I haven't posted here in years so please keep the flaming to a minimal.

I'm looking to get a new car soon and need help deciding what to get. I want something that is sporty as I am currently driving a grand Marquis. Would love something that won't cost a fortune to maintain and something that will last for a good while. I don't want a camry. I do not wish for anything Honda. BMW? Lexus es330? A marauder? Thank you for any advice that you can offer, as it will certainly help me decide what to purchase.

2/13/2011 6:54:18 PM

I forgot to mention that I wish to stay around the $10,000-16,000 mark for a used car. Thanks!!

2/13/2011 7:00:22 PM

Lexus ES and Marauder are not sporty.

Sounds like you need a BMW 330i.

2/13/2011 7:03:13 PM

You are looking for a 4 door? Auto or manual?

2/13/2011 7:34:08 PM

If i find a two door coupe that catches my eye I would do it. A four door is probably more of what I'm looking for though. And I definitely need an automatic. I can drive a manual but I haven't gotten really good at it so I would hate to destroy my car if I got one.

2/13/2011 8:07:17 PM

I mean after several hours of driving a manual around town you'll be fine. You're not going to destroy your car unless you are both female and asian.

most modern cars have really forgiving clutches. don't rule out a manual.

2/13/2011 8:13:24 PM

Thanks for that bobby. I'm actually really considering a manual now. I think I heard that they last longer. Is this true?

Plus, manuals are so fun to drive in my little experience. It's very involving. You can't be texting, eating a banana, and driving all at the same time.

2/13/2011 8:34:33 PM

I know the morning crew has something good for me. Help me buy a car people!!

2/14/2011 6:20:16 AM

330i

2/14/2011 9:01:40 AM

I own a Marauder. And, personally, I wouldn't recommend it if you're looking for "sporty". Duke's right--it's not sporty. At all. It looks good (subjectively), has comfortable seats, and makes good sounds. It's not slow. When it was new it probably could have been called fast for a sedan, but not anymore. But it handles poorly, build quality is so-so, the interior ergonomics are horrific once you get past the seats (you already drive a Grand Marquis, hence you know this, the interior hasn't changed much since 1995.) And things are going to start breaking soon if they haven't already (there are about 4 things wrong with mine right now). The engine and platform are bulletproof but the transmission is not.

Get a 3-series like everyone else and be done with it. They're popular for a reason.

If you're looking for something different, a CTS-V maybe? You might be pushing it on that budget though.

[Edited on February 14, 2011 at 9:22 AM. Reason : d]

2/14/2011 9:22:07 AM

wow thats two more for the 330i. Thanks so much for giving me the run-down concerning the Marauder - it certainly has helped me. Any more advice would be amazing. Obviously right now I'm leaning towards the 3 series. Been checking out a range of vehicles etc and that particular car, 330i and 330xi, are nice as well as nicely priced.

Keep the information coming people. This will be a big decision for me and I want to be informed from well-informed people.

2/14/2011 9:10:04 PM

Bumpity bump,

Help me out of my car-buying decision-making slump

2/17/2011 5:23:00 PM

Quote :

"Get a 3-series like everyone else"

or an e36 /// if youre broke

2/17/2011 5:40:17 PM

Quote :

"And I definitely need an automatic. I can drive a manual but I haven't gotten really good at it so I would hate to destroy my car if I got one."

I had no real experience driving a manual and only a basic knowlegde of the principle when i got my car and I had no problem adjusting to it. You should do fine with one.

2/17/2011 8:22:12 PM

bump

more suggestions please. and thank you so much for the advice so far. It is all being heavily, heavily considered.

the only thing that has been suggested thus far has been a 3 series bmw. if time goes by and thats all the advice i get, i swear im getting a 3 series bmw!

2/23/2011 1:59:38 PM

I was in a very similar boat 2.5 years ago. Alternative to the 3-series (route that I went):

In shopping around the 3 series were excellent, but after test driving a black-on-black '05 Lexus IS300, I went for that.

Here's one, (a black-on-black manual with voice-Nav!) see pics:
http://tinyurl.com/6ynco6c

It was designed to be a 3-series killer. It failed, but is still a great ride and has it's own cult following.

The handling is very very good, sporty and communicative...but it's just shy of the 3 series, which is spectacular.

The inline-6 is WAY smooth and has enough power...but any 3 series (except a 328) will probably outrun it.

As for reliability, it has been absolutely armageddon-proof for the 60k miles I've put on it. I've not owned a BMW, so I cannot attest to BMW reliability. General googling seems to say it can be a little shaky.

I personaly found the styling more desireable than the 3 series. Exterior is sleek, and the storied "wristwatch" instrument console is very cool. The geniune leather w/ hand stitching steering wheel wrap is unlike anything I've seen anywhere, either.

The CPO I got also came fully loaded (nav, six disc, heated seats, etc.) and the price was very right.

