Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

kyfdx

Double that price for an M5, though..

nyccarguy

True kyfdx, low mileage, E39 M5s have stupid high asking Prices

ateixeira

Beat me to it.

Cheapest 2003 M5 with fewer than 100k miles costs $20k. There's one for $40 grand (huh?).

You could get a pair and have a spare R in case one breaks.

fintail

2003 E55, no thanks, buggy, Now an older one has potential, or some newer models but both are pricier than the Jag.

stickguy

Forget the jag, I could certainly live with this as my around town putt putt mobile. Nice low miles on a very good vintage (right?)

not the hot rod version, but a lot of car for the money.

http://ps.getauto.com/dealer/details/159505.passenger/WBADT43473G032516/?similar- Vehicle=SAJEA03V931M52894

nyccarguy

So fintail, which AMGs are the good years?

michaellno

Wow, I really like that 5-series with 52K miles.

Isn't the HP for the 2.5L 184 that year? Only three more than the '03 Saturn L300 I owned for 7 years.

Still, a very nice example.

stickguy

I have heard that complaint, but I don't buy it. I've driven a few, and read reviews, and the car mags get very good acceleration times, and I have found it to pull strongly. Especially when you are already moving (such as merging onto a highway).

sure, more is better, but it would be plenty of power for me, especially combined with a relaible, reasonably economical, powertrain.

Nice looking car.

ateixeira

Slush box, too. Cheap, but hard to get excited about it.

BMW with 184hp, or Jag with 400?

Sounds ironic, but the Bimmer is the "safe" choice in this case, and the Jag is the enthusiasts' choice.

tifighter

BMW seemed to have bigger horses than others when it came to their horsepower figures, especially in that era. I had this motor in my Z3, and it was a beauty. A friend had the same motor in a 325, and even with the AT it was a rocket. I'd have no concerns with this one in a 5 series.

stickguy

I'm driving a non-turbo Volvo S40 at the moment. I am not anticipating finding a 525i being "too slow"...

I' really getting fixated on this one for some reason. Good (bad?) thing Ohio is not very close to NJ!

fintail

For E55, the first generation (99-02) or the later cars (last was 06). 2003 was the first year for W211, and they seem to get the worst reports from owners. As AMG now encompasses almost all models, it all depends on the car used as a base.

qbrozen

Yes, it shared with the Mondeo, which was being built in Europe during those years; however, the Mondeo (and X-type) were built on the CD132 platform beginning in 2000, which was developed from the CDW27 platform being used for the Contour (and others) up until its death in 2000. The Contour/Mystique were developed from the original '93 Mondeo platform. So, I suppose the Mondeo was the original father, but they are all definitely related.

laurasdada

I was not surprised, but a little disappointed, with daughter's reply and logic during our follow-up conversation:

Laurasdada: How do you feel about me possibly having to use your car a few days during the winter.

Laura: It's not fair, I don' like it. You bought the Jag, you should drive that!

LD: I also bought your car (well half, of course, her Mom paid for the other half!)

L: Yeah, but that was ten years ago!

LD: :confuse:

stickguy

give her the ultimate option. Stop arguing, or you repo the keys, and she can go back to the big yellow bus!

my threat is just that if she doesn't like the arrangement, I'll keep the volvo and she can find a crappy Contour like her brother started out with.

kyfdx

We had the same engine/tranny combo, same year.. just in a 3-series..

Very quick... That model 5-series was probably only 150 lbs. heavier.. just leave the wife at home (honey, the 150 lbs included your purse).

But, as noted... it won't be as much fun as that Jag..

If it only had a stick...

corvette

I guess I'm in the minority on this: I drove a 325i automatic wagon at a BMW event and remember it felt kind of poky.

kyfdx

I bet it was AWD... :P

oldbearcat

I did my own service on the 3 Jags I owned. Maintenance costs wasn't bad at all. However, all 3 were under warranty while I owned them. Out of warranty repair costs for this class of vehicle can be horrible - if you can't fix it yourself.
I remember someone posting on one of Jag forums that a replacement engine for an X Type was $9,000 from a dealer.

Regards:
Oldbearcat

roadburner

As I mentioned in the "Sales Frontlines" topic it looks like my wife will soon be getting a "new"(CPO most likely) car; my son decided that wants to take the X3 to college. She would really like a Clubman but she is hesitant to switch brands because of the great service our BMW dealer provides. A 128i or E90 328i may end up in the mix, or possibly even a Fiat 500 or CX5. The only certainty is that her pick will be either European or Japanese, which suits me just fine.

oldbearcat

gbrozen: At the time I owned them, one of the experts on the Jag forums indicated that the X used some of the floor pan stampings from Mondeo sedan, and, some of the rear suspension pieces from the Mondeo wagon. He indicated that 75% of the X was Jag specific. Only parts I ever found on mine that actually were labeled Ford was a metal line for the FI. I'm assuming the AJ series engine, a variant of the Ford Duratec, used a standard Ford block, but the internals and heads were different. Jag was getting 192 HP out of its 2.5 with a nice mesa shaped torque curve, and, the thing ran smooth as silk.

Regards;
Oldbearcat

oldbearcat

Corvette:

I'm with you. I actually went to a BMW dealer in 2003, and, test drove a 325i automatic. Wife and I both just weren't impressed with it's get up and go. Then we hit the local Jag dealer, and, ended up buying a X Type. However, BMW kept improving their powertrain, and, Jag left the X as it was. I guess Ford wasn't willing/able to invest in powertrain improvements for the X.

