vavet
12-01-2012, 01:08 PM
I've made a few posts and just spent a few hours reading the last couple dozen pages of the touring thread, but I've never actually introduced myself on this forum. Allow me to correct that now.
I've been a BMW fan for several years, but only recently became a caretaker of one. My wife and I are expecting our first child, so I decided the Mazdaspeed Miata probably needed to go to make with for something with 4 doors. I originally wanted a 4 door pickup, but the ones with decent backseats are just so freakin' huge, get terrible MPG, and are crazy expensive. I decided to look at some wagons. I've always been a fan of wagons, but never owned one. I explored the Dodge Magnum and the E39 and was really torn between the two of them. They each had their benefits.
I ultimately decided on a a Toledo Blue 2002 525itA with 99k+ miles. I've had it almost 2 months and have done quite a bit of work on it already, but still have more to do. I have Moog pieces for the front end (thrust arms with bushings, sway bar end links, and control arms) waiting to be installed by the garage gnome. That little guy has been lazy lately. I know there's debate about brands of suspension pieces, but I decided Moog is a respected brand and the price was right, so it was worth a chance. I'll update after a year to let everyone know how the pieces have help up. Next up will be tie rods and a new set of tires as the used ones I bought (to get the wheels) are worn abnormally and create a lot of road noise.
It's good to be here...and RVAE34 - hit me up. I'm not sure where exactly you are, but we must be practically neighbors. I'm in Mechanicsville.
I've been a BMW fan for several years, but only recently became a caretaker of one. My wife and I are expecting our first child, so I decided the Mazdaspeed Miata probably needed to go to make with for something with 4 doors. I originally wanted a 4 door pickup, but the ones with decent backseats are just so freakin' huge, get terrible MPG, and are crazy expensive. I decided to look at some wagons. I've always been a fan of wagons, but never owned one. I explored the Dodge Magnum and the E39 and was really torn between the two of them. They each had their benefits.
I ultimately decided on a a Toledo Blue 2002 525itA with 99k+ miles. I've had it almost 2 months and have done quite a bit of work on it already, but still have more to do. I have Moog pieces for the front end (thrust arms with bushings, sway bar end links, and control arms) waiting to be installed by the garage gnome. That little guy has been lazy lately. I know there's debate about brands of suspension pieces, but I decided Moog is a respected brand and the price was right, so it was worth a chance. I'll update after a year to let everyone know how the pieces have help up. Next up will be tie rods and a new set of tires as the used ones I bought (to get the wheels) are worn abnormally and create a lot of road noise.
It's good to be here...and RVAE34 - hit me up. I'm not sure where exactly you are, but we must be practically neighbors. I'm in Mechanicsville.