Car lovers?

Yea, they put it back on the frame machine. Dunno why it's still on there though.

This thread needs more Top Gear:

Clarkson's sort of backhanded love for the Corvette never stops being fun to watch.

Thin_J wrote:

Clarkson's sort of backhanded love for the Corvette never stops being fun to watch.

Yeah, it would be interesting to see his take if it had a non-US badge on it.

My dear, departed uncle, who was my motoring mentor, loved Corvettes and owned them for years.

MannishBoy wrote:
Thin_J wrote:

Clarkson's sort of backhanded love for the Corvette never stops being fun to watch.

Yeah, it would be interesting to see his take if it had a non-US badge on it.

Watching him blow his proverbial load over the R8 is hilarious though

Speaking of Top Gear...

I'm heading off to Munich on Saturday to pick up my new car (135i Convertible) and two weeks of insane driving through central Europe. I drove across Tirol and southern Bavaria last year in a rental, but since I'll have my own wheels this time I hope to explore more. I've got a planned route that includes Chiavenna-Davos-Stelvio route from the Top Gear best driving road in the world bit, but that's only 3 (wonderful) days. Any suggestions on other parts of Europe? I've got the car for 2 weeks, so I want to make the best of 'em.

AnimeJ wrote:

Watching him blow his proverbial load over the R8 is hilarious though :D

I still think the Atom review was the most hilariously excited I've ever seen him get while driving a car.

Pex-Corrh wrote:

Speaking of Top Gear...

I'm heading off to Munich on Saturday to pick up my new car (135i Convertible) and two weeks of insane driving through central Europe. I drove across Tirol and southern Bavaria last year in a rental, but since I'll have my own wheels this time I hope to explore more. I've got a planned route that includes Chiavenna-Davos-Stelvio route from the Top Gear best driving road in the world bit, but that's only 3 (wonderful) days. Any suggestions on other parts of Europe? I've got the car for 2 weeks, so I want to make the best of 'em.

Congrats Pex! I got a new 2010 328xi about three weeks ago, all of the reliability problems with the 335 engine scared me off although I would have liked the more power, but if you are doing European delivery I assume you are getting the new single-turbo 2011 engine? I would ask over at Bimmerforums or Bimmerfest as there are other people there that have gotten Euro delivery and can probably give some advice on routes.

Thin_J wrote:

I still think the Atom review was the most hilariously excited I've ever seen him get while driving a car.

Yeah that review was the first time I had seen an Atom and it was fun to watch, his excitement was infectious.

Ford posts 2.1 Billion profit.

Three cheers for the one company who opted not to take any money from the government.

Thin_J wrote:

Ford posts 2.1 Billion profit.

Three cheers for the one company who opted not to take any money from the government.

I was actually just wondering if we should buy our next family car from Ford, for that and other similar reasons.

Thin_J wrote:

Ford posts 2.1 Billion profit.

Three cheers for the one company who opted not to take any money from the government.

They deserve one huge pat on the back. Their lineup is the best it's ever been, their marketing is great, and their image has really started to turn around.

i know many of my generation is probably permanently jaded by American cars, but they're really missing out.

I've only seen one, not driven one yet, but I think anyone in the market for a small car this year that doesn't have the Fiesta in the top three of their test drive list is doing themselves a huge disservice.

Fedaykin98 wrote:
Thin_J wrote:

Ford posts 2.1 Billion profit.

Three cheers for the one company who opted not to take any money from the government.

I was actually just wondering if we should buy our next family car from Ford, for that and other similar reasons.

If you're talking sedans and trucks, totally. Sadly, they don't seem to make a Minivan any more that I can tell.

-1 for mentioning a minivan in a car lover's thread.

AnimeJ wrote:

If you're talking sedans and trucks, totally. Sadly, they don't seem to make a Minivan any more that I can tell.

Isn't that pretty much what the Flex is?

Secret Asian Man wrote:

-1 for mentioning a minivan in a car lover's thread.

True.

MannishBoy wrote:
AnimeJ wrote:

If you're talking sedans and trucks, totally. Sadly, they don't seem to make a Minivan any more that I can tell.

Isn't that pretty much what the Flex is?

Secret Asian Man wrote:

-1 for mentioning a minivan in a car lover's thread.

True. :lol:

Naw, Flex is like a larger Scion xB. And as for Minivans, well, you've obviously never been around my Minivan. Power sliding doors and a power deck lid are the coolest options I've had on ANY vehicle, ever.

edit for evidence:

IMAGE(http://www.gunaxin.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/the-a-team-van.jpg)

Tell me you wouldn't drive that minvan.

AnimeJ wrote:

Naw, Flex is like a larger Scion xB. And as for Minivans, well, you've obviously never been around my Minivan. Power sliding doors and a power deck lid are the coolest options I've had on ANY vehicle, ever.

Keep telling yourself that.

edit for evidence:

IMAGE(http://www.gunaxin.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/the-a-team-van.jpg)

Tell me you wouldn't drive that minvan.

That's not a mini-van. That's a straight up van.

MannishBoy wrote:
AnimeJ wrote:

Naw, Flex is like a larger Scion xB. And as for Minivans, well, you've obviously never been around my Minivan. Power sliding doors and a power deck lid are the coolest options I've had on ANY vehicle, ever.

Keep telling yourself that.

edit for evidence:

IMAGE(http://www.gunaxin.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/the-a-team-van.jpg)

Tell me you wouldn't drive that minvan.

That's not a mini-van. That's a straight up van.

At that time, yea. But for a size on size comparison, it's about the same as my 06 Town and Country.

