Probably more along the lines of a BMW from that list. The parts can be a bit pricey and you will need to do some studying before you just dive in to wrenching on it. But, they can be maintained very well with some basic mechanical skills, this forum and an open mind.

If you're looking at an '04 Coupe:

Make sure it has a good battery (less than 3 years old). These cars are very susceptible to low voltage (even just a little low).

The CPS (Crankshaft Position Sensor) has been known to cause the car to suddenly die. Do a search on here and learn about it. If you need one, it's best to buy a Bosch - $50.

The RCM (Relay Control Module) is also a factor in these cars not wanting to start. If you have a soldering iron and some skills, it's a free fix. A shop will rape you on diagnostics and then want to sell you a new module (another raping).

If it hasn't had the "Sticky Key Fix" done to it - you will want to do that as soon as you can. Again, free if you do it yourself, a shop will want to sell you a new tumbler that may or may not be designed correctly.

If it needs tires, you'll probably be looking at around $200 per tire, maybe a bit more.

Even though it's a 6 cylinder, there are 2 plugs per cylinder so be prepared if you keep it till it's got around 100K on it.

Use Mobil 1 for oil changes and fleece filters (not paper)

Above all, if you do decide to take the plunge and something goes wrong, come here first, not the dealership. Do a search and if you can't find the fix, ask for help. You might get razzed for asking a question that has been asked thousands of times, but you'll get a free answer and a tutorial on how to fix it. If you're not confident on doing the work yourself, print the thread and take it to your shop. At least they'll have a starting point.

Also - if the car you're looking at is listed on-line, post a link and we'd be happy to take a look.

RL