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I hear you on towing. It is trully disapointing that they wouldn't even support some nominal number. Same on interior - there is substantial difference between how it looks on "base" trim vs. "line" trim. It looks like a different car. But even "line" trim are not perfect. I find their quality lower than what I have on my 2012 wagon with wood inlays. Some with plastics, switches - all of those seem to have been downgraded.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
the V60 has a very classy interior. And fantastic seats. At least as big in the cargo area as the 328 I suspect. Not quite sure which engines are on the ground now (the T5 or the new 2.0l 4 with much better MPG).
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
tyguy, nice report on the BMW. The entire time I (listened to) your wants, needs and budget I couldn't help but think this guy needs a Chevy Avalanche. It will provide everything you're looking for (except mpg) in spades plus the interior is better.
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
You hit the main thing about cellular service, no one can guarantee you service at any one spot. A hill, building or any number of things can block one particular carriers signal where others can reach. So it is best to forget all the carriers advertisements and find the carrier that covers the areas you frequent the best.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Actually there is a company out there that makes something called the "Bed Bug' for pickup trucks. Its something like blocks that keep cargo from moving around.
Plus I do remember seeing an advertisement for a company that would fumigate a moving truck for you to prevent the spread of bed bugs.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
There's only so many OCD customers out there that would go for the germ free deal. Probably would be law suits as there is no such thing as germ free. As soon as you opened the car door it would be loaded again. I seem to remember astronauts bring back pieces of spacecraft and finding some germs had survived outer space.
Unless a vehicle was a former condo car at a Leper colony I'd seen no purpose in disinfecting it.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
"Unless a vehicle was a former condo car at a Leper colony I'd seen no purpose in disinfecting it."
There's a big difference between "thoroughly cleaning" and "disinfecting" a pre-owned vehicle. I agree that disinfecting a vehicle should only be undertaken if there is evidence for that process.
OCD people unfortunately cannot consciously change the impetus for doing things the way they want to do them - remember, they are compulsive in their actions due to some psychological defect in their personality which prevents a more sane or logical approach to daily living. Thus, an acute OCD individual will disinfect a car no matter what - remember Howard Hughes?
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
If you want quiet ---- check Buick. The Enclave will tow but probably too big. Nice write up.
As for towing, check with the European tow numbers, as essentially the same car will tow in Europe. American cars are downgraded due to some unknown reason. The general consensus on the RV trailer forums is that manufacturers show low car towing capacities on cars so they can sell more trucks and SUVs.
2025 Toyota Crown Signia Hybrid, 2022 Ram 2500 Laramie 6.4 Hemi, 2007 Mazda MX-5 Miata PRHT
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Great review of your impressions of the 328s. If you were still serious about the bmw you should write to bmw head office. But, it seems there are other faults with the car.
We found many of the same faults with the 328 as you did. It cost a lot to upgrade the interior, this seems to be the way bmw gets you to spend more. The base interior is pretty grim looking.
On the way home we stopped at an Audi dealer. Found the Audi much better suited to us and it was $11K less expensive. Not sure about towing capacity though....seems to me these are just cars with a wagon type shell on them.
Good luck and it is good to have a back up plan in case your current vehicle bites the dust.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Good insight about OCD. I forgot about Howard Hughes - world's richest guy and he wouldn't leave his hotel room - feared germs. I have a feeling almost all of us have some degree of OCD......but, it does become a real problem when you can't live a fairly normally life.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Talk about GPS's. We drove to Clearwater to see Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons last night, a distance of about 40 miles. We would never have found the place without a GPS unit in the car.
Also, it was essential to finding our way home too. I know it could have been done with a trusty fold out map, but, this was much easier.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Where is everyone? I wrote at 8:40 a.m., played 2 hours of tennis, filled up with gas, ate lunch, checked my gmail, and checked in at 1:40 p.m. and no new posts. Talk about slackers!
Just noticed, my last 3 posts are #11098 (sorry, this one changed when I edited it)
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
"I have a feeling almost all of us have some degree of OCD....."
