Need your help PLEASE(thinking of trading my BMW for an STI, long)
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Need your help PLEASE(thinking of trading my BMW for an STI, long)
Hi guys....I just registered, and this looks like a friendly & very informative forum.
To start with, I am in a dilemma right now. I am young(22), and I drive a BMW 2002 330I right now. My parents bought me a first car for around 20k(prelude), but when a drunk driver destroyed it, I had combined the unsurance money with my own money and was able to afford a 330 with a pretty low monthly. Anyways, its paid off now. You can check my car out here:
http://www.cardomain.com/id/sharpacid
--it has more mods now than that website shows--
Right now, I am reconsidering my decision and am thinking of trading in my 330 and getting a new WRX STI. Since I am young(fresh out of college, almost) & and tired of the BMW stigma, I want a car that I do not have to worry about getting keyed etc. Also showing up to your first "real" job/interview in a pimped out BMW wont make you many friends....Although an STI is flashy, it does not have the same stigma as BMW. The problem is my 330 is still brand new(22k miles), excellent condition, and has about 8k in mods already. It would take me probably around 2-3months of hard work parting out my car re-selling parts to get about half of the money back before I could trade it in....
Anyways, I test drove an STI, and I loved some things(driving) hated others(interior). It wasn't very comfortable, and to my surprise had less room than a 3 series. I didn't really like the layout of the cockpit, but I loved the guages. I hated the shifter which felt like a bus....I would probably get racing seats as one of my first mods. The car was very easy to drive and very fast, but it was also very noisy. I was thinking of changing the wheels/tires immediately for some Max Performance summer tires on SSR's so I could drive out in bad weather without problems...
Also, would changing to "regular" tires from the stock Drag Radials alleviate the road noise issue?? I have also heard that the STI has issues with knocking and crappy paint job(chipping), is any of this true???
I would like your advice: should I keep the 330 continue to mod it, and live with all the stigma or buy the STI?? Since I am young performance matters more to me than luxury, and getting rid of the BMW stigma for when I join the workforce is also an issue. I also know that the STI will never be as comfortable as BMW for a daily driver....Can mods alleviate some of these problems to make it more of a daily driver? Please help, I have been getting a headache thinking about this.....And although I love my bimmer, I have & always will, a passion for Japanese turbo cars....
I would like your comments/feedback etc. Any and all....I am not a snobby guy, I am down to earth, and if I offended anyone with my comments I apoligize in advance.
Thanks for reading.....
To start with, I am in a dilemma right now. I am young(22), and I drive a BMW 2002 330I right now. My parents bought me a first car for around 20k(prelude), but when a drunk driver destroyed it, I had combined the unsurance money with my own money and was able to afford a 330 with a pretty low monthly. Anyways, its paid off now. You can check my car out here:
http://www.cardomain.com/id/sharpacid
--it has more mods now than that website shows--
Right now, I am reconsidering my decision and am thinking of trading in my 330 and getting a new WRX STI. Since I am young(fresh out of college, almost) & and tired of the BMW stigma, I want a car that I do not have to worry about getting keyed etc. Also showing up to your first "real" job/interview in a pimped out BMW wont make you many friends....Although an STI is flashy, it does not have the same stigma as BMW. The problem is my 330 is still brand new(22k miles), excellent condition, and has about 8k in mods already. It would take me probably around 2-3months of hard work parting out my car re-selling parts to get about half of the money back before I could trade it in....
Anyways, I test drove an STI, and I loved some things(driving) hated others(interior). It wasn't very comfortable, and to my surprise had less room than a 3 series. I didn't really like the layout of the cockpit, but I loved the guages. I hated the shifter which felt like a bus....I would probably get racing seats as one of my first mods. The car was very easy to drive and very fast, but it was also very noisy. I was thinking of changing the wheels/tires immediately for some Max Performance summer tires on SSR's so I could drive out in bad weather without problems...
Also, would changing to "regular" tires from the stock Drag Radials alleviate the road noise issue?? I have also heard that the STI has issues with knocking and crappy paint job(chipping), is any of this true???
