First car help

Mpower97 · 11-16-2014, 08:56 PM

Hey everyone,

I recently posted the same question on bimmerfest, but I want to get a broader opinion on it. I recently acquired my drivers license and am currently looking for a car to drive. I'm not looking for anything overly powerful or flashy due to being a relatively new driver. I've considered cars like the BRZ, 350z, and older model BMWs such as the E46s.I plan on DDing the car everyday which would mainly be driving to school and back along with some small roadtrips on the weekends. Occasionally I would like to autocross/track the car, and get involved in the car community a bit more. I am not looking for a hardcore track car mainly to retain the daily drivability. My only requirements for the car would for it to be a manual. I'm leaning towards and older E46 mainly on how beautiful and timeless they still look today, along with its sweet sounding inline 6 engine, and superb driving dynamics. After taking a ride in my friends 325i I instantly fell in love with the high limits the car has, and how well it stuck to the road. As for as maintenence, I recognize that it is A BMW and parts and installations from dealers/shops are expensive, but I am willing to cut the costs of it by getting my hands a little dirty. I also have a friend that is a bmw mechanic, who owns both an e30 and e46, so worst case scenario I could ask him for a little help. I would like to keep my budget under 20k. However I do not think you can get a used BRZ on that budget. I'd like to buy the car with at least under 100k miles. Any car suggestion is appreciated. Thanks again.

Tadpole · 11-16-2014, 09:24 PM

No interest in a 370Z? All good choices you mentioned. All comes down to what you are wanting in the car for your budget. 2 seater sports cars have high insurance premiums so keep that in mind

wanker · 11-16-2014, 10:14 PM

You can easily find used BRZ and 350z under $20K, plus parts are much, much cheaper.

BMWs are great, and there is a strong BMW wrenching culture with the best DIY instruction on line, but for a first car I'd start with Japanese. More reliable and cheaper to maintain.

Mpower97 · 11-17-2014, 12:06 AM

I love Zs. Ever since I saw my first 350z as a little kid I fell in love. I would say the exhaust note of the VQ engines are the same or if not nicer than the BMWs. 370s are my current favorite, however I've never put them in the same league as a BRZ or 3 series bimmer. There's around a 100hp difference between the Z and the other 2. The 370 could also be optioned with a limited slip, whereas the bmw you'd have to go M to get one. That would be very important if I were to track the car, which I'm contemplating doing. Maintenence costs would definitely be a lot cheaper then in the Z. Also as much as it would be nice to work on my own car, I do not want to be fixing something /replacing something every other week. Japanese alleviates the burden of that from my head. The bmw still is a great car, but now thinking about it more it would make more financial sense to go Japanese. The cash I would of spent on repairs, could be used on other things such as mods for the Z.

Insurance is probably a lot higher in a 370z then in the other two, especially me being a new driver. Still the 370 would be a hell of a car to drive.

nismo9132 · 11-17-2014, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mpower97

Insurance is probably a lot higher in a 370z then in the other two, especially me being a new driver. Still the 370 would be a hell of a car to drive.

Definitely have the car registered in your parents name and their name on the title/registration. It definitely helps lower the rates a bit.

vividracing · 11-17-2014, 04:23 PM

Have you thought about going with a 240SX? You can pick one of those up for a fraction of the cost of a 370, E46, or BRZ. I would keep the costs of your first car as low as possible, just in case.. Not to mention, the 240 is a great car for street or track, AND theres a ton of aftermarket stuff you can get, install yourself, and learn a ton about working on them at the same time. (insurance is WAY cheaper too)

Heres a great example of what you can get for half of what you are looking to spend.

1995 Nissan 240sx SE

kenchan · 11-17-2014, 04:35 PM

i lost track after like the 4th line, but get a MT hatch (fit, note, golf, focus, fiesta, etc). they are not only fun to drive, they are very useful when it comes time for you to go to college to carry stuff.

Mpower97 · 12-05-2014, 09:39 AM

Appreciate all the help. They all seem like good car choices. I would first have to get a hold of the insurance company to check rates. Afterwards I can hopefully determine the car I can get.

