There is a very nice dark blue over tan Audi A3 in my parking lot. I like it. A lot. saw it up close recently, and it is even a TDI.
yesterday, right outside my window, I had my Accord backed into a spot and the audi was right next to me, also backed in. Just sitting there, taunting. mean car.
Do you have a yearly "property tax" or anything like that? In NJ we pay sales tax when we buy and small yearly registration (based on vehicle classs, most under $100/yr)
Here in NC, we don't have sales tax in the true sense, but there is a 3% highway use tax on every transaction. For a private-party sale, the tax is figured on the book value of the car(!)
The down sides are that we have a yearly property tax assessed by the county (0.5-1% of book value), and if you move in from out-of-state, they hit you for that highway use tax (capped at $150) when you first register your car.
Some BMWs have had the [non-permissible content removed] rep for a long time - going back to the 80s yuppie days. On the west coast, that image isn't changing either. The one new style M3 driver I regularly see is a perfect stereotype - 6er drivers can be too.
You can buy an A3 TDI with cold weather package for a little over 30k. Bad time to look for one -- Audi is short on inventory. You would have to order one --- all the ones on the lots are loaded. Audis are 4 year cars[warranty], not keepers. Service and repairs are high.
It has issues and has been relisted. If you have that money to blow then its as good a way as any to blow it. If it was a good deal it would have been sold by now.
Some BMWs have had the [non-permissible content removed] rep for a long time - going back to the 80s yuppie days. On the west coast, that image isn't changing either. The one new style M3 driver I regularly see is a perfect stereotype - 6er drivers can be too.
I have to agree. I know a guy who bought a 2010 3 series coupe. He's 40ish and just divorced. Calling him a d?#@%*bag is being kind. Always talking himself up, saying how fast his car is. ( My wife's Saturn Aura 3.6 XR is probably faster). Then he brags that he just got a Medicaid card and doesn't pay for health insurance.
Sounds typical. The Cabrio seems to attract a whole element of its own, too.
I feel a little bad being kind of bigoted against people for what they drive, but sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. The only way I can describe my local M3 driver is "the full Joisey" - which sticks out like a sore thumb in Seattle. I've also never seen him drive it without blaring music...in an M3 you listen to the engine. And I don't know if any good people drive the new style M6 :shades:
Let me guess, divorced guy has a leased 328 which has been debaged. Maybe on blingy wheels.
Pass. First off, the seller is either an idiot or a liar- probably both. There is no such thing as an M3 "Sport". Period. "Highly sought after" because it has a sunroof and a "heckspoiler? Please. Almost ALL E36 M3s have sunroofs, and one with a "heckspoiler"("rear spoiler" in German) isn't even close to rare. The coilovers have likely destroyed the ride/handling balance that BMW built into that platform- and also suggest that the car has had a far from easy life. You can find unmolested M3s with half the mileage in the mid to high teens. If I was looking for a rough track rat I might pay $7000 for this sled- tops.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Thank you for the advice. My husband didn't notice the info about the coilovers. We are going to keep looking, but our budget is $10k, or less. Thanks for everyone who took the time to reply.
If I lived east of the Mississippi (and, I do), I wouldn't go that far for any car... let alone a sub-$10K car.. Plus, that car has 5 days left on eBay... it might go for $12K+
Keep looking.... check craigslist, BMW-specific forums, autotrader, etc.. You'll find something within a day's drive...
Nah... they're all posers. Every single one of them.
Seriously, maybe not all, but in reality, anyone who buys an expensive car has some element of wanting to be seen as a well-to-do individual with status and a certain lifestyle. It's just variations on a theme. People who buy Malibus and Camrys don't share that aspiration.
Yep, that's true. The real enthusiasts don't buy X6s or blare music out of a brand new M3 either :shades:
As a MB fan, I know the brand attracts a lot of posers too - usually the way the car is maintained tells the story. Filthy late model car usually = leaser showoff or someone who didn't buy it themselves. Neglected aging model usually = poser.
I buy what I like..... and, don't really have to justify it to anyone else (you know, except my wife)...
