What would you do...?
 

So, I have a couple of questions that might stir up a little debate, some good discussion and hopefully give me some useful information as I have to answer the question myself.

I need to go from two cars to one car - much to my dismay, it doesn't seem like there is a great market for a modified 2.0L VW Beetle - even selling it for what I owe and abandoning the goal of recovering even a tiny amount of what was invested into the car, may be a difficult task. Now, if I had all the time in the world, then maybe it would be an endeavor worth pursuing - but since I start my residency in one month (and much unlike what you see on Gray's Anatomy - residents don't get a ton of time to screw attendings and drink beer at the local tavern) - so, something needs to happen before the end of June. Here are some thinkings I've been thinking about.

I have equity in the Porsche. Remember, this was purchased by my wife and I intended as a "congrats for finishing a billion years of school/congrats on getting your top choice for residency!" So, even though it may sell easier than the VW and we'd pocket money (what we'll do with that $$ is coming up - stay tuned) I'd need to buy something else to justify its sale (makes sense, eh?!).

1. Sell or trade the Boxster, keep the VW as my daily driver (at least for a few more years) and buy a bike (probably a Ducati or RC51)

2. Trade both cars in (including the Porsche will help to cover the neg. equity in the VW) on something worthy of driving and achieving performance/luxury satisfaction (what would that be?)
2A. Used M3 (e.g., 2004 with 20k miles...) Still a couple years warranty, etc
2B. Used 911 (maybe early 2000) - problem, though - no warranty so hard hit if mechanical problems coupled with routine maintenance costs ...
2C. 06 Infiniti G35 coupe - nice performance, reliability, warranty, luxury, boredom factor in a few years, though.
2D. 06 Mini Cooper S with the whole tuning pkg - fun, less boredom factor then Infiniti - performance, not sure?
2E. 06 Subaru WRX loaded with all the Subaru performance parts - performance, non-luxury and who am i - high school student or doctor?! Although a friend who is an ER resident in MI bought one (great place to have all wheel drive) and he constantly ranted about how he spent less and had more performance (and traction) than many of his attendings with their bimmers and porsches! Not sure I have his mindset though.
2F. 05 330ci all blacked out - low mileage, but it's automatic
2G. 05 MBc230 Red and 5 spd - super price - luxury and mild performance? every other car in soCal.

Not much interested in going to an older Boxster (like the style of the 987 and if let go of boxster would opt for something with 4 seats, thus why not considering 350Z or S2000) Not entirely crazy about sport sedans (MB has a reasonable price, Lexus IS see em everywhere!) The bike is a fun option - I miss my old crotchrocket and with these crazy ass gas prices, I'd hold on to a little more disposable cash. Not too mention, maybe a new car in a few years, plus retaining the bike (equity in the Porsche would easily buy the bike)

So, what would you do? (Oh, yeah, you can choose as your answer, 'Gee, I've been dying for a VW Beetle - I'll buy it!!!) :cheers:

2A for me.

M3, great car, fun factor is high especially since you are coming from a boxster, enough back-seat space - unlike the 911 - relatively low mileage for a two-year old car.

I was never a bike lover, however I see your passion but as you mentioned with the high gas prices I would reject this option.

The other cars are fair choices but the M3 as an overall package will provide you everything.

Second choice is the 911 as long as you are willing to take the risk without warranty on it and you do not mind the "fake" 4-seats!

Whatever you do good luck!

dbth - you're missing the point - I don't have a ton of time to attempt to sell the VW - a recent 10 day ad on ebay yielded two watchers and no bidders!!! If car doesn't sell before June 26 (which is my fear, that it won't) - too hard to sell it after that - no time to take calls, show the car and not a good job for my wife to attempt (very car nieve, she is!) So, looking at equation that maximizes time, $$$ and still yields a liveable and happy outcome. Trust me, if time wasn't an issue (not to mention, I'd like to eliminate a car payment!) I'd drag out the sale of the VW to hold on to the Box - couldn't agree more with that option, but limited reality!

