What to Buy BMW or VW?

[B D]

My girlfriend needs a new used car and she can't decide, we can get a car for wholesale so the prices I list may seem low. So my question is what would you buy, remember this is her car? The cars would not be leased, they would be purcahesed outright.

Choice #1 - 2001 BMW 325i with 30K miles for $21,000

or

Choice #2 - 2001 VW Beetle GLS Turbo with 30K miles for $11,500

I love the BMW but I am leaning towards the Beetle since it is cheaper and just as fun for her.

[84porsche]

Choice # 1 is a better choice however Choice #2 would save you considerably not only in price but insurance value. This was one of the main reasons why I went with a VW. BMWs were just a little too expensive but thats not to say I can't upgrade in the near future.

[RickM]

Food for thought: My niece has a VW Cabrio and with 20k miles it's starting to have problems. Her dad bought here a Jeep so the VW will be gone shortly.

Buddie's brother had the Beetle Turbo and had a persistent stall-at-highway-speed problem. They never could solve so he got rid of it as it was very unsafe. I don't recal if he returned it to the dealer under the Lemon law.

Aside from these two stories I think they make a nice car.

[azasadny]

Everyone I know who has a late-model VW has had many problems with their cars (4 people) and everyone I know who has a late-model BMW has been very happy with no unpleasant surprises (3 people). Just my .02 worth...

[B D]

Wow, thanks everyone for the replies. I did not realize the Beetle had so many problems. My Mom has a first year turbo and there has not been one problem so far in the first 15K miles.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

VW Beetle platform (Beetle, Jetta, Golf/GTI) are made in Mexico.

Draw your own conclusions.

[Rufblackbird]

My buddy has a turbo'd '99 Beetle, one of the cars right before they came out with the 1.8T motor for them. He's had roughly 35k+ miles on it without much problems, but it's true, the MK4 and New Beetles are having a lot of problems. Almost seems like if it wasn't assembled in Germany, then it just ain't right.

But chicks dig it, so that's why he still has it (even though he's got a lovely girlfriend).



$21k can buy you (i mean your girlfriend) a nice E36 M3

[island911]

g/f, eh?

I would say she'll get hit on more driving the BMW.

BMW325 sez; "look how racey I appear. . . .cheap too."
Contrasted with the bug that sez; "have to hurry home to watch Gardening with Martha Stewart" (re-runs )

But hey, at least the BMW cost more.