Now, the IS line is in its second generation, and the new generation is NOTHING like the first. Bigger, cushier, and more expensive. The 2005 was the final year for the gritty first generation.

BOTTOM LINES
- For your price point, if you want a sport sedan but want something a little more unique than a 3-series, you could easily find a first gen IS300 for under $16,000 with ~50k miles.
- As purely a driver's car, the 3-series is unbeatable, of course. But the IS300 is nipping at its heels in almost all aspects. And if you're coming off a Marquis, the IS300 will absolutely feel WORLDS more sporty.
- The IS300 has a reputation for being more reliable (if you care about that).
- I sacrificed a tiny bit on performance for what I thought was superior styling. You're the one who has to look at it and drive in it every day.

[Edited on February 23, 2011 at 3:45 PM. Reason : ]

[Edited on March 3, 2011 at 2:22 PM. Reason : link]

2/23/2011 3:32:36 PM

wyloch, thank you so much for that. every little bit is helping me out a great deal. i spoke with a mechanic at a shop today whilst getting a tire changed, and he was saying that basically anything german is a great car. but he told me that the BMW is sooo expensive to get fixed. he took me in the system and showed me what it would cost if something simply like a waterpump (and thermostat) got messed up. it was not a pretty picture.

2/23/2011 7:32:51 PM

I fully concur with Wyloch.

2/23/2011 7:59:19 PM

Are infiniti's good cars? Right now I am leaning towards the lexus. Although people say the 3 series is a great car, I have been hearing from multiple sources that they are EXPENSIVE to get fixed should something go wrong - and, of course, eventually it'll need SOME type of work done. I was looking at the infini G35 - if anyone is knowledgeable, please let me know if the infiniti brand is worth checking out. Thank you all again so much!

3/3/2011 9:32:09 AM

ibt NMSJ

3/3/2011 9:55:03 AM

Infinitis are OK imo. But good luck if you ever need warranty work. Nissan/Infiniti are a PITA.

That said, don't get into all the hype about BMW's being EXPENSIVE to fix. It's comparable to the other vehicles in it's class in terms of maintenance costs.

3/3/2011 1:48:48 PM

G35 coupes are purty. That having been said, I've driven an '03 G35 sedan and wasn't that impressed by it--it wasn't bad to drive by any means, but it didn't wow me either and the interior left me a little cold. I think the engine got more power (in the coupe, at least) later in the run though. IIRC '03 was the first year so perhaps all the kinks hadn't yet been worked out.

And before the NMSJ parade, a friend of mine had an '06 G35 coupe until late last year and had nothing but good things to say about it. Plus it held up pretty well in an accident (got t-boned by a 10K+ lb power company bucket truck and walked away from it). Another friend put something like 180,000 miles on his '03 I30 with pretty much zero problems along the way.

3/3/2011 3:58:03 PM

It should be mentioned that the IS300 was only available in the US with an automatic transmission (though I heard there was talk of a manual...if so they're just about impossible to find I think).

The 330i is a great car and is tops in that class. And truthfully you get what you pay for. Sure some things cost more than they would for other cars but you'll get a more rewarding experience every time you drive it. And that's worth a lot to your average enthusiast.

3/3/2011 4:48:29 PM

^

Quote :

"It should be mentioned that the IS300 was only available in the US with an automatic transmission (though I heard there was talk of a manual...if so they're just about impossible to find I think)."

90% are going to be autos. But there are manuals out there. Wyloch posted one in fact.

3/3/2011 4:52:15 PM

cost of maintenance for bmw/audi/mercedes/infiniti/lexus are all about the same

3/3/2011 4:53:54 PM

IS300 was also available with a factory LSD as an optional sport (design?) package. This may or may not interest you.

Make sure you are ok with the proportions of the 3er or IS300. My then gf, now wife preferred the BMW over the IS300 because she felt two adults couldnt make it in the backseat over a longer trip in the Lexus. The 3 series is not big inside, but adequate for our three member family on a longish trip. Coming from a Panther, you might regret the smaller portions.

I have an 04 330i 6spd.

3/3/2011 5:00:08 PM

in that price range you are looking at e90 325(x)i/330(x)i and possibly high mileage 335(x)i.

3/3/2011 6:19:15 PM

Mechanic at a shop told me to go ahead and get a 5 series if I'm considering a 330. Around what mileage do bmw's start to have complications? Read somewhere that the 100,000 mile mark is when some things should be changed....

3/10/2011 12:06:47 AM

I picked up a 2003 325i today. Freaking love it.

You could get a much newer/lower mileage 325i in your price range. Manual is fun, but I really like the automatic with sport-shift. It's sorta like the best of both worlds...sorta.

[Edited on March 10, 2011 at 9:47 PM. Reason : .]

