The last few months have been one of ups and downs for me and my ZHP, and I have been pretty quiet on here (I can be pretty quiet in general, not just on here but I hadn't even been visiting much). So I figure I should post something to let people know what I'm up to.
I spent a few months thinking about trading in my Bimmer mostly because while the ZHP is without a doubt the nicest driving car that I have ever driven, let alone owned; ownership of it was taking a toll. I had a few minor repairs that ended up being fairly high dollar jobs; nav DVD couldn't be repaired, needed to be replaced, alternator went and is a rare varient (no snorkel, and an odd connector, according to the parts guy at the dealer it was only used for a few months during production?) only available at the dealership ($600!), passenger side window is misaligned chewing up the rubber on the weather strip and a trip to the dealer corrects the weather strip issue, but it won't fit under the soft top on the first shut, a few random tire replacements I wasn't planning for etc. and I am starting to wonder if it's really worth all the trouble. Then as icing on the cake, I get up early for work one day and find one of my neighbors (if only I could figure out which one...) tagged me trying to execute a three point turn or something and I find this as I'm dragging my ass in.
Looked to me like if I could get the bumper cover back on its clips it would be ok (there was only a minor scuff on the corner where it was hit) but I couldn't get it myself. The dealer wanted three hundred bucks just to survey the damage!
Long story short, I was a bit discouraged. I had my dream car (I grew up reading Car and Driver and blame them for my lifelong desire to own a BMW) and was getting to be bummed out by the experience. Since I spent about 4 or 5 months spending on maintenance what a new car payment worked out to I was thinking I would take a ride in a similarly equipped new car (I won't say which one, but 6 cyl, 6 speed, heated seats, nav, 'vert, rear drive).
Mostly what I took away from that test drive, is why the BMW name carries the weight is does... That new car didn't feel anywhere near as nice as my ZHP, I am clearly stuck with this f*ckin thing! It's too good.
Most of my friends aren't into cars like I am, and don't quite understand my dilemma. On a whim I took a ride to Bravauto in Portsmouth NH. while there, I got a recommendation on a local place to look at my bumper, and for a couple bucks I grabbed a set of black kidneys that I had been considering for a while. I installed the black grills and took a step back and saw this:
I am officially back in! And hard! Additionally the local place was able to fix up my bumper (plus a few other odds and ends) for a reasonable price (Kensington Autoworks in southern NH FWIW), and I feel like I did when I first picked up my car again. I'm giddy.
To celebrate, I Recently picked up one of these:
It's going in next week. I can't wait.
If there is room for us, my GF and I are going to try to make the meet in VA in May. She, for whatever reason, is supportive of my obsessions (she even arranged behind my back for me to tour a local Caterham workshop for my birthday last year), and we are both looking forward to the trip if we can arrange for the time off, and meeting some of you (and Bush Gardens if it's convenient).
thanks for reading.
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