I'm getting to the point in my life where I can't justify stupid cars

"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein) 01/18/2016 at 19:33 • Filed to: None

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I lease a 2013 BMW 135is and own a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited Hemi. These vehicles are stupid. My BMW lease ends in June, and I’m starting a new job in a couple weeks where my commute is a grand total of 4 miles each way. I don’t think 2 cars will remain in my future.

My gf and I live in a cheap ’n cheerful rented townhouse in Madison, WI. It has a large 1-car garage, in that there’s a good amount of storage space in addition to room for 1 car. She has a leased 2013 Honda Civic thru this July, and her commute is only 1.3 miles each way. You read that right.

Before we moved in, I lived in an apartment with a garage and plentiful outdoor parking, so I kept the BMW in the garage and my old ’99 Grand Cherokee beater I had at the time outside. But when we moved in, I didn’t want to monopolize the garage all winter with a car that wasn’t being driven, so last winter I rented a storage unit. This winter I stored the BMW at her mom’s house because her mom doesn’t drive anymore and graciously offered to let me use her now-empty garage. Thanks, not-quite-mother-in-law!

Anyway, with both of us having such short commutes, she’s thinking of either doing another cheap lease (her Civic is only $160/mo) or buying some cheap/decent used car. I’m going to turn in the BMW at the end of its lease and drive only my Jeep for a while.

Now, part of me wants to buy some kind of fun convertible or something to have as a second car, but with our parking situation, and how little driving I do, I just can’t bring myself to spend actual money on a second car. Because that would be pretty stupid. What’s a gearhead to do?

I bet I could fit a motorcycle in the garage!

Nah, I’ll get in too much trouble trying to stash it in the “storage” part of the garage where my gf keeps her 7 gigantic cardboard boxes of Christmas decorations.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Textured Soy Protein 01/18/2016 at 19:36

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Wow, her mom stored your car for you? It’s over bro, you gotta marry the daughter for sure.

bob and john > Textured Soy Protein 01/18/2016 at 19:38

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DO ITTTTTTT (i’m only this excited because you used the SV. which, BTW is a great bike to start with. even if *I* personally think its a LITTLE on the powerful side. I can get into a lot of trouble with mine :D

For Sweden > Textured Soy Protein 01/18/2016 at 19:38

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I bet you could fit a Miata rested on its side.

Textured Soy Protein > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 01/18/2016 at 19:43

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Yeah, it’s going that way anyway. I was pretty floored when she offered that especially with how much I paid for a storage unit last year. She doesn’t even mind that it’s hooked up to a battery tender leeching her electricity! I made her a real nice dinner when we dropped off the car, plus I help her around the house and with her computer.

Textured Soy Protein > For Sweden 01/18/2016 at 19:47

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All I need is one of those articulation ramps that Jeep dudes use to check how far they can flex!

Textured Soy Protein > bob and john 01/18/2016 at 19:47

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Yeah from what little I know of bikes the SV has seemed like a good option for me. I like sporty handling but don’t want/need something with insane power or a punishing ride.

bob and john > Textured Soy Protein 01/18/2016 at 19:54

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your looking at sports touring bikes in general.

I have to admit, the SV needs a little help in the suspension department. they seemed to have set the bike up for some dude who weighs like 75lbs. i replaced mine with MUCH stiffer unit from a GSX-R 1000. I weigh 140lbs, but i ride this thing HARD.


IDK how big of a guy you are, but if your buying the bike 100% stock, sooner or later you will want to do something about it.

That's gonna leave a mark! > Textured Soy Protein 01/18/2016 at 20:01

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Being a gear head means you do stupid things with cars and spend too much money on them. I’m sure this is what Wikipedia says the definition of a gear head is.

RallyWrench > Textured Soy Protein 01/18/2016 at 20:03

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Snowmobile commuter?

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Textured Soy Protein 01/18/2016 at 20:41

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I hear you can pick up a Mitsubishi iMiev for under $6k. I can imagine the running costs on one would be next to nothing.

Mind, you, you’d also have to drive an iMiev. I suppose you could walk/bike?

TDogg > bob and john 01/18/2016 at 20:57

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Your bike looks great! Ever get any problems having the license plate mounted there?

bob and john > TDogg 01/18/2016 at 20:59

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ehh. once or twice, i’m not going to lie. I always told them i bought the bike like that and that i have parts on order from japan, 10 week backlog, couldnt afford overnighting (yes, i do actually say that) blah blah blah.

but really, 3 times in 4 years...I can live with that

Textured Soy Protein > BaconSandwich is tasty. 01/19/2016 at 01:13

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Well there’s not much reason to get rid of my Jeep. I got it for cheap and old Jeeps in Wisconsin tend to hold their value. It gets terrible gas mileage but hey it’s not like I’m going to be putting a ton of miles on it. Especially if I do a good chunk of my fair weather commuting on a motorcycle that gets great mileage.

Textured Soy Protein > That's gonna leave a mark! 01/19/2016 at 01:17

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This is true! I’ve done a lot of that over the years. My gf has a big pile of student loans, and if we get married which could very well be likely, I’m responsible for those too. Even before we do that, I’d like to take over paying the full rent on our house so she has more money to throw at her loans. It’s actually cheaper than I was paying for my old apartment before we moved in so I can swing it, especially once I turn in the BMW.

Textured Soy Protein > bob and john 01/19/2016 at 01:21

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Right now I’m 203 lbs. I’ve lost 47 lbs over the past year but I don’t have much fat left to lose. Like at this weight my abs are juuust starting to peek thru, so I can’t imagine I’ll get much lighter than maybe 190.

That's gonna leave a mark! > Textured Soy Protein 01/19/2016 at 05:54

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Smart man.

bob and john > Textured Soy Protein 01/19/2016 at 09:00

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okay. you know, we do have a IRC chat room set up for oppo. you should jump in sometime, and we can have a more in-depth discussion about this. And proper gear, maintenance tips, etc etc etc.