The Biggest Mistake of My Life - Not Test Driving a Car
Discussion
Unfortunately, I would be thousands of pounds in the red if I was to try and sell it just now. I may have been feeling rather negative last night - I'm sure I'll be able to live with it for a year or so given the low mileage I'm now doing.
To whoever mentioned my previous car, there's no doubt the M135i was a great car - very fast and refined but just too refined for my liking, I didn't like the rear wheel drive in anything but completely dry conditions and it felt so heavy when pushing on around twisty roads. As great as the automatic gearbox was, I soon realised that I prefer having the extra control of a manual car. Don't think I'd go down the BMW route again. Quite interested in the forthcoming civic type R so may go and have a nosey this time next year.
To whoever mentioned my previous car, there's no doubt the M135i was a great car - very fast and refined but just too refined for my liking, I didn't like the rear wheel drive in anything but completely dry conditions and it felt so heavy when pushing on around twisty roads. As great as the automatic gearbox was, I soon realised that I prefer having the extra control of a manual car. Don't think I'd go down the BMW route again. Quite interested in the forthcoming civic type R so may go and have a nosey this time next year.
Funny Ive just chopped a 320d in for a Focus ST for the same reason - 3000 miles since January. I sat in the Focus but didnt drive it but I figured its so cheap that if I hate it I dont really car because I dont need to drive it more than once every 2 weeks. I never drove the 320d either...... If I spent too long pondering and test driving Id never make my mind up so tend to do things on a whim.
Martin_M said:
So as I write this folks, I feel pretty gutted. What follows is the result of my own stupidity and hopefully it will be a warning to those who are tempted to act on impulse!
Over the years I've had a nice selection of cars, trading up as funds have allowed and about a year ago I treated myself to an M135i - great car but I just didn't really enjoy driving it that much - it was almost too competent. Fast forward to this summer and I got a new job (2 year secondment) in Glasgow city centre which means that commuting by train is by far the fastest, cheapest and most convenient option.
After talking things over with my wife, we decided that with the bmw sitting in the local train station's car park each day, it would make sense to trade in the car for something cheaper (but still sporty enough for me to actually enjoy driving) for a couple of years. As much as I'm a petrolhead I just couldn't justify spending £400 per month on a car that won't do more than 20 miles per week.
In terms of a cheaper but sporty replacement, I really liked the look of the Abarth 595 - a chap further up my street has one and I always thought they looked and sounded great. Nothing else has really caught my eye so I set my heart on a 595 comeptizione. I sat in one at my local Arnold Clark and thought that it felt pretty good but unfortunately, I didn't take it for a test drive, assuming that it would feel as good on the move as it did at a standstill.
I negotiated a really good deal with an Abarth dealer in Portsmouth and set off in the bmw last week to do the deal. 7 hours later I was in the Abarth and to my horror, I realised that my 6 foot 3 frame was far from comfortable. Unable to adjust the steering wheel for reach and with the seat too high, I'd go as far as to say that I hate the car. It sounds great and looks the part but I'm just so uncomfortable in it that it's just no fun to drive at all.
And to rub salt in the wound, I've just found my BMW for sale. The grass isn't always greener as they say!
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...
marry in haste repent at leisure, once is careless twice.....................Over the years I've had a nice selection of cars, trading up as funds have allowed and about a year ago I treated myself to an M135i - great car but I just didn't really enjoy driving it that much - it was almost too competent. Fast forward to this summer and I got a new job (2 year secondment) in Glasgow city centre which means that commuting by train is by far the fastest, cheapest and most convenient option.
After talking things over with my wife, we decided that with the bmw sitting in the local train station's car park each day, it would make sense to trade in the car for something cheaper (but still sporty enough for me to actually enjoy driving) for a couple of years. As much as I'm a petrolhead I just couldn't justify spending £400 per month on a car that won't do more than 20 miles per week.
In terms of a cheaper but sporty replacement, I really liked the look of the Abarth 595 - a chap further up my street has one and I always thought they looked and sounded great. Nothing else has really caught my eye so I set my heart on a 595 comeptizione. I sat in one at my local Arnold Clark and thought that it felt pretty good but unfortunately, I didn't take it for a test drive, assuming that it would feel as good on the move as it did at a standstill.