In your situation, I'd get the new BMW 550i. Just a complete badass sedan with phenomenal performance, no need for the M5.

1. Box is pretty impractical, plus I sense you've "fallen out of love" with it. No guy should drive the "new" VW Beetle, sorry...that's "Man Law".

2a. If you're going to get a BMW, get a new one with the free maintenance for 50K. BMW maintenance/repair is not much cheaper than Porsche out of warranty.

2b. Not a fan of the 996, nor the 986 (whoops, did I say that out loud?).

2c. Not bad...

2d. That would be a tragedy...

2e. I know I wouldn't personally want to be operated on by a Doc driving a WRX.

2f. New body shape isn't bad

2g. Meh...

There's a new 300HP Lexus IS out, although it's still coming up second in most reviews to the 3-series.

Wholesale the VW, keep the Box.

unfortunately, don't have the $$ on hand to pick up the difference if wholesale the VW - but nice thought.

sd987 - wife would kill me if i even presented the idea of a car more expensive than the boxster - if go the route of dropping both the 987 and vw, then the new purchase will have to be less than $40k - preferably $30k-ish once VW paid off and remaining equity on Porsche towards purchase price. Not too mention - still not a big fan of the sedan sports car - in my eyes, sports car is two doors and requires manual shifting - thus the conundrum with the MB (4 doors, but MT) and the 330ci (2 doors, but auto - maybe I'm more worried that my wife will drive it if its auto :D )

Uh oh Mach...I don't have a good feeling about this. I'm skeered....

http://i4.tinypic.com/10oraqv.jpg

good fun - sd987 - great pix!!! fortunately for me, god said i'll never own a mini van and my lovely soccer milf of a wife, agrees that we are way to cool, hip and fast to ever be caught in one!

actually - that pix reminds me of a friend who is quite a porsche slut - this is the guy who buys a porsche and then sells it two weeks later to buy another one and doesn't care if he loses money. well, bout a year ago he shows up driving a brand new Honda minivan and he's like this is great - everyone can chill out in the back and watch DVD's as we drive up to Santa Barbara - i was choking down gallons of vomit!!! he's like you should definitely get one. i laughed, told him, "give you less than a month and its gone" - not too long later he apparently turned in front of someone and totalled it - coincidence or kamikaze desire to ride onesself of bland drivership?!

btw - are there still plans for a socal boxter cruise in June (totally want to do it before residency kills my social life and/or/if the boxster becomes somebody else's ********************!)

Im up for a nice drive....Haven't heard from KRZTACO in some time...Hes supposed to set it up..

2A.. you can get a new car when the warranty runs out or buy the extended.
2B.. kind of expensive for repairs and not as practical if you want a four seater cause really not a back seat.
2C.. not as good as a 330ci.. faster not as good.
2D.. not really a man's car
2E.. It is really a high school kids car
2F.. automatic sucks on the 330ci
2G.. that is like a cab in socal


my choice is 2A

How 'bout an '03 SLK 32. Those are little screamers! I was considering one before i drove the Boxster S. It is an automatic though. And, some people call the SLK's chick cars, but, some people call Boxsters chick cars too.
Good luck!
V_J

i'd say be patient when you are looking for and selling a car. it appears you have another whole month to get this done. from reading your post, i doesn't appear you have any resistance to the 330Ci except it's auto. in a month's span, you may be able to run across a 5spd.

of course, i don't think you can really compare all those cars. m3, 911 , 330, WRX...all completely different animals. you'll have a hard time doing ANYTHING until you narrow down your search.

maybe its a socal thing, but the slk does really seem more like a chick car or a male hairdresser car - it just seems to lack some of the athleticism of the porsche.

totally agree that the c230 is as common as a taxi! is that what MB was gunning for when they designated it c-class?!

good comments and suggestions, let's keep this thread going

Seems rather short-sighted to buy a new 987 and then sell it so quickly. :( Find someone to broker the VW for you!

Actually, I think i'm missing the point of why you need to go from two cars to one at all. Too costly?