Plus, I couldn't really give a crap who else drives what I do... It's their money.. Also, I don't care how they got their money... inherited it, worked for it.... lucked into it.. lottery winner.. doesn't matter.. I work my a-- off, but I realize that a lot of what I have is pure luck, based on the family I was born into.... and maybe a little intelligence (which again, pure luck and genetics... didn't earn a bit of it).
All the griping about who drives what? Sounds like a lot of jealousy and class envy to me.. (not that I'm mentioning you, of course... this is just a theoretical rant.. )
I'm on the same page as you. I don't care what anyone thinks of the car I drive and I don't care or think about what other people drive.
In the car business, I watched people buy cars for all of the wrong reasons. I would try to gently steer them toward something more sensible but I learned that few people heeded my advise.
I would look at their credit apps and see maxed out credit cards, boat payments and massive revolving debt yeat they HAD to have the used X5 we had. Trying to steer them toward something more affordable made no sense.
People HAD to have leather, sunroofs and Navigation and would stretch to a 72 month contract to keep their payments affordable.
The people with real money seemed to buy conservative cars.
I too had to earn every nickle I ever had starting with my paper route when I was 14 years old.
How others got their money is none of my business and certainly none of my concern.
Having grown up in Southern California in the early 80's, I can vouch for the "posers" and "yuppies" who bought BMW's not because they were the "Ultimate Driving Machine" but rather because of the badge. They were the ones who would always have the fog lights on.
Should the time come when I get my fun car - whatever make it happens to be - I won't care what anybody else thinks. I bought it for me, and if it makes the wife and I happy, then that's good enough.
Took the daughters' MINI in for it's first service today. She's had it just over 14 months and it turned 9800 miles on the drive home. Oil, filter, new wipers all around and a tire rotation. Turns out the rotation is not covered by the maintenance plan. Cost me $16. They washed the outside and I took care of the inside on the way home .. looks as good as new and ready for another year of motoring fun.
You've hit on one of my pet peeves--people who use parking lights and/or fog lights as a substitute for headlights at dusk or when it's dark or raining. :mad: You can still see pretty well without lights on in some conditions, but headlights will help others see you.
It's not jealousy when you have to listen to and share the roads with some of these people who are often annoying or poor drivers...ideas such as class envy and jealous are distractions from the lack of sense that comes along with undeserved money for some. As the socio-economic gap continues to explode, this becomes more grating.
I think some are upset that others dare to air an opinion. Everyone has a right to buy what they want (so long as they can afford it of course), but with that right comes a risk of being stereotyped. If it doesn't matter what others think, then it shouldn't matter when they say it. So is life
And yes, fog lights in non-fog conditions usually = poser who thinks they are sporty.
It's been my experience that stereotyping people or activities or places just winds up limiting yourself.
For example, I think all of y'all are nuts for trading cars every three months, and I don't want to own a classic car as a daily driver, but you're all different people with different (and mostly valid) reasons for doing such things. There's plenty more expensive hobbies out there.
Several car salespeople have lost sales from me - stuff like assuming I'm a payment buyer. Since I buy appliances I'm happy to go from Honda to Ford or vice versa and shop elsewhere.
Always amuses me to hear people say they hate Mexico or NYC, yet they've never been there. I used to razz friends from Ohio in my 30s -- turns out that the Midwest has some interesting things to offer, even if it is mostly flat.
I always use the old adage - where there's smoke there's fire. A stereotype is often dead wrong, but often again dead right.
When I was younger I wouldn't have balked at getting rid of a car quickly...now, the expense isn't worth it. My next vehicle purchase will be in some years if the E55 decays or gets hit, or if I buy a bike or another old car.
Well, I bit my tongue when the "confession" series first came out but much of this is true.
The So. Calif marketplace is a snake pit and it would be a miserable life selling cars there. Theis guy sold, what? three cars a month?
I did that many in a day sometimes and we averaged 20 cars a month per salesperson.
Standing around calling "ups" would be about the most degrading thing I can think of.
