my dilemma!!!

[john blutarski]

QFE, plus: What do you owe on the MS3 (if anything), and how's your credit? Also, after figuring in a realistic trade value for your MS3, have you got a ballpark idea what you'd have to borrow & how large those payments might be? Have you called your insurance agent to get a quote on the Evo?

I was within minutes of buying a VW GTI a month or 2 before I bought my MS3 and when I called my agent, the insurance on the GTI was double what I was paying on a MINI Cooper S. Insurance on the MS3 was about identical, maybe $5/month more.

When I was younger, I went thru cars quickly. And I honestly wish I hadn't. Because in the end, whether you like it or not, cars are just transportation- they aren't that important. I should have saved my money & just enjoyed any one of the cars I had for a much longer period of time.

My initial reaction- if your MS3 is paid off, have fun modding it for a couple of years and enjoy the lack of a monthly car note. If it is not paid off, don't go selling or trading it in this market unless you are 100% certain about your decision.

Congrats to you for resisting power mods... seriously. That is an impossible task for most of us.

 

[AWDthis]

What about the new Camaro? Its going to be supa sweet

 

[Russm]

Good Day
You might want to think about HOW MUCH you are really gonna pay to upgrade to anything new and more powerful, once you add the 4/5/6 years of payment (intrest) together, 93 octane gas/lower MPG/ soon $3+ a gl/ sports car insurance/ speeding tickets/ increased insurance/ Mods/ Lower tire life (more tires in the life of the car)/shorter lasting brakes & clutch the grass might not be greener.
We often think the grass is greener some place elese and don't think about the TOTAL COST of the greener grass.
Just a thought!
When we think by the seat of our pants and not our mind the zipper makes little sense!

 

[iknospd3]

the only thing im worrying bout w/ the evo is that i would get the mr and idk if the trans can handle the power upgrades i'll have to search that on the other forums. as for the 370z i like it it looks awesome but id rather have a factory turbo car!!!! i had a scion tc 3 yrs ago and supercharged it and i was nothing but problems after that

 

[MS3Pilot]

I'm actually on the fence about trading in my Ms3 as well. I was getting some service at the dealer and walked next door to the subaru/mitsu dealer. They have a special on a 3 year lease on the 09 WRX for $329 a month with $1900 down, and there was an 09 Evo GSR (base model, but who cares) for $25k and change. I've never seen an Evo X for so cheap.

Additionally, I went and test drove a 135i yesterday as I was getting my bosses 528i serviced. Just for s**** and giggles, but damn I liked the car. Drives just like the typical BMW, which is to say, very good. That twin turbo inline 6 is probably one of the best engines I've driven, completely smooth and powerful from idle to 7k. Also the torque on that thing comes on so early, it's really hard to perceive a turbo at all, it feels more like a powerful N/A engine. On the flip side, it really didn't feel much faster than my MS3, and this one was optioned to hell, with a sticker of 49k. Good luck to them getting that for a 1 series, ever.

 

[MS3-510]

I think, if you are reallly looking to trade, now would be the best time to do it since you can find really good deals on 08 models. A dealer about 30-40 miles away from me was offering a 2008 Evo X w/ SSS package and some other options MSRP $36K for $28K OTD (cash or find your own financing). I wasn't feeling the interior that much but you don't buy that type of car for the interior right? It's all about the power and handling.

I would have pulled the trigger on the Evo X if I didn't have a 1 hour commute each way. I would have put a lot of miles on it pretty quickly. I chose the MS3 as my commuter because it was quick, fun, handles well, and it was about 9K cheaper than the Evo. I'm very happy with it so far Good luck with your decision.

 

[jred321]

the evo is a better car than the MS3. it's a performance car, not an econo car with performance parts. it takes well to mods and isn't inhibited by the wheels putting down the power so modding it actually is worthwhile. the question is whether it meets your needs. personally i would say keep the MS3 stock and let it be your DD (assuming you have confidence in its reliability). take the money you were going to put towards mods and put it towards your outstanding balance. then once it is paid off buy a second car to mod. a monster miata, s2000, used evo or sti, a cobra (AC or mustang), something that you can make totally impractical as a DD and that you can afford downtime on because you have your reliable DD to get you to and from work every day. if you go to the evo you always have to keep it civil

 

[ElGaspo]

Additionally, I went and test drove a 135i ... and this one was optioned to hell, with a sticker of 49k.

(lol)(lol)(lol) (rlaugh)(rlaugh)(rlaugh)(rlaugh)

 

[verbalink]

once you get that itch, it's so difficult not to scratch it... hence why i try to stay completely at distance from cars i know will tempt me to sell/trade my speed3. for me, i own mine out right and actually got a screaming deal on it, so i wouldnt be losing [much] if i sold it; especially if i parted it. i made some promises to keep this car for 3 years [after buying and selling 3 this year...], so let me tell you, i do understand the desire to sell up to a different car.

if i was going to sell my speed and buy a car tomorrow [lightly used] i would most likely be shopping for + who doesnt love pics??:
- 06-07 sti's [i have owned a 2004 in the past]

- 135i [check 1addicts - there are a few for just around the 30k mark]

- lotus elise [low mileage 05's go for mid 20's now. lotus + cheap beater = ]

- s2000 [not too hard to find a clean ap2 with hardtop nowadays for cheap]

- 370z [probably the most expensive of the options id look at]

the new evo and sti have been out for long enough, but i havent been particularly impressed or taken in by them; they just dont excite me like the earlier models did [shrugs].

best of luck though! it's a buyers market, so if you have the cash, you can make out like a thief!