Decisions

[[DIM3]]

In 2009, my family bought a 6 month old, 6MT M3 with a little over 6000 miles on it. I fell in love. At the time I was only 15, but that car was my baby. Sometimes I would just sit in the car, amazed by the fact that my parents, who had a 2004 MDX and a 2008... Pruis , would listen to my months of pestering and buy the car.

My dad finally bought the car in early March for their anniversary and my mom loved the car. So much so that she sometimes wakes up before my dad, who leaves for work around 6:45, to "run some errands" to prevent him from taking the car for the day.

Anyways, about a year and a half later, we found an amazing deal on a 135i convertible. 1 year old with 185 miles. Yes, 185. The prospect of a convertible coupled with BMW's DCT transmission led to my moms change of heart. At this point I was only months away from my junior license.

Now, I'm 17, and need help making this decision.

First, I would like to say that I am extremely grateful to even be in this situation and would appreciate it if aggressive posts could be avoided.

I love the M3, but do realize it is not the most practical car for a 17 year old driver, especially in the suburbs with plenty of potholes. I will be going into my senior year of high school next year and my parents gave me a choice.

My parents want me to become familiar with manual transmission before I start driving the M3 daily and, for a 17 year old, I'd like to think im a good, mature driver who has become the "chauffer" for my family.

They gave me two options

1. We will sell the car to my uncle, who is willing to buy it for 50,000 (09 E92). I would then be given the choice to buy a manual transmission, whether that be another 3 series, a gti, camaro, anything. Here's the thing. My parents also said that as a college graduation present, they would help me buy a new M3, which would be in 2017.

2. We keep the car and I drive it, do all the modifications I've been dreaming of, and that would be my high school graduation present.

At this point, I'm emotionally attached to the car lol. I'm not sure if its normal but that car is so awesome!

What should I do?

[Boostin FD]

I wish i had that choice when i was 17

[mdosu]

life is tough these day for the average 17 year old high school grad....hmm, learn it on the M3.

[ThunderMoose]

Originally Posted by Boostin FD

I wish i had that choice when i was 17

I had 22 yr-old 64 Ford Fairlane at that age. Thank goodness I had no choices to make.

[cposk]

Originally Posted by Boostin FD

I wish i had that choice when i was 17

Yeah same. I had to beg my parents to co-sign a 20k loan to buy a 3 year old WRX. Then I had to get through senior year and all of college with a $320 car payment...

[Boostin FD]

I had to work full time to save up and buy a used 87 Mazda Rx7 that had a blown engine... Which i rebuilt Fun times.

As far as OP, I'd keep the M3.

[mdosu]

Originally Posted by cposk

Yeah same. I had to beg my parents to co-sign a 20k loan to buy a 3 year old WRX. Then I had to get through senior year and all of college with a $320 car payment...

shit, my parents wouldn't even do that. I drove a beater 94 tomato red corolla with busted door handles throughout college.

[Prince_of_Persia]

12 years ago when I was 17, I could only afford to take public transit. Clearly the OP has such tough life to get an M3 for high school graduation present lol
OP, keep the M3

[Stealth ///M]

Silver spoon, meet mouth. Mouth, meet silver spoon. Enjoy.

[mrkhanna16]

I Dont Think He Asked Any Of Your Financial Situations When You Were His Age????

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by CatchM3x

What should I do?

Whatever you do, please be careful. Fast cars + hormones + teen angst + girls + ego + whatever else kids deal with these days = sharp increase in chance for disaster vs. driving a Civic.

[VMcV3y]

OP: Regardless of the offered, comparative financial summaries you received already, you'll notice that most have a theme that people had older cars vs. new.

Same with me when I was fifteen years old and was given an 8-year old family hand-me-down car.

Keep the M3, increase your driving skills with a known vehicle, get into a couple of minor bumps, and enjoy it. Mods and experimenting with your car is a lot of fun at your age -- before you have to think about other challenges and priorities later.

Opinions and situations change as you move forward in time; who knows what other options may present themselves to you in 2013 and 2014 and 2015, etc?

.

[Giccy]

This class warfare has to stop...quit hating on the job creators.

OP, judging from your use of [generally] complete sentences and ostensibly proper grammar, you seem like a mature enough dude to be able to appreciate both the amazing privilege your parents are giving you; as well as the enormous amount of responsibility and restrain you'll have to exercise to operate a car like the M3 with such little experience coupled with "hormones + teen angst + girls + ego + whatever else kids deal with these days".

Keep the M, appreciate what you're getting and be safe (only then will you roll like a boss).

[Rekrul]

This is a recipe for epic disaster. 17 and a 400hp+ car? Yikes. Stay safe....

[RBB]

I'm going to go against popular opinion here and say sell the M3. Get yourself a slightly used 328/335 MT and learn on that. You'll be out of college in 4 years and will then have a brand new M3 ordered to your exact specs....it doesn't get any better than that.

[BIGW0RM]

This thread makes me sad.

[BD SM3RF]

Originally Posted by Prince_of_Persia

12 years ago when I was 17, I could only afford to take public transit. Clearly the OP has such tough life to get an M3 for high school graduation present lol
OP, keep the M3

Yea, I'd keep the M3. Sure beats the late 70s diesel VW Rabbit I drove in HS. I hated that thing but not too much as it was my key to freedom. It was a car unless it was a cold morning and I forgot to plug in the engine warmer and it wouldn't start, in that case it was a large brick (just one of the joys of the old diesel engines).

Two months after I left home my parents bought the car I always wanted '86 Honda Prelude Si. I quirky got a job, worked my ass off and purchased a yellow '88 Honda Prelude Si 4WS (4 wheel steering). That car was so fun in college and led to my long love affair with Honda that was cured when I was able to get my first BMW a 2002 325i.

[F82_SID]

My first car was a 30 year old 1977 Chevy Nova straight 6 and I loved every inch of it!

But as to your question, I say you just drive the M3. Dont worry about potholes and the fact that you are still learning to drive stick. The M3 is a great daily driver and is not gonna snap in half if you hit a pot hole.. I learned to drive stick on a brand new 335. I stalled it probably 8 times on the way home from picking it up. But, after about a week of driving I had the hang of it..You should feel very lucky to have a choice like this. Again, I say keep the M3 and avoid the hassle and cost associated of selling it for something else....Just please be careful in this car! Leave traction control on!

[jeff@autocouture]

keep it, be careful

[808@702]

Definitely NOT a dillema. First world problems... How will you graduate high school when you cant spell dillema?

[RktScientist///M]

Originally Posted by 808@702

Definitely NOT a dillema. First world problems... How will you graduate high school when you cant spell dillema?

Kids these days....

[TTO898]

Originally Posted by 808@702

Definitely NOT a dillema. First world problems... How will you graduate high school when you cant spell dillema?

Dilemma?