jlspeed29

Here's my story, I'll try to make it as short and clear as possible.

I have an 01 CL-S with 137K on the ticker. My gf and I just got a new 335i.

In 5 years (approx 2013) we plan to get married, get a place and start life.

The issue is, will my CL last me 5 more years?
I'm thinking "maybe" With the tranny issues and now my axels are bad, I dont want it to turn into a money pit!

In 5 years (or so) I will have to buy an engagement ring, save for a house and pay for a wedding. That sh%ts expensive!! I dont want to drive around a beat-up CL that will be 12 years old (eek) Sure we have the beemer, from what I see, when the time comes that I will actually NEED a new car (in the future) I may not be able to afford one.

I feel like I have a window of opportunity that will be closed soon


Does that make sense?

Please help!
I need to:
a. fall back in love with my CL
b. get into a new car

Python2121

1. Its all downhill after 90k miles
2. 5 years??

te3point5

sounds like you shouldn't have gotten the Bimmer...

dom

Ya, that Bimmer purchase doesn't sound like it was a good idea.

You could have bought 2 cars instead.

te3point5

or one cheaper car for her and saved the rest for the afformentioned house, ring, wedding, etc... and as a just in cast fun if the CL completely shits the bed.

bgsm1th

Agreed

Out of shear curiosity, how old are you??
If you have 5+ years of planning for buying a wedding ring/house, that should give you ample time to put together a solid savings plan, and if not, the 335 was stupid move.

By the way, what happens when your GF splits with the car, but you're left with the 50% or more of the payment in your name?

oh, and no, your CL won't last you another 5 years...

jlspeed29

..lol....
I thought that for about 2 seconds, that is until I floored it this morning

shrykhar

shit happens, trust me.

dom

Ya, that what I was getting at, just trying to prove the point about the cost of a 335.

jlspeed29

I'm 25.
The beemer was not a bad move, it was carefully thoughtout, my savings is straight and all that good stuff...I just feel that if I dont get another car soon, when I actually DO need one, it will be very low on the priority list.

Crazy Bimmer

Sounds like you looking for an excuse to get a new car.

Could always put off the wedding 6-8 years.

Get a new car!

jlspeed29

The idea is that in 5 years, both cars would be paid off, and we would be debt free (mortgage only).....is my logic off?

bgsm1th

IF your savings is straight and the "bimmer" wasn't a bad move, then you wouldn't have started a "Please help!" thread...

SakiGT

New car.

Crazy Bimmer

Well if you can save for the wedding, ring, down payment for the house and two car payments in the meantime, then sure.

Buy a nice mazda3, rates are great on them.

jlspeed29

damm you! hahah...I do want another car, I have no problems getting rid of the CL as it has been a very very good car.

jlspeed29

gross! I would never drive a mazda, sorry bro

bgsm1th

You don't need a new car NOW, or even a new car for that matter...
But, you will need something to replace the CL in the next 3 or 4 years if not sooner.
As much as I love my CL-S, I'm looking for it's replacement now that is it has 140K miles on it.

jlspeed29

that poses another good question...

I could save for all that stuff in the meanwhile....
That sentence really helps to put things into perspective

te3point5

"low on the priority list" and "not able to afford one" are two different things.

jlspeed29

right right, well you get what I mean.


Thanks to everyone who posted!!! Keep em coming! always welcomed!

Sarlacc

buy a reliable beater.

LuvMyTSX

I agree that you'll need a new car sooner rather than later. However, my advice is to get something more reasonable than a BMW since you have quite a lot to save up for in the next few years. You don't want to start out your marriage being broke just so you could have a nice car. Live within your means and you will be happier in the long run.

jlspeed29

thanks!

And I may not even need a NEW car for that matter, my preference is to get a pre-owned car..like a TL or an IS something decent... afteral we still have the beemer

I'm gonna talk to my gf this afternoon and see what she thinks...

LuvMyTSX

Pre-owned is a good idea. And something reliable like you mentioned above.

mclovintsx

iTrader: (2)

imo, you should've bought two cars instead of one and you shouldn't have bought the 335i with your gf since 5 years is a LONG time (not to bash your relationship status just a lot of things could happen within the 5 years) unless you really trust her. If you don't mind me asking, how long have you two been together? Well in any case, the 3 series is sweet.

jlspeed29

we do really trust each other, we diddnt want to buy 2 25k cars what would I get? 2 civics? i dont think so.....

