non-SE-R car replacement

[George Roffe]

David,

I can best sum it up by this:  My E46 is both the best and the worst car 
I've ever owned.  It's somewhat maintenance intensive (more than any car 
I've had).  That said, I absolutely love driving it.  Best car I've ever 
owned in that regard.  So much so that I'd pick up an E46t or E39t if I 
could find the right one.  My E36/7 (M Roadster) has definitely been 
significantly more reliable and more fun to drive when I want a more 
visceral driving experience, but as a DD, the E46 absolutely rocks.

Geo

On 9/21/2014 3:58 PM, David Pertuz wrote:
> George, how has the maintenance been on your BMWs? I seem to recall 
> you've had at least one E46, but I'm not sure. I am used to, and want 
> to keep, Japanese-car reliab ility for my #1 car (I've got two project 
> cars - I want my main car to be something that doesn't require more 
> than periodic oil changes and such); I know BMWs don't have that, but 
> I don't know how much I'd be giving up...
>
> David
>
> On Sun, Sep 21, 2014 at 1:55 PM, George Roffe <geo31 at suddenlink.net 
> <mailto:geo31 at suddenlink.net>> wrote:
>
>     I've been Jonesing for an E46 or E39 Touring for some time. Just
>     haven't found the perfect one yet.  I require a manual gearbox,
>     sport package and HID lights.  I've come close a couple of times.
>     Found one that was almost perfect but timing was wrong.
>
>     E39 Touring with manual is easier to find.
>
>     Geo
>
>     Sent from my iPad
>
>     On Sep 18, 2014, at 9:39 AM, David Pertuz <d.pertuz at gmail.com
>     <mailto:d.pertuz at gmail.com>> wrote:
>
>>     My primary car is the Beige Transportation Appliance, a 2004
>>     Honda Accord. As if that's not beige enough, it's beige-on-beige
>>     with a four-cylinder and an automatic. Not quite my thing (though
>>     it would be fine if it were a manual) but it was a deal way too
>>     good to pass up when I got it. I've had it three-and-something
>>     years and since it works well enough for the out-of-town trips
>>     that constitute most of its driving, I've been happy enough. But
>>     after a three-week vacation in the west that involved a lot of
>>     mountain and otherwise twisty roads, and a headliner that began
>>     falling down (WTF?) I've quickly become pretty over the car and
>>     am dreaming of its replacement. It's OK cosmetically (Florida
>>     car, so it's squeaky clean, but scrapes on the fascias, etc.),
>>     interior is pretty immaculate except for the damn headliner, and
>>     mechanically its excellent and has super-low mileage (45k) So my
>>     budget will be whatever I can sell it for, maybe another grand or
>>     so, or something around $9k. Cash (I don't buy cars on credit.)
>>
>>     I want ideas from y'all. What I want includes the following:
>>
>>     -D-sized preferably (Camcord size), but C-sized is OK
>>     -Hatchback or wagon
>>     -Manual transmission (I hate automatics)
>>     -Fun to drive
>>     -30mpg on the highway (my damn Accord will barely even do that)
>>     -Reliable and easy to work on (I keep shit for a long time)
>>     -I don't care if it's fast, though I certainly don't mind
>>     -Hatchback or wagon - I might get another sedan if it hit all the
>>     other buttons, but why compromise? I love the utility of 5-doors.
>>     If it's a sedan, it absolutely must have a folding seatback. The
>>     ability to fit a bike inside is mandatory. I would love to have a
>>     cargo area long enough to sleep in, too.
>>
>>     I had plenty of time to think on this, and I came up with only
>>     two cars that hit everything: the Mazda 6 (wagons and hatches
>>     aren't really common, but they're there) and the Subaru Legacy
>>     GT. Two local examples:
>>
>>     http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/4628641820.html
>>     http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/cto/4668168837.html
>>
>>     What am I missing that's fun? Anything? I've thought of things
>>     like a BMW E46 Touring, or an E39 Touring, Jetta diesel wagons at
>>     the right price point, etc. but those are going to be high
>>     mileage and do I really want the electronics of a high-mileage
>>     German car? I love driving cars like that, but owning....
>>
>>     David
>>
>>     +----------------------------------------------------------------------+
>>     The mailing list home page is http://www.se-r-list.org/
>>     To modify your subscription, go to
>>     http://www.se-r-list.org/mailman/listinfo/se-r
>
>

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.se-r-list.org/pipermail/se-r/attachments/20140921/30e8f503/attachment.html