04-16-2006, 09:14 PM | #1 |
Solving problems
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: M5 / 718 GTS / Cooper S / GTI / LR4
Location: Metro Boston
Posts: 25,266
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Sell, hold, or replace the ZHP?
Prompted by the ZHP thread and a week at my new job, I had the chance to have my wife hostage on the drive back from Montreal tonight. The facts are simple:
-I can count in one hand the times in the last year when both our cars have been used simultaneously. -I can ride my bicycle to work if need be (heck, I could run to work ). 3 miles to work. -I drop off my wife at the train station every morning and pick her up at night. 1.5 miles to the train station. -I keep saying to myself that I'll drive the 330i on weekends, but the truth is that prior to my new work, I NEVER drove my 330i on weekends because we are always shopping for something for the house or going somewhere I don't trust leaving the 330i parked. -Right now I just don't have the time to AutoX, track, etc. So... I can sell my 330i take the equity to pay off the Saabaru and save $950 a month (600 330i & 350 Saabaru) plus ~$1K in 330i insurance a year. This is not driven by us needing the money, but rather knowing the 330i is going to be parked most of the time and we could always use the money to fix the house sooner. Regardless, the 1-car thing will end hopefully within 1-2 years when we have a child. My wife will need a family car while she is home, and depending on how having a child affects things financially, we will decide what kind of car to get as a 2nd car. Is this insane? Will I regret this? Wife suggested trading Saabaru as well for a larger/better wagon, but I think the current 9-2X will do until/if we have a child. Thoughts? OT: BTW, I just "can't" surf the web at my new job, so I'm down to early in the am or after work and maybe lunch time ...like normal people, I guess. |
04-16-2006, 09:19 PM | #2 |
swinging for the fences
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: 987, X7 M60i, e36 M3
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 5,037
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I like your car, but a Cayman is much much cooler. If you value frequent visits from zach, I advise selling the 330i and getting a Cayman.
Zach |
04-16-2006, 09:46 PM | #3 | |
Solving problems
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04-16-2006, 10:10 PM | #4 | |
Mugwump
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: E46 330i, Chevy Colorado, Tesla Model 3
Location: NY
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If your wife ever met mine, they would be able to commiserate. I hope I didn't lead you down this waffling all based on my post. In general, I'm game for buying and holding cars. But I'm also game for saving money. You'll get some enjoyment out of keeping the ZHP longer, but what if it ditching the ZHP now means you can afford the Cayman in 4 years from onw instead of 8? Is having a ZHP garage queen now worth delaying your Cayman? Now.. what are the specs on your ZHP again? |
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04-16-2006, 10:14 PM | #5 | |
Western Anomaly
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: White Orca
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i am starting to feel the same way about my vehicle(s). i'm probably going to unload 1 (OR 2) this summer and get into something cheap and disposable.
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04-16-2006, 10:21 PM | #6 |
lawn boy
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: e46m3, f25x3,C5 Z06, C4 Vette, 06 CTD Ram, and a trailer
Location: Maryland
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Personally I'd keep the BMW and dump the Saabaru. Granted I've never spent much time with one but I have to believe the BMW is an incredibly more gratifying car to drive. Stop treating it like a museum piece and just drive it.
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04-16-2006, 10:28 PM | #7 | |
Western Anomaly
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: White Orca
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mortgage. student loan debt (under/over-grad). for a fiscal conservative, some things outweigh others. after all, one driver the separates many subclasses of society socioeconomically is often the ability to delay instant gratification. if there is a goal, it's not a bad plan. even if it's just to decrease unnecessary burn rate, it's not a bad plan. but the plan is even better if it accelerates the countdown to a really gratifying car to drive.
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04-16-2006, 10:31 PM | #8 | |
Solving problems
Join Date: Oct 2003
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FWIW... 2003 BMW 330i -Took European Delivery on May 15 2003 (warranty runs from that day). - ~41000 -Performance Package, Moonroof, heated seats, Bi-Xenon, Aluminum cube trim, Imola Red paint -Manual transmission, Alcantara interior (new alcantara wheel) -M68 wheels (in very good shape) for winter with 225/45 R17 LM-22's all around. -Icelink installed, heavy duty front rubber mats. -One cracked foglight, one small dent above fuel cap, one small nick on a spoke on the M135 rear/right wheel. Other than that it is in pretty damned good shape for a car with 41K miles. No issues at all. (Rear) tires are pretty worn. -Oil changed (BMW oil/filter) every 7500 miles. -Never tracked, 4 Autoxes. Still great even at high speeds on original alignment. Virtually no strut tower deformation. |
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04-16-2006, 10:38 PM | #9 | |
Solving problems
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Now, I could say dump both cars and get a 5MT 325xi, or something, but it's not worth the effort, I don't think. Anyway, I'm still thinking it over. |
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04-16-2006, 10:40 PM | #10 | |
Solving problems
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