New car maybe around end of summer.. - United Bimmer Community

**brien4787** · 03-01-2007, 07:33 PM

Need some help guys...
My e36 is about 12 years old, 160k on the clock, am a college student, one which parents don't give me money for anything.

I want something cheap, decent, and will last me until I get through college and get my professional life stable. A 12 year old car will not help, especially being a BMW.

I want to spend around 15k, really don't want to spend more.
15k obviously limits me quite a bit, but I know that there are definately some possibilities.

One car I was looking at is the Mazda 3. Base starts around 14k.
My best friend just got one and he loves it. I am not sure if his is base or not, but it seems like a great car to get from place to place. From the Mazda site, I am not sure if it comes standard with air conditioning.... Sure it does, but the site is throwing me off...

Another I am looking at is the Honda Fit.... Don't know much about it, but it starts at around 14500 or so....

If it was possible to find a slightly used Mini Coop, for 14k or so, that would be a possibility...

Any ideas guys? What is the reliability on these cars? Pluses and Minuses?

Thanks!

nick_318is · 03-01-2007, 08:08 PM

The mazda 3 is alright, and do the mini coop if you could.

Get a nice e30 for 3-5k, then fix/upgrade it with the rest of the money, if any is left over save it.

**xsperf** · 03-01-2007, 08:24 PM

are you looking for something brand new? if you want a few yrs old try a vw jetta

**brien4787** · 03-01-2007, 11:48 PM

I was looking at VW rabbits... but VWs past generation has had a lot or problems... so i am not too sure about that.

i dont want an older car.... i want something that will hold me over without repairs for the next 4-6 years

witeshark · 03-01-2007, 11:52 PM

Honda Fit isn't bad, a friend of mine has one

nick_318is · 03-02-2007, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brien4787

i want something that will hold me over without repairs for the next 4-6 years

Good Luck, i think you want something japanese, so I guess get the honda, but I still dont think there is a car out there that you can do no repairs on for the next 4-6 years.

Where are you getting the $15k from, do you have it saved, are you financing a new car (loan, and if so what are you looking at for interest rates, term of payments, down payments)?

**brien4787** · 03-02-2007, 12:48 AM

I dont mean no repairs, i mean less than my 95 e36... a new car has a warranty and less problems.

sell my car for a couple grand, saving to another couple grand... get a loan with my parents cosigning...

**Dudesky** · 03-02-2007, 06:05 AM

I'd heard from a my mechanic that the Mazda 3 exhibited some tranny problems at the beginning, but not as much nowadays. So take that with a grain of salt, or not. Personally, if I needed good reliability, I'd probably get the Honda.

drz · 03-02-2007, 11:31 AM

I would get a Civic coupe before I looked at the Fit. The Mazda3 I have heard nothing but good things about (except for what D'Sky just posted in this thread).

You can always just get the cheapest Hyundai or Suzuki they have (payments end up being like $100/mo, and the warranty will cover you through your life in college). Personally, I would go for a Suzuki (Japanese > Korean).

Good luck with it all.

**brien4787** · 03-02-2007, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drz

I would get a Civic coupe before I looked at the Fit. The Mazda3 I have heard nothing but good things about (except for what D'Sky just posted in this thread).

You can always just get the cheapest Hyundai or Suzuki they have (payments end up being like $100/mo, and the warranty will cover you through your life in college). Personally, I would go for a Suzuki (Japanese > Korean).

Good luck with it all.

heh, syundai and suzuki? eep, i want to like the car too...

**Pawel** · 03-02-2007, 08:04 PM

Something some what fun to drive?
I would go with

Used Acura RSX Type-S
or Acura Intergra GSR
or even Honda Civic Si
or Scion Tc

All are Manuals, not sure if you are looking for auto or manual, but all three should be reliable, fun to drive (in comparison to your average econobox), good MPG. Not sure how all of these fit in your budget.

**94bmw325i** · 04-21-2007, 01:19 AM

GSR's arent that new. The only one out of those other 3 that is supposed to handle pretty well is the new civic si because it has an LSD.

Late post I know..

drz · 04-21-2007, 10:44 AM

Did I suggest the VW Rabbit?

**MTurboPower3** · 04-21-2007, 11:43 AM

why dont you just get a used e46

nick_318is · 04-21-2007, 01:43 PM

^College kids dont have enough money generally to go get an e46.