WDC's Practical Car Perseveration
 

So, whenever I get it in my head that a souped-up SUV can replace my RWD 2 Series, please remind me that's stupid.

Drove the X3M on the idea that with all its performance tech maybe it could be a single car solution. Blech. Heavy, laborious, stiff, jarring, and not fun IN THE LEAST. Wow. And mucho dinero. I much prefer just the plain Jane X3M40i.

So, I think to myself, go smaller/cheaper and keep the 2. And I drive the X1 again. In the AWD version, but without sport suspension. Snore. Why spend that kind of coin on an appliance? The ride was pretty unrefined and the interior pretty low-brow. Might as well just buy the Mazda CX5 and call it a day.

I need to drive the Mazda and A4 wagon again, maybe also some kind of Mini. But, I think I need to face the fact that there is no one-car solution that will combine driving delight with 5-door practicality.

2017 X3 35i. Nicely optioned with sport package but not sport suspension. But what's with all these Florida cars that have no seat heaters??????

https://www.nalleybmw.com/certified/...6cd9dd2f74.htm

JCW Mini Cooper 5-door :dunno:

Edit: Nevermind. The only JCWs with extra doors these days is the Clubman or Countryman.

Have you considered the Acura RDX ... it has really good write ups ... In regards to Mazda’s they have always been good fun to drive vehicles ... I’d be surprised if it wasn’t a great vehicle.

I do agree there is no one car solution unless you possibly are ok with the size of the A4 .... I loved my daughters A4 ... definitely a great car.

How often do you think you need the utility of an SUV ...just wondering why you think you need one so badly.

May have to try the RDX. They do look great. I have 110 pounds of dogs to shuttle back and forth several times a week—and it’s miserable getting them in the back of a 2 seater. If it were a four door, it would not be as much of a hassle.

A little hot hatch might do fine as the second car.

good that you drove a couple of things and have a better idea of what you might like. I still suggest you keep the 2er and get a cheap beater. You're not going to find a wagon/SUV that will bring you joy like a vert. They don't exist.

I really think a used Clubman is the right fit for you. If you're against that, an E91 would work well. As an FYI, my son, who is 6ft 1 at 14yrs old, prefers the e46 wagon back seat to the X5 because it doesn't make him carsick. I don't think the e91 wagon would be too small for what you describe your use case. I take the e46 over the x5 every opportunity I have.

Go cheap, find something that is servicable and you don't worry when it gets dinged, teach your son to drive on it and enjoy the 2er for the times you want to drive. There is a ton of relief to having a beater.

(Gratuitous pic of my son from my daughter's college graduation on Memorial Day weekend, to get an idea of his scale).

Her Boyfriend is on the left, he plays college B-Ball and is 6'5, Britt then Nate.

Great pic Josh ..

Not sure if others here saw but after Memorial Day the numbers for covid 19 jumped ...At least here on Long Island.

Am I the only one worried about this ?

I know you are right. And, whoa, your son is a giant! My son just turned 14 and is over 5’10”. I don’t think he’s done yet...

BTW, I’m wary of the old cars. I need to find a reliable local independent mechanic before I have a comfort level with the old, off-warranty cars...

https://rennlist.com/forums/market/1197871

interesting option...
Edit: i didn't notice the mileage, kind of high but with CPO and how little you'll probably be driving maybe it won't matter.

If I’m going old high mileage Cayenne, I’m looking for a stick. :lol:

I wish I could rent a stick for awhile to see how much it hurts or does not hurt my bad left knee.

Hmmmm.

There are a bunch of options in ATL. I had an awesome experience with Turo last year.

I forget what you rented—a 911?

One thought is just buy a four-door VW GTI with a stick. Could easily become my son’s college car.

I had a rental (stick shift, gas) Mazda CX-5 in Holland and it was a great car. Not a ton of cargo space, but I drove 4 of us (3 co-workers) around for a week and it was pretty fun for an SUV.

The GTI is the best car for the dollar, IMO. Great car. And the Golf is pretty roomy.

Also a great option. Although, of course, here an automatic...Which engine did you have?

WDC - are you absolutely sure you don't want my X5? I'm guessing probably not after Lemming reminded everyone that the N63 motors start failing in the 4-5 year range!

:lol:

Right! I’ve decided I wouldn’t buy my ex’s either—even though we speced it perfectly. Money pit!

Also, really too big for my needs.

Don't recall. But it was a rental in Europe, so it was probably a small 4-cyl. That said, it wasn't slow and we had four adults so it must have been a 2.0L Skyactive, I imagine (EDIT: confirmed). This was back in spring of 2015.

(OTOH, back in Fall of 2010 we had a rental Chevy Cruze and OMG, it was frightening how slow it was. Even with a MT it was brutal. Mashing the pedal did nothing at speeds over 50mph. I don't recall what engine it had. Probably a weak 1.6L. EDIT: Found it - 1.6L 111hp)

You people all need to keep a slow car around to recalibrate your butt dyno. :) It's one of the really valuable services that the M20 powered E30s provide.

I’ve been thinking along the same lines. Hard to beat the GTI as an all around car. Fun to drive, looks good, practical, comfortable, not too expensive, nice build quality, etc


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Agreed. I soured on my R but the GTI seems like a great choice for a practical car. My only caution is that it doesn't have as much room as you might think if you have to keep the seats up. The trunk is pretty small.

I think that would be OK. I could put the back seats down for dog hauling (or just put them in the back seats with a bench cover). And get a rack system if I find myself taking extended trips with it.

I've had several hatchbacks over the years, and they are both fun and decently practical. Accord Hatchback and a Mazda GLC, back in the day.

Edit: The dealer near me has a 2019 Golf R coming to their used lot. DSG. Pricey! https://www.jimellisvwatlanta.com/us...a54d7a1f94.htm

Plus an accident reported on its CarFax!

Rs haves a much smaller trunk area (higher floor) than the GTI due to the AWD system

Good info (but I would not get an R). The X3 cargo floor is raised by a chunk when you get the spare option. Not sure how dogs deal with that...

Ah, that makes sense. I guess I've never seen a GTI trunk.

#humblebrag :lol:

Genesis G70 is still sold new with a stick.

My dad likes his and I think it's pretty fun to drive.

And in stock in Atlanta

https://www.genesis.com/us/en/new/in...3699/zip/30341

I need a hatchback for the animals.

:lol:

yep. Wife wants to hand mine down to my 14 year soon when he is ready drive:?

I am very happy with my GTI. My poor turbo does not get driven because of it. Hauls my bike and surfboard around and still fun to drive. FWD with diff gives it some personality on the road.

Doug DeMuro is selling his E63 AMG wagon :D

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/3yB...-e63-amg-wagon

Good to know. I guess the FWD X2 also has a front diff. But for a lot more dinero!

(Do you put the bike in the car, or do you have a rack for it?)

I hitch mounted rack(1up).

You can put a bike in the back with the seats down and front wheel off. I do occasionally if I need to run into a store after a ride.

My annual reminder to Nick about how much of a disservice he's done himself by never daily driving a Fox body Mustang 5.0.

:lol:

German turbo V8 with high miles . . . . .what could possibly go wrong

Sweet!