My new-to-me '02 BMW 325ix 5pd wagon was rear-ended and totalled this past Monday (nobody hurt). I'm an outside sales rep - drive a lot and like to buy cheap. Currently weighing these 3 options:

1. 2002 BMW 323i wagon, automatic. 89k miles. Owned for the last 3 years by a local BMW specialist. Most known E46 issues addressed. 2 sets of wheels. $9000'ish.

2. 2007 Jetta sedan, 5 spd. 55k miles. Certified Pre-Owned = 2 yr, 24k warranty. Sunroof, alloys, sat rad. $12,900'ish. The "grown up" choice.

3. 2005 SRT4. 9700 miles (NOT a typo). No warranty, but with new tires and fluids practically a 5 year old new car. $12000'ish. The "hooligan's" choice.

What do you think?

scott944 wrote: 1. 2002 BMW 323i wagon, automatic. 89k miles. Owned for the last 3 years by a local BMW specialist. Most known E46 issues addressed. 2 sets of wheels. $9000'ish.

This... but more like $7500.

You can get a later model, with more motor, loaded for 9k. The dealer seems to add about $2500 to these cars. Go private sale - wagons don't get beat on so all you need is to make sure it wasn't neglected badly.

I bought an '05 325XiT w/ 43k on it, 2yrs ago for less than $15k.

This is a private sale. Very clean, local, 17" Motorsport wheels plus a set of E36 M3 wheels with Blizzaks. Cooling system, bushings....all those E46 things , done. I don't have the time or inclination to search the country for a better one. All of that said, I'm actually leaning hard toward the SRT4. I started autocrossing in a 96 Neon, then a 99 twin cam. Still miss the 99.

Do you need the wagon? If not I'd say SRT4.

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/project-cars/2004-dodge-srt-4/

scott944 wrote: My new-to-me '02 BMW 325ix 5pd wagon was rear-ended and totalled this past Monday (nobody hurt). I'm an outside sales rep - drive a lot and like to buy cheap. Currently weighing these 3 options: 1. 2002 BMW 323i wagon, automatic. 89k miles. Owned for the last 3 years by a local BMW specialist. Most known E46 issues addressed. 2 sets of wheels. $9000'ish. 2. 2007 Jetta sedan, 5 spd. 55k miles. Certified Pre-Owned = 2 yr, 24k warranty. Sunroof, alloys, sat rad. $12,900'ish. The "grown up" choice. 3. 2005 SRT4. 9700 miles (NOT a typo). No warranty, but with new tires and fluids practically a 5 year old new car. $12000'ish. The "hooligan's" choice. What do you think?

my thoughts are ...

1. the auto kills the deal for me, but it will probably be the best "family car".. If you have one of those. Since you drive a lot this will be the most comfortable.

2. VW scares me, but I drove one and thought it to be a really nice car. I have no knowledge of their reliability.

3. I really like srt4's, but you say you drive a lot and the mileage on these turbo cars is pretty weak. How would you feel about rolling up to a sales call in this car? Can it fit your family(if you have one)?

We have a Ford Freestyle for the family ride. Company gas card means mileage is a non-issue. Volkswagon reliability bothers me too - bad reputation (Audi, too) for electrical and other issues.

ignorant wrote: 3. I really like srt4's, but you say you drive a lot and the mileage on these turbo cars is pretty weak. How do you feel about rolling up to a sales call in this car? Can it fit your family(if you have one)?

This. I think you've got to address this one. Your BMW (as much as I hate to say it, gave you some "adult" credibility. The SRT4 will do no such thing.

srt4

Teh E36 M3 wrote: This. I think you've got to address this one. Your BMW (as much as I hate to say it, gave you some "adult" credibility. The SRT4 will do no such thing.

Meh: delete the rear wing, maybe some less boy-racer wheels (the ACR wheels look classier, if I can use that word).

The E46 is probably a billion x nicer as a highway car, but the SRT's are riot. I think fuel mileage is reasonable or at least comparable to the E46 on the highway if you keep your foot out of it.

I will be the oddball here,

Nothing screams wannabe boy racer un-professional louder than an SRT4, fun cars but I wouldn't be caught dead in one from a professional standpoint. Imagine a client running into you at the gas station. Unless that thing is on a trailer with some numbers on it they are gonna have serious doubts about your professional abilities. (Even if you de-boy racer the wing and wheels, it is still a Neon, and doesn't scream successful professional.)

Remember, perception IS reality, facts can be negotiated.

1 Anything BUT the SRT4.

2 $7500 for the BMW

3 the VW (even with the VWs bugs.)

4 For the money you are looking to spend, plus a little you might be able to find a Gen 1 CTS-V lurking in the shadows.

FlightService wrote: I will be the oddball here, Nothing screams wannabe boy racer un-professional louder than an SRT4, fun cars but I wouldn't be caught dead in one from a professional standpoint. Imagine a client running into you at the gas station. Unless that thing is on a trailer with some numbers on it they are gonna have serious doubts about your professional abilities. (Even if you de-boy racer the wing and wheels, it is still a Neon, and doesn't scream successful professional.) Remember, perception IS reality, facts can be negotiated. #1 Anything BUT the SRT4. #2 $7500 for the BMW #3 the VW (even with the VWs bugs.)

Maybe it's what I do (engineer, heavy/military suspension), but most of my clients would have serious respect for a debadged SRT4.

FlightService wrote: Nothing screams wannabe boy racer un-professional louder than an SRT4, fun cars but I wouldn't be caught dead in one from a professional standpoint.

Unless your outside sales position is selling boy racer parts to speed shops, then the SRT4 might be the right car.

In reply to njansenv:

I am a Product Engineer - Marine transmissions. My clients would respect the new F-super duty.

My 04 Audi A4 3.0 6-Speed.... It rides nice, looks professional and is pretty fun to drive.

http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/ctd/1956909394.html

FlightService wrote: ...it is still a Neon, and doesn't scream successful professional

Hey, I resemble that remark

In order?

The BWM,

The Dodge.

NEVER, a Jetta, unless you want to explain to customers why you were late/didn't show up. And the Dodge might be almost as iffy...depending on how used/abused? it is.

I'm a drug rep - my customer docs never see my car, so that's a total non-issue. I posted this question on 3 different forums (fora?), and the SRT4 is the clear leader. Sure it's really a Neon, but I've got a soft spot for 'em - had 2 in the past, a '96 single cam and a '99 twin cam. Autocrossed them both with great (regional) success. Only 9300 miles, too.

In reply to scott944:

Sounds like you just need reassurance for something you have already decided.

but...(isnt there always.)

I have a good friend that is a drug rep and runs into clients all the time. It is noticed.

Have fun in the SRT4.

Maybe I'm weird, but I don't buy anything from sales people who drive really nice cars. It means they're too good at bilking people out of their money

Seriously, though, I'd opt for the BMW. Depending which options your old car had (sport seats, etc) I'd also negotiate a buy back from the insurance company, strip out the parts I wanted to keep and then part out the rest of the shell and pretty much pay for half, if not more, of the new purchase from that.

SRT4

IIRC, the SRT-4 wasn't available with cruise control. Not sure if that matters, but you said you drive alot.

I never could warm up to a SRT4, so I'd have to go BMW. Recently I quit driving my Miata to work and got a G35 Sedan for a daily simply because I now have to see more clients. i does make a difference even though it probably shouldn't. Also, depending upon who I have to visit, I might even take our work F150.