someone offered to trade their car for my mustang

[intrigued]

I know a lot of people ar in to trading cars but it never occured to me that somebody would try to trade for my car. As many of you know I'm trying to sell my 2005 mustang gt (girlfriend can't drive stick blah blah blah we've all heard it.) somebody decided to suggest trading their white on tan 2004 BMW 325 auto 4 door. It only has 39k miles to my 72k and looks to be in mint condition. Soooo tempting. The two biggest things holding me back was I was planning on getting a 5-6 grand jeep that could old us over for 1.5 to 2 years and then I would get my new mustang while using the rest of the money to pay off the credit card I wrote a check off of to buy the mustang. If I traded I would still have a large credit card payment. I never saw myself having to make this decission....

[loki]

interesting.

hope you make the right choice and don't regret it.

[mustang84]

I don't think the 325 is worth the trade...a 330 maybe, but 325 is a big step down in performance from your Mustang. It may seem appealing now, but you also need to consider costs of maintenance if any issues arise. BMWs are not cheap machines to repair.

I'd say go with the 5-6K Jeep, pay off your credit card, save whatever's left, and buy something you really want a few years down the road.

[the_yellow_dart]

Heh, not cheap to repair, no kidding.

My buddy hit a deer with his 3 series and was quoted $9k to repair.

[REDO1GPGT]

All I can say is if you do go for the 325i make sure you have plenty of cash reserves for maintenance and repairs. I bought mine with 59K on it a little over a year ago, it now has 80K and in that time frame it has had over 8.5K in warranty repairs performed. I think I have had nearly every common failure and then some.

Edited February 9, 2010 by REDO1GPGT

[FAPTurbo]

I'd vote to pay down the personal debt. It'll feel way more awesome than sitting in a BMW dealer waiting for your car to be fixed for the n'th time.

[Z-06]

Don't do it! You will be Bitching Moaning Whining for making the decision.

[ocnblu]

Well we've heard from two BMW owners in this thread so far. I say, defer to them and stick to your original plan. Domestic cars are easier to live with over the long haul.

[pow]

Way to be drama queens, BMW owners!

Stealerships usually charge an insane amount for maintenance and repairs, both during and after warranty. Find a good independent BMW specialist and running costs will be reasonable, likely on par with a $6,000 Jeep.

That said, if you're in a lot of debt, I'd go with your original plan and sell the Mustang. How much more can you get from it?

[Z-06]

Way to be drama queens, BMW owners!

Stealerships usually charge an insane amount for maintenance and repairs, both during and after warranty. Find a good independent BMW specialist and running costs will be reasonable, likely on par with a $6,000 Jeep.

That said, if you're in a lot of debt, I'd go with your original plan and sell the Mustang. How much more can you get from it?

Aren't BMW's meant to be for Drama Queens?

Independent specialists are hard to find. And now they know that the stealerships are charging off the ying-yang, their prices have become "competitive" with the stealerships.

[vonVeezelsnider]

BMWs are a pain in the ass, especially if they age. You really have to ask yourself on a car with that little mileage what must be wrong with it.

I am concerned that as Cadillac becomes more complicated and "european" that they will become that bad too.

[Robert Hall]

Sounds like your girlfriend needs to learn to drive a manual or get her own car w/ an automatic. I'd never let another person interfere w/ my car choices.

[daves87rs]

Don't bother.....pay down that debt!

[Robert Hall]

Don't bother.....pay down that debt!

+1.

[intrigued]

I went and saw the BMW and talked to the guy. Seems like a cool guy who doesn't really use his car for anything other then weekend jaunts. IT is in imacculate condition with the maitenance documented. It even has extended warranty but we're not sure if that is transferable. We came to an understanding that his offer is on the table for another 6 weeks during which I will try and sell my car, so far only one offer for 10k. I am not going to sell it below 12.5k. If there is no sale by the end of this period Im going to seriously consider the Bimmer. Either way the Jeep or the BMW will not be my car for that long. It will be my girlfriends in another year or so. I'd likely buy a new car now and keep my mustang but I'm strapped for the next few months since I'm paying for an engagment ring that I want to put on the GFs finger by July.

[Z-06]

The warranty is transferable.

[Nick]

All I can say is if you do go for the 325i make sure you have plenty of cash reserves for maintenance and repairs. I bought mine with 59K on it a little over a year ago, it now has 80K and in that time frame it has had over 8.5K in warranty repairs performed. I think I have had nearly every common failure and then some.

I hear ya. Whatever can go wrong, has gone wrong with my car.

BUT, if you know where to find parts, and know your way around a tool box, then upkeep isn't a huge concern. Parts can be found relatively cheap, and they are easy to work on.

[Drew Dowdell]

Way to be drama queens, BMW owners!

Appropriate... since my observation is that when a gay guy graduates college he generally trades his Jetta in on a BMW.....