I just got out of school, got a decent job, and now thinking about getting a newer car to replace my integra. Right now, I'm thinking either S2000, G35/350z, C5 Corvette, or M Roadster. My budget is around $15K. I think the most practical one is probably the G35. There're some great deals on the S2000, but the lack of torque and the soft top's tendency to leak kinda scares me. I don't know anything, as far reliablity, about the C5 and the M Roadster. Anybody can chime in on that? Anything else I should consider?

9/14/2009 11:15:56 AM

Gah, S2000 or C5 would be my choices and since I'm more into power and the ability to gain a lot more power I'd go with the C5.

9/14/2009 11:19:03 AM

I'd go with a 350z

9/14/2009 11:50:54 AM

^stick with 2006 or newer, imo.

Maybe this isn't your thing, but...

what about a WRX/STi?


It's a little older.. but :

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/1349740174.html

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp?paId=318806560


[Edited on September 14, 2009 at 12:02 PM. Reason : .]

9/14/2009 11:53:01 AM

^why 2006 or newer 350z?

9/14/2009 12:10:30 PM

because the old ones are not fast, lol.


as fast*

[Edited on September 14, 2009 at 12:13 PM. Reason : anything will be an upgrade from an integra]

9/14/2009 12:12:42 PM

if your budget is somewhat flexible you should try to find an e46 m3 for less than/around $17,000. I drove an 04 350z and BigT716's 02 M3 back to back and just laughed about how much better the m3 was.

9/14/2009 12:50:32 PM

lol, have fun paying that BMW maintenance

9/14/2009 12:54:07 PM

go big or go home!

9/14/2009 2:53:49 PM

Quote :

"what about a WRX/STi?"

so much fun

9/14/2009 4:04:09 PM

Quote :

"have fun paying that BMW maintenance "

why does everyone say that? it's just not true.

and I'd go for a C5

[Edited on September 14, 2009 at 4:29 PM. Reason : a]

9/14/2009 4:29:44 PM

Get a 30 year old Rolls Royce or Bentley.

Live like a motherfucking KING.

[Edited on September 14, 2009 at 4:39 PM. Reason : Or an almost new Camry/Accord ]

9/14/2009 4:34:36 PM

^ awww hell yeah

9/14/2009 4:52:14 PM

9/14/2009 4:54:32 PM

i'm finding the bmw maintenance to be a myth as well.

if you don't mind getting your hands dirty it's cake. everyone says OEM fluids are a must and they're so expensive. they are expensive, but fuck using them.

the valve adjustments are the biggest thing on my e46. after talking to jordan at mpowered they're very rarely needed. the only e46's he's seen that have truthfully needed valve adjustments done during inspection I or II have had actual vanos problems.

9/14/2009 7:35:59 PM

i have to say it's the easiest car to do an oil change on that i've ever owned. the filter is just in a nice little canister right beside the headlight. you just unscrew the top, pull out old filter, put in new, barely tighten it back and that part is done. sure as hell beats stabbing a screw driver through the typical filter that the idiot at the cheapo oil changing place overtightened.

i haven't had to do any real work on it but i have on a few of my friends and never had any real issues. hell, one of my friends took his to a dealership without knowing it had any kind of warranty on it and they did all the work for free after finding out it had a warranty.

9/14/2009 7:40:56 PM

I went with a 2003 G35 Coupe right out of school. I love it but gas is a bitch.

9/14/2009 8:14:12 PM

^^tell me how cheap brake parts are if you track your car...


^gas is a bitch? What? If you have to bitch about premium instead of regular you really shouldn't even have a car.

9/14/2009 9:36:54 PM

rotors are $60 and pads are $30

and was that a serious argument? it's a bad choice because brakes are expensive IF you track the car? come on.

9/14/2009 9:43:49 PM

i wasn't aware of some cut price shop. And any pads you buy for $30 are junk on a track.

And brakes are expensive IF you track a car b/c instead of lasting years they last months...DURRRRRRR!

[Edited on September 14, 2009 at 9:51 PM. Reason : K]

9/14/2009 9:51:12 PM

OP didn't mention tracking the car

9/14/2009 9:53:36 PM

Quote :

"i wasn't aware of some cut price shop"

Those prices are from Wearever via Advance Auto with limited lifetime warranty. Not saying they're a good brand, but not like it's some eBay shit made in some china guy's basement.

and more importantly, ^

[Edited on September 14, 2009 at 9:59 PM. Reason : a]

9/14/2009 9:59:33 PM

why in the hell would you buy a fucking M3 and put advance auto brake pads on it?

9/14/2009 10:22:50 PM

is it possible to get a a low mileage e46 m3 for around $17? and I don't plan on tracking my car, just want a nice DD.

9/14/2009 10:22:52 PM

And why the fuck would you buy a sports car and not track it. Just a poseur really...


(though I understand a M3 is more GT than sports car).


I agree with Duke.

