BMW 328i?

[fbEagle]

U know what my first car was? a 1997 Buick Lesabre. Im still driving that thing. Its a great car. Its no chick magnet, but at least it runs. I carry around a picture of the club plane i fly for my chick magnet lol

[ABDCWOT]

If you're short on cash, stay away from German rides. I agree with Butcher. German cars are big big money on parts & labor when the brown stuff that smells strikes an operating fan.


-ab

[Golfer]

Used BMW anything is a poor choice for a 20 year olds first car purchase.  Too expensive to buy, maintain and insure.

I just bought an '82 Corvette to build up to a race car. This sucker is a snap to work on and it was a daily driver I bought for $4,000. I'll have $10,000 into it and it'll break into the 10s in the quarter mile when I'm done with it. These came from the factory with an anemic 200hp and sucked in performance in almost every way.  I'm not saying getting something with antique plates is the way to go but parts are cheap and the basic jobs are all a snap.  Worth looking at but only if you're handy with a wrench.

If I was buying a newer car I'd get a Cruze. They're my favorite as rental cars hands down and the LT/LTZ with the leather and comfort goodies are NICE. They even make an SS version which has some good get up and go for a little economy car.

You are hard pressed to kill Hondas. I hate Corollas and Kia's and whatever those little Toyotas are.  Look for a used Cruze. I have no idea what they're going for but if I needed a get-around car that's where I'd go.  You can also get used 2011 (don't even bother with the '10s) Mustangs in the teens as well. Especially the base model coupes. Plenty of options out there better than a bimmer.

[CAP1]

if you're going new, you can get a nicely equipped focus for about $22k.

[flight17]

Fusion and Malibu are both cars I wouldn't mind driving and have looked at along with the mustang, Pontiac G8, jetta and passat... I even found a Malibu that I really liked, but I can't get my parents to let me get it because it's 150 miles away...

I really, really like the g8's but there are so few around me and none that seem to be in my price range.

I'm looking to finance about 12k with 3k down in cash, for a monthly rate of 200-250$

The worst thing with my selection is that I have a somewhat expensive taste. I have two older siblings that both have really nice cars and so it's rubbed off on me. My car now is an 02 cavalier base with 207k miles on it lol. It was my sisters first car.

My two main requirements are: leather seating and a moonroof if it's available as an option.

As per g8s, I have found  multiple ones that are low miles but are really low priced on cars.com
It seems they are too low to be true. Is it just me being paranoid or is this sort of the norm with this model?

This is the one I really want but at 9700$ for the most expensive model produced, it's either a pos or a scam...
http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp?tracktype=usedcc&csDlId=&csDgId=&listingId=95541215&listingRecNum=2&criteria=prMx%3D20000%26sf1Dir%3DASC%26prMn%3D0%26mkId%3D20035%26stkTyp%3DU%26mdId%3D21186%26rd%3D500%26crSrtFlds%3DstkTypId-feedSegId-mkId-mdId-pseudoPrice%26zc%3D16115%26rn%3D0%26PMmt%3D1-1-0%26stkTypId%3D28881%26sf2Dir%3DASC%26sf1Nm%3Dprice%26sf2Nm%3Dmiles%26isDealerGrouping%3Dfalse%26rpp%3D50%26feedSegId%3D28705&aff=national&listType=1

[flight17]

It's a scam actually, I took a screen shot of the listing a few days ago and I just looked again and it's listed under a completely different dealer now but with all the same contact info...

[TheAssi]

It's a scam actually, I took a screen shot of the listing a few days ago and I just looked again and it's listed under a completely different dealer now but with all the same contact info...

SUV.  Big backseat.

Laugh at the greenies when you show them your shagmobile.

[bagrat]

hey flight17 ever think about a mazda speed3 used, a bud found one for around that price its got some giddyup to it and can be pretty fuel efficient

[Masherbrum]

Fusion and Malibu are both cars I wouldn't mind driving and have looked at along with the mustang, Pontiac G8, jetta and passat... I even found a Malibu that I really liked, but I can't get my parents to let me get it because it's 150 miles away...

I really, really like the g8's but there are so few around me and none that seem to be in my price range.

I'm looking to finance about 12k with 3k down in cash, for a monthly rate of 200-250$

The worst thing with my selection is that I have a somewhat expensive taste. I have two older siblings that both have really nice cars and so it's rubbed off on me. My car now is an 02 cavalier base with 207k miles on it lol. It was my sisters first car.

My two main requirements are: leather seating and a moonroof if it's available as an option.

As per g8s, I have found  multiple ones that are low miles but are really low priced on cars.com
It seems they are too low to be true. Is it just me being paranoid or is this sort of the norm with this model?

This is the one I really want but at 9700$ for the most expensive model produced, it's either a pos or a scam...
http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp?tracktype=usedcc&csDlId=&csDgId=&listingId=95541215&listingRecNum=2&criteria=prMx%3D20000%26sf1Dir%3DASC%26prMn%3D0%26mkId%3D20035%26stkTyp%3DU%26mdId%3D21186%26rd%3D500%26crSrtFlds%3DstkTypId-feedSegId-mkId-mdId-pseudoPrice%26zc%3D16115%26rn%3D0%26PMmt%3D1-1-0%26stkTypId%3D28881%26sf2Dir%3DASC%26sf1Nm%3Dprice%26sf2Nm%3Dmiles%26isDealerGrouping%3Dfalse%26rpp%3D50%26feedSegId%3D28705&aff=national&listType=1

Personally, I would get a Fusion, Malibu, etc.    You're young still and the housing market is ripe.    Wait until you're older and out of college, then get a home.    After you get that settled, get the expensive car if you then wish.    Most of us have been in your shoes.   I have had two Milan's with the Moonroof.    4 cyl,16 gallon tank, 500 miles a fill up and only one recall in 6 years (not counting the TSB's.)

