View Full Version : So I finally got to see my BMW in action from the outside...
And it looks pretty sharp. My wife was driving it behind me while I was driving home our new 9-2X.
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My wife and my family LOVE it. She loves the fact that it is very small. Of course, we're already feeling the annoyance of not having memory seats for vastly different seat/driving position settings. We'll get over it. We're very happy.
The engine is surprisingly easy to drive at low rpms. Brake sare spongy but work. Overall, a very nice cheap car. Exactly what we needed. The premium package did add a lot of goodies (Xenons, fogs, leather seats/shifter/wheel/e-brake/door inserts, 6-CD ind-dash, better audio system). We're happy we got it. :)
Looks nice, do you really need the front license plate? I like the seats, not feeling the rims though...
Roadstergal
05-28-2005, 02:55 PM
She loves the fact that it is very small.
:eeps:
Actually, :eeps: x2 for that one. :lol:
She loves the fact that it is very small.
:eeps:
Actually, :eeps: x2 for that one. :lol:
I did one of these :? myself. But hey, my wife is only 5'3" so she likes the cozy dimensions, I guess. It's funny, despite the back being so small, she actually gives people sitting behind her pretty good leg room. I don't know whether to be happy or upset at the fact that she seems more excited about driving this car than the 330i. :?
I did one of these :? myself. But hey, my wife is only 5'3" so she likes the cozy dimensions, I guess.
they're laughing because calling this car very small is :lol: :lol: .
Looks nice, do you really need the front license plate? I like the seats, not feeling the rims though...
The dealer added them, but it is the law. I think it would look A LOT better without them, but my wife refuses to run the slight risk of getting ticketed for it. Hey, whatever makes her happy.
The rims are actually pretty nice compared to the ones we would have had with the Impreza Outback Sport. And certainly very easy to clean. But yeah, there are better rims out there. It's ok, this is still just the utilitarian /practical car, so no need to spend money making it look good. It already looks a helluva lot better than the imprexa would have looked. ;)
I did one of these :? myself. But hey, my wife is only 5'3" so she likes the cozy dimensions, I guess.
they're laughing because calling this car very small is :lol: :lol: .
It IS a small car. Not tiny, but small.
EDIT: Nevermind... :rolleyes: I'm slow today. :rolleyes: I just got it. :)
rumatt
05-28-2005, 06:54 PM
Nice.
For those of us too lazy to do a search, what's are the exact differences between this and the WRX?
With the $7,000,000 off MSRP, or whatever it is, is it actually cheaper than the WRX?
Nice.
For those of us too lazy to do a search, what's are the exact differences between this and the WRX?
With the $7,000,000 off MSRP, or whatever it is, is it actually cheaper than the WRX?
Well, we got the linear, not the Aero. We got 5500 in rebates plus another ~800 off with the GMS discount.
Features that all 9-2X's have that Imprezas do not (even as an option):
-The obvious body/wheel enhancements
-4/50K warranty and roadside service instead of 3/36K
-2/24K free service
-Side airbags
-Outside temp sensor
-Higher quality headliner/visors/carpeting
-More sound insulation
-Option for Moonroof, leather, heated seats, heated mirrors, heated wiper de-icer, Xenon lights.
All else that is present in an Aero 9-2X is also in a WRX. Ditto a Linear 9-2X and an Impreza RS.
clyde
05-28-2005, 07:32 PM
enjoy
:thumbup:
My buddy is definitely enjoying his... he has an SSK already on the way, though. :)
lemming
05-29-2005, 12:51 PM
cool.
that's a great car, man.
what a price!
i don't like this generation of WRX and the way that they look --i like the sassy front end of the 92x better. hell, if you can get it for that kind of money, that's even better.
i noticed that it is a stick. very nice. (good choice of S.O., too).
you're really going to wonder (come this winter) how you got around fussing around without the subie mechanicals when the snowplows don't clear the roads quickly enough.
cool.
that's a great car, man.
what a price!
i don't like this generation of WRX and the way that they look --i like the sassy front end of the 92x better. hell, if you can get it for that kind of money, that's even better.
i noticed that it is a stick. very nice. (good choice of S.O., too).
you're really going to wonder (come this winter) how you got around fussing around without the subie mechanicals when the snowplows don't clear the roads quickly enough.
Thanks (to all).
It was stick-shift or nothing on with this engine/platform. Not just because of how crappy/slow/boring/heavy the slushie would have been, but because with the manual you get a permanent 50F/50R power distribution, as opposed to a 90F/10R distribution with the slushie.
I already looked up a winter wheel/tire package on the Tirerack. For about $600, I can get Blizzak WS-50's mounted and balanced on cheap 15" alloys - shipped. Not bad. It's gonna be great in the winter with that setup. I *almost* can't wait. We'll need to get a bra and mud-flaps for it. This car actually looks pretty nice, so I don't want to beat the crap out of the paint either. Not worth the 3M stuff, but a cheap bra will do during the winter months to keep it looking half decent.
Well, we're done buying cars for 2+ years - when and if we have kids and feel we need a larger family car. We should be able to get a hold of a gently used E350W 4-matic, or similar by then. Ideally, we'll never sell this little Saab and keep it as a 3rd or maybe even a 4th car way down the road.
