i need help on buying a car

[Eight Thirty]

okay well i am looking at these 4-5 cars atm i have about 3600 in the bank and i wanted to only use it all if i needed to.

what is the best value car on this list below?


i do not want to buy one of your cars nor i am asking to buy one of your cars i wanted to know from these cars below and only below!!


1997 BMW 318i
$2,909
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=237862797&dealer_id=61916535&car_year=1997&model=318I&num_records=100&systime=&make2=&start_year=1992&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=0&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&make=BMW&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=14589&advanced=&end_year=2000&doors=&transmission=&max_price=3500&cardist=756

1995 BMW 318iS
$3,300
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=235383890&dealer_id=61672301&car_year=1995&model=&num_records=100&systime=&make2=&start_year=1992&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=0&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&make=BMW&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=14589&advanced=&end_year=2000&doors=&transmission=&max_price=3500&cardist=2275

1997 Audi A4 2.8 Sedan
$2,995
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=237880197&dealer_id=57538908&car_year=1997&model=CORV&num_records=100&systime=&make3=&make2=AUDI&start_year=1992&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=0&marketZipError=false&model2=&search_lang=en&make=CHEV&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=14589&advanced=&end_year=2008&doors=&transmission=&max_price=3500&cardist=928

1986 Porsche 944
$2,100
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=209856611&dealer_id=58523265&car_year=1986&model=&num_records=100&systime=&make2=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=0&marketZipError=false&search_lang=&make=POR&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=14589&advanced=&end_year=2008&doors=&transmission=&max_price=3500&cardist=296

[Beanie]

id go first one.

the porsche says, project, NOT RUNNING...

so your looking at more $$ to get it running, could be $20 could be $2000. do you know anything about porsche engines? probably not, do you want to know what it costs to work on a porsche? get a loan :clap:

bmw arnt cheap to work on either, but you live in new york so theres more bmw dealers.

around here, it would be expensive as hell, theres no porsche dealer around here

you also have to factor in registration fees and insurance fees.

bmw and porsche aint cheap insurance unless youve been driving for quite some time, even then its still not cheap

so id go top one or audi

[takeivy21]

I'd say the first BMW, as much as a fan I am of audis they tend to end up being moneypits and you always have to fix something. BMW is the way to go for mid to late 90s luxury. The Porsche isnt worth it, especially non running because you have no idea what all could be wrong with it.

[Eight Thirty]

i was also looking at a bmw m3 year 2001 and it had 107000 miles on it

for an unbelivable price
4200

i emailed him to conirm the pice and hee confirms it is 4200

i might get a loan out and buy it

[danielz]

in my opinion im kinda feelin that first beemer

[Eight Thirty]

what about the bmw in my last post?

[Boney]

M3.
if you can afford it though.

[Quen]

i'd say if you're going to buy a european car, at least save up a bit more so it will be in better condition and if you get an automatic sports car if going to freaking slap you. a4 are hella lame anyway... if you want a euro, a gti is your best bet for reliability and less expensive maintenance. i think you would be more happy with a lexus SC300/400, GS300/400, LS300/400, infinity q45.

edit: that 2001 m3 is definitely a scammer.

[ATP]

I'd steer away from the European cars, Beanie isn't kidding when he says they cost a lot to maintain.


Personally, regardless of how much you like BMW's and German cars, go for something that is in better shape for that price, and American, so you don't go broke fixing it.

[sixdegrees]

I'd steer away from the European cars, Beanie isn't kidding when he says they cost a lot to maintain.


Personally, regardless of how much you like BMW's and German cars, go for something that is in better shape for that price, and American, so you don't go broke fixing it.

German cars the most reliable on the planet. BMW have a rep for producing cars that, with low home maintenace like oil, water, etc, will do over million miles.

The 1st BMW is the best. I'm a VAG fan so VW and Audi fr me, but the A4 is a bit soft. The M3 is a scamme foir sure.

No offencve guys but US made cars are crap, the have shite engines, shite suspension, plastic crap interiors, and are plain ugly.

If not German then go Jap; Honda or Lexus.

:)

[ATP]

German cars the most reliable on the planet. BMW have a rep for producing cars that, with low home maintenace like oil, water, etc, will do over million miles.
To each his own


No offencve guys but US made cars are crap, the have shite engines, shite suspension, plastic crap interiors, and are plain ugly.
Not a logical statement, yes there are shitty cars here, but there are shitty cars everywhere. And not everybody can afford the German pricetags considering a really nice but not ridiculously expensive BMW will run you $40K or more here. And I've seen plenty of german cars have there issues compared to American cars. So I cant agree with the "most reliable on the planet" statement.

