So Thursday There's a Person Coming to Look at the M3

"Logansteno: Bought a VW?" (logansteno) 06/01/2016 at 02:01 • Filed to: Steno's M3, Late night ramblings

5

18

He’s more than likely going to be purchasing it too. And I genuinely don’t know how to feel.

On one hand I know it’s an almost 19 year old German car that doesn’t get the best gas mileage (especially the way I drive it) and won’t well handle the shitty streets of downtown STL I’ll be commuting daily come fall and I don’t want to trash the suspension I just fixed up. I need something I can beat up and put gas and oil in and not worry about while getting good gas mileage (i.e. A Cobalt)

On the other hand, it’s my baby and my best friend. Yes it’s rusty and automatic and has 183,000 miles, but dammit I’ve taken it from a ricer’s play thing to something at least slightly respectable. I’m driving my dream car as a teenager. It’s been the source of more random parking lot conversations than I could have ever imagined. My friends genuinely get giddy and have the stupidest smile on their faces when I toss them the keys. These are all things a Cobalt could never do.

I guess my thought is I don’t want to sell it, but I know I need to at this time in my life. Plus the guy who’s buying it is the same one who bought my old wheels and he knows and loves E36s, so it’s going to be in good hands.

I can always buy another E36 M3. Maybe one with a proper manual and no rust. And I know I will own more than one in my lifetime. Hell, maybe I’ll import a Euro Spec one later in my life.

Stupid emotional attachment to hunks of metal and plastic.

Alfalfa > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 06/01/2016 at 02:10

1

This isn’t a feel that goes away as you get older, sadly. This is life as a car guy. But it often paves the way for new experiences, such as driving an old American econobox that you can slap the shit out of.

samssun > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 06/01/2016 at 02:10

0

What’s it being replaced with? Not a Slobalt I hope?

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 06/01/2016 at 02:15

0

hey man, I feel you. we all know how much love and hard work you’ve put in to emma. if she does sell at least she’s going to a good home, and someone who will treat her right. Letting go is rough and i feel that, but it’s the right thing to do!

And hey, i’ll be the first to defend a slobalt if you get one. it’s a damn fine form of transportation, one that will whoop the ass of most used cars in europe all day any day!

GLWS man

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Alfalfa 06/01/2016 at 02:19

0

Driving a little shitbox at 10/10 all the time should at least induce a few giggles. One way to think about it!

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > samssun 06/01/2016 at 02:20

1

Most likely a Cobalt... It does everything I need it to and thanks to the ignition recall their values have plummeted to near beater levels.

Slant6 > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 06/01/2016 at 02:22

0

It’s the right thing to do.

I did like my e34. But the Ranger is better for driving through potholed Appalachia. Also I move at least twice a year so it’s good to have around.

But if anything I would still have my old Taco. I miss it dearly. You’ll miss your M, but at least you can justify why you had to get rid of it.

Echo51 > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 06/01/2016 at 02:24

0

The gearhead way to think!

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Slant6 06/01/2016 at 02:25

1

I’ll have the memories (and lots of pictures) but I know the shitty downtown streets will trash the car in no time. I’m pretty sure it’s what blew my rear shock a couple months ago. A Cobalt I can beat to hell and back and not care.

Slant6 > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 06/01/2016 at 02:32

0

You’re going to tech school right? You ever think of opening your own shop someday?

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Slant6 06/01/2016 at 02:35

1

To be a certified GM Tech. Shocking I know.

Maybe eventually. It'll be a long long long way down the road.

Slant6 > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 06/01/2016 at 02:43

1

At least you’re headed in a direction where you can own interesting cars.

But you’ll never forget your first.

PartyPooper2012 > Slant6 06/01/2016 at 07:25

1

you never forget your first... especially when your first becomes impossible to find because they all rusted away and only one you can find near you by freak accident was just loaded onto a car transport and whisked away to Wisconsin. You tell your wife about it and she goes - WHY?

GTiceman > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 06/01/2016 at 07:26

0

I understand 100%, I just had to sell my track e46 M3 this week. It was an annoying car at times but I did love it even though I had it only for a short time. Hopefully my 335 will sell and I can move on to a different M3.

Sometimes it is for the best

mazda616 > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 06/01/2016 at 08:00

0

At least get a Cobalt LTZ with heated seats and all that.

Sorry to see the M3 go but I understand. :-/

DrScientist > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 06/01/2016 at 08:58

1

i had the same feeling when i sold my too-many-issues-to-keep-on-the-road-26-year-old-v12-jaguar. i kept telling myself, “you can always get another one.” and... you can... they made enough of the e36s that they aren’t THAT rare. you’ll feel a solid sense of relief when she goes to a new loving owner.

The Powershift in Steve's '12 Ford Focus killed it's TCM (under warranty!) > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 06/01/2016 at 11:50

0

I guess my thought is I don’t want to sell it, but I know I need to at this time in my life.

That’s exactly how I felt when I sold the 2000 Miata I drove through college. The car was awesome, but it was kind of dumb for someone commuting along awful NJ highways when I wasn’t at school in one of the most crowded towns in the state. It sucked to let it go, but it went to someone who was into Miatas and would drive the wheels off of it. In the mean time, I’ve spent my money on responsible things like student loans, getting married, and a comfortable and reliable car to commute in (RIP beloved ‘97 Accord). The memories of driving it will hold me over until I buy something cool again (which will happen because I started dating my girlfriend, now wife, about 6 months after selling the car and she’s sad she missed out on it).

Also, I just went through your post history to see what the car looked like when you got it, and Jesus Christ that thing was ricey. You should be proud of how much work you’ve put into making that car what it is today.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > mazda616 06/01/2016 at 12:51

0

It's probably gonna be a Victory Red LT with hubcaps and cloth. I already have ideas swirling to make it interesting though.

mazda616 > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 06/01/2016 at 19:50

0

That cloth is a nightmare. Invest in seat covers. Water can stain that cloth. Never seen anything like it. And the only way to get stains out of it is to re-dye it. It’s insane. Our ‘06 Malibu had that type cloth seats.