Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

abacomike

Interestingly enough, my 740iL came with Michelins - first car I ever bought that had Michelins as the OEM tires.  These are run-flats!  Never had those before on a car either.  Car seems to handle well with them - if I didn't know there were run-flats on the car, I would never have guessed they did.

stickguy

I assume the fancy air suspension, and 5,000 pounds of road hugging weight, has something to do with the nice ride.

nyccarguy

@abacomike - Mazel Tov & Congrats on the 7! Knowing you are on the mend and punched your CCBA card makes me happy.

roadburner

stickguy said:

I assume the fancy air suspension, and 5,000 pounds of road hugging weight, has something to do with the nice ride.

A 740i actually weighs around 4,400 pounds. It's not exactly a rocket ship, but it will easily run the quarter mile in the high thirteens- which is adequate for an executive class cruiser.

nippononly

corvette said:

Congrats, nippononly. With your two punches, we are up to 40 for the year. 

What year and mileage on the Camry Hybrid, and what mileage on the Mini? 

Thanks! The Camry was a new 2016 in March, and the Mini is a 2014 with 19,000 miles (19,003 to be exact). :-)

Seems like every time I look down at the speedo in the Mini, it reads 80 or 90 mph...it's hard to believe it's not reading wrong because it gets there so effortlessly...this thing is completely worlds apart from the base Mini Cooper I test drove when it was first released in the U.S. With the redesign in 2014 they totally transformed this car in all the right ways. :-)

tjc78

@abacomike Major Congrats on the 7! I've ridden in one and can say it is a sweet ride. I love the size and room , and I'm sure it gives a nice kick in the pants when you hit the "go" pedal.

It's not exactly a rocket ship, but it will easily run the quarter mile in the high thirteens-

When did high 13s become slow? At 38 I must be getting old

abacomike

stickguy said:

I assume the fancy air suspension, and 5,000 pounds of road hugging weight, has something to do with the nice ride.

Actually, it only weighs 4200 lbs. (about the same as the CLS400) thanks to the abundant use of carbon fiber and aluminum. Horsepower is rated at 320 with torque in the 330's - definitely not a slouch. Fuel economy is about the same as the CLS400 as well - about 30 mpg highway.

abacomike

tjc78 said:

@abacomike Major Congrats on the 7! I've ridden in one and can say it is a sweet ride. I love the size and room , and I'm sure it gives a nice kick in the pants when you hit the "go" pedal.

It's not exactly a rocket ship, but it will easily run the quarter mile in the high thirteens-

When did high 13s become slow? At 38 I must be getting old

Actually, it is pretty quick considering its size and breadth. All depends on the ride and handling option selected by the driver. In sport mode, it is an awesome competitor. I believe the 0-60 timing is around 6 seconds, or a shade faster.

Mr_Shiftright

corvette said:

roadburner said:

The i3 regen system is linked to the accelerator pedal. Lift off completely and the car slows down abruptly- to the point that the car automatically activates the brake lights...

I've seen brake light switches fail (always on European cars) and people using excessive engine braking in traffic often enough that I wonder why this isn't part of the software on all cars--if the car senses deceleration beyond a certain "normal" amount, it should activate the brake lights.

abaco, great story about a great car. Enjoy the 740iL!

There was once the proposal that cars should show an amber light for deceleration.

fintail

Or just don't text and don't tailgate

Funny that the G11 (what happened to F?) weighs barely more than my E, although being a diesel 4Matic, it is the heaviest configuration possible,

roadburner

tjc78 said:

@abacomike Major Congrats on the 7! I've ridden in one and can say it is a sweet ride. I love the size and room , and I'm sure it gives a nice kick in the pants when you hit the "go" pedal.

It's not exactly a rocket ship, but it will easily run the quarter mile in the high thirteens-

When did high 13s become slow? At 38 I must be getting old

I'm 58; a 13.8 quarter isn't slow, but with bone stock V8 Mustangs and Camaros running in the high twelves the 7 finds itself on the quicker side of average.

qbrozen

I'd agree. I think sub-14 is quick, and sub-13 is really quick, but still occupied by a pretty large number of vehicles these days. So I think you gotta get into the 11s these days to be FAST, at least for stock vehicles.

qbrozen

I received an odd letter in the mail yesterday. The bank that financed my Infiniti reviewed the paperwork and said there is a mistake. They are lowering my rate 1.25%. Has such a thing ever happened to anybody? I knew the rate was high but didn't really care because I figured I'll just refinance it once the VW is gone (1/14 turn-in date). I also assumed the dealership was padding the rate since they likely lost money on the vehicle. Well, hats off to the bank (Valley National).

Mr_Shiftright

Mid 13s is what a lot of those classic "muscle cars" with 427s and Hemis and 454s used to run.

28firefighter

I was curious with all the 1/4 mile times what my stock GTI does - 14.5 second quarter mile. Here is the interesting thing - with the a Stage 1 tune, I could see that drop into the high 12s. Now, I'm not risking my warranty to do that, but, it is tempting.

roadburner

Mr_Shiftright said:

Mid 13s is what a lot of those classic "muscle cars" with 427s and Hemis and 454s used to run.

