VeeshanVault

If you had 35k to spend on a car new or used what do you think you would purchase?

The used factor really opens up a lot of choices like a 2002-2003 Q45 with relatively low miles or a 2003 GS 430 or even an 2002 Audi A8. Maybe just go new w/ a G35 or TL. The possibilities

Kind of a broad question.. like.. does it have to be kind of practical? 2 doors? 4? Back seat?

I personally would pick up a '03 or so Z06. Or if it has to be kind of practical a '03 or so M3, a Mazdaspeed6 or one of the newer Volvos.

i'd get a 2005 Lexus ES 300 and probably, max my 2005 Roth IRA at $4K, and put $3500 in my 2006 Roth IRA contribution.

Infiniti G35.

Honda Civic =p

Lynks wrote:Honda Civic =p

Don't you mean TWO Honda Civics?

miir wrote:

Lynks wrote:Honda Civic =p

Don't you mean TWO Honda Civics?

Or it could be one "blinged-out" Honda Civic!

Kelshara wrote:Kind of a broad question.. like.. does it have to be kind of practical? 2 doors? 4? Back seat?

I personally would pick up a '03 or so Z06. Or if it has to be kind of practical a '03 or so M3, a Mazdaspeed6 or one of the newer Volvos.

It's supposed to be a broad question. If you want to purchase a new Nissan Titan or a 2002 M3, that's your prerogative and I would be interested in hearing about it. It just seemed like an interesting question that was asked of me earlier this morning

miir wrote:

Lynks wrote:Honda Civic =p

Don't you mean TWO Honda Civics?

Heh ya, you could buy two, or one and spend the leftover cash on hookers.

Mitsu Lancer Evo IX MR.

Old

56 or 57 Bel Air

if you want to purchase a 2002 M3, you better make it a 2000 M3 and hold on to some cash for the maintenance.

you can't open the hood of a BMW for less than $500

Voronwë wrote:if you want to purchase a 2002 M3, you better make it a 2000 M3 and hold on to some cash for the maintenance.

you can't open the hood of a BMW for less than $500

If I remember correctly, you have to slide your debit/credit card in a slot right under the ignition to pop the hood. Theft deterrence was the reasoning according to the article I read

97 Jeep TJ aprox $10k

Dana 60 rear w/4:56 gearing and locker $4000
Dana 60 fron w/4:56 gearing and locker $7000
Custom 4 link suspensions $5000
Atlas II transfer case $3000

Oh and a honda civic to run over when I'm done $2000
and the extra $5000 for all the crap I'll break in the week following the buildup.

Phugg_Innay wrote:97 Jeep TJ aprox $10k

Dana 60 rear w/4:56 gearing and locker $4000
Dana 60 fron w/4:56 gearing and locker $7000
Custom 4 link suspensions $5000
Atlas II transfer case $3000

Oh and a honda civic to run over when I'm done $2000
and the extra $5000 for all the crap I'll break in the week following the buildup.

2006 Passat wagon with a diesel.

Voronwë wrote:if you want to purchase a 2002 M3, you better make it a 2000 M3 and hold on to some cash for the maintenance.

you can't open the hood of a BMW for less than $500

I love my A4, but unfortunately this is the same for Audi's. The cheapest repair ive brought my car into the shop for so far was my brakes. Pads and rotors were 850 dollars....

BMW's arent that bad for maintainence if you have a good mechanic. I just bought a 525i and I love it, its a 92 with 99k miles on it. Course my BMW mechanic rocks.. and this thing will never go to the dealership for any work.

Audi's of all generations have transmission problems from my own and friends experiance.

Driving a BMW is like driving a dream.

Aston Martin DB9.

What?

Oh...I thought you said $135,000. Damn. A Honda S2000, then? Or a well-outfitted Mazda RX-8 ? Hrm...

No, I guess I'd go with either a Golf R32, a new Alfa Romeo Brera (the V6 version) or - the petrolhead in me says - a Holden Monaro 5.7i V8.

Whatever year Subaru STi I could get my hands on.

probably a 3 series beemer, fun to drive, safe and pretty reliable and holds it's value when I get bored in 2 years and trade it in on the new prelude

Pulling records from my 2005 Consumer Reports, the best value in the upscale sedan categoy is the Acura TL at $33670. Follow that with the BMW 330i at $41345, the Lexus IS300 at $33889, and finally the Lexus ES330 at $35709.

In the Sports/Sporty Car section, the Audi S4 at $50870, BMW M3 at $56495, and the Subaru Impreza WRX STi at $32870.

Personally, I just bought a 2006 Mazda 3i Touring and I love it. But then again, I had easily half of your budget to work with.

Aabidano wrote:2006 Passat wagon with a diesel.

OK Grandpa!

miir wrote:Infiniti G35.

This was the correct answer.

1. 92-94 300ZX TT low miles $10k
Upgrades from Z1 motorsports $25k
= 600hp beauty
2. EVO
3. STI
4. 86/87 911 Turbo
5. 05 GTO

Just my 2cp.

masteen wrote:

Aabidano wrote:2006 Passat wagon with a diesel.

OK Grandpa!

miir wrote:Infiniti G35.

This was the correct answer.

The 2006 Passat wagon with a diesel is an amazing car. Drove one here and it has low-end torque like nothing I have driven short of a tractor heh. And yes it actually moves pretty damn good! The new one looks a lot nicer as well than the old one did. Very comfy and very nice for hauling stuff. Pretty good mileage too!

And the G35 Coupe is a nice car but not among the top choices imo. Decent combination of luxury and performance though.

