Time for a new car

[Lebowski]

Yes.  I live on a lake.  Boat stays.

If a boat causes this many logistical compromises, including your wife's daily commute, it's not worth having.

[68_427]

Grab a couple jet skis if possible.  They'll get used more in the long run, and you can tow them with any car.

[MrH]

Why get a boat when you could have a BETTER CAR?!!

You can't drive a boat on the street.  Not worth it.

[SVT666]

If a boat causes this many logistical compromises, including your wife's daily commute, it's not worth having.

I won't even dignify this with a comment.

[SVT666]

Grab a couple jet skis if possible.  They'll get used more in the long run, and you can tow them with any car.

We waterski.  Can't do that behind a jet ski.  Besides, they won't get used more.  We will be on our boat virtually every weekend from now until mid September.

[SVT666]

By the way, when did a BMW 328i become a compromise?  The transmission is a compromise, but the car itself is faster, handles better, rides better, and is a far superior car to my SVT Focus in every way.

[Raza]

By the way, when did a BMW 328i become a compromise?  The transmission is a compromise, but the car itself is faster, handles better, rides better, and is a far superior car to my SVT Focus in every way.

I have very real doubts that a 328i handles better than an SVT Focus.

[68_427]

We waterski.  Can't do that behind a jet ski.  Besides, they won't get used more.  We will be on our boat virtually every weekend from now until mid September.

I meant in the long run.  With my personal experience, as your kids get older, they might prefer jet skis since they're more personal and much easier to take out for a quick blast by yourself.  They don't require the same amount of planning for a trip to the lake as a boat.

I've wake boarded behind a jet ski.  Er personal watercraft.

[Vinsanity]

I meant in the long run.  With my personal experience, as your kids get older, they might prefer jet skis since they're more personal and much easier to take out for a quick blast by yourself.  They don't require the same amount of planning for a trip to the lake as a boat.

You don't have to plan a trip to the lake if you live on the lake like he does.

[68_427]

On doesn't have to mean "My house is built on waterfront property"  Could be a couple miles.  Even still, launching a boat on your own is way more difficult than a jet ski.

But I do understand having a boat while his kids are young.  Although it's possible to plan into the future.  I'm sure he could keep the boat in a marina or something during the season, since it'll be used as often as he says it will be. That way he wouldn't need the Explorer.  Yes I know he couldn't sell it blah blah but we here at Carspin love trying to change peoples minds about shit.

[Raza]

If you live on the lake, why don't you just park the boat in the lake?

[SVT666]

I have very real doubts that a 328i handles better than an SVT Focus.

Well, since I own an SVT Focus and I just drove the 328i, I'm telling you it does.

[SVT666]

You don't have to plan a trip to the lake if you live on the lake like he does.

I think you guys are misinterpreting my call for opinions on the car as me asking you what I should sell, keep, etc. 
1. We love boating, we're keeping the boat. 
2. We will not rent a slip since those are very expensive around here...and there's a waiting list.
3. We need the Explorer for the boat and tent trailer since we couldn't sell it to buy a beater truck.

[Lebowski]

By the way, when did a BMW 328i become a compromise?

Lol this whole thread is one giant clusterfuck of irrational compromises.

Making your wife drive an exploder that you don't want yet can't afford to sell is a compromise.

Not being able to buy a beater truck because you're already imposing upon your parents to store one of your 37 vehicles+boats+trailers is a compromise.

Not being able to take boat in for 3 weeks is a compromise.

Bitching about gas prices when you own not one but two discretionary gas guzzling items is a compromise.

Don't get me wrong I see the appeal of a boat too but how much headache is it really worth?

[Cookie Monster]

So I'm assuming there's no way for you to get your wife to drive a stick? No offense to her but that would solve all your problems without you having to spend another penny on vehicles, and you get to keep the car you love.

[Raza]

Well, since I own an SVT Focus and I just drove the 328i, I'm telling you it does.

Really?  Are you sure it's not just RWD bias shining through? 

[SVT666]

Lol this whole thread is one giant clusterfuck of irrational compromises.

Making your wife drive an exploder that you don't want yet can't afford to sell is a compromise.

We love the Explorer and my wife likes driving it.  But, my wife spent $7800 on fuel alone last year.  By my calculations, we will save roughly $4000 in fuel this year if we can trade vehicles whenever one of us goes out of town.  

Not being able to buy a beater truck because you're already imposing upon your parents to store one of your 37 vehicles+boats+trailers is a compromise.

The trailer is 50% theirs anyway, and they have the room to store it and we don't.

Not being able to take boat in for 3 weeks is a compromise.

Right.  Getting a car my wife can drive cures that problem.  

Bitching about gas prices when you own not one but two discretionary gas guzzling items is a compromise.

I never bitched about gas prices.  The sheer amount of fuel the Explorer uses can be cut by half by trading vehicles as needed...Freeing up the money to buy a BMW.

Don't get me wrong I see the appeal of a boat too but how much headache is it really worth?

