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

[lylefk]

I agree with the above post mostly but I think you are misinterpreting the new car plan...I think he's talking pretty damn inexpensive monthly to have a new car at all times. He's not 'losing his ass' every 8,000 miles, he's just taking another dealership owned car off the lot. As in not a whole lot more than insurance would be by itself. Correct me if I'm wrong. How does that cost compare to maintenance, insurance, etc on the e30?

I don't, however see the e30 vert as an overly practical car if the baby will be in your car much. My fiance is already trying to figure out how to get rid of mine and we are 5 years away from having a baby (in MY head, anyway).

Oh and I've owned a brand new bmw as well as my e30 and while I love my e30...C'mon. I doubt many people here would SERIOUSLY take an e30 over a brand-new BMW of their choice. Please. I'm tiring of driving my vert every day, especially when it is pouring rain for 30 straight days and the top decides to start dripping freezing rain on my head for no apparent reason. But...MAN it was beautiful today with the top down...

[yberther]

lawd don't get a minivan....

[88e30is]

You could turn the e30 into a mini van. It would be a win win.

[87Blue325iC]

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 wish this were the case - it would be much easier to walk away from - but the car program is administered as a company benefit - there is no contract, no trade in, no commitment, no credit check, etc. We don't even go to a dealer - the cars are delivered right to the company building. Simply put - I pay $x for a car - if I want a 5 series instead of say a 3 series next time around then it will cost more, but all that happens is the car payment goes up to the new rate - if after the 5 series I decided I want a MINI then the payment drops. That is it - awesome program, really. The cars are titled and plated to the company.

[87Blue325iC]

Oh and I've owned a brand new bmw as well as my e30 and while I love my e30...C'mon. I doubt many people here would SERIOUSLY take an e30 over a brand-new BMW of their choice. Please. I'm tiring of driving my vert every day, especially when it is pouring rain for 30 straight days and the top decides to start dripping freezing rain on my head for no apparent reason. But...MAN it was beautiful today with the top down...

Yeah - I really got tired of driving the e30 vert through winter and rain. As a third car to enjoy on sunny days it is fantastic though!

[jhowell]

I have neither a 'vert nor Alpinas. But I do have a kid (2 years) and dog (med. ~ 45 lbs.)

We got the CRV, & love it. But lately I've been using the e30 more and more. It's a blast and the kid like to corner. Need more room - roof rack. And for the ultimate family mobile, there's really just one word.

Touring.

[M-technik-3]

Second Hand Odyssey let some one else take the hit. Buy it CPO, they are nice vehicles.

[T.Dot_E30]

Buy a van with the money you have saved?

Stop living off credit.

[Dave]

Second Hand Odyssey let some one else take the hit. Buy it CPO, they are nice vehicles.

our last van purchase was a CPO Sienna. Brand new one optioned out like ours was stickering at $35k+. We got ours with the CPO warranty out the door for less than 20. And it was the same body style as the new one. Tail lights are styled a little differently, but otherwise, identical. We've had it nearly 7 years, and for over 100k miles. Damn thing needs so little done to it to keep running. Other than an alternator, everything has been maintenance items only.

I chuckle at those of you with one or no kids who say "get a 4 door or a Touring". You have no idea. The slider doors, the cargo capacity, etc. are awesome, and they get car-like gas mileage to boot.

When your kids are little, they have strollers, pak-n-plays, etc, and when they get older, they have sports equipment, musical instruments, etc.

My kids are 16, 13 and 11. We can all get in the Sienna with all of our luggage, and toss golf clubs and such on the roof and go to Florida and it is easy breezy. No way we could have accomplished that anywhere near as comfortably in my 5er Touring.

[Mtriple]

pics of wife?

[BillBrasky]

I chuckle at those of you with one or no kids who say "get a 4 door or a Touring". You have no idea. The slider doors, the cargo capacity, etc. are awesome, and they get car-like gas mileage to boot.

When your kids are little, they have strollers, pak-n-plays, etc, and when they get older, they have sports equipment, musical instruments, etc.

