for 25k what car would you get?

[owequitit]

I'm looking for a new car once school is over. I really want a 2003-2004 S55 amg. I've seen them around the 20-21k range. Then I saw the BMW 740LI. I want something in that size range. Or just a new accord coupe. I'm just not sure. What would yall get?

First of all, your premise is failed. It doesn't matter what we would get, because we would quite potentially not get the same thing as you.

Second, $25K is a large range. Do you want an older car that is used with the potential for high repair bills and is used, or do you want something new? Do you want something economical and reliable, or ostentatious and luxury? There are a whole lot more questions to ask than just "what should I buy for $25K?"

Frankly, for $20K I went and bought a new Si. Couldn't be happier. That said, I like smaller lighter cars, with zippy powertrains and fun manual transmissions, and I wanted something with ZERO issues. My version of what you should get for $25K is going to be different than what someone who would buy a used up 7 series that is getting to the age where it needs stuff would recommend.

Also, as for new Acuras I won't argue much on looks, but mechanically it is pretty silly to say they suck. An RL (used 2005-2008's are far from ugly as they don't have the power plenum and actually were one of the best looking Acura's in a long time) will blow the doors off of a CB7 in power and handling. They will also coddle you serenely and be FAR more reliable than a 740i. Probably faster too.

Don't believe everything you read on the internet, most of it isn't fact.

[gloryaccordy]

E46 M3 ('01-'06)
E39 M5 ('00-'03)
G37
911
TL Type-S
Accord V6-6 coupe

So many better options

[92accordcb7ex]

id completely overhaul my cb7 to use as a daily and then id buy another cb7 for weekends/track use and then put the rest in the bank and save it for any type of emergency that could pop up.

[owequitit]

E46 M3 ('01-'06)
E39 M5 ('00-'03)
G37
911
TL Type-S
Accord V6-6 coupe

So many better options

For 16-18K he can get an RL is super shape. It will be less costly to run and repair than either of the Bimmers.

The G37 is nowhere near on the same level of refinement, quality or features, the TL Type S does not have the advantages of SH-AWD, nor is it as luxurious or featured, and the V6 6 speed coupe is even farther below that. This assumption that the RL is the same as everything else is completely false. Not surprising given the other false assumptions around here.

The 911 is probably a no go, because repair costs on that are REALLY going to suck, not to mention insurance etc. The biggest thing to be wary of with older, expensive cars is that the operating cost does not go down with time, while the value does. So they are not cheap to own, even if they are cheap to buy.

The other thing to seriously consider is buying a pretty modest, pretty cheap new car, and instead funnelling the extra money into starting some kind of retirment plan, because I can just about guarandamtee that when you get to that age, nobody is going to be there to take care of you. The government run programs will be long since broken, or completely different by that point.

I once did a financial analysis on buying a car versus starting a retirement fund upon college graduation. It could easily make a difference of over $100K to your retirement portfolio... Something to consider as one of the most common college graduate purchases is a car.

[1990accordex-r]

Mazdaspeed 6. Want one sooo bad.

[gloryaccordy]

For 16-18K he can get an RL is super shape. It will be less costly to run and repair than either of the Bimmers.

The G37 is nowhere near on the same level of refinement, quality or features, the TL Type S does not have the advantages of SH-AWD, nor is it as luxurious or featured, and the V6 6 speed coupe is even farther below that. This assumption that the RL is the same as everything else is completely false. Not surprising given the other false assumptions around here.

The 911 is probably a no go, because repair costs on that are REALLY going to suck, not to mention insurance etc. The biggest thing to be wary of with older, expensive cars is that the operating cost does not go down with time, while the value does. So they are not cheap to own, even if they are cheap to buy.

The other thing to seriously consider is buying a pretty modest, pretty cheap new car, and instead funnelling the extra money into starting some kind of retirment plan, because I can just about guarandamtee that when you get to that age, nobody is going to be there to take care of you. The government run programs will be long since broken, or completely different by that point.

I once did a financial analysis on buying a car versus starting a retirement fund upon college graduation. It could easily make a difference of over $100K to your retirement portfolio... Something to consider as one of the most common college graduate purchases is a car.