3/10/2011 9:46:11 PM

I'm happy for you man, that you found something that you enjoy so much. Here is a 2004 545i that I came across, and it seems like a good deal because he has already replaced many items on it before they got to the point that they needed to be repaired. Here is an excerpt from his ad:

"What sets my 545i apart from others out there is the excellent condition that the car is in. As these cars approach 100k miles, you have to be really carefull with what you're buying, or you could end up buying a $5-10k repair bill. I've maintained this car very well, and I've replaced MANY of the items that tend to fail on these cars at around 100k mi. Below is a list, and I've got invoices for almost all:

Oil Pressure Switch replaced
Valve Cover Gasket replaced
Alternator replaced
Water pump replaced
Vacuum hose replaced
Coolant expansion tank replaced
Rear sunshade replaced
Radiator return hose replaced
Radiator Temp sensor replaced
Intelligent battery sensor replaced
Coolant pipe to vally pan replaced
Front suspension bushings
Driver’s seat cushion (seat heater)
BMW battery (last summer at Leith BMW)
Tires
Front rotors & dustless pads (last summer at Shadetree garage)"

3/11/2011 11:04:29 AM

That is pretty similar to what I have done to my 04 330i from 80k to 120k (2years of ownership): front control arms and bushings, rear trailing arm bushings, rear control arm bushings, rear shocks and mounts, new pads, all fluids, valve cover gasket, vanos rings, water pump, thermostat, expansion tank, all hoses, idlers, belts, plugs. Other than front struts and mounts I should be good until about 200k to 250k where most of this will have to be done again. Then it is race car time!

3/12/2011 1:40:29 PM

alright.... I have narrowed my frantic search down to these so far. Let me know what you think kind people.

2003-2005 BMW 330x(i)
2004 BMW 530x(i)
2003-2005 Acura TL 3.2
2001-2003 Mercedes, maybe an E or C class or something

I love my grand marquis, but my brother really needs a car. That being said, when she's gone, I want something fun to drive because BOY, she is a submarine! All of these get good gas mileage from what i know, which is another thing I am really looking for.

The only thing is that if something went wrong with the BMW (and mercedes I'm sure), it would probably cost as much as I will pay for the car to fix it So that is a huge deciding factor during this decision-making ordeal. Any new information would be much appreciated, and thanks for everything thus far.

[Edited on March 17, 2011 at 7:15 PM. Reason : year]

[Edited on March 17, 2011 at 7:16 PM. Reason : year]

3/17/2011 7:12:53 PM

Merc E-class doesn't fit your description unless you get an E55, or *maybe* an E430 with the sport package. The standard E-class is a very nice, solid, luxury car, but I don't think it's generally seen as a sports sedan. The same caveat would apply to a C-class, though it's probably a little more nimble due simply to size. A buddy of mine has an '02 CLK320 which I've driven a few times, and while it handles fairly well, I wouldn't say it's sporty. (Also the 3.2 isn't a lot of engine for that car, it's not really slow but it doesn't get up and go either) Also he's starting to have problems with a lot of the electronics in the car. Granted it's up over 150K miles now, but still.

Again with the TL. If you want sporty be sure you're looking at a Type-S model ('03) or an A-spec ('04-'05, rare). The standard suspension tuning is kind of soft. You do realize you're spanning two generations in the 03-05 range, btw? 03 was the last of the old body style and had the notorious failing transmissions. If you look at one of those, be sure the trans has been replaced after 2005, which is when they finally fixed the issue.

[Edited on March 18, 2011 at 11:48 AM. Reason : d]

3/18/2011 11:47:04 AM

Yeh I think I might have meant the CLK. They are the closest thing to "sporty" that I've come across. And thank God you mentioned that the 03 had failing transmissions - that is def good to know, I would say. So in light of this new information, I'm heavily leaning towards bmw right now. I actually heard their parts aren't THAT hard to find/expensive because there are online merchants to purchase them from.

3/18/2011 7:38:42 PM

I wouldn't discount an '04+ TL A-spec, if you can find one. From what I've been able to garner it's bascially a factory-sanctioned tuner package which includes a sport-tuned suspension and some appearance items (air dam, side sills, wheels). Pretty sure it's not a common vehicle though. Haven't driven one, but considering the TL of that era is 260-ish HP, with the suspension mods it might be a rewarding drive.

3/18/2011 8:47:24 PM

Type S is a sweet car

3/19/2011 12:59:55 PM

for people who like front wheel drive

3/19/2011 5:31:32 PM

I definitely do NOT want a front wheel drive car. God I forgot about that. ^Thanks a LOT.

3/20/2011 11:46:02 AM

Ok guys. All things considered I have decided to go with a bmw. I only have one question left. What mileage would be the danger zone, as in "don't get?" I plan to get a pre-certified bmw. I'm thinking that 60-70k miles is the highest I want to go, but is it ok and/or safe to purchase something that has a little more mileage? And what is the cut-off point? 100k?

4/3/2011 10:19:42 PM

200,000 miles lol. No seriously, last piece of information mates and I'll take my ignorant butt somewhere else.

4/4/2011 5:57:07 PM