| Author | Message | ||
| Leonardo Abatangelo (Leo)
New member Username: Leo Post Number: 15 Registered: 2-2001 |
WM, I have a 2002 Imola M3 Cabrio with 4400 miles..and there is nothing like it! Heaven above me, heaven beneath me. Especially when I take it to Florida and back with the Miami skyline in the background... | ||
| Mfennell70 (Mfennell70)
Junior Member Username: Mfennell70 Post Number: 134 Registered: 7-2001 |
"Actual cost ends up being like 20 grand" A $38k tax break means you save $38k times your tax rate so actual cost is more like $43K if you assume a high income person paying a 40% tax rate. Being able to deduct something on your taxes is like getting 40% off but it doesn't make it free. It's amazing how many "businesspeople" who don't seem to realize that. | ||
| Greg V. (512tr17teeth)
Junior Member Username: 512tr17teeth Post Number: 80 Registered: 3-2003 |
well wm, they don't call the BMW's the ultimate driving machines for no reason. They get better and better every year! | ||
| wm hart (Whart)
Intermediate Member Username: Whart Post Number: 1118 Registered: 12-2001 |
I was anti-BMW for a long time because there were (and are) so many on the road, driven by folks who are obviously not into driving. More of a status thing than a driver's car, when in the early days in the States, nobody knew in 1972 what a 2002 tii was unless you were a car nut. We currently have a 740i Sport which constantly amazes me, given its size, and modest (288) hp; thing tracks beautifully on sweepers at high speed with good road feel, even though it is essentially a luxo-barge. | ||
| Tim N (Timn88)
Advanced Member Username: Timn88 Post Number: 3032 Registered: 6-2001 |
Actually, theres a reason so many sold. If you buy if you can qualify for a huge tax break. Actual cost ends up being like 20 grand. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/104601_hummer17.shtml | ||
| Leonardo Abatangelo (Leo)
New member Username: Leo Post Number: 14 Registered: 2-2001 |
Hey Guys Im kinda new, I had to comment about the H2..Its the only car which was not offered a factory incentive or 0% financing by the manufacture..that tells you how many people like it.Also it was the best selling suv last year. besides its kinda pathetic becasue its basically built on a blazer platform. | ||
| Greg V. (512tr17teeth)
Junior Member Username: 512tr17teeth Post Number: 72 Registered: 3-2003 |
Yeah, IMO the H2 is more of an image thing. Most of the owners will probably never take theirs off-road. To be honest, I don't jump out of my seat when I see one. Now the old H1, now thats a different story. But I just think its weird when you see soccer moms blowing around in H2's. Greg | ||
| Mfennell70 (Mfennell70)
Junior Member Username: Mfennell70 Post Number: 110 Registered: 7-2001 |
My personal fav (sarcasm) these days is the Hummer H2. Another 12mpg monster that you can't park anywhere! I've heard 3 different people relate stories of watching some moron try to fit one of those things in a regular parking space. With the exception of those few that actually use them off road, what percentage of new H2 owners look around after a couple weeks and say "what a mistake!"? I also wonder if this is still an "image" thing. Is there a subset of society who is actually impressed that one owns a Hummer? What are they? $55k? That's more than a Lotus Esprit S4s AND FFR Cobra replica *combined*. I live for the day an H2 owner admires the Cobra (they don't strike me as Lotus people). "Well, you know you could have TWO of these for what you've spent on that beast." | ||
| EFWUN (Efwun)
Member Username: Efwun Post Number: 400 Registered: 2-2003 |
Bret, without animosity, I'm not talking about brandy-new, Volvo Penta or similar diesels. Lots of the older trucks literally spew incredible quantities of crap into the air and burn diesel at the rate of 2mpg. By nearly no pollution, I meant the 550 literally produces ZERO measurable carbon monoxide. Alright, it does produce some hydrocarbons, but well within the limits, which are drastically lower than they were even ten years ago. Perhaps the Germans' horsepower race is a little silly, but I'd think a better target for your argument about waste of resources would be the Expeditions and Navigators out there; talk about waste? Our ML500 (another ULEV) gets 18mpg, maybe 22 on the highway. Why does a Navigator get 6-8mpg? Nevertheless, Ford can't keep the damn things in the showrooms!! | ||
| BretM (Bretm)
