Please help - - what car do I buy??

[seventhexile]

My mom is all of a sudden on a rampage that I must sell my civic - yes my car I've spent the last 4 years of my life putting together to race at limerock.... she will be missed.

and also my nissan sentra.. which I don't care for anyways. - but I got a good deal on at the time.

Selling of those 2 cars should bring me in around 14-15K
not that much I know

Now with that - I have 1 more year of college before I graduate w/ a dual degree electrical / mechanical engineering - I am betting on being able to pay off what ever car loans I might have - cross my fingers that it works out that way ..

I need a car that looks nice and matches the rolex wearing style
- I also am trying to get investors to pitch in (and school is also pitching in)
on an alternative energy patient I'm working on.

Thus I will be going to meetings w/ some pretty important ppl...
and unfortunately the true is I'm just a kid -
when they see me they see liability and potential loss.

I want them to be distracted by the watch, clothes, clean smile and nice looking car.
Which tells them - I have assets they can seize if things go bad.

anyways all that to say - here are my current choices in a price range I can afford.

Also - I'm going to be in an area w/ snow. (the car will be garaged, but I will need to get to class / work)


All the cars listed have leather interiors

2002 Audi TT

73K miles
6 speed
AWD

2001 Audi TT

Convertible
70K miles
6 speed

03 Nissan 350z

6 speed
80K miles

...... cars above are all cars I can get w/ out much hassle in terms of my financial means
these 2 cars below I like the most, but money is about 4K more then I'd like to pay.
However, if it is a long term car, then money is worth it. - also the last 2 still have the factory warranty on them - maybe that would be good for me ?

06 BMW 525i

44K miles

06 Infiniti G35 Coupe

18k miles
Remaining factory warranty

06 BMW 3 series 325i

57K
Remaining factory warranty

 

[Tranman]

Great choices! I saw these new concept cars coming out next year. They should be great on gas mileage. They were modeled after the new smart car..

seriously, if you want to be taken serious, either go for the infiniti or the BMW. The nissan Z kinda gives the image "reckless" or "irresponsible". at least to me anyway.

 

[izebulon]

Noticed you have two views b/t sportier/2seat/ragtops that are ~7yrs v 3yr old sedans or 4seater. Given the snow concern, will you get enough use out of the convertibles, and wouldn't the Z be a beast in bad weather?

They are all nice choices. If trying project an older vibe, the small two seaters might not serve as well, but might be more fun The 5 or the G (or a G sedan, again not quite as much fun but just in case you need to drive any prospective investors to lunch) probably have the older feel. If you are concerned about cost of maintenance as it gets up in mileage, depending on how long you plan to keep it, the Japanese ones might be better. I love the look and feel of the TT's, but every time I look at them I think VW Golf...

Personally, I'd lean towards the lower mileage and newer options. Have you looked to give up another year or two on cars in the second group? Might give some more options w/out spending the extra $$. Did you consider an A6 quattro turbo? Fairly lively, reliable last time I checked, and AWD for crappy weather?

good luck, I like your taste

 

[subseeker]

No car's going to cover up your "youth", and that's a good thing. :wink:

Now the cars.

Audi TT w/ 70k miles????? :roll: :roll: :roll: --> OUT. Turn around and just walk away.

And the rest of the cars are all Rear Wheel drive (planning on skiing with your car on snow)???


Please don't be offended, but a nice "subdued" sedan (AWD or FWD) will do the magic.
I don't think you will impress investors/important people with you (being early 20s) driving luxury "preowned" sport coupes.

 

[seventhexile]

No car's going to cover up your "youth", and that's a good thing. :wink:

Now the cars.

Audi TT w/ 70k miles????? :roll: :roll: :roll: --> OUT. Turn around and just walk away.

And the rest of the cars are all Rear Wheel drive (planning on skiing with your car on snow)???

