Related note about perceived value/cost of a vehicle:
I know this is out of your stated price range right now, but in July, hubby and I purchased a 10 month old BMW X3 that had a mere 10,000 miles on it, and still more than 3 years left on a totally sweet warranty. On the same day we bought it, we looked at, and test-drove a new Toyota Sienna minivan. Now, I’ll grant you the minivan was brand new, vs the almost-one-year-old Beemer. But the Toyota was $10,000 more than the BMW. Since we bought it, we’ve gotten envious looks, comments, and when he’s not with me, he’s had more than one attractive woman start a flirtatious conversation with him, based on the car. People see the BMW hood ornament, and think “success”. No one ever says “Hey, nice Toyota!”
BTW, for anyone who’s wondering, we got the Beemer for $30,000. About 25% less than the same car (with the same package; it’s loaded) costs brand new. It’s all about the perception. We just love it because it’s comfy, the warranty is unbeatable, and it has all-wheel-drive and good mileage. Oh, and hubby has that same vain streak the OP talks about.
Ralph, thanks for the info. I am planning on taking it to the local BMW dealer and have them do the complete check up on it. It’s $125 well spent imho. Bear in mind they have all the service records going back to the day the guy took delivery from them brand new. That kind of fanatical record keeping and the fact I might get the car for less than a grand is what is drawing me to it:)
You can get parts for classic bimmers on eBay. In fact, I may be the one you’re buying from! If you know someone who can handle the actual repair work (or can do it yourself), it can make it reasonable to own a 635 CSi or the like.
Yeah the parts I looked at were actually cheaper than the ones for my old Honda Accord! Plus there is an incredible network of e23 733i lovers out there and from what Ive read I should have little trouble taking care of a lot of the minor stuff myself. For the harder stuff I live next door to a repair guy who specializes in German cars and he owes me some favors.
That’s good to know! My eBay partner and I bought an '88 735 for $500 and have been going back and forth about whether to fix it up and sell it or part it out. I’ve been arguing all along that we can make more money parting it out, so your observation supports my position. Thank you!
Escalades are way out of his price range unless he can find one with something superficial wrong with it like a whole bunch of bullet holes. That would be cool.
In my opinion, there is nothing classy about a FIT. It looks like a toy. It may be a very functional and practical and comfortable vehicle, but I don’t think it’s very classy.
All of the other recommendations in this thread are great. But beware BMWs, they are likely to have expensive problems in old age. You can’t go wrong with a Saab, and also don’t forget about the older Volvo sedans - they’re very classy, in a worn, bohemian sort of way (the best kind!)
Heh. An acquaintance of mind recently got his licence back after a messy drink-driving incident that also left him toxic from an insurance perspective. He paid something stupid like £1800 for a 500SEL from whichever year was the last of the square ‘brick-barge’ S-class before they moved to the new aerodynamic model. The thing is awesome - leather, aircon, acres of room, looks great. Some idiot drove into him from behind at a traffic light and wrecked his Renault in the process - left the Merc with some scuff marks on the bumper.
But at UK prices, a 5-litre V8 is not cheap to run. :eek:
