The world almost won today [also: why I don't put a lot of stock in having nice things]

[WRXtoStingerGT]

90% of my driving is to point A to point B for either work or errands... gotta try to enjoy some of it even if the majority of that driving is in traffic...

but on our little weekend mini-road trips with the gf to different stores and parks upstate I love to have a bit more fun with the driving...

I agree though that many other bad drivers ruin the fun of it all!

 

[stoopid]

Commuting is the only driving you do? Why not go out for a drive after working all day?

We'll often do trips on the weekends (we're outdoorsy types), and when there's enough light drive to Red Rock for hiking during the weekdays. I rarely drive for fun, between gas and idiots on the road I feel like driving has to have purpose for me now. I'll still end up putting 12,000+ miles just from the bit I do on the weekends plus commuting.

It wasn't too long ago I was doing 30,000 mile years, when my outdoors pursuits were 4-6 hours away round trip, sometimes twice a weekend, plus commuting and frequent travel for work. Guess I've done a fair share of driving, I'd lie if I didn't say it's lost a bit of its novelty.

Thinking when my body stops working and outdoors stuff become painful, I would consider getting a track car and start doing that a day on the weekends. If I'm lucky that will be 15-20 years from now. I aint done yet!

AWD = offroad, right?

 

[MerlintheMad]

We'll often do trips on the weekends (we're outdoorsy types), and when there's enough light drive to Red Rock for hiking during the weekdays. I rarely drive for fun, between gas and idiots on the road I feel like driving has to have purpose for me now. I'll still end up putting 12,000+ miles just from the bit I do on the weekends plus commuting.

It wasn't too long ago I was doing 30,000 mile years, when my outdoors pursuits were 4-6 hours away round trip, sometimes twice a weekend, plus commuting and frequent travel for work. Guess I've done a fair share of driving, I'd lie if I didn't say it's lost a bit of its novelty.

Thinking when my body stops working and outdoors stuff become painful, I would consider getting a track car and start doing that a day on the weekends. If I'm lucky that will be 15-20 years from now. I aint done yet!

AWD = offroad, right?

View attachment 56697

If you're going to take pics like that, "off road" definitely.

(carefully and slowly, of course)

 

[stoopid]

(carefully and slowly, of course)

That's the key.

 

[stoopid]

Also just wanted to add that in late Summer 2018 I did an Upstate NY to Las Vegas 2800 mile cross country trip (to transport fragile valuables, which included our dog). Doing 6-10.5 hour days solo, with one off day second to last, was daunting. This is fresh in my mind as I found my itinerary recently, which reminded me that the trip was a fun challenge to plan properly and execute. However the dog, a weak back, and late Summer heat along the entire trip complicated things, or at the very least left little in the way for margin of error that wasn't going to directly impact my wallet. The trip spoiled any sense of passion I may have had for driving for extended periods of time.

Day 1 - Friday August 31. I leave early afternoon, or after movers leave and I’ve had enough time to sweep and mop/polish the floors. I did a shorter 6 hour day to Erie, PA. I’ve verified there’s pet friendly hotels there, figuring a hotel since I’ll need to arrive late (not always feasible with Airbnb). Also like the convenience of booking (or not) before leaving. About $90 for the Red Roof Inn.

Day 2 - Saturday September 1, Erie to Plymouth, Indiana [East of Chicago]. 6.5 hour day, figure I can sleep in/take my time. Airbnb available. Flexible on exact town.

Day 3 - Sunday September 2, Plymouth to Omaha, Nebraska. 8 hour day. Plenty of Airbnb and there’s a waterfront park I can kill some late afternoon time in Omaha. Figure leave very early and get through Chicago ahead of any Sunday morning traffic.

Day 4 - Monday September 3, Omaha to Boulder, CO. 7.5 hour day. Might be able to stay at a friend’s place. Tons of affordable dog friendly Airbnb options in Golden, CO.

Day 5 - Tuesday September 4, REST. I like the area, good excuse to poke around. Always have the option to leave instead if I’m itching to get to Vegas.

Day 6 – Wednesday September 5, Boulder to Vegas. 10.5 hour long push with an early start to beat Denver morning rush, figure I’ll be up for it after the rest day.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Also just wanted to add that in late Summer 2018 I did an Upstate NY to Las Vegas 2800 mile cross country trip (to transport fragile valuables, which included our dog). Doing 6-10.5 hour days solo, with one off day second to last, was daunting. This is fresh in my mind as I found my itinerary recently, which reminded me that the trip was a fun challenge to plan properly and execute. However the dog, a weak back, and late Summer heat along the entire trip complicated things, or at the very least left little in the way for margin of error that wasn't going to directly impact my wallet. The trip spoiled any sense of passion I may have had for driving for extended periods of time.

What were you driving? A Stinger around me has changed everything. Long trips are a breeze and a joy, and exciting in literal bursts.

 

[stoopid]

What were you driving? A Stinger around me has changed everything. Long trips are a breeze and a joy, and exciting in literal bursts.

2017 LaCrosse (V6). It was more comfortable than the Stinger, but not by much. It was a perfect long trip car. 33-34MPG highway too. But front wheel drive.

My lower back issues are the biggest problem for me, I had to take breaks every 2-3 hours driving. Used those stops to walk the dog. I use a standing desk at work, too much of any position is bad.

 

[WRXtoStingerGT]

2017 LaCrosse (V6). It was more comfortable than the Stinger, but not by much. It was a perfect long trip car. 33-34MPG highway too. But front wheel drive.

My lower back issues are the biggest problem for me, I had to take breaks every 2-3 hours driving. Used those stops to walk the dog. I use a standing desk at work, too much of any position is bad.

I use a standing desk at home!

