- #363 of 411
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Re: #325 of 360 Why? by hpmctorque [fintail]
by lemmer
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May 20, 2009 (5:41 am)
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Replying to: fintail (May 19, 2009 7:27 pm)
The other thing is decontenting wouldn't fix a lot of the issues I am seeing on used BMWs. They have weak cooling systems, suspensions that don't last to 100K (shocks are the one thing, but the whole front suspension), radio displays that crap out, etc.
On the other hand, I've decided that I'd rather have BMW vinyl than leather. It looks just as good and holds up far better.
As for me personally, I have just about given up on finding a decent sub $10K BMW. I am leaning towards an '03 G35, but part of me just wants to give up and buy a Lexus. I wonder if an ES300 with a great set of tires really feels significantly worse than a BMW in my daily drive to work.
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- #364 of 411
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Re: #325 of 360 Why? by hpmctorque [lemmer]
by Mr_Shiftright HOST
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May 20, 2009 (5:45 am)
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Replying to: lemmer (May 20, 2009 5:41 am)
the Lexus is a fine car but a mush-bucket to drive IMO. Bilstein shocks, excellent tires, some sway bar bushings, and better exhaust note might make a better faux BMW out of it however. That sounds like $1500 bucks or so.
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- #365 of 411
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Re: #325 of 360 Why? by hpmctorque [Mr_Shiftright]
by lemmer
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May 20, 2009 (6:29 am)
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (May 20, 2009 5:45 am)
Have you ever driven a G35? They aren't mushy, but they just can't seem to get the "driving experience" details down like BMW does.
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- #366 of 411
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Re: #325 of 360 Why? by hpmctorque [lemmer]
by texases
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May 20, 2009 (6:37 am)
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Replying to: lemmer (May 20, 2009 5:41 am)
While you'll enjoy the smooth ride and good interior of an ES, it'll never be near a BMW in handling. (I wish, I've looked into it for mine). But I'm commuting in Dallas, so it's a better fit for me. It's a Camry that's been improved in every way, but with no emphasis put on performance. The FWD character will always be there. I've put Avid H4s tires on mine, it's fine, but far from a performance sedan. Tire Rack lists no performance shocks for mine, nor for a 2003 ES. So I think you'd be better off with a G35, plenty of performance parts for it.
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- #367 of 411
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Re: #325 of 360 Why? by hpmctorque [lemmer]
by fintail
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May 20, 2009 (6:46 am)
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Replying to: lemmer (May 20, 2009 5:41 am)
For MB, a lot of problems seem to come from gadgetry. The lowline cars are still used as taxis in Europe, that tells me in more basic form they are durable. But when the beta-version "tech" is slathered on the cars we get, the problems can arise.
Regarding the Lexus, maybe a GS would be easier to tune for driving enjoyment?
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- #368 of 411
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Re: #325 of 360 Why? by hpmctorque [fintail]
by lemmer
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May 20, 2009 (8:08 am)
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Replying to: fintail (May 20, 2009 6:46 am)
You are right about the GS. I think it is definitely a better choice for performance.
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- #369 of 411
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Re: #325 of 360 Why? by hpmctorque [lemmer]
by bumpy
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May 20, 2009 (8:25 am)
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Replying to: lemmer (May 20, 2009 5:41 am)
Wrong Lexus. IS300 manual with the sport package, if you can find one of the three that hasn't been molested yet.
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- #370 of 411
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Re: Here is a nice example [andre1969]
by lemko
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May 20, 2009 (10:15 am)
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Replying to: andre1969 (May 19, 2009 3:30 pm)
Yeah! Get a big 440 V-8 with a 6-pack out of something like a 1969 Polara! Holy smoke, do you think a R-body could handle it? Imagine some knucklehead in his tacky (politically incorrect term) Honda being smoked by a 1979 New Yorker!!! 
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- #371 of 411
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Re: #325 of 360 Why? by hpmctorque [hpmctorque]
by lemko
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May 20, 2009 (10:18 am)
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Replying to: hpmctorque (May 19, 2009 7:05 pm)
I'd be more likely to buy a Mercedes without all that unreliable "leading edge electronic stuff" to screw it up. It would be a nice solid dependable and durable car like a Buick.
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- #372 of 411
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Awful fate for an upscale car...
by lemko
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May 20, 2009 (10:23 am)
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...spotted an early '90s Lexus SC400 painted a garish purplish blue with a ridiculous spoiler and tacky chrome wheels with tires that stuck out about 2" from the lip of the wheel openings. It probably was once finished a tasteful silver gray. It was even more ridiculous-looking than the circa 1996 white Toyota Avalon with purple flames painted on the sides.
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