Sterotypes run both ways. The slimy salesperson steortype exists and for good reason. The sterotypes that I learned about different customers rarely proved themselves to be wrong. It's a fact of life.
I got very lucky. I picked a good store to work at. If I had gone anywhere else I woldn't have put up wth that crap for a week and they wouldn't have liked me either.
A couple of you mentioned about people driving with fog lights on. Living in Palm Springs, CA, and driving where the average age is 100, I drive with my fog lights on (Land Rover, Honda CR-V). The Bentley doesn't have fog lights so I usually don't turn the lights on until early dusk. Since it's white, it can be seen pretty easy.
On the other hand, since the Land Rover is black, I feel the need to keep the lights on all the time while driving. When I see black or dark vehicles coming towards me, it's very noticeable that they are harder to see than lighter colored cars.
I use my fog lights for safety. People run red lights here like crazy or pull out in front of you. I want to be seen.
Mark156
2010 Land Rover LR4, 2013 Honda CR-V, 2009 Bentley GTC, 1990 MB 500SL, 2001 MB S500, 2007 Lincoln TC, 1964 RR Silver Cloud III, 1995 MB E320 Cab., 2015 Prevost Liberty Coach
On the other hand, since the Land Rover is black, I feel the need to keep the lights on all the time while driving. When I see black or dark vehicles coming towards me, it's very noticeable that they are harder to see than lighter colored cars.
The exact reason I now drive a big RED truck. I figure anybody can see that! I do try to remember to drive with my lights on. I had HIDs on the Pilot, plan on putting them on the F-150 as soon as I get a chance.
I am strangely attracted to the Buick Regal for some reason. Strange since I drove one around this time last year and while it was nice, the 2.4 engine failed to impress me much. I drove a Lacrosse back to back with it and for close to the same money it was a much more appealing car. Yet I don't like the styling of the Lacrosse where I think the Regal is one of the best-looking cars on the road. It's like falling in love with a really-good looking woman who has some personality flaws over the less attractive one with a heart of gold. Seldom a smart move but here I am - and GM Canada has employee pricing on now which means about 8% off the top. There is an Espresso Brown one with cashmere interior on a lot here that keeps talking to me. I wish I could get that Regal out of my head.
I buy what I like..... and, don't really have to justify it to anyone else (you know, except my wife)...
Plus, I couldn't really give a crap who else drives what I do... It's their money.. Also, I don't care how they got their money... inherited it, worked for it.... lucked into it.. lottery winner.. doesn't matter.. I work my a-- off, but I realize that a lot of what I have is pure luck, based on the family I was born into.... and maybe a little intelligence (which again, pure luck and genetics... didn't earn a bit of it).
All the griping about who drives what? Sounds like a lot of jealousy and class envy to me.. (not that I'm mentioning you, of course... this is just a theoretical rant.. )
My sentiments exactly!
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
The ACURA ZDX. I've got one as a loaner while my 2010 TSX is in the shop for resurfacing the front rotors, and a couple of small covered under warranty repairs.
The ZDX is ugly & doesn't have all that much room for such a large vehicle. It gets horrible gas mileage (our 2011 Pilot does better). The blind spots are deadly - you cannot see out if the back of this thing. Switching lanes requires checking side mirror, pray, repeat. Acceleration is adequate (this is a $50K vehicle), neither sluggish nor overpowering.
There is some good. The ELS sound system truly rocks. I kinda dig the keyless go. The interior quality materials are first rate, soft touch plastics or stitched leather is everywhere. The ride is comfortable.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
ideas such as class envy and jealous are distractions from the lack of sense that comes along with undeserved money for some. As the socio-economic gap continues to explode, this becomes more grating......I think some are upset that others dare to air an opinion. Everyone has a right to buy what they want (so long as they can afford it of course), but with that right comes a risk of being stereotyped.
I haven't been here for a long time, hope it's OK if I express an opinion: The few expensive cars I've owned, 2 bmw's, & one range rover, I bought used, & paid cash. I bought them 'cuz I loved them, & for the performance, build quality, & safety. I did take flak from a very few people who thought it was stupid to own bmw's, or LR's. I once had a woman freak out on me when I revealed that I owned both a bmw & a LR. And I've owned chevys, hondas, toyotas, mercurys, mopars, you name it.