I had a 91 535i that I literally spent maybe $500 bucks on repairs over the course of 6 years until I sold it in 99. I had a GMC truck for a long time then sold it and bought a 91 Mercedes 300e which I've had for about a year and spent about $800 on but I've got 170,000+ miles on it. However it's quiet, fun to drive (not as much as the BMW) and has a decent amount of head room for a car. Considering what I would have spent on monthy payments ($600 per month) the $800 is a drop in the bucket. I would never take it to a dealership though. If I need parts I order them (http://www.autohausaz.com - they have BMW parts too) then have my machanic put them on.

If I had 35K right now to spend I would drive up the street and pick up a new 2006 Yukon XL SLT 4x4 as they are on sale right now for about $15K off sticker here in Arkansas. Then I would take the $1500 that was left over and purcahse 2 7800GTs, a Athlon 4400 chip, 2GB of DDR400 and a new MB.

Cheers!
Marb

I would buy something classic and let it sit a few years.

1955 T-Bird
1964 Mustang
1961 Corvette

The options are endless.

Good luck finding a good example of those for $35K

masteen wrote:

Aabidano wrote:2006 Passat wagon with a diesel.

OK Grandpa!

miir wrote:Infiniti G35.

This was the correct answer.

My kayak paddles and fishing poles wouldn't fit inside it and a 16' boat wouldn't work on top.

As Kelshara said, it's a pretty snappy driver with 125 hp and 197 lbft of torque (iirc). Of course I've always liked wagons, I had a '71 Coronet wagon when I was about 20. That was very close to a perfect vehicle. Could haul all kinds of stuff, decent off road and the occasional bounce off a tree or gaurd rail really didn't do much to it.

Deward wrote:I would buy something classic and let it sit a few years.

1955 T-Bird
1964 Mustang
1961 Corvette

The options are endless.

A 55 Thunderbird in decent condition will put you back about 45k.
A fully restored (all original, mint) 61 Corvette will run you between 50 to 80k.


Besides that, anyone who buys a classic car as an investment is a fool. My dad has a 78 Vette (unrestored, original, single owner) that has barely budged in value since it peaked at around 35-40k in the late 90s.

Cars that steadily increase in value are incredibly rare. With the other 99.99% of cars, you'd make more sticking your money in a piggy bank for 20 years.

Miir is spot on here. Dont EVER buy a car as an investment. You should know 99.999% of the time a car is going to decrease in value.
Unless your talking big boy toys like an Enzo when they first came out, snag one for ...cant remember something like $1.5-2million. Since they are so rare an enthusiast will snag it up for up to $3million if your lucky and can hold out. Aside from that buying one as an investment unless you can put it in a hermetcially sealed garage for 30 years...your ass out.

What kind of car are you looking for mostly?
Sport?
Luxury?
SUV?
Wagon?

...etc

The question wasn't to assist me with suggestions, but rather to read other's opinions.

I think I'd probably end up getting the 2002-3 Q45. It's like a luxury car that time forgot and can be purchased for far les than what they deserve due to the lack of awareness/demand. The engine is pretty powerful, infiniti has an excelent rep, and as long as I could find a black w/ graphite leather model, I would be set.

Kelshara wrote:Good luck finding a good example of those for $35K

If your talking about the Mustang it wont be to Tough

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-Mus ... otohosting

I know its a 65 but I think Mustangs started 64 1/2

Well maybe 1/2 a year makes a big diiference
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-Mus ... 0345QQrdZ1

The 64 1/2 is considered the classic and THE Mustang to have. I almost bought a '66 while I lived in Texas and kind of regretting not doing it.

Kelshara wrote:The 64 1/2 is considered the classic and THE Mustang to have. I almost bought a '66 while I lived in Texas and kind of regretting not doing it.

It is my #1 car of all time my mom had one when I was a kid God was it lovely.

It is fairly high up on my list but not #1.. but I got a very good offer. Shame I was a poor student at the time and decided not to go for it (even though I technically could have afforded it). Would have needed some work but not too much.

I took my mom to look at cars yesterday and she got a Nissan Altama "Special Edition" for like $17K. Damn thing screams on the Interstate, has everything but a sunroon , great stereo and is big enough for even me to get my fat arse in... I would serously consider one of those if I were buying something and invest the rest of the cash.

Marb

1.) Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4
2.) Late 90s Trans-Am
3.) Early 70s Camaro (I the body on those)

And if you really meant 350,000 instead of 35,000 then I'll have a Hemi-Cuda please.

Wait a year or so and my list changes.

1. 2007/8 Dodge Challenger
2. 2007/8 Chevy Camaro Z28
3. 95 300ZX TT moded to 500hp
4. EVO
5. STI
6. 350Z

haha Sendarie you and I have the same taste, except I would flip the Camaro and the Challenger most likely! And quite possibly add a Z06 to the list

Marbus wrote:I took my mom to look at cars yesterday and she got a Nissan Altama "Special Edition" for like $17K. Damn thing screams on the Interstate, has everything but a sunroon , great stereo and is big enough for even me to get my fat arse in... I would serously consider one of those if I were buying something and invest the rest of the cash.

Marb

The SE is a V6 and Nissan's V6 is award winning. If I was going to go for a V6 in that sub 23k range, I'd break away from Honda and get the Altima. The Accord I4 is unbeatable though.

Altimas are phenomenal cars, I have a 99 and love it to death.

If I were to get a new car, right now, it'd either be a Subaru Forester 2.5XT Limited, Nissan Murano SL or Toyota RAV4 Limited V6.