 

[stoopid]

I use a standing desk at home!

Me too! lol The one at home is much better, the whole desk goes up.

 

[WRXtoStingerGT]

Me too! lol The one at home is much better, the whole desk goes up.

Oh wow!

I got the one you put on top of the desk and it rises... has a spot for the keyboard right under the laptop... I like it... I stand for half an hour then sit for half an hour then rinse n' repeat! Love it!

 

[stoopid]

Oh wow!

I got the one you put on top of the desk and it rises... has a spot for the keyboard right under the laptop... I like it... I stand for half an hour then sit for half an hour then rinse n' repeat! Love it!

That's the one I have for work. Cost more than the one I ended up getting for home:

Realspace Magellan Stand Up Desk Gray - Office Depot

 

[WRXtoStingerGT]

That's the one I have for work. Cost more than the one I ended up getting for home:

Realspace Magellan Stand Up Desk Gray - Office Depot

oh wow! it's a whole desk! nice!

 

[Revvdmedia]

Commuting is the only driving you do? Why not go out for a drive after working all day?

I've made a pretty conscious realization that I need to get out and drive my car more. With a lease, you've essentially prepaid for usage of mileage and whatever isn't used, if you intend to return he car when the lease ends, is wasted money. I'm at 7500KM today, after 1 year, and I get 16,000KM a year. I need to get out and drive more and get my money's worth. I also need to drive it a bit harder than I get to in commuter traffic, otherwise I should have saved my money and got the 4 banger (as if!).

 

[WRXtoStingerGT]

I've made a pretty conscious realization that I need to get out and drive my car more. With a lease, you've essentially prepaid for usage of mileage and whatever isn't used, if you intend to return he car when the lease ends, is wasted money. I'm at 7500KM today, after 1 year, and I get 16,000KM a year. I need to get out and drive more and get my money's worth. I also need to drive it a bit harder than I get to in commuter traffic, otherwise I should have saved my money and got the 4 banger (as if!).

lmfao

I've owned the Stinger 12 months and have put on about 6400 miles. I guess I am pretty boring too!

I know starting in about a month or so when my commute will be a daily 80 mile round trip five days a week those numbers are gonna pump up real fast for me!

How's the BMW life btw? How are the forums on their end?

 

[Revvdmedia]

lmfao

I've owned the Stinger 12 months and have put on about 6400 miles. I guess I am pretty boring too!

I know starting in about a month or so when my commute will be a daily 80 mile round trip five days a week those numbers are gonna pump up real fast for me!

How's the BMW life btw? How are the forums on their end?

BMW life has been pretty good so far. No unscheduled dealer visits and I don't have any real complains on the quality. I'm incredibly OCD about noises, squeaks and rattles and the only thing on this car is the very slightest noises from the window seals when cold and the occasional crack sound from the couple plastic pieces on the dash due to expansion or contraction from the HVAC. Other than that it has been super solid.

With that said, I can completely relate to those who say German cars are expensive. It's hard for me to call it overpriced because there really isn't a direct competitor to the 2 series with the inline 6 in the North American market, not apples to apples anyway. Supra is close, but a 2 seater, and BMW anyway. All other compact sized cars with some sport are lower in overall quality and/or not as powerful (STi, Civic Si, everything else is just bigger). It is missing a good number of nice features from the Stinger, but the architecture of this platform is from 2014, I'd expect the 2022 2-Series to have all the features I'm missing.

I don't browse the BMW forums, which is a big part of why I am still lingering here. The community here is overall pretty nice, plus forums for a car that I own either cause me to be aware of and spend too much modifications, or I browse the "problems" section and become hypersensitive to anything that could go wrong. It's better if I just keep away from there lol.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Supra is close, but a 2 seater, and BMW anyway.

When you said that, I thought, somebody must have slapped a BMW badge on their Supra; and a quick search confirmed.

 

[VetteNZMan]

On the dash cam, I have always wondered, what if your footage / video incriminates you. How does that work out??

 

[WRXtoStingerGT]

BMW life has been pretty good so far. No unscheduled dealer visits and I don't have any real complains on the quality. I'm incredibly OCD about noises, squeaks and rattles and the only thing on this car is the very slightest noises from the window seals when cold and the occasional crack sound from the couple plastic pieces on the dash due to expansion or contraction from the HVAC. Other than that it has been super solid.

With that said, I can completely relate to those who say German cars are expensive. It's hard for me to call it overpriced because there really isn't a direct competitor to the 2 series with the inline 6 in the North American market, not apples to apples anyway. Supra is close, but a 2 seater, and BMW anyway. All other compact sized cars with some sport are lower in overall quality and/or not as powerful (STi, Civic Si, everything else is just bigger). It is missing a good number of nice features from the Stinger, but the architecture of this platform is from 2014, I'd expect the 2022 2-Series to have all the features I'm missing.

I don't browse the BMW forums, which is a big part of why I am still lingering here. The community here is overall pretty nice, plus forums for a car that I own either cause me to be aware of and spend too much modifications, or I browse the "problems" section and become hypersensitive to anything that could go wrong. It's better if I just keep away from there lol.

Nice! Glad to hear!

Btw I agree with the BMW forums... I was on different BMW forums for a bit when I had my E36... I liked the info I could find but I felt like actually writing and posting was a waste... on these forums (or on clubwrx) I enjoy posting and discussing topics here and there with people...

 

[Revvdmedia]

When you said that, I thought, somebody must have slapped a BMW badge on their Supra; and a quick search confirmed.

It turns out that it was actually Toyota that slapped their badge on a BMW, LOL.

 

[G70 Owner]

On the dash cam, I have always wondered, what if your footage / video incriminates you. How does that work out??

Yes it can, if you give it to them or they have a warrant