I know I'm spoiled, but am I stupid?

[87Blue325iC]

Okay - I need some feedback on what to do about my E30. Here is the situation:

I'm 37, married with a 6 month old, and we have a 65 pound dog - and we may have another child in the next few years. The time has come to get a minivan. My wife and I both have always hated minivans, but can see the practicality. We test drove a Honda Odyssey and loved it. The wife would be driving it most of the time.

The E30 is a third car - just a toy. I bought it about two years ago bone stock and have done all the work myself to make it drive and look like it does. Lots of blood, sweat, and some tears.

I work for BMW so my daily driver is a brand new BMW - and I get a new one every 8000 miles. I have driven new BMWs for 12 years now and have had everything from a Z3 coupe to a 335ci convertible to a 535xi. They are cheap under my company car plan and I pay no maintenance or insurance.

We are trying to save money - so to offset the expense of the minivan purchase I need to either sell the E30 and use that money towards a down payment on the minivan OR get out of the car program and drive the paid for E30 as a daily driver - doable, but not practical when I'm the one dropping the baby off at daycare everyday.

Seems like a no brainier doesn't it - poor me, I have to sell my E30 and be "forced" to drive a new BMW (probably would get a 135i coupe next) everyday. Like I said - I'm spoiled. But why am I so torn up about getting rid of the E30? Driving a new BMW is nice - but has no emotional connection and not nearly the fun factor as the E30 does.

Am I crazy for thinking this? Part of it is I know I won't get anywhere near the money I have into my E30.

PS - an X3 or an X5 doesn't work in place of the minivan - been there, done that.

[blunttech]

id save money and get out of the car plan. 135's are fast as hell but are understeering bloated numb pigs. id much rather drive an e30 besides youll take it in the pooter selling your e30 anyway

[bimmer_E30]

+1 keep the E30.

[wagonizzle]

I don't think you have to sell the e30. With a little creative financial planning, I'd bet you can have it all. I don't know much about your car, but let's ballpark it and say you could get $5k for it. How far is that really going to go? You will miss the driving experience. Some simple, cheap, familiar pleasure is something you will likely need in the next few years with screaming babies. Just a quick jaunt to the milk store to reset your patience. I don't know what you're paying for these new BMW's, but that deal seems hard to beat. You could always get a 128 if you don't mind having a small car; they are still quite fun from what I understand, and I guess they would be the cheapest new car.

As far as the minivan goes, two things. First, Odyssey's are great vans, and they always have been. Grab one with 75k on it and it is barely at its half life with any kind of maintenance. Second, it will be a while before you need that kind of room. The kid(s?) are small and don't have that much stuff. You could get by with a CR-V for the next 5 years before you outgrow it. Big savings all around right there. Just some food for thought ;)

[pilotskillse30]

keep the e30, not much is gained from selling your e30(money wise) trust me on this one cause I'm a 34 year old guy with 5 kids and twins due next week so I know about this a bit, our oldest drives an e30 and so do I as daily drivers, we to are getting the Odyssey, we currently have an oldsmobile silhouette which saps the life and thrills out of driving but, hasn't given much fuss so far and we have decided on a the fact that I need another car aswell so I'm purchasing a 2001 740i to give me school duties with the kids. You my friend are lucky, one child one dog and the POSSIBILITIES of another in the future, I think its to preemptive of a strike.

[erik325i]

Keep the e30 and stay in the new car plan. The new car plan you have sounds like a great deal and I wouldn't pass it up.
And just like wagonizzle said, you don't have much to gain out of selling the e30. You'll get a few grand out of doing it which won't get you far. Just save up and keep the car.

Erik

[BillBrasky]

I've always wanted to know why everyone feels that they have to give up on cars when they have kids and get a minivan? I can't speak from experience as I'm not married and don't have any kids, but why can't you just get a larger 4 door car like a 5 or 7 series? Why won't the X3 or X5 work as well as the minivan? Our parents age group got by just fine raising kids with four door cars. I'm not trying to sound like a dick, I just want to know why everyone ends up with a minivan.



On a side note, I'm liking the number of clean e30 verts w/Alpinas in this thread.

[rwh11385]

Keep both, get a used odyssey. thank us later

[daniel]

+1 keep the E30.

coming from someone who-- nevermind. :facepalm:

I don't think you have to sell the e30. With a little creative financial planning, I'd bet you can have it all. I don't know much about your car, but let's ballpark it and say you could get $5k for it. How far is that really going to go? You will miss the driving experience. Some simple, cheap, familiar pleasure is something you will likely need in the next few years with screaming babies. Just a quick jaunt to the milk store to reset your patience. I don't know what you're paying for these new BMW's, but that deal seems hard to beat.

OP, don't sell you're e30.

On a side note, I'm liking the number of clean e30 verts w/Alpinas in this thread.

i enjoy the number 2 as well. it is my favorite number.

[87Blue325iC]

You will miss the driving experience. Some simple, cheap, familiar pleasure is something you will likely need in the next few years with screaming babies. Just a quick jaunt to the milk store to reset your patience.

