Would you trade a Corolla for a BMW

I have a 97 Corolla that with 87k miles. The car has no rust. I detailed it inside and out. Mechanicaly it gas been gone through. It has new plugs, wires, belts and oil and all filters. It is virtually as delivered from the dealer back in 97.

A good friend of mine who is a mechanic just picked up a 04 325xi wagon. It is rust free has had all service brought up to date. Paint is perfect as is the interior. Good tires BUT it has 188k miles.

I joking suggested that we trade. He actually said he would consider it. He will have about 2400 in to the BMW when he completes the service to it. I have about 1200 in to the Corolla.

I like the BMW and would use it as my driver. The corolla i picked up because it was a screaming deal and i could easily flip it for a proffit.

So what would you do.

This is a trick question, right?

Yes. I would trade.

If you want a trouble free Appliance to drive around in for years and years, keep the 'rolla, that generation of corolla was one of the last truly great Toyotas. (IMO)

If you were looking to flip for profit, the Bimmer swap should work out in your favor. You said you wanted to drive it, but if you decide you don't like it, you should be able to turn a profit on it, especially since its an AWD, and winter is coming.

95% of the time you won't need the all wheel drive on the BMW, but it comes in handy for that last 5%. I wouldn't be afraid of a BMW with that many miles on it if it had been maintained, but it is getting to the point where repairs could get expensive.

I agree about the repairs on the BMW. I was thinking of doing a compression test just to see what is what. The reason for the want for the BMW is I commute in and out of Boston and having the AWD would just make things less stressful in the winter.

The corolla was just a really good deal. I have no real attachment to it. It is a "wheeler dealer" car. I was actually going to post about it but it was not really all that exciting. Just a couple weekend mornings detailing and going through it.

Japanese technology & reliability vs German.

2nd car or DD?

Yeah, if you need a DD, keep the Rolla. Put snows on it and you'll never have a winter problem. For the beemer, I have no first hand experience, but I understand that this would be your new friend:

->CEL<-

Do the trade see how you like awd for a while. You're winning even if there is stuff that still needs fixing on the BMW.

It would be used as a dd but i have 5 other cars and trucks i dd also.

1 vehicle for every day of the work week.

I had a 98 corolla a few years ago. It wasn't fun. Or interesting. Or enjoyable.

It was reliable and economical but I hated driving it. It was like the penalty box of the automotive world and when I had that epiphany I sold it and bought the allroad. Which was the exact opposite in every way and I enjoyed every minute of it and wouldn't think twice about doing it again.

Drive something you enjoy.

Well, if you don't need the Rolla, do you want the beemer?

I happen to be driving an e46 BMW this weekend (a 330i sedan, it's a loaner while my car is in the shop) and they are very nice cars - fun to drive, quick, handle well. This particular one has around 170k on the clock but it certainly doesn't feel anywhere near that.

Hmmm... I'd do it like this: 1) Do the trade. 2) The wagon is a nice driver but, not particularly interesting to drive. So, sell it. 3) Profit. 4) Use proceeds toward E36 M3 or E46 M3. Now fun of BMW ownership is comensurate with headaches of BMW ownership. 5) Hoon and enjoy.

LuxInterior wrote: Hmmm... I'd do it like this: 1) Do the trade. 2) The wagon is a nice driver but, not particularly interesting to drive. So, sell it. 3) Profit. 4) Use proceeds toward E36 M3 or E46 M3. Now fun of BMW ownership is comensurate with headaches of BMW ownership. 5) Hoon and enjoy.

THIS! BMWs do have some wonky electronics, thats for sure. Most of the stuff that goes wrong is petty stuff though, and doesnt NEED to be fixed because its usually just some fancy shmancy feature that has failed or something. Also, CEL codes are kind of the same way. The car is paranoid, and will throw codes at everything, but most of the time its just boy crying wolf, and ends up being something dead simple.

My E36 M3 is like that gorgeous, playful, high maintenance type of girl that actually has some depth to her. Shes great fun, she will show you the time of your life, but it comes at a price. Shes picky, she has to have the exact right type of oil, she demands your constant attention by pestering you constantly with little things like bits of the interior coming loose, or premature "brakepad wear sensor" lights, leaky valve cover gaskets, funky electronic glitches, etc. She is complex and dramatic simply for the sake of being complex and dramatic. Loud engine note, stiff suspension, and designs that sometimes seem like they took ideas from Rube Goldberg, and not to mention the need for "special tools" to be able to perform even some simple tasks.

Yes, shes a fancy, conceited little brat, but at the same time shes one of the most down to earth cars you will ever drive and she will provide you with more automotive joy than you can imagine if you respect her and care for her.

Sorry for my rant post, but I think thats pretty accurate to how older BMWs are. In contrast, the Corolla would be the shy, homely nursing student who doesnt socialize much but has her head on straight and will be a great mother for your kids, even if your life will end up being drab and boring day in and day out. Shes "safe" :P

Depends on what corolla and what bmw. Your situation, sure

Regardless of what you've got into the cars, you don't need either of them. Which will bring more on CL?

In my situation, I'd most likely keep the Corolla and enjoy 12+ years of trouble-free usage with near-zero depreciation and extremely low ownership costs.

You want to wake that corolla up out of grandma snoozeville? Throw a set of koni yellows on there. want just a little bit more? H&R lowering springs(and only that brand) and 16x7 inch wheels. It'll always be a momentum car but man will it handle.

Since you have other cars I would say do it. I would but I also have many other ways to get to work .

I would do that trade in a heartbeat. Hurry before he changes his mind!

I would also do it, but with a RWD version, .

There's a reason that's considered a straight trade, just sayin.

Also, my Corolla with Altimax Artics will do unholy things in winter, and the one you have has about 100 extra pounds of engine over the front tires compared to mine.

In reply to Kenny_McCormic:

I am well aware that it is probibly an even trade. I like the idea of waking up the corolla. That could actually be fun. Make it in to a sleeper of sorts.

I do like the wagon. It sets the correct tone when pulling up to meet a client. It would also be a bit more entraining to drive. I have driven the corolla and it really is the penalty box of cars from from the fun and entertainment side of things.

The corolla is an appliance .