1984 911 Porsche Coupe with 38,000 miles. The car is the exterior color I want, but the interior is royal blue. Doesn't have a full service history, which makes it tough to pay the owner premium price of 25K.

2004 M3 Coupe - 3,800 miles, SMG, all the right options, again has a grey interior, which I really want black. 40K

2007 S2000 - Would be new, only draw back is no back seat to take the little ones with me.

Which car would you take?

Thanks

 

there is no 2007 s2000

 

http://automobiles.honda.com/models/...odelName=S2000

The above website shows a 2007 S2000

 

M3

 

Go with the '04 M3. I have a TL and a '03.5 M3 Carbon Black and I couldn't be happier. IMO the gray interior holds up better. Black gets old looking faster. The M3 is fun by myself or with my fiance. The TL does the rest. Just take into account the cost of fixing it should anything go wrong. I have had problems with the ballast on the right side of the HID's as well as the weather stripping on passenger side. Other than that it is a perfect car.

 

S2000 only because I wouldn't want to deal with the SMG along with the M3's other quirks, assuming I could afford it. I read that the SMG is great for balls-out driving, but not very good for day-to-day commuting, so there is no advantage over a manual transmission.

 

m3

 

the price will drop when the new Gen m3 come out.

 

Since its a 2nd car and guessing just driving for fun...

I would say a used NSX.

Fun to drive, reliable and stands out! Be different!

 

As much as I love 911's, I'd probably have to go with the S2k... upkeep and maintenance is going to be alot cheaper on a new car then a 23 y/o porsche... the other side of the coin is that a 911 won't depreciate like a S2K will, so the happy medium might be a used S2k...

 

M3 x12390810239182093180923091823

 

definitely. NSX became alot affordable these days. if your looking upto $40K for your second car, used NSX can be found in that range too.

 

I will take the S2000, because I have for myself as a second car too and I love it!

 

It would definitely be a tough choice between the M3 and the S2K, but I think in the end I would choose a new S2k over an 04 M3.

 

I would vote for the M3 if it was a 6 speed. The Porsche is going to be the best of the lot in terms of retaining value. The S2000 will be the best to maintain. I would go for the S2000 just because it is a Honda and we all know what that means.

 

M3 no question

 

M3...it's not 23 years old and has a backseat

 

M3 but I wouldn't take SMG.

 

:agree;

Both the Porsche and the BMW will require very pricey maintenance and the BMW will definitely be out of its "free maintenance" period already. The S2000 will be new, still in warranty, and require minimal maintenance over the next few years.

 

IF the M3 was a convertable, i would jump on that, more fun as a second car with the girls.

Keep your eyes out for a low miles M3 Vert for me!

 

yeah i'm not too big on smg but at the same time the s2k and m3 are 2 very very different cars in different price ranges. both have great value but if money is no object, m3 gets another vote by me. test drive them both back to back and you'll know what i'm talking about. both are high revving machines.

 

TSX costs $129 to do an oil change.

Whats pricey on the BMW that makes it expensive to maintain? (dead horse)

Just curious on why people say that. I need reasons people and then i will shut up about it.

But the Honda will of course be more reliable.

 

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36385

Forget honda, right?

Ok ill shut up now cuz im even annoying myself

 

The BMW has 3800 miles on it, so reliability and maintenace costs shouldn't be a factor for a long while (this is going to be used as a 2nd car)...

 

Lol...first of all, that's Canadian dollars, and second, his dealer is on crack.

 

either the M3 or the 2007 s2000

 

I agree I dont think BMWs are expensive to maintain any more then any other car. Its just when they have something go wrong its expensive but thats true with any german car now just BMW. I just remember the town I grew up was one of those small no place towns and my dad had a BMW and of course because it was a small town if something would go wrong he would take it to him and it would be pretty pricey to fix. This was also at a friends discount thing too but I think if it doesnt break down a BMW is no more expensive then any other car.

As far as this paticular BMW goes I would say go for it expect it has SMG. Now I have never driven a SMG but from what I read its not that good. If you dont mind the SMG though I would say the BMW.

 

Where are you getting your prices? My local Acura dealer does the oil changes for free on cars purchased there and only $35 for cars not purchased there.

And the last BMW M3 owner I spoke to who just had a valve-train adjustment done according to the maintenance schedule coughed up around $2k for it at a private shop so I'm only going on what I have been told. A number of other M3 owners I have met have also mentioned that the car is expensive to take care of once it goes beyond the free maintenance period.

 

...just out of curiosity, if a M3 can possibly be a "2nd Car", what's your car now?

anyway, and who the hell buys a M3 and only put 3800 miles on it after 3-4 years??!! (I'm referring to the original owner)

 

If the TSX costs $129 to do an oil change, I'm going to Costco to pick up 6 quarts of Mobil1 for under $30 + a trip to Murray's for a Mobil1 filter and change it myself in the garage like I do for my 2002 TL-S ... (and bill the difference to my GF who owns the TSX)

Of the 3 choices, I'd be more inclined to recommend the new S2k.

I'm not going to beat a dead horse of BMW maintenance but will mention the SMG and rather harsh shifting mentioned in various car magazine commentaries.

 

It's $151 for the 7500 mile stuff up here (rotate tires, change oil, general inspections)...

$500 for 30K maintenance (I did mine for under $100)...

I've called around and all the acura dealers have the same pricing unless I make the 3 hour drive up to NH... where it was $89 for the same service that costs $151 down here...

 

The M3 will still be in the free maintenance period, since my 04 was on the first boat of 04's and still has 8 months left.

I would pick the M3, then again I did. I am not a huge SMG fan BUT as a "second" car you should be able to exploit its strengths more often.

My M3 has been a solid car without one trip to the shop for anything but the routine. Has been a good track car as well though for serious tracking brakes need upgrading but most drivers only need euro rotors/pads/fluid unless you are a serious trail braker.

 

Mike has a TL:

https://acurazine.com/forums/car-talk-5/done-tl-what-should-i-get-351440/

It might be a car that's left in a vacation home ?? Only used a few weekends every year... People with tons of money can afford to do wacky shit like that... And the buyer should be happy that they did.

The same type of person who would only put 23K miles on a s2K in 6 years...

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...paId=215634516

I really need to take that S2k for a test drive

 

Well the manual says to do oil changes at every 10k miles. The 10k service costs $129 at the dealer which includes oil change and rotating tires. But we all know this can be done for MUCH cheaper. Just stating dealer prices.

Sounds expensive if you go by the manual. In which case if you do that then all cars are expensive to maintain.

You are correct about the valve-train adjustment, i forgot about those. I think thats really the only major thing though. Ok so you win, an M3 is slightly more to take care of since its a high performance machine. Then again so is the S2k.

:surrender I just wanted to kill the stereotypes that people have with german cars.

 

Hell if it was me, i too would pick the S2k as a 2nd car.

A roadster that i can toss around, perfect!

 

s2000

 

Probably the S2000. I would go for the new 335i over the M3 (90% of the performance, looks better , new car warranty) so that shoots that option. As far as the 911 goes, it is just too old (for me at least).

 

What????????? Who pays $129 for an oil change for their TSX??? I pay 1/3rd of that Canadian. (ie type A service - oil and filter - works out to like $42 I think it is, with tax, when I get it done at the dealership). Im getting a Type A done on Thursday,.....They also lube joints and check the tires (rotate if necessary).

 

Anyway,............S2K FTW!

 

S2K... ill be faithful to Honda...