O yea I totally agree that blowing 25K on a car at 19 is pretty much one of the worst ideas ever

But for 25K an RL would be super low on my list... slow, soft, no stickshift option, pretty much gets blown out in every way but SH-AWD by the TL Type-S

AWD isn't as big of a deal for many people

[owequitit]

O yea I totally agree that blowing 25K on a car at 19 is pretty much one of the worst ideas ever

But for 25K an RL would be super low on my list... slow, soft, no stickshift option, pretty much gets blown out in every way but SH-AWD by the TL Type-S

AWD isn't as big of a deal for many people

He could get a nice one for WELL below 25K.

The slow part is WAAAY over exaggerated. They run about a 14.8 while the TL-S is about a 14.3-14.6 with an MT. With an auto, it is no faster functionally, and it has a lot less feature content, refinement and build quality. It is NOT anywhere near the TL even with the false perceptions on the internet. Besides, he would have to try one, but for the price, I would SERIOUSLY consider them. They are a shit ton nicer than anyone wants to give them credit for, and aren't nearly as slow as everyone would have you believe. But there again lies the problem. He needs to decide what he wants. Sport or luxury, or a balance? FWD or RWD. Upscale or downscale? Large, or small?

The problem with what would you buy for $25K? is that I can find everything from a brand new Civic with cash left over, to an older restored Mustang, to an M3, S2K, NSX, or Cadillac. It is too general.

[JDM_CB7_TX]

I would have to say Boost Lees car and spend the rest on a badass trip to Hawaii with the fam!

[Tippey764]

2008 acura TL type S

[KB7]

I would have to say Boost Lees car and spend the rest on a badass trip to Hawaii with the fam!

which one,

considering that his cb has no heat or a/c

[gloryaccordy]

He could get a nice one for WELL below 25K.

The slow part is WAAAY over exaggerated. They run about a 14.8 while the TL-S is about a 14.3-14.6 with an MT. With an auto, it is no faster functionally, and it has a lot less feature content, refinement and build quality. It is NOT anywhere near the TL even with the false perceptions on the internet. Besides, he would have to try one, but for the price, I would SERIOUSLY consider them. They are a shit ton nicer than anyone wants to give them credit for, and aren't nearly as slow as everyone would have you believe. But there again lies the problem. He needs to decide what he wants. Sport or luxury, or a balance? FWD or RWD. Upscale or downscale? Large, or small?

The problem with what would you buy for $25K? is that I can find everything from a brand new Civic with cash left over, to an older restored Mustang, to an M3, S2K, NSX, or Cadillac. It is too general.

The 2nd gen G35x/G37x does the 1/4 in the low 14s/high 13s stock. Granted I know obv there's mroe to a car than straight line performance but it's not like a Foxbody vs a Rolls Royce for the same $$$. Plus you have a heavy Honda bias so recommending an RL out of all the available used cars under 25K seems a bit salesmany. It's a nice car, but there are a lot of nice cars in that range.

In any case I doubt the OP will be making any car purchases soon so it's of little consequence.

[rexload]

IMO. With 25K it seems like you have a lot of good options. It is all an illusion though. A lot of cars sure do look good in magazines and on TV but once you buy a USED car, you realize it is just a used car that in most cases, will require a lot of repairs. Especially a domestic OR a luxury vehicle with tons of electronics. The only used cars that normally don't require a ton of repairs are USUALLY Hondas. So I can understand the Honda bias. Us Honda owners are very spoiled. Some people think that if their car runs for 30K miles trouble free - it is a big deal. While Honda owners boost their 200,000 miles eninges and take them to the track AND drive home.

[gloryaccordy]

There are better Hondas than the RL for the $$$ IMO... TL Type S, Accord V6-6, yadda yadda. Plus Infinitis aren't exactly German reliability wise.

[93blackcb7]

id get a s2000 or tsx or something around the f or k series hahahah

[rexload]

S2000 are cheap now. If you look HARD enough, you can find one with very low miles for 15K. High miles - around 10K. Not the fastest car but really is an amazing car for that price range.