new car
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,871
Likes: 0
From: Scottsdale
new car
I started a new job at the beginning of January. At my last job, I had a company car. This job has given me a car allowance.
Since it is an environmental company, and I will be doing lots of work in California, I wanted a business car that was either a hybrid or a clean diesel.
I went and looked at several hybrids, such as the Lexus HS250. No go on the Lexus, I couldn't get my legs under the steering wheel. I would have to go with the ES350 (the Japanese Buick). I drove it and found it very disconnected. Driving on Vallium is a good way to describe it.
I looked at Infiniti's. The only Infiniti's I could fit in were the M cars. There was no way I was spending $60K for a car. They had one and it was white - I am so tired of white cars.
Then I drove a Nissan Maxima. Nice car and I fit. It drove very nicely, with not much road noise. I was very close to buying one. It was in the running until today.
Next I drove a Hyundai Genesis. Yes a Hyundai. I dorve both the V6 and the V8. The V8 was an incredible car. I wanted that car very badly after I drove it, but their finance package was not very good.
I sent out internet requests for a Maxima and spent yesterday gathering quotes and fielding phone calls from car salesmen.
The amount of money I was going to have to put down to get the car payment I wanted was a little daunting.
Then this morning, I decided to go look at the car I really wanted, but as near as I could tell was way too expensive. Well, the dealership took pity on me and made me a deal, so I drove it home tonight.
What did I get - a BMW 335d. Yes that is right - a clean diesel - 265 hp and more than 400 ft lbs of torque. It has the premium package and sport package as well as a few other goodies. It was the sales managers demo car and had 2800 miles but was basically new inside and out. And on the highway, it is rated at 36 mpg. I have read that some people are getting close to 40 mpg on the highway.
So, you are within hunting distance of some hybrids fuel mileage-wise wrapped in the luxury and performance of a BMW. For comparison sake, the BMW 335i, the hottest BMW 3 Series sedan other than the M3, is 300 hp and 300 ft-lbs of torque. Supposedly, the diesel performs the same as the 335i.
Since it is an environmental company, and I will be doing lots of work in California, I wanted a business car that was either a hybrid or a clean diesel.
I went and looked at several hybrids, such as the Lexus HS250. No go on the Lexus, I couldn't get my legs under the steering wheel. I would have to go with the ES350 (the Japanese Buick). I drove it and found it very disconnected. Driving on Vallium is a good way to describe it.
I looked at Infiniti's. The only Infiniti's I could fit in were the M cars. There was no way I was spending $60K for a car. They had one and it was white - I am so tired of white cars.
Then I drove a Nissan Maxima. Nice car and I fit. It drove very nicely, with not much road noise. I was very close to buying one. It was in the running until today.
Next I drove a Hyundai Genesis. Yes a Hyundai. I dorve both the V6 and the V8. The V8 was an incredible car. I wanted that car very badly after I drove it, but their finance package was not very good.
I sent out internet requests for a Maxima and spent yesterday gathering quotes and fielding phone calls from car salesmen.
The amount of money I was going to have to put down to get the car payment I wanted was a little daunting.
Then this morning, I decided to go look at the car I really wanted, but as near as I could tell was way too expensive. Well, the dealership took pity on me and made me a deal, so I drove it home tonight.
What did I get - a BMW 335d. Yes that is right - a clean diesel - 265 hp and more than 400 ft lbs of torque. It has the premium package and sport package as well as a few other goodies. It was the sales managers demo car and had 2800 miles but was basically new inside and out. And on the highway, it is rated at 36 mpg. I have read that some people are getting close to 40 mpg on the highway.
So, you are within hunting distance of some hybrids fuel mileage-wise wrapped in the luxury and performance of a BMW. For comparison sake, the BMW 335i, the hottest BMW 3 Series sedan other than the M3, is 300 hp and 300 ft-lbs of torque. Supposedly, the diesel performs the same as the 335i.
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 18,885
Likes: 33
From: Philly (Narberth)
Congrats John....it will look great in your driveway in place of this..er...FORD! I assume it comes with the 48 month maintenance included? I hope it's not red to attract the fuzz.... 
Can I have a ride when we get together in March 
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 45,683
Likes: 8,203
From: Mish-she-gan
When I tested a 3-series a few years back (over night test doing lots of miles), I loved it. However, the wheelbase/suspension did not work at all for my wife's bad back. We didn't make it 10 miles down the road and she was saying no way. Had it not been for that, I definitely would have bought one. When we moved up to the 5-series vs the Audi A6, the A6 won in both our back-to-back multiple comparison tests.
Enjoy the new ride.
Enjoy the new ride.
Congrats! Hope you enjoy it.
Trending Topics
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 8,674
Likes: 10
From: Myrtle Beach, SC
I've had several 3 series and never been disappointed with the car or the dealer. My son works for Hyundai and I have come to appreciate that they are now making a quality vehicle with insane warranty coverage. He says the Genesis coupe is a sweet car.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,871
Likes: 0
From: Scottsdale
Originally Posted by OhioRacer,Jan 29 2010, 06:02 AM
I've had several 3 series and never been disappointed with the car or the dealer. My son works for Hyundai and I have come to appreciate that they are now making a quality vehicle with insane warranty coverage. He says the Genesis coupe is a sweet car.
The Genesis had the nicest combination of ride quality and performance of any of the cars I drove. It was also VERY quiet, to the point that it was too easy to get up well over 75. It also had the nicest audio system of all the cars I drove. It had the Lexicon 17 speaker audio system and it was amazing. The BMW I bought has the hi end audio system (Logic 7) but it is not even close to the Hyundai's audio system.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,871
Likes: 0
From: Scottsdale
After owning the F-350 diesel and seeing 22 mpg in an 8000 pound truck with good performance, it became apparent to me that I could have my cake and eat it too. Especially after I read that the 335d performed as well as the 335i, and got in the mid-30's fuel mileage wise - I wanted one.
And now I have one
And now I have one