Regards:
Oldbearcat

qbrozen

I'm keeping an eye on that Ebay X-type. If that price stays down there, I think I might just have to buy it.

stickguy

tell you what. You buy it, do a bunch of work on it getting the kinks out, then around thanksgiving when you get tired of it I'll take it off your hands cheap.

unless that is the one without a moonroof? If so, just will it to Fezo.

ateixeira

Kids feel like they possess things that are allocated to them even if they didn't pay for them. Act fast and take the keys away for a few days, let 'em know that if they ever say that again it'll be permanent.

Problem solved.

kyfdx

Any luck selling my MR2?

ateixeira

Yikes. I've heard similar price quotes for early Boxsters.

ateixeira

128i or E90 328i may end up in the mix, or possibly even a Fiat 500 or CX5

Good GAWD man what kind of vehicle does she want!?

Just kidding, but I can't think of wider variety of vehicles. Gotta go, time to test drive an F250 diesel, then a Cooper S, to compare and contrast.

nyccarguy

Ive seen a few X-Type Estates (wagons) on the road and thought they were way cool, except like all modern "sport wagons," the back end was sculpted to look sporty and seriously lessens the cargo space.

laurasdada

She's a good kid, but a 16 y.o.! The next time we discuss it, I'll let her know if she truly wants it to be "her" car, well here's the insurance bill, "did they teach you how to fill the tank in driver's ed" and give her the name of the shop I use for oil changes/tire rotations... :P

Luckily, the wife supports me on this one.

qbrozen

Some nibbles, but only 1 very interested party thus far, but he has yet to come see it. Just a string of texts and phone calls. He's hoping to get out here this weekend. So far, nobody has knocked on the door for the key. Its been, what? Like 12 days? I've never had a car sit that long without any action. Although it did take something like 1.5 months for the 300Z to ultimately sell.

stickguy

don't forget, you have 2 standing offers for 3K. One is even local.

anonymousposts

Now Gee is saying, "sure would be nice if I had a beater again to fix up on the weekends" .... Maybe our CCB days aren't over yet.

Stick: I would test drive a Tiguan. It's one of the better driving SUVs that we have driven. Similar in size to an RDX, though not as big as a Santa FE.

ateixeira

2 seaters have a limited audience, plus most are looking for Miatas.

Park it outside the high school in a rich neighborhood with the top down on graduation day. It will sell in 5 minutes.

fezo

unless that is the one without a moonroof? If so, just will it to Fezo.

What? With no moonroof? I thought you were my friend.....

stickguy

tiguan is too small. Just on the bottom end cargo space wise.

but what the heck, I'll show it to my wife. But not likely she would pick that over the RDX $ being equal (and they can get quite pricey, right?)

stickguy

Hey, I upgraded you from Farmers farm van, into a Jaguar.

Ingrate!

stickguy

Oh yeah, I forgot that MR2 is a solid roof. Wonder how much that hurts in the 2 seater sports car market (for the 99% of the shoppers that are not looking for a "race" car)?

fezo

You are, of course, correct.

Forgive me.

qbrozen

The 1 interested party is interested specifically for that reason. He recited exactly why I bought it, "its the lightest model of the lightest year."

Besides, I think a moonroof on that car is silly. There is hardly any roof to begin with!

kyfdx

You know Stick won't follow through on that offer... I'm a mere 11 hours away...

stickguy

Gonna be a long drive in an MR2!

kyfdx

No sweat... I flew into Baltimore and drove the Z4 back the same day.. with just one half-hour stop for food and gas... :P

oldbearcat

Good luck. They didn't make many of these with manual trannies. If it's been well taken care of - It'd be a blast to drive. I'll never forget the day we picked up our X 2.5. Got it from a dealer about 150 miles from home. My wife was driving it on I 64 - headed home, and, she looked at me and said - "this car feels like it's really going pretty slow." I glanced at the speedo and told her - "That's funny - you're doing 100, and, we're going to get busted." These AWD Jags don't give you much sensation of acceleration - you just glance at the speedo, and, realize you're into triple digits. I used cruise control a lot to keep from getting speeding tickets.

Regards;
Oldbearcat

oldbearcat

They are pretty. Don't think they sold many of them - i've only seen one of them in all my travels - parked at a business in Lexington, Ky.

Regards:
Oldbearcat

oldbearcat

One of my son's wanted to buy an old Boxster, and, fix it up - until he found out what parts cost. Anyway - I bet a crate motor for any late model car isn't cheap these days.

Regards:
Oldbearcat

stickguy

hyundai has a preview up on their site for the new Santa Fe. Showed it to the wife, and she actually said she likes it. Annoyed though that they don't have colors listed yet!

Also figure my daughter will like the available heated rear seats.

good MPG on this too, but man, the AWD takes a toll. FWD NA 4 is 23/33, and AWD drops to 20/29.

really anxious to see this in person. Hopefully my contact gets one next week!

jayrider

It's usually much cheaper to buy a vintage car restored than do it yourself. Deep pockets help with Porsches.

ateixeira

Speaking of Z4s...a friend is car-sitting for a guy who was assigned overseas for 3 years. Saw it yesterday, last gen.

So odd - he replaced the front tires with MUCH bigger ones. I mean 60 series instead of 45 series big. It looked like one of those Civics set up for drag racing.

He had no idea why but we both laughed. Also the stereo has no sound, it tunes stations but you hear nothing. Must be shorted out?

It is not even that old, but it was such beater!

ateixeira

They got smart - premium features helped them move transactions prices way up on Elantras. Twins next door got 2 last gen Elantras for $10,999 but now many break $20k.

Makes sense to offer stuff like that on the SF. I kinda like the 3 row model over current minivans.