If not German then go Jap; Honda or Lexus.

:)


8)f bd kndk

[sixdegrees]

Not me, the world over acknowledges that BMW engineering is light year ahead of every other manufacturer........

Its an odd one because many think German, etc are expensive to run and buy parts for. But maintain it and you'll not need parts so its actually cheaper.

I've been building / fettling cars for 18 years, have mates who own car related companies, who race stock-rods, etc. Time and time again they'll tell you German or Jap. Japenese engine are some of the best out there for technology but their interiors are still plasticy.

If you don't have much money then buy something that is going to last and not have huge running cost. Its the same principle in BMX - buy cheap, buy twice.

You have to ask yourself why so many BMW, Merc and VAG cars sell in the US and virtually none of the US cars sell in Europe..... a) cos they're inferior and b) they don't meet safety and quality standards over here.

Didn't mean to offend, but the facts are the facts - buy German of Jap, look after it with basics like water oil, air and such like and it will last a long time.

:)

[Quen]

Not me, the world over acknowledges that BMW engineering is light year ahead of every other manufacturer........

Its an odd one because many think German, etc are expensive to run and buy parts for. But maintain it and you'll not need parts so its actually cheaper.

umm you live in scotland. we live in america. things are different here... since it's an "over seas" car, the dealerships mark them up a ton. i agree that their engineers(meaning engines) are great, but only recently(2001+) have bmw's engineers been able to make the cars more reliable, but those aren't cheap - not in the $3600 range. i'm not just talking out my ass here, my parents have had 2 bmw's, 2 mercedes, and one porsche, which all spent more time in the shop than on the road with all the correct maintenance.<no joke my dad kept track cuz he's a weirdo... japanese cars are the best imo

[ATP]

Not me, the world over acknowledges that BMW engineering is light year ahead of every other manufacturer........

Its an odd one because many think German, etc are expensive to run and buy parts for. But maintain it and you'll not need parts so its actually cheaper.

I've been building / fettling cars for 18 years, have mates who own car related companies, who race stock-rods, etc. Time and time again they'll tell you German or Jap. Japenese engine are some of the best out there for technology but their interiors are still plasticy.

If you don't have much money then buy something that is going to last and not have huge running cost. Its the same principle in BMX - buy cheap, buy twice.

You have to ask yourself why so many BMW, Merc and VAG cars sell in the US and virtually none of the US cars sell in Europe..... a) cos they're inferior and b) they don't meet safety and quality standards over here.

Didn't mean to offend, but the facts are the facts - buy German of Jap, look after it with basics like water oil, air and such like and it will last a long time.

:)

Where I live there are some very wealthy neighborhoods, all of which contain people who drive anything over $40K, it doesnt mean theyre spending money on quality, theyre buying them for the name and because they can afford it. If there was a $60K Pinto rich people would buy it. You don't see middle class income families driving the nice BMW's and Benz's, usually just the economy ones that Id rather drive a Impala over personally. Yes German cars have more fashion and USUALLY nicer components, but from what I have seen as stated before, they have just as many problems as our American cars here. I'm not talking about racing them, just daily driving they have the same problems. Ive seen so many BMW's that aren't too old and in terrible shape, and my good friend had a 03 Jetta that was quite possibly the shittiest car Ive ever seen from DAILY DRIVING. I'm not saying our cars here are perfect or better, I'm saying your making German cars out to be almost perfect because you are extremely bias over them.

[Beanie]

every car has its own story.

you could go buy a bmw off the show room floor and maintain it like the book says and have it last 3,000,000 miles before it dies. you could buy the same one just a diffrent color, and maintain it better than the book says, and send a piston through the hood after 20,000 miles.

its called the lemon law.

therse always going to be some cars of a brand that last forever even if unmaintaned, theres always going to be a lemon car that spends more time in the shop replacing parts then on the road.

my parents had to sign this law when purchasing their 2008 chevy, states that if the car spends so much time in the shop being repaired, the WHOLE car gets replaced, ie, handing them a brand new 2008 car with same options or better options for extra $$.

id say go for the top one, with the money you save, put it AWAY incase a part does break.

buy a manuel for that car, and read up on it, when a part does break, youll know how to replace it.

