Dilema: Older, High Mileage 325 or Newer Car like GS-R?

Mikey52 · #1 (**permalink**) 05-07-2002, 04:32 PM

Alright, Ive been hyped for the past 6 months or so about finally having a good job and being able to (barely) afford a BMW. People have been telling me I shouldnt do it, I should wait and buy a bimmer as my 2nd or 3rd car(this would be my first purchase) and I was just ignoring them. Owning a BMW is a small dream of mine and I was basically set on seeing that dream SOON! Until today I was driving home and I thought, Im stupid, Im going to spend all my cash on an old car, pay a lot for any repairs it might need and wont have any money to mod it, at least not for a long time. What kinda brought this up is that walking to and from work in DC, I see a lot of older E36's, most dont look very flattering and I have heard a lot that sound like shit and obviously have mechanical problems. I find myself not wanting my car to look like these or have the same expensive problems. I commute 60 miles per day and I really dont need a car that will give me a lot of problems.

Anyway, it got me thinking, what about a late 90's Integra GS-R with mileage in the 50-60k range. 170 Hp, pretty fast out of the box, Honda reliability, Honda cheap parts/repairs, and they look pretty good. Also if it turns out that I couldnt find one, I could go with an LS with 140 Hp with less miles for about the same. I currently drive a 110 Hp beast 2001 Focus. It's a nice car for a Ford, 34 mpg!, the engine runs well and the shifter and clutch are smooth but it isnt exactly a 'speedy' car(and it's the 'rents).

I would probably not mod this car, if anything I would do the bare essentials, wheels, intake, exhaust(with the biggest tip I could find!

).

So does anyone have any opinions on what I should do? Im looking to spend $13k or less. Any other suggestions of cars in my price range? I probably wont be buying a car till late summer if that makes a difference.

Any help is appeciated!

EDIT: I just thought of a Subaru Impreza. Theyre not too expensive and look pretty good. Anyone know any problems with them? The 2.5RS is kinda quick I think.

nicholas · #2 (**permalink**) 05-07-2002, 04:45 PM

BMWs are very reliable. Just make sure to get a pre-purchase inspection done. Hondas are also reliable too, but not perfect and, in my opinion, no more reliable than a comparable BMW. In fact, my 1992 Honda Civic Si had several problems, both half shafts broke, a bearing in the tranny went, the sunroof decided not to close one day, the door lock mechanism broke, the rear latch broke, etc.(all these problems happened within 5 years of ownership and only 60k miles.) Also, be careful when buying a GSR. Most Hondas make their power high up in the rev range, so that's where they have been driven most of the time. I know I feel sorry for the poor sucker that now has my car. Considering how much money you have, maybe you might want to look into a Mini or trading your Focus in on a SVT Focus. In the end it will depend on what your driving style is and what comfort level you like in your interiors. Good Luck with your car search. Just make sure to always have a pre-purchase inspection done before buying any car.

Imprezas are nice, but get a WRX. The value of the 2.5RS will continue to tumble as more WRXs hit the roads. And it will drop further once the WRX STI and Lancer EVO 7 come out. A friend of mine has a 2.5 RS, and he regrets not waiting for a WRX.

AMCbimmer · #3 (**permalink**) 05-07-2002, 04:48 PM

BMW's are only reliable when new i have owned two used. And i dumped 7k in the first one and 10k in the second one. That is all in one year for each car.

Mikey52 · #4 (**permalink**) 05-07-2002, 04:57 PM

Thanks for the replies. I would keep the Focus if it was mine to keep but it is owned by my parents, I just drive it. Since it isnt mine I am going to need a car sometime soon and I would prefer something sportier. Also as for reliability, my main concern isnt really with how much the car will need repairing(although that is one) but how much the repairs cost. I know from hearing people on this board that repairing bimmers is not cheap, I also know repairing hondas is relatively cheap.

I was doing some research and I noticed that the 97 prelude(first year of the MUCH nicer body style) comes into my price range and the cars dont have too many miles on them so that would be another option. Also the 240SX came to mind. Kinda rare for a 96'+ model but 155 Hp and RWD isnt too bad, dont know about reliabilty though.

AMCbimmer · #5 (**permalink**) 05-07-2002, 05:27 PM

If i were you I would get a GSR like a 94-95 because they are low in price. Then put a turbo or supercharger on for 3k and that thing will fly. I have had my gsr for 1 and put 20k on it and the thing still runs great. take a look at this site>>
http://members.tripod.com/mattfrick/index.htm

Jeff · #6 (**permalink**) 05-07-2002, 08:12 PM

Buy my car
You are in fredrick...I am in Annapolis, only about 45 mins or so.
My car is for sale, 94 325iS in great condition, with nearly the full M3 body kit on it. It has 130K on the odometer, but i had Tate BMW put a new engine in when the damn plastic impeller siezed the whole thing. The engine has 9K miles on it, and the car runs perfect, brakes, radiator, water pump, all maintanence type stuff is new. I am asking 12.5K for the car. PM me if u want more info or pics
Jeff