I would like your advice: should I keep the 330 continue to mod it, and live with all the stigma or buy the STI?? Since I am young performance matters more to me than luxury, and getting rid of the BMW stigma for when I join the workforce is also an issue. I also know that the STI will never be as comfortable as BMW for a daily driver....Can mods alleviate some of these problems to make it more of a daily driver? Please help, I have been getting a headache thinking about this.....And although I love my bimmer, I have & always will, a passion for Japanese turbo cars....
I would like your comments/feedback etc. Any and all....I am not a snobby guy, I am down to earth, and if I offended anyone with my comments I apoligize in advance.
Thanks for reading.....
Last edited by k-dog; Jan 6, 2004 at 12:23 AM.
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I'm not bashing, but I think this "stigma" you keep referring to is actually the stigma of a 22 yr old driving a BMW. You probably get much negative attention for this fact.
In reading your post, I guess I can't figure out why you really want an STi. Certainly it's a fast car and it's a great one, however, you're used to the "quality" of a BMW interior and ride. The Impreza doesn't have that same "quality", and doesn't aspire to.
From your post, you think the STi is loud and uncomfortable, you dislike the interior and the gauge lay out and you dislike the shifter. So why do you want the car again? Because it's fast? I would re-evaluate my decisions behind wanting to purchase an STi before I commited myself and it was too late. And just to address your questions, yes the paint DOES suck on the Subarus. The knocking issue you are referring to has since been corrected by Subaru.
In addition, you already have a really nice car and it's paid off. I would save my monthly money towards moving out if you haven't already, and if you have, keep saving and buy yourself a house. Trust me, having a home that is making you money is WAY more enjoyable than an STi.
I want to type more but I've got a conference call to be on now and I actually have to pay attention to this one......
In reading your post, I guess I can't figure out why you really want an STi. Certainly it's a fast car and it's a great one, however, you're used to the "quality" of a BMW interior and ride. The Impreza doesn't have that same "quality", and doesn't aspire to.
From your post, you think the STi is loud and uncomfortable, you dislike the interior and the gauge lay out and you dislike the shifter. So why do you want the car again? Because it's fast? I would re-evaluate my decisions behind wanting to purchase an STi before I commited myself and it was too late. And just to address your questions, yes the paint DOES suck on the Subarus. The knocking issue you are referring to has since been corrected by Subaru.
In addition, you already have a really nice car and it's paid off. I would save my monthly money towards moving out if you haven't already, and if you have, keep saving and buy yourself a house. Trust me, having a home that is making you money is WAY more enjoyable than an STi.
I want to type more but I've got a conference call to be on now and I actually have to pay attention to this one......
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 110
From: College Park, MD
Car Info: 05 Black w/ Gold STi
sonicsuby has some good words of advice, I also was close to buying an STi, but I decided to buy a house instead. Since your 330 is paid off and has so few miles I think you'll be better off with that since it's costing you nothing to own it and very little to maintain it. Even though I'd love to get rid of my 95 Accord for a new ride it costs me maybe $300/yr to maintain the Accord and then the usual gas and insurance (which is a hell of a lot less than what it would cost to gas up an STi and insure it.)
Save up and buy a house if you are still living at home, I don't know what housing prices are like where you live, but where I live (Metro DC area) they are INSANE! I luckily found a new section of townhouses that were being built and were prices far less than older houses. Ones that are already built in this neighborhood are selling for $30k more than what they cost new from the builder, so when I sign the mortgage I'm basically walking into the house and adding $30k in equity to the house. Between that and the downpayment I would have more than enough equity in the house to then get a home equity loan and get the STi.
In the metro DC area SMALL (700-800 sq ft 2 bed/1bath where the "2nd bedroom" is really a den) apartments go for $1300-$1400/mo, whereas my mortgage will be around $1200/mo and it's putting equity into the house, not lining some sleazy landlord's pocket. Get a 3 bedroom house, rent out a room or two to some friends and the rent they will be paying you will pay your mortgage and you can be saving your money.
So basically with my plan in 9 months to a year from now I can have both the house and the car. Works for me!
As for the not wanting to drive a BMW up to a job interview, I've never had an interview where they walked me all the way out to my car and checked to see what I drove. If you're really worried about that park in the back of the parking lot or rent a kia from a car rental agency for the day.
