Where would you go from an S4. My sale is pending and the S4 should be gone this weekend. Getting $18k for a 2001.5 with 73k miles and tryin to save for a house...what would you get for about $15k? I'm lookin at cars, and nothin compares...dare I say Japanese?...stick with German and get a high mileage 5 series for cruisin?...buy a car for $10k and put $5k into it to make it comparable to the B5? what would ya'll do in my position? Chevy Malibu? Hyundai Elantra...jk..there's no way in Hell..

 

oh man, thank you for saying jk at the end there..i was about ready to jump through this computer and smack you. It is very tough to go from the S its such a well rounded vehicle.. My buddy is having the same problem right now. What is your price range and what charateritcs do you like.. speed, handling, awd, comfort, etc...

 

another S4. They can be found for around that price. Prices have dropped lately.

 

Honestly, i'm hoping to bank some $$ from the sale...so i was only gonna spend around $10k...maybe up to $15 at the most...I want something with at least some *********, decent luxury and especially reliability...I've never driven a piece of crap even if I sacrifice for it. My thoughts include a 2000-2001 5-series with higher mileage, a 2001 Acura 3.2CL-type s, and i'd like to try out even a lexus GS 300 or 400...again early 2000's with higher mileage to keep the price down... I'd do another S4, but I wouldn't be able to modify it...so i'd rather let someone else have one that'll make it meet full potential like it deserves..

 

yeah, i live in florida, so AWD is not necessary....i like my cars how i like my women...fast, foreign, clean and controllable.

 

What about a 300zx? Can get those easily in neighborhood of 7,500-12,500. Can find some cherry ones. If you ever decide to mod it, it's ridiculous. Dunno if you are looking for a sedan though.

 

if you decide to ever have kids then the zx wouldn't be practicle. I'd shoot for a salvaged maxima 3.5 or something similar for around 5-7 then apply the rest towards your house. PMI insurance sucks.

 

Get a used Jetta or Golf for $7500.00 and bank the rest. The house is more important. I dont believe you will ever find anything reliable thats on the same level as a S4 for that kind of money. Cheap performance cars are a money pit with no end. A VW will at least be German.

 

Thanks for all the replies...I guess the house is more important, until a nasty hurricane blows the roof off... Anyway, I'd like to stay German, the Jetta seems kinda girly, a gti vr6 or whatever, maybe, but I'm a big guy and like a bigger car...Let me ask this...how reliable are 1998-2001 5-series upwards of 75-90k mi? anyone have experience with them? or am I looking at lot's of high cost repairs.

 

Ur repairs are going to be high, just like with the S4. When I had my 3-Series, it was a lot of nickel and dime stuff--when anything happened (i.e. window motors/regulators). There wasn't anything as potentially catastrophic such as turbos/tranny as there is with the S4. Bottom line: if the turbos and tranny held up in a S4, I think repairs/maintenance would be a wash with a Bimmer.