I negotiated a really good deal with an Abarth dealer in Portsmouth and set off in the bmw last week to do the deal. 7 hours later I was in the Abarth and to my horror, I realised that my 6 foot 3 frame was far from comfortable. Unable to adjust the steering wheel for reach and with the seat too high, I'd go as far as to say that I hate the car. It sounds great and looks the part but I'm just so uncomfortable in it that it's just no fun to drive at all.
And to rub salt in the wound, I've just found my BMW for sale. The grass isn't always greener as they say!
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I'm pushing 6'4 and hired a base model 500 in Italy a couple of weeks ago.
I thought it was fantastic. I wouldn't fancy doing 300 miles along motorways in it regularly, like I did over there, but for around town it was great.
Around town seems like the task you need yours for? You shouldn't be in it long enough to get uncomfortable!
I thought it was fantastic. I wouldn't fancy doing 300 miles along motorways in it regularly, like I did over there, but for around town it was great.
Around town seems like the task you need yours for? You shouldn't be in it long enough to get uncomfortable!
ashway said:
marry in haste repent at leisure, once is careless twice.....................
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Prawnboy said:
op said:
My only experience of rear wheel drive was my two years of running a Boxster which for me had the 'wow factor' but wasn't all that practical.
I found myself tiring of the vxr towards the end of my ownership as it wasn't all that practical for my needs
Op, buy a motorbike I found myself tiring of the vxr towards the end of my ownership as it wasn't all that practical for my needs
ashway said:
Martin_M said:
So as I write this folks, I feel pretty gutted. What follows is the result of my own stupidity and hopefully it will be a warning to those who are tempted to act on impulse!
Over the years I've had a nice selection of cars, trading up as funds have allowed and about a year ago I treated myself to an M135i - great car but I just didn't really enjoy driving it that much - it was almost too competent. Fast forward to this summer and I got a new job (2 year secondment) in Glasgow city centre which means that commuting by train is by far the fastest, cheapest and most convenient option.
After talking things over with my wife, we decided that with the bmw sitting in the local train station's car park each day, it would make sense to trade in the car for something cheaper (but still sporty enough for me to actually enjoy driving) for a couple of years. As much as I'm a petrolhead I just couldn't justify spending £400 per month on a car that won't do more than 20 miles per week.
In terms of a cheaper but sporty replacement, I really liked the look of the Abarth 595 - a chap further up my street has one and I always thought they looked and sounded great. Nothing else has really caught my eye so I set my heart on a 595 comeptizione. I sat in one at my local Arnold Clark and thought that it felt pretty good but unfortunately, I didn't take it for a test drive, assuming that it would feel as good on the move as it did at a standstill.
I negotiated a really good deal with an Abarth dealer in Portsmouth and set off in the bmw last week to do the deal. 7 hours later I was in the Abarth and to my horror, I realised that my 6 foot 3 frame was far from comfortable. Unable to adjust the steering wheel for reach and with the seat too high, I'd go as far as to say that I hate the car. It sounds great and looks the part but I'm just so uncomfortable in it that it's just no fun to drive at all.
And to rub salt in the wound, I've just found my BMW for sale. The grass isn't always greener as they say!
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...
marry in haste repent at leisure, once is careless twice.....................Over the years I've had a nice selection of cars, trading up as funds have allowed and about a year ago I treated myself to an M135i - great car but I just didn't really enjoy driving it that much - it was almost too competent. Fast forward to this summer and I got a new job (2 year secondment) in Glasgow city centre which means that commuting by train is by far the fastest, cheapest and most convenient option.
After talking things over with my wife, we decided that with the bmw sitting in the local train station's car park each day, it would make sense to trade in the car for something cheaper (but still sporty enough for me to actually enjoy driving) for a couple of years. As much as I'm a petrolhead I just couldn't justify spending £400 per month on a car that won't do more than 20 miles per week.