Save up and buy a house if you are still living at home, I don't know what housing prices are like where you live, but where I live (Metro DC area) they are INSANE! I luckily found a new section of townhouses that were being built and were prices far less than older houses. Ones that are already built in this neighborhood are selling for $30k more than what they cost new from the builder, so when I sign the mortgage I'm basically walking into the house and adding $30k in equity to the house. Between that and the downpayment I would have more than enough equity in the house to then get a home equity loan and get the STi.
In the metro DC area SMALL (700-800 sq ft 2 bed/1bath where the "2nd bedroom" is really a den) apartments go for $1300-$1400/mo, whereas my mortgage will be around $1200/mo and it's putting equity into the house, not lining some sleazy landlord's pocket. Get a 3 bedroom house, rent out a room or two to some friends and the rent they will be paying you will pay your mortgage and you can be saving your money.
So basically with my plan in 9 months to a year from now I can have both the house and the car. Works for me!
As for the not wanting to drive a BMW up to a job interview, I've never had an interview where they walked me all the way out to my car and checked to see what I drove. If you're really worried about that park in the back of the parking lot or rent a kia from a car rental agency for the day.
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From: Funtown
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Originally posted by kts262
snip
snip
All within 1 year. I bought my WRX in Feb. 03.
If I could have the house and a nice car with no car payment, that would rule.
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 110
From: College Park, MD
Car Info: 05 Black w/ Gold STi
Originally posted by sonicsuby
This is pretty much what I did. Purchased a home new for $235,000. Day we moved in (8/03) it was worth $245,000. It appraised in July for $260,000 and then in December it appraised again for $283,000.
All within 1 year. I bought my WRX in Feb. 03.
If I could have the house and a nice car with no car payment, that would rule.
This is pretty much what I did. Purchased a home new for $235,000. Day we moved in (8/03) it was worth $245,000. It appraised in July for $260,000 and then in December it appraised again for $283,000.
All within 1 year. I bought my WRX in Feb. 03.
If I could have the house and a nice car with no car payment, that would rule.
I feel kind of bad, almost like I'm screwing over my friends who will be moving in, but then again it'll cost them less to live at my townhouse and it's more space. Now if only I could figure out where to install my DJ booth and where to put the bar. :banana:
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Originally posted by sonicsuby
This is pretty much what I did. Purchased a home new for $235,000. Day we moved in (8/03) it was worth $245,000. It appraised in July for $260,000 and then in December it appraised again for $283,000.
All within 1 year. I bought my WRX in Feb. 03.
If I could have the house and a nice car with no car payment, that would rule.
This is pretty much what I did. Purchased a home new for $235,000. Day we moved in (8/03) it was worth $245,000. It appraised in July for $260,000 and then in December it appraised again for $283,000.
All within 1 year. I bought my WRX in Feb. 03.
If I could have the house and a nice car with no car payment, that would rule.
Where do you live?!!! The new houses that got built in my area, SJ, go for at minimum $530,000. I took a tour of the model homes. These houses are nice but not extravagent. My GF is looking to buy a house and she hasn't found anyhting close to $235,000 unless it was a severly dilapadated house. Man I gotta move outta the bay or save up a a lot more money....
Jason
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k-dog, this is a very easy decision. You are comparing two completely different cars. The only similarities being they both have wheels, doors, and windows . Seriously though, decide on which kind of car you want and the decision is made. I agree with what sonicscuby said. The STi is a totally performance oriented car while the BMW is more of a semi sporty/luxory daily driver.
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 110
From: College Park, MD
Car Info: 05 Black w/ Gold STi
Originally posted by Wrxneffect
Where do you live?!!! The new houses that got built in my area, SJ, go for at minimum $530,000. I took a tour of the model homes. These houses are nice but not extravagent. My GF is looking to buy a house and she hasn't found anyhting close to $235,000 unless it was a severly dilapadated house. Man I gotta move outta the bay or save up a a lot more money....
Jason
Where do you live?!!! The new houses that got built in my area, SJ, go for at minimum $530,000. I took a tour of the model homes. These houses are nice but not extravagent. My GF is looking to buy a house and she hasn't found anyhting close to $235,000 unless it was a severly dilapadated house. Man I gotta move outta the bay or save up a a lot more money....