Yes.  By doing this, the headaches are minimized greatly.  


I don't need to justify any of this to you.  I wasn't looking for opinions on if I'm doing the right thing here, because I already know I am.  I really want this BMW.  I want it more than I want to keep my Focus to be quite honest.  Because of this move, the Explorer will be relegated to around town and towing duty which is the ultimate goal.  Doing this, makes our lives much easier, because now I can use the Explorer whenever I need to, which is quite often during the spring and summer (landscaping mostly).  Right now, if I take the Explorer, my wife is house bound and that does not work for us.

[SVT666]

So I'm assuming there's no way for you to get your wife to drive a stick? No offense to her but that would solve all your problems without you having to spend another penny on vehicles, and you get to keep the car you love.

She has tried.  She doesn't have the coordination and it scares the crap out of her.  She's 40 now, so there is pretty much no changing this fact now.  Now, I do love my Focus, but I want the BMW more than I want to keep my Focus. 

[SVT666]

Really?  Are you sure it's not just RWD bias shining through? 

Yes.  The Focus is not sprung as stiffly as some may think.  My buddy's 2005 Civic SiR rides twice as stiff as my car.  The BMW rolls less and handles mid corner bumps much better, and around here mid corner bumps are a reality.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Exploder needs to go. Get a used Mazda 5.

[Rich]

Boat and house need to go.  Replace with Viper.

[Raza]

What about trading the Explorer in on something?

[Rich]

Didn't you buy the Explorer in the US at a really good price?  Why can't ya get a decent price for it in Canukistan?

[GoCougs]

On Saturday we drove a 2008 BMW 328i, a 2008 Infiniti G35x, and a 2008 Cadillac CTS 3.6DI.  Both BMW and Infiniti offer 0.9% over 48 months on their CPO cars.  BMW provides a 6 year protection plan as well.

2008 Infiniti G35x
Pros:
- Looks great
- Drives well
- very good handling
- lots of power
- big trunk
- nice seats
- better leather than the BMW
- Great interior styling
- 0.9% Financing

Cons:
- Cheapness found in some interior trim pieces
- engine is coarse at higher rpms
- auto transmission is very slow to react to manual inputs
- doesn't feel as solid as the BMW and kind of feels like a really nice Nissan
- Steering feel is muted compared to the BMW

FWIW, the G37x ('09+) has moderate to major improvements on the important cons: engine NVH, steering feel and AT performance are all dramatically improved.

Also, the 328i I think will be a bad idea - you've had enough car-related headaches.

[SVT666]

Didn't you buy the Explorer in the US at a really good price?  Why can't ya get a decent price for it in Canukistan?

Nobody is buying gas guzzlers.  We priced it low and we didn't get a single call.  Fuel prices here have been jumping every couple weeks and it's all over the news that gas is going to be at $1.60 a litre ($6.05 per Gallon) by summer.  That's scaring people away from buying SUVs.  My boss has made a nice little side business out of buying SUVs at auction and selling them privately and he won't buy the SUVs anymore because it takes him forever to offload them.

[SVT666]

FWIW, the G37x ('09+) has moderate to major improvements on the important cons: engine NVH, steering feel and AT performance are all dramatically improved.

I drove the G37 last fall and I had the exact same complaints.

[SVT666]

What about trading the Explorer in on something?

They will only give us $10K for it and that's not worth it to me.  I would rather keep it than give it away.

[SVT666]

Boat and house need to go.  Replace with Viper.

That's the first suggestion that actually makes sense.

[Payman]

That's the first suggestion that actually makes sense.

My brother tows his 21' Bayliner with his Viper. The boat has black and silver sides so it looks really cool. Dunno what the tow rating of a Viper is, but he doesn't care.

[GoCougs]

I don't need to justify any of this to you.  I wasn't looking for opinions on if I'm doing the right thing here, because I already know I am.  I really want this BMW.  I want it more than I want to keep my Focus to be quite honest.  Because of this move, the Explorer will be relegated to around town and towing duty which is the ultimate goal.  Doing this, makes our lives much easier, because now I can use the Explorer whenever I need to, which is quite often during the spring and summer (landscaping mostly).  Right now, if I take the Explorer, my wife is house bound and that does not work for us.

Sometimes the best advice is PITA to hear.

With the talk of financing another vehicle and not being able to sell the current vehicle (upside down?), I think people are implicitly picking up on maybe some financial strain and otherwise your ability to afford a 328i, G35x, or the like (even used).

I understand keeping the boat actually; I have friends that live in a similar area to yours (eastern WA - lots of hot weather, lots of water access, kind of in the boonies) and a boat is kind of a big deal.

My suggestion is to keep the Explorer and boat, sell the Focus and buy something with that money, plus maybe a bit more $$$. I think you'll have to compromise a lot on what you should buy: a boring, mundane, moderately used run-of-the-mill AT-equipped 4-cyl mid sizer just like most people.