That is one reason I am probably going to not get the E46 M3. Porsche 911 Turbo X50 is my dream car and has always been. But I'll take it step by step and eventually I'lll own one. Also, I'm not paying for insurance.

 

I was halfway through a lease on an '02 WRX and I traded that mo' fo' in for my '03 S2000 with no money down on a new lease. The dealership paid off the lease the next day and a week later I actually received a rebate check from Subaru in the amount of $330. And to top it off, my S2000 payment went down the next day so I had to go back and sign new papers to get a lower payment. This is because they found out that the WRX was worth more than they thought. That was by far the easiest and best experience I have ever had with purchasing a car. The Honda dealer gladly took the WRX as a trade in and paid my lease balance in full and I actually made money off of the deal.

As far as the STi, it is a balls out fast car, but I would not want to drive the CEO of my company around in it. The S2000, now that is a corporate car that I drive my corporate executives in with pride. Besides, I hear it is kinda hard to put the top down in an STi.

Ryan

 

I found out the lease on a WRX for 24 is $455 a month w/ $0 down.

The 325Ci is $475.

 

E46 M3 as your first car?!?!?!? I say slow way down, get something that suits your 16 year old needs (a.k.a. reliable transportation that will allow you to actually learn how to drive) and build up to cars like the M3, you will appreciate them that much more in the long run. Going half way to the top right away will probably leave you pretty complacent by the time you reach your mid 20's because the top is not far from a loaded M3, and once you get to the top, there is nowhere else to go....

 

Don't mistake the 325Ci for a performance car. I drove one when I was looking to buy a 330Ci. The 2.5L isn't strong enough for the weight of the car.

Overall it's a great car in every respect except for the engine. If you get it you'll wish you had got the 3.0L instead. I've seen tests of the 330Ci with a 0-60 of 5.8sec. The 2.5L will be 7.2 sec or so. You're looking at the STi (5 seconds) the difference is night and day.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by PHUNBALL
E46 M3 as your first car?!?!?!?

 

Wow, I am really amazed that this thread has made it this far without falling into a never ending hole of age bashing.

Congrats to all you people that kept this on topic! Some of us are actually learning more about the business of leasing.

 

16 yr old + STI or S2000 = One of Wantone's "Initial D" threads

a licensed pilot doesn't START on a multi-engine complex low wing aircraft.....a licensed driver shouldn't start on a RWD, upside-down HP/TQ, roadster, that oversteers long before it understeers

same goes for a sport biker.....no one starts on a 1,000+ cc bike(if they do they crash)...they start on 600s

course i won't be able to apply this until I myself am a father, but that's the truth

 

On the subject of car buying. I believe in working up to your top car gradually.

For example I have had 10 new cars in my 20 years of driving. Price $9K up to $37K. Over the years I've been able to buy nicer cars as my income has expanded. In the next 3-5 years I may pull the trigger on a "once in a life time car" such as the GT3 or the Ford GT (for example). But if I had started with a M3 or a 911 when I was 16, that'd be pretty much near the top of the heap.

Because I've experienced pretty much the full spectrum of cars (except the top of the line) I will be able to have more appreciation for what a great car is.

 

ROFLMAO!