OK I want to hear some opinions - I have been saving up for a convertible ever since I bought the 3, with my ultimate plan at the time to relegate the 3 to daily driver status and buy a convertible.
My current beater is a 2002 dodge neon, which at the moment needs a new water pump. Friggin thing only has 35K and needs a new pump, which will cost $40 for the part and somewhere between $600-$800 in labor ( the whole front of the engine has to come off, down to the timing belt/chain to replace the stupid thing).
So I have been thinking lately, instead of just going the small and powerful roadster and keeping the 3, that I would get a more upscale, but still small and powerful convertible route, and keeping the neon.
With the economy still in the crapper I have been thinking that selling the 3 and using the $ (along with part of the savings) to buy the BMW might be a better choice. If I run into bad times, the BMW would hold its resale value better.
The only thing that is hampering me is I really dislike the neon, it is just a cheap crap box, even though it has been well maintained. It is an ATX and is dog slow, entrance ramps on the NJ TPKE are an experience to say the least. But it gets the best gas mileage, and the heat and a/c both work well. But it would be a daily driver, does it need to be more than that?
The 3 on the other hand would be alot more comfortable (and dare I say fun) daily driver overall, with the exception of the a/c and less fuel economy. Prolly higher insurance as well since I wouldnt drop down to liability just yet.
The neon KBB is around $4K and the 3 around $14K, so the actual value is a no brainer.
So what do you think:
1 - MZ3 and SKY Redline
or
2 - neon and BMW 135i
I realize that the SKY and the BMW dont stack up against each other, but other than the Corvette these are the only two ragtops I currently like. I thought about the 350z, but I have never been a fan of the new z's looks.
The new IS convertible wont come in an MTX unless you get the blah 250, and it looks like the G37 is going to compete more with the 3 series, CLK, and volvo c70, which is too upscale IMO.
My current beater is a 2002 dodge neon, which at the moment needs a new water pump. Friggin thing only has 35K and needs a new pump, which will cost $40 for the part and somewhere between $600-$800 in labor ( the whole front of the engine has to come off, down to the timing belt/chain to replace the stupid thing).
So I have been thinking lately, instead of just going the small and powerful roadster and keeping the 3, that I would get a more upscale, but still small and powerful convertible route, and keeping the neon.
With the economy still in the crapper I have been thinking that selling the 3 and using the $ (along with part of the savings) to buy the BMW might be a better choice. If I run into bad times, the BMW would hold its resale value better.
The only thing that is hampering me is I really dislike the neon, it is just a cheap crap box, even though it has been well maintained. It is an ATX and is dog slow, entrance ramps on the NJ TPKE are an experience to say the least. But it gets the best gas mileage, and the heat and a/c both work well. But it would be a daily driver, does it need to be more than that?
The 3 on the other hand would be alot more comfortable (and dare I say fun) daily driver overall, with the exception of the a/c and less fuel economy. Prolly higher insurance as well since I wouldnt drop down to liability just yet.
The neon KBB is around $4K and the 3 around $14K, so the actual value is a no brainer.
So what do you think:
1 - MZ3 and SKY Redline
or
2 - neon and BMW 135i
I realize that the SKY and the BMW dont stack up against each other, but other than the Corvette these are the only two ragtops I currently like. I thought about the 350z, but I have never been a fan of the new z's looks.
The new IS convertible wont come in an MTX unless you get the blah 250, and it looks like the G37 is going to compete more with the 3 series, CLK, and volvo c70, which is too upscale IMO.