Why do people tailgate? I got rear ended—

[zk]

[quote=paramount][quote=flu]I would be curious what kind of cars are the offenders. I’d say BMW drivers are the worst[/quote]

When I first got my BMW I always felt like I was being challenged, and in some cases maybe a victim of resentment – or maybe even class warfare. That still may be the case, but I’ve adjusted.

Normally when I get on the 15 the 1st thing I do (if clear) is get into the lane next to the slow lane (#2?).

My BMW has capabilities that far exceed most cars around me; but I don’t need the stress so I take it safe and easy.[/quote]

Resentment? Class warfare? I think you’re seeing things that aren’t there. I think BMW drivers have a far higher opinion of BMWs than other people do. I don’t think most people think much about BMWs, let alone resent them or engage in class warfare over them. I think if you drive a Ferarri or a Lamborghini or a Bentley you might get a bit of envy from very few people, but mostly admiration and lust with some joy. BMWs? I think they get a lot of meh if they get anything.

[svelte]

BMWs are nothing special in So Cal. A dime a dozen – look around next time you’re out and you’ll see so many you’d think they are a Corolla or something.

I really think drivers react much more to how you specifically are driving than the type of car you drive.

You could drive a (Ferrari/Audi/BMW/Vette/Viper/Rolls) aggressively and you’ll get anger from the drivers around you. Drive it slow and carefully and people aren’t gonna give you a second thought.

[KSMountain]

[quote=svelte]
Seriously, did you ever stop to consider maybe tailgaters in general have quicker reflexes? [/quote]
I think they may *think* that they have faster reflexes. What happens if they’re tailgating, their phone rings, and then the driver ahead has to stop suddenly? Not an implausible scenario at all.
[quote=svelte]
Look at NASCAR drivers, f’rinstance.
[/quote]
They are not NASCAR drivers. And the roads are not racetracks. There are a lot of drivers of different abilities, people with loved ones in the car, people with poorly maintained cars, people impaired by alcohol or drugs or infirmity or all three, sharing roads that aren’t maintained like a racetrack is. There are pedestrians and bicyclists. The very *thinking* that what you are doing is anything like NASCAR is wrongheaded.

[paramount]

[quote=zk]

Resentment? Class warfare? I think you’re seeing things that aren’t there. I think BMW drivers have a far higher opinion of BMWs than other people do. I don’t think most people think much about BMWs, let alone resent them or engage in class warfare over them. I think if you drive a Ferarri or a Lamborghini or a Bentley you might get a bit of envy from very few people, but mostly admiration and lust with some joy. BMWs? I think they get a lot of meh if they get anything.[/quote]

Regardless, BMW’s are status symbols.

Even though they appear to be common, the reality is that most people cannot afford to drive a BMW.

Even an older less expensive BMW will generally need more maintenance than an appliance car, and on top of that they cost more to fix.

I just paid $97 to have my oil changed in my BMW.

An oil change for a camry or f-150 can be done for $30 bucks or less.

[paramount]

[quote=svelte]BMWs are nothing special in So Cal. A dime a dozen – look around next time you’re out and you’ll see so many you’d think they are a Corolla or something.

[/quote]

I wish they were a dime a dozen…

[spdrun]

$30 if you take it to Jiffy Lube and let them re-torque the drain plug to yield, cracking the oil pan. Real mechanics cost money, whether it’s a BMW or a CamCord. Unless your car specifies synthetic oil, oil change costs are similar across the board if you DIY.

Speaking for myself, I trust myself a lot more than some grease monkey, since I have a lot more to lose if the car’s motor locks up 20 miles outside of Podunk, VT in 0 degree weather.

Oh, and try changing the spark plugs in many wrong-wheel-driven transverse V-6s for fun and giggles.

[Coronita]

[quote=paramount][quote=zk]

Resentment? Class warfare? I think you’re seeing things that aren’t there. I think BMW drivers have a far higher opinion of BMWs than other people do. I don’t think most people think much about BMWs, let alone resent them or engage in class warfare over them. I think if you drive a Ferarri or a Lamborghini or a Bentley you might get a bit of envy from very few people, but mostly admiration and lust with some joy. BMWs? I think they get a lot of meh if they get anything.[/quote]

Regardless, BMW’s are status symbols.