its what i did, dealership wanted $700 to replace my head gasket when i went for vacation, i said no, paid $130 and did it myself, $100 was spent on a new exhaust manifold, the other $30 was on small connectors and head bolts, i make gaskets for a living so i get them FREE

the more expensive a car is, the more expensive to replace parts, even if its a cheap bmw, your paying labor on the BMW name....

i paid $60-75 an hour to have the dealership mechanic put my truck on the scanner.

bmw would be $100 an hour easy, so to replace something like an intake gasket, your looking at $500 easy :clap:

[Eight Thirty]

yeah i agree with you guys on the m3 deal i didnt belive it and also the irst ones gone!! ****

[Irish]

dont get the 944. the 928 and the 944 are the only front engined cars porsche ever made, and compared to their rear mounted boxer sixes, they sucked balls. i would go for the 95 318iS. the off colour bodykit might look a bit hench, but its relatively low milage and fully loaded.

[Levimoody]

Go with the Audi. It looks fit and reliable. Let us know what you decide to do :wink:

[jc6711]

i vote none, unless you have money. Exspecaily if you dont know aboout cars.

[Ajlal24]

I'd take the Audi, since its a VR6 engine VW uses and they're very reliable and have much power, roughly 190hp stock...if you know something about cars, check the usual areas and under the hood and drive it for a while and park it and see if it has any oil leeks b/c thats pretty common and an easy fix. Check coolants and oils and anythign else you think, I know that Audi is the premium model since it has leather, but it might be a swap form another car.

[Bornizz]

Dont know how it is in US, but in europe, usualy euro cars are cheaper to fix, well.. not that cheap, porsche is expensive alot to fix.. Audi is almost porsche expensive.. BMW is a lifetime garanty..

Dont know but isent japs car kind of cheap in US? Honda Civic? Nissan? Toyota? Toyota makes the safest car in the world..

Or maybe get an american car, thats cheap to get parts and its easy to fix.. (alot of parts in us for american cars i guess)

[BORICANO]

i would just get me a honda civic or acura integra, im not sure where you live but i took rochester as a guess...
http://rochester.craigslist.org/car/556217845.html
http://rochester.craigslist.org/car/550876488.html
http://rochester.craigslist.org/car/536171501.html
http://rochester.craigslist.org/car/561523068.html
http://rochester.craigslist.org/car/550952742.html
http://rochester.craigslist.org/car/545697633.html <---dont know if you would like that
http://newyork.craigslist.org/lgi/car/556096578.html

[Ajlal24]

Thats the best one, by loocks, how the guy has presented it and by the way he doesn't cheap out over parts, ie coilovers cost >1K and he has em on there, cheap guys wont do that...

http://rochester.craigslist.org/car/545697633.html

[Quen]

wow boricano you really like ricers huh? get a car with balls or at least one that can drift...

[BORICANO]

lol i dont know i just like integras and civics after you hook them up

[METAL]

wow,reading as much of this thread as I did I realize how little most people actually know about cars,and simply go by what other people say about them.

here is my advice(keep in mind-I am ASE cert. for engine management,advanced engine diag,electrical,trans,engine building,and state cert for clean AIR,and a few others,aswell as being a fabricator and performance tech for a good number of years)

......don't buy a euro car unless you are buying NEW,have a good tech to take car of you,and don't mind spending a good deal when things go bad.
I understand they make VERY good cars,and the cars ARE much more advanced then USDMcars by a long shot,BUT>>>>>JDM cars are MUCH more logical choice for anyone living in the US.

I never really understood it,but when a tech buys a car part pay cost,then on the slip it says what retail is,and we are supposed to stick around that number.
problem there is on a USDM car retail is about a 20% markup on most things(we make no money,and they are expensive)
JDM retail is about a 40% markup.but we don't have to paymuch for the parts,and not much markup means cheap for buyer
EURO.........there is about a 100% markup on a lot of things.....the tech doesn't pay much for the part,but the consumer does.........this mark up makes NO sense,but we have to stick by it or else we are undercutting others,and that is simply forbidden.

so in the end..............EURO might be a better (engineered) car,but if you own one your getting shafted for no reason,you pay much more for a part then anyone else.
now I read in here somewhere that parts might be more,but you service them a lot less...........that is complete BS,services are standard,and apply to most all cars,they all need oil changes and such,but you get shafted there to,oil filter,air filter,cabin air filter,PS pumps,alt..........they all cost more!!!


buy a f*cking jap car and be happy.