In terms of a cheaper but sporty replacement, I really liked the look of the Abarth 595 - a chap further up my street has one and I always thought they looked and sounded great. Nothing else has really caught my eye so I set my heart on a 595 comeptizione. I sat in one at my local Arnold Clark and thought that it felt pretty good but unfortunately, I didn't take it for a test drive, assuming that it would feel as good on the move as it did at a standstill.
I negotiated a really good deal with an Abarth dealer in Portsmouth and set off in the bmw last week to do the deal. 7 hours later I was in the Abarth and to my horror, I realised that my 6 foot 3 frame was far from comfortable. Unable to adjust the steering wheel for reach and with the seat too high, I'd go as far as to say that I hate the car. It sounds great and looks the part but I'm just so uncomfortable in it that it's just no fun to drive at all.
And to rub salt in the wound, I've just found my BMW for sale. The grass isn't always greener as they say!
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Need to go back to Porsche me thinks...I liked that car.
Martin_M said:
ashway said:
not really,
seem to remember you weren't that keen on the rear wheel drive Boxster either
wow - I'm impressed you remember. It's common knowledge I prefer fwd but of all my cars, my Porsche was my favourite. But feel free to add another bseem to remember you weren't that keen on the rear wheel drive Boxster either
hy comment in there chap.hy! Don't take it to heart; we can't all be great decision makers, lacking in self doubt.stuart-b said:
Prawnboy said:
op said:
My only experience of rear wheel drive was my two years of running a Boxster which for me had the 'wow factor' but wasn't all that practical.
I found myself tiring of the vxr towards the end of my ownership as it wasn't all that practical for my needs
Op, buy a motorbike I found myself tiring of the vxr towards the end of my ownership as it wasn't all that practical for my needs
I do agree the seating position is not the best - I have Tourism with different seats and being 5'9 I find my lower back uncomfortable during longer journeys.
However I bought it because I'm in the same situation and don't need an M3 to do a <10 mile daily commute.
Takes some time to get used to the Abarth but so far the saving has already given me a reason to smile.
However I bought it because I'm in the same situation and don't need an M3 to do a <10 mile daily commute.
Takes some time to get used to the Abarth but so far the saving has already given me a reason to smile.
I'm sorry, but you won't do more than 20 miles a week in it? So 1,000 a year? Firstly, you could probably just walk that, surely?
Secondly, why on earth haven't you gone for the biggest, most petrol hungry monster you can find?!?!!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1973-CORVETTE-STINGRAY-4...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-American-F3-Pickup-...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CHEVROLET-EL-CAMINO-68-S...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Model-A-Coupe-5-win...
Go nuts man, you have the opportunity to own something that makes you piss yourself with laughter every single day!
Secondly, why on earth haven't you gone for the biggest, most petrol hungry monster you can find?!?!!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1973-CORVETTE-STINGRAY-4...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-American-F3-Pickup-...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CHEVROLET-EL-CAMINO-68-S...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Model-A-Coupe-5-win...
Go nuts man, you have the opportunity to own something that makes you piss yourself with laughter every single day!
i agree with blown 2cv, for station duty get yourself something second hand that you dont mind sitting there (most likely having doors opened on it).
as for people bringing up old threads and saying you've not got on with previous cars i don't see the problem. the way people (on here especially) whack themselves off over the m135i you'd expect it to be "the ultimate driving machine".
as for the fiat i regularly borrowed o/h's and i found it a bit tight and extremely uncomfortable on longer journeys.
i've had 7 cars (3 last year) and not one of them have i wanted to keep for any longer than a year, my current car i like but due to my size i don't think it'll be a keeper as intended.
as for people bringing up old threads and saying you've not got on with previous cars i don't see the problem. the way people (on here especially) whack themselves off over the m135i you'd expect it to be "the ultimate driving machine".
as for the fiat i regularly borrowed o/h's and i found it a bit tight and extremely uncomfortable on longer journeys.
i've had 7 cars (3 last year) and not one of them have i wanted to keep for any longer than a year, my current car i like but due to my size i don't think it'll be a keeper as intended.
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