Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

graphicguy

Looking for opinions from the peanut gallery. I know this is the basdard stepchild for the 3 series line, but it's crazy roomy and I think I can buy it right. Thoughts?

http://www.bmwstore.com/new/BMW/2016-BMW-3+Series-cincinnati-3fc682660a0e0a6b146f6cdf409b3ca0.htm

berri

I think Brexit was more related to non financial stuff like Germany seemingly running its major decisions. Will France be next? I think the biggest hit to the US is as previously mentioned, dollar getting too strong. Auto companies globally seemed to be getting hit, but I think it is an overreaction personally.

stever

driver100 said:

huge pile of fries, and of course, they choose a Diet Coke....

Some of us just like the way it tastes. I'm up and down - currently down about 8 pounds, and it's not because I use artificial sweetener.

Folks back in the home office are trying to figure out what Brexit means. MINI especially has come up in conversations. People are wondering if this means MINI prices will come down or if EU sales will fall because of new tariffs.

houdini1

jmonroe said:

ab348 said:

sda said:

My grandmother's 68 Cutlass S had the oyster white interior, with a black dash, steering wheel black kick panels of the interior door panels and black carpet. It had a nice look to it.

When I had my seats redone last year I was sorely tempted to change it to a white interior, but that would have involved getting new door panels, headliner, sun visors, armrests, etc at considerable expense.

It sounds like you didn't fall for the old line..."well, while we're in here".

As for Oakmont PA, there is a bakery there, Oakmont Bakery, (pretty original name, huh? ) that has a reputation about equal to the Oakmont Country Club and prices that just about match the clubs dues but their stuff is exceptional so they can get it. I haven't been to the bakery for a looong time. Never been to the country club but I passed under the bridge used by the golfers, that passes over the PA Turnpike to get them from one side of the course to the other. I did that twice a day every day when I was working out that way about 12 years ago.

jmonroe

It has nothing to do with Oakmont, but I was very disappointed in the way the U.S.G.A. handled the Dustin Johnson penalty situation. That whole fiasco was just beyond stupid. I hope people don't get the PGA and the U.S.G.A. confused. The U.S. Open is run by a bunch of stodgy old rich amateurs and the PGA has nothing to do with this particular tournament. If this had been a regular PGA tour event, the whole thing would have ended when Johnson declared that he did not cause the ball to move. No penalty. To a man, all the players backed Johnson. Balls move all the time for a variety of reasons, especially on very fast greens. Gravity is usually the culprit...or wind, or a sprig of grass, you can go on and on. The PGA players are very good at policing themselves and their word is sancrosanct. If one of them was actually caught cheating, their career would be over, and they would be a pariah. No one would risk that.

As far as Oakmont, over the past several years, they have cut down and removed over 6,000 trees, in order to "put the course back as it was originally", and or to make it easier for grass to grow. It was a beautiful tree lined course before, now, not so much, IMO. They lost a lot of members over that.

berri

There is a restaurant in Geneva, IL that has french fries covered with shredded duck meat and duck gravy. Oh it is so good, I wonder if they are still open.

Geneva used to be a popular DuPage county escape, but I think it has been suburbanized now.

stickguy

graphicguy said:

Looking for opinions from the peanut gallery. I know this is the basdard stepchild for the 3 series line, but it's crazy roomy and I think I can buy it right. Thoughts?

http://www.bmwstore.com/new/BMW/2016-BMW-3+Series-cincinnati-3fc682660a0e0a6b146f6cdf409b3ca0.htm

I like it, a lot. Great color combo. Would still like if for that money they could give you BLIS, especially with those massive blindspots.

I also have always loved hatchbacks. I still miss my Mazda 626 5 door. This looks, style wise from the side, a lot like that.

I would be fine too getting it for less in the 2.0T version, but I am sure the 335 is a hoot to drive.

houdini1

bwia said:

houdini1 said:

Up until two years ago I had what is called an "Advantage Plan". Most of you older guys will know what that is. Whenever I called for an appointment I could usually get in to see him in just a couple of days. Two years ago I dropped the Advantage plan and went to straight Medicare. The reason my wife and I changed was because we were constantly barraged by phone calls and letters from our Advantage plan carrier to get a check up for one thing or the other. They even wanted to visit with us in our home to discuss our "well being", etc.

I am thinking maybe we should go back on the Advantage Plan or find a new doc. What do you guys think?

Unforeseen medical expenses can rapidly deplete one's savings. Although Medicare Parts A and B are okay in some cases, nonetheless, it is a gamble going forward with such basic coverage. We have Medicare parts A, B, C, D and last week we purchased a supplemental dental plan. A little expensive yes, but our Advantage Plan is subsidized by my wife's former employer.

