Somebody STOP ME!

OK, this has nothing to do with bikes.

My beloved 2008 VW Rabbit has 256,000 miles on it, and I have to seriously start thinking replacement.

A new VW will run about $15K, and the ONLY motors VW has available any more are turbocharged (although I could still get a manual transmission.) Turbos do not last over 200K. I prefer displacement and torque.

I found a 2007 BMW Z4 for right around the same price. Although it has 40K miles on it, the dealer is offering a comprehensive 2-year, 100,000 mile warranty.

But it has an automatic transmission. ("Shiftable" but still an automatic.) I've owned over 40 automobiles in my lifetime; only 3 have been automatics. I obviously prefer a stick and if I buy a new VW it will have a manual transmission. But also a damn turbocharged mill.

If I track down a low-mileage used VW with the motor I have now, it will almost certainly have an automatic.

SO: SAME MONEY: New VW or lightly-used BMW Z4? Sensible shoes, or snakeskin cowboy boots?

Somebody stop me...

 

I also prefer a stick, but did get to drive one of those "flappy paddle" automatics a few years ago. I liked it. Get the Z4. Sensible is for kids.

 

This is going downhill fast. I assumed it would be highly impractical; but the mileage ratings are within one or two MPG of my v-dub. The Wabbit has an inline 5 making 170hp; the Beemer has an inline 6 making 215hp in a much lighter car. EPA "estimated" is vewy, vewy close.

My daughter wants me to buy it so she can have it when I die.

You're no help. You're supposed to be talking me out of it.

 

The Beemer will look great with the 550's parked side by side... just picture it.

 

This is NOT "talking me out of it." The one I'm looking at looks just like the pic.

 

You don't need any talking out shift. Like master Oogway said: "One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it."

 

i always drove sticks but got a 12 beetle with turbo and dgs or dsg or whatever and it took awhile but it's my friend now. let's see, 215hp, rear wheel drive, in Michigan, in the winter.....Ooooyea.
18's or 19's ? price some snow tires for that bad boy, but the VW won't be much better.
oh yea, a VW what ? those CC's are sexy

 

so much for the new bike by Halloween

 

OK. I'll talk you out of it. Get the car that will not become a desirable collector car in 20 years. That way your kids won't have anything to fight over.

 

Little red convertible vs practical turbo 4-banger... HMMM. I'll do the BMW any day!! Plus if you really end up hating the flappy paddles, save up another $2200 worth of pennies and take a summer to convert it to a true manual... it can be done... much easier on the old cars (did it to an E36) but still doable on new.

 

I am an auto technician.

I can tell you, that if you REALLY want a BMW, buy a good old one. Within the last 10 or so years, both BMW and Mercedes have gotten away from build quality and engineering, and have moved more towards catering to the "lease" market. People who keep it for 1 to 3 years and then trade it in on another brand new one. Work on cars long enough, and you will begin to develop a deeply seeded hatred for that Bimmer or Merc that they "just bought" with 115k on the clock thats pissing fluids out of every oriface, you cant read the LED/LCD displays for burned out components, and all of the wheels are square because they make them out of an aluminum like putty.

I have a customer who has several 70's and 80's BMWs and Mercedes. Those are godtier, rock solid, run upside down and underwater, bulletproof machines. They are great to work on, and no matter their mileage, reliable machines. They even blow away the revered Swedish Battering Ram Volvo 240's.

I have legions of 2000's up to newer Bimmer and Mercedes owners who bring their junk in, on the regular, complaining of vibrations and leaks that no matter what can't be reasonably addressed. Meanwhile the next customers Hyundai with 198k needs a new water pump and some struts and is good to go another 60k.

Now if you will excuse me, Im going to put on my fireproof suit and stand over here.

 

How did you put so many miles on the VW when you're always splitting the sky on that Seca ?

 

Okay, how's this?

It's not chain drive.

It's Michigan. In the Winter. You ever try to split the sky on a Seca during a blizzard?

"I just wanted to get the hell out of Michigan." -- Madonna

 

Four years ago I was on the horns of a dilemma. Z4 or Boxster S. I have never regretted my decision. It wasn't in favour of the Z4.

 

I'm here for you fitz. that z4 is not practical in the least. the buy in cost may be equal, but the maintenance and repair costs will be through the roof. as well as the insurance rates.

CN

 

Yeah, I just got off the phone with a couple of my "car guy" buddies.

Apparently new and new-ish Beemers are not meant to be worked on by mere mortals. They require a special tool for virtually every task, most of which are only available from BMW. It would mean an end to working on my own car, something I simply can't do. I think the Z4 falls into the same category as women and elephants, per W.C. Fields: "nice to look at but I wouldn't want to own one."

The other input I got squares with what Mr. P had to say; that I should not shy away from the DSG gearbox. I did some research; the DSG box is essentially like a motorcycle trans; it is constantly "engaged" and uses a pair of multi wet-plate clutches to work its magic. According to my VW factory manual, the DSG gearbox is "a manual transmission designed to operate like an automatic."

This widens my search quite a bit. I want the Golf platform and the 2.5L 5-cylinder naturally aspirated gas motor; if I'm willing to give up the clutch for a DSG then it'll be much easier.

 

Confucius say: "Man who buy car with automatic transmission become shiftless bastard."

 

Not sure if this helps but in UK that Z4 would probably be known as a 'hairdresser's car' - ..

 

Only by people who can't appreciate a well designed 2 seat sports car.

 

We get people all the time here at work that need parts or tools for BMW and Mercedes. Just for us to send them to the dealers. But as for Volkswagen, I can only recall one or two in the past year that came in for parts, and I think one of them was for wiper blades. Truth is people don't buy parts for VW's is because the hardly break down. just my 2 cents