<p>I guess you were probably looking for a $600/month car rather than how to save money or be thrifty on the gas.</p>
<p>To me a coupe or sedan is a bit of a yawn of a vehicle since you can’t put the top down, go off-road with it, have the beauty of a sports car, or the nostalgia of a classic car, but that’s just me. These luxo sedans all look the same to me whether they’re Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, Infiniti, etc. - just another gray or black (why always those non-colors) 4 door sedan. </p>
<p>But, I think you should get whatever you want. There’s a reason there are so many hundreds of models of vehicles available. The 2008 Cadillac CTS was the Motor Trend car of the year so I wouldn’t think it would be too bad. BMWs are known for decent handling. Here’s a link to the Car and Driver test reports that might be helpful - </p>
<p>You could have signed up for the new Dodge Challenger for something different but this year’s allotment has already been pre-ordered. </p>
<p>I agree with your point on the changing model and not wanting to get stuck with the last year before a new model change - unless you like that old design better in which case you can sometimes get some pretty good deals since everyone else is waiting for the new style.</p>
<p>Saving the rest for what? Buying a Caddy when you are 70? I bought a new BMW 2002 tii when I was 23 and a nearly new Porsche 911SC when I was 31 and both brought me more enjoyment than the price. And I later sold each years later for about what I paid for them.</p>
<p>“I don’t know why some people have to get all sanctimonious over how someone else wants to spend his/her $$$. It’s nice to have a new car if that’s what you like. Some of you need to take off the hair shirts. Building cars put lots of people through college in this country. So does selling them”</p>
<p>UM GEE OK… most people keep their expenditures somewhat private. Barrons. I guess I should have asked the OP has he maxed his pension plan, aquired health, life and disability coverage, purchased a home, maybe a vacation property as well before he worries about dropping 7,200 a year on a car which if he follows his trend, he’ll dump in two years while still owing money on it then he gets in trade. No money to put down, lease … all fluff.</p>
<p>There are so many things to drop that kind of coin on that offer a better value and return than a beemer… </p>
<p>Sorry Barrons I don’t wear a hair shirt but I have seen this type of purchasing behavior far too often in my profession… people who want alot of stuff to impress and absolutely no funds or investments to back up the image… a grasshopper… </p>
<p>Sorry I must go put my finanical calculator away and eat some granola now B… Is it OK that I wove my hairshirt from my chest hairs? I’m sort of a Sean Conery type …</p>
<p>opie of maybery - I appreciate the concern, but I can assure you I save plenty and this is actually a big decrease in monthly payments. I wasn’t looking for criticism on my spending habits. That is what I am willing to spend, and how or why I chose to spend that much shouldn’t be an issue. I am asking for advice from folks who purchase their vehicles in that price range to share their experience, not for someone to tell me to buy a Honda and save money, or buy a prius and save gas. Those are not concerns for me, my concerns are in the context of my original post. Thanks.</p>
<p>People ask for car advice here from time to time and other potential buys too. It’s not an invitation to lecture them over their spending plans. Many people use a nice car for business and need a new one every two years. It’s really not the question.</p>
<p>Well, the environment should be part of your concern, too (seriously). I actually think purchasing another gas-guzzling car ultimately impacts us all. So, whatever you decide, I implore you to purchase a car that drinks up less gas, and makes an attempt at saving our environment. :)</p>
<p>I don’t have a lot of experience in the luxury vehicle department, but my H really likes his Infiniti and really likes the service at his dealership. I wanted an Infiniti myself, but ended up with a little beemer sport ute … have yet to experience the service, but it gets the best mileage of anything I ever owned, which includes some little tiny econoboxes.</p>
<p>I say buy what makes you feel good – about yourself, the environment, your wallet and the road ahead!</p>
<p>This is a wrong place to say you would spend 50,000 for a car. It is more popular to say you would spend 2000 for a car of 100,000 mile, and people wear it as a badge of honor.</p>
<p>I am a BMW fan, over Mercedes or Volvo. I personally don’t care for sedan, it feels like a boat. I would get BMW X5 (drives like a sedan), but unfortunately you wouldn’t be able to get it for 600/mo now. I settled for Volvo SUV, but it does not drive like the X5. Many extras you get in BMW, you do not get in Volvo.</p>
<p>I am a woman, but I love cars. There is nothing worse than when you step on the gas and nothing moves. I am looking forward to the day when both of my kids are out of college and I can go out to get “the car.” It will be a two seater - no more car seats, ballet tights in the back seat or driving 4+ kids around.</p>
<p>Oldfort, WashMom still grins when she drives her Mazda MX-5, and it’s a year old in two weeks. She tells everyone who asks, “It’s great. Every one should have one. You should buy one.” It’s not a Prius, but it also gets 25-28 MPG commuting and 32-35 on the freeway. TallSon, now 16 and the last one at home, said, “Hey! You aren’t empty-nesters yet!”</p>
<p>Costs about the same as a year of private LAC tuition for DD or my dream kitchen remodel Guess which one I will be paying my money for soon? Ahh, back to making chicken soup for dinner!</p>
<p>“I am asking for advice from folks who purchase their vehicles in that price range to share their experience, not for someone to tell me to buy a Honda and save money, or buy a prius and save gas. Those are not concerns for me, my concerns are in the context of my original post. Thanks.”</p>
<p>Once you start mentioning figures, it becomes a slippery slope. But I digress But I’ll need some numbers to make a recommendation, darling. All you said was that BMW would give you more for your trade…but how much more, and at what interest rate, and would the total cost be over the span of the loan (or lease was it?)? Those are the questions that need answering, dear.</p>
<p>anothermom - I am surprised by that. I get 20+ MPG with Volvo suv. It’s good to know. We were thinking of getting a Hybrid for our next car, more specifically Lexus.</p>
<p>The Lexus h SUVs may be hybrids, but they are also porky 4,400 pound SUVs. There’s no magic – the Prius gets mileage in part by having modest performance, a narrow body, and light weight. Accelerating two-plus tons up to speed in a reasonably brisk manner still uses lots of energy no matter where it comes from. You are still probably getting 30-50% better mileage than the non-hybrid version (at an upcharge of $4-6K).</p>
Is it OK that I wove my hairshirt from my chest hairs? I’m sort of a Sean Conery type …</p>
I love ours.</p>