Not sure if an Advantage Plans will shorten the waiting time for a routine visit but we experienced no difference pre- and post- Medicare coverage. When we need non-critical urgent care, we may not be able to see our primary care physician but instead our Nurse Practitioner, who is always available on short notice. By the way, although my doctor is great, I prefer to meet with my Nurse Practitioner. She does basically everything my primary care physician does, including writing prescriptions, order tests, or schedule appointments with specialists.

Enjoy your retirement.

Thanks for all the comments from everyone concerning the Medicare issue. We also have prescription drug coverage thru a private company. We will probably just stick it out with original Medicare. There are pros and cons, of course, but there always is. We like the freedom to go to any doc we want, don't want to be hassled, and like to keep it simple.

houdini1

Brexit- People everywhere are simplly fed up with being lied to by politicians, ticky tac rules and regulations, and being told what they have to do. As far as investments, looks like a good buying opportunity. Bonds are doing well.

nyccarguy

What do you need "crazy roomy" for? You are single. I like the color combination. I like the engine under the hood. The AWD. @flightnurse's husband has one (I think it is a 328 xi GT) they go through ED. What is "buy it right?" $10K off sticker?

I saw a nice looking 428 xi coupe today. White/Black with the same wheels as the 335i GT pictured above.

sda

driver100 said:

berri said:

Now I don't know about that French fries on a sandwich thing, but Pittsburgh is a nice area. Of course I don't understand French fries and gravy either driver

There are lots of things I don't get berri, and one is FFs and gravy. Sometimes my wife likes her FFs with vinegar, the British way, and Malt vinegar is preferred. Some restaurants in the US provide vinegar immediately, other places they just look at her like she was from Mars. If I eat FFs, which is about 4X a year, mine are with good old fashioned ketchup.

Then there is the great classic from French Canada....Poutine. I have had it once and I almost had a coronary attack. If you don't know;
Poutine (/puːˈtiːn/; Quebec French: [put͡sɪn] ( listen)) is a Canadian dish, originating in the province of Quebec, made with French fries and cheese curds topped with a light brown gravy.

I believe the French like their fries with mayonnaise. I worked with a fellow who was French and that is how he ate them, and he asked me to try it. Quite tasty, actually.

stever

I just sold about 25% of my counter cyclic stock which was at a yearly high but I want to stay in cash for a while (translation - my wife doesn't want me taking a flier on a another bunch of equities. ). The stock we sold is up another half a percent today.

Keep forgetting to mention this, but the quote function is working in IE for me now.

graphicguy

stickguy said:

graphicguy said:

Looking for opinions from the peanut gallery. I know this is the basdard stepchild for the 3 series line, but it's crazy roomy and I think I can buy it right. Thoughts?

http://www.bmwstore.com/new/BMW/2016-BMW-3+Series-cincinnati-3fc682660a0e0a6b146f6cdf409b3ca0.htm

I like it, a lot. Great color combo. Would still like if for that money they could give you BLIS, especially with those massive blindspots.

I also have always loved hatchbacks. I still miss my Mazda 626 5 door. This looks, style wise from the side, a lot like that.

I would be fine too getting it for less in the 2.0T version, but I am sure the 335 is a hoot to drive.

Stick....might go take a look at it tonight. I can't imagine many people being in the showroom on a Friday night, and it's a beautiful day, with the temps in the low 80s. I'm the only one foolish enough to do that.

I don't think BLISS is on this one, which is too bad, but not a deal breaker. And, it has the previous gen motor (N55), which is still mighty sweet.

jmonroe

stever said:

I just sold about 25% of my counter cyclic stock which was at a yearly high but I want to stay in cash for a while (translation - my wife doesn't want me taking a flier on a another bunch of equities. ). The stock we sold is up another half a percent today.

Keep forgetting to mention this, but the quote function is working in IE for me now.

Works for me too.

Just wanted to prove it to ya.

jmonroe

driver100

ab348 said:

driver100 said:

Ab, I don't know about people buying poutine then going to the gym, but i always get a smile when I see someone with a plate with a burger and a huge pile of fries, and of course, they choose a Diet Coke....to try and undo all the bad stuff.

I see it all the time on social media. 20-somethings or even 30-somethings boozing, eating all this really crappy food - I mean REALLY crappy - then bragging or complaining about dragging themselves to the gym. "Leg day" in particular seems to be a common complaint. Nuts.

