(OT) Daily Driver Advice Needed - Under $60k

You are right Rob, I still need to drive this model of the M5 as it is more in my price range.

 

Drove the 535 yesterday and really liked it. More my size than the 3 series, and I am getting over my fear of I-drive. Really liked seeing your phone book and music list on the navigation screen. Still had plenty of power, even though a little bigger car than the 335, and was surprised it only weight 3,700 lbs. Loaded up like I would want it is in the $62k range. Wonder if they are discounting these things. Next drives will be the E350 and maybe the C350 again. I am now just walking in with my license out, and asking to drive a certain car to get past some of the salesman bs.

 

I put $500 down to get on the Challenger list at a dealer, so I have left that option open. If I don't want it, you get your money back, or I might flip it. I worry it will be too similar to the Charger, and would want the 425hp version, which may not be available at the first. On the burnout thought, I just put rear pads on the Charger after 23,000 miles, and the guy said they were totally gone. For as many burnouts as I have done, that's pretty good length of service. I know I can't risk them in the 355, so have only done a couple.

 

The SRT8 Charger was within a month of coming off lease, so I sold it last week to free up my decision.
We have had to lay some employees off, so I have been driving a 2007 Honda CRV for the last week.
Other than the anemic 4cyl, and bad seats (coming off the best seats in the industry), it isn't that bad.
I can drive it while I wait on the 335 Convertible I ordered today. Drove the 355 again last friday, and that
engine is amazing! Will take 6-8 weeks to arrive, so I will be driving my energy friendly CRV until it sells,
and then whatever is not being used around the company.

Thanks for all the responses I got, and there were a lot of cars to choose from.

I did get my deposit back on the Challenger last week. Just too much the same car as the Charger, and
the owner said out of his 50 deposits, he probably will only get 9-10 cars this year. I still like it's looks.

 

End of story. Took delivery on the 335i Convertible yesterday, and it is great! Gobs of power,
very little wind backdraft in the cockpit, and the I-drive was no issue at all. They even build in
a holder for your i-pod in the inside top of the center armrest door, with the wiring right there.
Hooked up to the I-phone easily, and been playing with the navigation and satellite radio. Lot's of
techno stuff to set and play with, but very intuitive.

Driving the Honda CRV for 6 weeks was a new world also. I changed from power monger in the charger, to watcher of the
mpg gauge. Does 22 in town and at 60mph on the highway around Dallas was getting 29. Sold it to a nice
young couple the day before I took delivery of the 335.

Thanks for all the input on car possibilities under $60k. This one with Nav, Sattellie, Premium Package, and I-pod
hookup listed at $56,250, so right in the budget. Still miss that raw V-8 power of the SRT8 Charger, but this one
will do just fine.
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Me too, just off Hillcrest on Caruth. E-mail me and we will set up a fun run.

Thanks guys, it has been a fun cruising weekend, and a nice top town drive to work this morning.
I have liked the medium brown interior ever since my nephew got a 2001 M3 with a similar color that
really looked great. Some of you will know that car as the one I got a ticket in on the last Ponder Museum run.
The two tone kind of breaks things up nicely.

Will- no manual because I am a lazy old fart, and don't want the risk of hitting a traffic snarl with it.
7sp auto with a sport setting keeps me happy.

Tillman - goes with my combover

Jimpo - your support is always appreciated. Bring that ***uar to the next lunch and we'll
see who is driving the secretary's car. I got $20 on the bimmer.

 

Old habits die hard.