1993 BMW 3 Series

Pros: good performance (if maintained), styling, gas mileage...it's a looker
Cons: It seems everyone has one now? glitchy electronics, repairs will add up, display fails

I owned BMW all through out the 80s and loved them for the performance and handling not for the image but that's free too. BMWs rep is earned not bought through marketing like other car makers. The last '93 I bought had high miles but beamer run for ever if you take car of them. This last one last 2 years and got up to 190,000 miles. I didn't pay much for it initially but kept repairs up. The thing I hated the most was the glitchy electronics and the speedometer, actually the whole display will go out eventually. After talking to a wrecking yard they said it happens to all of them. The 90s seem great but not like the flawless years of the 80 engineering. That's my bit get one if older for a great deal but watch those electronics and expect to replace the disk rotors ($500 ea front & rear)and possibly A arms (about 1K with labor) and the damned display that goes on and off and eventually will die.

Pros: gas mileage, retains value, lots of features, sporty look, handles great, cheap insurance
Cons: be careful not to buy one that is beat up, its expensive to repair

I purchased a used 93 318is, the car seemed to be in good condition even though it had 111000mi, i drove it a few times and decided that it would be a good idea to purchase it. After about two weeks, i noticed that the car would start to overheat. Turns out that there was a crack in the block. After rebuilding the engine and spending 1600 dollars. the car turned out to be wonderful. i fixed up the car and am still driving it to this day. the car handles like a dream and even after the odometer reads 135000mi. i dont plan on gettin rid of the car anytime soon. I do recommend buying one of these but make sure that it is in good condition, have a mechanic look at it