[contaygious]

OK imagine this:

You are 22 years old and one semester away from graduation.

You have saved up enough money to pay for a new car and can still afford to move on with your life after about a 50k hit.

You have successfully convinced your parents to allow you to pay for a fully loaded RWD fX35 after two years of slow and tactful persuasion.

You suddenly want an FX45 for about 6k more (Thanks PINTI!).

Imagine your parents as being the type of people that spend a lot of money on stuff, but cannot understand extras IE they buy an 80k car, but won't pay for premium gas and actually care about MPG even though they just bought two 60k plus cars!

What do you do?

Do you get the fx35 with as many options as you can get away with and mod the ish outta it? Or is there a way to convince them to let you get the 45 somehow without spoiling the deal altogether?

I am so close I can feel it; I appreciate your help!

 

[jimsbmw]

I say get the 35 and mod the SHXX out of it, I am doing it know and back then when I was 18 I modded even more out of my BMW, with the 45 there is not too much you can do to it, and slowly but surely there are more and more aftermarket parts avaliable for the 35.


just my 2 cent

Jim

 

[Sweet Fx]

Here is my .02 cents. :lol:

1. Buy NEW FX35 with tech & DVD (so you can play porn in the back for the cars behind you)

2. Buy USED FX45 with tech or not (I have seen some on ebay for $42k)

Either way make yourself happy, you deserve it.

I was very happy buying the exact color/package that I wanted from day one as a FX35. I drove the 45 but MY HEART liked the 35. I dont know why, I have always had V8s. Go with what you are happy in when you drive it. and have that big grin like the rest of us.

:toothy10: :toothy10:

 

[ShadyJC]

Get the 35 and save some money. Especially when you are starting out on your own (as I'm assuming you'll start to do when you get out of school) you never know what you'll have to spend money on or how your outlook on your spending may change, investing in a depreciating asset like a car is not the wisest choice. There are people fortunate enough to be able to live with that, but usually only when they get older.

 

[Gwish]

If you are asking this question now, you know deep down you wanted the fx45. I say work on your parents more or save more money(6k) and get you the fx45. This will save you alot of money in the long run. There may still be deals out there for the '04 fx45 models, you just gotta look harder.

Get the 45 and you'll be happy from day one. Go for the 35 as the last resort.

Another option is get a 45 without all the toys. Another word, fx45 = loaded fx 35.

 

[pudicus]

Life is hard and then you die. So if you can digest the ownership cost - and low it ain't - go with the V8. For one you'd be spared the hassle of having to mod the VQ. Also, there's a dealer in L.A. area that used to strap supercharges to VK motors should 329 lb-ft fail to provide enough poke. When I was in school - back in the bronze age - and paying for it outta pocket, I was stuck driving an abominable POS made by FoMoCo. But as graduation neared - and my patience & misery had reached a boiling point - I went ahead and got a 5-series BMW. You should've seen the faces on the kids of my class :twisted: .
Had you asked 'bout buyng a Maserati I would've said - don't rush to get jaded. But a 22 year old driving $55K car, in my book, is no problemo.

 

[contaygious]

Thanks for the tips!

The 6k more is no problem for me. To be honest, I never drove the 45 yet. The 35 was fast as #$% to me and I went to the dealership thinking the only way to go was to get the 45 (this was before I really knew anything about the FX).

I probably know the least about mods out of everyone here. And I have learned a lot reading stuff on here, but the 45 is probably a better deal for me.

Maybe I'll just never drive one, so I don't know what I'm missing and get the 35 fully loaded (I really want all the goodies minus the dvd player in the back).

Other than the mpg being slightly lower, are the ownership costs a lot worse for the 45? How about a 45 vs a modded 35? I am assuming the mods need more maintance than a usual 35.

If I can argue that costs are pretty similar that would be good, but if not, then maybe I'll just go for the 35 and mod away!

I just have some crazy vision that this will be my last car or somethign and I don't want to regret not being able to race the big boys on the road haha.

Thanks again for your time!

P.S. how close to a fx45 can you get a 35 you think in terms of 0-60? I realize that you probably cannot get 45 like torque that easily.

 

[9719]

I am assuming the mods need more maintance than a usual 35.

Nope.

 

[race4aliving]

Get the 45 you'll be happy you did.

