My New Car

[FoMoJo]

I knew it.  Shoulda got the RS.

[BimmerM3]

Continuing the 340i joke or is there an actual issue?

[Cookie Monster]

Continuing the 340i joke or is there an actual issue?

Yeah, dude spent $40k on a car that doesn't have a factory opening center console.

[MX793]

340i with the M sport package and adaptive dampers is $50k+.

[68_427]

No it's $49,595

Or about $550/mo

[MX793]

No it's $49,595

Or about $550/mo

Adaptive suspension puts you over $50k.  It's not part of the M sport package, but a sub-option within.

[SJ_GTI]

Continuing the 340i joke or is there an actual issue?

Just continuing the joke. Re: the video...no manuel no care. 

Also not sure how serious I take someone's opinion when they are complementing the "feel" of the shift paddles.   

[68_427]

Adaptive suspension puts you over $50k.  It's not part of the M sport package, but a sub-option within.

It only added $700 when I just used the configurator.  Maybe it's broken.

[MX793]

It only added $700 when I just used the configurator.  Maybe it's broken.

I came up with $50,2xx.  Were you using one of the two non-metallic paint color options?

[12,000 RPM]

Hmm... did some digging; 340i is overkill. I think the 330i is actually a Golf R competitor. It can be loaded up with track goodies for $45K, and the less powerful 328i was not much slower than the manual Golf R:

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2012-bmw-328i-sport-line-manual-long-term-test-wrap-up-review
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2016-volkswagen-golf-r-manual-test-review

The new motor def makes more power too so they are probably matched. Can come in AWD too...... but what's done is done :) I prefer the Golf anyway.

[Raza]

Just continuing the joke. Re: the video...no manuel no care. 

Also not sure how serious I take someone's opinion when they are complementing the "feel" of the shift paddles.  

[68_427]

I came up with $50,2xx.  Were you using one of the two non-metallic paint color options?

Estoril blue

[Char]

340i with the M sport package and adaptive dampers is $50k+.

Nah

[MX793]

Estoril blue

Nah

[BimmerM3]

<screenshot>

[SJ_GTI]

Preamble: Mods, all joking aside, if you want to move this thread to mainstreamers please do. I have no illusions of this car being luxury, but I do want to keep using the thread for updates.

Anyways, I had a package waiting for me at the post office today:



What you see if everything necessary to give my Golf R an OEM spec spare tire. The most important part included is the trim piece at the bottom. As you will see below it is shaped a bit different than the North American Golf R so that it can accomodate the spare tire. What many early buyers did was to actually cut a section out of their existing trim to accomodate the spare (or just squeeze the tire in). However some later buyers figured out that you can just buy the proper trim piece from Europe (latvia, in this case). The part itself is very cheap (~30 euro or thereabouts) but shipping is expensive. So since I was getting that part I also got the foam you see there (designed to hold the jack and other misc. tools in place around the tire and under the hatch floor).

Here is a shot of what is under the hatch floor:



As you can see everything is molded to fit the spare tire (again, except the trim piece, see below). Even the subwoofer is shaped to fit right inside the spare tire itself...which shows how ridiculous it is that VW wouldn't just make the spare tire standard or...worst case...just make it an option or dealer installed accesory. Anyway...all I will need to do is disconnect the subwoofer and remove/replace the one trim piece. Not much actual work involved, which is good because I am not at all mechanically inclined. 

Here is a close up of the existing trim piece that needs to be replaced (and the subwoofer):



As you can see the straight edge there is what stops the spare tire from being a simple drop in accesory. I don't understand why VW even bothered to make a different trim piece for North America. I can't imagine its any cheaper.  One extra thing I may have to do is try to extend the wiring to the subwoofer a bit, but that should be relatively simple once the trim piece is off.

Anyways I will probably work on this saturday. Too (mentally) tired to work on it tonight and I am guessing I will not be up to messing with it tomorrow night either. Saturdays are usually the day I do yard work or odds and ends aorund the house anyway. Will post pictures once everything is in. 

[Raza]

It's an R...belongs in the Fast Lane.  Or compared to my car, it belongs in the Big Guys section. 

(Although it might be faster than my car....every car is a monster compared to my honest little Z4)

[68_427]

Looks like it wasn't adding the $700 for the paint last night.  Not the only issue I had with their configurator.  But still it's a $700 difference which when rolled into a lease like 50% of these cars will be it's really nothing.

[MX793]

Looks like it wasn't adding the $700 for the paint last night.  Not the only issue I had with their configurator.  But still it's a $700 difference which when rolled into a lease like 50% of these cars will be it's really nothing.

SJ was buying, not leasing, and when you're buying, ~25% more money is a big deal.

[68_427]

SJ was buying, not leasing, and when you're buying, ~25% more money is a big deal.

This is Carspin and what we do here is #spendotherpeople'smoneyforthem

[Char]

SJ was buying, not leasing, and when you're buying, ~25% more money is a big deal.

Well I didn't spec it as Estoril blue. Kids these days are soft.

[MX793]

Well I didn't spec it as Estoril blue. Kids these days are soft.

Still, you're just under $50K vs an MT Golf R which is a little under $40K.

[SJ_GTI]

Still, you're just under $50K vs an MT Golf R which is a little under $40K.

Those aren't really apples to apples though. Spec'ing the two as close as possible just now I came up with a price of 56,445...and that was only because I couldn't have both a manual transmission (which I chose) and Adaptive Cruise Control (which my manual Golf R has, but BMW will not let you have them both apparently).

Now do I need all those options...? No, but they are kind of nice and its apples to apples pricing. You can actually get a Golf R closer to 36k if you don't want any of the options (not on VW's 2017 build site, but dealers are saying it is in their pricing availability).

[Char]

Still, you're just under $50K vs an MT Golf R which is a little under $40K.

Just priced it out on Truecar.com and it said OP was soft for not checking one out. It also said that 46K with the M package and Estoril Blue.

[MX793]

Just priced it out on Truecar.com and it said OP was soft for not checking one out. It also said that 46K with the M package and Estoril Blue.

And what does True car say for a Golf R?  I got 38.6k for one spec'ed like OP's (which has more "must have goodies than a basic 340 m sport) and 35.3k for a comparable, lowest point of entry model.  You're still talking at least $10k or ~25% more money.

[12,000 RPM]

OP is an accountant. He can cook the books to make it work

[Lebowski]

Wait, does the spare fit without giving up any functional trunk space?

[SJ_GTI]

Wait, does the spare fit without giving up any functional trunk space?

Yeah, its an OEM spare tire. What I posted is underneath the floor of the hatch. I'll post a pic with it installed this weekend.

[Lebowski]

Yeah, its an OEM spare tire. What I posted is underneath the floor of the hatch. I'll post a pic with it installed this weekend.

If there's room for a spare without giving up any storage space, what's the point of not including a spare?

[BimmerM3]

If there's room for a spare without giving up any storage space, what's the point of not including a spare?

I'm still waiting for an answer to that question about the center console.