I don't believe OCD is as common a psychological disorder as your comment would indicate, driver. Remember, there is also a segment of the population who are considered opposites of OCD - procrastinators, to be exact. They don't react impulsively to stimuli but rather contemplate their navels when there is a need to respond to any stimulus.
I believe the populous is more like a "bell shaped curve"! 20% are OCD (to some extent), 20% are procrastinators, and 60% are "more normal" than the two extremes.
I used to be impulsive/compulsive much more so when I was younger than at present. But it does sneak up on me when it comes to car-buying - which I am sure none of you noticed!!!
My Dad, on the other hand, is a textbook OCD individual. If it isn't done immediately - and to his liking - he becomes so impatient that all you want to do is get out of his way. Now this is a 91 year old man. Can you imagine what he was like at 35 or 40?
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
sneak up on me when it comes to car-buying - which I am sure none of you noticed!!!
LOL. You traded cars in the past in a shorter time period that it takes me just to get warmed up to the idea of actually replacing one of my fine automobiles and to start seriously shopping like I am doing now!
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I'm OCD about keeping records on my car maintenance and making sure that it's done correctly. And when I install a home theater system it has to be right- I won't cheap out and cut corners.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
IMHO, the opposite of OCD is "not OCD". Procrastination has more to do with carelessness or laziness with indecisiveness at the far extreme.
OCD is really an extension of anxiety.
Actually there is a theory that OCD is inherent in all and is something of an instictive nature. This theory proposes that for groups of early men to survive the dangers all around them there had to be some degree of obssisiveness in checking the surrounding area and making sure others were ok.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Actually OCD is less psychological than neurological. Sufferers brains are actually wired differently such that a stimulus activates fear centers in the brain to a greater degree.
My son suffers from acute social anxiety and multiple phobias. He struggles with paralyzing fear at times.
They think people like him have hyperactivity in a region call the orbitofrontal cortex.
He could easily drive a Leper's car but if there was a glass filled with ice on the dashboard, he wouldn't get in.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Forgot Howard Hughes...
They speculate that HH's OCD was made worse by the brain damage he suffered in his airplane crashes.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
"Actually OCD is less psychological than neurological."
An excellent job at opening people's eyes and minds to those who suffer from OCD. Yes, quite a bit of neurological involvement, but of course still related to one's psyche. It starts as neurological, but worsens as these unfortunates try to relate to their environments - which is most difficult . My grandson cannot help why he reacts as he does, but psychologists work with him to help him compensate for his unfortunate condition.
Great job, oldfarmer !
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Dad and I go out for dinner twice a week at the casino - using my comp dollars to pay for the meals. Wednesdays we go to NYY Steakhouse and Fridays we go to Sorrisi's Italian Restaurant.
Tonight we ordered twin lobster tails with a side order of skillet potatoes and baby asparagus in holandaise sauce. The lobster tails were do big we had to take 2 of them home with us. Of course, Dad had room to order chocolate layer cake (smothered in hot fudge sauce) which he always takes home with him.
I always thought that Maine lobster tails were the largest, but these South African tails were simply humongous. They were sweet and the creamy butter sauce only made the taste even better.
Next week, we will order only one lobster tail each as our eyes were much bigger than our stomachs tonight.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Yep, just upgraded my Wife's phone and lost unlimited. Did the math and we never really went over 4Gb, so took that plan. WiFi at home and work plus tons of Xfinity WiFi in the area will ensure we never go over. Turns out my plan was way out of date and am saving $50 a month.
Cell phone tip to all.... Don't always go to your providers store or mall Kiosk to buy a phone. Staples had a Galaxy S4 for $50.00 when everyone else (including Verizon was $150)
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
Excellent....I don't know much about the topic, so I thought Mike's analysis sounded pretty good. But, I think your comments sound more accurate.