It is totally nuts. Exercise is good for about 10 to 20% of any weight reduction plan or fitness program, changing eating habits is 80 to 90%.

driver100

graphicguy said:

Looking for opinions from the peanut gallery. I know this is the basdard stepchild for the 3 series line, but it's crazy roomy and I think I can buy it right. Thoughts?

http://www.bmwstore.com/new/BMW/2016-BMW-3+Series-cincinnati-3fc682660a0e0a6b146f6cdf409b3ca0.htm

Not my first choice because of the backend...BUT, nicely equipped and a great price. Color suits it too....looks smart. I have seen them on the road and I think they look better in real life than they do in photos. Does have a presence on the road with that tall trunkline....and probably lots of room.

driver100

houdini1 said:

Brexit- People everywhere are simplly fed up with being lied to by politicians, ticky tac rules and regulations, and being told what they have to do. As far as investments, looks like a good buying opportunity. Bonds are doing well.

Don't forget some control over immigration too!

driver100

stever said:

I just sold about 25% of my counter cyclic stock which was at a yearly high but I want to stay in cash for a while (translation - my wife doesn't want me taking a flier on a another bunch of equities. ). The stock we sold is up another half a percent today.

Could be a great buying opportunity...one day soon!

explorerx4

@griphicguy,
Here are a couple of interesting choices:
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=06034&endYear=2017&showcaseOwnerId=1359953&startYear=1981&firstRecord=0&searchRadius=0&listingId=425088177&Log=0

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=06034&endYear=2017&showcaseOwnerId=1359953&startYear=1981&firstRecord=0&searchRadius=0&listingId=432285767&Log=0

ab348

stever said:

I just sold about 25% of my counter cyclic stock which was at a yearly high but I want to stay in cash for a while (translation - my wife doesn't want me taking a flier on a another bunch of equities. ). The stock we sold is up another half a percent today.

Tell me about this counter cyclic business - what % of your investments are in it, what the other categories would be, how you have done managing this yourself, etc.? What would be some examples of such stocks? I am pretty discontented with my investments lady right now.

roadburner

As far as Brexit goes, I think that there has been a growing sense of resentment towards the EU bureaucrats in Brussels who cranked out regulations and policies without any accountability. Then there was the immigration issue which has become a hot button issue on both sides of the pond. I think the main takeaway is that politicians who defend the status quo and/or ignore the legitimate concerns of their constituents do so at their peril. 

imidazol97

I'm adding my 10 cents worth to the talk about cars needing a Genius to explain how the electronics work. This is not a judgement on any brand--I know my Chevy MyLink has manual controls as well as touch screen controls for most items to suit most users who prefer one over the other. Also voice control is available. But when I tried voice, my voice didn't work very well. Wasn't worth the trouble to change the HVAC or radio station/band vs turning a dial on the stack.

I caught the comparison of BMW's Genius Bar and Apple's Geniuses. Apple was successful with the Macintosh because the operation of most controls for the computer and programs was logical enough to understand WITHOUT needing to use a manual to figure it out vs the other computer OS of the time. Shouldn't cars work the same way? If operating the HVAC and audio systems is so tedious that manuals or trainers are needed, I offer that maybe better design is needed.

driver100

ab348 said:

stever said:

I just sold about 25% of my counter cyclic stock which was at a yearly high but I want to stay in cash for a while (translation - my wife doesn't want me taking a flier on a another bunch of equities. ). The stock we sold is up another half a percent today.

Tell me about this counter cyclic business - what % of your investments are in it, what the other categories would be, how you have done managing this yourself, etc.? What would be some examples of such stocks? I am pretty discontented with my investments lady right now.

Just guessing, and stever can clarify, but, my guess is counter cyclic means buying things that are out of favor at the time, and then buying up other categories when they are low. Right now gold is high as are metals, so he might sell those and buy something like Google or banks which may have gone low. Sounds like he does this with 25% of his funds. It sounds like a pretty good plan.

I wanted to buy BP after the oil spill when it tanked, sure enough it came back. Same with Mars pet foods when pets were dying from there food. Sure enough, it bounced back after the panic was over.

I don't like to spend time following the market....I would rather play tennis or Pickleball or go on a day trip, so I leave it to our financial people. They just buy solid stuff and hold it through the calamity and hopefully buy during a downturn. Also, a percentage is in bonds or dividend paying stock to give us something to live on.

A good index fund (low fees) probably performs better than 80% of the brokers out there.

driver100

imidazol97 said:

I'm adding my 10 cents worth to the talk about cars needing a Genius to explain how the electronics work. This is not a judgement on any brand--I know my Chevy MyLink has manual controls as well as touch screen controls for most items to suit most users who prefer one over the other. Also voice control is available. But when I tried voice, my voice didn't work very well. Wasn't worth the trouble to change the HVAC or radio station/band vs turning a dial on the stack.

I caught the comparison of BMW's Genius Bar and Apple's Geniuses. Apple was successful with the Macintosh because the operation of most controls for the computer and programs was logical enough to understand WITHOUT needing to use a manual to figure it out vs the other computer OS of the time. Shouldn't cars work the same way? If operating the HVAC and audio systems is so tedious that manuals or trainers are needed, I offer that maybe better design is needed.