Too much negative equity to get rid of it easily? I mean, can you just throw a couple thousand at the problem and be done with it?

i'm with eslai......

Why in the world are you giving up the Box??? (unless the vibration thing just totally soured you)--- Seems to me with less time on your hands the joy of driving the car would be that much better....One other observation....and i mean this in the good sense--- you are a picky SOB--- you aint gonna be happy "settling" for one of these lesser vehicle!!!--So think outside of the self-imposed Box (pun intended) --Keep the 987---sell the Bug as soon as you can --for what ever you can---it's trivial in the long run....

in the words of my 19 yo.....

Dude!!! You're a friggin Doctor!!! You'll be printing money before you know it....
KEEP THE BOX!

eslai - yeah, there's just no good reason for us to have three cars right now - the $$$ in car payment/insurance on the extra vehicle could be used for so many other worthwhile and fun things. when i jumped on the 987 purchase, i moved a bit ahead of schedule. hoehn completely low-balled me on the VW as a trade, so i decided to sell it on my own, but i think i over-estimated the market for this car with so many modifications. i just really don't want to have the hassle of trying to sell the beetle (and keep paying for it) while at the same time trying to manage my new 100 hr/wk schedule, remembering everything i learned in med school and still trying to have some kind of social life and oh, yeah, get some sleep somewhere in there. selling the car at a loss and paying the difference - maybe it's lazy, but just seems if I'm gonna do that, then i might as well throw the boxster into the equation and use its equity to defray the loss and still end up driving something that's of decent caliber. (i have somebody looking for an 04 M3 for me right now)

rondog - its not the vibration that has soured me - dealing with Walter's is pretty lack-luster and that's what has me bothered - too far to go to Desert Imports, Rusnak or back to Hoehn to deal with service issues on a regular basis - but Walter's definitely has scored an F in my book at this time! i take no offense on the "picky" comment - i think we all have the right to expect superior quality - we paid for it!

btw, to all - i think the WRX is out of the equation - although i could probably land one fully loaded (including many of the additional performance parts) it's the thought of going from Box to WRX that is just way to convoluted!!!

Still doesn't make much sense. "I'm losing money by paying for a car I don't need. I should trade in BOTH of my cars and lose any equity I have on either one to buy another car at someone else's profit."

BUT, if you're tired of dealing with the Boxster and the dealership... I guess.... sounds like a humongous waste of money to me though. I mean so you might come out even, sure, but you would basically be following the grand mistake by buying a brand-new boxster by trading it in at a massive depreciation. Ouch!

take the VW to your local Carmax...you may take a few k hit on what you may still owe, but in the long run, its a great place to unload it, provided no major accidents, etc. I've sold 2 cars there (Celica GTS and 350Z), and hey, i didnt make money, but I got rid of them same day...

Quote: "while at the same time trying to manage my new 100 hr/wk schedule"


Mach, I hope you mean "80hr/wk" schedule.....the ACGME is watching, LOL.

I'm new to the forum, a fellow resident, and looking for a Boxster.....or as I call it, "The One". I'm still looking though. My 944 will have to do until I find it.

Good luck with the VW sale. I vote keep the box if possible. Good luck!! :cheers:

Trade both and get a preowned CayenneS or Carrera and pay $1400 to cpo..just me:)

I bought my Wife a Beetle 1.8T and we did a few things to it as well. I originally tried selling it for 17,000 in our Auto Trader and nothing. I lowered it to 15,000 and listed it again, nothing. I lowered it again to 13,000 and still nothing. There is no interest in a Beetle at all. My real problem was it was 1.8T Yellow and 5 speed. Only a woman would drive a yellow beetle, and most women have no interest in a more expensive turbo motor or even less a standard transmission. We simply couldn't sell it. I took off the few bits and pieces I could and traded the car in for $10,000 which was $2000 less than I owed on the stupid car.