In my increasingly Yuppie neighborhood, people with money don't own expensive cars: they buy $1.3K McMansions, & a couple of hondas or toyotas.....(you think there are any class stereotypes between them, & the old putz's like me that own some of the old '50's little houses that are now "tear-downs"? Hello!). Personally I'm thinking of buying an '80's Ford P/U to go with my bmw, that might confuse a lot of people......but it's really b/c I want another truck....
I once had a woman freak out on me when I revealed that I owned both a bmw & a LR.
I doubt that all three of my older BMWs are worth $25000 combined, but the way in the eyes of some people you'd think that I was a multi-millionaire...
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
And, the sterotypes usually proved to be accurate.
I was really impressed with the salesguy I bought my 2000 Intrepid from, because he DIDN'T stereotype. On that day, I was dressed kind of slummy, because I was prepared to rake leaves and do some other yardwork for my grandmother. NOT dirty, mind you, but I was probably wearing either sneakers or old workboots, sweatpants, and a tee-shirt. My uncle wanted me to drive him to the dealer to pick up his truck, which had been in for something-or-other. Well, while we were in there, my uncle said "let's go over and look at the new cars."
IIRC, we pulled up to the dealership in my grandmother's '85 LeSabre, and probably didn't look like we had a pot to pee in or a window to throw it out (one of Grandmom's phrases). But, the salesguy was cool, didn't act like a jerk or anything, and, before I knew it, I was walking out of there with a brand-new Intrepid!
From what I saw at the auto show, the ZDX is about the same price as the MDX, but much less practical in terms of cargo space (and no appreciable difference in gas mileage). At least the Crosstour gets better mileage than the Pilot, although it isn't much cheaper.
So, im in the market for a nice E36 and boy people are proud of their prices. for a car that blue books in the high 6k range..i see a bunch in for sale in the 10k range. I wouldnt mind paying 10k but it would have to have like 50k miles on it I think. Is there that much demand surcharge on these cars?....I want a 1998 or 1999 year. any reason to look at or avoid 1995, 1996,m 1997?
The E36 M3 is seeing renewed popularity both as a track car and a DD/weekend toy. Overall the cars are pretty reliable and -since they don't have a "real" M motor- repair costs aren't bad at all. On a track car you need to reinforce the rear subframe mounts, but that's about it. The 1995 has OBD-I engine management which makes it a bit easier to boost engine output- as can be seen here. Having said all that, you will pay more for a solid low mileage example- $15,000-up for one with less than 50,000 miles on the clock. Anything much less will almost certainly be a dog that has title and/or accident issues. Me, I'd pay the premium to get a nice car from the start. The really good cars are changing hands between specialty dealers and individuals. KBB E36 M3 prices tend to reflect the tatty cars that were traded and sold at seedy BHPH mouse houses.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Also.. to answer your main question.... There is no reason to avoid the '95-'97 models... Sure, they are a couple years older, but at this point, you should be buying on mileage and condition... The newest one you are looking at will be at least 12 yrs old, so not much gained by paying more for a later model..
I noticed the increased urgency of the CL ads on that 325iS.. If he dropped it to $1800 that quick, then I have no doubt that 15 Benjamins would pry it loose.. (it's still a slushbox, though... )
We went to the Concours today in Cincinnati.. The theme was "Red Hot Rides".... Ferraris and Fire Trucks... A lot of money invested in those cars... My favorite at the show: An '88 Porsche 959 (what's that? A million?)
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yesterday, right outside my window, I had my Accord backed into a spot and the audi was right next to me, also backed in. Just sitting there, taunting. mean car.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I think you'd fall over when you had a look at the sticker on those A3 TDI's ... mid 30's to start, easily over $40K when optioned out.
And, really, isn't it just a Golf in a Brioni suit?
Having said that, I, too, like the looks of the A3, especially in that color combination.
