09Customx

Been playing with the idea of a fun second car for a while now, alongside my X5 diesel which I love and will be keeping. With diesel prices being what they are for seemingly the foreseeable future I figure it might also be nice to commute in something that runs on gasoline and kill two birds with that stone.

Budget is $20k CAD, could push it a bit. In the Calgary area.

I’m 6’5” so no Miatas or 500 Abarths. No Subarus. Manual is preferred, dual clutch could be considered.

So far I’ve had my eye on:

* Mk7 Golf R

* 1-4 series BMW of some variety

* B8 S4 6-speed

* F56 Mini Cooper S

* BRZ, but might be a bit tight at my size? Also worried I’ll find it gutless as it’s got like 400l

Full service history, 2 owner car currently owned by an older guy who just doesn’t drive it much anymore. Active status (I.e. clean title). The catch is light hail damage on pretty much the entire car. Glass is intact.

I figure that it’s a good deal, and mechanically these probably won’t start giving issues until much further down the line? Comparable damage-free examples would be pretty much double the price.

Doing my tension struts, dont one side no problem but on the other I have the nut on the ball joint end completely stuck on. Just spins the whole ball joint when I turn it. I’ve tried the pry bar trick, I’ve tried the hex key in the end which completely stripped, vise grips on the other end, PB blaster, heat, Can’t get a good angle for my angle grinder to cut it off, and I’ve broken a nut buster somehow.

I’m very close to just putting everything back best I can, and limping it to a shop to have it be their problem. Before I throw in the towel what’s left to try?

2014 Maserati Quattroporte S Q4. 115,000km (71,400mi)

Black on black, mint condition, 2 owner car, no accidents, clean Carfax, comes with brand new brakes all around and 2 set of wheels and tires.

Throwing codes for multiple misfires (P0300) guy is dumping it on Marketplace asking $13,000 CAD ($9100 USD). Would normally go for ~$25-30k CAD.

I’m thinking worst case it’s a battery, coil packs, plugs, or an upstream O2 sensor and can’t go wrong with the flip

For some reason when I have my heated seat on levels 1-2 (but not 3) the thigh support section goes into straight LAVA mode. Way too hot. Rest of the seat is fine.

Anyone else have this happen?

Buying some new winter rubber for my 2009 X5. Live in Calgary where they’ll be on from the end of this month until probably May long weekend.

Can get a brand new set of 19” Hakka R5’s for around $1500 installed or I found a set of one-season-old Blizzak DM-V2’s locally for $850.

What say you