"Thunder" (Thunder)
07/07/2014 at 11:52 • Filed to: None
2
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"Thunder" (Thunder)
07/07/2014 at 11:52 • Filed to: None | 2
| 26 |
My wife wants to get a new car in the next year or two (if not sooner). However, she has previously said that I'm next to get a new car, given that she's had TWO new cars since I last got a car, and for one of her two, I gave up having my car. Therefore, I have the blessing to get myself a new ride.
My situation:
I have two kids, so minimum seating for four is required. A 2+2 may be acceptable.
Manual transmission is a requirement.
It must be fun!!!!
I don't drive much, and much of what I do is around town. I work from home full-time; I play dad's taxi a lot, but 98% of that is with one child, not two.
Previously, I had a 2007 Honda Civic Si sedan, which I immensely enjoyed. I shouldn't have gotten rid of it; prices for used examples with 60-100K miles are hovering within a few thousand of the 19,900 I paid for mine when new.
Price range: I have three target ranges, all with different thought processes.
Approx $35K: Used 2006-ish Porsche 911 or E90 BMW M3.
Probably convertible if BMW, as an olive branch to my wife.
Approx $25K: New, possibly hot hatch. Focus ST, BRZ...
Approx $10K: Something that can tide me over until the Focus RS or new Mazdaspeed3 come out. Muddying it up a bit, this inexpensive alternative probably means I can afford to add a instrument rating to my private pilot license, a huge plus to me.
The biggest cost of a car is depreciation, though. What fits this mold while having its depreciation come largely from the miles put on it? That vehicle is my goal. If I put maybe 5K miles on a year, and sell in a couple years, what car will minimize how much I lose to depreciation?
I would love to go with the current equivalent of my 8th gen Si: new, reliable, fun, got a great deal on it, and minimal depreciation. The 9th gen Si just doesn't do it for me - without that frantic 8K redline, it's just not my thing. So, is there a current equivalent?
Party-vi
> Thunder
07/07/2014 at 12:09 |
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A used car you buy has already taken it's largest hit on depreciation since it's used and not new.
Certain Porsche engines from 1997-2008 had issues with intermediate shaft (IMS) failures. I would imagine those issues have been fixed on most vehicles by now, but you never know.
I'd say buy used, preferably something just off-lease with low miles and known service history.
davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
> Thunder
07/07/2014 at 12:16 |
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I can highly recommend the E90 M3 (Daddy's Rocket Sled), but please, please don't buy one burdened by the 400+ lb sunroof... Drive it like your old Si and you'll have a blast!
I also highly recommend taking this opportunity to test drive absolutely everything that's within your price range and that fills most of your criteria.
If you want no depreciation, buy an older 911 or an E39 M5.
Tom McParland
> Thunder
07/07/2014 at 12:23 |
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If you only drive 5k a year, why not lease? You get more car for your money, and maybe even have some "lease equity" to roll into another down-payment.
Textured Soy Protein
> Thunder
07/07/2014 at 12:27 |
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The only problem with your 911 idea is the only kids who are small enough to fit in the back seat would be legally required to be in a child seat...which won't fit in the back seat.
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Textured Soy Protein
> davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
07/07/2014 at 12:29 |
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I have a 135is coupe and a couple weeks ago I checked out a used E92 M3 convertible. Because I like convertibles. It's definitely a better drive than the E92 335i convertible I tried before buying my 135is, but overall the 135is drives sharper than the M3 vert. Great engine noise in the M3 though.
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davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
> Textured Soy Protein
07/07/2014 at 12:33 |
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It's over two tons! I'd hope your is felt sharper.
My E90 is heavy enough, but it's a great performer on the back roads and at the track. And yeah, that noise...
BKRM3
> Thunder
07/07/2014 at 12:34 |
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Although it is probably possible to buy an E90 M3 for $35k, I wouldn't want one priced that low. The nice sedans are still 40-42 grand. If you're thinking about a convertible, you're talking about even more. Similar wisdom for the 997s. I looked at them for 6 months before buying my M3 and I very nearly bought a 2007 C2S with 50,000mi for ~$43k before my M popped up in one of the classified I was watching. Maybe the base Carrera is a bit cheaper? Do your homework on the IMS issue though - the original engine with the IMS problem could be repaired relatively easily and inexpensively (the 05-06 cars, I believe), but a "revised" engine that still used the IMS system was used in the later build 997.1 cars (through 2008). The IMS problem is less likely in the later engine but, from what I recall, basically impossible to fix preemptively.
A 335i sold privately with some CPO warranty left might be your sweet spot at right around $21-24k if you're looking for German performance. That car (especially if it's an LCI) shouldn't drop much more than a few thousand over the next couple years if the miles stay reasonable.
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davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
> Textured Soy Protein
07/07/2014 at 12:34 |
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Maybe his kids don't have legs.
Fleetwood T. Brougham
> Party-vi
07/07/2014 at 12:38 |
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I'm currently debating the same two options as the author (e90 M3 vs 997). I've done a ton of research, and from what I can tell, the only year of the 997 to have any real number of IMS failures similar to the 996 were the 2005 model year. From all I've researched and read, it's a truly rare issue on 2006+ 997 models with the revised single row bearing seal. Even then, there are reputable shops installing aftermarket permanent IMS bearing fixes proactively for $1500-ish.
