18yr old seeking advice on 335i

So I\'ll pretty much explain my situation in its entirety. My dad has promised to buy me a brand new 2012 335i coupe. We have contacted various dealers over the past 2 weeks and are planning tomorrow to go order it because I want a M/T. Here\'s where you all flame me, I\'m 18. I come here because after reading the thread started by WhyCry:

www.e90post.com/foru...wthread.php?t=640156

I am seriously doubting whether I really need this car. I currently drive a 2010 nissan Altima coupe which my dad got me 2 years ago. He isn\'t THAT wealthy and makes a ~160k income. We don\'t live in a million dollar home or have 5 cars, I just happen to be an only child which is how I lucked out. My dad has one car, an E350 sedan. I\'ll be attending a UC next year, most likely Santa Barbara. My dad has agreed to pay for everything from my tuition, insurance, and housing for the next 6 years. I\'m seriously reconsidering my dads offer because as much as I want to have a 335i; will I really use it that much in college? My dad isn\'t telling me, but I feel like this purchase would affect him economically. I have always had an appreciation for money, never wasting when it wasn\'t needed, never buying brand name, etc. I was so pumped about getting a new car but after reading the thread above it really changed my outlook on the situation.Don\'t expect me to crash the car, I\'ve been driving for 3 years without an accident as well as tracking a friends 911 on multiple occasions, I know how to drive considerably well. You gave WhyCry much flame for his dad buying a 08 CPO, I\'ll get a new \'12 so go ahead flame away but I come here for advice on a potentially life changing 55k.

Thanks for the read.

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If you are going to UC and there is a great chance that your friends will be sharing your ride and borrow it sometimes. If that will be the case, stick to a little cheaper car.

IMO, just get it, you're 18, Hopefully your mature enough to treat your car right and not total it. Being young with a nice car really is awesome. And getting a a new car you dont have to worry about anything for the next 4 years/50k. So if your dad can afford it then why not?

What would the parking situation be like?

You sound like a young kid from a good family, who knows it.

Did you ask for it or did your dad offer? If he's offering, I'd take it - he probably has his reasons.

If you asked for it and he's just agreeing, I'd back off. Maybe put some restrictions on yourself - if you get good grades for the first two years of college, you get it. He'll respect you more for it

Put it in perspective. A new 335i will cost your dad half of a years salary.

I've looked into the parking situation at SB, it is awful and you are encouraged not to bring a car. That adds to the confusion...

If it were me knowing what I know now (in my 30's). I'd keep the Altima thoughout college and get the nice car afterwards. I wouldn't want to worry about anything happening to a new car while there, especially if you feel this is putting a financial burden on your father. The 335 is a lot of car for a 18 year old, I know if I had one then, I'd would have recieve too many speeding tickets.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nichojo

Put it in perspective. A new 335i will cost your dad half of a years salary.

He said mid 6 figures, half a years income would put him in a new 458

Get your dad to buy you this: nitra.bmwcpodealer.c...hambra-CA/1391500623 , or this: nitra.bmwcpodealer.c...a_Park-CA/1599309123 . Something along those lines.

They will look the same and when you graduate you'll actually have something to look forward to (that's within reason).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syndicategt

If it were me knowing what I know now (in my 30's). I'd keep the Altima thoughout college and get the nice car afterwards. I wouldn't want to worry about anything happening to a new car while there, especially if you feel this is putting a financial burden on your father. The 335 is a lot of car for a 18 year old, I know if I had one then, I'd would have recieve too many speeding tickets.

He said mid 6 figures, half a years income would put him in a new 458

this. word for word.

I'm your age. Got the car of my dreams as my first car. Unfortunately that means I have to drive it to school, where tons of inexperienced drivers also attend. I've been hit once so far, and I always park in the most optimal spots, far away, corner spots, etc... It didn't help. I still got hit in a parking garage while I was in class, and also didn't get any note left behind from the offender. There is nothing you can do that will give your car full immunity.

My completely honest advice, get a nice fun daily driver, maybe a 240sx or a Miata, something you can have the time of your life in that's still cheap and wouldn't set you back too much if you do happen to get hit. Then, once you're out of college, get a nice car. By then, you'll be even better than you are now at driving, and you won't have to worry about parking / driving around complete retards.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMWorNOTHING

I'm your age. Got the car of my dreams as my first car. Unfortunately that means I have to drive it to school, where tons of inexperienced drivers also attend. I've been hit once so far, and I always park in the most optimal spots, far away, corner spots, etc... It didn't help. I still got hit in a parking garage while I was in class, and also didn't get any note left behind from the offender. There is nothing you can do that will give your car full immunity.

My completely honest advice, get a nice fun daily driver, maybe a 240sx or a Miata, something you can have the time of your life in that's still cheap and wouldn't set you back too much if you do happen to get hit. Then, once you're out of college, get a nice car. By then, you'll be even better than you are now at driving, and you won't have to worry about parking / driving around complete retards.

This is 90% true. You still have retarded drivers post-college. Just move to a big city .