Ya I know - 70K is bad
Most of the cars I'm finding from 02 - 06 (which are my price range)
are in that 40-70K range

on a good note the roads are relatively well plowed,. (upstate ny - and boston)
but I know what you mean..
luckily moms had me taking defensive driving classes + racing classes since I was 15
(crashed into a telephone pole racing some ppl ... thought I was hot shit in my 5 speed 89 prelude)

Thankfully I've now actually become an amateur track racer.. though key word there is track
I can handle a rear wheel in snow.. not as well as a front wheel though , but well enough.


@ izebulon: I see what you mean about the 350z.
Its hard because as I said a sec ago, I do track race cars, and I am a college kid.
So I'm looking for something in the middle.
Your dead right about the 350z .. I was feeling the same way.

And yes when I see the TT I think VW golf - but I lie to myself and try to move past that hahaha.

I'll def give the A6 a look at, never driven in one before, I'll have to stop by a dealer and see how it is.

oh ... and no wont get any use out of the convertible.. actually don't even like convertibles. - but both TT's were about the same price and mileage. Only real difference was one was 1 year older, but convertible.. so figured what the heck might as well have a mid life crisis earlier then later

 

[Para]

I'd go TT '01... I wouldn't purchase anything that could put me off in this economy... it'll do great until way past graduation... heck, I graduated a very long time ago and still don't drive a toy like that! (not that it's my style though... I'll probably buy a truck, Toyota or Land Rover, when my car breaks down)

 

[exeekias]

prius?

you did say alternative energy patent.

 

[izebulon]

Just do yourself a favor and have your mid-life convertible when you live farther south.

Para makes a good point, don't stretch to buy a more expensive depreciating asset in a down economy.

Other considerations: If you are open to FWD, Acura TL is good, from your Civic experience you could deal w/ the understeer when having fun but it will be more sluggish from the weight. IMHO Lexus drives too much like an American car. If you really want to seem staid, Volvo S80 or Saab 9-5. Where I've seen them they depreciate faster than the Audi/BMW/Infinity/Acura/Lexus which is okay if buying used (lower miles for the price) depending on how long you hang onto them. But you'd need to go top end performance trim on the sweedish cars to get close to the neighborhood (but not in the neighborhood) of the G35 or BMW for driving experience. And Volvo's can be spotty on maintenance.

For what it's worth, my friends that have G35's love them and have had no trouble, the BMW owners (3's & 5's) loved them while the maintenance was covered and hated suffering transmission issues in the 70k-100k mile range when it was out of warranty. Mileage that high always leads to repair costs, but when the mechanics are wearing white lab coats it gets a bit pricey.

 

[rooster133]

Definitely the 5 series out of that lot. Go for it.

 

[expandmywealth]

Limerock in Connecticut?!? My dad races his Corvette and his NSX on that track. Cool...

You have really good taste in cars.

The Red Audi TT is nice and will handle well in the snow, but it might not have the horsepower that you are looking for, also it has no backseat. I would recommend the Audi S4 over the TT, much more power in a larger car. Screw the convertable, it's awesome in the summer, but you'll freeze your ass off during the winter in upstate NY. Wait until you move out to Cali before you buy your convertable.

Nissan 350 ZX these are awesome cars for the price, great handling and performance, however they are rear wheel drive so they will be both fun and take skill to drive in the winter. You can pull awesome e-breakers in the snow when the roads are slick in this car. My fav upstate NY car was my 1998 Toyota Supra Turbo, I could totally pull that car sideways in the snow.

I prefered the G35 over the 350ZX because the G35 had more of a refined and classy style rather than a car purely built for performance like the 350ZX. However, you absolutely need a manual transmission on this car.

The BMWs are cool, but the ones you pictured are just mediocre. Don't get me wrong, they are nice luxury cars that would be really smooth to cruise across town. However, you totally seem like a high-performance type of guy. So I couldn't see you driving any BMW that was less than an M3. With BMWs stick with the M-Series. That 3-series is quite nice, look at the wheels and bodyshape. That 5-series is more something that your dad would drive.

So the winner in my opinion, hands down would be the G35. Followed by the 350ZX, that's only if you love driving a RWD with a stick shift in the snow... drifting time!

