First Thread, First question

SOT · Jun 9, 2004

Hi, new to the forum, just joined this morning
i'm reallly young getting my first car, and have been researching for some time now, i have 25000-30000 for a car in a month or two, please dont flame me for being a spoiled kid or remind me the risks of a inexperienced driver, the risks of totaliing my car, or even my death :O.
i just want to spend the 25000-30000$ that my parents are willing to spend wisely, and make it best for me, i've looked around for a month or two now and it seems that hondas and toyotas just wont do it, so rather than getting a new car which lacks safety, quality values, i have decided to go with something with more quality such as bmw's or lexus's, i'm looking into sedans, no two doors, decent speed, decent quality, i will be purchasing a used car, and the models i can actully manage to buy at under 40 thousand miles are 330i, 325i, lexus's is300

i am asking a question if i buy one of those cars listed above with under 40 thousand miles, good condition ( dealer certified ...etc. ), if it could last me 4-6 years, i want to keep the car throughout my college years, or at least make it halfway through my college, so i expect at least 2-3 years without any problems at all.

what i'm looking for :
generally safe
decently sporty for a teen
quality
some luxury
reliability

i wasn't too sure of BMW and lexus 's reliability over hondas and acuras, some say they are about same, but most say that hondas and acuras are reliable over german cars...and lexus, a japanese make, i dont know anything about their reliability.

please i need feedbacks on which one of those 3 models would most fit my needs and if BMW's reliability is good enough to last 80-100 thousand miles without serious problems

and please dont flame me for being spoiled, i just want to spend the money given wisely and make it most useful
thank you!!

Dinan55 · Jun 9, 2004

Lexus sucks. Get a 330i.

BMWs will easily run into the 200,000-mile range before they even make a peep. There's a few members on this board that have BMWs with 150,000+ miles, most of them have absolutely no problems with their cars, besides regular maintenance. As long as you take care of a BMW the way you're supposed to, it'll be fine. I think that the main reason people say Hondas and whatnot are more reliable than BMWs is because a BMW actually requires care and love, while the Honda you can just put gas in it and go. Trust me, forget about the Japanese brands. Unless it's an Infiniti, all Japanese cars are the same and have absolutely no character.

estrauss · Jun 9, 2004

I've got advice for two paths.

First path: 330i bottom line.

Other, less Invigorating advice: I got a my car new halfway through college and it was nice to have the new car, but sadly, being on campus, my car was subjected to torture. Some drunk one night bent my roof antenna in half, I had acorns from my apartment's parking lot put dents on my roof, even hit the top of the windshield just right to crack it and several marks from careless people banging doors into my car (typical college kids with beaters who don't care about their cars). You could argue that you can find a good parking spot, but on campus, there are no good parking spots.

I realize you are talking used, but be forewarned. "I see dumb people, sometimes they don't even know that they are dumb"

nadroj · Jun 9, 2004

my car has over 152,000, no major problems, and still runs like new, the only problem is the paint is getting a little tired.

deutsch100 · Jun 9, 2004

My cousin had your same train of thought. She had $30,000 to spend and wanted to keep the car for at least 6-8 years.

She bought a 2003 325i sedan, and if the car is CPO, you too can extend the factory warranty, and even extend the scheduled maintenance. This way you can drive a almost new BMW and not worry about repairs or maintenance for like 6+ years.

So IMO, go with a cpo sedan, and enjoy the driving!!!!

mach330 · Jun 9, 2004

estrauss said:

i agree..i mean depending on how safe your high school is and your future college. you car is going to get thrashed by some jealous/stupid kids. i remember in my hs when kids would always key the best looking car and it wasn't even a bimmer!!! but hey, i luv my bimmer now, but i'm much older and don't have to worry about that shiyet. just my two cents.