Tires were the limiting factors on a lot of the cars of that era.

28firefighter

qbrozen said:

I received an odd letter in the mail yesterday. The bank that financed my Infiniti reviewed the paperwork and said there is a mistake. They are lowering my rate 1.25%. Has such a thing ever happened to anybody? I knew the rate was high but didn't really care because I figured I'll just refinance it once the VW is gone (1/14 turn-in date). I also assumed the dealership was padding the rate since they likely lost money on the vehicle. Well, hats off to the bank (Valley National).

Is this one of those 1.25% off a high rate is still too high scenarios? Might save yourself a credit hit and some paperwork to keep it with these folks.

Mr_Shiftright

Yes but there were ways around that. Some of them, like the Yenko Camaros ran on drag slicks and racing fuel and they put up some impressive numbers, even by today's standards.

Some pro drag cars still prefer bias ply tires.

kyfdx

qbrozen said:

I received an odd letter in the mail yesterday. The bank that financed my Infiniti reviewed the paperwork and said there is a mistake. They are lowering my rate 1.25%. Has such a thing ever happened to anybody? I knew the rate was high but didn't really care because I figured I'll just refinance it once the VW is gone (1/14 turn-in date). I also assumed the dealership was padding the rate since they likely lost money on the vehicle. Well, hats off to the bank (Valley National).

The bank probably allows a maximum percentage markup, and the dealer exceeded that cap. Either that or the dealer used the wrong credit tier.

qbrozen

28firefighter said:

qbrozen said:

I received an odd letter in the mail yesterday. The bank that financed my Infiniti reviewed the paperwork and said there is a mistake. They are lowering my rate 1.25%. Has such a thing ever happened to anybody? I knew the rate was high but didn't really care because I figured I'll just refinance it once the VW is gone (1/14 turn-in date). I also assumed the dealership was padding the rate since they likely lost money on the vehicle. Well, hats off to the bank (Valley National).

Is this one of those 1.25% off a high rate is still too high scenarios? Might save yourself a credit hit and some paperwork to keep it with these folks.

Still high, but not offensively so.

abacomike

I took a few pictures of my new 740i - hope they turned out OK.

nyccarguy

@abacomike - gorgeous! I love the white over brown combination!

28firefighter

One of my favorite color combinations @abacomike! Absolutely beautiful car. Use it well!

abacomike

28firefighter said:

One of my favorite color combinations @abacomike! Absolutely beautiful car. Use it well!

If you look closely at the first picture, you might be able to see a fine-line pinstripe in the same color as the saddle interior. It was hand-painted on by some artist at the dealership where they dealer-traded for this car. I don't think I've seen a pinstripe on a car in years - but the car is "soooooo.......white" it's a nice little touch. Like I said, it's very fine-lined so it isn't very gaudy. When I told the dealership that the pinstripe could kill the deal negotiations started moving in the right direction.

stever

Pretty spectacular. Glad my wife doesn't read the forums....

xwesx

abacomike said:

28firefighter said:

One of my favorite color combinations @abacomike! Absolutely beautiful car. Use it well!

If you look closely at the first picture, you might be able to see a fine-line pinstripe in the same color as the saddle interior. It was hand-painted on by some artist at the dealership where they dealer-traded for this car. I don't think I've seen a pinstripe on a car in years - but the car is "soooooo.......white" it's a nice little touch. Like I said, it's very fine-lined so it isn't very gaudy. When I told the dealership that the pinstripe could kill the deal negotiations started moving in the right direction.

That's quite the fine line! It is tastefully done and a nice accent on a car like this.

fintail

Definitely the best color combo (unless there's a light blue). Not sold on the pinstripe, but I like hockey, so it evens out. Maybe even a well-planned purchase, as it is new and uncommon enough so short term resale will be a lot better than a final run car.

abacomike

nyccarguy said:

@abacomike - gorgeous! I love the white over brown combination!

Thanks Bradd. When I first saw this combination (White with Saddle) I really fell in love with it. There is no other exterior/interior combination that I liked in the 7 Series line. Most of their colors are very dark and I wanted to stay away from a black interior (summer heat down here) and a light interior (gets grimy looking in the sweaty heat).

Lexus has a similar combination of White with Flaxen (Flaxen is a saddle as well).

sb55

Mike said: "I took a few pictures of my new 740i - hope they turned out OK."

Awesome. Congrats. I love the color combo. My "new" to me 535D this year is the same color. The interior color sold it for me. No more all black interiors for me.

We live on a dirt road in northern Vermont. My cars are always dirty, but at least in "dust" season (as opposed to "mud" season) the white shows the least dirt!

