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David,<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
Geo<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 9/21/2014 3:58 PM, David Pertuz
wrote:<br>
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<blockquote
cite="mid:CAD0zwNnSXD-zGKoGggKRoO7Thkt5S-kpuN1ptBhoVPpMyaLzPA@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
<div dir="ltr">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...
<div><br>
</div>
<div>David</div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Sun, Sep 21, 2014 at 1:55 PM, George
Roffe <span dir="ltr"><<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:geo31@suddenlink.net" target="_blank">geo31@suddenlink.net</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
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<div>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. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>E39 Touring with manual is easier to find. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Geo<br>
<br>
Sent from my iPad</div>
<div>
<div class="h5">
<div><br>
On Sep 18, 2014, at 9:39 AM, David Pertuz <<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:d.pertuz@gmail.com" target="_blank">d.pertuz@gmail.com</a>>
wrote:<br>
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<div>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.)<br>
<br>
</div>
I want ideas from y'all. What I
want includes the following:<br>
<br>
</div>
-D-sized preferably (Camcord size),
but C-sized is OK<br>
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-Hatchback or wagon<br>
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-Manual transmission (I hate automatics)<br>
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-Fun to drive<br>
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<div>-30mpg on the highway (my damn Accord
will barely even do that)<br>
-Reliable and easy to work on (I keep shit
for a long time)<br>
</div>
-I don't care if it's fast, though I
certainly don't mind<br>
</div>
-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.<br>
<br>
</div>
<div>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:<br>
<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/4628641820.html"
target="_blank">http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/4628641820.html</a><br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/cto/4668168837.html"
target="_blank">http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/cto/4668168837.html</a><br>
<br>
</div>
<div>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....<br>
<br>
David<br>
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