What about a used late model Outback? The turbo or the H6 models have decent power.

Toyota Venza. Damn thing is comfortable and has Toyota's reliability. Better looking that the Highlander, IMHO although the Highlander is pretty nice. Perhaps not as versatile but front seat room is a better fit for me too. I bought the dual sunroof V6 and love it. Carry my bike in the back all the time. If you want to put put bikes on the roof then don't get the dual sunroof.

Never ceases to amaze me how crappy some dealerships are. A couple of places just ignore you when you're on the lot.

Going to drive the Subie with the CVT. I may hate that. On the high end of the price spectrum there is the BMW X1 but not sure I can bring myself to buy one. Or if the trunk area is big enough. The Mazda has that stupid notched shifter - I hate those. Funny the little ergonomic things that bug you. Well, that bug me...

Just to update this. Drove the Subie with the CVT - hated it. Bought the CR-V. It is great for what it is, but after having it for awhile I find that I'm just not ready to go there. I got a good deal on it and will eat a few $K but life is too short.

So, I drove the Mazda. More inspiring than the CR-V, but still...well...not it. Drove the X1. Umm...ok...this is more like it. Did a bunch more research, looked at my options, ended up ordering an X1 x28i from the factory in Germany. Should be here in 6-8 weeks. Sport seats, nav, heated seats, and nothing else (keeps cost from being stupid expensive - just overpriced at this point).

Yeah, money flushed but you can't take it with you. All my stuff fits in the X1 and it is pretty entertaining to drive. The turbo 4 with the 8-speed auto is decidedly not a CR-V. Plus the AWD version has the hydraulic steering, which evidently is slowly going away in favor of the electric setup.

Oh, and I got it in orange. Yes, I'm nuts. First time leasing (36mo), has 4/50 full maintenance so I shouldn't have to put any money into that part of things.

did you look at Sube Forester and/or Crosstrek XV (not old enuff to have used models yet)

Sounds like what you really wanted was a "warranty" ;)

Enjoy the new toy!

Yes, I drove and hated the Forester. The Crosstrek wouldn't fit my bass cabinet in the back (with the seats up) so that was a no-go. I found the CVT in the Subie to be annoying. Given my typical driving these days there is no way I'm getting a manual (too much stop and go), plus with an auto the wife can drive it. Her car is actually a Toyota truck that is still going strong.

Never owned a BWM other than my bike. Might as well do the experiment.

Pretty much. The reality is that I could have just saved the sunk costs and put that towards any repairs that came up with the VW but it was time for something new. And fwiw, the Japanese cars leave me fairly "meh." My first car was German-built, soon I'll be back in one again. The JSW was kind of German - with a heaping bit of tostada mixed in :D

We expect pics and an evaluation.

A fully restored hatchback (Euro) 2002 would be a fun BMW for you...

I predict this will go full circle and Todd is gonna end up with that late 80's Carrera he originally purchased and send pictures of Calvin behind the wheel to his ex :)

Well, Calvin is 16...

It'll look like this. Not for everyone but reminds me somewhat of the M Coupe that I've lusted after. Just more practical...

http://cache.bmwusa.com/cosy.arox?po...bkgnd=grayroom

When does the new ride arrive?

The boat docked yesterday. Should be at the VPC today (which is about an hour from LA) so should be at the dealer this week. On Friday they gave me a loaner 328i to use until the X1 arrives. So far have had a good dealership experience...

Check out the performance of a slightly moded Honda Fit. Cheap, reliable and a blast to embarrass Speed 3s, GTIs, etc on the twisties. (According to one Lotus Exige 260 Cup track only owner.)

Do you get rid of the Honda yet?

Yup. Sold it to Carmax a few weeks ago. No muss, no fuss. Still waiting on the X1 - maybe tomorrow. In the meantime I'm happily driving the free loaner.

One of my buddies just bought an Acura RDX for his wife. A little bigger than what you have above, but it fits the criteria.

Todd, it is too bad that BMW isn't selling the 1.8 or the 2.0 diesel here. Your X1 with one of the diesel engines would get nearly 50 mpg. I drove a 1 series 4 door hatchback with the 1.8 for 10 days in Spain/France. Fantastic car. Not available in the USA. Mexico? Yes. USA? No.

Thought I would update this with a review. I've got about 600 miles on the X1 so these are still initial impressions but it is enough time behind the wheel to figure out what works and what doesn't.

Short review - I love this car. Frankly the only thing I've owned that I liked more was my '79 SC. That is against some stiff competition too, as I liked my A3 quite a bit as well as my '09 WRX. This is my first BMW and my only regret is waiting this long the get into one. Though I wasn't that crazy about the 328i loaner I had. I did come very close to buying an M Coupe back around '03 and I still love that car.

So what did they get right? For my needs, just about everything. The rear area is large enough to carry my bass cab and the gear bags that stay in the car all the time. Gig bag fits on the rear seat. I ordered this from the factory as there wasn't one on any lots that I liked. The X1 is the lowest priced BMW but like all the rest, options send the price up quickly. The configuration I ordered:

X1 x28i (AWD), Valencia orange, black leatherette interior
Sport Line (sport seats, paddle shifters, black mirrors and outside accents)
Tech Package (nav, various app integration, etc)
Lighting package (xenon HIDs, adaptive lights)
heated seats
sat radio

No sunroof (hate them - that was what made it hard to find one in LA), no leather, no electric seats, etc. The sport seats are awesome and manually adjust. This is perhaps the last BMW model with hydraulic steering and the feel is stiff and precise. The 2.0L turbo mated to the 8 spd auto works great, and the car is very quick. Much more controlled application of torque than the VW TDI, and way quicker when you're at speed.

The interior design/appointments are perfect for me. Clean, utilitarian - none of the typical Japanese transformer look that has become increasingly common. Getting around 22mpg around town, over 30mpg on the highway but I haven't had a fully extended highway stint yet (longest was a night in Ventura). Completely different vibe than the CR-V. The Honda had gobs of space and utility. The X1 has much less space but enough for my needs and is a completely different beast on the road.

Upsides - fun to drive, carries my stuff, much more sports car than SUV, it's orange!
Downsides - if I had to nitpick, the 2nd upholder for the passenger is a fail, as is the phone dock in the center compartment. Actually if I could just hack that dock out I'd be a much happier camper. But beyond that, it is a fantastic car.

I leased it for 3 year/15K mile. At this point, if I have a good reliability experience (knock on wood), I intend on buying the car at the end of the lease. I like it that much.

http://nostatic.com/photos/x1-1.jpg

http://nostatic.com/photos/x1-2.jpg

http://nostatic.com/photos/x1-3.jpg

http://nostatic.com/photos/x1-4.jpg

http://nostatic.com/photos/x1-5.jpg

thx for the posts

I wonder if it has the "go to" to replace my Forester? sure would be less boring