Do you have a yearly "property tax" or anything like that? In NJ we pay sales tax when we buy and small yearly registration (based on vehicle classs, most under $100/yr)
Here in NC, we don't have sales tax in the true sense, but there is a 3% highway use tax on every transaction. For a private-party sale, the tax is figured on the book value of the car(!)
The down sides are that we have a yearly property tax assessed by the county (0.5-1% of book value), and if you move in from out-of-state, they hit you for that highway use tax (capped at $150) when you first register your car.
My husband thinks he's found "the one":
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_rdcZ1QQitemZ330575287340QQruZ- httpQ3aQ2fQ2fshopQ2eebayQ2ecomQ3a80Q2fiQ2ehtmlQ3fQ5ffromQ3dR40Q26Q5ftrksidQ3dp51- 97Q2em570Q2el1313Q26Q5fnkwQ3d330575287340Q26Q5fsacatQ3dSeeQ2dAllQ2dCategoriesQ26- Q5ffviQ3d1#ht_1334wt_1156
We live in GA, and it's in CA. He's ready to buy it now, fly out, and drive it home. What do you think?
I'll let the real propeller heads chime in on this one.
I have to agree. I know a guy who bought a 2010 3 series coupe. He's 40ish and just divorced. Calling him a d?#@%*bag is being kind. Always talking himself up, saying how fast his car is. ( My wife's Saturn Aura 3.6 XR is probably faster). Then he brags that he just got a Medicaid card and doesn't pay for health insurance.
I feel a little bad being kind of bigoted against people for what they drive, but sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. The only way I can describe my local M3 driver is "the full Joisey" - which sticks out like a sore thumb in Seattle. I've also never seen him drive it without blaring music...in an M3 you listen to the engine. And I don't know if any good people drive the new style M6 :shades:
Let me guess, divorced guy has a leased 328 which has been debaged. Maybe on blingy wheels.
First off, the seller is either an idiot or a liar- probably both. There is no such thing as an M3 "Sport". Period. "Highly sought after" because it has a sunroof and a "heckspoiler? Please. Almost ALL E36 M3s have sunroofs, and one with a "heckspoiler"("rear spoiler" in German) isn't even close to rare.
The coilovers have likely destroyed the ride/handling balance that BMW built into that platform- and also suggest that the car has had a far from easy life. You can find unmolested M3s with half the mileage in the mid to high teens. If I was looking for a rough track rat I might pay $7000 for this sled- tops.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Opposite ends of the spectrum and you can spot each one from a mile away !!
Many of the "good ones" post here.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
They are great cars but they can be fussy and very expensive to fix.
Buying one long distance is always risky unless you know someone on the other end who can get it into a shop for an inspection.
I'm pretty savvy when it comes to cars but I would NEVER buy a BMW without having a good shop do a careful inspection.
It's not a Buick or a Honda and it can break your bank account
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Keep looking.... check craigslist, BMW-specific forums, autotrader, etc.. You'll find something within a day's drive...
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Seriously, maybe not all, but in reality, anyone who buys an expensive car has some element of wanting to be seen as a well-to-do individual with status and a certain lifestyle. It's just variations on a theme. People who buy Malibus and Camrys don't share that aspiration.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
As a MB fan, I know the brand attracts a lot of posers too - usually the way the car is maintained tells the story. Filthy late model car usually = leaser showoff or someone who didn't buy it themselves. Neglected aging model usually = poser.
Plus, I couldn't really give a crap who else drives what I do... It's their money.. Also, I don't care how they got their money... inherited it, worked for it.... lucked into it.. lottery winner.. doesn't matter.. I work my a-- off, but I realize that a lot of what I have is pure luck, based on the family I was born into.... and maybe a little intelligence (which again, pure luck and genetics... didn't earn a bit of it).
All the griping about who drives what? Sounds like a lot of jealousy and class envy to me.. (not that I'm mentioning you, of course... this is just a theoretical rant..
regards,
kyfdx
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In the car business, I watched people buy cars for all of the wrong reasons. I would try to gently steer them toward something more sensible but I learned that few people heeded my advise.
