Cars and Other Driving Machines

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally posted by Flinty_McFlint
My teenage dream car was a 2002 tii. I got to drive one once, sadly, out of my price range. But what a great car....anyone else remember these?

My mom had one when she met my dad. At kid number two they had to sell it to get something bigger. I think she's still a little resentful of that.

BTW, if anyone has any stories to tell about their 2002, there's a documentary in the works on that car http://www.02video.com/

[Flinty_McFlint]

Originally posted by Replaced_Texan
My mom had one when she met my dad. At kid number two they had to sell it to get something bigger. I think she's still a little resentful of that.

BTW, if anyone has any stories to tell about their 2002, there's a documentary in the works on that car http://www.02video.com/

Well, I'm sure she could pick one up now, if she wanted...I still see them on ebay motors sometimes...

My only other 2002 story is that when I was little, I puked in the back of my uncle's 2002. I don't think they'd want me to share that story. My poor uncle.

Flinty

[ms. naughty diplomat]

Originally posted by Alex_de_Large
A convertible Mini...

don't like the color, but that is one cute car. it kind of reminds me of the volkswagen cabrios in the rear half, but the front half is way more attractive and way cuter.

can you find a photograph with the roof down that wasn't taken next to a snowbank :exclaim:

somehow a picture of a convertible in snow just doesn't seem right. and the color is all wrong for that car.

ms. naughty diplomat

[Atticus Grinch]

Originally posted by Flinty_McFlint
My only other 2002 story is that when I was little, I puked in the back of my uncle's 2002. I don't think they'd want me to share that story. My poor uncle.

Holy shit! You're my SP. Sort of. The very same day my dad got his little 2002 in 1974, I threw up in the back seat. My dad's never forgiven me.

Of course, he waited until 1976 to upgrade to a 530i, so the smell couldn't have been too bad . . .

[Alex_de_Large]

Originally posted by ms. naughty diplomat
don't like the color, but that is one cute car. it kind of reminds me of the volkswagen cabrios in the rear half, but the front half is way more attractive and way cuter.

can you find a photograph with the roof down that wasn't taken next to a snowbank :exclaim:

somehow a picture of a convertible in snow just doesn't seem right. and the color is all wrong for that car.

ms. naughty diplomat

So far, the only spy pics to emerge are from cold-weather testing in Scandinavia. My bet is that the guys testing the car have been sacked.

I couldn't find a top-down pic, but here's another one that shows the lines a bit better (unfortunately, there's another snow bank).

[Atticus Grinch]

Judging from the absence of the scoop on the hood, it looks like the car is not a modified Cooper S. Which means the drop-top will be underpowered (or, more accurately, even more underpowered than the Cooper S).

Color me surprised. Unless they're trying to poach buyers from the convertible Beetle, they should have gone directly to the S.

[Flinty_McFlint]

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
Holy shit! You're my SP. Sort of. The very same day my dad got his little 2002 in 1974, I threw up in the back seat. My dad's never forgiven me.

Of course, he waited until 1976 to upgrade to a 530i, so the smell couldn't have been too bad . . .

Heh, in my 4 year old mind, I thought it was the combination of OJ and bacon that I had that morning that caused me to ralph. For some period of time, I tried to avoid eating those things together, which is pretty hard if you're a 4 year old and your family starts everyday with a full breakfast. Now that I'm older, I'm inclined to think it was my uncle's swervy driving that got me carsick. I don't feel bad anymore, in fact, next time I see my uncle (who to this day, still drives BMW's), I'm going to find his car and puke in the backseat. I suggest you visit your dad too.

Flinty

[Atticus Grinch]

Originally posted by Flinty_McFlint
next time I see my uncle (who to this day, still drives BMW's), I'm going to find his car and puke in the backseat. I suggest you visit your dad too.

Sadly, my father's BMW stage was limited to the glorious decade of the 70s, when the dollar was strong, the Deutschmark was very weak, and BMW made entry-level cars with vinyl seats and few amenities, when even a solo practitioner with a general practice heavily weighted to criminal defense and municipal law could afford one. I can still spot a 1976 BMW from a distance because of the oxidation of that cheap-ass topcoat. He kept that 1976 530i for 18 years. For the latter part of that timeframe, he kept it in the driveway and drove a 1970 Volvo wagon to work.

Now he drives an 12-year-old Lexus, which would be considerably less satisfying in which to vomit. Nothing will ever overcome the nostalgia he feels about the 2002. Or that Volvo, which was really the only wise investment decision my parents ever made. And I'm including my education in the pool of comparables.

[Flinty_McFlint]

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
Sadly, my father's BMW stage was limited to the glorious decade of the 70s, when the dollar was strong, the Deutschmark was very weak, and BMW made entry-level cars with vinyl seats and few amenities, when even a solo practitioner with a general practice heavily weighted to criminal defense and municipal law could afford one. I can still spot a 1976 BMW from a distance because of the oxidation of that cheap-ass topcoat. He kept that 1976 530i for 18 years. For the latter part of that timeframe, he kept it in the driveway and drove a 1970 Volvo wagon to work.