My kids are 16, 13 and 11. We can all get in the Sienna with all of our luggage, and toss golf clubs and such on the roof and go to Florida and it is easy breezy. No way we could have accomplished that anywhere near as comfortably in my 5er Touring.

I don't know. My parents always had four door cars and we were on the road constantly all across the country for business trips with my dad. I pretty much grew up in the back seat of a '79 Rabbit and then an '85 Sunfire (2 door) and they didn't have any problems that I can recall. Maybe they were just an exception to the rule.

[Conki]

My family was a really active one, going skiing 5-6 hours away, and to the sea in the summer 10-12 hours away, when us kids were small, we always had Wagons.
First family car was a Kadett Caravan:

http://forum.avtoindex.com/foto/data/media/61/Kadett_Caravan_E_84-91_30.jpg

Second, bigger one an Omega Caravan

http://forum.avtoindex.com/foto/data/media/61/Omega_Caravan_A_86-93_30.jpg

For 2 kids and the parents, they were just the right size.
The next step was needed when we started taking the grandparents with us. The same length of drives with luggage and skis, snowboards, etc. and 6 people were a joy with a small minivan that had no sliding doors:

http://img2.netcarshow.com/Renault-Espace_1994_800x600_wallpaper_02.jpg

And this Espace worked so well, the next car was the next generation:

http://www.sofia-car-rent.com/images/sofia-rent/scar-renault-espace-1996.jpg

What I'm trying to tell you as an experienced traveler, unless you have to take 6 people with all their crap, a minivan is just overkill. Especially for 1 or two small kids.

I am young, but I already had a minivan (Chevy Venture) for its practicality, and it's really useful, yes -- I even lent it to a mother of 4 for a couple months. But only to follow the trend, just because you have a kid, you don't HAVE to have a minivan. Unless you'd really like one and are willing to give up your e30 or the brand new BMW... You wouldn't have opened this thread if you were sure you needed one. And here, we wouldn't support your idea of selling the E30 anyway, and you should know this:) Probably this is the reason you are asking us?
Keep the E30, there is no need to sell it!

[Alkasquawlik]

When I was growing up, my parents took myself and my younger brother on trips all the time. My parents owned an E30 M3, an E30 318i, and an E32 740il during the time me and my brother were young. We would go to Tahoe, beach trips, etc etc and we would fit EVERYTHING into the 318 or 740. Our friends would always be shocked that we could fit all the luggage into the car, but if you pack consevatively, it's possible.

[M-technik-3]

Believable with a 740, 318 is a stretch with two kids and stuff for a ski weekend. I have trouble packing my flying gear for 8 day road trips in my 325i never mind the smaller m3 trunk opening.

MOAB don't fit well, "Mother of all Bag" Work and civilian attire plus shoes and exercise gear.

Never liked my minivan either but had good sound system built in wireless headsets for kids and drop down DVD player. Plus you could still listen to the radio or CD player up front. Loved that feature when kids were tired coming home on long drives, they could relax as could I. Not the most efficient on fuel at 22 mpg highway and 19 around town but comfy and not an SUV!!! take seats out = flat floor room for trip to Lowes and so on... Used to fit my kids Coyote in ours vs this.

[CreagerPhotography]

Being that I am also of the same vintage and was practically in the same scenario. Long story shot, the wife had a Miata and where having a baby, 4 yrs ago next month. We loved the Miata and had some great times with that car...but it had to go and I got her a little Mazda P5 wagon. Not a big fan of the car but it has been good and works well for a small family.

No matter what car you get next I would recommend looking at going minimalist in the baby gear department. We did and we never needed the big old pimp'd out baby hauler, you know the one that weights like 25 to 30 pounds and takes up a ton of room in the back of your car/van.

We had nice gear for our son just lightweight and easy to handle and it did not take up a ton of room in the wife's car.

So sell the vert, it sucks but make the sacrifice now and you will reap the benefits later. She didn't want to get rid of her Miata but is was the smart thing to do in the long run.

Good Luck with your decision!

Curtis