Even though they appear to be common, the reality is that most people cannot afford to drive a BMW.

Even an older less expensive BMW will generally need more maintenance than an appliance car, and on top of that they cost more to fix.

I just paid $97 to have my oil changed in my BMW.

An oil change for a camry or f-150 can be done for $30 bucks or less.[/quote]

Actually, BMW’s aren’t *that* expensive in many ways. Purchasing them preowned, and especially 5 series or 7 series, they prices plummet pretty significantly after about 3 years of ownership.. I figured out most people that drive euro cars either

1) lease
or
2) purchase them preowned

and the two actually are complementary because often the same people that lease the latest 5 or 7 end up turning them in 2-3 years later, which then gets resold as good pre-owned vehicles.

$100 oil change sounds about right. But it’s not really just BMW..It’s european and some japanese engines that require one to run synthetic, especially turboed, or FSI, or TFSI.

Retail for synthetic is about $7/quart, unless you drive an M and then it’s more. Depending on your engine I think is about 6 quarts. So that’s about $42 in oil alone…And BMW probably charges $60/hr as a shop rate for routine stuff. A VW with a the 2.0 TFSI engine will demand the same kind of synthetic oil that runs the same cost.
BTW first 4 years service is included for BMW though.

IF you need to pay for oil service. You can cut down on the cost, by bringing in your own filter and oil. I have a shop that does it for $20 if you bring in your own materials that I rarely visit if I’m pressed for time on the older a4 and c320

For most cars, you probably cant get by with Mobil 1 0w-40 at Oreilly for about $5/quart when it goes on sale. It’s the only Mobil 1 that is VW approved on the newer engines, though imho not the best oil… I normally run that in the older europe cards.

For newer cars, I run the standard Castrol Syntec 5w40 that the dealers run. No choice there…Mainly to keep consistent… Maintenance is included, I have to top it off sometimes, because the way the twin turbo v8 is, it eats a quart of oil every so often…I guess they way I drive. The i-6 N55 and N54 don’t seem eat oil as much (as long as you’re not chipped…)…..

And yes, I would agree that BMW’s aren’t necessarily status symbols. I sure don’t feel wealthy. Otherwise I wouldn’t be caring about how much, what oil grade, things were running.

[paramount]

I had read in my manual that Mobil 1 was the only approved oil for my 328 (except BMW’s oil), but my filler cap has Castrol stamped on it.

At any rate, I went with Castrol Syntec 5w40.

And I completely agree it’s not just BMW that costs $100 for an oil change.

And I also agree that most BMW’s are leased or pre-owned.

My 328 was about the same cost as a new Corolla with 36k miles; but it ain’t no Corolla that’s for sure.

I was at a mini dealer (escondido) test driving a clubman s with a friend, and the salesman was telling me I could install a turbo, chip and put a performance exhaust and beat a 335.

I am definitely considering a chip, for some reason my 328 has a slight throttle hesitation that drives me crazy.

And by the way, there are a lot of 328’s on the road and for good reason, don’t try this in a Camry or Accord (155MPH in a 328 in California):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ePUUnowXwE

[Coronita]

[quote=paramount]I had read in my manual that Mobil 1 was the only approved oil for my 328 (except BMW’s oil), but my filler cap has Castrol stamped on it.

At any rate, I went with Castrol Syntec 5w40.

And I completely agree it’s not just BMW that costs $100 for an oil change.

And I also agree that most BMW’s are leased or pre-owned.

My 328 was about the same cost as a new Corolla with 36k miles; but it ain’t no Corolla that’s for sure.

I was at a mini dealer (escondido) test driving a clubman s with a friend, and the salesman was telling me I could install a turbo, chip and put a performance exhaust and beat a 335.

I am definitely considering a chip, for some reason my 328 has a slight throttle hesitation that drives me crazy.