9/14/2009 10:53:30 PM

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/1374864302.html

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/1374864302.html

http://winstonsalem.craigslist.org/ctd/1349738479.html

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/1361082287.html

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/1365089371.html

http://norfolk.craigslist.org/cto/1351891601.html

http://greensboro.craigslist.org/cto/1351222688.html

http://bgky.craigslist.org/cto/1325738085.html

9/14/2009 10:53:37 PM

Quote :

"is it possible to get a a low mileage e46 m3 for around $17? and I don't plan on tracking my car, just want a nice DD. "

Probably doable, but difficult. The ones that aren't ate up with miles are usually more than that.

and if I didn't care to track it, I'd get the G35...or a 330i sedan.

9/14/2009 11:08:01 PM

Who cares whether your fluids cost $30 or $110. Who cares whether pads are $29 or $129. Half that shit gets replaced every 2-5 years anyway. Are you really worried about an extra $100 averaged over two to five years? What about an extra $1,000 averaged over two to five years? I mean, I know all that shit adds up, but when you're paying that much for a car I don't think consumables are your biggest concern. Hard parts might be a bigger concern, but a lot of the time you're paying more for a superior product. If a Bimmer wheel bearing is 400x the cost of a Chevy Cavalier wheel bearing, but it is a sealed unit that lasts 300x longer; you're probably going to break even when you consider the labor costs whether it's your time or a shop's time. Shop rates are a legitimate concern, but good independent shops are out there who will help to keep those costs in check as well.

9/14/2009 11:19:52 PM

Quote :

" Probably doable, but difficult. The ones that aren't ate up with miles are usually more than that. and if I didn't care to track it, I'd get the G35...or a 330i sedan. "

Yeah you can find e46 M3's in that price range, but usually they are a bit more "used". If you don't mind little nicks here and there and higher mileage.

I agree that BMW maintenance isn't horrible if DIY. But the parts are not cheap by any stretch.

9/14/2009 11:35:51 PM

derail accomplished

9/14/2009 11:44:39 PM

9/14/2009 11:49:33 PM

some how every "what car should I get" eventually turns into a "buy an e46 m3" conversation

9/15/2009 12:11:05 AM

getting the M is retarded unless you're going to drive the shit out of it. A regular 330i or 330ci is more than enough performance for most people, and costs a whole helluva lot less than the M.

9/15/2009 12:14:55 AM

^true true, regular 3's are much easier to deal with....and the e9x 3's are really really nice

9/15/2009 12:24:41 AM

but the M isnt much more money is it? every 330 ZHP i find is more then a 70k mile m3

9/15/2009 12:25:47 AM

I'm not saying not to consider "maintenance" costs when picking a vehicle, but I just think that true consumables are rarely that big of a concern on the vehicles most of us would actually buy. It's the hard parts & labor that will eat you alive.

[Edited on September 15, 2009 at 12:27 AM. Reason : l]

9/15/2009 12:26:48 AM

^^forget the e46, get a e9x

9/15/2009 12:30:49 AM

oh i see what you guys are saying. the e90s seem to be really great cars.

9/15/2009 12:33:13 AM

One word:
Daewoo

9/15/2009 12:35:50 AM

just get a civic and be done with it

[Edited on September 15, 2009 at 12:51 AM. Reason : ]

9/15/2009 12:50:23 AM

what about the M roadster? Is it worth the money?

9/15/2009 2:10:34 PM

9/15/2009 2:45:10 PM

that dodge has to be from at least a 40 mile radius of Yadkin County, judging from the sticker on the windshield

9/15/2009 2:52:02 PM

Get a 19 yr old Viper with a salvage title

That's in your price range

9/15/2009 3:12:24 PM

And it'll still beat that RX8 up there on reliability.

9/15/2009 3:15:30 PM

you'd spend $5k on tires a yr too

9/15/2009 3:24:44 PM

Quote :

"^gas is a bitch? What? If you have to bitch about premium instead of regular you really shouldn't even have a car."

I'm not bitching about premium douchebag. The combination of barely getting 20 mpg, using premium and living in bumfuck nowhere is not ideal.

I knew before getting the G35 that gas would cost me a lot but I also knew it would be worth it.

9/15/2009 4:57:14 PM

wait, 20 mpg is bad now?

Quote :

"but the M isnt much more money is it? every 330 ZHP i find is more then a 70k mile m3 "

I'm not talking about a ZHP...that's another specialty car, probably a good deal more rare than the M3 (though not as capable). I'm talking about a regular 330i or 330ci. You can get one for probably 60% of the price of a "comparable" M3, and the care & feeding will be cheaper, too. It's still more car than most people will ever have any use for.

9/15/2009 6:29:05 PM

http://nc4x4.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71044

intercooled, tons w/ 4.10, gear vendors od (like $2k), primo interior

or by my Dart and I'll buy it. 100$ will cover oil changes for the better part of a decade with ye ole slant six


[Edited on September 15, 2009 at 10:01 PM. Reason : .]

9/15/2009 9:58:10 PM

g'damn I didnt know vipers came out THAT long ago

9/15/2009 10:08:09 PM