I was talking to a nice lady today, and she said she takes off her shoes in her house and if she visits other people. Her thinking was who knows where she has walked and she doesn' want it on her carpets or in her house. So, I mentioned my theory about most of us being on the OCD scale. She thought this taking your shoes off put her at about 10 on the scale. I thought to myself, that sounds more like a 50. I think I am at a 10 because I prefer getting coffee in a take-out place in a cardboard cup rather than a china cup....we both don't trust the dishwashers or the staff. We both wonder about buffet restaurants...they have the magic shield, but everyone uses the same spoon and utensils to fill their dishes. I won't avoid buffets, but I try to minimize my exposure by not going too often.
I don't ask people to remove their shoes in our house....house can be cleaned up pretty well. Besides, some germs are good to build up immunity.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
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I like that one too. OCD can be a good thing in some ways. Some highly successful people are OC and that is why they accomplish so much. There are lots of famous people and actors who have OCD, including, Donald Trump, Leo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz, Howard Stern, Beethoven,
Darwin, Harrison Ford, Chrles Darwin, Charlie Sheen, Einstein, Michelangelo and many more.
Famous people with or who had OCD
Some of these people may not have been famous if it hadn't been for their need for perfection.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
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Those are useful comments for me to know. I have a relative, who functions pretty well, but, does have a lot of fears. I was standing on the sidewalk talking to him and a person was walking toward us. Well, I would have just moved to the side and let the person pass, but this person pushed me off the sidewalk and moved over too as if we would be arrested or something if we didn't move. I think your comment could explain it, "Sufferers brains are actually wired differently such that a stimulus activates fear centers in the brain to a greater degree".
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Thanks for the comments on the 328d review, guys. Benjaminh, I think the wagon would still be worth a drive for your BIL. He may be willing to overlook some of the weaker points to get that awesome motor and convenient wagon layout.
To address stick's comments about the Volvo, I can confirm the new "T5 Drive-E" turbo 4-cylinder gas motor has hit the lots and that's what we'll test drive. 241 hp, 258 lb-ft torque, 25 mpg city and 37 mpg highway. Mated to a Japanese 8-speed auto. Imressive figures. Crappy nomenclature, though, giving both the new 4 cylinder and the old 5 cylinder the same T5 name. What's up with that? The efficiency isn't as high as the BMW diesel, but then again, the Volvo runs on regular unleaded. I'm looking forward to the drive after the positive comments about the interior and seats.
Switching gears from OCD to big business, politics, & NIMBY.
BIG BUSINESS - I got a letter stuffed into my mailbox last week from a law firm that AT&T leased a plot of land in extremely close proximity to my house to build a massive cell tower and there was going to be an informational meeting about it tonight. The meeting started at 5:30 and lasted until after 7:00 pm. I caught the last 1/2 hour or so and boy is this scary.
NIMBY - When I say extreme close proximity, I mean that my neighbor's property diagonally across the street from me borders this property. I have so many concerns & issues with this both Heath-wise & financially. This thing will be an eye sore, it will most likely diminish property values, & most important of all emits some sort of radiation, constantly. I don't want my children to be Guinea Pigs and have some insane health problems years down the road. Fezo is the perfect example of this.
POLITICS - In order to put a cell tower anywhere in the state of CT, you must get approval from a planning committee. This committee approves (mid to high) 90% of what crosses its "desk." It doesn't have to get approval from any city or town zoning board.
Short of following the 2 talking heads AT&T out of the parking lot and running them off the road in a random incident of road rage, my neighbors and I are going to have to retain legal council to stop AT&T from building this tower and amending the laws in the city of Stamford.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
good luck with the fight. As always, follow the payoffs. What gets me is there are so many industrial/commercial areas where no one would care (and probably welcome the income) that why the need to fight to put it in a residential neighborhood?
Still, I did not think there were safety concerns with a cell tower. Aesthetic, sure (those "pine trees" on the GSP are not that realistic, but they do kind of blend in!). I'm sure though after you get through with this you will be an expert.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
"...my neighbors and I are going to have to retain legal council to stop AT&T from building this tower and amending the laws in the city of Stamford."
Those cell towers emit microwaves, from my understanding. When I was Head of School in Rancho Mirage, CA back on the 90's, we fought the installation of high voltage electricity transmission lines because they emitted high levels of radiation measured in "goss" which could harm children developmentally. We won our battle after years of hearings and bore the legal fees associated with that fight.