We lost our shirt trying to sell that car, it was just horible. I sold the few bits and pieces I pulled off for basically nothing so I was out 2k, plus say 2k on the parts I lost money on that were on the car still. (exhaust, lowering springs etc.. couldn't remove those parts).

From a financial standpoint, you would be best off to sell the Boxster and keep the beetle. When your done screwing interns and drinking beer then buy what you want cause you'll have the money to do it. Then pull the stuff off the beetle and sell it or just trade it in and forget about it as you buy a new 997 (or 998 I guess by then lol..) with all that money you're making.

so here's an update -

i located a certified, pre-owned 05 330ci with the Mperformance pkg, 6sp/red with black alcantra and carbon fiber interior and only 13000 miles (never titled - was a dealer rep car) for $38,900 at a dealer in Newport Beach. After a couple of hours of haggling, the offered me $38K for the Box and $10k for the beetle (which I didn't have with me - in other words, sight unseen). These are the numbers I walked onto the lot wanting and if my research is correct, the price on the 330ci with a 100000 mile warranty is pretty damn good and believe it or not, it was a nice car - not a boxster, but a damn nice car.

So, $38K is KBB for the Box (and vs what i bought it for - that's not bad depreciation!) and leaves me some nice equity, especially since i owe $14k on the VW and $10k, as hard as it was to get them to agree (especially not even seeing the car) is a pretty good trade in amt - again, that arrangement is what i told myself walking in, is the only way i would agree to part with the Box.

but, i haven't committed yet :D . although this deal would easily help me part with the VW and having a shiny, fast red bimmer (with four seats) makes for some good individual as well as family fun, i haven't come to terms yet with the real possibility of parting with the porsche (my first porsche, which was a virgin porshe - something i'm pretty proud of).

i told the dealership i'd let them know my decision sunday before they close - thankfully, my wife who wants the VW gone, doesn't want me to part with my porsche, but does want me to quickly go from two cars, to one. however, when she read 986Jim's post about his difficulty selling a beetle, i think she started to like the idea of a red 330ci in the garage

anyone else out there hate having to make decisions like this????? :matchup: if i could only fast forward to see if and when i'd sell the vw if ran an ad in the autotrader - damnit that inability to see the future :rolleyes:

appreciate all the continued points of view - keep em coming. and razr - welcome - good luck finding "the one" - where are you doing your residency and in what?

Hi,

Ok, admittedy I have been confused by this whole thread.

But I have a sister who is an Obstetric Surgeon, married to a Surgeon Board Certified in Urolological, Oncological and Micro-Surgery (3 specialties). They both maintain Private Practices as well as being on the Faculty of OSU (Ohio State University) School of Medicine. The one common denominator between them and every Surgeon I have ever met is decisiveness.

My advice... revisit what you want, not the Spouse or the Practical and stick with it. Who cares really. You're the one who has to live with it. I'm not trying to Slam you, but no one can make the right decision for you... we simply lack your unique perspective. Think about it, making a Financial Decision based on what a bunch of Internet Schmoes may or may not think...?

You can only seek so many consultations before you must act... in Car Trading or Medicine. I don't care if you keep the Boxster or not, I have no stake in the ultimate outcome. Don't over-analyze, go with your Gut and be done with it. None of this is irreversable...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

Mach - I have to agree with Jim99...Just make the call and move on, not looking back. Life is too short to worry about second guessing yourself BEFORE you make your decision. :)

That $38K on your current Box seems pretty generous, but I'm assuming the 330ci is a coupe, and the price seems kind of high for a car that starts at 37.6. If not, why don't you get a 330ci or CPO M3 convertible and let the whole family enjoy some top-down fun?

Did they say anything about the yellow calipers? Like...we're going to have to "fix that"....

You should have told them it had ceramic brakes and received an extra $8,000 on your trade-in... :)

Hey! I resemble that remark! Why, just yesterday I had to run an opinion poll just to figure out what shoes to wear.

Anyway, I get your point Jim. However I really doubt that MS is going to buy a car just off our recommendations. But, discussions like this are pretty useful in bouncing ideas back and forth. I find that discussion "in my head" are generally less valid or useful than those which require me to actually "verbally" articulate my thoughts.