Agree - ran to the store today top down and it was a great stress relief!

As far as the minivan goes, two things. First, Odyssey's are great vans, and they always have been. Grab one with 75k on it and it is barely at its half life with any kind of maintenance. Second, it will be a while before you need that kind of room. The kid(s?) are small and don't have that much stuff. You could get by with a CR-V for the next 5 years before you outgrow it. Big savings all around right there. Just some food for thought

Thinking of pre-owned - especially with a Honda it is hard to go wrong. But the incentives and 3.9 financing on a new one make that option attractive. Ironically we went in looking to buy a pre-owned CR-V but decided if we are going to buy and payoff a car we might as well get the minivan now - as we will need it in 2-3 years anyway. Our experience in having X3's for many years now have also proven the small to mid-size SUV doesn't meet our needs as much as we like. Thanks for the input!

[87Blue325iC]

I've always wanted to know why everyone feels that they have to give up on cars when they have kids and get a minivan? I can't speak from experience as I'm not married and don't have any kids, but why can't you just get a larger 4 door car like a 5 or 7 series? Why won't the X3 or X5 work as well as the minivan? Our parents age group got by just fine raising kids with four door cars. I'm not trying to sound like a dick, I just want to know why everyone ends up with a minivan.

Valid question - and one I would have had a few years ago too. The X3/X5 or larger 4 door works up to a point - but after packing a stroller, pack-n-play crib, a duffle bag or two, dog bowls and food, gifts it it is a birthday/holiday, food if there is a picnic/pot-luck supper, etc it all adds up. Sooner or later you get to see the value of the huge storage capacity of the minivan - everything listed above AND your bikes/camping gear, etc would fit! Plus the side opening doors make it easier to get a kid out of a baby seat, easier to open inside a garage, and if the baby needs something on a long trip the wife can get in the back without stopping.

Both my wife and I loathed the idea - until we drove one and started drooling over all the utility.

[shiftbmw]

Valid question - and one I would have had a few years ago too. The X3/X5 or larger 4 door works up to a point - but after packing a stroller, pack-n-play crib, a duffle bag or two, dog bowls and food, gifts it it is a birthday/holiday, food if there is a picnic/pot-luck supper, etc it all adds up.

Most people that run into this problem would just take two cars. When are you going to take all that crap farther than 10 miles away from home?


Can you sell the 6 month old to fund the minivan and keep the E30? Include stroller and pack-n-play crib with the sale and you likely don't even need the minivan...

[87e30]

I don't think you have to sell the e30. With a little creative financial planning, I'd bet you can have it all. I don't know much about your car, but let's ballpark it and say you could get $5k for it. How far is that really going to go? You will miss the driving experience. Some simple, cheap, familiar pleasure is something you will likely need in the next few years with screaming babies. Just a quick jaunt to the milk store to reset your patience. I don't know what you're paying for these new BMW's, but that deal seems hard to beat. You could always get a 128 if you don't mind having a small car; they are still quite fun from what I understand, and I guess they would be the cheapest new car.

As far as the minivan goes, two things. First, Odyssey's are great vans, and they always have been. Grab one with 75k on it and it is barely at its half life with any kind of maintenance. Second, it will be a while before you need that kind of room. The kid(s?) are small and don't have that much stuff. You could get by with a CR-V for the next 5 years before you outgrow it. Big savings all around right there. Just some food for thought ;)

I agree with this.

Your new car plans seems like way to good of a deal to pass up. Your e30 isn't going to gain you that much in the long run. a pre-owned honda isn't all bad... or any other way to offset costs. :/

It's obviously hard to say without knowing your situation but I'd keep thinking and try to figure out a way to keep it all.

[e30s52]

Why not a 5 series wagon? I have a subaru outback 2.5xt and it has been a great car.

[VacMan]

Allow me to be the voice of reason, since 95% of the respondents in this thread are less than 25 and have no clue what you're looking at.

I'm the same age as you and we bought my wife a new Sienna. It's an awesome van (yes, I said it) and it's little less harsh than the Odyssey. Personal preference, and I'm sure you'd be happy with either one; it's not why I'm posting but I thought I'd mention that we love our van.

IMO, you need to get off the "new car plan" and start thinking about long term. Each time you jump into a new car you're losing your ass on it, regardless of whether you buy or lease. I understand wanting to drive something different all the time...believe me, I do...but if I was you I'd be thinking about buying something less expensive and putting the rest of it away for your 6 month old.

I have a 2 year old and she's already burning through a few hundred dollars a month in clothes, food, MyGym, Mommy and me classes, etc. And they just keep getting more expensive. Soon it'll be daycare at $200/month on top of that, and that's a cheap one. I put away about $500/month on top of that, but it's not easy.

Don't get me wrong, I make a good living and we're not strapped by any means. My wife is also a nurse, so if we needed money she could go back to work. My point is, at some point you need to take a hard look in the mirror and realize that giving up some of what you want is worth being able to give your wife and 6 month old everything they deserve.

Jeezus I must be getting old.

Tim