Beemerman328m · #7 (**permalink**) 05-07-2002, 11:09 PM

ok if you wanna talk financially, dont buy a bimmer, they do not make financial sense.(but neither does dropping 15k in6 weeks to mae you bimmer faster..like i did) if i was in your situation i would go buy a toyota corolla 94 fo like 4k, vry dependable, save your money and buy an M3 in about a year...or you can buy Jeffs calypso Bimmer because he is a trader and wants to get rid of the most beautiful color bmw ever made ( i am a littl bias) and finish off what he started, its not a bad car, and it looks great, he was my only competition, until tommorrow when i get my calypso out of the body shop, then its gonna be all over....so maybe 2nd place isnt to bad....lol im rambling, all i am meaning to say is BUY JEFFS CALYPSO 325is, ITS PHAT

onebadm5 · #8 (**permalink**) 05-07-2002, 11:34 PM

e-brake has a 2.5RS, really NICE CAR!

Mikey52 · #9 (**permalink**) 05-08-2002, 04:55 AM

Arg! That's so tempting...I really wanted to wait a few more months so I had more money and didnt have to borrow that much from my parents. BUT, that's a good deal for a basically new motor in your 325...ARG! I'll have to think about it.

Jeff · #10 (**permalink**) 05-08-2002, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Beemerman328m
...or you can buy Jeffs calypso Bimmer because he is a trader and wants to get rid of the most beautiful color bmw ever made ( i am a littl bias) and finish off what he started, its not a bad car, and it looks great, he was my only competition, until tommorrow when i get my calypso out of the body shop, then its gonna be all over....so maybe 2nd place isnt to bad....lol im rambling, all i am meaning to say is BUY JEFFS CALYPSO 325is, ITS PHAT

Hahaha...Man TRUST ME, if they had calypso on an ///M3, i would be searching hi and low...I'm no traitor man! A guys just gotta do what he has to sometimes, and I found the right M3 for me...Thanks for the props on the car...Get some pictures of urs up when it is out of the body shop

DiscoStu · #11 (**permalink**) 05-08-2002, 09:34 AM

Here's my opinion: don't buy a 325i/is. They are slow as balls. I have a 92 with intake, exhaust, and an AA chip. My friend's stock 94 accord EX auto can beat me. As far as ride/handling goes, I'm not impressed. Agian, my friend's stock accord feels better, and I have Bilstein shocks.

If you buy a bimmer, get a 328is with the sport package. I have a friend with one, and DAMN!!! I love that car, it is so nice. It's fast, rides great, I love it. If I had the money, I'd trade up in a heartbeat. For 13K, you might be able to find one on Autotrader or Ebay. Another 1K and I don't think you'd have much trouble.

serfur1 · #12 (**permalink**) 05-08-2002, 09:49 AM

hey disco, get back over to JU

DiscoStu · #13 (**permalink**) 05-08-2002, 10:24 AM

rich325i · #14 (**permalink**) 05-08-2002, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DiscoStu
Here's my opinion: don't buy a 325i/is. They are slow as balls. I have a 92 with intake, exhaust, and an AA chip. My friend's stock 94 accord EX auto can beat me. As far as ride/handling goes, I'm not impressed. Agian, my friend's stock accord feels better, and I have Bilstein shocks.

If you buy a bimmer, get a 328is with the sport package. I have a friend with one, and DAMN!!! I love that car, it is so nice. It's fast, rides great, I love it. If I had the money, I'd trade up in a heartbeat. For 13K, you might be able to find one on Autotrader or Ebay. Another 1K and I don't think you'd have much trouble.

Hmm... I can't figure out what's going on-- either this guy drives a 318i and thinks it's a 325i or he's got major engine problems, but no stock Accord could beat a 325i. As far as handling, well, he has his opinion, but I think we all know that for the money, you cannot get a nicer handling car. Perhaps this guy means that his ride is not as SMOOTH as his friend's accord, and that's cuz Bilsteins sacrafice smoothness for precision. But obviously he's got some major mechanical problems if a 328i is THAT much better than his car.

Oh, one more thing-- he doesn't have VANOS... so get a 93+ if you get a Bimmer.

Also, keep in mind that no matter what anyone says, a HOnda/Acura is MUCH more reliable overall than a BMW. But boring as hell to drive.

Your call-- in your position, I would get an older Bimmer, but you'd be much smarter if you got the Acura.

Mikey52 · #15 (**permalink**) 05-08-2002, 12:00 PM

Heh, that's the dilema, do I be smart and buy a Honda(Im thinkin 97' Prelude now) and save up the money for a nicer car later, or do I follow my heart and get a Bimmer. CalypsoBimmer didnt make things any better for me, before I was almost set on waiting and now Im back to wanting a BMW!!

By the way, Calypso, you have a PM.