Advanced Member Username: Bretm Post Number: 3353 Registered: 2-2001 |
I should clarify as I don't want to come across as one of those eco tree huggers. The limited resource I was initially thinking about was my wallet, and hence a car like that to me would be irresponsible. My second post was more an argument for the sake or arguing. If I had the money I would feel morally responsible to waste as much fuel as possible simply to spite those eco people, unfortunately I don't. So, I would think economy would be a thing I would take into consideration until someday when I possibly no longer care how much I spend on gasoline. I also think all these high power sedans are stupid, excluding the E55 simply because it is so ridiculous it's great. The rest of them are just like why bother if you're not gonna go all the way. My sister had an E500 from work for awhile like a month ago. It was sweet as hell so I can only imagine the E55. I think I actually listed the E55 as one of the top 5 cars I would get on rallyfreak recently. | ||
| BretM (Bretm)
Advanced Member Username: Bretm Post Number: 3350 Registered: 2-2001 |
Neither your 550 or E55 will have any effect on pollution as a whole, they are both expensive and limited production. Mass produced sedans though increasing in power is just stupid. Your 550 makes no pollution, lol, alright I guess we're talking relative here, apparently doing that a 2000 model year car vs a 1970 model year car. You must have taken at least a quick look at the window sticker of your 550, what was the pollution index on it, around .7... a hair below the government regulations. As far as a dump truck or a garbage truck polluting, are you serious... I mean those have no purpose... They aren't vehicles made to fit an absolutely necessary function in our society. What function does a 300+ hp sedan fill just out of curiosity? I also have no technical knowledge about engines, nor do my mom and sister work for Mercedes Benz so I don't have any information available to me about these cars... I personally like the E55 a lot even though it seems somewhat contradictory to my feelings about people wasting fuel. Certain things make it worth wasting... For the average sedan though, being driven by the average idiot, it is about time we start thinking about economy. | ||
| Greg V. (512tr17teeth)
Junior Member Username: 512tr17teeth Post Number: 66 Registered: 3-2003 |
Tim, yeah its down that way. Its the largest Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Jaguar, Mini, and LandRover dealer around. A rumor has it that, they are going to add an Aston-Martin and Bentley division soon. I think they started clearing the land before this winter. I am curious to see what they will do this summer. EFWUN, congrats on your E55, I wouldnt be able to sleep if I was waiting for something like that to come in. Greg | ||
| Tim N (Timn88)
Advanced Member Username: Timn88 Post Number: 2727 Registered: 6-2001 |
greg, i think i know where that is. its down the road from the airport, near all of those resturants like the olive garden, smokey whateever bbq. i passed it on the way to the olvie garden and noticed a sh*tload of minis, thats why i remember it. | ||
| EFWUN (Efwun)
Member Username: Efwun Post Number: 397 Registered: 2-2003 |
We're getting it from our friendly dealer in Wilkes-Barre (on LI here, they want $20K over, and say there's a year wait!). We're getting the first one in, build date April 10, (I get the dyno sheet from Afalterbach!) and due to the dealer first week of May. I'll probably post about the damn thing. | ||
| Matt S (F40only)
Junior Member Username: F40only Post Number: 67 Registered: 3-2003 |
EFWUN- Your new E-55 sounds like it is going to be awesome. I drove a 2002 CL500 once, and the power amazed me. I cannot even begin to comprehend the new E-55. Imagine going 70-100 in that thing. Insane is the only word for it. Lets hear some driving impressions when you get it. | ||
| EFWUN (Efwun)
Member Username: Efwun Post Number: 392 Registered: 2-2003 |
You know, Bret, that whole "waste of a limited resource" thing doesn't resonate with me. I see 80,000lb diesel garbage trucks on the LIE spraying pollution everywhere, and using who knows how much fuel, as I drive along in my ULEV Mercedes E55, getting 18-20mpg. Simultaneously, I see huge Ford Expeditions, Lincoln Navigators, and single drivers in styled-up crew cab duallies, and these folks are getting 5-7mpg if they're LUCKY. Finally, my 550 makes almost no discernable pollution, and the 4,000 miles I hope to drive it at 10mpg this year will have NO effect on resources, limited or otherwise. Our new E55 is not a "hot rod as an ahole would make it", not sure what technical knowledge you have, but trust me, it is cutting edge technology. The only question is when some lawmaker is going to crack down on non-special interest, e.g., mainstream companies that provide cars capable of 0-150 in 23 seconds. | ||
