Early mid-life crisis?

Status
Not open for further replies.
R

refaller

Joined
Jul 31, 2005
Messages
606
Location
Ono, Pa
OK, so I am a very practical person. I can financially get a new car, but prefer to keep my money and drive my boring CRV. I have the opportunity to purchase a BMW Z3 as a fun third car. I have no need for it, but would love to have a little convertible to swing around my country road commute. It has a lot of mileage (112,000), but it is cheap and supposedly reliable. I need to be talked off the ledge or pushed over it. I actually am rationalizing it by the better gas mileage I would get on my commute! Help.

ref
 
Originally Posted By: refaller
OK, so I am a very practical person. I can financially get a new car, but prefer to keep my money and drive my boring CRV. I have the opportunity to purchase a BMW Z3 as a fun third car. I have no need for it, but would love to have a little convertible to swing around my country road commute. It has a lot of mileage (112,000), but it is cheap and supposedly reliable. I need to be talked off the ledge or pushed over it. I actually am rationalizing it by the better gas mileage I would get on my commute! Help.

ref


They are incredible cars! I just bought a 10 year old M5 a few weeks ago, and have been loving every minute of it.

Watch out though, you'll be accused of trying to be "affluent" and thinking your car is superior to a McLaren F1 on here if you post some pictures and talk about how much you enjoy it.
 
If you really like the Bimmer I say go for it. If you're just looking for an inexpensive roadster to fill that third garage space and cruze around in every so often, the Miata has been filling that slot for a couple decades. Prolly cheaper to buy and maintain, too.
 
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL

They are incredible cars! I just bought a 10 year old M5


Whoa. Everyone knows about your M5. A very nice car. The OP hasn't elaborated on the details of the Z3 he's buying. One thing's for sure, it's not a 400hp V8. What you're saying is akin to buying a Mustang GT500 and recommending a 2001 Mustang V6 as some great vehicle
 
Life is short, just do it!
smile.gif
 
Thanks for the quick replies. Thought about the Miata, but they do not look as cool and with the mileage and age factored in, the price difference is negligible. The Z3 is a four cylinder which is more reliable and I am less worried about 0-60 than having fun in the corners. Probably gonna go look at it tomorrow unless someone talks me the other way.

ref
 
I've had one BMW in my life.

One.

The day I die, I will be able to say the same thing.

"Big Money Waster" is what it means to me.

You can guess my opinion...
 
One day I hope to own a BMW. Doesn't have to be new, but I've always loved them. Heck, my co worker bought a 92 525i for less than 5 grand, and it's practically mint.
 
Originally Posted By: meangreen01
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL

They are incredible cars! I just bought a 10 year old M5


Whoa. Everyone knows about your M5. A very nice car. The OP hasn't elaborated on the details of the Z3 he's buying. One thing's for sure, it's not a 400hp V8. What you're saying is akin to buying a Mustang GT500 and recommending a 2001 Mustang V6 as some great vehicle


Whoops
blush.gif


I was thinking of the Z8, not the Z3. My err there.
 
Originally Posted By: Nick R
One day I hope to own a BMW.

Whoa! I never thought I'd hear this from you. Let me guess, it has to be made in Michigan though, right?
lol.gif


I think all their SUVs are now made in South Carolina, so that's a start.
 
Originally Posted By: refaller
Thanks for the quick replies. Thought about the Miata, but they do not look as cool and with the mileage and age factored in, the price difference is negligible. The Z3 is a four cylinder which is more reliable and I am less worried about 0-60 than having fun in the corners.

It's probably still not as reliable as a Miata, statistically. The Miata is also about 400 lbs lighter, which should make it more tossable/fun in the corners. But definitely take the Z3 for a spin. If you love it, that's all that matters.

Also check on insurance rates so you won't get a shocker afterwards.
 
There are a lot of advantages to having a third car. Able to have one down for maintenance or to loan out and so on.

Not sure where the Z3 is as far as reliability. Some cars and their parts don't really go past 100k. On Hondas and Toyotas that is generally just getting worn in.
 
Some Z3-s have an issue with the weld spots near the rear suspension. Research that so that you can identify whether the car you are thinking about has that issue or not. Another issue with that age is going to be the cooling system - check and see if the radiator and the lines have been changed.

Otherwise, they are simple and reliable cars.

Also look at the Z4 - you can get a 2003 or 2004 model for as little as $15k. They do not seem to have the issues that Z3 had - the biggest issue with some cars is a sticky electric steering ($1,500 to replace) and poorly designed convertible top motor housing which traps water and will kill the motor in 5-6 years of driving in moderate climates. That's a $2,500 fix at the dealer or a relatively easy DIY for $600.

Mine already has 102,000 miles and the convertible motor will probably need to be replaced soon.
 
Will definitely look at the weld spots. It is a 1996, but I do my own work. If I had any complaints about my current cars it is that I hardly ever have to get out my wrenches! Thanks for the advice.

ref
 
Otherwise, they are simple and reliable cars.

Now c'mon. We can argue reliability to death, but SIMPLE? My mom has had one for years and it's a lot of things, even a pretty nice car, but it is not simple.

Nor is it cheap to repair. So shop very carefully. I've owned a few, maybe their quality is greatly improved, but there are an awful lot of stories about repairs and expense that seem to square up nicely with my experiences during a ten year period where I bought nothing but German.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

P
Mid-life crisis car plan
3 4 5
Replies
95
Views
2K
bdc101
S
Used Car Dilemma: 2018 Escape or Older Honda or Toyota?
2
Replies
21
Views
702
PandaBear
pezzy84
Rental car review - 2025 VW Jetta 1.5T.
Replies
19
Views
2K
McLoving79
J
2013 Passat VR6 - the new used DD
2 3
Replies
42
Views
1K
tbm5690
L
Considering a small SUV
12 13 14
Replies
278
Views
10K
edyvw
Back
Top Bottom