Which car is right for me...? (need financial advice)

[flood]

Heres my situation:
I'm a full time student in seattle, working part time doing database stuff. I drive a 91 735i right now, which I'm in the process of selling. I want something a little newer and sportier. I can now afford a 97ish M3, but im trying to stay away from it because of the insurance.
So, I've been planning on getting a 98ish 528 for a while... I talked to my cousin, who really got me into bmw's. He is 31 and owns a 528 (has owned a 318 and 328). He told me to go for a 3 because it is so much sportier than a 5, and stressed that I'm spending a lot of money and to take it into consideration.
I have a good amount of capital to work with, but my monthly income isn't all that much. I could pretty easily afford the 528 (~ $20k)...

Taking my cousin's advice, I decided to take a look at some other (read: cheaper) cars for a bit today.
I'm primarily looking for a freeway cruiser that'll do some spirited driving once in a while. I'm not really interested in a pure sports car.

What I've been researching:
97-00 A4
92-96 325/328

The A4 sells for ~14k and has a nice interior. The quattro is nice, and the 1.8t engine is very tunable.
I tried looking at it this way.... I asked myself: instead of having a 528, would I rather have an A4 and $6k in the bank? I think I would.
Then again, the A4 isn't the greatest car to own... long term ownership costs are quite high and they dont seem to last all that long (highest mileage I've seen is 166k - compare to 300-400k+ on lots of bmw's).

The 325.... Similar interior to the M3, so the same complaints... it feels cheap.
Other than that, I dont have much to complain about... it looks good, drives good, reasonable long term ownership costs, reasonable insrurance rate.
I found a local one that looks to be in good shape, 80k miles. They want $8k for it...
So again, I ask myself... instead of having a 528, would I rather have a 325 and $12k in the bank? I think I definetly would.

So, I made some plans to go take it for a test drive later this week...
But then it occured to me... WTF am I going to do with all that money?? (I know to expect posts asking for the money )
But really... All I ever do with my money is save it so I can put it towards a nice car... That $12k is just going to sit in the bank. Instead, I could be driving a 99 titanium silver 528 with angel eyes, deep dish rims, and of course, the dinan badge.

But, to put it back in perspective... I'm 21 and I'm still in school.

So, I guess I'm asking for the advice of some of the older (read: wiser) people here.
Do you live it up while you can?

 

[Pepsi90919]

I drive a 91 735i right now,

i stopped reading right there.

 

[BatmanNate]

Keep your current car and put the money down on a house when you get out of school.

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: BatmanNate
Keep your current car and put the money down on a house when you get out of school.

 

[freebee]

You gonna listen to a buncha old farts?....take it from a fellow enthusiast, I'd get the 528. Live it up now, rather than regret it later.

You're not gonna keep it for 200k miles, so durability it not a factor.

 

[flood]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

I drive a 91 735i right now,

i stopped reading right there.

I paid for it myself too!


BatmanNate and conjur-
I don't really have a desire for a house right now, but I guess its forseeable.
I'd still want to move to the 325... it'd cost about the same (if not less) than what I drive right now, maintainance would be *slightly* less, insurance would be *slightly*less.

 

[Lithium381]

buy the local one, save the $12K along with what you get for your car and be happy!

 

[Cyberian]

This question sounds strangely familiar.

 

[freebee]

Wait i just reread the post. Is that just the dinan badge, or is it dinan modified?....cause depending on the mods, it could be a great buy.

 

[MistaTastyCakes]

If you're stressed that you're spending a lot of money, why are you looking to buy a car?

 

[flood]

Originally posted by: freebee
Wait i just reread the post. Is that just the dinan badge, or is it dinan modified?....cause depending on the mods, it could be a great buy.

I comes stock :-]
The stuff I mentioned is what I'd do to it after I got it.

 

[Transition]

My financial advice is to buy a cheap reliable commuter car. Vehicles are horrible investments any way you slice it.

 

[stevens]

Dude forget about all those cars. Get an Audi S4 (1999-2001 i believe). Its awd twin turbo V6. Its a very tunable engine just like the 1.8t. With a simple chip you can be pushing around 325 hp. Then add intake and exaust and youll have a very quick sleeper luxury sedan. Check out ebay. Some can be had for around 20-25g last time i checked. And that 528i is going to be far from sporty. IMO my moms 2002 525i is on the slow side.

 

[flood]

Originally posted by: MistaTastyCakes
If you're stressed that you're spending a lot of money, why are you looking to buy a car?

I already have a car... I want something different.

 

[MistaTastyCakes]

Well, that wasn't my point. You said you're stressed about the money you're spending, so why spend more.. ahh.. n/m

 

[BatmanNate]

Originally posted by: stevens
Dude forget about all those cars. Get an Audi S4 (1999-2001 i believe). Its awd twin turbo V6. Its a very tunable engine just like the 1.8t. With a simple chip you can be pushing around 325 hp. Then add intake and exaust and youll have a very quick sleeper luxury sedan. Check out ebay. Some can be had for around 20-25g last time i checked. And that 528i is going to be far from sporty. IMO my moms 2002 525i is on the slow side.

That's not that much...the Supra pushed that much stock with a small i6.

 

[flood]

Originally posted by: stevens
Dude forget about all those cars. Get an Audi S4 (1999-2001 i believe). Its awd twin turbo V6. Its a very tunable engine just like the 1.8t. With a simple chip you can be pushing around 325 hp. Then add intake and exaust and youll have a very quick sleeper luxury sedan. Check out ebay. Some can be had for around 20-25g last time i checked. And that 528i is going to be far from sporty. IMO my moms 2002 525i is on the slow side.

the S4 is sum of all the bad qualities of all the cars I was looking at...
long term ownership costs, insurance, ticket machine, high purchase cost.
Besides, the A4 w/K04 mod can get almost 300hp with just $1800

Performance-wise, I'm not looking for a rocketship.... just something that is fun to drive, good torquey engine.
Basically a corner carver with good midrange power.

 

[flood]

Originally posted by: BatmanNate

Originally posted by: stevens
Dude forget about all those cars. Get an Audi S4 (1999-2001 i believe). Its awd twin turbo V6. Its a very tunable engine just like the 1.8t. With a simple chip you can be pushing around 325 hp. Then add intake and exaust and youll have a very quick sleeper luxury sedan. Check out ebay. Some can be had for around 20-25g last time i checked. And that 528i is going to be far from sporty. IMO my moms 2002 525i is on the slow side.

That's not that much...the Supra pushed that much stock with a small i6.

i thought the supra had a v6?

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Hey NFS4, come in here and give this guy the "RossMAN Special" upside the head.

You've got a good enough car already. Go built another übArl33t lucite case.

- M4H

 

[yoda291]

buy a bunny...buy a digicam...goto IHOP with said bunny...take pics.

The results will be better than any car.