and definitely have a cool look and feel on the inside, which feels bigger than it looks.

On the stupidity side of things, there are just so many choices. A Mustang is cheap speed with cheap repairs and a cheap interior. While they're not necessarily my cup of tea, 90% of the people I've ever met with a Mustang have purchased at least another one some time in their lives. I think that says a lot about the car.

BMWs are fantastic to drive, but repairs start becoming very frequent. In my experience, I didn't have any crazy costly repairs like a lot of people report, but it was just one thing after another after another. Unless you have a ton of time on your hands and/or deep pockets, I wouldn't go with it. I only have the time and money for one girlfriend.

Alas, the most fun I've ever had with a car was my 2002 Mazda Protege. It handled really well and I loved driving it, but it was also a complete beater, which made it even better! I had ZERO worries about the car. I'd go into Walmart parking lots and bump shopping carts out of my parking space because I simply did not care. And it was glorious. I loved that car.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I don't feel like having a mustang. :/



May as well get a literbike at that point. It's more practical than a miata in the bay area...

I think a literbike (if you don't know what a literbike is, it is basically any Harley over 61 cubic inches in displacement) is an excellent choice for someone who has no experience whatsoever riding motorcycles and even better just jumping in and making it a daily driver... what could go wrong?

 

[Greenman]

I think a literbike (if you don't know what a literbike is, it is basically any Harley over 61 cubic inches in displacement) is an excellent choice for someone who has no experience whatsoever riding motorcycles and even better just jumping in and making it a daily driver... what could go wrong?

The lad couldn't get a Harley off the kickstand, nor have the hand strength to pull in the clutch. Other than that, I think you're right on track here.

 

[TridenT]

I think a literbike (if you don't know what a literbike is, it is basically any Harley over 61 cubic inches in displacement) is an excellent choice for someone who has no experience whatsoever riding motorcycles and even better just jumping in and making it a daily driver... what could go wrong?

I already said the path I'd go. It wouldn't be my first bike. It'd be my third.

 

[Mermaidman]

Costs and time to fix the car aren't worth it anymore. Eventually, it will have to go because everything is becoming a hassle with the car. I'm buying time with it right now until I can get the next best thing.

If you're getting rid of your car for those reasons, then your next car shouldn't be a used German luxury car. Get the medium Prius. The Prius's fuel economy and cargo capacity will be great for your vagabond ways.

 

[TridenT]

If you're getting rid of your car for those reasons, then your next car shouldn't be a used German luxury car. Get the medium Prius. The Prius's fuel economy and cargo capacity will be great for your vagabond ways.

Prius is what I'll likely get. I'll probably buy a 250->600->1000 along the way. I'd really like to have a truck for maximum practicality in hauling shit and getting stuff done but I can't see myself driving one here in SV unless I had the motorcycle already. (Just because a truck is so large and fuel efficient)

The reason I don't like the car I have right now is because the value of the car vs the cost of the repairs makes it not worth while. The car is worth maybe $2000 if everything was repaired. However, the repairs would cost about $900 in just parts. (AC components, CA legal cat, etc.)

 

[Wuzup101]

Since you just started working, I would suggest you do yourself a favor and skip the bimmer for like 2 years until you are better established. However, if you do want to go the bimmer route, I would consider an e46 330i ZHP. They come in both coupe and sedan variants and have a slick 6 speed manual (I believe that an automatic was also an option but get the manual). They had a few extra hp over the standard 330i and shorter gearing for better acceleration (they also have quite a few visual mods from the m parts bin). They are amazingly fun to drive and will be cheaper to buy than a e46 m3 by quite a bit... and cheaper to maintain by quite a bit. They should also be a bit more reliable than an early N54 e9x.

Or honda fit / ford fiesta.

 

[heymrdj]

Honestly, I really dig the Prius C. On paper, it's kinda stupid, but I checked them out in person and they were pretty damn cool. Unfortunately, they're not available in stick, which is a total deal breaker for me, but probably not for you. In person, they look great and definitely have a cool look and feel on the inside, which feels bigger than it looks.

On the stupidity side of things, there are just so many choices. A Mustang is cheap speed with cheap repairs and a cheap interior. While they're not necessarily my cup of tea, 90% of the people I've ever met with a Mustang have purchased at least another one some time in their lives. I think that says a lot about the car.