While MS definately needs to determine what he really wants - it certainly also matters what his wife wants. Well, unless his relationship or finances are different than anyone I know. The true beauty is when the "stars align" and what you REALLY want meets up with the finances and spousal support. For me - that was my Boxster. Will it happen again - Man I hope so - but I've got a lot of chores to finish before I try again.

Best of luck MS - I personally like the BMW idea. Really nice car - not a Porsche - but a really nice car in a Not a Porsche sort of way. Did I mention it's not a Porsche?

the funny thing about joining a forum and being a regular participant who both starts threads and responds to them, is that sometimes what one writes or how they become represented is more in the character of "please help me decide..." rather than "hmm this is an interesting thought or dilemma, so let's get some discussion generated..."

certainly, as i started down this road, considering what course of action to take to quickly and effectively go from two-to-one car (s), i saw an opportunity to express an unusual perspective or perhaps skewed stream of logic to achieve an endpoint and share that with a group of others with a common interest who also actively communicate opinions and thoughts. certainly, as this is a difficult decision, i've vacillated back and forth and thus, it's been interesting to hear what other individuals who share a passion for driving would do if in the same situation.

many of you have probably deduced that one objective of using the porsche to eliminate the vw is the fulfillment of ease - in other words, rather than spending weeks of entertaining haggling tire kickers and weekend test drivers and potentially/ultimately take a loss on a private party sale (an endeavor which really dis-interests me), i'd take a lazy way out and let both cars go and have the vw neg equity eaten up by some of the pos. equity in the porsche. my left of center logic here has really generated some good discussion, i think, that reveals how people view the things they are passionate about and what or who they think are important when making decisions that affect multiple individuals.

that being said, we've decided to ride out the sale of the vw, recognizing that also, we have such a good position on the boxster (both equity and monthly payment) that taking the quick way out to be be free of the vw, we'd kick ourselves 6 months down the road! and again, thank god for my wife, who doesn't understand the whole guy-car thing, but still stressed that she didn't really want me to sell the boxster ("i know you love that thing and it's the only virgin you've ever been in..." :D)

now, hopefully on tues these new tires will put an end to my vibration demon and i can again enjoy the purity of my car!!!

[QUOTE=mach schnell]thank god for my wife, who doesn't understand the whole guy-car thing, but still stressed that she didn't really want me to sell the boxster ("i know you love that thing and it's the only virgin you've ever been in..." :D)
QUOTE]

That virgin thing is vastly overated. Most virgins, just like yours, have a couple of kinks that have to be worked out before they are truly enjoyable, working smoothly, and are fun to drive. ;)

Congrats, man. I think it's a sound decision.

DO NOT BUY A DEMO CAR!!!!!

We bought the Beetle Demo and the dealer gave us a good trade in on our pathfinder that nobody else would. I couldn't figure out why. Same scenario sight un seen and it was a good deal.

The tranny blew in the Beetle (with only my wife driving not me) about a year later. The people who drove the car drove it so hard, the clutch was totally smoked, the ring gear on the diff was shipped and syncros were all smoked and the gears bashed up pretty good.

Every single person who drives a demo beats the crap out of the car and tranny. The dealer knows this and unloads it cheap or with good trade in value to get rid of them. It doens't matter what the story behind the demo is, it's a lie. We were told the Beetle was driven by the owners car, turns out later on it was a regular demo and people we knew had driven the car and really beat it up. We had factory warranty but this didn't make up for the fact that it was in the shop all the friggin time. It was a total nightmare

VW dined us warranty on the tranny saying it was my wifes fault and so on which is total bs. We had to fight for over a month and the end result was only being covered 80% of the cost. What a load of crap. My wife drives standard well, so don't even think that it's her fault, she drives my Talon with no problems and has been driving standard for 11-12 years solid now, so it's definately not her driving style. THe dealership tried to imply that and I cut the guy off at the knees when he started with that bs.

