People HELP

[Vodka G]

OK as you all know that i am having delima with my cars again.....i have been wanting to get a new car (again) and i dunno what to do so here is the situation (it might be a bit long but bare with it)

FIRST current situation:
the Benz: bought new in 1996 c280 sport with 166k miles on it....... stacked about $5-7k mods on it. The cars needs to be 'fine tuned' at a authorized RENNTECH shop for the cams. it also got a chipped windshield and some other minor stuff that i want to do. The car runs fine with the M104 engine is basically bullet proof.

the MRS- bought used last Nov 2001 with 21k miles on it no mods just an amp, speaker, and a trd short shift......the car is very fun to drive mid engine RWD with top down and all that is a chick magnet car.

So now here are the options

Plan A: sell both of them: the benz will go for about $5k for just the car on a trade in (i'll take out all the mods (ie rims, exhaust,cams etc.) and sell it myself) i get a total of about $6.5k if i sell the car as it will all the mods then i'll go for $7k. The MRS is were i get hit the most.......the car could be sold at only about 17-17.5k which mean i would have to PAY my way out of it (1.5-2k) since i still own 19k on the finiancing.

with all that i have about $5-6k for a down payment which means that i could buy a car that $35-40k (BUT $40k is the MAX since i am also looking into a house in 1-2 years or so)

Choices:
USED Audi allroad 2001-2 with about 20k miles for about $35k
USED Audi S4 2001-2 (old body style) about 20k miles for about $33-35k
USED X5 1999-00 with about 30k miles for about $35k
USED 2001 M3 for about $40k
NEW VW tourage 3.0L V6 $40k loaded
NEW Infinite G35 Coupe $38k loaded
NEW C230k 4 door sport $36k loaded up the A$$ with every single freaking option you could think of :o
NEW C320 4 door sport $40k
NEW Audi A4 Quartto for $40k loaded
other suggestions??

the down side of this option is that since i live half a week in SLO and the other half in SJ (until i find a damn job up in the bay area) it would easily rack up miles for that new car (just like my C280 over 25k miles a year)

Option B: sell ONLY the mercedes then i would have 6-7k for a down payment to buy a car that's about $25k it HAVE to be a 4 DOOR SEDAN caz i am keeping the MRS then i need something that i can haul and drive comfortably and i did prefer something that's newer (within 1-2 year old and with less than 30k miles on it )

Choices:
USED 2001-2 (new body) A4 1.8T Quartto about 20k miles for about $25k
NEW or DEMO 2003 TSX with GPS for about $26-27k (but is a japanese car)
NEW C230k Coupe (this kindda goes against my rules of having a non-4 DOOR but since is a hatch back i can load stuff in it) for about $26k
USED 2002 C230k Coupe (with the 2.3L engine which i do prefer over the new 1.9L engine) for about $22K
USED 2001-2 325i (just like the one that i bought for my ex-wife)
for about $25k
other suggestions??

the down side is that i'll be going to a less powered car no matter which onw i pick (compared to the C280) just a newer car with less miles so for me to really sacarfic this the car needs to be really NICELY optioned and comfy for long trips.

Option C: keep the C280 spend $3-3.5k to fix the puppy up like fix the RENNETCH cam tuning. check up on the timing chain business, replace the windshield, fix the power seat (it sometimes doesn't work), add front LCD, DVD and Nav. Then maybe color match the under skirts and a small CF spoiler. then the last performance mod is a UPsolute chip.

OK so what you all think??

PS i have given up on the Volvo S60R idea since is a bit too much $$ for me

[yal]

C! Better the devil you know;)

[C280 JR]

i agree with yal,

not because your benz is the best car but because, it is too much hassle to sell the cars, and you will end up loosing more money than its worth...Just stick to your Mercedes and MR2, and just fix it up a little bit...you will be much happier...

Elvir

[babycarlsson]

I kinda agree with Elvir and yal, but on the other side, 166K miles - now you have a car that wll allways need somethng to replace. The engine is bullet proof, yes, but what about everything else?

Test drive the cars you listed, may help you to better make up your mind...

Good luck

P.S. Subliminal message: "S4, V6, Twin Turbo, Quattro, S4, V6, Twin Turbo, Quattro, S4, V6, Twin Turbo, Quattro, S4, V6, Twin Turbo, Quattro, S4, V6, Twin Turbo, Quattro..." :D

[MrSpace]

I took option A.

A new car is a new car, no matter what, it should go fine repair-wise.

I was going to pick B since you are -2.5k on the MRS because of financing, but considering that rolling two cars at the same time for x years will cost more that loosing 2.5k right now on the MRS.

But before doing all this I think you need to fix your job issue so you don't have to do all this mileage. Cuz if you continue doing 25+k miles a year maybe buying a lightly used car would be the best option. (that's what I'm planning to do)

Etienne

[Dr. ///AMG]

Originally posted by babycarlsson

P.S. Subliminal message: "S4, V6, Twin Turbo, Quattro, S4, V6, Twin Turbo, Quattro, S4, V6, Twin Turbo, Quattro, S4, V6, Twin Turbo, Quattro, S4, V6, Twin Turbo, Quattro..." :D


Listen to Vladimir! :D

[MB300E87]

option A.

either used S4 or new loaded C230 Kompressor sedan.

[Ozzie Bob]

Get a HSV :D
Oh wait, they don't sell them there :P

[Vodka G]

Ok MORE input PLEASE :P

yeah see the job issue is a BIG thing about just having one car caz if i get a used S4 or something nice i'll just be racking miles on it again just like the Benz

what about option B?? is it not worth it ??

option C: what if i keep on driving it??? for another 2-3 years?? it'l hit like 200-230k....would i need a rebuild at that time or how much would the car worth??

PS the other stuff in the car is in pretty good shape (i.e. paint, interior, suspension, tranny etc.)