Hey guys.. i think this might be my first post in 5thgenland...

Ok so here goes, I'm planning to buy or lease (recommendations) a car in May-Sept of 2004 (prolly Sept to really pull off some good deals). My current choices are:

2002 SE manual
2003 SE manual

I'm thinking about going for the 2002 because of the cheaper price. What is there with the 2003 that is worth getting it over a less expensive 2002?

Also, would anyone on here step up to change my mind about the Maxima altogether? My price ceiling is $20,000... $25,000 if going the BMW route

Any advice would be welcome.. Thanks guys!

-Mario

 

I say you should get the BMW Get a M5...

 

BUY! I'll never lease again. It was such a money hole... dumping money in a car I didn't own, just to find out the payoff at the end was more than if I went and bought a used car in the exact same condition. BUY BUY BUY! Ask ANY decent financial advisor and s/he'll tell you the same. Buy and get equity if it's at all possible. Leasing came about because of greed and the "I want more than I can afford" mentality.

Get a 2002 SE if you can find one by 2004. But by then it might make sense to get 2003, seeing as neither will be new. If I was you I'd wait until 3-4 months before you want the car, then start shopping and keep your mind open to either year. There is no compelling reason to get a 2003 over a 2002 (or vice versa).

I would not get a used BMW... just personal preference. I'd get new but that's not in your future at $25k.... especially the M5 unless you can get someone to buy the other 2/3rds of the car.

 

I see what you mean.

As far as used cars, I still see a lot of 98-99s at dealers with low low miles. If it were up to me, I'd get a 97 SE used.. in 2004 i could probably get one of those for way under $10k but payments would be easier and less of a headache than saving for and maintaining a high-mileage used car.

M5? ha! Then again.. if by some miracle in 2004 I find a 2002 M5 for let's say $70k and a 72 month plan.. that's like around $1k/mo... assuming I get the teaching spot I want that'll pay me 3900/mo starting off, i'll have the 1k car payment + let's say $300 insurance + $500 loan/cel/credit card payments + $1k rent and utils = $2800 ... i know a lot of those numbers are off..haven't really made a real plan...

 

Mario,
I don't think there's any compelling reason to get 03 over the 02 other than Nissan MAY have worked out some quirks from the 02 year, and incorporated changes into 03. It seems like a lot of the major problems with the 6sp, for example, are on the 02s, and 03s seem to hold up much better.

Also, if you really want it, the 03 came with the Titanium Edition package. I don't know if you're familiar with it or not, but it basically added a 6CD BOSE, side airbags, titanium accents in the interior, bright finish alloys, and some other minor exterior titanium accenting.

Other than that, 02 and 03 are the same exact car. If I were in your shoes though, I'd try to get the 03 simply because I have a feeling Nissan fixed some bugs in 02, and built 03 more solid.

 

Cool.. damn that missing 15HP!!

I'm now thinking about a 03 Grey Lustre SE-TE.. that package is allowed right?