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.

[Asha'man]

Every one of those listed will be in the shop a substantial amount of time per year. My good buddy works on VW's all day long and they are complete piles, and expensive to fix. Same with Audi - same family. Another buddy used to work on Volvos at the dealership in the Springs and it was the same story. Unreliable and expensive to fix. BMW seems to be a bit of a crapshoot; the older cars are tougher and more reliable than the newer ones, is my take on things. Saabs - I would stay the hell away.

Get a Lexus IS300 or IS350.

[HunterCO]

I vote for none of the above. Any of those will put you in the poor house when they break.

Toyota or Honda always gets my vote except the Honda passport it's made by Isuzu and they are pure crap.

[micah360]

I have a 1999 VW Passat turbo wagon and a 2000 Audi A4 turbo (both with aftermarker APR chips). I've had them both for two years now with NOT ONE issue (knock on wood) with either. This is my first Audi and 4th VW and I love the dubs and never have issues with them.

I've owned Jeep, Dodge, Cadillac, Nissan, Honda too... VWs and Audis are my favorite... but to each his own.

[Atrain]

Commuter car? Honda Civic wins pants down.

I bought mine in 01 for commuting in SoCal, 90K miles and it has never had an issue. Just runs and runs and gets 38 mpg. Best car I ever bought new.