I would look at their credit apps and see maxed out credit cards, boat payments and massive revolving debt yeat they HAD to have the used X5 we had. Trying to steer them toward something more affordable made no sense.
People HAD to have leather, sunroofs and Navigation and would stretch to a 72 month contract to keep their payments affordable.
The people with real money seemed to buy conservative cars.
I too had to earn every nickle I ever had starting with my paper route when I was 14 years old.
How others got their money is none of my business and certainly none of my concern.
Should the time come when I get my fun car - whatever make it happens to be - I won't care what anybody else thinks. I bought it for me, and if it makes the wife and I happy, then that's good enough.
Took the daughters' MINI in for it's first service today. She's had it just over 14 months and it turned 9800 miles on the drive home. Oil, filter, new wipers all around and a tire rotation. Turns out the rotation is not covered by the maintenance plan. Cost me $16. They washed the outside and I took care of the inside on the way home .. looks as good as new and ready for another year of motoring fun.
I had forgotten about the fog lights and you're right!
Here too!
I think some are upset that others dare to air an opinion. Everyone has a right to buy what they want (so long as they can afford it of course), but with that right comes a risk of being stereotyped. If it doesn't matter what others think, then it shouldn't matter when they say it. So is life
And yes, fog lights in non-fog conditions usually = poser who thinks they are sporty.
For example, I think all of y'all are nuts for trading cars every three months, and I don't want to own a classic car as a daily driver, but you're all different people with different (and mostly valid) reasons for doing such things. There's plenty more expensive hobbies out there.
And, the sterotypes usually proved to be accurate.
Always amuses me to hear people say they hate Mexico or NYC, yet they've never been there. I used to razz friends from Ohio in my 30s -- turns out that the Midwest has some interesting things to offer, even if it is mostly flat.
When I was younger I wouldn't have balked at getting rid of a car quickly...now, the expense isn't worth it. My next vehicle purchase will be in some years if the E55 decays or gets hit, or if I buy a bike or another old car.
BMW Stunt Driving
How did the veteran car salesmen interact with the new guys?.
Tough biz.
Just because you can stand on a pack of cigarettes and see the Pacific Ocean?
The So. Calif marketplace is a snake pit and it would be a miserable life selling cars there. Theis guy sold, what? three cars a month?
I did that many in a day sometimes and we averaged 20 cars a month per salesperson.
Standing around calling "ups" would be about the most degrading thing I can think of.
Sterotypes run both ways. The slimy salesperson steortype exists and for good reason. The sterotypes that I learned about different customers rarely proved themselves to be wrong. It's a fact of life.
I got very lucky. I picked a good store to work at. If I had gone anywhere else I woldn't have put up wth that crap for a week and they wouldn't have liked me either.
Exactly my point. You guys all smoke and wear white shoes and belts. :-)
Okay, anyone tire kicking this weekend?
Not me, nope, did that 2 weeks ago and look what happened.
I do have to take the truck in on Monday, the power adjustable pedals quit working, makes driving rather, um, interesting.
We took a trip this weekend, truck did great, averaged 19 mpg for the whole trip. Just over 2k on the odo now.
On the other hand, since the Land Rover is black, I feel the need to keep the lights on all the time while driving. When I see black or dark vehicles coming towards me, it's very noticeable that they are harder to see than lighter colored cars.
I use my fog lights for safety. People run red lights here like crazy or pull out in front of you. I want to be seen.
Mark156
The exact reason I now drive a big RED truck. I figure anybody can see that! I do try to remember to drive with my lights on. I had HIDs on the Pilot, plan on putting them on the F-150 as soon as I get a chance.