Blue · Jun 9, 2004

Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) BMW 325i or 330i - get the newest one you can afford. The 330 obviously has a bit more power, but the 325 is an incredibly balanced and superb machine - especially with sport & premium packages. Either way, you won't be sorry. I picked up a CPO 2001 325i with 24k miles on it back in March for $28k. It's still under factory new car warranty, then the CPO kicks in and it's warrantied through Feb 2007 or 100k miles. I'll be in an M3 by then... I would have held out for a black on black 330i sedan, but I was in a pinch (wrecked my truck). The 330's they had on the lot were all a few thousand more, too. I had narrowed it down to the Lexus IS300 and the BMW 3 series. The IS300 is nice, but BMW wins, hands down. The only thing the IS300 has over the BMW is side curtain upper air bags. But then again, I've been out of college for 11 years now (aka old fart) so the IS300 may work better for you than it would have for me. Good luck.

samlee4444 · Jun 9, 2004

Buy a clunker!!!

Just from my college experience, I agree with estrauss...when ur in college, it will get trashed. It's a big ass stress when you park your car somewhere around campus and you're scared it'll get scraped or dinged. It WILL happen...and often.

My take is this...spend $10-15K to get a car that's safe, fun and can fit alot of your friends (your friends, or soon to be friends will love you for it). Take the remaining $$$, invest it, then in your senior year in college, splurge and go for a really nice, new car.

College is about having fun [headbang] , experiencing life [nutkick]

and meeting new people [cheers]

, not worrying about/taking care of your car. Also with a nice car in college, you WILL constantly get labelled a spoiled kid. My $0.02.... [:D]

longshanks · Jun 9, 2004

i say, get the 330i and live it up. if your parents have 25-30k to spend on you now, you will probably get like 35-40k when you graduate.

codex57 · Jun 9, 2004

Errr, if you're looking for reliability, you're not gonna be too happy with BMW. The major mechanicals are bulletproof generally, it's the little stuff that will piss you off. You almost certainly will have less problems with a Honda/Acura or Toyota/Lexus. They won't be as much fun to drive though.

I'd also suggest a CPO 330 if you can afford it. Yeah, your car risks getting trashed in college. Mine did. Ok, pretty much everyone I know's car did. But it also would have been nice to have had a nice car in college too. I think the benefit outweighs the risk.

finally330i · Jun 9, 2004

Honda, Acura, Toyota and Lexus (Toyota's luxury brand) are all well made Japanese cars. Last month, I sold my 95 Camry V6 LE after 9 years without a single problem. I bought an '03 330i CPO w/10,000mi for about $33000 and love it. It's the perfect blend of sports car and luxury sedan for a guy with a wife and kids (our other car is a 2000 Honda Odyssey). If I had a 330i in college I would have been a paranoid basket case. Your friends will borrow it, you will have to load it with odd sized items (like Jim the drunk kid), people will puke in it. Buy a used Subaru Forester with roof racks for your bike and your girlfriends, a big trunk, AWD and invest the rest like mentioned above. Have Fun!

Nelson330ci · Jun 9, 2004

Listen up SOT:

There are many very good points others have posted above, specifically the whole college theme and again, remarks by codex.

The fact is a Lexus IS 300 will be a more reliable car, but the german steel and engineering of BMW will be safer and more fun to drive. those are the option you should weight. Don't get me wrong like everyone said, the bmw will last just as long, but will likely have small little hicups (tail light out, door panel loose, etc.) along the way, they don't tolerate long term (machanical) mistreatment as well as the jap cars do. (you can beat on the IS more probably).

If you decide to go with bmw, pick the newest 325 sedan with sport, premuim packages, (330 is more fun, but you'll sacrifice "newness") you can afford and get the extended warranty (CPO), BMW will fix everything that may go wrong.

Good luck and let us know.