Jason
If you have a decent downpayment you can afford a lot more than you think. Lenders work with you a lot and find you ways to get you in a house. I'm just out of school and in the entry level pay arena and I can afford to get a house I'm sure you can too. If you are living in the house you only need to put 5% down, sometimes you can even get in less with certain deals. With some of those deals you have to look at other things (balloon payments, etc) to make sure you aren't getting screwed, but you can probably afford more than you think.
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Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Greenwich, CT
Car Info: 02 WRX
Lucky for you guys. The average value of houses here in the east coast, CT is around 1 million, at least where I live. You can't really get a decent house around here for under $ 500k. That's why I'm hoping to move to the west coast and buy a house. As for the whole BMW and STI thing. Why would you want to have more monthly payments when your 330 is already paid for? You also sound like you have more dislikes than likes on the STI. Yes the STI will not have all the toys the 330 does so you definitely need to think about that.
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From: Funtown
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Originally posted by Wrxneffect
Where do you live?!!! The new houses that got built in my area, SJ, go for at minimum $530,000. I took a tour of the model homes. These houses are nice but not extravagent. My GF is looking to buy a house and she hasn't found anyhting close to $235,000 unless it was a severly dilapadated house. Man I gotta move outta the bay or save up a a lot more money....
Jason
Where do you live?!!! The new houses that got built in my area, SJ, go for at minimum $530,000. I took a tour of the model homes. These houses are nice but not extravagent. My GF is looking to buy a house and she hasn't found anyhting close to $235,000 unless it was a severly dilapadated house. Man I gotta move outta the bay or save up a a lot more money....
Jason
Most new homes now though are $300,000 for a 1500 sq ft home..totally sucks...well, not for me since our home is 1540 and worth about $300,000..but you see what I'm sayin
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From: Wherever Sucks the Most
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LMAO
you expect me to read all of that! lol
Depends on how much you get for the BMW. if you get what you're looking for then turn around and get the STi but pay as much of it off as you can with the BMW money. Car payments aren't bad when you're not paying much at all. Say $100-150 a month is cake....also i helps credit for future purchases.
Be original and get an STi... BMW's are a dime a dozen. Still want to look classy then i'd get either white/black with gold wheels
you expect me to read all of that! lol
Depends on how much you get for the BMW. if you get what you're looking for then turn around and get the STi but pay as much of it off as you can with the BMW money. Car payments aren't bad when you're not paying much at all. Say $100-150 a month is cake....also i helps credit for future purchases.
Be original and get an STi... BMW's are a dime a dozen. Still want to look classy then i'd get either white/black with gold wheels
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If you want to mod the STi to make it "more of a daily driver" I would have to say that this car is not for you.
I am also a spoiled recipient of a BMW, however it was my dad's used 92 325i not a brand new 330. I traded it in for my WRX. I can understand what K-Dog is talking about with the stigma. Everyone I met would just assume I was an A$$hole because I drove a Bimmer. I did miss the leather and the nice paint for a while, but the WRX has everything I need: four doors, power winows and locks, a security system and a pretty nice stereo (upgraded factory). And what I want 227hp turbo and awd.
Bottom line is I didn't care for any of the luxury features so I got a car that was right for me. But I'll always love the bimmer.
I am also a spoiled recipient of a BMW, however it was my dad's used 92 325i not a brand new 330. I traded it in for my WRX. I can understand what K-Dog is talking about with the stigma. Everyone I met would just assume I was an A$$hole because I drove a Bimmer. I did miss the leather and the nice paint for a while, but the WRX has everything I need: four doors, power winows and locks, a security system and a pretty nice stereo (upgraded factory). And what I want 227hp turbo and awd.
Bottom line is I didn't care for any of the luxury features so I got a car that was right for me. But I'll always love the bimmer.
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From: Zephyrhills FL
Car Info: '01 GM6 Coupe Blue Ridge Pearl
I'm thinking the Audi S4 is in about the same price range.. and is probably closer to the feel you like, without the BMW stigma. 
And face it, its 'classier' than an STi (whch is pretty damn flashy)
Lots of good advice above though.
And face it, its 'classier' than an STi (whch is pretty damn flashy)Lots of good advice above though.