Now he drives an 12-year-old Lexus, which would be considerably less satisfying in which to vomit. Nothing will ever overcome the nostalgia he feels about the 2002. Or that Volvo, which was really the only wise investment decision my parents ever made. And I'm including my education in the pool of comparables.

Damn, I'm beginning to think you're my SP.

[Atticus Grinch]

The VW Phaeton finally gets an English language website. Between the Phaeton and the Touralouraloureg, VW's gonna have a problem with branding based on name pronounceability.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
The VW Phaeton finally gets an English language website. Between the Phaeton and the Touralouraloureg, VW's gonna have a problem with branding based on name pronounceability.

Fuck the name. $75k for a VW just ain't cutting it, apparently.

[Seven of Nine]

The clouds have parted for your humble scribe, and nothing but sunshine stands in my way. Accordingly, I was thinking of rewarding myself with a little treat. Specifically, I would like to buy a new car and am currently trying to decide between a Mercedes Benz C32 AMG and a BMW M3. In similar compros, just about all of the car magazines gush over the M3 because of its driving characteristics. However, the M3 is no longer available with 4-doors. So, the question becomes, if you can only own one of these lovely automobiles, does the everyday convenience of four doors outweigh the magazine reviewers impressions of the driving fun of the M3?

I would love to hear from anyone who has made the choice (or a similar choice) recently, and why.

Thanks.

Seven

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Seven of Nine

The clouds have parted for your humble scribe, and nothing but sunshine stands in my way. Accordingly, I was thinking of rewarding myself with a little treat. Specifically, I would like to buy a new car and am currently trying to decide between a Mercedes Benz C32 AMG and a BMW M3. In similar compros, just about all of the car magazines gush over the M3 because of its driving characteristics. However, the M3 is no longer available with 4-doors. So, the question becomes, if you can only own one of these lovely automobiles, does the everyday convenience of four doors outweigh the magazine reviewers impressions of the driving fun of the M3?

I would love to hear from anyone who has made the choice (or a similar choice) recently, and why.

Thanks.

Seven

If you hurry, you might be able to find a 540i, which is almost as impressive as the M5, and has four doors. Also, there's the 330 with the "performance" package, which vaguely upgrades the power and drive train, although not to M class.

I've been through a similar decision process, and ended up with the less practical choice. A couple of thoughts: Do you really need a sedan that often? Do you have access, through family/spouse/so, to a sedan? Can you just rent for those few times you do need one?

My feeling is that if all you're buying for is utility, get an SUV or a cheap pickup truck. But that wouldn't make life too much fun, would it?

[NotFromHere]

Originally posted by Seven of Nine

The clouds have parted for your humble scribe, and nothing but sunshine stands in my way. Accordingly, I was thinking of rewarding myself with a little treat. Specifically, I would like to buy a new car and am currently trying to decide between a Mercedes Benz C32 AMG and a BMW M3. In similar compros, just about all of the car magazines gush over the M3 because of its driving characteristics. However, the M3 is no longer available with 4-doors. So, the question becomes, if you can only own one of these lovely automobiles, does the everyday convenience of four doors outweigh the magazine reviewers impressions of the driving fun of the M3?

I would love to hear from anyone who has made the choice (or a similar choice) recently, and why.

Thanks.

Seven

I've driven both cars and they both have their own distinct personality. I have also driven the 330i with the performance package. It's not an M, but it's a lot more sporty than the regular 330. The Mercedes is a quieter car on the freeway, but the M kicks its ass in driveability and I think that's the gushing you read in the mags. The Mercedes can be described as a little more "polite" - not quite as jerky or zippy, but also, not as fun. I also prefer the interior of the BMW, and of course the seats are much much better. So, depends on what you want. Quiet, fast, point and shoot or a car that does the twisties!!

[Seven of Nine]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
If you hurry, you might be able to find a 540i, which is almost as impressive as the M5, and has four doors. Also, there's the 330 with the "performance" package, which vaguely upgrades the power and drive train, although not to M class.

I've been through a similar decision process, and ended up with the less practical choice. A couple of thoughts: Do you really need a sedan that often? Do you have access, through family/spouse/so, to a sedan? Can you just rent for those few times you do need one?

My feeling is that if all you're buying for is utility, get an SUV or a cheap pickup truck. But that wouldn't make life too much fun, would it?

The 540 is too big, and can't be tossed around (which is what I like to do). I would make the size sacrifice for an M5, but not for the outrageous sums of dough required.

Although my spouse and I don't have kids, we tend to keep cars a long time. For example, our current cars are 5 and 6 years old. My spouse does have a four door sedan, but it's a mere Toyota Carola, and that doesn't really suit me. I'm more the wheel spinning bitchin' camaro / corvette type. I'd buy a 'vette, but there should be *some* degree of utility to a vehicle.

So, which car did you get? How do you like it?

Seven