I strongly suggest that you first select a legal firm that has an experienced staff of lawyers who have dealt with municipalities and counties in similar cases of microwave transmissions and the public safety and health of its citizens.
An alternative would be to try and sell your property and move to another area before the cell tower is approved. Usually, and unfortunately, these cases are often won by the company because they own the property and obviously have the legal muscle behind them. Just think of all the cell towers ATT has built in areas that resisted the cell tower construction.
I reallly don't want to discourage your right to fight them, but rather to inform you of the difficulties involved. If the zoning board of appeals is confronted by droves of citizens and local property owners, politics can often prevail, if you know what I mean.
Good luck Bradd, and choose your legal representation wisely and judiciously.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
@abacomike
This is NOT looking good. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 States that jurisdictions may not PROHIBIT the placement of communication towers.
We have to PROVE that the tower is not needed (hard to do, since the cell phone companies have all of that data).
One of my neighbors noted the proximity to "wetlands" that he says were illegally "back filled" a few years ago. If we can prove by soil samples that there is back fill over the wetlands, then we have a case.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
You sure have my sympathy. Unfortunately, I don't have much advice, but, I wouldn't want that to happen to me. I guess you could start with your local politicians (probably a waste of time but best to check) and see what happens.
It doesn't seem fair "that jurisdictions may not PROHIBIT the placement of communication towers". Whatever happened to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness - mainly yours?
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
This one is for oldfarmer......A school bus driver couldn't get her school bus started one morning. So, she picked the kids up in her Cadillac Escalade. The school bus company fired her!
School Bus Driver Fired for using her own SUV
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
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I take my shoes off in the house because it's comfortable.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Maybe you can get them to dress it up in that "FrankenPine" costume that I see around the country. Disguises the tower pretty good unless you're really looking for it.
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRX5tQm2njvNj_phDe10mowMZfxWUa5N9GZYNASUJ1wWODS54NbUQ
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Had a scare today.
Went out to start the hooptie van and it started bucking and shaking something awful. Felt like the motor was unbalanced or half the cylinders weren't firing. I opened the hood and found icicles inside the engine compartment and the engine was vibrating violently. As I tried to shift into reverse I heard a loud BANG. I thought I had busted a gear or the fan belt had snapped.
Strangely, after that the engine smoothed out and I was able to back across the driveway fine. No broken belt either. Ran it for about 10 minutes and nothing was leaking out beyond what normally does.
I'm thinking that water leaked onto something and froze causing an imbalance problem until the ice broke loose but what the heck part would that happen to?
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
I think the wetlands argument is stronger, if you can come up with good evidence. The scientific "evidence" that cell tower radiation is harmful is based mostly on the "precautionary principle", which basically means that we can't say "cell towers cause cancer" but we can say "cell towers MIGHT cause harm". It's not that strong a case, scientifically speaking.
On the other hand, the standard of evidence required in a court of law is much lower than for a scientific paper, so it might play. I'm with you purely on aesthetic principle and effects on home value. That alone is enough for me.
First Student is a big corporate operation that has been the focus of much anger here in the US as school districts cut cost by firing all the school's union bus drivers and privatizing. First Student then offers them jobs at 30-50% less and no benefits.
The school district next to ours did this last year and many of their drivers came to work for us. It's a sad fact of the economy that districts are dumping 30 year employees to save money and worse that some of said employees take the huge pay cuts because there are ZERO employment opportunities elsewhere. So glad that I'm close to retirement.
As to the driver's firing it's understandable in our litigious society. If she had an accident the company would have been sued for millions. Many of our "safety" rules are really lawsuit avoidance rules.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
As I mentioned, Bradd, your first move should be to contact all of your neighbors and try to create a "non-profit" corporation whereby you can collect money from its members and others and spend it on defending your position in court. Thus, contributions to the corporation would be tax deductible to you and its members.
