Forget the chick thing, I know that won't work well for my personality, unless I throw in a Ferrari, a boat and a nice vacation house. Deep down, I'm a Prius type. But chances are, if I get one now, it might last me near retirement. I might never know how much fun there is driving a BMW, or is there?
I am prejudice but I say go Subaru STI if you want a chick magnet and some power!! One of the best "off-the-floor" horsepower, easy to maintain and/or modify, has a great Subaru forum (almost as good as priuschat.com), great reliability, and all wheel drive (great for winter and women love it cause it means "safer" for all your future babies) AND you won't end up paying more than $33k. If you don't push it, my husband gets 32 mpg...but I think that was ONE gas tank over the last 4 years. Cause with all that torque who wants to drive like grandma?! hehe However, with that said, my husband really enjoyed driving the prius when we rented it and it looks like the 10 will only be better. And he can take me out for a nice dinner every week with the gas money we save.
Have you considered renting one for the weekend? There are places in major metro areas that rent these and other luxury cars. I don't know if they will allow you to track it though .
Porsches and BMWs are just plain overpriced. They aren't as reliable as Japanese cars, and the service on them is horrendously priced--and even bad, in some cases. Based on my own personal experiences with both cars. The only reason I can see to buy a Porsche, other than prestige or classic value, is to track it. They are built for the track. That's why they are expensive. Right now, I believe the paradigm for cars is in transition. In 5 years, the industry will be different. I wouldn't invest in any ICE car right now. I think they are obsolete.
Just wanted to pipe in with some FYI that BMW offers a total bumper to bumper warranty on a new car for 4 years/50,000 miles, and has been for some time. Maybe they are less reliable, but it won't cost you anything. I LOVE this! Oil Change? Free Brake job? Free Need new wipers? Free Whatever other reason you could possibly be at the service bay? Free.
Totally different cars designed to appeal to totally different markets. I've always wanted to have a BMW and a Mercedes, and at some point in my life I'll try each. However, I don't think I would purchase a BMW or Mercedes and own them as long as I've had my Lexus. To me they are 3 year lease experiences. Looking for a luxury car to buy and hang onto for 10 years for me its awful hard to get away from Lexus. Maybe thats just because I have so much experience with owning them for a long time... BMW's free maintenance is very attractive on a lease. If money were no object and I were buying for my everyday car, 2010 Prius vs BMW 535, I'd choose the BMW.
in your case maybe better to go for the BMW if you want a real car then go for the prius 2010 of maybe even the gen 2 version.
No purpose in that. The BMW is certainly a real car, and does a great many things far better than the Prius. They may not be things that are important to you, but that doesn't change the facts. Pretending thats not the case is no better than those that pretend the Prius is a worthless retard-mobile...
If you have to split hairs, the warranty covers all items on the car, including wear items like wipers and brake pads and mufflers that nobody else does. The maintenance plan covers oil changes and tune-ups and all other recommended services. Bottom line is you don't pay a mechanic one cent for four years.
You're right about the STI...I owned a 2002 WRX and traded for a 2004 STI when it came out...after two years of middle aged crisis I listened to my left knee and decided shifting days were over. I never got over 29 MPG but I probably stayed in lower gears too long... Prii are great cars for most of our population and for our environment...I like to think I'm denying some sheik or oil barron a few dollars by driving one ! I do miss the Subi AWD (we also have a Volvo AWD) and the well informed web site that WRX's have...but WE have PC and each other with just as many techies even if they aren't trying to beat 0-60 in 4.8 secs...which I'm sure attracts lots of girls. Odd...I only had teenged boys staring at my wheels
That's what leasing is for. You lease the BMW for 3 to 4 years, enjoy yourself, the pick up a 2013 or 2014 Prius!
Sounds like a plan. Maybe they will get solar paint by then and you can drive around Arizona for free. I never leased car before, it sounds so crazy. BMW website lists 535i lease at $559, while a lease compare website list a similar configuration and down payment at $952! I have no idea how they come up with the number.
There are plenty of sticks on the roadside. Chicks couldn't give a rats toss whether a car has a stick in it. Well there is one piece of wood ...
A BMW lease is always attractive. That's where they get their money from (and the bonus is people can drive BMWs for the same monthly payment as a Camry or some lower priced car that's financed). I would wait for a sale (year end for example). Then their leases are really attractive (e.g. 1.9%). BMW Canada is offering 2.9% finance and lease rates so I'd check what BMW USA is offering.
Well what do you want to be? Deep Down happy or Shallow happy? I've driven enough BMW's at autocross events and I've had my share of sports cars. BMW's are great cars! I love driving them, but owning them is not as much fun when they are out of the warranty period. If you want the best of both worlds, buy a 2010 Prius and find a Caterham 7! Sure the roof will leak and all that but you will have a very rewarding driving experience. A used Caterham 7 can be had reasonably and girls will certainly look at the car. A BMW 335i will run you mid $40K's and up. You will get 4 years out of it before you need to trade it in. You won't get great fuel economy like the Prius, nor will you get the raw driving sensation of a Caterham 7. Caterham 7's are amazing to drive! :rockon: If you have an SCCA group near you ask them and you might find one to test drive. Here is a pic You can get both for less than a 335i.
OEM Bridgestone RFTs on a 535i are staggered, $340 each front tire, $395 each rear tire. Throw in extra replacement tires and rims along the way from road hazards/potholes.
well i got that for free to with my prius .. so whats your point hahaha wipers are stuff that wears off and needs to be in a maintenance plan just like brake pads if you call normal wear off brake pads a warranty isue then thats not maintenance but a product failing and changed under warranty
Driving stick is a muscle memory thing, you hand and leg keep twitching in an auto. Takes about 10-20 years to forget
