Speaking of Yum
 

Neither one of which do anything for me. And the combo - big and boaty, ehn.

Speaking of Yum
 

I'm all in favor of big TITS. Doesn't mean I'd want to see a picture of Camilla.

Speaking of Yum
 

I think that the Viper drivetrain is badass almost only in the Viper. It's an ancient motor. Fucking pushrods? Seriously. Some of the newer Dodge Hemi motors are reasonably advanced and nice, and you can get all their big cars with those, and they are plenty powerful for a big, boaty American sedan. If I'm putting more than 400hp in a car, I want it to be either a single-purpose Viper-style monolith of a car, or actually be refined and useful. Considering that you can get that shell with great, more modern motors in it already (several of which have the previously-mentioned E-class wagon tranny, rear-end, suspension, etc.), or that you can get an actual E-class with some great motors as well, I don't see what's so great about this.

Bye-bye Z4
 

In other news, I sold my Z4 over the weekend. I got a great offer from someone who liked the options I have (dude was even a friend of a client), and I was getting antsy for something with more space. The planning necessary to have a relatively small two-seat convertible as an only car gets old after a while. The beginning of the summer is definitely the best time to sell a convertible.

I am thinking about the new S4 Avant. It's a lot of car (and a lot of money), but that motor is amazing. I will probably buy at auction, though, and I'm not sure if I can find one this soon. I will be sure to keep all you fuckers posted. I got some wheel time in one last week, and it's going to be hard to pass up if I can find one for a decent price, though. The torque is amazing, and it makes the car so much more driveable and complete than the overly-twitchy nature of the previous generation twin-turbo V6 S4.

Players Run
 

So a buddy of mine is doing the Players Run. A road rally with hot cars. This time from Seattle to Las Vegas. Usually it's NY to LA.
Pictures here. Hot cars, stupid people driving fast. Lots of pictures with cops.

http://www.playersrun.com/roadrally/d04/Images/10.jpg

http://www.playersrun.com/roadrally/d03/Images/14.jpg


Players run

Name your car.
 

Name the car with the following attributes:

• Four doors -- no coupes, period
• Sedan -- no hatchbacks, sport backs, convertibles or wagons
• New (that "people who buy new cars are suckers" shit is NOT helpful here)
• manual transmission
• no American, Swedish or Korean makes (to the extent they were not already eliminated from consideration by previous requirement)
• does not look fucking recockulous when driven by gray-haired gentleman (i.e., no Boxsters or tricked-out Minis)

that you would buy at each of the following price points:

• $35K
• $40K
• $45K

Winner gets to pick my dad's next car. People suggesting Audis will have to make a more extensive case, as the car will likely be leased and I've already made the point that greater depreciation of Audis makes them more spendy on leases. I'm desperately trying to talk him out of buying a second SUV, so you're doing God's work by replying before noon on Tuesday.

Please please please don't fight the hypo --- I'm not going to convince a 60 year old man to drive a sport wagon. This means you, AdL.

Name your car.
 

All signs point to this:http://www.bmwusa.com/nr/rdonlyres/d..._330i_main.jpg

Name your car.
 

Concur. You can configure it to fit each of those price points.

Another alternative: Acura TL, which can be had with a 6-speed manual tranny.

ETA: I saw my first E90 3er on the road yesterday. Beautiful.

Name your car.
 

I think that's right--how many luxury (i.e., non-american, price>$30k) sedans come with a stick, even as an option?

I would, just to test the waters, see what kinds of lease offerings Audi might have. Perhaps they want to compete; perhaps they don't.

There's also the Nissan Maxima. But I have no basis to recommend it--I merely observe that it exists, in case your dad still has it in for Luther.

Name your car.
 

Forgot that until after I posted.

I always think of Acura/Honda as better with an automatic and as a purchase.

Name your car.
 

Can you elaborate? I get the "purchase" part, but is Honda/Acura known for having a particularly good automatic, or a particularly bad manual?

FWIW, the only criticism I could find of the new TL is that steering, carrying engine weight and producing thrust is a lot to ask of the front tires on a car with that much HP and torque, which falls either into the "duh" or "no duh" categories.

Am I correctly understanding that the only two things to dislike about the 5er are the design and the I Drive?

ETA: Is that the new 3 series? It looks like the 5. Doesn't even look smaller.

Name your car.
 

The Lexus ES 300 used to offer it, but I think you had to wait a long time. Not much call for it on the showroom floor, apparently.

Name your car.
 

He was willing to forgive the Gerries in 1972 (2002) and 1976 (530i).

• Once all the Germans were warlike and mean
  But that couldn't happen again.
  We taught them a lesson in 1918
  And they've hardly bothered us since then.

Name your car.
 

Same sausage; different length.

Name your car.
 

I think it's more important to consider what he wants in a car. Does he just want basic, reliable transportation? Does he want to look impressive? Does he want luxury? Power? The fact that he wants a manual suggests that he wants some control and likes to drive; will a shiftable automatic suffice?

The aforementioned cars are all great choices depending on what he wants. I want power and luxury and am willing to put up with more cost, depreciation and the boys from Wolfsburg to get it; others are different. Consider what he wants in a car rather than simple factors that don't really describe what kind of car is right for him.

Personally, I think that the A4/S4 line is a great mix of value, engineering, luxury, power and refinement. Depreciation sucks, sure, but they're also a lot cheaper to start than the 3 series. You can just barely get a decently-optioned 330 for $45k; with minor negotiating, $45k gets you into an S4 with a vigorous V8 making 100 more hp and (in my opinion) a nicer interior. I am close to buying a opulently optioned S4 avant, and the out the door price before TTL is going to be barely $50k; that's a lot of 340hp awd spacious luxury (heated seats, homelink, nav, etc.) car for the money.