And by the way, there are a lot of 328’s on the road and for good reason, don’t try this in a Camry or Accord (155MPH in a 328 in California):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ePUUnowXwE%5B/quote%5D

By the time you add a chip, turbo, exhaust, and probably needed upgraded suspension and brakes + labor..All that money + selling your 328 would put you in a 335 with money left over to do budget tuning that would not make the tuned 328 close. Trust me on that one…Several friends did just that..Sell the 328/330 and got a 335.. Actually a lot of them got the 135 and tuned the crap out of that. The n54 in the 135/335 is easily tuned. The n20 in the newer 328 is easily tunable…

Chipping a non-turboed engine really won’t boost performance significantly and won’t be worth the money. You’re looking at 8-10hp gain at most.

http://www.burgertuning.com/products.html

[paramount]

8-10HP for around $250 isn’t to bad.

I could also install a set of pulstars:

[Coronita]

[quote=paramount]8-10HP for around $250 isn’t to bad.

I could also install a set of pulstars:

That’s at the engine, not at the wheel. You won’t feel the difference. you’re better off reducing weight of the car.

[spdrun]

Most modern cars have adequate power. If you want to go fast, far better to improve handling and brakes.

[an]

[quote=spdrun]Most modern cars have adequate power. If you want to go fast, far better to improve handling and brakes.[/quote]
Haha, my dad say the same thing about his late 90s camry.

[an]

[quote=flu][quote=paramount]I had read in my manual that Mobil 1 was the only approved oil for my 328 (except BMW’s oil), but my filler cap has Castrol stamped on it.

At any rate, I went with Castrol Syntec 5w40.

And I completely agree it’s not just BMW that costs $100 for an oil change.

And I also agree that most BMW’s are leased or pre-owned.

My 328 was about the same cost as a new Corolla with 36k miles; but it ain’t no Corolla that’s for sure.

I was at a mini dealer (escondido) test driving a clubman s with a friend, and the salesman was telling me I could install a turbo, chip and put a performance exhaust and beat a 335.

I am definitely considering a chip, for some reason my 328 has a slight throttle hesitation that drives me crazy.

And by the way, there are a lot of 328’s on the road and for good reason, don’t try this in a Camry or Accord (155MPH in a 328 in California):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ePUUnowXwE%5B/quote%5D

By the time you add a chip, turbo, exhaust, and probably needed upgraded suspension and brakes + labor..All that money + selling your 328 would put you in a 335 with money left over to do budget tuning that would not make the tuned 328 close. Trust me on that one…Several friends did just that..Sell the 328/330 and got a 335.. Actually a lot of them got the 135 and tuned the crap out of that. The n54 in the 135/335 is easily tuned. The n20 in the newer 328 is easily tunable…

Chipping a non-turboed engine really won’t boost performance significantly and won’t be worth the money. You’re looking at 8-10hp gain at most.

http://www.burgertuning.com/products.html%5B/quote%5D
not to mention about smog. Modding a na car in ca sucks ball. My g35 with a turbo kit and coilovers would embarrass m3 but it would be a nightmare every 2 years, unless I have connections. Which I don’t. This is why my next car would have to be turbo. It’s much easier to put back the fuel map when its time to smog.

[UCGal]

[quote=paramount]

Regardless, BMW’s are status symbols.

Even though they appear to be common, the reality is that most people cannot afford to drive a BMW.

Even an older less expensive BMW will generally need more maintenance than an appliance car, and on top of that they cost more to fix.

I just paid $97 to have my oil changed in my BMW.

An oil change for a camry or f-150 can be done for $30 bucks or less.[/quote]

[quote=paramount]
And I completely agree it’s not just BMW that costs $100 for an oil change.

And I also agree that most BMW’s are leased or pre-owned.

My 328 was about the same cost as a new Corolla with 36k miles; but it ain’t no Corolla that’s for sure.
[/quote]

I’m confused.
BMWs are status symbols,
But they’re common.
They are expensive for oil changes.
But so are a lot of other cars.
And they cost the same as a corolla.
But they’re status symbols.

for the record – I don’t own either a bmw nor corolla… so I have no dog in this.
I just find it funny how in just a few posts someone can argue that BMWs are status because they’re expensive and that they’re NOT to be compared to corollas, then say the price is comparable to corollas.

No need to respond. Like I said – I don’t have a dog in this.

[Author]

Posts