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I can't think of any econoboxes or monster trucks that do 0-60 in 7 sec flat. Any examples? I still think that 7 sec flat is very respectable and faster than a good 95-98% of the cars out there in the real world (by the number of cars, not number of models that can do it).
I've noticed that most drivers that own decent to real nice cars (BMW's,Infiniti,Vette,Benz,Lexus..etc) tend to drive closer to the speed limit, more cautious, and rarely seen as major victims in car ascendents. Most of the cars that drive recklessly on the freeway or at excessive speeds tend to be the SUV drivers,trucks,beat up old cars, and econoboxes. Maybe I'm wrong, but it's just my observation.
This week I had to drop off my M3 for service. As I walked in, I noticed a wreaker backing up into the service area with a new 7 series on the back. The front end was completly smashed. I asked my little buddy in the service dept what happend to the new 7. He told me that the driver ran off the road trying to make a simple adjustment using the I-drive system. Next thing he knew, he ran off the road not paying attention. The owner only had 3,000 miles on it. We both agreed that we hope BMW does not try to implement the I-drive system on other BMW's in the future.
Wanted to update the room that my sister and I will travel to Germany in Jan to pick up her 540i sport. We're looking forward to it. I've heard the weather in Germany has been above avg in temp this fall/winter. Anyone have any tips, ideas concering the trip there? Would love to hear.
Well, the V6 Altima is a bordeline econobox. The SVT Focus and the upcoming Neon SRT are 7 sec and under cars. As for trucks, the SVT Lightning and soon to come Ram SRT are under 7 sec trucks. Heck, I went to college in the mid-late seventies and the fastest domestic cars were the Corvette and Trans AM-and you had to really flog them to get them into the sixes. The holy grail of acceleration was the Turbo Carrera, which did 0-60 in the fives. And the fastest US spec BMW? The E12 530i- which did it in the low eights...
Too true. Some people on the Mazda6 thread are calling 220hp too little, citing more power as a safety feature when merging. Rediculous. It's only there for thrills or weaving like an jerk.
I am very excited for the next run of the 3er, and have no doubts that BMW will more than outmatch the straight line hustle that the japanese manufacturers are providing. A turbo inline six would be pretty sweet.
-Getz
I say bring on the Lancer EVO, according to the review, if you want to blow everything away, but dont care about accutrements that's the car for you. It's not the car for me however. BMWs mission is to produce an all-around top notch drivers car. The mission of the Lancer is a top-notch handler without the sophistication of the BMW. Add that sophistication in and you now have a car that will sell for much more.
The boost in HP and the trend toward bigger engines is disturbing overall. We need to come go grips with pollution and oil as an energy source.
Hey, I was thinking that your son will end up getting the ti after all. You are not going to sell it if you get the 330i Club Sport, right?
I have made many day trips to parts of Germany when flying through Europe just to spend a day drinking some good Pilsner or Kolsch.
Just dont drink and drive.
What we really need are higher fuel taxes. This would discourage the use of any vehicle which gets low gas mileage, whether it's a high HP sedan or a gas guzzling SUV. This is one of the reasons other countries don't drive as many massive vehicles as we do, when gas is $4/gallon you tend to care a little more about fuel economy. And that's what I'd actually like to see, gas at over $3/gallon.
What would be even nicer but not probable, if the government were to use the gas tax to actually clean up the environment.
And if I can just rant for 2 seconds on parents who give their kids SUVs to drive around. Gee, because my kid is more clueless/reckless when it comes to driving let me give them a vehicle that will save them but kill everyone else on the road. That's exactly what this is, my kids life is more important than anyone else's life because SUV's are only safer when involved with crashes with smaller vehicles.
How about instead of huge SUVs you give your kids better training behind the wheel and a smaller car with every safety option available. And maybe if they had a smaller vehicle they wouldn't feel as invincible. Of course I have no right to speak on this as I have no kids and don't know what it's like to be a parent.
As far as the power increases, it seems that most of these vehicles have gas mileage that is right in tow with what weve seen from less powerful engines in the past. I believe the new accord v6 is still an ultra low emissions vehicle? It seems engines are getting much more efficient, and I doubt we will see any adverse effects in our environment by gaining a few extra ponies. The only solution is finding a source other than fossil-fuel, but not many folks will want to give up the performance of a gasoline engine. Hybrids are nice immediate patch-work solution, but again you lose the oomph. I think a major area that needs to be addressed is getting the millions of beaters which account for vastly more emissions than a modern vehicle off the road, or up to speed. Also the millions of gallons of diesel that get burned on a daily basis do a whole lot of harm as well, but nop one seems to ever glance in that direction either.
