uh oh... son has a want...
 

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.

Do it if it is a clean car

Make sure you can insure it.

I have this with #1 - he wants an old Jag. 00s era.
Car is relatively inexpensive, but my insurer really really doesn’t want to write for something that old.

It shafted my idea of buying him a 944 and putting it on liability only for the same reason.

State assigned risk pool - the only other option - will be 10k a year. That’s not happening.

E36 318 5sp???

Sounds like a STEAL!!!

We are on Progressive and no issues insuring my 93 Ranger or the current 02 Mitsu (rebuilt title even)

He told me what he was considering and I thought to myself "I know a group of guys that will like this...." :)

One day my young daughter said she wanted the car with the horsey on it when she could drive. I asked,, "oh, you want a mustang?" Clarifying, she said, "no, ths horsey is standing on its hind legs."
*sigh*

Hey, she has great taste.

I use usaa for my Mazda 121 that doesn't have a 17 digit vin.

+1

I had the same BMW 20 years ago. If he drives it, repairs will be an everyday occurrence. Parking a $2000 car for 10 years hoping it's value will double does not make sense.

Like most all 15 year old boys back when I was 15, I asked my dad about what car he was going to buy for me. He laughed, and said "You can buy whatever you can afford". He made me pick out a car, and I had to pay for 100% of all costs, except the insurance. He gave me an interest free loan of $600 ($4,759.62 in 2023 money) and he had the right to approve the car. He approved my 1960 VW bug with 36 HP. He handed me a quarter, and said to put it in the glove box and use that to call him if I had car problems. Except for running out of gas. He went on to say if you are so stupid as to run out of gas, find your own way home. And the 60 VW bug did not have a gas gauge! That was an option back then, and my car did not have that option. I carved marks on a wooden dowel, and used it like a dip stick to see how much gas I had left.

I still have to pay 100% of all my automotive costs myself! And my 911 hast the Porsche logo with a horsy on it.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1699541841.JPG

It even gets frosty on occasion!

Color me skeptical that an e36 will be collectible in the future.. Maybe unique and fascinating that someone was able to keep it together that long , but not so sure about its value .
If it has an M badge, it may have a chance

It's not going to be collectible, but it sounds like a good project-car candidate for a kid like you describe.

That's a sweet little combo of a car -- and although it may never be worth a ton, it's a terrific "classic" to own and enjoy. It shouldn't cost too much to keep on the road, other than velcro, glue, and zip ties to keep the interior bits in line.

Sedan or coupe? I think the latter has a better chance of being worth more.

He's not looking for collectible, he's in line for the 356 :) It is a car he's interested in and would like to have and will be unobtanium one way or another (im betting on not worth a ton but rare as a bearded hen) in 20 years

It is currently running and he intends to keep it that way, as well as improvements/fixes as he goes. He's already de-fubared everything but the body work and some electrical stuff on his Lancer.

I am going to caution him about parts cost and availability ....