[CAP1]

Personally, I would get a Fusion, Malibu, etc.    You're young still and the housing market is ripe.    Wait until you're older and out of college, then get a home.    After you get that settled, get the expensive car if you then wish.    Most of us have been in your shoes.   I ahve had two Milan's with the Moonroof.    4 cyl,16 gallon tank, 500 miles a fill up and only one recall in 6 years (not counting the TSB's. 

 bolded......and some of us have made the mistake that you're being advised against.

[flight17]

hey flight17 ever think about a mazda speed3 used, a bud found one for around that price its got some giddyup to it and can be pretty fuel efficient

My brother-in-law had a Mazda six that I was actually going to buy from them, but it had issues with the engine so I didn't. But. Yes I'm considering hem as well. However, my uncle has said to try and stay away from them if possible be ause he gets a lot in at the shop.

[Motherland]

I have an E30 chassis 325is. Old, high mileage, worn away paint, a bit leaky... puts a smile on my face every time I turn it on. I haven't driven that many cars, but it's definitely the most fun I've ever had on four wheels. It's not bad on gas, either.
E30s are becoming classics and they're cheap... if you can find a really nice mint one you probably won't be paying more than $5,000 for it. In my opinion they're some of the best looking cars ever made.
Kind of random opinion I suppose, but classic BMW's are really, really cool.

Don't gangsters drive BMW's ?
And live in Hoods or something?

In America luxury=size, so no. You'll never see a gangster driving around a little 3 series coupe. More likely a Cadillac or some giant SUV. Early-2000s Mercedes have gotten pretty popular, too, and every once in a while you'll see a ghetto'd out 90's 7-series... but you're just as likely to see a 'gangsta' pick up truck.
Pretty much anything 15-20 years old that carries an expensive name and is big but in reality is very very cheap.

[Babalonian]

I'm 20... The only thing I haven't looked into for them yet is the insurance. But I would be paying for the entire car myself.

I wasn't even remotely considering them until I was looking through the dealers in the area and saw 07s and 08s going for about the same price I was going to spend on my car anyways. I know they are more expensive for parts but was just curious as to how much more. My uncles both work on cars, with one owning his own garage, however, I don't know if they will be able to work on them as it sort of sounds like only BMW dealer can.


If I could only get that mustang in Pheonix... It's exactly what I want...

Honestly, imho, you're starting at the wrong place in your search.  Grab a tasty beverage and go sweep your uncles garage for an hour, chat him up.  Not only will he have advice and answers to your questions, but he might have something in his back lot that a customer hasn't yet paid the bill on in over 6-12 months.

As in expensive or really cheap? I'm expecting it to be $200 a month off a pure guess...

CA is different than PA, but rough guesstiamtion would be at least in the 300s, especialy if it's a 2-door ("sport") and you age.... which I'm only guessing, but since you also want a stang, the sportier ones are probabley what you really want, so yeah, if this were CA I would say with confidence that I wouldn't be surprised if it hit 4 bills.


In your shoes, I wouldn't buy the (or any) 100k-mile beamer.  Experience has taught me the person/mechanic that I trust to be fixing my cars is about as critical to the decision made as my personal tastes in a vehicle when selecting one.

[eagl]

Knowing that you are financing it...

I strongly recommend getting a cheap reliable beater and paying cash.  Get the best civic or whatever you can get with your CASH, and start saving your pennies so you can buy a new car with CASH.

Car loans are for suckers.  Really.  Go to the country club estates, ask anyone on the street walking their dog if they have a car payment...  They'll all say no, car loans are for suckers.  If you don't want to be poor, then don't do what poor people do.  Want to be in a comfortable situation with money, do what the rich people do.  Don't be in debt for ANYTHING.  House mortgage is ok for a while, but pay cash or do without for everything else.

Seriously.

[Golfer]

To build on what eagl said and taking into account your age, a small affordable car loan will help establish some good credit history. Do not buy at the top end of what you can afford however. Keep it small and simple with a low interest rate. All those things are negotiable and don't be shy about walking away from a deal to get what you're looking for.

After I lost my job in early 2007 I had to settle some store credit accounts I owed on because I bought what I could afford and could no longer afford them with a 60% pay cut. Harsh reality. Fast forward when I start looking for a house early last year and had gotten in the habit of paying cash for everything I wanted (guns, computer, truck, etc) I needed some recent GOOD credit history to get my score on the rise. Well anybody can get a car loan so I bought a car. (the Mustang) I put some money down and took 5 years at 1.9% for the lowest monthly obligation (knowing I'm throwing more than that at it each month, which will save you a lot of money) to show in capable of paying more than just my rent and electric bill.

Well it worked. I picked up a 3.5% fixed interest rate on a conventional 30 year mortgage because my credit score went from not good into the 700s.

Auto loans are bad business for buyers but they can also serve a purpose (at a cost) if you use them sparingly.

This isn't advice to go finance the upper limit of what you can afford. It's saying make your budget less than $10,000 for something reliable and pay it off in a few years.