SOT · Jun 9, 2004

well, i know which college i am going to, and it is not far from home so i will be staying at home, so that whole college issue is off, and my highschool is relatively safe, none of that
and my friends n others that some are worried bout...they can clean it / pay me, so that issues okay, keying always happens....even if it will happen to me particularly a lot...i will stress, but i'm wililng to take that too
for those who told me to wait till later in college, i'm trying to make it so this is the last thing my parents pay for me, i'm planning onto get a <A TITLE="Click for more information about car" STYLE="text-decoration: none; border-bottom: medium solid green;" HREF="http://search.targetwords.com/u.search?x=5977|1||||cars|AA1VDw">car</A> myself after college or during 3rd or 4th year of college ( have plans, already on them )
i just need clarification on the facts
how reliable are 325i CPO WITH premium package
and 330i CPO
and 325i CPO withOUT premium package
thanks for all the feedbacks !!

::EDIT::
325i, 330i, IS300
what are the 0-60's and 1/4 times ?
from what i've been looking around, i could get the is300 so much newer with the prices i am dealing with, with much more options
where 325i and 330i, i have to sacrifce a lot of mileage to get all the packages/options that are good and also would minor modding avoid the certified preowned warranty ?? ( simple bolt-ons )

thanks !!

Blue · Jun 9, 2004

SOT said:

LOL, you going to drive it or race it?

SOT · Jun 9, 2004

heh i'm going to be driving it, but i'd like to beat daily ricers on the road

MrElussive · Jun 9, 2004

Get a new Subaru Impreza WRX or a MINI Cooper S. If it's going to last you through your college years, you might as well start off with something brand spanink new!

codex57 · Jun 9, 2004

Premium package doesn't matter. Just make sure it's CPO so you have a warranty that will cover you for a few years. Yeah Premium adds a moonroof, but most BMWs have moonroofs. I don't have premium and I have a moonroof. Basically, get the newest BMW you can find.

0-60s are 7.1 for a stick 325. 8.1 for a 325 auto. About a second faster for the 330. The IS300 is about equivalent to the 325 altho the auto IS might be a fraction faster than the auto 325.

I'd still worry about your car. Damage from drunks can happen anywhere. You are going to parties aren't you? Plus, even if my friends cleaned it up, I still wouldn't want them puking in my car. And, college parking is always tight. Too many students. Most don't care either. My old car (the one I had during college) got 90% of the door dings and scrapes and scratches in college parking lots. The dent on the trunk was from some drunk bastard at my apartment then. Bastard....

mach330 · Jun 9, 2004

so you're going to live at home and not park it at school when you're there? [screwy]

i would worry about parking in school in general. if you don't care and have more $$ to spend to fix it up, then get the best 330 you can get.

if you want to beat the occassional "ricer", then be a ricer. otherwise, if you don't get a 330i, you're not going to beat any of them.

Nelson330ci · Jun 9, 2004

Good point Mach, don't lower yourself to "ricer" standards SOT. There will always be a ricer out there that is faster in a straight line than the next guy, thats why their ricers. Anybody can make a car go fast, there are many cheap fast cars. Take that new Dodge Neon (I even hate the name) r/t turbo, with a $500 dollar mod, its about as fast if not more so than a new stock M3 or 911., but come on its' a piece of crap. And we all know you can put 6k into a honda and make it quicker than any stock bmw....

SOT - I realize you want to have fun driving and show off, but prioritize what you want in your car!

BMW_FaNaTiC · Jun 9, 2004

samlee4444 said:

You actually look forward to college? I hate to think about college, and don't intend on going at all in my life. Yeah you may think, then you will not get a career!

My Moms the GM at a Hilton hotel, and im sure a GM could get me in the door, and possibly i could become the next GM, or a GM at a different hotel [rolleyes]

Oh and is being labeled a spoiled kid bad? Us "spoiled" kids have more fun. All the rich kids in school are mainly the popular, stuck up kids, which everyone wishes they could be [idea]

I use to hang out with the poor kids and they have no fun at all. Us "rich kids" don't have to work, and if we fail or mess up, we could just fall back on our parents, no big deal. I would die if i actaully had to start work at 16, and manage good grades! But it usually ends, the cool kids always make more money and always are more successful, which is shit because the people that really try get stuck with jobs that pay 60-90k a year [werd]

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