07-03-2014, 12:26 PM
I am, but I only have the emotional fortitude to own one old ///M car at a time, and the newer ones do almost nothing for me. I had an E46 and Lauren had an E39, so both of those have a sort of "been there, done that" feeling. I have no interest in DDing an E36 that is slightly different from my other E36. Which really only leaves something like an E34 M5 or 540i M-sport that would even remotely appeal to me as a daily driver, but as you know, even a well maintained 20 year old car will throw you curve balls everyday.
I have considered an E46 M3 or E39 M5 (and an E55 AMG for that matter) because they could be had in the mid-teens much like a GTI, but the insurance, gas, and potential repair costs would actually make them *significantly* more expensive to own than the 30mpg, sorority-girl-insurance-bracket GTI. I actually framed them out with a little spreadsheet, and the insurance on an E55 would be so bad it would only cost me marginally more per month to go buy a 2015 GTI.
That leaves the newer non-M cars, and despite how much I try I just can't make myself like them. The E90s are super heavy and look funny. The 1-series is too small and looks funny. The E60s are hideous. I actually do sort of like the F30, but I am not even close to baller enough to pay forty-seven freaking grand for a 4-cylinder stickshift 328i. Not to mention all of those cars have open diffs and 1-tire-fires are huge boner killers. I don't mind an open diff on a FWD car because my expectations are lower, but I expect a 300hp RWD turbo-rocket to be able to light up both rear tires.
That leaves me with the VWs. FWD (which I actually like after doing RWD in the snow for 3 years, yes, you *can* drive RWD in the snow and it will be just fine probably, but I can hoon the shit out of FWD with no worries), oodles of torque, the hatchback is extremely convenient, insurance is reasonable, I can squeeze almost 3 weeks out of a tank of gas, and the pricing works for me. It's the perfect package of fun, practical, and cost effective, at least for me.
So yeah, for right now I'm a VAG man through and through, at least when it comes to my daily driver. The car after this will probably be another VAG, ideally either a Golf R or MKVII GTI.
Later in life, or when our financial situation takes a significant change for the better, I might end up back in a newish BMW, maybe a nice A4, or even in a used 997 911 4S if they ever depreciate enough to be realistic, but until then VAG all the way baby.
I have considered an E46 M3 or E39 M5 (and an E55 AMG for that matter) because they could be had in the mid-teens much like a GTI, but the insurance, gas, and potential repair costs would actually make them *significantly* more expensive to own than the 30mpg, sorority-girl-insurance-bracket GTI. I actually framed them out with a little spreadsheet, and the insurance on an E55 would be so bad it would only cost me marginally more per month to go buy a 2015 GTI.
That leaves the newer non-M cars, and despite how much I try I just can't make myself like them. The E90s are super heavy and look funny. The 1-series is too small and looks funny. The E60s are hideous. I actually do sort of like the F30, but I am not even close to baller enough to pay forty-seven freaking grand for a 4-cylinder stickshift 328i. Not to mention all of those cars have open diffs and 1-tire-fires are huge boner killers. I don't mind an open diff on a FWD car because my expectations are lower, but I expect a 300hp RWD turbo-rocket to be able to light up both rear tires.
That leaves me with the VWs. FWD (which I actually like after doing RWD in the snow for 3 years, yes, you *can* drive RWD in the snow and it will be just fine probably, but I can hoon the shit out of FWD with no worries), oodles of torque, the hatchback is extremely convenient, insurance is reasonable, I can squeeze almost 3 weeks out of a tank of gas, and the pricing works for me. It's the perfect package of fun, practical, and cost effective, at least for me.
So yeah, for right now I'm a VAG man through and through, at least when it comes to my daily driver. The car after this will probably be another VAG, ideally either a Golf R or MKVII GTI.
Later in life, or when our financial situation takes a significant change for the better, I might end up back in a newish BMW, maybe a nice A4, or even in a used 997 911 4S if they ever depreciate enough to be realistic, but until then VAG all the way baby.
Now: 07 Porsche Cayman S | 18 VW Tiguan
Then: 18 VW GTI Autobahn | 95 BMW M3 | 15 VW GTI SE | 12 Kia Optima SX | 2009 VW GTI | 00 BMW 540i Sport | 90 Mazda Miata | 94 Yamaha FZR600R | 1993 Suzuki GS500E | 2003 BMW 325i | 95 Saab 900S