Does this sound reasonable to you guys?

[TheFa1isOutdone]

Hey all.. today I test-drove a new 07 Mazda3 for the first time in my life after drooling over them for quite a while. The only mazda dealer in my area closed down so the closest one is 1-2 hours away. Thankfully, the owner of that store is rebuilding a new one here.

Currently I own a 2006 automatic civic LX sedan(hence the name about the FA1 (the chassis code for this car) being outdone by the m3). I'm somewhat of a car enthusiasts, I enjoy them immensely. As you can imagine.. driving a 4 door automatic civic doesn't do much for someone whose interested in cars.

The 2.3 and the 2.0 m3's were fantastics. Even for only 15 hp more than the civic, they were a BLAST to drive. I honestly enjoyed driving them more than the 06+ civic SI, rated at 40 hp more. The interior alone made me fall in love with the m3.

Right now I'm 18. My parents bought me the civic as my 3rd car as a birthday gift. I appreciated the gift, although it kind of annoyed me that I had told them I was planning on buying a manual coupe, but my parents decided a manual tranny would distract me from the road so they went out and bought the civic to deter me from this.

It's a great car for what it is.. but it's so insanely boring to drive, I hate the look of it, etc. Driving the m3 really made me start thinking tonight.

The cars are comparable in safety (I would def. buy the ~$250 airbag upgrade), plus I think this one looks far, far nicer, handles superbly better and just feels nicer all together. I'm thinking about trading in my civic for a new one, and then just paying the difference myself. I work about ~120 hours a week so paying the ~4k or so difference wouldn't be much of a problem.

Anyone think this is a reasonable idea to pitch to my parents? They have (for obvious reasons) pushed the whole idea of cars to the back-burners since I got one, so I don't think they're going to want to discuss this.. but is it unreasonable to ask for permission to do this if I plan on footing the bill myself?

Thanks for any advice

Edit - Sorry guys, I just read this after posting and sincerely apologize for the long-winded post (boom04)

Cliff Notes - Own 2006 LX, want to trade it in for 2007 M3.

 

[utopia]

yea i'm 17 and i have a m3. i took advantage of the 1.9% for 60 months and my payments are 249$ a month. they should have told you that in a frontal accident the engine bay and clutch/brake/accelerator fall away from the car. i thought that was pretty neat, although i hope to never see if it works. the steering is amazing on it and very tight and a smooth ride as well. it's great on gas and it has really good pickup all the way into 3rd gear and then some. it's easy to mod and less popular then a civic (less likely to be stolen and parted out).

if you're close to having the $4,000 wait until you have it so you show initiative or just flat out tell them that it really ISN'T distracting. anyone here will tell you, even me, that it becomes second nature and you don't even think about it. and if you have to brake really hard you can down shift and stomp the brake and that slows you down alot faster.

call the dealership and figure out EXACTLY what you need to do and that you're interested in doing this and get everything in line and THEN tell your parents so that we you take "initiative." they love that, trust me. if all they have to do is agree without any work they are much more for it.

seriously though, 3 cars? what happened to the other 2?....

 

[TheFa1isOutdone]

Heh thanks for the quick reply. The first car was just a beater to learn on, which we quickly turned in for a Mitsubishi galant. THe car had a mad amount of milies on it and the timing belt broke and it wasn't worth it to fix. So then we got the civic.

Currently I have about 11k in the bank, so I would have no prob paying off the remaining debt. I figure I could get about 14-15k for my civic, only had 7k miles on it in immaculate condition.

As for the manual being distracting.. the first dealership we went to actually showed my parents an article explaining how a manual transmission actually keeps people more focused on their driving, so I think that myth has been debunked for them. That and I already know how to drive it- I'm usually pretty notchy with it, but the m3 was so smooth that I had no probs with it.

 

[utopia]

yea i got my 07 m3 for 250 under invoice so like $13,200. I don't think you'll have a problem at all affording it then. Just try and get everything in line and THEN tell your parents =) good luck!

 

[TheFa1isOutdone]

Thanks bud. You got that cheap! I'm trying to get the 2.3l one, and with the side airbags in a sedan, manual.. so I'm guessing it'll be around 18k. The dealer told me there isn't much wiggle-room in the price due to the high demand.