I think Mercedes does really well at making the GPS and controls pretty user friendly....even for me. But "voice control" is just too frustrating to bother with. The 2015 Mercedes is much improved over the 2012 BMW, so advances are coming fast. I find the ladies voice is a lot more pleasant (the BMW lady sounded like a miserable teacher I once had) and the instructions are much clearer with very useful information, like giving lots of warning when to change lanes.

Like most things.......it can be rough at first but it improves quickly after that. Unfortunately, some people have to live through the early rougher years.

roadburner

imidazol97 said:

I'm adding my 10 cents worth to the talk about cars needing a Genius to explain how the electronics work. This is not a judgement on any brand--I know my Chevy MyLink has manual controls as well as touch screen controls for most items to suit most users who prefer one over the other. Also voice control is available. But when I tried voice, my voice didn't work very well. Wasn't worth the trouble to change the HVAC or radio station/band vs turning a dial on the stack.

I caught the comparison of BMW's Genius Bar and Apple's Geniuses. Apple was successful with the Macintosh because the operation of most controls for the computer and programs was logical enough to understand WITHOUT needing to use a manual to figure it out vs the other computer OS of the time. Shouldn't cars work the same way? If operating the HVAC and audio systems is so tedious that manuals or trainers are needed, I offer that maybe better design is needed.

The basic HVAC and audio controls on a new BMW need little to no training to operate, as BMW learned from the issues that resulted from its initial non-intuitive iteration of the iDrive interface; modern BMWs use buttons and rotary knobs to control the audio system and HVAC. There are also redundant controls for the audio system on the steering wheel. However, most all modern BMWs have features that many owners never discover due to their failure to review the owners manual. For example, how to pair their phone and/or stream music from it, or how to utilize a number of the features provided by the BMW Connected and BMW Remote Apps. Modern BMWs allow the driver to configure the Eco Pro and Sport driving modes. The navigation system utilizes real-time traffic information to suggest detours, and the map(s) can be configured in several ways(plan view, 3D view, always North, direction of travel). The voice recognition system is incredibly accurate and makes controlling the audio system extremely simple by just using a few simple commands. Audio CDs can be stored on the internal hard drive. The vehicle status can be monitored to a detailed degree.
After the sale the BMW Genius is there to help owners learn and enjoy features that they likely didn't know about- not to teach owners how to operate the radio and HVAC.
As an aside, I suspect that Cadillac's CUE and Ford's SYNC are the primary reason both brands took a hit in the 2016 J. D. Power IQS.

fordfool

houdini1 observed:

> last week we purchased a supplemental dental plan. A little expensive yes,

Gene Weingarten wrote about a Delta Dental plan in his humor column last Sunday.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/gene-weingarten-lets-get-to-the-root-of-aarps-dental-insurance/2016/06/09/5ba07722-237d-11e6-aa84-42391ba52c91_story.html

My Advantage Plan offered me a Delta Dental Plan when I retired and I passed.

What bugs me though is the dentist billing me $150 for a checkup and cleaning,
but accepting one-half that amount from an insurance company as full payment.

stever

My wife's family has held, off and on, one stock since the 1940s and we inherited some. It seems to go up when the market falls and vice versa. It wasn't something we planned., but it's nice having one that's "counter cyclic".

You have to be careful about dental insurance. We doubled up on ours this year and naturally I just found out I need two crowns.

@roadburner, BMW hasn't gone to SSDs yet eh?

Mr_Shiftright

Streaming music over bluetooth is a bit agonizing, isn't it? I find a direct plug in so much more reliable and better-sounding myself.

ab348

roadburner said:

However, most all modern BMWs have features that many owners never discover due to their failure to review the owners manual. For example, how to pair their phone and/or stream music from it, or how to utilize a number of the features provided by the BMW Connected and BMW Remote Apps. Modern BMWs allow the driver to configure the Eco Pro and Sport driving modes. The navigation system utilizes real-time traffic information to suggest detours, and the map(s) can be configured in several ways(plan view, 3D view, always North, direction of travel).

It sounds very similar to most smartphones in that respect. I doubt I have more than 5%-10% of a grasp on what my iPhone can do and I suspect the majority of people are the same or worse than me in that regard. I know that my old Blackberry was so non-intuitive that I hated it because it was incredibly difficult to make it do anything. But with the iPhone I have never been able to grasp Apple Maps, for instance - it simply baffles me. And don't even get me started on iTunes and Music. I don't know if there is actually any way to make this stuff simple.

snakeweasel

berri said:

There is a restaurant in Geneva, IL that has french fries covered with shredded duck meat and duck gravy. Oh it is so good, I wonder if they are still open.

