I've enjoyed (ok, it's a love/hate thing) my 8 since May of 2009 but am debating whether to keep it.

The bottom line is whether I can trust it and the cost of upkeep is worth it.

Right now, I owe $9200 on it and it's got 67000 miles. Should I cash in my chips and make anywhere from $2k-4k?

In the short time I have owned it (15 months), I have spent almost $2200 on maintenance, which doesn't include tires or oil changes. This seems like a trend that will probably continue as I suspect it will need a new fuel pump, thermostats, clutch, flywheel, and god knows what else.

I love driving this thing on the open road, but it's really a bit of a chore during my morning and evening commute (30-60 minutes of stop and go).

I don't want to deal with two cars, but the only ones I can find that make me remotely happy aren't cheap either (we're talking in the neighborhood of $40000).

I hate to take on 5-6 years of payments, but I don't see myself driving this car for that long either.

By my math, the TCO for the next 3 years is around $22k. The BMW 335d I have my eye on costs $23k over the same time period. The only difference is that the Bimmer will still require another $35k over the following 3 years. The RX is probably half that.... but how long can one really daily drive this car?

Thoughts? Suggestions? I'm torn...

 

This car is not for you............

Get a bar of soap and be happy,

After a couple of years you can get a new family car.

 

That's the direction I am leaning. Part of my uncertainty is economic. Who knows where I will be and what sort of income I will have a few years from now.

I'm eyeing a lightly used, sporty family car and have narrowed it down to an Audi A3 or a BMW 335. Unfortunately, to meet my criteria, I'd be financing somewhere between $38k-$42k. That's a hefty chunk of change for a single guy with a mortgage.

As I said, quite the dilemma...

 

Move down 2 or 3 more years.

the older the car the better.

Do not buy a BMW. The repair on a BMW is EXPENSIVE.

Try to get an even exchange at a dealership.

RX8 for another vehicle. Add 5k to get a better used car.
Try to keep around 15k for a car.

It's only a couple of years.

Time goes by fast.

 

The BMW is certified and has a 6 year/100,000 warranty. It comes with 3 years of free maintenance, too. That's the main draw. Once it's paid for, it's still worth a pretty penny, too. It's something I could conceivably keep and be happy with for a long time.

The cost is the only limiting factor.

I was thinking about an 08 Audi A3 with like 45000 miles. That's only $24k, but it's almost out of warranty.

I bought the RX with 51k on it, so it too is out of warranty save for the engine and cat.

My concern with ANYTHING that's going to be 4+ years old is the lack of warranty and the risk that the repair bills end up being up there with the RX.

The 8 was a steal at the price I paid. I can't find anything remotely desirable for $15k... any suggestions?

 

Well..... my replies directly relate to your problem.

COST.

You said cost was the issue. Otherwise advise on which new car to buy will change the direction of this thread.

 

If you're not enjoying it day-to-day and maintenance is getting expensive, then it's time to move on. But don't move into a deep financial hole...which sounds like where you'll be if you buy something as expensive as a BMW.

What stuff cost you that $2200? Seems like a lot for a car with only 67k.

Ken

 

- Water pump
- A/C repair
- Engine mounts
- Fluids
- Plugs/Coils/Wires

The first 3 were the big ones. All unexpected. Everything was fine for quite awhile, then all 3 kind of came out of nowhere within a few months time.

 

^Agreed. Also, did you perform the service to your own vehicle? Or did you take it to the Dealership?

 

That sounds like normal maintence.

1) good idea to replace, preventative
2) oh well...
3) Won't need to do it again
4) Normal on any car
5) Normal on any car

 

Dealership did the A/C. Independent shop did the rest.

 

1) Was done because the gasket spring a leak. Had no choice.
2) An expensive 'oh well', to be sure... and no way of knowing how long the weak A/C will last
3) True
4 & 5) Yes, but disappointed that the previous owner hadn't done it prior to my taking ownership. At least it's done and will be good for another 20-30k miles.

 

It's a pickle, to be sure.