Mr_Shiftright

So, what's next?

suydam

Beautiful pics! My new Volt is the same color combo and I really like it.

stever

C'mon, let Mike enjoy this one for a week.

jpp75

Mike, what a beautiful car!! Congrats!

ab348

Doesn't get much better than that, Mike.

nyccarguy

The scenery here in the Northeast definitely isn't as nice as it is by Mike:

abacomike

Bradd, a snow-covered landscape is a truly beautiful and picturesque vista to look at - it's the "living in it" and "driving in it" that changes things considerably. I always think of a Currier and Ives landscaped when I think of winter in the northern Midwest or Northeast part of the United States. Then, after I get over how beautiful it appears to my eyes, I quickly remember the skidding and shoveling and snow-blowing and freezing cold I used to experience in New York and Chicago and I immediately thank the Lord that I am blessed to live in Southern Florida during the winter. It's amazing what a distance of 1200 miles can made in one's environment here in the United State.

kyfdx

Single digits, Friday morning. 46 F, this morning, on the way to the 50s, but back in single digits, tomorrow night. shewwww

Michaell

As we look out on the 5" of fresh snow and -1 temperature, the wife and I talk again about warmer climes.

Finally got her to give me a potential location .... where it came from I'll never know.

Savannah, GA

Now, to figure out how to make it a reality.

abacomike

Michaell said:

As we look out on the 5" of fresh snow and -1 temperature, the wife and I talk again about warmer climes. Finally got her to give me a potential location .... where it came from I'll never know. Savannah, GA Now, to figure out how to make it a reality.

Michael, I would think that the very first thing you need to do to begin making Savannah GA a reality it to practice speaking to your wife in a strong southern drawl and begin developing an uncontrollable appetite for hush puppies!

Michaell

abacomike said:

Michaell said:

As we look out on the 5" of fresh snow and -1 temperature, the wife and I talk again about warmer climes.

Finally got her to give me a potential location .... where it came from I'll never know.

Savannah, GA

Now, to figure out how to make it a reality.

Michael, I would think that the very first thing you need to do to begin making Savannah GA a reality it to practice speaking to your wife in a strong southern drawl and begin developing an uncontrollable appetite for hush puppies!

I've been there once, on business - taught a class to employees who worked for the city. Beautiful place.

Scoped out some home prices, just for fun. Can find a 2000-2500 square foot ranch plan for around $250K. Our 2700 sq ft ranch with finished basement cost us $360K a year ago, and we've probably put $60K into improvements since then.

My job is entirely portable - it's the wife who has to find employment.

My mom is from Tennessee, and though she's lived in CA since she was 9, she will lapse into a drawl from time to time.

ab348

I have never found anything even remotely attractive about winter, even when I was a little kid. Too many years of walking to/from school in snow/slush/ice in uncomfortable boots, worried about slipping, with cold feet, frosted ears, runny noses, chapped lips, and generally being chilled by the cold winds. I have never changed my view on it. If it went away tomorrow I would not be sad.

breld

Well, to make our fresh snow more tolerable, I got into Discount Tire first thing this morning and put some snow tires on the 428xi. I actually got around last night okay and obviously made it to the store no problem on the all-seasons, which begs the question on whether I really needed them anyway, but I do like the extra security of having dedicated snows. They had what seemed like a good deal on some Pirelli run-flats - I just got the same stock size and changed out the tires (as opposed to buying an entire wheel/tire set).

Just didn't feel like driving the van around this season if I didn't need to, when I have a perfectly good AWD sport sedan available.

Overall was very impressed on how the BMW got around last night and today.

fintail

Savannah - either charming and lovely or more irritating endless southern sprawl. Choose the location carefully.

I actually want a little snow, we have it so rarely up here.

Michaell

fintail said:

Savannah - either charming and lovely or more irritating endless southern sprawl. Choose the location carefully.

I actually want a little snow, we have it so rarely up here.

Oh, this is a long term plan. I'm certain we'd do a bit of scouting first. Given the lower housing costs, the wife wouldn't have to find a job that pays what she's making now.

fintail

That's a big deal. Imagine your housing prices 50% or more higher, welcome to Seattle.

A friend of mine who moved to GA and ran back home after a few years said Savannah was one of the few places there where he'd want to live. I was just there last month and have been there a couple times before, I suspect it is more pleasant than many areas in the region.

Michaell said:

Oh, this is a long term plan. I'm certain we'd do a bit of scouting first. Given the lower housing costs, the wife wouldn't have to find a job that pays what she's making now.

kyfdx

You really have to enjoy sweating to live in Savannah.

Nothing wrong with that, but the humidity would be a real shock to some people.

Michaell

kyfdx said:

You really have to enjoy sweating to live in Savannah.

Nothing wrong with that, but the humidity would be a real shock to some people.

Yeah, that's why a scouting trip - in the summer - would be mandatory.

Surprisingly, the wife was concerned that the AC would run year round.

Michaell

kyfdx

I think 62/42 is about average, this time of year. Nice day, today!

cdnpinhead

Actual winter weather tends to either keep out or dispose of the riff-raff. New England and the mid-Atlantic states have climates that I prefer, along with the northern Rocky Mountain states. I can tell of what goes on in Edmonton in the winter, and many would say it's awful, but not me.

Compared to the bugs, humidity, crowds, summer weather and other features of the states that don't have real winter, I'll take the snow and cold. California generally has an excellent climate, but you'd have to pay me a fortune to live there, given all else that comes along with it.