5 years is a long time, in fact we may actually get married sooner than that

But it's all good.

I guess I just need to figure out when/what kind of car to get,
I was thinking a used TL with low miles, or an IS... who know's....

1killercls

Brilliant!

Trackruner228

iTrader: (1)

Have you ever had the tranny replaced? If so when and at how many miles?

Brandon24pdx

You're fine. Party on Wayne.

Brandon24pdx

Or longer maybe. I think he should buy a car instead of a wife at his age, but that just me.

Sclass88

Sorry but a Civic doesn't cost $25,000... unless you're buying an Si...

Personally, I would have bought something more affordable, perhaps a TSX and then another nice, used car instead of an overpriced BMW. Kind of an illogical move on your part but at this point, it's water over the dam so enjoy your BMW, I guess...

If you want a new car, why not go get an '08 TSX. Dealers are probably discounting them big time right now with the '09's coming into stock. That's a car that'll last you a while.

Good Luck.

jlspeed29

I had it replaced once @ 50k or so....Since then it has been good.
Right now my axles are going bad, Im having one replaced tomorrow!

Me and my gf dont really want to get married too much later, I dont want to get married older than 30 eek!

jlspeed29

Sorry but nothing quite compares to the 335 coupe (have you ever driven one? )
I am not tight on money or anything like that by any means.

Like I said, I have, what I think, is a window of opportunity to get a newer car...not neccessarily a new car, but a newer one. I dont want a TSX, I cant imagine it would be that much fun to drive. I'll call my buddy @ Gold Coast (finance mgr) to drive some stuff tonight

Brandon24pdx

CV axles are not that expensive to replace...maybe $300-400 for both. I'm not gonna hate on ya for buying a nice car, but if nothing is seriously wrong with the CL-S I'd just roll that for awhile and keep it to one payment.

te3point5

Not to be an asshole, but the three statements above lead me to believe you are in no place to get married as it seems your priorities are somewhat selfish.

So if you have a kid and need to buy diapers, would you say "Sorry kid, I need heated seats... shit in the back yard"? I know, extreme situation.

People who are single can do whatever they want with their money, YOU have the luxury of knowing where you want to be in 5 years and who you want to be with. It seems that the both of you make enough money that if you really put money away, and bought a civic, or bought a Mazda 3, you'd be in an AWESOME position in 5 years.

260 HP

iTrader: (3)

$25k gets you a lot of cars, not Civics, thank you very much. $25k will get you a brand new 08 Accord EX-L, OTD, for example. Granted it's not a BMW, but it's a lot of car (new) for the money.

If you go slightly used, $25k will get you cars like an 04 Lexus LS430 with maybe 50k on the odo. Bump it up to say $30k, you can get an 06 Infiniti M35 with 30k-ish on the odo.

And you paid $50k for your 335i???

By the way, if you want to buy a house, pay for a ring and a wedding, you shouldn't have bought that BMW. It's a depreciating asset!

BTW, a Beemer is a BMW motorcycle. A BMW automobile is called Bimmer.

Anyway, at this point, I'd sell the CL-S and buy something cheap, used, and reliable but newer with less miles on the clock. If you need to show up and show off, you still have your 335i and you drive that beater for commutes. You don't want to start your marriage life so deep in debt (besides the mortgage).

Besides, you sound that you want to maintain an "image", that's why you bought 1 BMW and not 2 Civics. This will be costly in the long run though.

And yes, 5 years is very long down the road. A lot of things can happen in 5 years. Heck, I've bought and sold probably 5 cars in the last 5 years.

Trackruner228

iTrader: (1)

Well read around the TL and CL section. There is something called the post 02/05 tranny. What it basically is a tranny with the latest updates. They are by no means perfect but MUCH better than the old design.

jlspeed29

all of the responses are GREAT! thanks everyone...i appreciate everyones honesty!

Moog-Type-S

buying a car with your GF FTL

getting married in 5 years? ALOT can change.

I'm with the others: You should have bought 2 cars SEPARATE.