Also the Infiniti G35 has a 5 year/60,000 mile warranty and the 350ZX only has a 3 year/36,000 mile warranty. Nissan puts more time and effort into making the Inifiniti line better, plus you'll get better service if anything does go wrong and you need to take advantage of the warranty.

* Otherwise, I know the Subaru WRX is very popular in Rochester because they have both awesome performance and awesome handling in the snow. However, it's a Subaru... yuck!

 

[trailboss99]

Out of that lot I'd have to say either the G35 or the 5 series. The 5 has the advantage of being designed with snow and ice firmly in mind but both give an impresion of being a sensible car whereas the 350 just screams boy racer. The red TT is certainly a good bad weather performer but as has been said the miles are a tad high. How about a Lexus?

Col.

 

[cazIRL]

5 Series. Best car out of them all imho
Outside, inside a top notch car.

 

[UFUKNUT]

get the g35 or g37, or the 350z. audi, in my opinion are more fem cars... im into muscle but cant complain about the z, had one 3 years ago. very nice and fast but not much room in there. or if u want a nice bmw get a 645, i like that body style a lot. u can get a nice used one for around 30-40k...

 

[fakemaster]

How about something conservative.

 

[cazIRL]

How about something conservative.

like a yellow lambo???

 

[UFUKNUT]

How about something conservative.

like a yellow lambo???

lol, or paint that civic yellow like a lambo

 

[SpaCityHustler]

Just my thoughts based on my life, I started my own business when I was 21 and did well enough that I retired from it at 35 and went back to school to finish my bachelors degree, and ended up hanging around and getting a masters and am toying with the idea of law school. The first thing I did when the cash flow really started working was ran out and bought a brand new Infinti Q45, the car was more of a hindrance than a help. I was caught up in thinking material items make the man. Truthfully the car was the worst thing I could have done, it made it much harder to get investors and bankers interested when the time came to ask for outside capital to grow the business. The view of a young man trying to prove he is something translates to the older types as either you don't need their help, business, etc. or even worse they instantly judge you as irresponsible, that you have caviar taste on a big mac budget. Even if you have the cash to throw down and pay for the car in full the outside world will just assume you are leveraged out the ass and up to the gills in debt. Heck, I am 40 now and own a seven year old E430 and I still get that look some time. Sam Walton, the wealthiest man it the world at the time of his death in 1996 drove a 1978 Ford F-150 and I think Warren Buffet drives either a 1999 or 2000 Lincoln Town Car. Do yourself a great service and get a mere mortal car at this point in your life you probably think a nice Camry or Accord would be a fate worse than death, but it would probably be the best move you could make. A car does not make you who you are, your thoughts, dreams, and ideas do.....

 

[seventhexile]

Just my thoughts based on my life, I started my own business when I was 21 and did well enough that I retired from it at 35 and went back to school to finish my bachelors degree, and ended up hanging around and getting a masters and am toying with the idea of law school. The first thing I did when the cash flow really started working was ran out and bought a brand new Infinti Q45, the car was more of a hindrance than a help. I was caught up in thinking material items make the man. Truthfully the car was the worst thing I could have done, it made it much harder to get investors and bankers interested when the time came to ask for outside capital to grow the business. The view of a young man trying to prove he is something translates to the older types as either you don't need their help, business, etc. or even worse they instantly judge you as irresponsible, that you have caviar taste on a big mac budget. Even if you have the cash to throw down and pay for the car in full the outside world will just assume you are leveraged out the ass and up to the gills in debt. Heck, I am 40 now and own a seven year old E430 and I still get that look some time. Sam Walton, the wealthiest man it the world at the time of his death in 1996 drove a 1978 Ford F-150 and I think Warren Buffet drives either a 1999 or 2000 Lincoln Town Car. Do yourself a great service and get a mere mortal car at this point in your life you probably think a nice Camry or Accord would be a fate worse than death, but it would probably be the best move you could make. A car does not make you who you are, your thoughts, dreams, and ideas do.....

very good point !
damn...
I wish it wasn't such a good point though haha.

