135 NOT a "Daily Driver"

[tbird]

Yes, I bet a bunch of you are seeing that and can't wait to "respond".

Before you do, let me say that I put that topic more for fun, since such serious threads lately.

I had my 1 for a couple days of commuting while my usual DD of my Focus was in the shop. Let me tell you, if I drove my 1 every day, I would lose my license as well as my warranty.

You want to pass someone, you just simply give it half thrust and before you know it, you are going at speeds that are WELL ABOVE what should be done on American roads. No, I won't post how fast, but it amazes me how well it feels at elevated speeds. At 5am in the morning, on a 5 lane highway, I pass the left lane squatters with a very smooth and thorough thrust that propels the car just so easily. It is an amazing feeling.

Also a feeling that will get me MULTIPLE TICKETS, since American police are now openly stating that they are writing more tickets to make up for their budget shortfalls and their pathetically low $50,000-$130,000 salaries (yes, $130K. In Fort Lauderdale, we have 10 beat cops who make six figure salaries, and base initial salary is $50K)

My Focus is limited to only 107 mph, and while that can be a bit frustrating at times, it is smart! 135 as DD, it is
1) Way too much fun
2) Way too fast

My Focus is painful at times, but it protects my 1 from commuting, and it protects me from becoming the retirement fund for my "traffic ticket lawyer".

Signed,
Typically pathetic 1 Addict!!

[AchtungF80]

Agreed, my JGC won't get out of its own way which has saved me a few times when I wasn't paying attention and found some speed traps. Also, its probably saved my wheels/tires from the inevitable bent wheel due to crap NJ roads.

[imported_mega]

I have owned cars that I was afraid to drive, or park, or didnt want to put miles on them

NEVER AGAIN, I own the 135i to enjoy it, and that means I drive it every day.

[MadMan77]

So you are saying it is not a daily driver because you put your right foot down too much? If that were the case, we would all be driving Smart Cars since we don't need horsepower to just get around town or to work.

[Yearofthe1]

I'd have to agree completely - which is why my wife and I are shopping for a run-of-the-mill commuter car. I am going to get into trouble in my 1er and have had too many close calls with some potentially BIG tickets, and I've only been at my new job (and my new 25 mile commute) for less than a month.

Honda Fit FTW!

[tbird]

Hey, it's a "fun thread", not meant to be taken seriously. We all drive our own way. Remember the Top Gear test of a Prius vs E92 M3.

I am sure that someone out there could drive the 135 and never speed. I am sure that is possible. I am just saying it is NOT me!

[tbird]

Honda Fit has horrible crash test reports, just to let you know.

But yes, in No. VA, you are in the vicinity of the ever-present, ever-destructive, ever-annoying Beltway Of Doom!! I lived in the DC area for 5 years, I know your pain. A commuter car will be quite helpful to you. Just make sure you have a good warranty, and that the car has a very good HVAC system.

Do your homework on commuter cars, either new or used. Vehicle Purchase Price is not the #1 concern. Also, make sure to call your insurance company and put the commuter car as your Primary Vehicle. It will lower your rates.

[Lionel Hutz]

Dear tbird,

The big round thing toward the left of your steering wheel tells you how fast I am going.

Sincerely,

Your car.

[tbird]

Originally Posted by Zed 2.0

Dear tbird,

The big round thing toward the left of your steering wheel tells you how fast I am going.

Sincerely,

Your car.

Big round thing? Hmmmm....I am not familiar with this device of which you speak. I just drop the top and feel how fast my hair is moving in the breeze, and that tells me how fast I am going.

Only problem is that I have a tight crewcut. Is that bad?

[BoostedTerp]

Coming from daily driving an 11 second Mustang for the last 4 years, I don't think the 135 is too much for a daily car at all

[tbird]

Wow! I applaud you Terp, you have far more patience than I do.

[BoostedTerp]

Originally Posted by tbird

Wow! I applaud you Terp, you have far more patience than I do.

Haha...I just kept it on the track and the occasional on ramp acceleration blast. I'm pretty calm in traffic, which there is a ton of in the DC area.

[tbird]

OH YES, as mentioned I am familiar. I was in Gaithersburg for a while. Did the I270-Beltway-GWP route to Arlington, and if I didn't make the Key Bridge cutoff, I had to keep going on down to Crystal City, loop around, then back streets to Arlington. P-P-P-P-Painful!!

I admit I am not, I repeat, NOT calm in traffic. I used to be, until I did that DC Commute. Now, I openly admit I don't deal with the idiots and left lane squatters well. Hence why I go to work at 5am. Ah, I await the day that cops stop being murderers and rapists and thieves (as they keep getting busted for down here, thank God) and union thugs, and start paying attention to Traffic Safety.

[rodi]

heh. go drive a tuned 135i. ;]

[tbird]

Tuned would be nice, but I am warranty freak.

Plus, as mentioned, the 135 does quite nicely. I already have to usually hold my wife in place, or she gets rolled about (my wife is petite and light, so she is quite susceptible to g-force :-)~ )

[AchtungF80]

Originally Posted by tbird

(my wife is petite and light, so she is quite susceptible to g-force :-)~ )

+1...I got yelled at the other day for punching it under a long underpass in 2nd..."...you can't keep snapping my neck like that or I won't want to ride in this car anymore!"

[BrokenVert]

This is so true. Ive been DDing the 1er for well over a year. Not only have I put almost 22K miles on it (This with the car being off the road for 60 days ) But it has gotten into 2 accidents, been pulled over twice, and ive recieve 2 points and ive been out $1400 in lawyer fees. Maybe I should start thinking of a new (used) car as a DD :

[tbird]

Originally Posted by achtungE30

+1...I got yelled at the other day for punching it under a long underpass in 2nd..."...you can't keep snapping my neck like that or I won't want to ride in this car anymore!"

Uh oh, that sounds familiar Are women uniting against men and their need for speed?

But my wife will acknowledge my "assistance". On her Facebook, she will put up a status note of "Love is....when your husband holds your neck for support when he accelerates". People get a kick out of that one.

[tbird]

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

This is so true. Ive been DDing the 1er for well over a year. Not only have I put almost 22K miles on it (This with the car being off the road for 60 days ) But it has gotten into 2 accidents, been pulled over twice, and ive recieve 2 points and ive been out $1400 in lawyer fees. Maybe I should start thinking of a new (used) car a DD :

This is exactly why I don't have it as a DD. Even when I had my 3 Series, I didn't DD it, but as I was going through DD#1 and DD#2, I had to commute it a bit, and I did 18K in the first year, and it definitely took a hit.

The hood of my Focus is just peppered in chips, the doors are dinged and the body is scratched up. Wheels have some scrapes, and it has had one moderate accident. It hurts to think about that happening to ANY of my cars. BUT, when I think that all of that could be on my 1, it makes me feel much better. I just couldn't handle all that crud happening to my baby! She is just shy of a year, but still smells like New Car. I love that.

[Xin1120]

I take another car to work since i park on the street of a not-so-great area. But with that said, I take the 135 out every chance other than work.

[AchtungF80]

Honestly, I'd drive my 1 more...but that "first ding" hasn't happened yet and I'm terrified of parking the 1 next to other cars.

[BrokenVert]

Originally Posted by achtungE30

Honestly, I'd drive my 1 more...but that "first ding" hasn't happened yet and I'm terrified of parking the 1 next to other cars.

Ohh I forgot to mention the 3 dings. One was fixed with one of my accidents. But I have a nice door dent in my driver's side front fender andtwo little holes from a guy's license plate when he bumper tapped me.