Geneva used to be a popular DuPage county escape, but I think it has been suburbanized now.

Geneva, along with St. Charles and to a lesser extent Batavia, is still a popular escape. Sure the burbs have reached out to that area but there is a lot to do along the Fox river. They have done a lot to maintain the recreational aspect of the river. And the area in Geneva that that restaurant is at is a historic area with a lot of nice restaurants and specialty shops.

Michaell

Job hunt update (skip if you're not interested).

After a bunch of nibbles, I've finally found a couple of positions that seem to fit my skills and experience. Despite my desire to leave the IT industry, both companies are in the software biz.

Both roles are very similar to the work I was doing at IBM.

Company 1 is located on the other side of Denver from where I live - I'd be expected to go into the office daily for the first 3-6 months, then perhaps only once or twice a week after that.

Company 2 has an office about 20 minutes from my house, but the role is remote, which means I could continue to work from home.

The job for Company 2 is a much bigger challenge - I've already spoken to the Europe and Asia-Pacific regional managers that I would work with. At the moment, they are the front runner.

Naturally, both of them want me to come to the office for an in-person interview. Company 1 has invited me to their office on Monday afternoon from 2-3. Company 2 is located in Palo Alto, CA, and are flying me out on Monday evening at 5:40 to SF, then meet with the senior managers and executives on Tuesday.

I'll at least get a flight, a hotel, a rental car (Hertz intermediate, which is a Corolla or similar) and a per diem to talk to company 2.

Therefore, I'll be offline from Monday noon-ish to Tuesday night. I might check in via my smartphone, but no guarantees.

houdini1

fordfool said:

houdini1 observed:

> last week we purchased a supplemental dental plan. A little expensive yes,

Gene Weingarten wrote about a Delta Dental plan in his humor column last Sunday.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/gene-weingarten-lets-get-to-the-root-of-aarps-dental-insurance/2016/06/09/5ba07722-237d-11e6-aa84-42391ba52c91_story.html

My Advantage Plan offered me a Delta Dental Plan when I retired and I passed.

What bugs me though is the dentist billing me $150 for a checkup and cleaning,
but accepting one-half that amount from an insurance company as full payment.

That was someone else who bought dental coverage, not me !

houdini1

Michaell said:

Job hunt update (skip if you're not interested).

After a bunch of nibbles, I've finally found a couple of positions that seem to fit my skills and experience. Despite my desire to leave the IT industry, both companies are in the software biz.

Both roles are very similar to the work I was doing at IBM.

Company 1 is located on the other side of Denver from where I live - I'd be expected to go into the office daily for the first 3-6 months, then perhaps only once or twice a week after that.

Company 2 has an office about 20 minutes from my house, but the role is remote, which means I could continue to work from home.

The job for Company 2 is a much bigger challenge - I've already spoken to the Europe and Asia-Pacific regional managers that I would work with. At the moment, they are the front runner.

Naturally, both of them want me to come to the office for an in-person interview. Company 1 has invited me to their office on Monday afternoon from 2-3. Company 2 is located in Palo Alto, CA, and are flying me out on Monday evening at 5:40 to SF, then meet with the senior managers and executives on Tuesday.

I'll at least get a flight, a hotel, a rental car (Hertz intermediate, which is a Corolla or similar) and a per diem to talk to company 2.

Therefore, I'll be offline from Monday noon-ish to Tuesday night. I might check in via my smartphone, but no guarantees.

Best of luck Michaell, hope it works out for you !

driver100

Michaell said:

Job hunt update (skip if you're not interested).

After a bunch of nibbles, I've finally found a couple of positions that seem to fit my skills and experience. Despite my desire to leave the IT industry, both companies are in the software biz.

Therefore, I'll be offline from Monday noon-ish to Tuesday night. I might check in via my smartphone, but no guarantees.

I am interested and it all sounds very promising. Best of luck, you deserve a break.
I haven't applied for work for a long time though I have hired quite a few people, so I don't have too much advice, except try to learn about the company beforehand, be enthusiastic, be positive, be natural.

Michaell

@houdini1 and @driver100 -

Thanks!

I've learned quite a lot about company 2 in the past few days, but I will continue to research both companies before the interviews.

graphicguy

explorer...I wonder if JiffyLube would service the McLaren?

driver.....335i GT is an imposing car in person. Tons of room. Drove it last night. It feels like a normal 3 series, just bigger. I liked it.

Didn't get into numbers but the sales guy admitted the GTs were slow movers and they'd be "motivated" to make a deal. Could be just more dealer speak, though. I told him I'd be willing to trade the '16 CTS for the '16 335i GT. He didn't even flinch....like that happens regularly.

