Looking Ahead: My Next Car

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Looking Ahead: My Next Car

October 20, 2010, 12:24:27 AM

Well, as some of you may or may not remember, I made the mistake of purchasing a new car back in '05. It was a Dodge Neon. Now it's nearly paid off, and to be brutally honest, it would've been reposessed by now if it hadn't been for getting help from family members with the payments, especially in this past year or so. But now that it has 126k and is about 5 payments from officially mine, I'm looking ahead. I've said up until recently that, as much money as has been spent on this car I'm gonna drive it until the wheels fall off. But I'm re-thinking that logic. Right now blue book on the car is pretty abysmal. And I've already decided that until I can really really afford it, I won't be buying any new cars, or financing any used ones for that matter.

With that in mind I was just checking craigslist the other day, for poops and giggles you know. And I came across a pretty beat '94 BMW 351i Convertible. It looked exactly like the one that I'd had as a 1:18 die cast model when I was a kid and something clicked. Even in the rough shape this one was in, $1800 seemed like not a bad deal, but looked like more work than I was ready to get into. Not to mention that I probably won't even start looking until I have my Neon back up to par and ready to be sold, etc. But it didget me started on researching the 3-series Bimmers, particularly something like a 325ic. The year range probably around the late 80's to early 90's. Seems like a 'needs work' condition one sells for aroun $1k or so. Even ones that look like this:

Even the ghastly 'diving board' US-spec aluminum bumpers don't bother me. I like the thought of the I-6 and a 5-speed in a RWD car with IRS. I guess the reportedly good handling is why BMW now calls thier cars 'The Ultimate Driving Machine'.

So, does anyone think I'm crazy? I know I've read that these cars are maintenance intensive but what's some maintenance compared to $200+ a month just to keep owning a car?

Is it stupid to think about buying one of these and driving it daily? It certainly wouldn't be an Auto-x, race or show car, being a convertible.

Anyone have any thoughts or insight on BMWs? I have Bimmer Feevar!!1

Looking Ahead: My Next Car

Reply #1 – November 02, 2010, 01:58:51 PM

I don't know about bmw's, but I have always wanted one of those early 90's mercedes ( )124's. They go for about $3000 used, and they're sweet on the inside. Apparently they run like mules too.

Looking Ahead: My Next Car

Reply #2 – November 02, 2010, 02:31:12 PM

The last shop I worked at specialized in BMW's and Mercedes, and I would not take either if offered to me for free. Extremely expensive parts, most of which have to be ordered in from some God-forsaken country, and it's hard to find anyone who will work on them (and when you do, you pay dearly). Having worked on them I can not understand for the life of me why people think of them as good cars. They are very poorly built, leak oil like a British car and generally rust like a puppiesanese one.

They drive nice, they look nice, but brother, they just ain't nice...

Looking Ahead: My Next Car

Reply #3 – November 02, 2010, 02:35:21 PM

I had a similar realization about a year ago. I bought a used 03 jetta in 2005. I paid it off quickly, but now its worth about $5K. I sold my 92 SC which never gave me a lick of trouble (well one small incident) and I still regret it. I had just graduated from college and my parents convinced me that it would be a disaster to keep a car so old.

Fast forward 5 years. I have 3 cars, I still DD the Jetta. I wish I had invested in something more practical for a single guy with a car hobby (eg truck). As is, I have to keep my GFs pathfinder running to go get parts for my 66 mustang and my 88 Cougar. When I think of all the dough that went into the Jetta and that its a car I haven't enjoyed for going on 4 years.....sigh. I could have had a very nice Cat or older F150.

All that aside, the Jetta spanks them all on fuel milage. I just wish it would stop smelling like old crayons.

Looking Ahead: My Next Car

Reply #4 – November 02, 2010, 09:51:06 PM

Quote from: Ifixyawata;340001

So, does anyone think I'm crazy? I know I've read that these cars are maintenance intensive but what's some maintenance compared to $200+ a month just to keep owning a car?

I have Bimmer Feevar!!1

I totally luv these cars.

I don't really know anything about maintenance costs and stuff like that, but I came real close to talking to the salesdude about a white one like in the pic (above) about a year ago. It was in "good driver" condition and looked like a lotta fun.

Looking Ahead: My Next Car

Reply #5 – November 03, 2010, 02:18:15 PM

Ah well, so much for the 'driving machine' and fine German engineering. I've crunched more numbers and for now it'll be much more worthwhile to dump a few hundred more dollars worth of long overdue maintenance and parts into my Neon and see if I can make it go a quarter million miles someday (I'm Halfway there!). Maybe for a summer weekend driver one of these BMWs would be nice but I'm glad to say I won't consider one for daily use.

Looking Ahead: My Next Car

Reply #6 – November 03, 2010, 11:12:30 PM

The way I see it anyway....the German "Big Three" are vehicles you pay to get the name if you're wealthy and need to show it, and you get all kinds of bells and whistles, and a good-looking high-performance vehicle. Especially with one these days, the bells and whistles are there and when they go bad, you're upppp the creek. You just can't get away scot-free with 7 miles of wiring in a car!! (That's what my friend who worked at a bimmer dealership told me :eek: ). I feel like if you can afford to buy one new, you can then probably also afford the high cost of fixing such one of these high-strung high-tech things going.

