Screw PH. Recommend ME/my SO a new car!

[dannubis]

It's a much larger vehicle so more weight means less fuel economy. Also I doubt your vehicle has 4WD.

Why the **** would you need a 4WD ? I mean I get Asher and his need for annual snow plowing but you????

[Cort Haus]

Wow! Both of my cars are still better than yours.

Isn't this whole "My car is better that your car" thing quite spectacularly infantile? Or am I mistaking child-like behaviour for the default setting of most people's conduct over the internet?

[MOBIUS]

That's right. Although I needed to get stuff sorted out and then had to head back Oop North so I didn't get to stay for long. Must say though, Cardiff looks really cool Kicks Birmingham's arse anyday. Still prefer Manchester though

Where did you get your car from? Did you actually get to see any of Cardiff properly? What are your criteria for preferring Manchester over Cardiff after visiting for such a short time?

Why did you buy that car!!?

[Asher]

Wait. So this is for your boyfriend and you're still driving around in a Mazda 3? Wow! Both of my cars are still better than yours.

The Isuzu Rodeo was never better than any car I've ever owned. For ****s and giggles I googled reviews of it, and even when it came out people laughed about how bad it was. It was discontinued the year after you bought it.

The 3-series is better in terms of higher repair bills and stupid price premium, for sure.

The Mazda3 still runs perfectly, and I only drive a few kilometers to work. No need to switch it up.

[Provost Harrison]

Where did you get your car from? Did you actually get to see any of Cardiff properly? What are your criteria for preferring Manchester over Cardiff after visiting for such a short time?

Why did you buy that car!!?

I've visited Cardiff before you know

And I bought it because I wanted it

[Jaguar]

The Isuzu Rodeo was never better than any car I've ever owned. For ****s and giggles I googled reviews of it, and even when it came out people laughed about how bad it was. It was discontinued the year after you bought it.

The 3-series is better in terms of higher repair bills and stupid price premium, for sure.

The Mazda3 still runs perfectly, and I only drive a few kilometers to work. No need to switch it up.

But you need to spend moar, Asher, to boost your self-esteem!

[MOBIUS]

I've visited Cardiff before you know

And I bought it because I wanted it

Yeah, but how long ago - this place has seriously come on in leaps and bounds over the last few years...

I've got nothing wrong with your choice of model - it's just the two tone paint job that massively jars with me. A car says a lot about a person (rightly or wrongly), but it is your money to do with how you please so I'll leave it at that.

[Asher]

I've always been astonished how bad the reliability is of BMWs.

A colleague of mine has a 2009 3-series that needed $6000 in engine repairs after the check engine light came on and vehicle noticably "clunked" on his drive to work last week. It's still under warranty -- barely -- but it's still a bit young for that...especially for the price you pay.

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

I always look forward to the first light snows of winter, and seeing all the BMWs abandoned in snowdrifts as I breeze happily past in a simple front-wheel-drive diesel.

[Krill]

Yeah, but how long ago - this place has seriously come on in leaps and bounds over the last few years...

I've got nothing wrong with your choice of model - it's just the two tone paint job that massively jars with me. A car says a lot about a person (rightly or wrongly), but it is your money to do with how you please so I'll leave it at that.

Yeah...the TT, fine, I hope you got the 3.2, but that paint job is just ****.

[The Mad Monk]

Yes. Sage Hill is perfectly flat. That's how I got my walkout basement...because it's flat.

Looks very much like the landscape around here.

Sans mountains in the distance, of course.

[Zoetstofzoetje]

I've always been astonished how bad the reliability is of BMWs.

A colleague of mine has a 2009 3-series that needed $6000 in engine repairs after the check engine light came on and vehicle noticably "clunked" on his drive to work last week. It's still under warranty -- barely -- but it's still a bit young for that...especially for the price you pay.

My BMW rarely breaks down, but when it does, it´s expensive.

[Dinner]

Isn't this whole "My car is better that your car" thing quite spectacularly infantile? Or am I mistaking child-like behaviour for the default setting of most people's conduct over the internet?

It was meant as a joke so I could get a rise out of Asher. I probably should have ended it with a smilie.

Why the **** would you need a 4WD ? I mean I get Asher and his need for annual snow plowing but you????

Answered earlier in the thread.

I always look forward to the first light snows of winter, and seeing all the BMWs abandoned in snowdrifts as I breeze happily past in a simple front-wheel-drive diesel.

It's true, if a driver isn't aware that RWD cars handle differently (and require different reactions from the driver to correct) then power on over steer can quickly put them in a ditch especially in slick conditions. That said, until recently most cars in America were RWD so most drivers over age 30 know how to react to a RWD car plus we don't get much snow here.

Asher: The only unscheduled maintenance I did with the Rodeo before I retired it as my daily driver was two flat tires, both of which were my fault. Oh, and the breaks wore a bit fast but that was me. Repairs on beemers do cost a lot but I like them and haven't had cause to repair it yet.

[BlackCat]

I always look forward to the first light snows of winter, and seeing all the BMWs abandoned in snowdrifts as I breeze happily past in a simple front-wheel-drive diesel.

Back in the late 70'es/early 80'es where I drove around in BWD's I had lots of fun looking at FWD's buried in snowdrifts

Driving in snow or on ice isn't as much a question about front or back drive but more of experience.

Though, I must admit that lots of HP is easilier handled with FWD, so that about BMW's may be true .

[Asher]

So, no RAV4. Toyota is refusing to finance me because I have been too fiscally responsible. Or in their words, "I've never had a loan that much before". My credit rating is near perfect (>850), the debt ratios for the loan were well in line, I've never missed a payment on any loan in my life, and my income is more than sufficient to handle the payment. They agreed on all of that. But I've never had a large loan before.

Toyota? Screw you.

Bonus: While apparently it was risky for me to finance it, they offered me a lease-and-buy-out option that has a total cost of ownership only $8,000 more than what I agreed to. With $100 more per month in payments. Because if you are considered too risky to pay X per month, obviously you have to pay X + $100 per month.

For the record, the financing we were looking for amounted to 8% per month of our after-tax income (which we provided pay stubs to document).