Interesting. I've owned several Hondas over the years, with each one logging well over 100K in the miles driven department, and the transmissin is one item I've never had problems with, ever. So I would call that a bold statement. Can you back it up?
He would have to get a used one to fall in the 40,000 that he wants to spend. I have been looking for either an M3 or M5 used...pretty pricey...
Ya, he could find an 03 for right around 40k. They hold their value well. In 04, I bought an 03 for 46k and then sold it in 05 for 44k. I plan to get another one eventually.
I put 100,000 miles on my Acura Integra (with auto transmission) with no problem (though that was a 4-cyl). I did lose a transmission on my Nissan Altima at 50K miles (manual transmission). But it only took three and a half months to get the parts to fix it. If I were buying a TL, I'd buy a manual anyway. Given the choice, I like to switch the gears myself, so the IS350 would be off limits to me (though the IS250 has a manual transmission option), but I really like the looks of the IS. And you can't go wrong with Toyota quality. Having spent about three hours in my Mazda today listening to a persistent rattle in the dash, I would kill for Toyota quality at this point.
personally i like older american cars. but would never anymore spend my hard earned money that has a higher chance of breaking down. that being said if i could get corvette split window sting ray i would probably never stop waxing a polishing that baby.
BMWs are NOT overrated, only a guy who's never owned a BMW would say that. I will agree however that their maintenance cost vis-a-vis a comparable Lexus or Caddy is pretty high...but it's on par with all German lux competitors. So nothing out of the ordinary for them. Lexus is a souped-up Toyota, that's why parts are easier to come by and service is cheaper.
We loved our G35 enough to get an M35, but I will forever miss the drive of my 328i (and I had almost no repairs at all over the 3 years I had it).
