CG,

What did it cost for you to throw on the Koni's? Also where did you purchase them and who put them on.

Gracias,

Foo

 

You may laugh, but pretty much, yes!

If you pass your driving test in an automatic you get a special license where you are only allowed to drive automatics!

 

No, My wife is English (as am I), she drives a 325i (AUTO). She finds it easier to drive on SoCal roads.

I looked at the MCa and MCSa, drove both, but figured that the manual was more fun, despite my original intention, which was to get an auto for my 22 mile (1hr) commute each way on the stupid SoCal freeways.

 

Hey foo! I did it at Steve's auto clinic in North Hills. A bit far for you I think. You can also try Johnny's in san pedro. He charged 225, but neglected to return my stock shocks. I have a call in to him. So make sure to remind them to return your original parts. I bought my Koni's online. I believe tirerack sells them. I used suspension online. 628, no tax, no shipping. I had them within a week. I highly recommend them if you spend a lot of time in your car.

 

Wow.... why am I complaining.. I drive 49 miles (1-1 1/4 hrs) in the morning 3 times a week, 45- 1 hr driving home. I go against traffic and I leave before the sun comes up. I spent my first 2 yrs here figuring out how to not drive in traffic. I have become fairly efficient. Now, after 8 yrs, I am ready to leave LA and move to a less congestion area, with cheaper housing. Plus, I am marketable in my field wherever I go. Here in LA it never ceases to surprise me at the stupid drivers (like ones that go from 65 to a dead stop to change lanes in anticipation of their exit.)

Paullees, I can't imagine driving only automatics. My mother and step brother taught me how to drive on 2 different manuels. Her philosophy was if I could drive a stick, then there shouldn't be anything I could get behind the wheel of and tackle. She was right.

 

I have a S with automatic and I have no regrets about having an automatic. My knee would never be able to handle the LA traffic anyway.

 

I agree with Climbergirl, if you can drive a stick, everything else is down hill.

When I took Drivers Ed (required to drive at 16) back in the mid portion of the last century, the ability to drive a manual was a requirement to pass.




Florida by birth, Gator by the grace of God...

 

They don't require drivers ed in LA do they? In Ohio, if you were over 18, you could take your exam without taking drivers ed. I didn't get my license until I was 17, almost 18, but I still took drivers ed. But, I did know how to drive before that, thanks to mom.

 

Florida... many moons ago...




Florida by birth, Gator by the grace of God...

 

CG,

When are you moving, (I believe its to Ohio right), and what does the SO think?

 

MCS is a great car for LA freeways. The visibility out of the car is so good, it makes me feel a lot more confident being able to see where all the other traffic is so well.
As others here have said the MCS (I have a 2006) has a fairly stiff clutch, it can get tiresome in stop-and-go back-ups, consider that if your usual driving finds you in those situations often. I have no regrets about getting the manual transmission. I don't care for automatics, but then I avoid heavy traffic if at all possible and luckily my regular commute moves along fairly well.

I would suggest driving both versions (manual and automatic) when the time comes, spend some time in the cars and really see what they can do. I test drove a MCSa when I was shopping for my car (only because the dealer had no other car to test-drive) but I was so dead set against an automatic that I didn't really give it a chance.

 

I had a young friend (almost 16) staying with me a couple of weeks ago, while his parents were out of town on a trip. He's had a learner's permit for 3 or 4 months now. During the weekend, I taught him to drive a 'stick' (in my Mazda pickup, *not* my MINI).

He did great - in a couple of one hour sessions, we were cruising in stop and go traffic and up and down hills. I hardly needed to use my vast (cough, cough) teaching skills at all.

He was pretty jazzed at his new abilities. He said being able to drive a stick was a "babe magnet"! My response: "Oh, I WISH"!

:-)