I'd like something that's not a total snoozefest to drive, reliable, low maintenance, and at a price that I'm comfortable with. Ideally, I'd like to find something that I could keep for 5-10 years.

I thought I had that in my last car (an Acura TL), but it wasn't fun to drive at all and got a measly 21mpg on premium. At least when I fill up the 8, I'm happy to do so because I get so much enjoyment out of driving it (most of the time).

 

Hell dude...it's probably "cheaper to keep her" considering all the work you've done on it already...not to mention, who told you you might need to replace the flywheel??? Only time I've heard of people replacing them is when they want to go lightweight. Who does your service, if it's not Mazcare in Marietta, GA, you might want to check them out. Good guys and they've never done me wrong...and i've got the "dreaded 04" with a build date of 9/03 and bout 87k miles on it It's running like a champ.

 

Lotus Evora 2012

Check it out if you want a true sports car.



No, need more refinement;

Cadillac CTS, if like the looks.

 

That's one of the other thoughts I've had, too.

I love it except on long drives and in stop-and-go traffic. An hour of the stiff *** clutch pedal gives my left leg quite a workout and all the back and forth from the harsh clutch engagement is not my idea of fun though. I'm not sure how much can be done about that.

I figured that if I'm replacing the clutch that I might as go lightweight while I'm at it.

I have had all the work done at MazCare.

My estimates peg the 3 year TCO on the 8 at ~$17000. That comes out to $472/month! I'm looking at an even $700/month for a bimmer. It's obviously less if I go with something cheaper.

 

Now your thinking straight!

Your expenses are pretty much normal so keep the car.

Hard clutch... replace the brake fluid. I've read a clutch gets stiffer as it wears out.

So yes, do the light flywheel when you replace the clutch.

 

Fluid was just replaced. Clutch pedal is still way too stiff for my liking.

 

if you get a used bmw, under the 6yr/100k warranty, you'd be ok...just get the 328, no need to get the top 335. the 328 will enough power to cover what hte 8 has, so you wouldn't be losing anything.

also look into the new mazda 3's...seems not as upscale as you want, but for cost it's a great buy, and has a load of options you can't get elsewhere in that price range. they drive great too.

but any car will be more expensive than your 8...as you said, you might be under or at the cost in the next couple years, but by then you'd have the 8 paid off. keep it unless you can sell it at a profit...but if cost is your main issue, don't go for a 40-60k bmw or audi...just doesn't make sense what you're saying...

 

i would say a used car with an existing warranty is your best bet. carmax would be my first choice. good company. if you buy new without a huge downpayment you will be upside down fast, which is bad in this economy, and youre gonna lose your *** either way. value drops too signifigantly with a new car. if you have lots of dough its no big, but you seem like moolah is a concern. buy a low mile used car and you're basically letting someone else deal with the depriciation. i gave 80k for my vette. it now books for 50k. lost ten g's a year bro. dont do that.

 

OK Gotcha!...And I agree with you, the cluth gets to be a PITA in our shitty traffic. Man...that's tough...other than the crazy high service cost on a BMW, I love those freaking cars!!! Actually, was looking at the Z3 when I just chose to go with the 8. Sounds like you got a tough call to make my friend. Good luck with it....OH, come on out to Andretti Speedlab in Alpharetta on the 24th, bunch of us will be on the go-carts out there...last time was a freaking BLAST. Good luck

 

honestly, with the depreciation and lack of knowledge among second-hand buyers, SHORT-term ownership doesnt make any sense with this car.

buy it and keep it and love it.

 

^^cool signature at bottom of post

 

A used CTS-V anyone? A nice 500 horse family car.

But seriously, buy some random crap from an auction and make it your DD. Long as the title is clean, then you won't have any warranty issues. Hell, my dealer never did a background check on my car, and I kinda doubt any take the time to.

Save and keep your 8 cause you know you want to.

 

It is the chance you take when you buy used. You don't know if it was abused or serviced? If you got a new lease with service plan.