[METAL]

wow boricano you are really lame. fuk ricers to hell. get a car with balls! or at least one that can drift...



your ignorant.


car with balls?
I have built 700HP 4 cyl cars that look stock..........and unlike a 700HP USDM car....they can actually turn.

......oh,and did we forget that most drift cars are "rice"

[JustinE]

Ricers are *** and lame as hell.


I got a 4 cyl Toyota....but it's a truck and it's lifted. Sts turbo system with a Gt28 turbo..boostin 21lbs. 335rwhp. Single turbo.

[Naismith53]

Ricers are *** and lame as hell.


I got a 4 cyl Toyota....but it's a truck and it's lifted. Sts turbo system with a Gt28 turbo..boostin 21lbs. 335rwhp. Single turbo.

and some would say the same about your truck.

[JustinE]

and some would say the same about your truck.

Um yeah..first of all, it sounds similar to a turbo diesel. Second of all, it's lifted and sitting on 35" tires. Third of all, I don't run a piece of shit fart can. 4th of all, I don't run a b.o.v so it doesn't sound like a shitty ass fwd car coming down the street.


Thanks, come again.

[Quen]

your ignorant.

car with balls?
I have built 700HP 4 cyl cars that look stock..........and unlike a 700HP USDM car....they can actually turn.

......oh,and did we forget that most drift cars are "rice"

you're ignorant. i drift my ball-less 140hp 240sx and i wouldn't trade it for the world. drift cars aren't "rice" since most of the time their performance matches their appearance. in the case of a rice car, the appearance is supposed to make it look "fast". did you look at the cars he put up there? fart-cans, euro tail lights, spoilers, and no performance mods aside form air intake... just hate all the people around here that think since their automatic front wheel drive '87 accord can do a burnout they can drive worth shit.

ps. do you live in cali by chance? i need a good mechanic hehehe

[BORICANO]

the cars i put i wasnt reading the specs or nothing and the one with all that body kit i dont like if but i dont know if he would...i was putting those cars just to show him the civics and integras

[Zombie]

All I can say man is stay far far away from other peoples projects!!!! I.E. "b62fiR3 integra motor swaped in" type of crap. Majority of the time the dumbarses(who swap the motors in) have no clue what they are doing and more likely than not the car WILL crap out on you.

[METAL]

Ricers are *** and lame as hell.


I got a 4 cyl Toyota....but it's a truck and it's lifted. Sts turbo system with a Gt28 turbo..boostin 21lbs. 335rwhp. Single turbo.

nice.....


Um yeah..first of all, it sounds similar to a turbo diesel. Second of all, it's lifted and sitting on 35" tires. Third of all, I don't run a piece of shit fart can. 4th of all, I don't run a b.o.v so it doesn't sound like a shitty ass fwd car coming down the street.


Thanks, come again.

but since it's on 35" you need at that power just to get the POS to move.
trucks like this are just as bad as stock integra with body kits to me........UNLESS it actually gets used properly.
I see WAY to many performance trucks that haven't seen dirt except the mud pit on the side of a road.


you're ignorant. i drift my ball-less 140hp 240sx and i wouldn't trade it for the world. drift cars aren't "rice" since most of the time their performance matches their appearance. in the case of a rice car, the appearance is supposed to make it look "fast". did you look at the cars he put up there? fart-cans, euro tail lights, spoilers, and no performance mods aside form air intake... just hate all the people around here that think since their automatic front wheel drive '87 accord can do a burnout they can drive worth shit.

ps. do you live in cali by chance? i need a good mechanic hehehe


LOL,you don't need gobs of power to drift a car.
I have owned some stupid fast cars,and a few stupid slow ones too.
.....but in most peoples eyes a car doesn't have to fit in our criteria to be rice.the average person can see a 700HP import,and call it rice regardless of what it can do.
.....rice was a generic term used to slander JAP cars when they started taking over US markets.

[Zombie]

but since it's on 35" you need at that power just to get the POS to move.
trucks like this are just as bad as stock integra with body kits to me........UNLESS it actually gets used properly.
I see WAY to many performance trucks that haven't seen dirt except the mud pit on the side of a road.


Is this getting used properly???:hihi::hihi:
my 88 4runner SAS'd


same truck different paint-job

[Naismith53]

Um yeah..first of all, it sounds similar to a turbo diesel. Second of all, it's lifted and sitting on 35" tires. Third of all, I don't run a piece of shit fart can. 4th of all, I don't run a b.o.v so it doesn't sound like a shitty ass fwd car coming down the street.


