Re: //Mmage is nothing, obey your thirst

["Justin Hughes" <ka1ult@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Right on, Patrick! :)

I'm in a similar situation as you (as you already know - we're on the E21
Digest together).  I snagged my '83 320i for a grand last fall.  I've put
about that much into it for repairs and upgrades.  I'd love an M car.  I
drool over them on a fairly regular basis.  But I love my 320i!  Sure, for a
BMW it's overweight, underpowered, and any M3 will outrun, outbrake, and
outmaneuver me.  But now that nice weather is upon us, I rarely drive my '95
Mercury Tracer, because the 320 is so much better.  My 12 year old BMW can
run circles around the majority of other newer cars on the road (never mind
older cars), including my Tracer, and it cost me a fraction of the price.
That's why I got my BMW - not for the prestige and status.  I have a laugh
when people are so impressed when they find out I have a BMW.  If only they
knew how little I paid!

As far as badges, yes, my 320i had an M grill badge and shift knob when I
got it.  I removed the badge first thing.  I did this not out of snobbery,
but because ///M never touched the E21, so it wasn't authentic.  It makes a
great decoration on my desk at work.  I later touched up the shift knob,
simply to obscure the shift pattern it displays, which is completely wrong
for my car.  That really screwed me up the first few days I had it!

    - Justin
      '95 Mercury Tracer (gathering dust)
      '83 320i
      soon to add a '76 2002A to the stable

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