Then, google for a Legal Firm that has succeeded in defending the right of citizens to deny the building of towers with microwaves. We know that microwaves are dangerous - there is plenty of research on that subject. Once you have an attorney or firm representing you, you follow their advice.
I wonder if the American Civil Liberties Union could be helpful here - the rights of property owners is a civil liberty (the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness - and the protection of real and personal property is guaranteed under the constitution).
It may be a lost cause, but you should definitely "go down fighting" because I believe that is what most of us would do to protect our property and our families from harm.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Similar situation here in my MA hometown, a couple of cell tower sites being fought. Although, thankfully, the sites are not in my backyard, but I feel for the homeowners. There but for the grace of location, location, location go I.
I believe one of the underlying principals of the Telecommunications Act is "public safety." The towers facilitate communication for police, fire and ambulance service.
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
@mrshift @abacomike
Thanks a bunch guys. I appreciate your thoughts and insight.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
just keep in mind that AT&T has really deep pockets. Fighting is going to cost a ton of money. That is actually one of big business favorite approaches. Just drag things out and bury you in paper, figuring you will quickly run out of money and have to give up. Then they make a token concession (fake pine tree? bigger fence?) and offer to cover some of your legal bills, basically buying you out.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
This thing will be an eye sore, it will most likely diminish property values, & most important of all emits some sort of radiation, constantly. I don't want my children to be Guinea Pigs and have some insane health problems years down the road. Fezo is the perfect example of this.
While a cell phone tower emits radiation it is non-ionized RF (radio frequencies) which are not linked to any diseases. Pretty much the only way the cell tower can harm you is if you climb on it and fall off.
My concern would be it being an eyesore and bring down property values.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
@snakeweasel said: While a cell phone tower emits radiation it is non-ionized RF (radio frequencies) which are not linked to any diseases.
If the frequencies emitted from the towers are dangerous , then we wouldn't want to be using the cell phones in our hands and next to our heads all the time.
The problem is the towers need to be in certain locations that are higher to gain coverage to a higher radius around the towers, so often the location is inconvenient.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
"we know microwaves are dangerous..."
A fellow farmer who I buy plants from is located close to the Albany International Airport. They built a microwave radar on the hill next to his farm. It beams right into his bedroom window.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
True you get more exposure from your phone than you would get from a cell phone tower.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Here is my off the wall idea. Get a cheap atandt phone, then drive around and make some calls to see if there is really a dead zone. Maybe they just don't want to piggy back on a tower owned by someone else.
The real impetus for the continued construction and placement of the towers is you, me, and the rest of the world - as we almost incessantly cling to our cell phones and demand faster and faster uploads and downloads of data (4G, 4LTE, etc). How long before we are at 5G, then 6G?
The more you want to text, search the web, send and receive emails, the more these communication conglamorates will build more and more towers to handle more and more capacity.
And I haven't even mentioned cell phone use for talking to others yet.
So I guess we can blame each other for the massive expansion and construction of more and more of these towers that now invade Bradd's environment.
I live adjacent to the Florida Turnpike. Within eyesight of my condo, I can see 4 huge towers (several blocks from my house, but stretched for miles along the highway) with construction taking place along I-95, I-75, I-595 and every other major artery throughout the United States and Canada.
Yep - it's our own fault! In the Mojave Desert surrounding Palm Springs and the other Desert Cities, there are miles and miles of hundreds of windmills converting wind into electricity. It has completely ruined the true beauty of the western Mojave. But the keep putting up more and more of these turbines and they make them bigger and bigger. Do you know how many thousands upon thoudands, if not millions and millions of migrating birds and butterflies are killed each year because of those wind turbines?
Same thing as Bradd's dilemma - we are at fault because we demand more and more. That's why the environmentalists are deeply concerned - we are ruining our beautiful landscapes for the sake of more and better technology.
I am not an environmentalist per se, but I know who to blame for more and more cell towers, wind turbines and the like - US!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
there are alternatives Mike (for energy). Just no one wants to use them anymore, and we need something to produce electricity.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
If you want to save birds and butterflies ban cars. At least a thousand times as many birds are killed by cars than wind turbines each year.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D