He eyeballed the CTS and I told him it had 6,500 miles on the odo. He mentioned..."not sure we'd even need to test drive it. Doesn't look like it's been wrecked. What could be wrong with it?"

Why...nothing.....nothing at all!

I have to decide for myself if I'm in the market or not. And, if I'd be happier with something else aside from the CTS (which has been as perfect as anything I've ever owned so far and is a nice ride in its own right). Then again, I can't hold a candle to @breld.

graphicguy

@Michaell.....good luck with the interviews, buddy. Pulling for you!

Michaell

graphicguy said:

explorer...I wonder if JiffyLube would service the McLaren?

driver.....335i GT is an imposing car in person. Tons of room. Drove it last night. It feels like a normal 3 series, just bigger. I liked it.

Didn't get into numbers but the sales guy admitted the GTs were slow movers and they'd be "motivated" to make a deal. Could be just more dealer speak, though. I told him I'd be willing to trade the '16 CTS for the '16 335i GT. He didn't even flinch....like that happens regularly.

He eyeballed the CTS and I told him it had 6,500 miles on the odo. He mentioned..."not sure we'd even need to test drive it. Doesn't look like it's been wrecked. What could be wrong with it?"

Why...nothing.....nothing at all!

I have to decide for myself if I'm in the market or not. And, if I'd be happier with something else aside from the CTS (which has been as perfect as anything I've ever owned so far and is a nice ride in its own right). Then again, I can't hold a candle to @breld.

The 3-series GT is indeed the red-headed step-child of the BMW lineup. Haven't paid attention to transaction prices, but we've always said that 5-7% off sticker is pretty good for mainstream BMWs. 10%? More? Low ball them and see where it gets you.

So, a turbo 4-cyl vs a twin turbo 6? Is the driving experience that much different between the two? If anything, it seems that Cadillac is promoting a more 'sporty' ride than BMW recently. Have you found that to be true?

And, thanks for the positive thoughts on the job search. For a company that is admittedly in the middle of a cost cutting cycle, investing what I suspect to be close to $1000 to interview a candidate face-to-face is a bit surprising.

stickguy

that Mclaren is only about 30 minutes from me. Happy to check it out for you! And the sportage, I think can knock a few bucks off that asking price.

Michael, good luck. I don't think I told you, but my son this week was onboarded to your old company (they brought him into a session down in Armonk). He has been working on a contract basis for the last 2 years, but they promoted him to a full engineer position, which includes joining the mother ship. So, Benefits!

GG, interesting swap idea. Both nice cars. Just drive the 335 then jump in yours, and decide which one makes you happier, and you would rather drive every day. And list out any features you would be giving up that you really enjoy (I assume the Caddy has more "stuff"). Not like the CTS owes you anything, and maybe it would cleanse the rest of your pallet.

roadburner

graphicguy said:

@Michaell.....good luck with the interviews, buddy. Pulling for you!

Ditto!!!

Michaell

stickguy said:

Michael, good luck. I don't think I told you, but my son this week was onboarded to your old company (they brought him into a session down in Armonk). He has been working on a contract basis for the last 2 years, but they promoted him to a full engineer position, which includes joining the mother ship. So, Benefits!

Congrats on your son obtaining full employment with IBM. I don't have anything bad to say about them - I get that it's business and decisions like this have to be made. I do hope they are able to execute on their strategy to become a player in the cloud space as well as leverage their strategic vision of the "cognitive company".

graphicguy

It was interesting driving the GT and the CTS back-to-back. GT is definitely quicker and the trans smoother shifting. CTS feels lighter on its feet and is more "tossable". It has more safety nannies, too (BLISS, Lane Keep, etc). It's a matter of perception, but the CTS has nicer materials inside, except the 3's seats, which are gorgeous and comfy firm.

Sales guy called this a.m., already. I told him to shoot me some numbers (including trade). He said they'd have to drive the CTS, first. I told him it drives as good as it looks, 6500 miles, options, etc. If it's different than what I describe, I'll give them an extra $50 and take a lower trade value.

We'll see what they come back with. Slow mover...thinking somewhere in the $50K-$51K on theirs. Not sure what number they'd put on my car. I'm flying blind on the trade.

graphicguy

stick....yeah, the whole Caddy experience, regardless of how good the current one is, still has me feeling a bit sideways.

I think that Mclaren may not look right sitting next to my lowly lawnmower in the garage.

bwia

Michaell said:

Job hunt update (skip if you're not interested).

After a bunch of nibbles, I've finally found a couple of positions that seem to fit my skills and experience. Despite my desire to leave the IT industry, both companies are in the software biz.

Both roles are very similar to the work I was doing at IBM.

Company 1 is located on the other side of Denver from where I live - I'd be expected to go into the office daily for the first 3-6 months, then perhaps only once or twice a week after that.