I was on their lot and they had maybe 20 3's on the lot, and over 50 in their overflow lot. Absolute insanity. At least I won't have a prob finding one that I want. Good advice on getting everything lined up as well. If I can give my parents an exact figure as to what it'll be, prolly go a lot smoother.

Thanks again for the advice

BTW this is all at Morrie's dealership in Minnetonka, Minnesota. If you ever get the chance, visit those dealers. Totally awesome, they own about 5-6 diff dealers all in a row, each one is huge, with cars parked up on the mountain cliffs in the back of the lot for an added effect. All very cool

 

[utopia]

ah i live in charlotte, north carolina. it's montgomery mazda here, one of the main sponsors of the forum actually! =)

 

[mhrebin]

you work a 120 hours a week!?!?!?!....... do you sleep?lol

hell, 120 hours a week.might as well get an MS3.lol just tell your parents that its a sportier model, nothing different.lol

 

[knowledge007]

Thats funny mhrebin... I hope that works, only thing is what will be the excuse with the extra 10k on price...???

 

[TheFa1isOutdone]

Yeesh my bad. 120 hours a MONTH. Gah I'm not that much of a workhorse, I still go to school

Now I'm just embarrassed... (eek2)

 

[carter1551]

Only thing I think will backfire on you is the fact that your parents wont think your grateful for what theyve given you. This is the problem when my mom bought me a p5/. "Matt you already have a nice car you dont need to be putting money into it!"

 

[TheFa1isOutdone]

Only thing I think will backfire on you is the fact that your parents wont think your grateful for what theyve given you. This is the problem when my mom bought me a p5/. "Matt you already have a nice car you dont need to be putting money into it!"

Yeah I hear that. I've tried explaining to them numerous times that I thought it was great that they bought me a new car when my friends drive around beaters, but the car would be a much better match for my sister, because a 4-door automatic just doesn't do much for a car enthusiasts. I can't feel too bad though.. since I'm not asking them to pay for the additional costs as well.

 

[SwampAss]

It's easier to seek forgiveness than it is to ask permission. Learn it now, and when you are married it will become second nature.

 

[TheDutchGun]

Just do it then apologize after as swampass put it.

 

[Choot]

Just do it then apologize after as swampass put it.

(thumb)

FA1, good luck on this as I've done the same thing a few years ago and felt like an ass. My parents were hurt when I wanted to get rid of their gift for something sportier and with a manual.

A 2007 Sedan S sport is $17,930 MSRP with just the airbag option. Invoice is $16,807! Get your dealer to work with you and demand this price!

(drive2)

 

[Kansei]

Before someone's head explodes, try not to use the term "M3" when describing the Mazda3. You can call it the "3", the "Mz3", Mazda3", etc..
M3

not M3

have a nice day

 

[Kansei]

It's easier to seek forgiveness than it is to ask permission. Learn it now, and when you are married it will become second nature.

this man knows what he's talkin about.

 

[TheFa1isOutdone]

Before someone's head explodes, try not to use the term "M3" when describing the Mazda3. You can call it the "3", the "Mz3", Mazda3", etc..
M3

not M3

have a nice day

Hmm.. does it really matter? I think it's pretty obvious as to what I'm referring to.

I can' t just trade it in and not tell them heh. They own the car, not me. Not only that, it would be a theft to take the deed and trade in a car that doesn't belong to me. That and they might boot me from their insurance plan.. and an 18 y/o's insurance on a brand new car is astronomical, no matter what the car.

 

[Choot]

If you truly are unhappy with your car and can afford to get a different vehicle, you have to at least talk to your parents. Get their permission or their thoughts. Then weigh your options. Is it just transportation for you? For most people it is. Try to think logically because you are gonna lose a good amount of money when you trade in that car.

 

[mazdadude]

You mentioned the car being a better match for you sister, does she need a car now?

If so maybe you can give it back to your parents to give to your sister?

If not, I would try to hang on to the car for a while longer, why not wait till you have the cash (you are 2/3's there already), and then you will have no monthly payment.

 

[Olestra]

If you really have to get rid of the Civic, don't do a trade in, do a private sale. An 06 civic will sell instantly.