Time to start looking for a Car!!

[wolfsburg02]

ok. i'm well on my way to maintaining my 3.9gpa. so that means that i've lived up to my end of the contract allowing me to get a car at the end of this school year. so the question is: what car? i have a $15,000 limit and the car must be insurance reasonable for a 17year old with no tickets. my criteria would be the following

1) Manual transmission (been driving one for the last 2 years....i'm addicted to the stick)
2) NOT AN SUV
3) something with under 60,000 miles
4) good stock power and handling (my parents are not real big on mods since some guy with a riced out civic wrapped his around a tree last year--killed driver and passenger)
5) i'd like to stay away from accords, camrys, etc.
6) i'd like an AWD of RWD, but that's not a necessity. i love the FWD jetta i've been driving.
7) i'd kinda like to stay in the german family.

with that being said, i've been looking at A4quattros, 97 328is, older 540 6speeds (95). any other suggestions? thanks

[mens rea]

Hmm....

I'm kinda in the same situation. If you find a 95-99 M3 for under $23,000 that's an AWESOME deal, post about it

[lhoward]

Originally posted by wolfsburg02
ok. i'm well on my way to maintaining my 3.9gpa. so that with that being said, i've been looking at A4quattros, 97 328is, older 540 6speeds (95). any other suggestions? thanks

good luck trying to find those cars with under 60k miles for 15 grand.: you could probably go for a audi a4, passatt, GTI and some others.

[wolfsburg02]

i guess the 60,000 miles is not a necessity. if i can find a clean one with say, 80 or so, that'd be ok. like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...&category=6008

[makken]

heard there were engine issues (I think a sulfur problem with US gasoline) with pre 96 BMW V8's, so watch out.

[iwannadinanm3]

get a 95 m3 with 50k miles for right around 20k

[on a friday]

i'd get either a 95 M3 or you could get an E36 325-328 with lower miles.

[JizJizJiz]

Originally posted by AlphaLead
heard there were engine issues (I think a sulfur problem with US gasoline) with pre 96 BMW V8's, so watch out.

I think those were only on the 7 series...but I could be very wrong.

Back to the question.

I'd say any of these:

E36 96-98 328i/is
E34 5 series
B5 Passat
MKIV Jetta/Golf 1.8t or VR6
97-99 A4 Quattro (either 1.8t or 2.8)

The A4's market value would be a little bit over your price limit, but with wise bargaining you will be able to get one. Also, the 96 A4's had 12v engines, so stay away from those.

[iwannadinanm3]

naw. the nikasil problem pertained to the 4 liter bmw v8's back in 94 and 95 on the 7 series and the 5 series