Company 2 has an office about 20 minutes from my house, but the role is remote, which means I could continue to work from home.

The job for Company 2 is a much bigger challenge - I've already spoken to the Europe and Asia-Pacific regional managers that I would work with. At the moment, they are the front runner.

Naturally, both of them want me to come to the office for an in-person interview. Company 1 has invited me to their office on Monday afternoon from 2-3. Company 2 is located in Palo Alto, CA, and are flying me out on Monday evening at 5:40 to SF, then meet with the senior managers and executives on Tuesday.

I'll at least get a flight, a hotel, a rental car (Hertz intermediate, which is a Corolla or similar) and a per diem to talk to company 2.

Therefore, I'll be offline from Monday noon-ish to Tuesday night. I might check in via my smartphone, but no guarantees.

I second the sentiment express by others. Good luck!

bwia

graphicguy said:

It was interesting driving the GT and the CTS back-to-back. GT is definitely quicker and the trans smoother shifting. CTS feels lighter on its feet and is more "tossable". It has more safety nannies, too (BLISS, Lane Keep, etc). It's a matter of perception, but the CTS has nicer materials inside, except the 3's seats, which are gorgeous and comfy firm.

Sales guy called this a.m., already. I told him to shoot me some numbers (including trade). He said they'd have to drive the CTS, first. I told him it drives as good as it looks, 6500 miles, options, etc. If it's different than what I describe, I'll give them an extra $50 and take a lower trade value.

We'll see what they come back with. Slow mover...thinking somewhere in the $50K-$51K on theirs. Not sure what number they'd put on my car. I'm flying blind on the trade.

Be prepared for a less than satisfying trade figure on the CTS.

If the American Express buying program is a true good indication of value, then a brand new 2016 CTS-2.0T can be had at $10K+ below MSRP. As a matter of fact, their best deals are on the CTS and its variants. Nonetheless, since auto sales are slowing they might be willing to make you a deal that you can't refuse.

driver100

graphicguy said:

explorer...I wonder if JiffyLube would service the McLaren?

driver.....335i GT is an imposing car in person. Tons of room. Drove it last night. It feels like a normal 3 series, just bigger. I liked it.

Didn't get into numbers but the sales guy admitted the GTs were slow movers and they'd be "motivated" to make a deal. Could be just more dealer speak, though. I told him I'd be willing to trade the '16 CTS for the '16 335i GT. He didn't even flinch....like that happens regularly.

He eyeballed the CTS and I told him it had 6,500 miles on the odo. He mentioned..."not sure we'd even need to test drive it. Doesn't look like it's been wrecked. What could be wrong with it?"

Why...nothing.....nothing at all!

I have to decide for myself if I'm in the market or not. And, if I'd be happier with something else aside from the CTS (which has been as perfect as anything I've ever owned so far and is a nice ride in its own right). Then again, I can't hold a candle to @breld.

GG, stickguy has it right....try the 335 GT immediately after arriving in your car and compare. Make sure you aren't giving up a feature you will miss. When we were looking at the 328 vs 335 - 2013 model, we found a huge difference in power and smoothness. My wife thought the 328 just didn't feel like a BMW should.

The big factor could be the difference in price. Gt would be great at 10% off, but depends on trade in and ultimate difference. There should be a big difference in how much more you like the GT 335 too, not worth it just to switch.

One more thing to consider, what will be worth more at trade in time 3 or 4 years down the road. Since Cadillac sales are weak, the BMW may actually hold it's value much better.

snakeweasel

Michaell said:

Job hunt update (skip if you're not interested).

After a bunch of nibbles, I've finally found a couple of positions that seem to fit my skills and experience. Despite my desire to leave the IT industry, both companies are in the software biz.

Both roles are very similar to the work I was doing at IBM.

Company 1 is located on the other side of Denver from where I live - I'd be expected to go into the office daily for the first 3-6 months, then perhaps only once or twice a week after that.

Company 2 has an office about 20 minutes from my house, but the role is remote, which means I could continue to work from home.

The job for Company 2 is a much bigger challenge - I've already spoken to the Europe and Asia-Pacific regional managers that I would work with. At the moment, they are the front runner.

Naturally, both of them want me to come to the office for an in-person interview. Company 1 has invited me to their office on Monday afternoon from 2-3. Company 2 is located in Palo Alto, CA, and are flying me out on Monday evening at 5:40 to SF, then meet with the senior managers and executives on Tuesday.

I'll at least get a flight, a hotel, a rental car (Hertz intermediate, which is a Corolla or similar) and a per diem to talk to company 2.

Therefore, I'll be offline from Monday noon-ish to Tuesday night. I might check in via my smartphone, but no guarantees.