LeapingGnome wrote:
Pex-Corrh wrote:

Speaking of Top Gear...

I'm heading off to Munich on Saturday to pick up my new car (135i Convertible) and two weeks of insane driving through central Europe. I drove across Tirol and southern Bavaria last year in a rental, but since I'll have my own wheels this time I hope to explore more. I've got a planned route that includes Chiavenna-Davos-Stelvio route from the Top Gear best driving road in the world bit, but that's only 3 (wonderful) days. Any suggestions on other parts of Europe? I've got the car for 2 weeks, so I want to make the best of 'em.

Congrats Pex! I got a new 2010 328xi about three weeks ago, all of the reliability problems with the 335 engine scared me off although I would have liked the more power, but if you are doing European delivery I assume you are getting the new single-turbo 2011 engine? I would ask over at Bimmerforums or Bimmerfest as there are other people there that have gotten Euro delivery and can probably give some advice on routes.

What says the Goodjer collective about BMWs? I've never considered one in the past, just because everyone in Houston owns one, but I was thinking today about how they are generally considered the best sport sedans in the world...maybe there's a reason everyone owns one.

I drove a 94 325i for a couple years and loved it. If you get one, I have the following recommendations:

1. Get it with a manual transmission.
2. Spring for xDrive.
3. I prefer the older models due to cheaper fuel. Starting in the early 00s, they went from 91 octane to 93 octane. If that doesn't bother you, cool, but that's just a bit much. Plus, I like the look and feel of the E36/E30 3 series BMWs.

AnimeJ wrote:

I drove a 94 325i for a couple years and loved it. If you get one, I have the following recommendations:

1. Get it with a manual transmission.
2. Spring for xDrive.
3. I prefer the older models due to cheaper fuel. Starting in the early 00s, they went from 91 octane to 93 octane. If that doesn't bother you, cool, but that's just a bit much. Plus, I like the look and feel of the E36/E30 3 series BMWs.

1. Can't drive manual.
2. I'm just kind of daydreaming at the moment, and not buying soon, but if and when I do, I'm considering it. How does the AWD affect the sportiness?
3. I'd be getting new. Premium gas doesn't bother me, as my current car uses it, and the BMW probably gets better mileage.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

1. Can't drive manual.
2. I'm just kind of daydreaming at the moment, and not buying soon, but if and when I do, I'm considering it. How does the AWD affect the sportiness?
3. I'd be getting new. Premium gas doesn't bother me, as my current car uses it, and the BMW probably gets better mileage.

Learn. Its not that hard says the person who was taught on a manual.

Agreed on the manual. Learn. If you can play video games doing all the stuff at once that I'm sure you do, you can figure out an extra foot and an occasional hand movement to the console.

Or get an SMG transmission. They are supposedly getting quite good.

I'll pipe up on learning the manual. If you like to drive, you'll LOVE driving a manual. I was terrified most of my life but finally learned when I turned 30. 3 years ago I got an 07 335i with a manual and REALLY learned how to drive by living and working in San Francisco. Probably took 10,000 miles off the clutch, but I'm confident now. Wouldn't have it any other way.

The 2011 135 (and I assume 335, but I didn't look at the order list) only comes with either manual or SMG. They seem to be phasing out their out sourced slush boxes on the 35's. I haven't found a dealer with an '11 in stock to try it, but my '11 135i has manual and I don't feel like I'm missing out.

xDrive will add weight, but it can be worth it on insecure ground or during heavy cornering. I've done some stupid sh*t with my 335i rwd and haven't regretted the lack of awd. Try them both and see which you prefer.

As far as BMWs in general, jump in. There's a reason they're still popular. You don't have to spend a lot of money, either, since they only get stupid expensive if you can't resist the options. Base line BMWs still have the best driving feel of any (reasonably priced) car on the market and aren't that much more expensive than top of the line Hondas or Toyotas.

Go hang out a dealer, let 'em know you're shopping for the future, and go for a drive. Most BMW dealers I've been incredibly helpful even if you're not buying right away. (As long as they're not busy. Go on a week day for the best service.)

Best handling of any real car near the price range, Fed. You don't need the xDrive in Texas, in my opinion. My owner's manual recommends 91 octane, not 93. Not that you can really find many stations that sell 91, but still.

I debated a new Acura TL with SH-AWD and the BMW for about a week. I drove a bunch of other cars but those two were the leaders. I was upgrading from a 2006 TL, so even though the styling is different the 2010 TL was the comfortable choice, but after driving the BMW especially with back to back test drives, the handling/ride on the BMW just blew it out of the water and pretty much made up for the other shortcomings (some weird interior decisions, missing some 'luxury' features, more expensive).

Personally I didn't get the manual. I will be driving in traffic too much and my wife has to drive the car too and she doesn't know how and doesn't want to learn. I got the sport package so it does have paddle shifters on the steering wheel that work pretty well if you want to row your own gears.

Like others have said, take a test drive and then you'll be figuring out how to pay for it.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

1. Can't drive manual.

This is the "Car lovers" thread. Learn or turn in the man card. Knowing how to drive manual is right up there with knowing how to start a fire and how to unhook a bra one-handed.

ColdForged wrote:

This is the "Car lovers" thread. Learn or turn in the man card. Knowing how to drive manual is right up there with knowing how to start a fire and how to unhook a bra one-handed.

I need to practice with fire again...

Do we get a prize if we can pull off all three at once?

Anyone else around here a Nissan fan? They are pretty much my manufacture of choice. I have owned two Sentras and currently have a 240SX, that I will be replacing most likely with another Nissan.....or a Jeep.