# New car! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 26, 2020, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-car/847021 "2020-01-26T22:08:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-car/847021/1 "2020-01-26T22:08:56Z")
Yesterday, I bought a 2020 [BMW M240i](https://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/2-series/coupe/performance.html). šŸ™‚ Black exterior and interior (with aluminum trim), manual transmission, RWD, 18ā€ wheels with all-season run-flat tires, and all of the features I wanted: heated seats, heated steering wheel, sunroof, premium sound system, etc. I got more for my 2010 Nissan 370Z than I expected (yay!), and I paid the balance with a personal check. No car payments! šŸ˜ƒ Iā€™ve already transferred/updated my SiriusXM and EZPass accounts, and I had the dealership transfer my tags, so all I have left to do is call Allstate (planned for tomorrow). Yay!! ---
**Author:** ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-car/847021/2 "2020-01-26T22:14:17Z")
Sweet ride! I just bought my first new car, a '20 Hoda Civic Sport sedan. My one absolute non-negotiable feature was a manual transmission, and since I wanted a cheap commuter car that would also haul my teenage boys around my options were limited. Iā€™m making payments on it, but I need to build my credit so this will help. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-car/847021/3 "2020-01-26T22:35:02Z")
I love the BMW big sixes. Youā€™re gonna have fun! Dennis ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-car/847021/4 "2020-01-26T23:04:27Z")
> [@Lancia](#): > > I just bought my first new car, a '20 Hoda Civic Sport sedan. Congrats!! > [@](#): > > ā€¦my options were limited. I know what you mean! I wanted a 2-door with a manual transmission and decent horsepower for less than $60K, and I was surprised to discover there were only a few options. By the time Iā€™m ready to replace this, I expect sticks to only be available in high-end sports cars. ā˜¹ > [@mixdenny](#): > > I love the BMW big sixes. Youā€™re gonna have fun! Thanks! Iā€™ve taken three trips since I got it, and each time Iā€™ve been just so happy with how it drives. Iā€™m actually looking forward to my 17-mile commute tomorrow morningā€¦I almost wish it were longer. Almost. šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-car/847021/5 "2020-01-27T00:43:57Z")
Yay for cash sales! car payments suck. also, good choice of car šŸ™‚ Save the Manuals ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-car/847021/6 "2020-01-27T07:32:49Z")
Nice car. Iā€™m a big fan of the BMW. I tool around in an '89 e30, and every time I drive it, I think its the greatest car ever made. Love that straight six! ---
**Author:** ![Capn\_Carl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Capn\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capn_Carl)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-car/847021/7 "2020-01-27T08:44:49Z")
Congrats. That car is a big hit at Car and Driver magazine. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-car/847021/8 "2020-01-27T12:13:15Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > Yay for cash sales! car payments suck. > > also, good choice of car šŸ™‚ Save the Manuals May I ask what you meant by ā€œSave the Manualsā€? I ask because I got a vision of a car that had no paper User Guides or Manuals but all instructions were on some Display. Was it about saving the trees? Or was that a reference to a manual transmission instead of an automatic? I bought a car about a year ago and I decided to buy a used car because I wanted one that had many luxuries and decided it would be so much better to spend $20K when I really couldnā€™t afford $80K to get my dream car. I got one that was in wonderful condition and Iā€™ve never been happier with any car before. No car payments was just about the best feature of all! ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-car/847021/9 "2020-01-27T13:17:05Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > Yesterday, I bought a 2020 [BMW M240i](https://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/2-series/coupe/performance.html). šŸ™‚ > > Black exterior and interior (with aluminum trim), manual transmission, RWD, 18ā€ wheels with all-season run-flat tires, and all of the features I wanted: heated seats, heated steering wheel, sunroof, premium sound system, etc. I got more for my 2010 Nissan 370Z than I expected (yay!), and I paid the balance with a personal check. No car payments! šŸ˜ƒ > > Yay!! Sounds great! Have you signed up for your first FATT yet? (Inside reference that **Misnomer** or I may clarify later. :D) > [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > May I ask what you meant by ā€œSave the Manualsā€? I ask because I got a vision of a car that had no paper User Guides or Manuals but all instructions were on some Display. Was it about saving the trees? Or was that a reference to a manual transmission instead of an automatic? The latter. As the OP states, itā€™s harder to get regular cars with manual transmission. Even sports cars these days are more likely to have paddle shifters that donā€™t require using the clutch. Or dont even have a clutch. Regular or occasional track drivers, like the OP (and me, many years ago) generally insist on manual transmissions in their cars. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-car/847021/10 "2020-01-27T14:06:50Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > Sounds great! Have you signed up for your first FATT yet? (Inside reference that **Misnomer** or I may clarify later. :D) > > The latter. As the OP states, itā€™s harder to get regular cars with manual transmission. Even sports cars these days are more likely to have paddle shifters that donā€™t require using the clutch. Or dont even have a clutch. Regular or occasional track drivers, like the OP (and me, many years ago) generally insist on manual transmissions in their cars. Thank you. I very much prefer manual transmissions as well. It just gives me such a better feeling for what is going on. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-car/847021/11 "2020-01-27T14:24:24Z")
Many happy, trouble free miles and, as always, keep it between the ditches and shiny side up. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-car/847021/12 "2020-01-27T15:16:45Z")
Thanks, everyone! šŸ™‚ > [@commasense](#): > > Have you signed up for your first FATT yet? (Inside reference that **Misnomer** or I may clarify later. :D) LOL! Not yet. Iā€™ll go ahead and clarify: [Friday At The Track (FATT)](https://summitpoint-raceway.com/programs/friday-at-the-track/) is high-speed-driving instruction offered at Summit Point raceway in West Virginia. You take your daily driver on the track (with an instructor), and also get skid pad time with one of the trackā€™s cars. I did FATT with both my 2002 Nissan Sentra and my 2008 Mazda RX-8. It is SO. MUCH. FUN. šŸ™‚ (Even with the Sentra!) I never did track the 370Z (I was afraid of the oil overheating; I still have an oil cooler sitting in my laundry room that I never got installedā€¦I guess I should try to sell that now), so itā€™s been several years since Iā€™ve gone to one. My 18-yo nephew just got his license and a car, but heā€™s not big on driving yet: when heā€™s more comfortable behind the wheel, I would _love_ to take him to a FATT. In addition to being fun, you learn a lot about how to drive your car (and how to drive, period). Iā€™m targeting next summer for the two of us to go together. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-car/847021/13 "2020-01-27T15:59:53Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > Thanks, everyone! šŸ™‚ > > LOL! Not yet. > > Iā€™ll go ahead and clarify: [Friday At The Track (FATT)](https://summitpoint-raceway.com/programs/friday-at-the-track/) is high-speed-driving instruction offered at Summit Point raceway in West Virginia. You take your daily driver on the track (with an instructor), and also get skid pad time with one of the trackā€™s cars. I did FATT with both my 2002 Nissan Sentra and my 2008 Mazda RX-8. It is SO. MUCH. FUN. šŸ™‚ (Even with the Sentra!) I never did track the 370Z (I was afraid of the oil overheating; I still have an oil cooler sitting in my laundry room that I never got installedā€¦I guess I should try to sell that now), so itā€™s been several years since Iā€™ve gone to one. **Misnomer** and I met at FATT many years ago when [I was an instructor there](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=369540). Do you remember the date of your first FATT? At the end of the linked thread, we were talking about late 2006. Was I your instructor for the first one, or a later time? You remember my [copper-colored 350Z](https://lfexaminer.com/misc/VIR_0791.jpg)? > [@](#): > > My 18-yo nephew just got his license and a car, but heā€™s not big on driving yet: when heā€™s more comfortable behind the wheel, I would _love_ to take him to a FATT. In addition to being fun, you learn a lot about how to drive your car (and how to drive, period). Iā€™m targeting next summer for the two of us to go together. Since heā€™s a newbie driver, you and he might want to consider this Summit Point class: [Accident Avoidance.](https://www.accidentavoidance.com/) Although itā€™s open to drivers of all ages, itā€™s especially useful for younger drivers to acquaint them with the kinds of unexpected situations that can arise on the road. It covers some of the same kinds of techniques as FATT, but with more of a real-world orientation. As you said, FATT is most worthwhile after someone has been driving for at least a year or two, because it assumes that all of the ordinary driving skills are already second nature. A new driver with less than a year of experience may not be quite there yet. I took two of my ā€œniecesā€ (daughters of a family friend) to the AA class shortly after they got their licenses, and they loved it. So I guarantee that your nephew will have as much fun at the AA class as you did in your first FATT, and it will help prepare him for FATT if he wants to try that a little later. Just my two cents. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-car/847021/14 "2020-01-27T16:26:54Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > Do you remember the date of your first FATT? At the end of the linked thread, we were talking about late 2006. Was I your instructor for the first one, or a later time? I donā€™t remember, but it must have been 2006 or 2007. And you _might_ have been my first instructor! My first FATT was with my 2002 Nissan Sentra sedanā€¦if you remember us being passed by E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E, that was probably it. I spent nearly the whole time with my arm out the window, signaling other cars to go ahead and pass me. Heh. > [@](#): > > You remember my [copper-colored 350Z](https://lfexaminer.com/misc/VIR_0791.jpg)? I do! You took me for a spin around the track during one of the ā€œno newbies allowedā€ sessions. My positive impression of that car influenced my eventual 370Z ownership. šŸ™‚ > [@](#): > > Since heā€™s a newbie driver, you and he might want to consider this Summit Point class: [Accident Avoidance.](https://www.accidentavoidance.com/) I didnā€™t know that was a thing! Thank you!! Iā€™m still going to wait, though, for him to become more of a regular driver. I feel like the lessons wonā€™t mean much if heā€™s never on the road. He pretty much never drives right now, and hasnā€™t even driven his car alone yet (heā€™s had it for 3 months). Some of it is nerves, but I think a lot of it is that he and his friends just donā€™t \*need \*to drive the way my friends and I did in the '80s. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-car/847021/15 "2020-01-27T16:32:09Z")
Nice rides!! Congrats and many happy miles of motoring! Save the Manuals! (2018 Focus ST 6 spd). ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-car/847021/16 "2020-01-27T16:40:57Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > I didnā€™t know that was a thing! Thank you!! Iā€™m still going to wait, though, for him to become more of a regular driver. I feel like the lessons wonā€™t mean much if heā€™s never on the road. He pretty much never drives right now, and hasnā€™t even driven his car alone yet (heā€™s had it for 3 months). Some of it is nerves, but I think a lot of it is that he and his friends just donā€™t \*need \*to drive the way my friends and I did in the '80s. The AA course does presume you have \*some \*experience driving, although not as much as FATT. So a complete newbie would probably be a little overwhelmed by AA. You might want to call them and ask what they consider the minimum amount of experience for the class. (The website doesnā€™t seem to say.) Assuming he gets a few hundred to a thousand miles under his belt, he may be ready for AA in the summer. But [as you can see](https://www.accidentavoidance.com/register/), they offer it pretty much all year round. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-car/847021/17 "2020-01-27T16:41:23Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > May I ask what you meant by ā€œSave the Manualsā€? I ask because I got a vision of a car that had no paper User Guides or Manuals but all instructions were on some Display. Was it about saving the trees? Or was that a reference to a manual transmission instead of an automatic? Manual transmission, though more and more cars donā€™t come with a user manual either. My current car ('18 Civic SI) didnā€™t have one, but you could order it for free. Honestly, I think thatā€™s partially to save them money, but also partially to save on weight. Same thing with no spare tire. I remember, way back when, if you said your car didnā€™t come with a spare tire, you were implying that it came with a donut. This is my first car to just come with a small pump, some fix-a-flat and the number for Hondaā€™s roadside assistance. Same with the manual. It came with IIRC, a small book, about 20 pages with the very basics, and then a phone number to call Honda or Honda Roadside assistance for just about everything else. I canā€™t imagine how much they must be saving, both in what theyā€™re removing from the car and the increased MPG, considering theyā€™re giving you roadside assistance to make up for it all. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-car/847021/18 "2020-01-27T16:42:49Z")
I wish manuals were WAY more common. One less automatic on the road is one less opportunity for its driver to be distracted at an intersection. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-car/847021/19 "2020-01-27T17:14:22Z")
Congrats on your new BMW! Donā€™t forget to acquaint yourself with the turn signal control, and remember driving in traffic isnā€™t a race. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-car/847021/20 "2020-01-27T18:02:00Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > Congrats on your new BMW! Donā€™t forget to acquaint yourself with the turn signal control, and remember driving in traffic isnā€™t a race. šŸ˜ƒ šŸ˜› Iā€™ve also already been reminded that parking spaces have lines for a reason. šŸ˜ƒ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-car/847021.md?page=2)