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The Car Thread ... !

Alright, I'm still MG shopping, but the "right one" isn't showing up around here.

I went to lunch with a co-worker yesterday, and just about broke down in a laughing fit when we pulled into the restaurant parking lot. I said "I'll be back in a minute" took off a half a mile down and across the road. There was a "perfect(for me) chrome bumper/BRG/wire wheel MGB parked in the parking lot I took off toward. I went running hoping it might have a for sale sign on it, but unfortunately not. The owner saw me looking and came out. We chatted for a few minutes with me heaping on the praise, but he told me he was going to be buried in the car :)

My co-worker was amazed that I'd spotted it from that far away :)

Fortunately at least, most that I see around here(although rarely for sale :( ) seem to be either BRG or red, either of which is an acceptable color although I have a very strong preference for BRG.
 
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senseless said:
But swapping RFTs for regular tires is a risky option in a car without room for a jack and donut spare. Slime won't fix sidewall damage. I had this happen this year and last. Run flats would have gotten me home, I'm guessing.
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That's why one has BMW Assist and Roadside Assistance.

There are so many cars out there without a spare these days. It's not a big deal. Not something that would keep me from buying a BMW.
 
AutoUnion39 said:
That's why one has BMW Assist and Roadside Assistance.

There are so many cars out there without a spare these days. It's not a big deal. Not something that would keep me from buying a BMW.
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It's a compromise, I suppose. Even the BMW brochure warns about low profile tires and wheel and suspension damage. Dealer said, "Yeah, they're not practical, but that's how all sporty cars are fitted."
 
As long as you just "spend the money" on a very good tire set.. You should be fine, expensive as hell but today's low profile all season tires are all that... Getting reading to purchase a set of some all season Goodyear F2's... $700 with them mounted On my Chevy Cruze and that's a sale lol
 
senseless said:
It's a compromise, I suppose. Even the BMW brochure warns about low profile tires and wheel and suspension damage. Dealer said, "Yeah, they're not practical, but that's how all sporty cars are fitted."
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FWIW, I've had ultra low profile tires on lightweight wheels (OEM and aftermarket) for years and years. Apart from the Lexus issue I mentioned above (and honestly, those were more "mid-grade" aftermarket wheels ...), the roads here can be pretty brutal, and I've banged wheels again and again, with any issues - I'm lowered, custom shock/coils (stiff), and my current tires are like rubber bands :D
 
D.T. said:
FWIW, I've had ultra low profile tires on lightweight wheels (OEM and aftermarket) for years and years. Apart from the Lexus issue I mentioned above (and honestly, those were more "mid-grade" aftermarket wheels ...), the roads here can be pretty brutal, and I've banged wheels again and again, with any issues - I'm lowered, custom shock/coils (stiff), and my current tires are like rubber bands :D
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Ok, that's good to know. Given the choice of low profile or normal, I would not choose low profile. There's just not that choice with sport models.
 
AutoUnion39 said:
That's why one has BMW Assist and Roadside Assistance.

There are so many cars out there without a spare these days. It's not a big deal. Not something that would keep me from buying a BMW.
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I noticed this about most cars. What is the big deal? Is the whole AAA roadside assistance something that made car makers change designs to leave out the tire?
 
63dot said:
I noticed this about most cars. What is the big deal? Is the whole AAA roadside assistance something that made car makers change designs to leave out the tire?
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One of the issues-to me-about having that on a 1-series or other small sports car is that I'm going to head somewhere like down to eastern KY, WV, or the mountains of Virginia for "fun" driving. The tight curves around hills and mountains are what these cars are made for.

Near a town, cell service isn't a problem but there's a LOT of dead space out there as well. I don't want to have to rely on roadside assistance for something like a flat.

BTW, that's also a pretty significant chance-between snow plows, coal trucks, and low road budgets potholes don't always get fixed promptly. Flats aren't super common, but there's at least a decent chance.

Run flats aren't an option in that situation, since I've had too much experience with mechanics and tire shops in that area to trust them with putting on that type of tire(if it's even in stock). Basically, depending on where I happened to be, I'd need to head to Lexington, Pikeville, Johnson City, or Abingdon...and any of those could be 100+ miles.
 
Suture said:
Nice -- what have you done to it?
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Completely redid the brakes with new lines, drums, wheel cylinders, shoes, master cylinder ... Everything but the booster.
Did the front springs and ball joints, started into tuning the motor. Starts and idles great for a while then seems to want to die out, think it might be a vacuum issue. Literally was not started for over 3 years, put a couple of gallons of high octane in and it started on the first try.
Reason its been sitting is because I seem to either have $$ but no time, or time but no $$. I got 3 other vehicles, kids, property eating up my spare $$ this time of year especially ,,, So its tough for me to create the perfect storm to get it on the road.
Interior is nice but tach isn't working, neither are the brake lights, so a bunch of little things to do before she is road worthy. Threw it up on craigslist for the heck of it, generated alot of interest but the highest offer I got, $6,500, I turned down. I think shes worth a bit more than that.
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Does it have the sport diff? It makes a big difference in the S4. Regardless, S4s are great.
 
I like the front end on your Firebird. Don't see many of them around anymore. Shame Pontiac went down; I like the "home brew/modern" Firebirds that people have made out of modern Camaros. Would be interesting to see what Pontiac could pull off, especially with how good and underrated the G8 was.
 
Suture said:
I like the front end on your Firebird. Don't see many of them around anymore. Shame Pontiac went down; I like the "home brew/modern" Firebirds that people have made out of modern Camaros. Would be interesting to see what Pontiac could pull off, especially with how good and underrated the G8 was.
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Honestly, GM killed off Pontiac long before they ended the brand. The G8 was pretty great, but the G6 and G5 were terrible.

Personally, I think GM should resurrect Pontiac as a specialty performance brand with one or two models that sell at Buick or Chevy dealers. I know it won't happen, but to give Pontiac just performance would be great, especially when you look at how bad the SS looks and how Chevy it is inside. If they styled that like an older Pontiac...dang.
 
I think the 135 would be more fun, but the S4 is a nice ride, and in your neck of the woods, the AWD would be super handy.
 
AustinIllini said:
The thing is, the S4 would also likely be more comfortable for a more well rounded day driver.
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Yep, totally agree, I mean they're both very nice, both reasonably perky and fun to drive, I believe the 135 favors the fun more, and the S4 favors the overall usability more (and that's a good bit more if you factor in driving in the snow!)

I think a manual 135 N55 model is one of the [last?] great back-to-it's-roots BMWs :)
 
senseless said:
Bought the 2012 S4! The interior sold me and the supercharger is a blast. Traded in my car, so it's my daily driver. I still have 6 months warranty left. Thanks guys; you were really helpful!


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Did you get an extended warranty? I'd be more concerned about having bought an Audi rather than having low profile tires and no spare ;)

Just kidding! It's a killer car, make sure to find time to track it and really figure out how to make the best of it.
 
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senseless said:
Bought the 2012 S4! The interior sold me and the supercharger is a blast. Traded in my car, so it's my daily driver. I still have 6 months warranty left. Thanks guys; you were really helpful!


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Nice! I didn't realize it was a manual either, very cool.

More pics :)

Side note: I've been meaning to mention, I totally dig on your avatar, Adventure was an amazing moment in videogame history.
 
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senseless said:
Bought the 2012 S4! The interior sold me and the supercharger is a blast. Traded in my car, so it's my daily driver. I still have 6 months warranty left. Thanks guys; you were really helpful!
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Congrats. The S4 is a blast! Unstoppable tank in the snow and the 3.0SC is a glorious engine. You made the right choice!
 
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