[blau]

I'd also take a look at the Mini Countryman S All-4. They start around 28k with 4wd, have plenty of interior space and they drive great as well. We test drove one and almost bought it, but went with a used Cooper S instead. Now that we're back on the east coast, I would have opted for the Countryman. Not as much trunk space as the 328 or A4 Avant, but depends on what you need.

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[biotechee]

Yeah, the free loaner and free maintenance from BMW is definitely a huge plus. I have to test drive all of them and see which one really suits me. I'll ask my neighbor if I can drive his A4 again. The Lexus saleswoman gave me an open invitation to test drive anytime. Just need to stop at BMW and scope it out!

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[94SilverCab]

I present the 2013 Hennessey Venom GT Spyder...$1.1 Million.

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[tamathumper]

Wow. All that's missing is the driver's side douchebag. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/biggrin.png" class="smilie" alt="" />



j/k - not for me, but it's very pretty.

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[Rap]

That's one cool looking car!

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[Cloud9...68]

Did you guys know the Venom is a stretched Lotus Exige, with a monster V8 stuffed in?



Back to daily drivers, one thing that irritates the crap out of me about German cars is that ALL of them, including the lowly Smart car, require premium gas. I would expect that in a Porsche or high end BMW, but not in a "daily driver." Makes a big difference over time, if you're planning to drive the car a lot. The Japanese and Americans have figured out how to build high specific output engines that run on regular; it's time for the Germans to get with the program.

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[94SilverCab]

I saw the venom and just had to find a way to post it.



Back on topic, I'm not sure how much you use your car, by if it's a DD couldn't you go with something older, say a 2005/6 E Class, rather than newer/pricier (slightly) lower quality?



For myself, I drive 13 miles a day, that's why I have a 2002 S40...more money for the 968.



Jay

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[ds968]

I've had MBZs as daily drivers for over three decades, and they are as reliable as can be, for a German car.. ( not quite Japanese car reliable, but a very respectable second place , IMO..) , yet I would not recommend any of the E or C series models I've had, unless you want to be bored to death while you're driving.. Though it should be noted that none of my MBZs were AMG.

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[gbarrier]

I'd say Beamer all the way. We customarily over the years have bought them used at about 50K and just out of warranty and have usually driven them up to about 200 or 250K before we sold them. Do our own maintenance inhouse and really feel like they are cheap to keep in the long run. If you plan to keep it for a while go Beamer.

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[biotechee]

No offense to the Benz drivers - just not my type of car. I stopped at the BMW dealer late last night and poked around. I really like the 3 series - the changes - although very minor - in the last couple of years have vastly improved on what I originally considered a pretty horrible Bangle-debacle (2007 model year). They had a nice, preowned 2009 328xi on the lot, wasn't certified though....



Talked with a sales lady inside for about 1 minute. I was wearing sneakers, jeans, an Arctic Cat snowmobile jersey and pretty thick 5 o'clock shadow. She ended up somewhat arguing with me that you couldn't get cloth seats in an E46. She's sold BMWs for 15 years and never saw one with cloth seats. Never asked for my name or asked me anything period. She won't be getting my business.

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[flash]

the sales department is the only ting i have found to be less than stellar about bmw. it seems that they think they walk on water, and don't need to make deals.

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[biotechee]

I'm sure if I were in a suit and tie, and asking about the 7 series on the floor, she'd have been all over me. Kinda strange, especially since the 3 series is BMW's sales' bread and butter! Perhaps I didn't look the part.



I found out a little more about "special orders" - apparently you can potentially special order in a "current" pain color, but it has to be approved by BMWNA and BMW AG, then you pay nearly a $5000 premium and 100% of the price of the car up front. Ouch!



Lemme see if I still have that rattle can of Rustoleum in the garage....!

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[bombfactory]

I had a similar experience buying my first BMW from Beverly Hills BMW in 1995. At the time the M3 was still very rare and each dealer in the L.A. area only had a few. So I traveled all over town until I had seen every available color in person. I decided on white, and Bev Hills was the only dealer that had one. I showed up in my '91 Acura Integra, in jeans and a t-shirt - hey I'm a designer, it's what I wear all the time - and was promptly ignored for about ten minutes. Finally a sales lady asked if she could help me and as soon as I said the magic words 'Yeah I'd like to buy that car over there' they were falling all over me. Pretty funny. You'd think they'd learn not to ignore anyone, no matter what they look like - millionaires don't always dress like millionaires (not that I'm anywhere near one myself!).

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[biotechee]

I'm nowhere near a millionaire, but I like wearing jeans and t-shirts. I may not look GQ, but I sure am comfortable most days!

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[Cloud9...68]

I'm getting a little confused. Are you looking at a new BMW, or a used one? The current design, the E90 series, was introduced in 2006 and hasn't changed through the 2011 model year. A new model (designated F10) is coming out in 2012. The E46 ran from 1999 through 2005. We own both an E46 (a 2004) and an E90 (a 2007). They're both nice cars, but the E90 is really a cut above the E46 in every conceivable way. The downside is that they went to much more complicated electronics with the E90, so there are those who believe they will become very expensive to maintain once they get well past 100K miles. Our E90 has been extremely reliable, though, through 71K miles.

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[Ceenit]

I had a similar experience at the Lexus dealership recently. Salesperson knew far less that I expected or was just plain not being honest, and thats after I finally got their attention. I going in dressed down. A buddy of mine has worked as the finance manager is several of the local high end dealerships, and he just jokes on how they rate the customers and how much they can get out of them by the customers appearance and clothing.



Love internet sales and all the other ways of buying new and used without walking into the dealership.



I reiterate my vote for the BMW. Another rationale is if you had it down to one of your kids after 5, 10, or 15 years....I think they would rather drive the older BMW than the alternatives...I on the other had, got the handed down Carolla that had aleady been handed through my 4 older siblings, and I was exstatic to get it <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.png" class="smilie" alt="" />....my how we spoil these kids today <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.png" class="smilie" alt="" />.

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[Rap]

My first car had been under 15 feet of flood water. While I went to school with kids that drove nice cars I was delighted to have a car. Extracurricular activities can happen in nice or not so nice cars. Just gotta have a car! Thanks for that memory!

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[Ceenit]

[quote name='Rap' timestamp='1322773460' post='118698']

Extracurricular activities can happen in nice or not so nice cars. Just gotta have a car! Thanks for that memory!

[/quote]



LOL, it's amazing what two people could do fitting into a single front seat of a compact car when we were 16 <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/biggrin.png" class="smilie" alt="" /> . Now at 40+ we look at mid and full size cars to seat one 'comforably' <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/blush.png" class="smilie" alt="" />



But I digress. Back on topic....

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[bombfactory]

Cloud I think biotechee is referring to the mid-cycle freshening that the E90 3 series had a year or two ago. They changed the hood, and front and rear ends a bit - and for the better IMHO. I'm likely to get a 335 (if the turbos are proven to last) or a V8 M3 (if resale prices come down enough) in a few years to replace the E36.

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[ds968]

You guys need to shop at car dealers here in Slicon Valley..if you show up in a suit you'll be ignored, but walk into any BMW, or Porsche or Ferrari dealer in cheap jeans, a stingy t-shirt, sneakers or sandals and uncombed hair and the sales people will cater to you as if you were a Saudi prince carrying a bag of cash..

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