A maybe too-simple-minded but also maybe decent comparison of luxury vehicles...the current M5 has a 4-and-change liter V8 that can rev to 8 grand or so? Then you have Rolls-Royce/Bentley, STILL using the very old but updated through the years 6.75L V8, now twin-turbo, that makes loads of power and even more loads of torque. Call it bias due to the fact that the second style of engine has classically held up well with our near and dear American engines, but I'd have so much more faith in that British mill to hold up well.

Looking Ahead: My Next Car

Reply #7 – November 04, 2010, 12:18:02 AM

The one red flag I couldn't get past with the 2.5 (I think..) Inline-6 that the 3-series of that era came equipped with was this: Timing Belt + Interference Engine + 30k mile service interval.

Wait. What? How many timing belt cars have interference engines?

Anyway, the comment about an SC with no problems is pretty surprising in itself. How long did you have it? I've had thoughts of a later-ish MN-12 in the back of my head for a while now too.

Regarding the Neon, though, the only real serious problems I've had with it have been caused by lack of preventative maintenance, driving it hard (clutch replaced at 110k, axles badly in need of replacement), and stupid mods (cheap lowering springs cost me 2 struts already and probably at least 2, maybe all 4 strut mounts). If I can get some reasonable rate springs back into it and some new strut mounts in the back it should ride less like a shopping cart. The only other problem it's given me has been an intermittent stall/no-idle thing. Never threw a code, just had to feather the gas once in a while to keep it running, then it would go away for 3 months or so. Then, on my way home from Eric's in an attempt to 'fix his water' it threw a cam position sensor code and wouldn't rev past 2250 rpms. I'm guessing this has been the problem all along and hadn't it been for that, the car would've run problem free for the whole 126k miles.

So, even though it's a Dodge and it's quite a throw-away car I'm pretty glad it's not plagued by the super-plastic-cheap interior problems that newer GM cars have. And I will say I'm so glad I waited an extra day to get a 5-speed car delivered. I guess it's a really good car for daily driving and reliable long-hauls. I'm just bored. It's the longest I've driven any one car and that's enough to drive anyone a little mad, right?

Looking Ahead: My Next Car

Reply #8 – November 04, 2010, 12:53:46 AM

I've got a 95 T-bird and it's, well, yeah. I bought the car with 68,000 miles on it and now have almost 89,000 3 years later. Besides regular maintenance (oil changes, trans fluid change, brakes) the car has needed:

all 4 front ball joints
new radiator
stator in the distributor
TFI module
front wheel bearing
cats broke and had to be cleaned out

Here's the thing: my 88 T-bird probably could be running around with all of the same components factory original if I didn't upgrade them. I don't think that MN-12s are quite as reliable as a fox car but that's my experience.

Looking Ahead: My Next Car

Reply #9 – November 04, 2010, 03:19:42 AM

Quote from: thunderjet302;340481

I've got a 95 T-bird and it's, well, yeah. I bought the car with 68,000 miles on it and now have almost 89,000 3 years later. Besides regular maintenance (oil changes, trans fluid change, brakes) the car has needed:

all 4 front ball joints
new radiator
stator in the distributor
TFI module
front wheel bearing
cats broke and had to be cleaned out

Here's the thing: my 88 T-bird probably could be running around with all of the same components factory original if I didn't upgrade them. I don't think that MN-12s are quite as reliable as a fox car but that's my experience.

The descriptions of both cars in your signature sort of says it all in regard to Fox vs MN-12, heh.

Looking Ahead: My Next Car

Reply #10 – November 04, 2010, 08:33:04 AM

Quote from: thunderjet302;340481

I don't think that MN-12s are quite as reliable as a fox car but that's my experience.

The MN12 cars drive a hell of a lot nicer though. With the independent rears and stuff they handle much better than a stock fox.

Looking Ahead: My Next Car

Reply #11 – November 04, 2010, 11:03:45 AM

They do handle better but they feel heavier, because they are.

Oh I forgot another thing I have to change this weekend: motor mounts. For some reason the 3.8 cars eat the stock motor mounts.

Looking Ahead: My Next Car

Reply #12 – November 04, 2010, 11:38:26 AM

Must be all that powah

Looking Ahead: My Next Car

Reply #13 – November 04, 2010, 11:48:43 AM

Quote from: Thunder Chicken;340526

Must be all that powah

Yeah that tire smoking 3.8 is too strong for the mounts. Probably because I added VTEC to it:burnout:

Looking Ahead: My Next Car

Reply #14 – November 04, 2010, 05:58:54 PM

Quote from: Thunder Chicken;340193

The last shop I worked at specialized in BMW's and Mercedes, and I would not take either if offered to me for free. Extremely expensive parts, most of which have to be ordered in from some God-forsaken country, and it's hard to find anyone who will work on them (and when you do, you pay dearly). Having worked on them I can not understand for the life of me why people think of them as good cars. They are very poorly built, leak oil like a British car and generally rust like a puppiesanese one.

They drive nice, they look nice, but brother, they just ain't nice...

Quoted for the (something that rhymes with trucking) truth