I got some really cool news over the weekend!

Howdy everyone! I have been a long time lover of the 365/400/412 series car. While I've always wanted a 400, I've never had a need for one yet. Over the weekend, after I came back from washing and driving the 308, my wife asked me about the 400iA or 412iA. She cannot (read: will not) drive a stick, she hates it. This is the only reason why I had to immediately discount any 365 or 5 speed 400/412.

We will keep her BMW for normal daily use. She wants a 400 to tote the kids around and have some fun. She seems REALLY into it and honestly so am I. I think it would be like a dream to see my hot wife and my kids putting around in a 400/412.

If anyone in the Southeast has a 400iA or a 412iA, we would like to come take a look at it. I'll be at the Ferraris at Disney Show, the Ferrari Challenge at Road Atlanta and will also be attending the FCA Nationals in Wisconsin.

Pipedream? Am I thinking crazy?

 

That is cool news! I would try to keep drives to a minimum of 5-6 miles to allow the oil to warm up (the sump holds 18.5 quarts) if possible (probably not a problem in the southeast). Other than that, there is no reason why your wife couldn't run one. Get one quick!

Aidan

 

That is some wife you have! The good news is that there are far more autos around than 5 speeds, so you will be fishing in the target rich part of the pond and the prices are lower as well.

Good luck, get one before she changes her mind!

John

 

Correction Aidan, that's 18.5 litre or 19.5 qts.. It seems that I can only get 16 qts. drained out @ oil change w/oil hot & overnight draindown, 3.5 qts. must be hiding in the cooler/lines/elsewhere.

There seems to be a run of 400iA's out there, get 'em while they're hot!

Bruce

 

John, if I could get her to "want" to learn to drive a manual shift, I would ABSOLUTLEY be all over your car. I offered to let her learn on my E39 M5, that car is a beast and can take the punishment.

 

come by for a visit i have four 400ai that run. u a welcome to drive several, some topless. 8596191441 lexington ky

 

That's great, I bet she would do fine. Every woman should know how to a.) throw a baseball properly, b.) shoot a shotgun and c.) drive a stickshift car. When we were dating I taught my wife how to drive a standard on my Triumph TR-250. She did great and then got her first car, an old BMW 1600 that she got for $250 and drove while in college. She later drove several Alfas and a couple of BMWs that we had before we went "soft" in the late 80's and got a series of E and then M class Mercedes that we still drive today. She hasn't driven the 400i nor has she driven my vintage 1959 Turner race car, which has the additional challenge of being right hand drive.

 

What a cool wife!

Chris

 

She really is the coolest woman I've ever met. I got really lucky with Julie. She loves cars.