The perfect $50,000 coupe?

Moses · 09-24-2006, 01:07 PM

I'm looking for a car for my wife. It will be her Christmas present this year. The oldest kid is driving now, so she's itching to get rid of the mini van. She drives aggressively, so performance is important. She would also like some creature comforts and be able to haul 4 people in a pinch.

She has no idea I'm getting her a car, so it will be a surprise. Believe it or not, she'll be happy with whatever I get and won't feel cheated by not being part of the selection process. She'll like the surprise.

The new BMW 335 looks pretty amazing. Twin turbo 6 that BMW has apparently under-reported the HP by 50! Some suspect the 350 HP 335 could impact M3 sales.

Any idea or other suggestions? I want to stay under $50,000. The car doesn't need to be new, but still under warranty is important. Before you ask; the Boxster is too small, the Cayman too expensive and we already have a 911.

lendaddy · 09-24-2006, 01:37 PM

OK, I'm not going to lie, these threads tend to depress me a lil bit.... a lil bit they do

Dixie · Dixie's Garage

get the 335i. It's a great car.

Dottore · 09-24-2006, 01:52 PM

Yes. That's it.

1973911s · 09-24-2006, 03:02 PM

Moses,

I am dying to get that car, but you might also want to look and get a 645Ci. There iare some getting close to your price target.

Michael

id10t · 09-24-2006, 03:18 PM

My mom *loves* her loaded honda accord. Her prior car was a Olds Calais with teh quad 4 engine and a 5 speed, and her occasional alternate driver was a '84 911. Use the leftover for a nice piece of jewelry, or on yourself.

gprsh924 · 09-24-2006, 03:48 PM

get the bimmer

also the new M3 is going to be so beastly that the 335 wont matter

pwd72s · 09-24-2006, 04:02 PM

1965 Pontiac GTO...you might find a nice one for your budget...

id10t · 09-24-2006, 04:11 PM

pwd72s - if you gonna go old, at least a 356

Moses · 09-24-2006, 04:20 PM

I just got back from a test drive. Silver on black 335i coupe. Great car. Fast, smooth power. Great handling. Great exhaust note. Beautiful lines. Now the bad part...

You can't get navigation without "iDrive". Maybe it's just me, but "iDrive" is an "iNightmare". It's not intuitive at all. I would not be comfortable using any part of iDrive in a moving vehicle. I don't know if I would pay big dollars for a car with such a serious flaw.

Sedans are also not out of the picture. I know she likes the looks of the Jaguar S type. Maybe a used S type "R"?

Ronbo · 09-24-2006, 04:55 PM

I would think that once you get used to iDrive, it would be far easier to use. Just guessing though.

imcarthur · imcarthur's Garage

Audi? Better interior fit & finish than the BMWs imho. More highway cruise feel vs tossable.

Sounds like you're buying a car for you not her . . .

My wife LOVES her A4.

Ian

edit: Not a coupe though. Sorry.

cegerer · cegerer's Garage

iDrive? You mean 'whyDrive'?

And the depreciation on that car? It would be lucky to fetch $25K 2 years from now. No different than any new car I suppose. I'd spend an extra $5K and get a nice used Audi RS6.

pwd72s · 09-24-2006, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by id10t
pwd72s - if you gonna go old, at least a 356

Not good for carrying four...one of the requirements set by Moses

rsNINESOOPER · 09-24-2006, 06:23 PM

Please avoid the Jag, its flimsy, noisy inside, and exibits a poor build quality not to mention poor road feel unless ofcourse you like a mushy vibrating steering wheel. I think you are on to something with the BMW, certainly get what you pay for. A true sports sedan. The audi sedans are also great driving machines although just a fraction below BMW for build quality but certainly top noch as far as driving experience.

good luck with the purchase, thats one lucky girl!

rouxroux · 06:45 PM

How about a nice used Infiniti G35 coupe? My wife's is for sale: Ivory pearl, tan leather interior, 6 speed, Brembo brakes, ATI Procharger C2 supercharger. The wife wants a 993 cab, and even though we both love the G35, we've run out of garage space if we get a 993. VERY strong in the performance area, yet carries 4 folks with no fuss.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

G35 is beautiful and bullet-proof. If you're willing to buy new and take the depreciation, I'd consider Audi instead of BMW. An S4 is in your budget, and if you want to really treat her, get an RS4 ($66K). They are sedans though...

For coupe I think the 6 series is great looking, but that's over budget too.

Or if she likes convertibles, VW Eos is quite nice in person, and the 2.0T engine is surprisingly spunky. I scared the crap out of the g/f the other night in the GTI on a freeway onramp...it's a screamer. And it'll be available with a 3.2 at some point.

BlueSkyJaunte · 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ronbo
I would think that once you get used to iDrive, it would be far easier to use. Just guessing though.

OK, that's just wrong. You have to "get used" to using a feature in a car? There's a fricking steering wheel and gas/brake/clutch pedals for a reason. Because as a driving interface, that's what WORKS. That's also why you can adjust the A/C and the radio via different interfaces in intelligently-designed cars. There is no logic to placing the controls for wildly disparate systems on the same knob. Especially one that requires you to look away from your main task: keeping the damn car on the road without killing anyone.

Maybe BMW has "gotten used" to being repeatedly lambasted in the press for their iDistract. After all, BMW knows better than everyone else...

gprsh924 · 09-24-2006, 08:10 PM

just skip the nav system then

thats what maps and instinct are for

Jared at Pelican Parts · 09-24-2006, 08:21 PM

geez and i just bought a $11,000 Ford Focus....