BMWs are fantastic to drive, but repairs start becoming very frequent. In my experience, I didn't have any crazy costly repairs like a lot of people report, but it was just one thing after another after another. Unless you have a ton of time on your hands and/or deep pockets, I wouldn't go with it. I only have the time and money for one girlfriend.

Alas, the most fun I've ever had with a car was my 2002 Mazda Protege. It handled really well and I loved driving it, but it was also a complete beater, which made it even better! I had ZERO worries about the car. I'd go into Walmart parking lots and bump shopping carts out of my parking space because I simply did not care. And it was glorious. I loved that car.

The Prius C's are great, and I kinda still wish I had gotten one instead of my Fiesta. Two nagging things for me were the horribly cheap interior, and the battery cooling fan intake in the back hatch. Lots of stories on the Prius forums of bags and things blocking the intake and shutting off the hybrid system. My fiesta is pretty much always full between work and play back there, I was worried it would become an issue.

 

[Topweasel]

Honestly, I really dig the Prius C. On paper, it's kinda stupid, but I checked them out in person and they were pretty damn cool. Unfortunately, they're not available in stick, which is a total deal breaker for me, but probably not for you. In person, they look great and definitely have a cool look and feel on the inside, which feels bigger than it looks.

On the stupidity side of things, there are just so many choices. A Mustang is cheap speed with cheap repairs and a cheap interior. While they're not necessarily my cup of tea, 90% of the people I've ever met with a Mustang have purchased at least another one some time in their lives. I think that says a lot about the car.

BMWs are fantastic to drive, but repairs start becoming very frequent. In my experience, I didn't have any crazy costly repairs like a lot of people report, but it was just one thing after another after another. Unless you have a ton of time on your hands and/or deep pockets, I wouldn't go with it. I only have the time and money for one girlfriend.

Alas, the most fun I've ever had with a car was my 2002 Mazda Protege. It handled really well and I loved driving it, but it was also a complete beater, which made it even better! I had ZERO worries about the car. I'd go into Walmart parking lots and bump shopping carts out of my parking space because I simply did not care. And it was glorious. I loved that car.

I am sorry but is there a such thing as a Hybrid or electrical with a manual? That seems like an impossible not to hit this "deal breaker".

 

[michal1980]

I am sorry but is there a such thing as a Hybrid or electrical with a manual? That seems like an impossible not to hit this "deal breaker".

cr-z.

old insight?

 

[ViviTheMage]

I used to have an E90 335i that was the best car I've ever owned. I would not buy a 15k one that most likely has been beat on unless you can spin your own wrench.

I had a 09 335i with xdrive, loved it ... but man, I was always worried about dem turbos, haha. I had it about 2 years.

I also had a 2010 135i, loved it, thing was a rocket. I was less worried with that car for some reason, shrug.

I'd get them both again if everything lined up.

 

[LevelSea]

Anything in the Ford Panther platform. I'd recommend the 1978 Ford Country Squire, so when you inevitably are living under a bridge, you can sleep and whore yourself in the back.

 

[TridenT]

Since you just started working, I would suggest you do yourself a favor and skip the bimmer for like 2 years until you are better established. However, if you do want to go the bimmer route, I would consider an e46 330i ZHP. They come in both coupe and sedan variants and have a slick 6 speed manual (I believe that an automatic was also an option but get the manual). They had a few extra hp over the standard 330i and shorter gearing for better acceleration (they also have quite a few visual mods from the m parts bin). They are amazingly fun to drive and will be cheaper to buy than a e46 m3 by quite a bit... and cheaper to maintain by quite a bit. They should also be a bit more reliable than an early N54 e9x.

Or honda fit / ford fiesta.

I don't think I have much interest in a manual gearbox these days. My experience driving manuals has never been pleasant. I'm not particularly into how much force pretty much every clutch pedal takes to operate. (It's just too much for comfortable driving) I'm also going to be in the bay area and in SF a lot. (stop and go traffic, stop and go traffic on hills...) I don't feel like riding the clutch as it gets exhausting and tiring.

A motorcycle will be different. Some of the clutches on them are easy to operate. (Some are definitely not... and I'll avoid those) Eventually, with something like the new 2015 S1000RR I won't have to use a clutch much. (Steps up and down for you with the shifter)