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Date: Sat, 10 Apr 1999 12:09:00 -0500
From: Daniel McCarty <mcdan@csi.com>
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Subject: Re: Totalled GS-T - need replacement
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Mike Baldwin wrote:
> 
> Anyway, while I am driving my Isuzu rental I need to start shopping for a
> new car. I need something that will last me through the next 2 years of
> work and then 2 years of business school without much $$ for repairs.
> 
> Ideas:
> 99 Eclipse GSX  $25k
> 96? or so BMW 3 series witha  sports package $20k?
> 96? or so M3 $25+k?

   I've driven an Eclipse (not a GS-T or GSX) and wasn't impressed
with it at all.  As someone else in this thread pointed out, it
felt like a tin can.
   (OTOH, a friend of mine has a Spyder and she absolutely loves it.
So take the above comments with a grain of salt.)
   I'd definitely recommend the two BMW's you listed.  It's your
call, and the only difference is whether you want to spend the
extra $7K to get an M-class.  I purchased a _loaded_ '95 325i last
year for about $23K and the car has handled beautifully since then.

   Here's some tips you might want to check for when buying a 
3-year-old 3-series:
   . It's going to have between 35 - 55K miles, so you're about due
for new tires, (possibly) new pads and/or rotors and an Inspection
II, which is $500 - $700 depending on where you live.  This depends
on the driving style of the previous owner.  It could all add up to
another $1000.
   . Try to find one where the owner purchased the extended warranty
(4 year/50K miles).  BMW's are quirky at times and it's nice to have
it under warranty during your honeymoon period.
   . Look for the little things, like all the replacement fuses in
the fuse box, interior handles that aren't scratched on the inside
(from people scratching hangers across them), a clean manual, etc.
   . E36's have a known issue with separation of the main vent from
the assembly around it.  Look very closely to make sure this hasn't
happened to yours.  (The fix to mine failed and they had to send for
a new dashboard--covered under the warrany, thank God.)
   . If the owner or used car lot will let you, take it out and
_wash_ it.  Clean the inside, too.  I'm not kidding!  I've learned
more about a car by just one washing than I have in half a dozen
oogle-eyed trips to a dealer.  The current owner might even appreciate
your hard work and cut you a discount.  ;)

Hope this helps, and good luck with your purchase:
-Daniel.