| Greg V. (512tr17teeth)
Junior Member Username: 512tr17teeth Post Number: 65 Registered: 3-2003 |
Tim, we testdrove the 540i at Keeler Motors on Route 7 in Latham. Are you familiar with the area? | ||
| BretM (Bretm)
Advanced Member Username: Bretm Post Number: 3343 Registered: 2-2001 |
It's an irresponsible waste of a limited resource IMO. Technology would be better placed in getting 30mpg out of a 300hp V8 then in making some of the hot rods they currently produced. Besides which, they make hot rods like an ahole would make one. Hello Germany, nice for you to have met the supercharger. Any idiot can build the "hot rods" currently being produced by Germany. Not that the 540 really fits in that much with this, but it's on its way. | ||
| Tim N (Timn88)
Advanced Member Username: Timn88 Post Number: 2723 Registered: 6-2001 |
Car comapnies are really starting to go overboard on power nowadays. thats not a bad thing, but by seeing the way people drive these days, alot people really shouldnt have such power under their right foot. | ||
| EFWUN (Efwun)
Member Username: Efwun Post Number: 387 Registered: 2-2003 |
Guys, I've gotta weigh in in favor of my 2001 E55. (I know, more comparable to the M5, but what the hey). It has much less understeer than the M5 or 540i, is equal to the M5 in acceleration, and drives like a big go-cart. You'd LOVE it. I'll sell it to you when my new E55 (470hp, 0-100 in 9.8) comes in May!! | ||
| Tim N (Timn88)
Advanced Member Username: Timn88 Post Number: 2716 Registered: 6-2001 |
oh, btw, which dealership? | ||
| Tim N (Timn88)
Advanced Member Username: Timn88 Post Number: 2715 Registered: 6-2001 |
Now imagine driving an M5!! | ||
| Matt S (F40only)
Junior Member Username: F40only Post Number: 65 Registered: 3-2003 |
Yes, I can support what Greg said. I went with him to test drive the car and the car completely amazed me. I was most impressed by instantaneous, smooth throttle response. I just hammered the gas to the floor on the first straight away through the second and third gears, and it went like hell. Absolutely relentless accleration. The engine has that muscle car type roar, and it sounds wicked at wide open throttle. The 540i's handling also was extremely impressive for a car relative to it's size. It was rock solid, and inspired confidence as you flung it into a high speed sweeper. Overall, the most impressive sports sedan I have ever driven. | ||
| Tim N (Timn88)
Advanced Member Username: Timn88 Post Number: 2714 Registered: 6-2001 |
i test drove an automatic version. It was a blast to drive. On a sweeping onramp the salesman just said "keep your foot on it, dont lift. it handles flat as a pancake." it did. | ||
| Greg V. (512tr17teeth)
Junior Member Username: 512tr17teeth Post Number: 64 Registered: 3-2003 |
Today, Matt(F40only), and I went and testdrove a 2001 BMW 540i 6speed with the M-package. I have to tell you that I loved it  The car impressed me sooooo much. The sound was just amazing (the little whistle and low revs when you shift, the deep rumble all the way to red-line) The gearbox was slick, and the 8cylinders did not hesitate to open up even in 6th gear. The steering wheel was rock solid. The throttle responce was excellent. The throttle responce might have been as good as a 911. The nice feel of the clutch soothed my feet, as I found myself using it all the time (just so I could shift that gearbox!!) My favorite part ot the drive was when we were chugging up a hill in 6th, and I did a rev-matched downshift to 3rd, and the tach instantly flew to 4.5RPM's, and the sound of those 8cylinders engulfed the cabin, and all I could do is smile . At the end of the testdrive, the nice salesmen said, "wow, you guys really know how to handle this car, you seem to know what your doing, the shifting is unbelievable from you kids." I can't belive I had that much fun in a 540i, I think I found my future "regular" daily driver car. If you want to feel some extreme engineering from a BMW, then I suggest you testdrove a 540i with the M-package!!!!!!!! Greg |