What to buy? (car advise)

[MPfiveengineer]

Hi guys, I definitely miss Colorado but I have to admit Seattle is VERY COOL. Anyway something about Seattle that is very uncool is the traffic. I have had my 1998 Jeep Wrangler Sahara since January 4th 1998 and it has been a great vehicle but the manual transmission is not working out with the traffic I sometimes get in here. I am looking at getting a used car as I don’t want to take the hit on a new one and I have not had a car payment for 7 years.

So here is what I am looking at, a BMW (325,328,330i), a Volvo S60, a Saab 93, a Audi A4, and a Volkswagen Passat. All of these would be circa 2002-2004. I know quite a few of you are car guys and probably know a whole lot more about them than I do and would definitely appreciate you advise. It obviously does not snow here like it does in Colorado so I am not that concerned about all wheel drive. I have test driven all of these and the BMW and the Volvo are my current favorites but I think I need to give the Audi another chance because the one I drove seemed like it had a very hard previous life.

Anyway I would love to hear/read what you guys have to say.

Take care you guys,
Ken

[kwando]

i would stay away from audi and sabb. Everyone that i know that has an audi or sabb has had nothing but headaches. Electronic problems, turbo going out on the sabb, computer glitches on the audi, etc. get the BMW. Hope you have a garage to park it in.

[7idl]

330i

[MPfiveengineer]

I have test driven a 325i and a 328i, I guess I need to check out a 330i. I should have prefaced by saying that I am not looking for a racer and am not interested in a M3,S4,S60R or anything like that.

[7idl]

the 330i has the bigger motor and is the nicest of the 3 you listed.


I personaly would like an M3, but my second choice is the 330xi or 330i (I like the 2004 330xi, the manual tranny version has a 6 speed!!)

don't get the 4 wheel version (x) unless it's the 330xi, they don't have the motor for it IMHO.

[JohnTRourke]

having owned 2 BMW's, I must say they are OUTSTANDING cars.
however, (and this is true of all those makes you mention), they are going to BREAK YOU at the dealership. There's a reason 3 to 5 year old Europeon cars are cheap. All that little cool stuff breaks down, all the time and it just nickels and dimes you to death.
don't do it.
if you want a europeon car, buy (or better lease) a new one with warranty.
and stay way the hell away from VW, major reliability problems since the late 90's.