-Getz
I'm not speed racer and I did not buy a BMW to drag against Camaros. But if a Camaro want to tail me on a mountain road, good luck. The bottom line to a BMW is REFINEMENT and HANDLING, hence the Ultimate Driving Machine .
I happen to agree with you on gas taxes. Higher taxes would encourage investment in new and existing technologies that will have long term benefits for everyone. Raise the cost of driving and let the consumer decide what is best for them. Better mass transit and high speed rail would benefit our society as well.
There is an article in a recent Consumer Reports on the trend towards higher mileage, larger vehicles and lower emissions to the detriment of mpg.
getz2
Also the millions of gallons of diesel that get burned on a daily basis do a whole lot of harm as well, but no one seems to ever glance in that direction either.
I disagree. The EPA has regularly lowered emission regulations of diesel engines, the latest new regulation going into effect last October. I am working on exhaust filters for diesel engines that remove 90%+ of the particulate (black smoke) associated with diesel engines. These filters will be required on diesel engines in 2007.
VW's diesel cars achieve high mileage without the hocus pocus and complexity of hybrid engines. I drove a Jetta in the early 80's that got 50 mpg. Obviously, the consumer hasn't demanded high mileage.
-murray
Anyway I'm way off topic so I'll shut up.
It's not a matter of if the cost of fuel will go up, but when and how we will adapt.
-murray
mschukar,
thanks for the diesel update, good to hear. However, the best diesel engines never make it from europe to our shores becasue they are ham-strung by emissions regulations (ie BMW has a pretty sweet disel 3-series), when I mentioned regulating diesel I meant on a global scale. Diesel, sans your filter (I'm assuming), is still more polluting than gasoline.
-Getz
mschukar,
thanks for the diesel update, good to hear. However, the best diesel engines never make it from europe to our shores becasue they are ham-strung by emissions regulations (ie BMW has a pretty sweet disel 3-series), when I mentioned regulating diesel I meant on a global scale. Diesel, sans your filter (I'm assuming), is still more polluting than gasoline.
-Getz
Actually, tough regulations on diesel particulate go into effect in Europe before the US.
I also think diesel engines have low demand in the US (for whatever reason) which prevents BMW and others to even try to sell them here.
-murray
3 or 4 TVs in a house? Well, let people spend their money the way they want to. We only have one TV in our house but so what - we don't need more than that. If someone wants 4 TVs and are willing to pay for them, sure, why not? Why would they have to give up some of their disposable income to subsidize programs that are likely to fail, such as those aimed at improving public transportation?!?
As far as the ultimate driving machine - well, it is just a very successful tagline, that's all. Ironically, there's nothing ultimate about BMWs - for every aspect of driving, there are other cars that beat BMW at it. BMWs do everything very well - that's why I love them but that doesn't make them ultimate driving machines...
Why are so many willing to give so much of other people's money--which is a function of their time and talent--and so much power to centralized government? Esp. when so much that government has tried to do in this area has been counterproductive. Just look at how much our government has spent on alternative fuel and electric vehicles. How many have been sold by GM, Ford, Chrysler? Then look what Toyota and Honda have done essentially on their own.
And you'll oh so love government-run mass transit when unionized government workers go out on strike to blackmail for higher wages! Just ask New Yorkers how they love it when the bus drivers et al strike.
Your wife (husband, girlfriend, neighbor, friend's dog... whoever) gives you $1000 for Christmas to spend on your car. The stipulations are that you must buy an item(s) for the car (no driving schools, etc) and it is a finite amount (ie, you can't put it towards something like Bilstein coilovers and make up the difference out of your own pocket). What would you get?
I'll go first (prices are approximations);
UUC Short Shift kit - $350
UUC Sway Bars - $350
UUC Strut Brace - $250
Real expensive fuzzy dice - $50
FWIW, I have no affiliation with UUC or fuzzy dice manufacturers
OK, really -
ECIS CAI - $350
RD front strut brace - $250
M3 steering wheel - $350
and have enough money left for a real expensive fuzzy dice ($50) )
I would not want to fudge TOO MUCH with the rolling resistance of the car, so coilovers are a big no for me. The UUC sway bars are a great choice. I decided against them for now because the install takes 3-4 hours with a friend and I am pretty sure it will be a little over my head and esp. because you need to grease them at least once a year. Also, they may develop clunking noises if they are not properly installed.
Does BMW offer free scheduled maintenance like Audi does? For how long and how many miles? Thanks.
