- #2239 of 10007
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Re: Guessing. . . [marleybarr]
by bw45sport
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May 16, 2005 (4:02 pm)
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Replying to: marleybarr (May 16, 2005 12:57 pm)
That would be about $700/mo before taxes with no down payment. I'm at $728/mo pre-tax on a loaded M45 Sport no money down.
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- #2240 of 10007
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Re: RL Handling [hpowders]
by rich545
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May 16, 2005 (4:16 pm)
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Replying to: hpowders (May 16, 2005 3:33 pm)
I'm not really sure you're hearing me. I already said that I had a 330xi before my 545 and that I drove a 325i as a loaner. Racing IS about handling as much or more than it's about speed. I'm not talking about drag racing. I bet I know why you think your 325 outhandles the 545. You're not used to active steering. So it feels different to you which makes you think it feels worse, but it has nothing to do with holding a turn. I mean, you just read that the 530i holds on a skid pad better than the 330i, and you still don't believe it! Also, could it be possible that you just feel more comfortable around turns in a car you've had for a while rather than one you just test drove? Geez, got some anger about what BMW's cost? Hey, if you love your 325, great! Then you don't need a 5 series anyway!
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- #2241 of 10007
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Re: RL Handling [rich545]
by hpowders
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May 16, 2005 (5:08 pm)
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Replying to: rich545 (May 16, 2005 4:16 pm)
My 325's a lease. I have to turn it in early August. I drove two 5's. Didn't care for either of 'em. The first 5 I drove was a 2003 530i which didn't have active steering. At that time BMW hadn't yet decided to bless us with this totally unnecessary addition. Found the normal steering too light. The very car that CR gushed as scoring the highest ever in their tests. Sure wish they would share their data with the rest of the world.
Anyhow, you love yours. I love mine. That's all that really matters.
And they both lived happily ever after in driving nirvana.
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- #2242 of 10007
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Re: RL Handling [rich545]
by hpowders
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May 16, 2005 (5:25 pm)
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Replying to: rich545 (May 16, 2005 4:16 pm)
One thing you proposed is quite interesting-somewhat akin to white coat hypertension.
A state of anxiety that very well could exist when test driving an unfamiliar car which may cloud one's judgment. Being more comfortable, familiar and relaxed in one's own car affecting the test drive result in an unfamiliar vehicle.
I will definitely take this thought with me on my next test drive(2006 330i) and it will help me to better evaluate the new vehicle.
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- #2243 of 10007
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Re: Guessing. . . [marleybarr]
by markcincinnati
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May 16, 2005 (5:53 pm)
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Replying to: marleybarr (May 16, 2005 12:57 pm)
This sounds like not-smart to me.
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- #2244 of 10007
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Re: RL Handling [hpowders]
by cmybimmergo
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May 16, 2005 (7:28 pm)
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Replying to: hpowders (May 16, 2005 5:25 pm)
"A state of anxiety that very well could exist when test driving an unfamiliar car which may cloud one's judgment."
Oh, absolutely. The more unfamiliar features on the test vehicle, the less attention paid to how it handles. Sort of a forest for the trees effect. Before I bought my 5 (which is the only BMW I have ever owned), I attempted to compare the sport pkg vs non sport, but all the 5 non sports at the dealer were automatic. I've been driving only sticks for 25 years now, and the combination of auto plus the totally unfamiliar car completely threw me off. I was so busy not shifting on the curves that the only thing I noticed or remembered about the drive was that I wasn't shifting. So I went to another dealer who had both sport and non sport sticks, and then I was able to determine which I preferred.
Even little things, such as where's the button for the heat or how do I turn on the windshield wipers, can distract you enough to tarnish the experience.
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- #2245 of 10007
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Re: RL Handling [rich545]
by jjacura
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May 16, 2005 (7:52 pm)
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Replying to: rich545 (May 16, 2005 4:16 pm)
" I'm not talking about drag racing."
I was trying to think of any road coming out of Chicago where you might be traveling 145MPH. Edens? The Kennedy? Naw...you wouldn't. I-90? I-94? Naw... The Tollway? HMMMM.
"I'm not really sure you are hearing me your honor, we weren't drag racing....really!" 
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- #2246 of 10007
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Re: RL Handling [jjacura]
by merc1
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May 16, 2005 (8:15 pm)
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Replying to: jjacura (May 16, 2005 7:52 pm)
Well there is one isolated stretch of I-90 from I-65 to the "Sky Way" portion that is pretty good for high-speed driving, but I'm not sure about 145 mph though. Its all concrete and walled off from anyone who might object.
M
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- #2247 of 10007
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Re: RL Handling [jjacura]
by rich545
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May 17, 2005 (4:26 am)
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Replying to: jjacura (May 16, 2005 2:34 pm)
That would have been funny, but it was that bright blue color, and it was two guys most likely in their mid-20's.
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- #2248 of 10007
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Re: RL Handling [jjacura]
by rich545
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May 17, 2005 (4:37 am)
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Replying to: jjacura (May 16, 2005 7:52 pm)
Oh I was being stupid to an extreme, no doubt about it. It was actually right on 290. Keep in mind, it only takes about 25 seconds to get to that speed in this car from a dead stop (and we were going about 80 when we started) and we didn't stay there very long. It was pretty late a night so there weren't many other cars on the road either. Not that any of this excuses driving so recklessly, but it was fun! You'd be amazed at how solid the 545 feels at high speeds. Anyway, not something I've repeated since then, and not something I plan on repeating. Just needed to see what the new rig was capable of. Now that I know, I'm good!
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