Time for a new car

[TurboDan]

And people want me to get a Z4?  Great, get a low mileage one, and in a year, spend $4000 to replace the water pump and radiator. 

I replaced both in the Saab (and water pump alongside timing belt change in the Passat). It was nowhere near $4,000. I always set aside about a hundred dollars a month for car repairs, so I have money saved when something comes up. Taking a hit for $500 or so on a water pump is a small price to pay, in my opinion, for driving a superior overall car.

No car is perfect. All will need repairs. I'd rather repair a car I love than a car I'm bored with.

[Cookie Monster]

I replaced both in the Saab (and water pump alongside timing belt change in the Passat). It was nowhere near $4,000. I always set aside about a hundred dollars a month for car repairs, so I have money saved when something comes up. Taking a hit for $500 or so on a water pump is a small price to pay, in my opinion, for driving a superior overall car.

No car is perfect. All will need repairs. I'd rather repair a car I love than a car I'm bored with.

Yes, because you'll definitely be bored with an S2000.

[TurboDan]

Yes, because you'll definitely be bored with an S2000.

Did I say that? No.

I do hear people frequently (not necessarily on here) talking about how much they'd love to have a BMW, but they don't feel like buying "more expensive parts" so they get a Toyota instead. That type of attitude is what I find puzzling. No car is cheap to repair in 2012. May as well spend your money repairing a fun one.

[r0tor]

And people want me to get a Z4?  Great, get a low mileage one, and in a year, spend $4000 to replace the water pump and radiator. 

A look at BMWs service guidelines reveals nothing of the sort...

[2o6]

Did I say that? No.

I do hear people frequently (not necessarily on here) talking about how much they'd love to have a BMW, but they don't feel like buying "more expensive parts" so they get a Toyota instead. That type of attitude is what I find puzzling. No car is cheap to repair in 2012. May as well spend your money repairing a fun one.

Cheap cars are cheaper to repair than expensive ones.

[Lebowski]

Did I say that? No.

I do hear people frequently (not necessarily on here) talking about how much they'd love to have a BMW, but they don't feel like buying "more expensive parts" so they get a Toyota instead. That type of attitude is what I find puzzling. No car is cheap to repair in 2012. May as well spend your money repairing a fun one.

The few BMWs my family (an friends) has owned have been literally multiples in repair + maintenance costs than the many Toyota / Hondas.

Not saying I wouldn't buy a BMW because of it, but there's no question there's a cost associated with owning one vs a toyota or Honda ... At least as far as what anecdote is worth.

[MX793]

A look at BMWs service guidelines reveals nothing of the sort...

VW's service guidelines on the timing belt on the 1.8T didn't say that needed to be changed every 60K miles either...  Until they started breaking them right around that mileage and they started informing dealers to change them at that mileage.

[GoCougs]

Take a GT-R or 911 Turbo. Sure, things like turbos, DSGs, clutches, etc., in high performance applications, are not designed for 150,000 mile service life. But should a Jetta or 328i need more repairs or justifiably be more expensive to repair than a Camcord V6? Not a chance.

[CJ]

Take a GT-R or 911 Turbo. Sure, things like turbos, DSGs, clutches, etc., in high performance applications, are not designed for 150,000 mile service life. But should a Jetta or 328i need more repairs or justifiably be more expensive to repair than a Camcord V6? Not a chance.

This. 

[Raza]

A look at BMWs service guidelines reveals nothing of the sort...

I guessed at cost, based on typical German repairs.  Cost me a grand to fix a leak in my fuel something or other. 

[Raza]

I replaced both in the Saab (and water pump alongside timing belt change in the Passat). It was nowhere near $4,000. I always set aside about a hundred dollars a month for car repairs, so I have money saved when something comes up. Taking a hit for $500 or so on a water pump is a small price to pay, in my opinion, for driving a superior overall car.

No car is perfect. All will need repairs. I'd rather repair a car I love than a car I'm bored with.

Eh, when the money's there, I don't mind it.  But if I'm making a financially responsible move while still satisfying my emotional wants, then I'm going to make that over buying a money pit that's less capable and more comfortable. 

[TurboDan]

VW's service guidelines on the timing belt on the 1.8T didn't say that needed to be changed every 60K miles either...  Until they started breaking them right around that mileage and they started informing dealers to change them at that mileage.

When did VW say to change the timing belt every 60K? I think it was originally 115K on the 1.8T, and they revised it to like 85K. I had mine replaced between 90-95K.

[r0tor]

VW's service guidelines on the timing belt on the 1.8T didn't say that needed to be changed every 60K miles either...  Until they started breaking them right around that mileage and they started informing dealers to change them at that mileage.

Exaggerate much?

[SVT666]

SVT Focus timing belts are scheduled for every 120,000 miles, but so many of them were breaking prematurely that most people who own one are getting them done at 80-100K because these engines are interference engines.

[MX793]

Exaggerate much?

VW did actually revise their timing belt change interval after a lot of premature failures.  It was 85K instead of 60K (couldn't remember the exact number off the top of my head).

And do a search on BMW water pumps and radiators needing to be changed at 60K miles.  There's quite a bit out there.  Someone here (Submariner, maybe) had their cooling system fail in a newer 3 series at somewhere around that mileage and noted that the water pump was considered a "maintenance item" prone to fail at around that mark.

[r0tor]

Water pumps are not that uncommon to replace now that tons of manufacturers have switched to plastic impellars

Replacing the radiator... maybe flushing the radiator?

[MX793]

Water pumps are not that uncommon to replace now that tons of manufacturers have switched to plastic impellars

Replacing the radiator... maybe flushing the radiator?

That's what I thought the guy said when he said he needed to have his water pump and radiator "done".  He then clarified that, no, it's not a flush, it's a replacement.  I couldn't believe it, but I did a google search when I got home and there's quite a bit out there about BMW radiators failing at around 60K miles and most owner groups recommending they be replaced at around that mileage.

[Stark]

reminds me of the "pay to play" thread

[SVT666]

We brought home a car.  I gotta wash it before I take pictures though because I drove it home in a rain storm and now it's dirty.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

We brought home a car.  I gotta wash it before I take pictures though because I drove it home in a rain storm and now it's dirty.

BMW

[hotrodalex]

Prius

[Rich]

2010 Beetle

[mzziaz]

BMW

Let's hope so. Or a Charger.

[CALL_911]

Yaris

[MexicoCityM3]

Mustang.

[GoCougs]

C'mon guys, his best option was the G37X sedan. Plus, he just couldn't wait to be like me.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

C'mon guys, his best option was the G37X sedan. Plus, he just couldn't wait to be like me.

Thats why I think it's the BMW. That ever changing mind of his went back to the car he first fell in love with. If he didn't get the BMW it's a a car that hasn't been on the radar at all!   

[Raza]

Camaro.

[Rich]

Camaro.

[Northlands]

He's going to shock us all and end up uploading photos of a Jetta TDi.