FastAcura

I've had the car for about two months and I would have never thought I'd say this. I actually miss the CL-S.

Besides being RWD and having a V8, I see absoluetly no advantages in picking the bimmer over the CL-S. To 60, the Acura with Icebox, headers and springs/shocks was quicker. On the highway the bimmer would have easily won. So it's pretty much even as far as straight line performance.

The main thing is, I'm paying over $1000 for this car a month. Car payment, insurance, warranty and most importantly gas suck ass.

So I was looking at a few other things. I could get a really good deal on a 04 5.7L GTO, and the LS1 gets about 29 mpg on the highway. The car only has 9K miles.

I was also considering a Lightning and Cobra. I'm not sure yet. I'm all over the place, but I'm surely getting rid of the bimmer. I've already spent about $2500 in mods in 2 and a half months, but I just don't care for it anymore.

Whiskers

(out of breath)....Ok....ok...Give it to me.

FastAcura

Sure, the payoff is about 25K.
Don't get me wrong, if you put them next to each other and someone said "pick one" of course I'd take the 540.

But for the value, the Acura is a MUCH better buy. The BMW is maybe worth 5000K more, but not $20000.

Minch00

So you're looking at the Lightning and Cobra.........and you want to save on gas and insurance?

FastAcura

Actually I got a quote for the GTO from the insurance company and it was less than the 540i.

darrinb

how about a 350z, or a used e46 m3

FastAcura

I don't know know about the M3. I'm sure insurance would suck on it worse than 540i. I want something with warranty preferrebly a V8.

BEETROOT

get an 04 gto. $25k at carmax with 3,000 miles.

sbuswell

wow the 540i is a very nice car and you have mods too! WTF, why don't you like it?

FastAcura

I was looking at this red on black with 9000K miles for $23K! I'm sure I can bring it down a lil more to 21K because they had it set at $20995 "buy it now" on ebay.

I think that's a great deal. They must be going for so cheap because of the 05 models and GMC employee discounts.

GreenMonster

1k a month !! you kids are crazy

BEETROOT

did you not read his post?

BEETROOT

yeah, and the 05 model has more hp and tq.

Minch00

Notice I didn't say the GTO





That's quite a situation my friend. I'm not sure what you should do.

FastAcura

Well, the mods are mostly visual. I just don't think the car is worth that much. Like I said, I liked the interior in the Acura actually better! The buttons in the 540i look like they were made in East Germany or Russia. And the wood doesn't look right either. It is a nice car though, but just not worth $1000+ a month.

FastAcura

Yeah, but 50 horsepower and more torque aren't really worth almost $10K more, which is what the '05s are selling for.

FastAcura

Well, since the GTO is newer and doesn't produce that much less power, I would think that the Cobra and lightning would be in about the same insurance range. I mentioned the GTO since that's the only one I got quoted on.

BEETROOT

I agree. If I hadn't just paid the sales tax on my car last week, I really think I would have traded it back in to carmax for a gto. I love them.

DownUnder

I've heard that insurance on '03+ Cobra's are insane especially for people under 25.

Crazy Bimmer

Come meet me at a road course, ill make you enjoy that 540

Sarlacc

I bet you didnt get the 6spd... then you would have loved it.

If you did get the 6 spd.....then i dont know what wrong in your head

Crazy Bimmer

Also i dunno how the auto CLS was quicker, my buddies stock 540/6 ran a 14.1 few weeks ago.

Maybe you just miss the sound of Vtec powa!

FastAcura

I got the 6 speed, The CLs to 60 was about 5.5, 540i was 6 seconds.

Crazy Bimmer

let me guess... G-tech pro?

FastAcura

Stopwatch

Doom878

I notice that faster cars than my car with a steady torque curve seem slower since VTEC gives you that "boost." Get the GTO since you obviously don't care about number of doors.

synth19

$1000/ month???? omg! You're spending too much money for just a car. My friend was stuck in a similar situation, he had an S2k he bought with little money down. He had fun with the car for a few years and definitely turned some heads. But he wasted around 1100 a month and that's with living at home too. eventually he had to get rid of the car because he just couldnt afford anything (trips/going out/investing/getting his own place/etc), because all his money was going into his car.

Now if you're making a ridiculous amount of money at 21, then forget what I said...if not...get rid of the car and get something more affordable or at least 1/2 of what you're paying now. Jesus, I'm complaining with my $240/month payment...

cob3683

$1,000 a month = teh crazy

Definitely get rid of that bad boy. I would look for a used GTO/Mustang GT and cut your payments in half. Then again, you could buy a civic and really lower your payments and save up for something better in a few years.

Yumcha

Well, one thing's foh shoh, this guy needs a name-change...FastBimmer...

FastAcura

Then I would need another one after I sell the bimmer.


The 540i would have walked all over my modded CL type S from third gear on (60 mph) It just pulls like a train once it's rolling.

I went by the dealership and looked at the GTO earlier. Too bad they were closed but the car looked very clean. I really like the interiors in these cars, actually better than the outdated 540is. They basically had the same interiors in them from '97 to 2003.

If I get the GTO, the payments would probably be around $650/month with insurance which isn't bad at all since I'll have the factory warranty until March 2007.

njzprettyboy

waht year/miles is yoru 540?

goldmemberer

Sorry. The 540 is hot, esp. in 6MT trim. But come on brother, you're 21. Wrong car. I was in kind of the same boat as you. I _love_ the E39, was eyeing an M5 recently (love how they get cheaper and cheaper as the new one is expected to launch)... but I really couldn't justify it. Too much of a taxi.

When my sideburns turn white though, I'm going for a 5 series sleeper. Probably. We'll see.

You? Get the GTO. Put a couple of K in mods so you don't feel bad for not getting the 05. That much power ought to keep you happy; just hope it makes you forget the CL's interior and polish too.

FastAcura

It's a 2000 with 55K miles.

What I like about the 540i is that it's a total sleeper. A LOT of people don't know what this car is capable of. Just last saturday I beat an LT1 Z28 by a few carlengths.

I finally need a car that I will keep longer than a year.

VTEC11

Is the 25k your referring to the payoff amount on the 540 ?

FastAcura

Beltfed

First off, an E39 540 6spd is infinitely nicer than a CL-S........there is no argument (I've owned BMWs and I had a CL-S).

Put that poll on any general car forum and see what comes out on top.

That aside, you're 21 and its probably not the car for you.

Sounds like you want another coupe of some sort.

VTEC11

And buying a car for $21k is going to reduce your payments to $650 from $1000? How much are they charging your for car insurance?

FastAcura

Yep. between 450 to 480/month for the GTO and a little less than $200 for insurance.

FastAcura

I do agree that it's a nicer car overall. Of course it's RWD, has about 100 lb/ft of torque more than the CL-S (and it's underrated - some guys have dynoed 260 + whp stock) and is a really nice highway cruiser, but the difference isn't THAT huge for me to justify that much more money. The payments on the CL-S were 326 with a 10 year/100,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty and a much better gas milage.

And like I said before, the interior is butt ugly to ME. They should have at least changed it a little since 97, but it looks way outdated now. I will take a pic if I get a chance.

Doom878

I was never crazy about BMW's interior setup neither and preferred Honda/Acura's setup. That horizontal console doesn't appeal to me and I'm not a big fan of the orange even though it's more functional lighting (I guess).