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Old 04-09-2018, 09:50 AM   #1
FC
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What to get next? FC edition

Well, no allocation on the M3, so time to rip up that plan and start a new one. I'll need input on this one.

Current fleet

eGolf: Must be turned in end of Jan 2019. I like having an EV but wife doesn't LOVE it. Buy out is likely to be equal or more than market value, so it is unlikely we will keep it unless VW offers an incentive.

LR4: It's 4.5 years old now. We love it and will indefinitely remain the family car. It is now old enough that if it had to be my wife's DD to the train station it could be, but I rather spare it from such crap duty year round.

Miata: It's a great occasional sports car. Beat up just enough to not obsess over it, super cheap to run and with minimal depreciation impact.

The plan of record

Effectively replace eGolf with nice sports sedan. Wife gets the choice of Miata or LR4 to drive to train station and I drive the sedan with and kids to school and work.

Curveballs:

1) My wife's new job allows her to do the school drop-off 2 days a week on average. She can usually pick them up once a week. That has allowed far more Miata driving than expected, but trouble is I usually have to do either the drop off or pick-up still, which means swapping cars at home for a 4-mile round trip - and that's dumb. I still do it when I get the itch.

2) My oldest will walk to middle school starting fall of 2019, which means I can get away with a 2-seater as a commuter starting then. Key here is that this in only months after the eGolf is turned in.

Options:

1) Turn in eGolf and get the a sports sedan at that time (CPO F80M3, used E90M3, used E39M5, used last of S4 manuals, etc.)

2) Turn in eGolf and pick up a used GTI (or other car) to hold me over until a new, desirable BMW sedan is available (M2 GC, G80 M3). The desirable part is tricky. The M2 GC could be a FWD-based POS, and the G80 could be slushy-only. If so, I waited for nothing.

3) Turn in eGolf and pick up a sub- ~45k sedan. Then wait a year or two and upgrade Miata to a 981/987.2 Boxster.

In all cases, we are open to a cheap EV as a 4th car. But it would have to be Sub 10K - ideally sub 8k. It would be for wife's 8-mile round trips to train station and in-town errands. As long as its real range is a few tens of miles it would work.
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Old 04-09-2018, 10:06 AM   #2
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I'm getting old and crotchety but I just can't see spending the money on even a used F80 M3 for the use cases that you describe. The Golf R is very quick and scratches the itch to drive something manual and fun; I'd look hard at a GTI, which may do the same work for less cash. The bonus there is that you can then replace the Miata with a Boxster or something.

Why no Model 3 in the mix? Not that the answer to every question is "Tesla," but it may be the answer to your specific question.

You've already had a 911, so maybe that's not something you need again. But it would probably work, space-wise.
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Old 04-09-2018, 10:17 AM   #3
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I'm getting old and crotchety but I just can't see spending the money on even a used F80 M3 for the use cases that you describe. The Golf R is very quick and scratches the itch to drive something manual and fun; I'd look hard at a GTI, which may do the same work for less cash. The bonus there is that you can then replace the Miata with a Boxster or something.

Why no Model 3 in the mix? Not that the answer to every question is "Tesla," but it may be the answer to your specific question.

You've already had a 911, so maybe that's not something you need again. But it would probably work, space-wise.
All good points. And yes, if the plan includes an upgrade to a Boxster, a Tesla could well be the sedan. It covers both the EV front and does have usable range.* I still don't care for the looks of the Model 3 (used Model S?), but the idea of an EV with legitimate range eventually filling that role is a real possibility. The same goes for a non-MT sedan. Let's be honest, MT options are thin nowadays.


*With my son doing travel sports, we often find the eGolf range is too short. This is starting to annoy my wife (and me) when the only alternatives are a loud, uncomfortable, small roadster and a heavy, large, gas-guzzling SUV. A Tesla 3 would solve that.

Last edited by FC; 04-09-2018 at 10:27 AM.
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Old 04-09-2018, 10:27 AM   #4
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All good points. And yes, if the plan includes an upgrade to a Boxster, a Tesla could well be the "sedan." It covers both the EV front and does have usable range.* I still don't care for the looks (used Model S?), but the idea of an EV with legitimate range eventually filling that role is a real possibility. The same goes for a non-MT sedan. Let's be honest, MT options are thin nowadays.


*With my son doing travel sports, we often find the eGolf range is too short. This is starting to annoy my wife (and me) when the only alternatives are a loud, uncomfortable, small roadster and a heavy, large, gas-guzzling SUV. The Model 3 would solve that.
Yes. I think it's worth at least driving a Giulia, just because it's so off-the-wall, and if you can get past the no MT thing, it might be a good choice.

EDIT:

The size of the Model S isn't really that big a deal. It really only comes into play when parallel parking, and with it's various cameras and sensors I find I'm better able to parallel park it than lots of smaller cars I've had. Most days, it's actually nice to have the extra space, and if you're going to use it for travel sports, that's even better.

I'd take a look for a used 90D. It'll be expensive, but the AWD and range are going to give it a flexibility that others won't have. The pro tip here is don't rely on inventory on the website; go in and talk with the Tesla store and have them do an inventory search.
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Old 04-09-2018, 10:24 AM   #5
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Seems like a used Model S solves everything. I wish all problems were this simple.
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Old 04-09-2018, 10:26 AM   #6
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Seems like a used Model S solves everything. I wish all problems were this simple.


On paper, maybe. But I really rather have a MT cars that is smaller.
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Old 04-09-2018, 10:27 AM   #7
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You consider the m3 "small" ?
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Old 04-09-2018, 10:37 AM   #8
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You consider the m3 "small" ?
Not at all. But I was willing to let that go for many other reasons.

There is a reason I am hopeful for the M2 sedan.
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Old 04-09-2018, 10:49 AM   #9
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yeah, I get it. I'm just messing with you. Though, if you are willing to overlook the size....

I'd also look at the V-series Cadillacs. There have to be some killer deals to be had on those.
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Old 04-09-2018, 10:53 AM   #10
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yeah, I get it. I'm just messing with you. Though, if you are willing to overlook the size....

I'd also look at the V-series Cadillacs. There have to be some killer deals to be had on those.
The problem is that the ATS-V has a really, really tiny back seat. Maybe it's OK for FC's kids now? But I'm not sure it is that much more usable than a 2 door M2.

FC, do either of your kids ride in the front seat yet?
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