Anyway long story short, a demo is the Worst car to buy. When they give you a deal there is a specific reason for it. Because the car is a heep of shait.

I agree with 986Jim about long-term demo cars, but I don't think the abuse comes from the general public, it comes from the salesmen at the dealers. From what I have seen at most dealerships, these guys are on down the road in a few months anyway, so why should they give a crap about the demo cars.

yeah, it was really funny how i went from 35k on the porsche and 8500 on the vw to 36,5 ("and we've called everywhere, we can't give you anymore, blah blah blah..."), still 8500 on the beetle, to okay 46k for both, to take the beetle out of the equation and we'll give you 38k for the porsche (you sell the beetle on your own - of course, i was like, uh, if i'm gonna do that, then i don't need a bmw!).

but, when they offered the 38k, i knew i had them (even though i wasn't really sure why they just kept trying to make this deal) and that they'd cave on 10k for the beetle. the other thing is, the salesman kept saying, the car has never been titled, you'd be the first one and that's big! i kept thinking, how is that big - do i get better gas prices?; is my insurance gonna care? will people move out of the left lane on the freeway? will my wife be hornier in the car? anyway, since the car was CPO, you'd figure even if it was beat to hell, you'd be covered.

at any rate, put an add up on autotrader for the vw - unlike ebay, which allows you to run a beautiful and detailed add, with autotrader you can basically say i have a car with an engine for sale, its silver and costs this much ... i had nightmares about all the phone calls and tire kickers last night - there was the guy who wanted me to throw in the shed on the side of my house, plus he wanted to trade an old commodore vic 20 computer and an old honda motorcycle that didn't run and oh yeah, he wouldn't pay a penny more then $5000! :D

maybe i'll luck out and this sale will go like that of a 99 red honda civic ex that i sold to a private party just before the 3 year lease expired. car was in beautiful condition and had that stupid big red honda factory spoiler on it (it was my wife's car and she picked it out). well, i had the ad out for a day or two and i get a call from some girl who sounds like she's 12 - she shows up that night with her dad. neither of them drove it - she just looked at and said, yup it's just like my other one (turns out the week before she wrecked her's by rear-ending a school bus). they didn't even haggle on price, she just said i want it dad and he said i'll bring the money tomorrow and i said, yeah baby i just made money on the sale of a lease car!!!! just don't think it'll be as easy with the beetle -

but who knows, maybe some star trek junky will see it and think, hmmmmm i'd be really cool if i showed up to the next dungeons and dragons all nighter in this car!!!! or, maybe the guy who knows about HPA motors in Canada will think, hmmm maybe i'll get this and invest the other $15k to make this beetle a ferrari eater with audi all wheel drive and a 495hp bi turbo vr6 that runs 0-60 on wet pavement in 3.8 seconds!!!!!!! yeah, obviously i considered that option before i got the porsche!

It's really funny you should put it that way. The only guy I personally know that has a VW Beetle is my friend that works at a video game company, is into comics, sci-fi and dungeons and dragons, and keeps a Conan sword in the bud vase.

There's also this nerdy webcomic guy that has one. :)

BTW, Auto Trader didn't work very well when my sister tried to sell her Miata a while ago. Hardly any hits. What really worked for her was the San Diego Union Tribune classifieds. Holy crap, the phone rang off the hook.

Try your local classifieds!

...you may also want to try Craig's List autos...a surprisingly large number of goods get sold off of there and you can list with OC, SD, LA.

good call! i always forget about that one.

Another idea...
 

Hey Mach...

Here in Irvine, the local junior college, Irvine Valley College, holds a weekly Carfaire--

Drive your car there, park it for the day---- Friends of mine have bought and sold from it.

In fact, i was a bit skepical, but was talked into taking our old Chevy Suburban down there.... (i never thought that pig would sell) Lo & behold---got a phone call late in the day -- ran over to the lot and made a cash deal in about 45 minutes---

There may be one near you as well..... check it out!

RD