[id10t]

I made the mistake of telling my son "ya know, if you like an older car there is a point when they are dirt cheap and plentiful, and in your middle age they will be suddenly rare and expensive.... you may consider what you'd want as a "classic" and buy now when they are a couple of thou, even if it means you storing it at my place etc as time goes".

So of course for once in his life the boy listened.


Eyeballing a 1998 e36 318 w/ the 4 cylinder and 5 speed manual. Asking price is $2k and apparently he's had it a while so may be open to negotiation.... son has $1500 and a birthday real soon.... and a pushover for a grandmother.

I can think of a few reasons to block this, but they are at the "parenting level" not "that is an automotive disaster waiting to happen" (ie, hes 19 and at home and ain't got a job and won't be starting school until the new program class starts fall 2024... and while he's been a bit helpful with his mom's knee replacement and such, well .... a year of doing nothing ain't happening)

So.... if the parenting issues get resolved... is he setting himself up for heartache and pain? Anything in particular to look for? Anything similar that might strike his fancy but be "better" ?

He's got mechanical skills (unlike me) and an aptitude for it, and I'm amazed and what he has done fixing and de-ricing (mostly) his current project/DD '02 Mitsu Lancer.