11-16-2014, 08:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mpower97 Base Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: New Jersey Posts: 3 Drives: 14 Acura TSX 5AT Rep Power: 11	First car help Hey everyone, I recently posted the same question on bimmerfest, but I want to get a broader opinion on it. I recently acquired my drivers license and am currently looking for a car to drive. I'm not looking for anything overly powerful or flashy due to being a relatively new driver. I've considered cars like the BRZ, 350z, and older model BMWs such as the E46s.I plan on DDing the car everyday which would mainly be driving to school and back along with some small roadtrips on the weekends. Occasionally I would like to autocross/track the car, and get involved in the car community a bit more. I am not looking for a hardcore track car mainly to retain the daily drivability. My only requirements for the car would for it to be a manual. I'm leaning towards and older E46 mainly on how beautiful and timeless they still look today, along with its sweet sounding inline 6 engine, and superb driving dynamics. After taking a ride in my friends 325i I instantly fell in love with the high limits the car has, and how well it stuck to the road. As for as maintenence, I recognize that it is A BMW and parts and installations from dealers/shops are expensive, but I am willing to cut the costs of it by getting my hands a little dirty. I also have a friend that is a bmw mechanic, who owns both an e30 and e46, so worst case scenario I could ask him for a little help. I would like to keep my budget under 20k. However I do not think you can get a used BRZ on that budget. I'd like to buy the car with at least under 100k miles. Any car suggestion is appreciated. Thanks again.

11-16-2014, 09:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tadpole A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Lockhart, TX Posts: 1,082 Drives: 13 Nissan 370Z A7 Rep Power: 18	No interest in a 370Z? All good choices you mentioned. All comes down to what you are wanting in the car for your budget. 2 seater sports cars have high insurance premiums so keep that in mind __________________ Takeda TR3009P Short Ram Intakes, Custom Dual Exhaust, X-Piped with 18" Resonators & TopSpeed Axle Backs. EVO-R Led Third Foglight,

11-17-2014, 04:23 PM	#6 (permalink)
vividracing The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Gilbert, AZ Age: 38 Posts: 7,306 Drives: 350Z,370Z,GTR Rep Power: 39	Have you thought about going with a 240SX? You can pick one of those up for a fraction of the cost of a 370, E46, or BRZ. I would keep the costs of your first car as low as possible, just in case.. Not to mention, the 240 is a great car for street or track, AND theres a ton of aftermarket stuff you can get, install yourself, and learn a ton about working on them at the same time. (insurance is WAY cheaper too) Heres a great example of what you can get for half of what you are looking to spend. 1995 Nissan 240sx SE __________________ Rocky @ Vivid ♦ 480.966.3040 x236 ♦ Rocky@vividracing.com Email, PM, or call me directly for aggressive The370Z.com member pricing!!!

11-16-2014, 10:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
wanker Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: San Diego Posts: 443 Drives: 2011 370Z S/T A7 Rep Power: 2901	You can easily find used BRZ and 350z under $20K, plus parts are much, much cheaper. BMWs are great, and there is a strong BMW wrenching culture with the best DIY instruction on line, but for a first car I'd start with Japanese. More reliable and cheaper to maintain.

11-17-2014, 12:06 AM	#4 (permalink)
Mpower97 Base Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: New Jersey Posts: 3 Drives: 14 Acura TSX 5AT Rep Power: 11	I love Zs. Ever since I saw my first 350z as a little kid I fell in love. I would say the exhaust note of the VQ engines are the same or if not nicer than the BMWs. 370s are my current favorite, however I've never put them in the same league as a BRZ or 3 series bimmer. There's around a 100hp difference between the Z and the other 2. The 370 could also be optioned with a limited slip, whereas the bmw you'd have to go M to get one. That would be very important if I were to track the car, which I'm contemplating doing. Maintenence costs would definitely be a lot cheaper then in the Z. Also as much as it would be nice to work on my own car, I do not want to be fixing something /replacing something every other week. Japanese alleviates the burden of that from my head. The bmw still is a great car, but now thinking about it more it would make more financial sense to go Japanese. The cash I would of spent on repairs, could be used on other things such as mods for the Z. Insurance is probably a lot higher in a 370z then in the other two, especially me being a new driver. Still the 370 would be a hell of a car to drive.

11-17-2014, 04:35 PM	#7 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	i lost track after like the 4th line, but get a MT hatch (fit, note, golf, focus, fiesta, etc). they are not only fun to drive, they are very useful when it comes time for you to go to college to carry stuff.

12-05-2014, 09:39 AM	#8 (permalink)
Mpower97 Base Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: New Jersey Posts: 3 Drives: 14 Acura TSX 5AT Rep Power: 11	Appreciate all the help. They all seem like good car choices. I would first have to get a hold of the insurance company to check rates. Afterwards I can hopefully determine the car I can get.