All the cars I listed are ones that I have available to me atm for a very good price, the same as I would pay for a camery or another civic (which I wouldn't have a problem with getting - I love my civic has always been good to me and cheap on repairs)

But I figured if I can get a nicer car for the same price - maybe a few years older, but nicer - might be worth it.



If the infinity was a g35x - (all wheel drive)
I'd be all over it. - I'm looking at about $18k for it.
Fully serviced no problems w/ all records of reg servicing and such
clean car.

The 325i is about
19-20K, but its more then I'm really wanting to spend..
but still a niiiice car. and one that a lot of ppl are pushing me towards.

The 5 is about $22K - which is now really pushing the price I am able to pay..
however...... $22K for an almost brand new 5 series is very cheap.

Both audi's are around $17K


Looks like it atm comes down to:

Infiniti g35
Bmw 3 series
Dont buy a car like that and get another civic.

(I'm still looking at all the other car suggestions ppl have made, going to a dealer tomorrow to see what they look like and possibly test drive some of the other audi's and cars mentioned)

 

[ahw676]

My mom is all of a sudden on a rampage that I must sell my civic - yes my car I've spent the last 4 years of my life putting together to race at limerock.... she will be missed.

I hope that you don't mean your mom.

Hey, seventh: I don't know much about cars, but you might as well get a girl's opinion. And I know you have mom's opinion and a girlfriend's opinion, so between Anne-marie and me, that should round things out nicely.

Of course, I don't know what college age girls are looking for when they look at nice-looking men and their cars, but given your location, I'm with the other guys that say, what exactly are you going to do with that convertible top? Besides which, if you roll it, you're not going to have anything worthwhile to cover your head, which sucks. Heads are important, and fairly vulnerable in car accidents.

I will tell you if I were looking to be impressed by your maturity and reliability, that Nissan would turn me off right away. And to extrapolate further, anything with a ridiculous spoiler would too. Frankly, I don't like any coupe even if you aren't transporting a family. Never driven one and never liked them, and don't think that they make any statements regarding maturity and planning for the future.

The Audi and the Inifiniti would be more to my taste (taking this with the proverbial grain of salt as not only do I not wear a Rolex but I don't wear a watch most days now).

Also, not at all helpful to you, I'm sure, but my personal taste is to dislike any white car or red car. And while black cars are pretty when they're all clean and pretty, if you're driving in snow, they won't stay that way long.

And echoing the sentiment of considering a boring, but reliable car: I drive a 2007 Honda Accord EXL, five speed, leather interior, and I love it. It might not scream prestige, but it should at least whisper sensibility and it's absolutely stone cold reliable in all weather conditions so far (and it's seen its share already, although admittedly I did spin my car off the road a month after buying it, but that was the day I learned that when they close down the interstate, it's for a reason and it's not a smart idea to try to defeat it).

Good luck.

 

[Spirit]

7th my friend...

...I really dunno what kind of car you do like the most, but I can say that jumping from a small car like the Civic (or even the Nissan) will be a huge difference for your way of driving ´til you get used to the new height and sizes of a big car.

I´d like to tell you my humble opinion based solely on my tastes, and that - although you said a little bit over what you want to spend - would be go for the 5-series.
Except for the G35 (that is the only car there that I have never even entered into one) all the others are really nice, but NONE...and I say NONE, will match the comfort and silence will will feel in a 5-series. It´s above the rest, I must say, and the car is really appealing with all that room.

But, once I have told ya in the begining of this post, I´m not sure what kind of car/driving experience do you want. if you want something agile and quick at the traffic, I´d say the TT would resemble more the Civic in size and feeling, but if you want to really step up, the Bimmer is the way to go.
The Audi A4 is also a good choice, but still would be as good as the 5-series.

I bet you must think ahead on the servicing too, and how much it will cost for you. Well....at this point, I guess the 5-series wouldn´t be cheapo too, but I don´t know how assistance is around there, how about prices and stuff. Here where I live, it´s pricey, as any german car could be.


Damn, 7th, I was hoping to push you to buy my car, and get me some reps + GEN boxsets in the deal too, but you come with this list! :x

:mrgreen: :lol:

Cheers,
Spirit.