Automotive ADD or something else...

JThw8 wrote: I agree too, and preservation is only a small part of my overall issues. I dunno, it's akin to when I commuted in a miata. All that happy goodness just puttering down the highway in a straight line, what a waste.

I can agree. I love my Miata, but when it was my daily driver on my 50-mile 1-way commute, I found that I didn't really enjoy it. Now that it's become a garage-queen and I can flog the Accent daily I find I'm much happier. 1.) I can really pound on the Accent without drawing attention(the whole slow-car-fast thing), and 2.) On the nice days when I do drive the Miata(probably only 20-times/1500-mi per-year now) it's an enjoyable change, not a drag.

Sounds like you need the Smart(or something similar) AND the M3.

I could not DD an M3 for the same reasons I can't own a motorcycle - the world does not need me driving something that can go that fast, that easily. I get into enough trouble driving a 90 HP diesel wagon...

You need an older comfy japanese car. With a BIG turbo.

Jekyll/Hyde.

I have this same problem with the Miata while i'm driving it to work the last few weeks since the MX6 ate a radiator. It's.... stupid. The Miata isn't as comfy, is louder, twitchy, and not something i relish driving at 5am. The only thing it's got going for it is a nice stereo.

The MX6 can be as mind-numbingly boring as i want it to be. Cushy seats, cushy ride, sedate steering (in comparison). But if i want to blast it up an onramp with ludicrous acceleration speeds, i can. I just usually don't. It's a perfect commuter. (Other than the crappy stereo)

bluej wrote: Why aren't you shopping for another smart? Maybe a mazda2 or fiat?

All 3 of those would be on my shopping list if I was buying another new car. The smart was my first new car in 15 years and as much as I love the car it reminded me why I dont buy new. I get bored with a car within 2 years, but I put 40,000 miles a year on a car, so after 2 years the depreciation hit on a new car is killer.

That's actually why my daughter is getting the Smart, its resale value is lower than its value to me so I'd rather give her a car that is newer and nicer than what she would have gotten otherwise.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: You need an older comfy japanese car. With a BIG turbo.

An older Lexus SC400 was on my shopping list when I bought the M3 and may be on it again if I decide to sell.

I still toy with the idea of angering SWMBO and just keeping the M3 and buying a beater for my commute, but it's really not the practical thing to do and she puts up with so much impractical stuff every day from me I should really make some effort.

Keep the smart. Tell the daughter you'll match whatever she saves to buy a car, and make it the nicest civic she can afford. Everybody wins.

poopshovel wrote: Keep the smart. Tell the daughter you'll match whatever she saves to buy a car, and make it the nicest civic she can afford. Everybody wins.

If she lived close enough for me to play mechanic when things went wrong I'd do that, but she and her mother are over 5 hours away so I can't always be around to help her.

FWIW, she's never asked for the Smart or any other car. She'd be happy with anything. And although I don't want to be one of those parents who spoils their kid with a newer car the facts are:

I've done my time with the smart, 3.5 years now, the longest I've ever kept a DD. And while its been a great car I'm really ready for something different.

Resale on it doesn't make it worth my while to sell just so I can go out and buy something less reliable for my daughter.

As far as making her own contributions she definitely wants to. She lives in a small town in western Maryland and has been looking for a job for the past 6 months. Right now she is of course limited to things within walking/biking distance and there just aren't any jobs for her. While she looks for a paying job she has been doing volunteer work for community organizations to develop a "resume" and prove her work ethic. Her mom has already laid down the law (and I back her on it) that she has to earn her own gas money, insurance money and put aside money into a repair fund if she wants to own a car. She must also keep up the grades of course.

JThw8 wrote:

Woody wrote: Sounds like you need to find an alternative route to work.

Welcome to NJ...

That is your problem right there........ I moved from the arm pit of the USA across the country and now enjoy Portland Oregon as opposed to the chit hole known as New Jeresy (at least that is how the college of NJ spelled it )

oldeskewltoy wrote:

JThw8 wrote:

Woody wrote: Sounds like you need to find an alternative route to work.

Welcome to NJ...

That is your problem right there........ I moved from the arm pit of the USA across the country and now enjoy Portland Oregon as opposed to the chit hole known as New Jeresy (at least that is how the college of NJ spelled it )

Left to my own devices I'd be in NC or someplace similar by now. But SWMBO's family is here and she doesn't want to move away. And I kinda like my job here.

Jim, if you have a price in mind for the M3, email me. I'm not sure I could come up with the cash right now (the wifey talked me into a New Zealand trip that's coming up next month) but I'll try.

Email sent :)

Well, decision made, deal is done.

My new wheels

I'll miss the hell out of the //M but this is so comfy, perfect commuter