Thinking of trading my Z4 in for a F150

[TechBoyJK]

I've had a 2004 BMW Z4 since mid 07. I bought it with 19,000 miles on it, and it now has 65,000. While the factory warranty expired about a year ago, I have until October of 2010 for the CPO warranty.

While I absolutely love driving it, I don't look forward to dealing with problems on the car after it is out of warranty. I just don't want to throw any more money at it. So I'm either going to trade up for a newer z4, or get a truck.

I owe about 19,000 on the car yet, and I'd get about 18,000 in trade. Maybe less.

Here is the truck I found that matches what I want. I don't really want to buy a more expensive car until I get some other financial things settled.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.j...mission=&max_price=&cardist=19&standard=false

 

[ayabe]

Looks like you clock some serious miles, I think the F150 is going to eat your bank account for lunch just in gas.

You've got another year on your CPO, I'd use that time to slam down the principle on your loan.

 

[TechBoyJK]

Looks like you clock some serious miles, I think the F150 is going to eat your bank account for lunch just in gas.

You've got another year on your CPO, I'd use that time to slam down the principle on your loan.

Well.. alot of those miles come from driving the car just to be driving a z4. The novelty has kinda worn off, and now I have a very impractical daily driver. That and its useless in the winter. For the last 2 years, I lived within a few blocks of my job. Now I live 25 miles away, and theres no way i can make it to work if it snows heavily.

 

[iamwiz82]

Are you sure about that trade-in value? Around here I can 06s at dealerships for that price.

 

[lastig21]

Have you had any problems with the Z4? My friends that have had problems with BMW's started having them long before 65k miles. Maybe the car won't have as many problems as you fear.

I went from an IS300 to Dodge Ram 1500. The truck just never grew on me, and was a gas hog. If you like small sporty cars, I'd say stick with them. Trade your car for something in a similar class (maybe even a sedan) with a reliability rating you can live with. The truck might be too drastic of a move, and you may be unhappy with it.

 

[TechBoyJK]

Are you sure about that trade-in value? Around here I can 06s at dealerships for that price.

Yea.. it's a fully loaded model. Every option, and I added the $2,000 m class aero kit and 19" M6 wheels. It also has a $2,500 stereo upgrade. So it's at the upper end of the trade in value.

 

[ayabe]

Well.. alot of those miles come from driving the car just to be driving a z4. The novelty has kinda worn off, and now I have a very impractical daily driver. That and its useless in the winter. For the last 2 years, I lived within a few blocks of my job. Now I live 25 miles away, and theres no way i can make it to work if it snows heavily.

Well have you driven and parked a full size pickup? Unless you need something that big, I would go with a smaller pickup if you absolutely had to have something with a bed on it. Those big trucks are a bitch to park at least compared to your tiny BMW.

There are nearly limitless very nice DD cars that are reliable and fun to be had for ~19K as long as you are shopping used.

 

[Demo24]

Well.. alot of those miles come from driving the car just to be driving a z4. The novelty has kinda worn off, and now I have a very impractical daily driver. That and its useless in the winter. For the last 2 years, I lived within a few blocks of my job. Now I live 25 miles away, and theres no way i can make it to work if it snows heavily.

You do realize a rwd pickup truck is not going to be any better in the snow than your z4. Might even be worse as there will be a minimal amount of weight on the back wheels with a lot of torque going to them.

Throw some good snow tires on the z4 and call it a day.

 

[PlasmaBomb]

Is it the 2.5l Z4 or the 3.0l Z4?

 

[CurseTheSky]

Buy a winter beater and snow tires. Then you get to keep your cool car, and you should have a better winter driving experience.

The only way I can't see this working is if you can't afford the insurance (...but you drive a Z4?) or if you don't have storage for it (...it's a beater and can stay outside?).

A mid-to-late 90s 4x4 truck should be cheap enough.

 

[Raduque]

2wd truck for the winter?

Fail.

Might as well keep the Z4.

 

[DivideBYZero]

2wd truck for the winter?

Fail.

Might as well keep the Z4.

Agreed.

 

[yh125d]

2WD trucks are the worst cars to drive in the snow, they're nose heavy and have no weight over the back wheels. The worst snow/ice car I've ever driven was a dually pickup because it had NO rear traction.

 

[Bignate603]

2wd truck for the winter?

Fail.

Might as well keep the Z4.

Yup, there's a reason why people in cold climates will throw a few bags of sand in the bed of the truck. It gives a bit more weight over the drive axle. And when you eventually get stuck you can get out and dump some sand under the tires.

 

[RichieZ]

Yea.. it's a fully loaded model. Every option, and I added the $2,000 m class aero kit and 19" M6 wheels. It also has a $2,500 stereo upgrade. So it's at the upper end of the trade in value.

there is no way you are getting 18K for a 04 Z4 3.0i with that much mileage, and unfortunately mods add no value to the car. not only that but there are a lot of low mileage lease returns that are sitting on the lots. I've seen you on zpost and I think bimmerfest, check the prices there - go to the ask a dealer section and ask for a manheim report.

the other thing is, like you said: who wants to buy a roadster during the winter in an area where it snows?

 

[PlasmaBomb]

there is no way you are getting 18K for a 04 Z4 3.0i with that much mileage, and unfortunately mods add no value to the car. not only that but there are a lot of low mileage lease returns that are sitting on the lots. I've seen you on zpost and I think bimmerfest, check the prices there - go to the ask a dealer section and ask for a manheim report.

the other thing is, like you said: who wants to buy a roadster during the winter in an area where it snows?

A smart buyer? It really is a buyers market at this time of the year...

 

[yh125d]

A smart buyer? It really is a buyers market at this time of the year...

Yes, because the owners have to sell them for cheap because noone wants them. You said it yourself, its a buyers market, so he should wait til the spring to sell it when convs go for more money

 

[BassBomb]

why the hell would you get a truck?

 

[PricklyPete]

I couldn't think of any two more distinctly different vehicles. Only you really know your needs, but it seems quite drastic.

 

[Merithynos]

I am about to hit 100k on my '03 Z4, and I haven't had any serious issues with it. Routine maintenance is a little expensive, but the most expensive repair I've had was replacing my hood release cable.

 

[Saga]

why the hell would you get a truck?

At some point in every mans life he must by a man vehicle and stop driving hairdresser cars.

 

[zmatt]

At some point in every mans life he must by a man vehicle and stop driving hairdresser cars.

That is just ignorant. A Man's car is whatever the man needs to get his job done. Trucks don't always do that. My buddy drives a tacoma in the winter. He has to put cinder blocks in the back so he can go anywhere. If your idea of manly driving is being misreable then by all means.

I'm with everyone else, keep the Z4 get a cheap front drive sedan for the winter and call it a day.

 

[Saga]

That is just ignorant. A Man's car is whatever the man needs to get his job done. Trucks don't always do that. My buddy drives a tacoma in the winter. He has to put cinder blocks in the back so he can go anywhere. If your idea of manly driving is being misreable then by all means.

I'm with everyone else, keep the Z4 get a cheap front drive sedan for the winter and call it a day.

It was also sarcasm.

 

[AMCRambler]

It was also sarcasm.

 

[Q]

Go get a Scubie