Cars and Other Driving Machines - Page 54

pony_trekker · 05-31-2005, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
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.

Actually, the S4 may fit the bill too.

Atticus Grinch · 05-31-2005, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
Although it's probably more accurate to say that Audi doesn't export a manual version of the A6 to the US market.

May be a non-factor. Turns out, he's not a stick-snob anymore. Color me agog and aghast. (I discovered this from a conversation ten minutes ago --- sorry.) Says it's because he's tired of Mom saying she can't drive his car,* but I think it's that he's sixty and feeling like his manual years are behind him --- if past experience is any indication, he may have this car until he's 74 if he likes it and buys out the lease.

He seemed intrigued by the A6 quattro, and I think he tends to agree with me that German styling is unparalleled. (Sorry, Sebby, he and I both think the E90 3er is gorgeous --- I look at that car and want to hump it.) So I guess I'll be looking into automatic configurations of the 3er, the A4, and the A6 in his price range. He might still like the TL in an auto, too, although the body styling was less interesting to him, or maybe I'm projecting.

*Actually, she probably still can if she tried, but she's being difficult.

Mmmm, Burger (C.J.) · 05-31-2005, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by robustpuppy
Wonder if you could get one through European delivery.

I always thought that would be a fun way to buy a car.

It's the best way to buy a BMW. I'd tell you tales if you were interested.

But, as mmmm845023 says, you're just picking up the car in Europe--they don't offer other options. And it's not financially sensible to buy an actual european car and ship it back (except, perhaps, if you're in the military, because they may enjoy some exception for cars they purchase while stationed there).

Mmmm, Burger (C.J.) · 05-31-2005, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NotFromHere
You really have no imagination.

I used to do 100 on the Dumbarton every day when I worked in Palo Alto. No cops, no lights - wide open road. And that was in a 325i.

Or, he doesn't have the tits that will help get him out of a tick . . .

uh, never mind.

robustpuppy · 05-31-2005, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
It's the best way to buy a BMW. I'd tell you tales if you were interested.

But, as mmmm845023 says, you're just picking up the car in Europe--they don't offer other options. And it's not financially sensible to buy an actual european car and ship it back (except, perhaps, if you're in the military, because they may enjoy some exception for cars they purchase while stationed there).

Yeah, I know a military couple who did just that. They bought the car at the beginning of their time there and had it shipped home two years later. I don't know what options they have on their car that you couldn't have gotten here, but whatever they are, they enjoy the fact that nobody else has them.

Unfortunately, the BMW is already in the family, and when we buy the family truckster this summer it won't be a vehicle for which European delivery is feasible. I considered and dismissed the Saab wagon and the 5 series wagon is just too spendy, as is the Audi S6 or whatever they call the bigger one. (Mama wants a new kitchen, sans formica.)

Mmmm, Burger (C.J.) · 05-31-2005, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by robustpuppy

Unfortunately, the BMW is already in the family, and when we buy the family truckster this summer it won't be a vehicle for which European delivery is feasible.

Cars don't last forever, at least. So there's always the replacement in a few years. By then, BMW may have introduced a minivan.

robustpuppy · 05-31-2005, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
Cars don't last forever, at least. So there's always the replacement in a few years. By then, BMW may have introduced a minivan.

We were just talking about the other day. The local BMW dealer has a Toyota Sienna for shuttling folks to the metro, and I said, you know, even if they made one, who would drive a BMW minivan? Even the X3 and X5 seem to defy the point of having a BMW -- I'm not going to corner in that thing the way I do in the sedan-- and even the point for most suburbanites in having an SUV - there is hardly any cargo room in those things.

Mmmm, Burger (C.J.) · 05-31-2005, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by robustpuppy
We were just talking about the other day. The local BMW dealer has a Toyota Sienna for shuttling folks to the metro, and I said, you know, even if they made one, who would drive a BMW minivan? Even the X3 and X5 seem to defy the point of having a BMW -- I'm not going to corner in that thing the way I do in the sedan-- and even the point for most suburbanites in having an SUV - there is hardly any cargo room in those things.

No argument here. But porsche and bmw seem to have discovered an entire market segment for whom solely the badge on the hood matters. I hadn't realized there was that much room in NFH's garage.

Atticus Grinch · 05-31-2005, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by robustpuppy
We were just talking about the other day. The local BMW dealer has a Toyota Sienna for shuttling folks to the metro, and I said, you know, even if they made one, who would drive a BMW minivan? Even the X3 and X5 seem to defy the point of having a BMW -- I'm not going to corner in that thing the way I do in the sedan-- and even the point for most suburbanites in having an SUV - there is hardly any cargo room in those things.

I posted the link to an article about alleged BMW concept of a people-moving-salon (volksbeweglichersalon?), but the linked page was part of a pay site (I don't know why I had access but others didn't). A BMW board member said there was a demand for moving people from one place to another in total comfort, and we shouldn't be ashamed of that. Apparently others within BMW say "nein."

When a German executive says “We are already working on the solution,” it is definitely time to worry. See also.

NotFromHere · 05-31-2005, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by robustpuppy
We were just talking about the other day. The local BMW dealer has a Toyota Sienna for shuttling folks to the metro, and I said, you know, even if they made one, who would drive a BMW minivan? Even the X3 and X5 seem to defy the point of having a BMW -- I'm not going to corner in that thing the way I do in the sedan-- and even the point for most suburbanites in having an SUV - there is hardly any cargo room in those things.

You'd be surprised. They don't handle like Suburbans. More like a car. Especially the 4.4. That one's been over 100 many times.

robustpuppy · 05-31-2005, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NotFromHere
You'd be surprised. They don't handle like Suburbans. More like a car. Especially the 4.4. That one's been over 100 many times.

It's not the speed but the control. It may have gone over 100, but how fast will you take the ramp in it? Not as quickly as in a sedan, and you won't feel as close to the road. It's just not as much fun. I'm not saying it doesn't have some driving advantages over other SUVs; I'm saying it's not really the essence of a BMW.

pony_trekker · 05-31-2005, 04:24 PM

Nothing beats a Toyota or a Honda. Think Pilot.

robustpuppy · 05-31-2005, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pony_trekker
Think Pilot.

I've done that thinking, and the inevitable associated *sighing*

Replaced_Texan · 05-31-2005, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by robustpuppy
We were just talking about the other day. The local BMW dealer has a Toyota Sienna for shuttling folks to the metro, and I said, you know, even if they made one, who would drive a BMW minivan? Even the X3 and X5 seem to defy the point of having a BMW -- I'm not going to corner in that thing the way I do in the sedan-- and even the point for most suburbanites in having an SUV - there is hardly any cargo room in those things.

My dad traded in his '99 Carrera 2 for an X5 a few years ago due to having to get new tires every five thousand miles, and he hasn't regretted the decision. He's a Porsche driver from the 1960s (with the exception of the '91 Q45 years, which I'll have to admit, were much better than expected), and I think he wanted to save face when his knees started to protest getting in and out of the Carrera. The Cayenne hadn't come out yet when he was looking to make the switch.

I much prefer to drive the X5 than my own Ford Explorer.

Did you just call me Coltrane? · 05-31-2005, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NotFromHere
You'd be surprised. They don't handle like Suburbans. More like a car. Especially the 4.4. That one's been over 100 many times.

I'll own that thing in my '92 5.0.

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