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Thunder
> Textured Soy Protein
07/07/2014 at 12:39 |
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Kinda thought about that.
My son is 14; he would require a shoehorn to fit. However, more often than not, he sits up front and the backseat occupant is my daughter. She's 9, and therefore can go without a carseat... she also eats like a bird and is constantly (competitively) dancing, so weighs around 50 pounds. She can comfortably sit in back.
All that said... I'm not entirely convinced about the 911.
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Fleetwood T. Brougham
> Textured Soy Protein
07/07/2014 at 12:40 |
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Thunder
> Tom McParland
07/07/2014 at 12:44 |
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I'd much rather not lease something. Just pains me to effectively rent the car long-term. If I decide I want to drive to see relatives, or if I can somehow justify taking my car on a family vacation (figure 2K miles), I want to be able to without feeling like I'm shooting myself in the proverbial foot.
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Tom McParland
> Thunder
07/07/2014 at 12:45 |
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Fair enough...how important is warranty coverage for you?
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Textured Soy Protein
> Fleetwood T. Brougham
07/07/2014 at 12:48 |
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It would appear I stand corrected.
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Fleetwood T. Brougham
> Textured Soy Protein
07/07/2014 at 12:54 |
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In fairness, you were mostly right if talking about a 996, and 100% correct if talking about anything 993 or earlier.
RX
> Thunder
07/07/2014 at 13:15 |
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I just bought a FIAT Abarth. Back seat works for kids (I have a 4 and 7 year old). Getting about 30 mpg, majority highway, but I tend to hammer it when I get the chance.
Lots of fun, and its fun a low speeds. Compared to most performance cars Ive driven, you are going deadly/illegal speeds before it is fun. Depreciation is a bit of a wild card on that one, I guess we dont have much of a basis to predict on this one.
Dsscats
> Thunder
07/07/2014 at 13:19 |
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Ok, do NOT get the 911. It is not a 2+2, not even for kids. They will complain endlessly. The backrest is basically stuck bolt upright. Also, look at a used Golf R or sightly used GTI
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Thunder
> Tom McParland
07/07/2014 at 13:33 |
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A warranty is a great thing to have....
If I buy new, I put Geico's mechanical breakdown insurance on it. It's ridiculously inexpensive (on the order of maybe $50 every 6 months) for $250 deductible, 7 year 100K mile coverage. So there's that on the the side of the 'buy new' argument.
In fact, my wife's current Mercedes E350 was a lease that she converted to buy, in part because we put that coverage on it. We at least had the foresight to put it on what was a leased vehicle initially... and a lot of my reluctance to lease comes back to doing the "are we way overmiles?" calculations I was always doing with it.
Eric in the PNW
> Thunder
07/07/2014 at 14:53 |
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Most leases start at 7500 miles, so if you could get a decent deal on a 2-3 year lease at that mileage you'll at least come out with predictable depreciation and be able to do the 2k a year without worries.
Jobjoris
> Thunder
07/07/2014 at 15:45 |
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Msatlas is quite right: This is the only way a child seat will fit. With the front seat positioned way up front. A shoehorn for your 9-year old won't do let alone your 14-year old. Maybe removal of some lower ribs.
Foo2rama
> davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
07/07/2014 at 16:30 |
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e46M3... 911 performance, no depreciation, very useable back seat and huge trunk.
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davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
> Foo2rama
07/07/2014 at 16:36 |
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Nice suggestion, assuming the subframe has been taken care of. Was this meant for me or the OP? Thanks, Kinja!
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davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
> Fleetwood T. Brougham
07/07/2014 at 16:38 |
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These are not bad options.
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Foo2rama
> davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
07/07/2014 at 17:36 |
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Both actually. I DD an e46M and have driven the e90M and just came away a little flat. Sure its faster, but not as much fun IMHO. Also the E46M is at the bottom of the depreciation curze and is starting to come back up for non abused examples. The subframe is not that common of an issue. I'm not saying the e9xM are bad, they are amazing, I just really prefer the s54b32 powerplant.
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davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
> Foo2rama
07/07/2014 at 17:57 |
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I definitely agree that now is the time to buy a well-maintained E46. I've never driven one, so I can't comment on how it compares. All I know is that I love my car, that the sounds it makes and feels it gives keep me smiling every damn day, and it's one of very few cars that met my list of needs and wants (I had two kids then, and now have three) when I went looking a couple years ago. It feels pretty spectacular to drive one of your dream cars around every day! Hope yours gives you many more good years.
dean_acheson
> Thunder
07/08/2014 at 13:05 |
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Here you go. This isn't my car, but I know that in mine, two child seats fit, as long as the tykes have short legs, and you can get groceries in the trunk. Manual of course, and 444 horsepower. Decent price. Trust me, its a really fun car... radio sucks- you might want to change that, but the exhaust note is second to none. Depreciation won't be bad for a performance car.
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/…