 

[creamin]

I got myself "THE FX35" fully loaded about 20 days ago. So far I don't regret myself from not getting the 45. It is definitely faster than 35 but in my opinion 35 is fast & powerful enough and I don't think this car needs to be any faster as a 'SUV'. If you want more speed and faster car just get something like C55 or S4(Wagon is pretty nice too, and price is just about the same as 45). If speed really matters to you how about Subaru Forester 2.5XT since you are looking for a SUV...this thing can do 0-60 in...5.3 sec....it's only 26K. And you know what? I felt so bad after getting smoked by G35 Coupe, his car is probably around 5K less than mine and you know I could have bought that car, and how'd you feel if you get FX45 and get smoked by G35?? and realizing his/her car is 12K less than yours...ouch. And trust me, without that 45 badge on your back, people already think that FX is **** fast SUV.
In conclusion, get the FX35 fully loaded!! and if you regret!! mod away! it's about same amount as getting the FX45 but more fun!! Don't miss Tech pkg!!! Tech Pkg. will put big on your face.

 

[topguy]

Get the 35 and save some money. Especially when you are starting out on your own (as I'm assuming you'll start to do when you get out of school) you never know what you'll have to spend money on or how your outlook on your spending may change, investing in a depreciating asset like a car is not the wisest choice. There are people fortunate enough to be able to live with that, but usually only when they get older.

Here is my answer.

 

[Wireboltman]

Get the 35 and save some money. Especially when you are starting out on your own (as I'm assuming you'll start to do when you get out of school) you never know what you'll have to spend money on or how your outlook on your spending may change, investing in a depreciating asset like a car is not the wisest choice. There are people fortunate enough to be able to live with that, but usually only when they get older.

Here is my answer.

And mine.

 

[Zethar]

Get a used honda accord and use the rest of the money towards a mortgage for a home. It will appreciate in value while you enjoy having your own place. Buy the next "fx45" or whatever vehicle at the time when you'veestablished a career and earned enough money that you won't think twice about such a purchase.

I love cars -- and always have but no sense strapping yourself out when you are just starting out. Don't there will always be something bigger and better!

 

[MustGoFastR]

Buy MY FX35 http://www.infinitifx.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2642 , mod it just a little more and spend the rest on a Miata for the weekends.

 

[bradical]

Get a used honda accord and use the rest of the money towards a mortgage for a home. It will appreciate in value while you enjoy having your own place. Buy the next "fx45" or whatever vehicle at the time when you'veestablished a career and earned enough money that you won't think twice about such a purchase.

I love cars -- and always have but no sense strapping yourself out when you are just starting out. Don't there will always be something bigger and better!

i agree. buy something cheap and just keep it for even a couple of years. buy a nice townhouse or something and then in 2 years (after you have nice tax breaks), use THAT money as a downpay on the nice car.

if you blow that wad right now, you have to start from ground zero to get a house and i tell you that itll probably take a lot longer than a couple of years to save up that kind of downpayment again.

 

[krzys4]

I agree with the above replies. Get a house first as it is a bigger investement. You can always add an FX later.

PS
Are your folks adopting?

 

[ShadyJC]

if you blow that wad right now, you have to start from ground zero to get a house and i tell you that itll probably take a lot longer than a couple of years to save up that kind of downpayment again.

Amen!

And Contaygious, I know that message is probably not the one you want to hear, trust me, I think several of us have been where you're at. You are still young and will have time to buy a nice car for yourself down the road. But you know your situation better than us, so we only offer general principles.

 

[Boris Badenov]

Well if FX is something you want (and I know you do) then nothing else would do. From the common cense prospective (which actually not that common) I would agree with Zethar, but it would not make you happy and in the end that’s an ultimate goal. I would get loaded used 35 and save a few big ones… 8)

 

[msu79gt82]

I am more than happy with the FX35 8) There ARE other places/ways I like to spend money

 

[2Fast4U]

If you just like any of us, SPEED is your primary then take the 45 out to the race track, if the ET is below 15 second, get it.
The dealership WILL let you keep the car over night (or manybe a few days) if they see you are serious but not sure about getting it.
***Please don't tell them you are taking the car to the race track.
Good luck Man. I hope you get the 45.