The only serious contenders here are the G and the Beemer. (All others... )

Ask yourself why you want the BMW. Is it image? Name? Reputation? Then you won't be happy with anything else. Performance? Utility? Get the G, but go for the Sedan.

If you just gotta have a BMW, but it's too much money, I would seriously consider an E36 version. Even an M3. Likely that you'd have to replace some bushings and give the car a freshening, but the price of admission is lower, and these cars tend to be reliable if well cared for.


Function before fashion. '96 Contour SE "Toss the Contour into a corner, and it's as easy to catch as a softball thrown by a preschooler." -Edmunds, 1998