I am strangely attracted to the Buick Regal for some reason. Strange since I drove one around this time last year and while it was nice, the 2.4 engine failed to impress me much. I drove a Lacrosse back to back with it and for close to the same money it was a much more appealing car. Yet I don't like the styling of the Lacrosse where I think the Regal is one of the best-looking cars on the road. It's like falling in love with a really-good looking woman who has some personality flaws over the less attractive one with a heart of gold. Seldom a smart move but here I am - and GM Canada has employee pricing on now which means about 8% off the top. There is an Espresso Brown one with cashmere interior on a lot here that keeps talking to me. I wish I could get that Regal out of my head.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
Plus, I couldn't really give a crap who else drives what I do... It's their money.. Also, I don't care how they got their money... inherited it, worked for it.... lucked into it.. lottery winner.. doesn't matter.. I work my a-- off, but I realize that a lot of what I have is pure luck, based on the family I was born into.... and maybe a little intelligence (which again, pure luck and genetics... didn't earn a bit of it).
All the griping about who drives what? Sounds like a lot of jealousy and class envy to me.. (not that I'm mentioning you, of course... this is just a theoretical rant.. )
My sentiments exactly!
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
The 1988 325is slushbox on C/L is now $1800. Might see if the guy will take $1500...
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
The ZDX is ugly & doesn't have all that much room for such a large vehicle. It gets horrible gas mileage (our 2011 Pilot does better). The blind spots are deadly - you cannot see out if the back of this thing. Switching lanes requires checking side mirror, pray, repeat. Acceleration is adequate (this is a $50K vehicle), neither sluggish nor overpowering.
There is some good. The ELS sound system truly rocks. I kinda dig the keyless go. The interior quality materials are first rate, soft touch plastics or stitched leather is everywhere. The ride is comfortable.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
I haven't been here for a long time, hope it's OK if I express an opinion: The few expensive cars I've owned, 2 bmw's, & one range rover, I bought used, & paid cash. I bought them 'cuz I loved them, & for the performance, build quality, & safety. I did take flak from a very few people who thought it was stupid to own bmw's, or LR's. I once had a woman freak out on me when I revealed that I owned both a bmw & a LR. And I've owned chevys, hondas, toyotas, mercurys, mopars, you name it.
In my increasingly Yuppie neighborhood, people with money don't own expensive cars: they buy $1.3K McMansions, & a couple of hondas or toyotas.....(you think there are any class stereotypes between them, & the old putz's like me that own some of the old '50's little houses that are now "tear-downs"? Hello!). Personally I'm thinking of buying an '80's Ford P/U to go with my bmw, that might confuse a lot of people......but it's really b/c I want another truck....
I doubt that all three of my older BMWs are worth $25000 combined, but the way in the eyes of some people you'd think that I was a multi-millionaire...
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
I was really impressed with the salesguy I bought my 2000 Intrepid from, because he DIDN'T stereotype. On that day, I was dressed kind of slummy, because I was prepared to rake leaves and do some other yardwork for my grandmother. NOT dirty, mind you, but I was probably wearing either sneakers or old workboots, sweatpants, and a tee-shirt. My uncle wanted me to drive him to the dealer to pick up his truck, which had been in for something-or-other. Well, while we were in there, my uncle said "let's go over and look at the new cars."
IIRC, we pulled up to the dealership in my grandmother's '85 LeSabre, and probably didn't look like we had a pot to pee in or a window to throw it out (one of Grandmom's phrases). But, the salesguy was cool, didn't act like a jerk or anything, and, before I knew it, I was walking out of there with a brand-new Intrepid!
Having said all that, you will pay more for a solid low mileage example- $15,000-up for one with less than 50,000 miles on the clock. Anything much less will almost certainly be a dog that has title and/or accident issues. Me, I'd pay the premium to get a nice car from the start. The really good cars are changing hands between specialty dealers and individuals. KBB E36 M3 prices tend to reflect the tatty cars that were traded and sold at seedy BHPH mouse houses.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
I noticed the increased urgency of the CL ads on that 325iS.. If he dropped it to $1800 that quick, then I have no doubt that 15 Benjamins would pry it loose.. (it's still a slushbox, though...
We went to the Concours today in Cincinnati.. The theme was "Red Hot Rides".... Ferraris and Fire Trucks... A lot of money invested in those cars... My favorite at the show: An '88 Porsche 959 (what's that? A million?)
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