Ugly 2010 killed my plan to trade on a new MS3: Where to spend my money now?

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kneedragger241

Member
Like the title says, I was thinking of trading up to a 2010 MS3... before I saw one.

Now that I'm up to around 40K miles on my 2007, I'm thinking about getting something newer while my car still has decent resale/trade value.
I like the practicality and fun that is combined in my MS3, so I'm considering "similar" cars like The WRX and STi. I'm not sure I'm wild about the new Evo and buying a pre-owned one makes me nervous given the popularity of tuning the hell out of them. Plus, I like the cargo space of the MS3 and I'm not sure if the trunk of a sedan will serve the same purpose as a wagonback or 5-door.

Suggestions and thoughts?
 
Let me ask, have you driven the 2010 MS3 yet? Because that will change your mind personally. It isn't "faster" with any "push you in the seat" power, but the car feels more controlled, more confidence inspiring, and the gearing feels better.

It's tough trading up for the same car basically - you really gotta love the car. If it financially made sense to trade up, I would have the first second I drove the 2010 MS3.

A lot of people have switched up for STI's and EVO's. I'd say those are significant improvements from what we have, at significantly higher prices. For a closer price to ours, you could get into a 2010 WRX but I still consider that a pretty lateral move as well. You'll only be gaining AWD which isn't an absolute must, just something to obsess over.

I'd say, it's in your best interest to wait. 2011, 2012, there are a ton of new cars coming into the market. Nothing is worth their asking prices right now. For what we paid for our cars, it's a steal. Anything else is the same price for less.

I'm considering waiting for the Focus RS (which will not be an RS basically, but more of an SVT/ST level of car for the US.) Then again, my personal needs may change and I may not be able to downgrade into a coupe like I'd personally like to. Or, I may keep my car and once it's paid, pick up a used 2003 Nissan 350z Track Edition.
 
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I'm just not looking to spend much on a car like I used to. Especially when my intentions are typically to mod it. Not mod it to make it something it's not, but there's just so many resources available to make any car better, "why mod a brand new car?" is the question I keep asking myself.

Next time around, I will pick up a used vehicle, and basically maintain it with take-off parts that people sell on forums in place of aftermarket parts hehe. Seems like a rather smart thing to do right?

Instead of spending top dollar, just buy the car used, and keep your eyes peeled on the appropriate forum. Struts/Springs going bad? Buy a hardly used set off someone who MUST lower their brand new car (hehe). And i'm already going to add power-adders because it's fun to make improvements to the car as well as wrench on it. May as well be a cheaper car.

The new Z's cost way too much, today's new cars cost way too much. Gone are the days of appropriately equipped, appropriately priced cars. $24k for our MS3 GT's are a steal. There isn't a single car on the market with the same amenities, features, power and handling for that much. It's sad really.
 
I thought about the Genesis coupe, but I'm pretty sure I'm not gonna get the space I need in one.

///M Compact said:
Life's too short to do the same thing twice. I'm looking for something RWD with a minimum of 300 hp.
Click to expand...
I'm considering adding a Ducati to my garage ;-)


I should note that aesthetics have a lot to do with my enjoyment of a car.
I have to like what I see when I walk out to it as much as I enjoy what it does when I'm behind the wheel. There's plenty of great cars out there that I think are just plain ugly!
I know, I know... beauty is subjective.

I might start renting a car for some of my business travel to slow down the accumulation of miles on my MS3 and keep it longer as suggested earlier.
 
Genesis Coupe is a horribly cheap car. The interior wreaks of cheap plastics. Feels oddly like a G6 Coupe. I was NOT impressed with the 2.0T I tested. And the V6 is WAY too much money. I'd rather have a 370z at that point.

Renting is a great idea!
 
370z ftw, you can find leftover 09 stock for ~3k below invoice if you look hard enough.
they just aren't selling in this economy

i am going to agree with silver ecstasy, i was looking to get into an evo/sti/370z
but i don't want to pay for a new car, so my tastes have kinda changed. i'm looking at used s2k's now, something to play with that won't kill me financially. there's no point trading in your car as you will get *****, back in july nissan offered me 12.5 for my 08 with ~16k miles on her. 7 mos later, they still have 09 z's sitting on the lot. was it worth it for them? i told them ~15.5k and i would do the deal that day (was approved for 4.9% thru nissan financial). but now that i think of it, they did me a favor, my car is almost paid off and i won't have car payments for another 5 years heh
 
Saskatchewan17 said:
What about a new GTI or A3?
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Not bad suggestions by any stretch, but here's the thing:

GTI: Under-powered and over-priced, yet roomy and efficient.
A3: Under-powered, over-priced, more cramped than our MS3's and the car feels as cheap as a 1-Series for a LOT of money.

Again, our cars come out ahead as better values for the money.
 
You could buy an s2000 and turbo that thing. They are popular so im sure you can find a well maintained, non abused, decent priced one. Not sure if there is enough space for your purposes though. Fun to drive too.

Your speed 3 should last you a lot longer so I don't see why your in a hurry to trade it for another used car. You won't find a lightly used or new evo / sti for under 26K.
 
kneedragger241 said:
..if I didn't need to haul crap around for my job..
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coyfish said:
You could buy an s2000 and turbo that thing. Not sure if there is enough space for your purposes though.

Your speed 3 should last you a lot longer so I don't see why your in a hurry to trade it for another used car.
Click to expand...

No S2000 for him.

I agree with the second suggestion. Keep the car a little longer, enjoy it for what it's worth.

I hate to sound like such a fanboy (because for the past 2 months, I was prepared to do anything to get out of the car), but I feel like these cars are definitely something special. Something that will retain resale value in the future as cars like these become more and more rare (gas mileage > power).

The 16 y/o new drivers of the future will seek our cars one day.
 
whoa whoa whoa! you better watch what you say about gen2 speeds. those doods will read that s*** an come find you! i too think they are ugly as hell, its funny reading all the 2010 doods s*** talk on gen1's (goto msf) its all on there.


genesis coupes are nice cars, just cant justify myself spending the money on a Hyundai i dont care how far they have come over the years.
 
Silver Ecstasy said:
Not bad suggestions by any stretch, but here's the thing:

GTI: Under-powered and over-priced, yet roomy and efficient.
A3: Under-powered, over-priced, more cramped than our MS3's and the car feels as cheap as a 1-Series for a LOT of money.

Again, our cars come out ahead as better values for the money.
Click to expand...

I agree, I would probably have a 2010 MS3 over them and would most defidently have a 07-09 MS3 over them. I was merely giving a suggestion.

Silver Ecstasy said:
The 16 y/o new drivers of the future will seek our cars one day.
Click to expand...

Just like they are searching out the previous 2 generations of Hot hatches and sport compacts now... SRT-4s, SVT foci, MSPs, Sentra SE-Rs, Civic Si-s, ect... I bet it will be a very popular and somewhat affordable used car for teens in about 4-5 years.
 
Jdm_Mica said:
Gti ftw! Car is awesome. I would get one if I could...g/f is veryyyy close to trading in towards one
Click to expand...

its definitely a better daily driver than ms3 it quieter it has better tranny so shifts gonna feel good, and i think it has better fuel economy, but performance and handling vise its not as good as ms3
 
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