What color fuzzy dice?
I cannot fault anyone from feeling somewhat cheated if they get beat in their BMW by any midsize or near luxury japanese cars. As individuals,we should drive what we want and can afford. I enjoy my BMW and probably would consider driving an Audi, an Infiniti or Volvo(not for it styling). Can you get refinement and handling, yes. I thing the G35 is coming close. But by and large to get what you want tends to come at a price. I would love an Aston Martin but i am not holding my breathe.
I'd try one of the X-Pel clear bra kits. (About $350, I believe.) For the balance, maybe I'll get a bunch of $9.95 fuzzy dice and sell them to ya'll for $50 each.
Maxima is not a bad family car for the money. It is pretty quick in a straight line and does most things pretty well. I wouldn't compare it to a 3 series because it is so much larger. The 5 series is a better comparison.
Newtoboston: I agree about gas prices. Increase them and encourage fuel conservation. I probably would not have 4000 miles on my 6.5 week old car if gas was $3 a gallon. Spend the money on the roads and research for ways to move people more efficiently--of course I distrust the gov as much as anyone and to echo riez, most of the additional money would probably get wasted anyway.
Kominsky: you tell me. What would you get on an M3. I can see getting a CAI, the Short Shift kit and the fuzzy dice. Any other suggestions - Do I need to beef up the suspension?
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You might be right, but the government can subsidize the airlines and the auto industry through new roads, yet when someone mentions mass transit or high speed rail, people cry socialism.
We pay to build new roads to solve congestion, yet 10 years later, the traffic jams are back and we call that progress?!? If you like the privacy and peace of sitting in your BMW in a traffic jam, that's great, but I would rather see my tax money spent on a long term solution rather than new roads that will be packed in 10 years.
-murray
p.s. If I recall correctly, Amtrak opened a high-speed line from Boston to New York some time in the past year. Last thing I remember hearing about it is that it wasn't close to breaking even and that it had serious technical difficulties. Do you really think that increasing the taxes on gas would change any of that?
The government can give incentives to the buyer for purchasing a sensible high MPG vehicle (instead of the monster ut) People might reason that they don't need the monster after all and the rest of us will be able to actually see what's ahead on the road when driving :-)
brave - sounds to me like your pocketing a good chunk of that money! i gotta check with the rule book, but i'm pretty sure that's cheating. Don't you already have the CAI and the strutbrace? I forgot about the M3 wheel... I may have to revise my list.
leenelsonmd - if i had an M3, I'd already have everything I ever wanted and would give the money to some goofy Ukranian who would like to add the M3 steering wheel and ECIS CAI to his list. :-)
ryoken - capitalism at it's finest. hahaha
camberplates should not be installed on any car with stock suspension. the suspension should be upgraded first, even if it's relatively stiff like an M3 or Sport package would come standard with.
-Colin
The M3 is a different story, that car pretty much does everything straight out of the dealership. I'm counting the days till I can upgrade to an M3/M5. I assume from your name that you practice medicine? I start my emergency medicine residency in june, so only 4 more long years of restless nights longing for the sweet embrace of an M car.
seivwrig: Good point regarding hp and acceleration, as many people overlook the power to weight ratio. Thats the compromise of sport-luxury cars, as all those creature comforts can lead to a pretty bloated vehicle. I'm still amazed at how well the current generation M5 scoots despite tipping in around 4000 lbs, so the GTRM3 must be quite the thrill ride. I was a big fan of the 315hp Z coupe despite its rather unique look, and look forward to seeing the new Z5(?) which may get the V8 treatment. I personally love the current performance trend, as it really benfits the consumer.
As far as $4 per gallon gasoline being a solution to our environmental woes, that would really slam the poverty line folks who have a hard enough time keeping their cars running, let alone worrying about buying a new fuel efficient vehicle. You should see some of the stuff rolling around inner-city chicago, you would be absolutely amazed. That was one benefit of spending some time at cook county hospital, it was like a little trip into the third world every time I turned off of the interstate.
-Getz
ugh, enough about that.
-Colin
I'm new to this forum and would like to get some pricing advice. Looking to buy a 2000 328i that has the sport and Premium packages. The buggy has 43.5K on it. The car is in excellent condition. Is 25500 a good price? I'm also considering another just like the one above that has 20000 miles and has the fold down rear seat, but not heated front seats....what is a fair price for this one .
Thanks for your input.
Hamann Black grill kit ~$100
M3 steering wheel ~$350
BMW Clears ~$300
Myrtle brake handle ~$100
Juan Pablo bobblehead doll for the dash ~priceless