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I was looking at a low end 1999+ BMW 3 series and I found a few for under 17,000CAD and even under 16k with about 100,000km on it but think the cost of ownership will be too much with insurance and all. So I'm liking the Audi A4 1.8T Quattro right now, there are many for under $16k with about 100k km and 2000+. My gripe with it is i heard there are a lot of problems with VW so I'm a little worry about the build quality. Besides these 2 cars, what else is good in the class? Want it to be about the size of the ones mentions, has to have 5speed manual available, year 2000+, 1999 maybe and cost less than 17,000CAD. Also has to be 4 door. Shoot away, thanks.

 
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I would go with something else.. as the millege seems kind of high on the rides u stated..

 
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The Audi is a 2000 with 88,000km to be more exact. for a 4-5 yr old car where you going to get really low kilometers? It's all going to be in this range for any car. Plus my vic has 90k on it and its a 02.

 
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If you go with the Audi, I would seriously consider getting an extended warranty if possible.

 
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audi a4
bmw 3 series
volvo s40
lexus es300
mercedes c230/240
acura 3.2TL
Saab 9-3/9-5

I'm thinking about getting a volvo s40.

Also, those electrical problems on VW were on older gen cars and possibly current jettas/golfs. Passats (and A4s, they're built on the same platform) don't have those electrical gremlins....or at least my brother's passat doesnt.

 
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I've got a freind selling a 99 sweet M3 that I cannot afford or it'd be mine. just hit 100K but it's got the Dinan chip & exhaust (about 1500+) Just for the bolt ons, and he'll let it go for under 15K, just an offer

oh yeah, you'd have to drive to Massachusetts, but you would not be disappointed w/ the car

 
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btw, he's got a transferable warranty for about another 25-30K miles

 
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The audi 1.8T is something I would be get with low mileage from a VW or AUDI dealer if it was still under warranty. Otherwise I don't trust its reliability. BMW is expensive to repair. Instead of buying a low end old 3 series BMW, you can buy a brand new honda civic EX coupe with body kit the purchase finance rate in canada is under 4%. I think prime is near 7%. I think you might end up paying more for a 3 series low end BMW that a new ex coupe.

 
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bluestreak: Thanks for the offer but I"m sure you mean 15k USD which does not equal 15K CAD even with the exchange rate but I don't want to pay duties and such to bring over the border, plus insurance would be over my head.

nindoo: I don't want a Civic, I already got one that I want to trade, why would I want another coupe when I want a 4 door. A new top line Civic new cost $6000CAD more than the used audi. Besides, a Civic is not luxury.

 
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^ yeah, it's outta my price range too, I could sell my vic & basically buy that for peanuts but then I'd be driving that thing like a mad man and insurance, and tickets, and no more great gas mileage

 
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100kilometers is only 60,000 miles....I would go with an Acura 3.2 TL or a Nissan Maxima with that high of mileage. They are still luxury, but more reliable than the german cars. The german ones kick serious ***, but you may be in over your head on maint. costs because they start to break down around that many miles/kilometers.

 
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just wondering, do ppl use the term milage in canada? cuz technically milage is based off of miles, and canada uses kilometers. so you guys call it kilage? j/k but seriously, do you guys use the term milage?

 
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some use mileage, some use kilomage. not kilage, lol.

So you guys are saying german is unreliable? Isn't bmw and benz german too?

 
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BMW and Mercedes Benz are both German.

Both have their share of issues depending on model, although BMW isn't so bad. Mercedes on the other hand has really gone downhill in terms of reliability since the 90's. IMO, stay away from Mercedes.

 
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Keep in mind Honda Civic purchase finance rate is much lower than the banks prime rate. If your not buying the car cash then in the long run your civic costs pretty much the same unless you get the prime rate from the bank and even in that case there is not a big diff in cost. (Civic will however have better resale since buy the time your done with the audi the mileage will be hella crazy)

If you want luxury I guess high mileage is less costly. I'm just trying to help you out and tell you to stay away from those. Keep in mind maintenance on those cars costs more not to mention other problems that may arise costing more $$.

If your from Canada you could consider a Acura EL with leather interior. Its got four doors its looks nice, will have good resale. Has a nice look with the fog lights. Only problem is I'm not sure about the purchase finance rate.

But if you want a larger car or a car with a more prestigious name, I guess high mileage is something you will have to consider for an AUDI or BMW. Check it out thoroughly.

IMO I'd much rather have a sleek reliable quick agile 2005 honda ex (with sunroof, 5-speed, rims, 6 speaker sound) than a 1999 BMW 318 or 320. Are you looking at 330i's ? I'm pretty sure 330i's are expensive.

 
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i say get a 99/00 3.2 tl, man those cars are hottt an u can get them for cheap now days

 
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TL prices are good but they are too big for my taste, not sporty enough for me to hit the corners. And i don't think they come in manual either.

Finance is not a problem, if I trade in the civic I'll probably only need to add another 2g or so. An Acura EL is not luxury either, leather != luxury, I want the upscale look aswell. I was looking at a 2000 323i and 1999 328i.

 
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^^ TL's were available in 6-spd manuals in type-S trim for a while...

oh well, I was going to reccomend a TL but you said you weren't interested. My cousin had a used one and he traded it in because he and his girlfriend kept on getting speeding tickets.

 
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1986 mercedes 300 SL grey market 6 cylinder with 5 speed dad got it brand new had to have the engine rebuilt at about 100,000 miles only cost $8,000.00 he had it done, but that's more expensive than the book value on the car.

 
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almost 20 years later can make a big diff in quality and a few bad experiences can't mean the whole brand is bad can it?