Jason C
05-29-2005, 03:39 PM
Well, we're done buying cars for 2+ years
We believe you. :rolleyes: :speechle: :thumbup:
Well, we're done buying cars for 2+ years
We believe you. :rolleyes: :speechle: :thumbup:
I am now a recovering waffler. :) Well, technically, my wife is. :rolleyes: :P
I'm keeping my 330i for at least 6 years. Two down, 4 to go.
lemming
05-29-2005, 11:49 PM
i hope you keep that thing for the full term --i saw an e90 on the road for the first time today. it looked truly awful.
like japanese anime on wheels.
gawd. i have to get used to all of these dreadful looking bmw's all at once.
maybe saab can lend some designers to BMW in exchange for some drivetrain help from BMW?
Congrats. Looks nice. So, help the uninformed . . . is that a turbo-less version?
Do a little reasearch before you pick wheels for your snow tires. I bought the cheapest wheels that i could find at Tirerack b/c it was an expense I hadn't counted on when I bought the 330i. The chicago streets turned them in to pretzels. They aren't cheap if you have to replace them in a year.
Congratulations.
That's quite spiffy.
Congrats. Looks nice. So, help the uninformed . . . is that a turbo-less version?
Do a little reasearch before you pick wheels for your snow tires. I bought the cheapest wheels that i could find at Tirerack b/c it was an expense I hadn't counted on when I bought the 330i. The chicago streets turned them in to pretzels. They aren't cheap if you have to replace them in a year.
Thanks guys.
Yes, rwg, it's turbo-less. 2.5L H4, 165hp/166lb-ft. Just what I expected. I drove it to work for the first time today. I already miss my 330i. Clutches are very different, though. There's significant re-adjustment periods when switching cars.
Very happy though. :) Happier still at the fact that we'll hopefully have it fully paid off by January.
Congrats. Looks nice. So, help the uninformed . . . is that a turbo-less version?
Do a little reasearch before you pick wheels for your snow tires. I bought the cheapest wheels that i could find at Tirerack b/c it was an expense I hadn't counted on when I bought the 330i. The chicago streets turned them in to pretzels. They aren't cheap if you have to replace them in a year.
Thanks guys.
Yes, rwg, it's turbo-less. 2.5L H4, 165hp/166lb-ft. Just what I expected. I drove it to work for the first time today. I already miss my 330i. Clutches are very different, though. There's significant re-adjustment periods when switching cars.
Very happy though. :) Happier still at the fact that we'll hopefully have it fully paid off by January.
Have you put a UUC stop or similar in the 330? That'll help.
Have you put a UUC stop or similar in the 330? That'll help.
Not yet, but I agree, this car also has excessive pedal travel. It may actualy need less travel than the 330i. I'm having a bit of trouble getting on first without either having the revs too low, or wearing the clutch. Tricky. After that it's fine though. After one weekend on this car, I am as good with ttehtranny as I was with the 330i after several months. Granted, the 330i was my very first manual, so it took a while.
Have you put a UUC stop or similar in the 330? That'll help.
Not yet, but I agree, this car also has excessive pedal travel. It may actualy need less travel than the 330i. I'm having a bit of trouble getting on first without either having the revs too low, or wearing the clutch. Tricky. After that it's fine though. After one weekend on this car, I am as good with ttehtranny as I was with the 330i after several months. Granted, the 330i was my very first manual, so it took a while.
Interesting. My problem with the WRX v. the 330 is that the 330 has lots of travel before the clutch engages, whereas the WRX engages in what feels like 1.5 inches right off the floor. Maybe the base Impreza/Saabaru has a very different clutch setup than the WRX.
Interesting. My problem with the WRX v. the 330 is that the 330 has lots of travel before the clutch engages, whereas the WRX engages in what feels like 1.5 inches right off the floor. Maybe the base Impreza/Saabaru has a very different clutch setup than the WRX.
It could be that I am just grinding away at my 330i's clutch. :) I put in a clutch stop on the 330i (home made but works very well) right at the limit before I can no longer start the car. It helps, but I feel it is still way to far back w/r to shifting. There is just too much extra travel past the disengagement point. How knows, maybe I'm being retarded and I am not fully disengaging the clutch, but I never smell anything nor do I feel anything strange (maybe the BMW clutch is just too good for me to notice :eeps: ).
On the 9-2X, this is only exacerbated - and coupled with a very light clutch and gas pedal that sends rpms from 500 to 2K with a slight touch - it's just hard to modulate.
Nick M3
06-01-2005, 10:16 AM
Am I the only one who just doesn't dpress the clutch to the floor when shifting? Raised clutch stops just mess with my clutch action.
Am I the only one who just doesn't dpress the clutch to the floor when shifting? Raised clutch stops just mess with my clutch action.
I tend to agree with you--I do just push the clutch all the way to the floor when shifting. The issue with the 330 is that the travel is so long before you get to the engagement point that it makes moving from one car to another difficult. If the 330 were the only car I ever drove on a regular basis with a clutch, I'd quickly get used to it. But shortening the travel makes it easier to go back and forth between the WRX and the 330.
lemming
06-01-2005, 12:32 PM
e46 clutch travel sucks.
it sucked a little bit in the e36s but even more so in the E46s. i have no idea how you guys deal with it permanently.
e46 clutch travel sucks.
it sucked a little bit in the e36s but even more so in the E46s. i have no idea how you guys deal with it permanently.
Just try driving a Fiat Stilo... clutch travel felt about 2x as much as my e46...
By the way... my e39 is in the shop today (battery died 2 days before I left for Italy -- today was the first chance I had to get it in for a replacement). The loaner I received is a new Legacy, base spec wtih automatic. Not a bad car -- and it really feals like it could be a great car with the upgraded engines and more options.
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