Thanks, come again.

wow buddy 1st of all i like your truck second not everyone is gonna like your truck and some will say it's *** and lame as hell. Oh and zombie those are awesome list of mods on the 4runner?

[JustinE]

nice.....



but since it's on 35" you need at that power just to get the POS to move.
trucks like this are just as bad as stock integra with body kits to me........UNLESS it actually gets used properly.
I see WAY to many performance trucks that haven't seen dirt except the mud pit on the side of a road.




LOL,you don't need gobs of power to drift a car.
I have owned some stupid fast cars,and a few stupid slow ones too.
.....but in most peoples eyes a car doesn't have to fit in our criteria to be rice.the average person can see a 700HP import,and call it rice regardless of what it can do.
.....rice was a generic term used to slander JAP cars when they started taking over US markets.

Um yeah...you look at my setup and I guarantee you, you will think twice before u say my truck is a mall crawler. It's been crawled at quite a few places, including the Rubicon. I'm thinking about SAS'ing it soon, depending on how finacial is.

Actually, 140hp will move those tires fine...it's been re geared to 4.28's. It's built to crawl. Also built to be a prerunner in the desert. No long travel but it's got 9" of travel in front.

[JustinE]

Is this getting used properly???:hihi::hihi:
my 88 4runner SAS'd


same truck different paint-job


Nice...I wanna SAS...but not sure. I want straight axle conversion too...but if I go long travel and strictly prerunner status. No thanks then.

I'm not sure as of now. Air lockers sound nice though.

[Quen]

LOL,you don't need gobs of power to drift a car.
I have owned some stupid fast cars,and a few stupid slow ones too.
.....but in most peoples eyes a car doesn't have to fit in our criteria to be rice.the average person can see a 700HP import,and call it rice regardless of what it can do.
.....rice was a generic term used to slander JAP cars when they started taking over US markets.

rice amongst people that know cars is as i stated before. i'm not complaining about my lack of power. i'm just saying that i'm not a "big engine/power usdm" guy, but rice(according to my deffinition) still pisses me off because they make import culture look stupid.

[Zombie]

Nice...I wanna SAS...but not sure. I want straight axle conversion too...but if I go long travel and strictly prerunner status. No thanks then.

I'm not sure as of now. Air lockers sound nice though.
My opinion is if you are gonna off-road I would do a SAS... IFS is junk with very limited strength. Its really not to expensive either. As far as air-lockers go. They Fookin rock!! half the time I just left it off and being locked in the rear can get you through a lot of things. When I needed it though man it was great!! I can tell you one thing though If you get stuck while locked F/R you are STUCK!!!lol Lockers are awesome but can get you in places where you don't want to be LOL

[JustinE]

My opinion is if you are gonna off-road I would do a SAS... IFS is junk with very limited strength. Its really not to expensive either. As far as air-lockers go. They Fookin rock!! half the time I just left it off and being locked in the rear can get you through a lot of things. When I needed it though man it was great!! I can tell you one thing though If you get stuck while locked F/R you are STUCK!!!lol Lockers are awesome but can get you in places where you don't want to be LOL

Yeah...I've noticed that before on other peoples rigs...you wanna go to places that you shouldn't be in, especially with my setup. I'll be trying to crawl some big shit on 35's lol...some shit that needs like 40s at a minimum for clearance.

Ahah..but yeah. I gotta decide.

[kyoungxlee]

i wonder what the hell people are thinking when they rice out their honda sedan with fartcans, huge and flat spoilers, decals from companies they dont even have parts from, euro taillights, neon lights, ect....

[Quen]

i wonder what the hell people are thinking when they rice out their honda sedan with fartcans, huge and flat spoilers, decals from companies they dont even have parts from, euro taillights, neon lights, ect....

you do? they simply think that it makes their car cool. i understand it because it's like the vip car scene, but rice is just in bad taste.

[DKkid530]

well jap and euro do make nice car and last long. if you know how to take good care of it then i will last you forever like my dad toyota cressida. my guess is by the first bmw in your choice. just take good care of it and check the engine twice a months.

[bmx757]

Aaaauuudddiiii!!!

[20strong]

You can probably find a unmolested (meaning completly stock and never modded) 93' Honda Civic Hatch for about that price. The D16 in them was really reliable and super easy to work on as well as cheap.

[NoCover]

get a little toyota tacoma.. man nice little trucks