Recommendations

[celsdogg]

a bit on subarus: my family has owned a 92 subaru legacy, and 94 subaru impreza and my wife and i have a 04 subaru legacy.

the 92 and 94 were tin cans, and i have said so myself. when you close the trunk and doors it sounds just like one. but they are reliable machines that still run well with no problems.

my wifes 04 legacy is a lot different. it is in no way like a tin can. its just as solid as my E30 and feature wise just like a 325ix. two LSD's and the very basic (read: only the necessary) items needed in a car.

between the 90's and todays subarus they are all reliable, but the build quality of newer ones is fantastic. we have had ours over a year and a half.

[BMWLotAttendant]

I was briefly checking out Audis, and A4s start out at $30,000 brand new. Some used 2006 A4s with 5,000-7,000 miles are going for $28,000.

How used are you going to go?, because I also saw a 2003 A4 (1.8) with 45,000 for $20,000.

I was going to suggest Audi as my 2nd recomendation. But Audis keep their residual value (like BMWs), so I don't know how used or new you wanted to go?

I really enjoy this thread, I mean,....I just like to the whole concept of "considering" all the options that people throw out in choosing which car to get next!

Thanks, and have fun Christmas shopping with the gf!

[Mercenary(FH)]

it's sad to hear a bmw going. sorry it's givin u a hell of a time....that sucks..... did u buy ur bmw used. if so maybe the previosu owner didnt take good care of it?

[doughboyea]

Mercenary(FH),
My '99 E46 was dealer maintained, I have the service record to prove it. All maintenance was done on time etc etc. Just as a recap, this is what I've posted on this forum regarding most of the repairs that have happened. There have been other things, I just can't remember them all.

Transmission
Oil Light
Cd Player
Belts
Still don't know...
Windows acting up and Control Arm Bushings
Busted Light bulb.... happened again last week
Engine stall.. Vanos
Mirror Cracked

In reference to buying used, I wouldn't mind it, except, well, I'm afraid I'll get a lemon. I feel that is what happened to me with this E46. It was nice upfront but after 10k mi, shit began to go wrong. I'm afraid, I'll admit it, really afraid. It's the first time that I'll have enough money to afford a new/newer car without anyones help and I don't want to get screwed.

Dough

[RSF5]

Awww... I say go for a later e46, one with less problems.

[nick_318is]

I like the mazdaspeed 3 option. I talked with my uncle who is an engineer and works on the roush performance parts and asked him about it and he said it is a fast car and has only heard good things about them, plus its pretty resonably priced.

[Numark318i]

Think twice about getting a brand new car. You loose money the second you drive off the lot. If you get a certified pre owned(anything) with waranty its prolly just as good, but u save some money and down the line your just gonna sell the car anyways.

Look into Volvo also, they got some nice cars, safe too. And they are pretty reliable from what we have experienced(although we got the pre buy up from ford model). They handle pretty good and if you get the turbo T5 from what i understand they are pretty quick.

cant go wrong with that IMHO.
*preparing for negative comments*

[doughboyea]

Hmm, ok, but if you got $30k to flop down onto the table for any car, would you really get a VoLvO? If I had a family, I'd consider it, just at the same price as other vehicles for which I'm looking at, it doesn't seem to pair up. I'm sure they're nice, but like with a Toyota/Honda, I can't imagine buying one. Of course, though, I shall consider it.

Dough

[doughboyea]

Every vehicle that I've owned has had rwd. When I've driven my mother's ford tarus and my dad's escape they tended to create alot of oversteer and spin the front wheels easily from a stop. But that has been with Ford vehicles, so are all fwd cars the same?

Dough

[craig]

yes they are.

edit: wait.. oversteer? wtf kind of FWD car are you driving?

[xsperf]

he probably ment understeer

[TerryY]

Or Torque steer

I have had a couple of FWD cars that did that quite well.

[craig]

but then again, if you are hitting the gas hard enough to spin the tires from a stop or getting it to understeer, then you really need to slow the fuck down anyway. front wheen drive wasnt made for fun.. it was made to be better on gas and easy to work with in the snow/ice.

[TerryY]

Originally Posted by craig

but then again, if you are hitting the gas hard enough to spin the tires from a stop or getting it to understeer, then you really need to slow the fuck down anyway. front wheen drive wasnt made for fun.. it was made to be better on gas and easy to work with in the snow/ice.

You would play hell convincing me that my little Mitsubishi Cordia turbo wasn't a fun drive. Both on dry roads and when properly equipped in the snow when I lived 26 miles up into the Rockies and commuted down to Denver every day.

[witeshark]

Yup ^^^ So true