Good luck with the interviews, hope it works out for you.

As for me any interviews that I have over the next 12 years will be where I currently work as I expect to retire from there.

murphydog

Taking the Ghia to the Greenwood Car Show for those of you in Seattle - Had a few nibbles in the last month, hoping to find somebody who just has to have it! Wish me luck

graphicguy

driver100 said:

graphicguy said:

explorer...I wonder if JiffyLube would service the McLaren?

driver.....335i GT is an imposing car in person. Tons of room. Drove it last night. It feels like a normal 3 series, just bigger. I liked it.

Didn't get into numbers but the sales guy admitted the GTs were slow movers and they'd be "motivated" to make a deal. Could be just more dealer speak, though. I told him I'd be willing to trade the '16 CTS for the '16 335i GT. He didn't even flinch....like that happens regularly.

He eyeballed the CTS and I told him it had 6,500 miles on the odo. He mentioned..."not sure we'd even need to test drive it. Doesn't look like it's been wrecked. What could be wrong with it?"

Why...nothing.....nothing at all!

I have to decide for myself if I'm in the market or not. And, if I'd be happier with something else aside from the CTS (which has been as perfect as anything I've ever owned so far and is a nice ride in its own right). Then again, I can't hold a candle to @breld.

GG, stickguy has it right....try the 335 GT immediately after arriving in your car and compare. Make sure you aren't giving up a feature you will miss. When we were looking at the 328 vs 335 - 2013 model, we found a huge difference in power and smoothness. My wife thought the 328 just didn't feel like a BMW should.

The big factor could be the difference in price. Gt would be great at 10% off, but depends on trade in and ultimate difference. There should be a big difference in how much more you like the GT 335 too, not worth it just to switch.

One more thing to consider, what will be worth more at trade in time 3 or 4 years down the road. Since Cadillac sales are weak, the BMW may actually hold it's value much better.

I pulled up in my CTS and tested the 335i GT. So, got a good feel for their differences (which aren't as significant as one might think). I'm not holding my breath for a great offer on the CTS. Hoping for low $40s. But, considering I actually paid for a '14 and am trading in a '16, I don't feel nearly as bad. I don't want to write a check for anything more than a difference of $10K. Less would make me pull the trigger today.

28firefighter

Good luck@michaell! Knock 'em dead!

henryn

graphicguy said:

driver100 said:

graphicguy said:

explorer...I wonder if JiffyLube would service the McLaren?

driver.....335i GT is an imposing car in person. Tons of room. Drove it last night. It feels like a normal 3 series, just bigger. I liked it.

Didn't get into numbers but the sales guy admitted the GTs were slow movers and they'd be "motivated" to make a deal. Could be just more dealer speak, though. I told him I'd be willing to trade the '16 CTS for the '16 335i GT. He didn't even flinch....like that happens regularly.

He eyeballed the CTS and I told him it had 6,500 miles on the odo. He mentioned..."not sure we'd even need to test drive it. Doesn't look like it's been wrecked. What could be wrong with it?"

Why...nothing.....nothing at all!

I have to decide for myself if I'm in the market or not. And, if I'd be happier with something else aside from the CTS (which has been as perfect as anything I've ever owned so far and is a nice ride in its own right). Then again, I can't hold a candle to @breld.

GG, stickguy has it right....try the 335 GT immediately after arriving in your car and compare. Make sure you aren't giving up a feature you will miss. When we were looking at the 328 vs 335 - 2013 model, we found a huge difference in power and smoothness. My wife thought the 328 just didn't feel like a BMW should.

The big factor could be the difference in price. Gt would be great at 10% off, but depends on trade in and ultimate difference. There should be a big difference in how much more you like the GT 335 too, not worth it just to switch.

One more thing to consider, what will be worth more at trade in time 3 or 4 years down the road. Since Cadillac sales are weak, the BMW may actually hold it's value much better.

I pulled up in my CTS and tested the 335i GT. So, got a good feel for their differences (which aren't as significant as one might think). I'm not holding my breath for a great offer on the CTS. Hoping for low $40s. But, considering I actually paid for a '14 and am trading in a '16, I don't feel nearly as bad. I don't want to write a check for anything more than a difference of $10K. Less would make me pull the trigger today.

Back around 2000, I was at a Ford dealer working on trading in my nearly new F150 to get a diesel F250 for pulling a 5th wheel. The F250 was advertised in the paper at a very low price, and they were honoring that ad. The only real question was the value of my trade. While we were waiting on that, I turned to my wife and said, "If they'll go $20,000 for my trade, I'm going to do this."

About 5 minutes later, the salesman comes back and says, "We can give you $20,000 for your trade."

The wife and I looked at each other, and then started looking around the room, trying to spot where the microphone was hidden.