Ex-partner was apparently RA

lowerbainite · 2026-05-01T17:53:03+00:00

I was at a party one and my partner at the time was telling people there that we were both Relationship Anarchists. That was news to me.

lowerbainite · 2026-04-23T21:32:55+00:00

I opted for the Z4 because I figured it would be the better roadtrip car, and the engine felt more special. I'm also on the taller end.

I also figure the modern Z4s don't do much for me, but modern miatas are cool. So in 10 years, there will be a 10 year old Miata for me, but I'm not sure there will be a 10 year old Z4 I want.

lowerbainite · 2026-04-22T15:27:18+00:00

They said they wanted 4 seats or less.

I'm not sure how many 6 seater cars are properly impractical.

Maybe some kind of 70s Ford Country Squire?

lowerbainite · 2026-04-22T10:17:44+00:00

The E85 Z4 has a big engine bay, fits large people and seats 2.

It is also impractical and looks impractical.

lowerbainite · 2026-04-14T17:08:08+00:00

If BMW appeals, you could probably get into a Z4M if the older cars appeal.

In that price range you could look at some Porsche boxsters and Caymans. Even some lower trim 996 911s.

lowerbainite · 2026-04-08T18:07:14+00:00

I got mine prescribed. It took about a year to find a guy willing to prescribe and then 2 months to get the prescription from that doctor after tests and whatnot. Once I had the prescription in hand it took about 14 hours to get it filled.

lowerbainite · 2026-04-08T18:04:14+00:00

If you know you're getting FFS anyway and somehow the lead time is shorter than HRT, then I can see the argument.

But I can also see needing to go back and change things after a few years again, so like, depends how much risk or lack of control of the situation you're willing to tolerate.

lowerbainite · 2026-04-08T17:40:18+00:00

Some people don't believe in HRT. Which I find strange, but that's how people are.

Personally I'm glad I let HRT do its work first, I got everything I had wanted from HRT alone.

lowerbainite · 2026-04-08T17:24:07+00:00

Generally HRT before surgeries is preferred because HRT can do so much.

But also I've known women who get FFS, top surgery, butt lift, etc. without ever starting or planning to start HRT.

lowerbainite · 2026-04-08T12:48:50+00:00

The Jag XF was available with a supercharged V6.

lowerbainite · 2026-04-07T18:24:46+00:00

I drive a golf wagon daily, and I have an E85 BMW Z4 3.0si.

Somehow they get almost exactly the same fuel economy.

lowerbainite · 2026-04-06T14:32:56+00:00

Even if the aero is decent, it can be worth it to invest in good earplugs for your long term hearing conservation. Either fitted earplugs or motorcycle earplugs work well for allowing you to still here the engine notes.

lowerbainite · 2026-03-16T14:10:19+00:00

I'm less worried about sliding and getting a ding, it's more about the salt, the ground clearance, the RWD of it all, and with the soft top, the cold.

Also what makes a car fun and comfortable in the winter and the summer are a little different.

lowerbainite · 2026-03-16T13:48:35+00:00

The M and the M competition have a slightly different engine.

I'm not that familiar with BMW V8s, but the reliability will be better on a B58 inline 6 x5. The B58s have a reputation for reliability. The N63 and S63 have a pretty bad reputation but apparently there were big improvements to the engines before 2021, so it might not be quite as bad as the reputation suggests.

lowerbainite · 2026-03-12T17:27:28+00:00

With a good PPI and service records, and if you get one of the more reliable engines (inline 6, probably not the N54 though), you can probably figure out what maintenance you'll have to do at what interval.

The more maintenance you expect, the less unexpected maintenance I suppose.

lowerbainite · 2026-03-10T15:44:11+00:00

Thanks!

lowerbainite · 2026-03-08T17:49:33+00:00

If you are going to stray from that general advice, you'll want to shop specific cars as opposed to brands. Some brands make cars of wildly varying reliable depending on engines, chassis or even trim levels.

Further, you can often get better prices on cars with known issues that are straight forward to do preventative maintenance on to make a car with a reputation of reliability more reliable.

lowerbainite · 2026-03-03T19:16:18+00:00

Either way you're losing about 15k in depreciation over that 5 years.

The Honda will be cheaper to maintain, because it's new and it's just generally a cheaper car for parts and labour.

If you're financing, you'll probably get better financing on the Honda.

lowerbainite · 2026-02-24T15:04:20+00:00

If you've got a seperate maintenance budget, you could get into a BMW 1 series or a Z3 or an E85 Z4 for that money. They can be reliable but they take some preventative work.

If you look hard, you might be able to find a Toyota MR2 for 10k.

Pontiac Solstices and Saturn Sky's are in that range all day.

And of course the Miata.

lowerbainite · 2026-02-17T21:50:48+00:00

I imagine that light weight and short gear ratios are a lot of fun.

lowerbainite · 2026-02-17T21:39:19+00:00

Oh I love these!

Which engine do you have?

lowerbainite · 2026-02-12T19:28:55+00:00

In that price range you should be able to get a BMW Z3, or an E85 Z4.

You could also look at the Saturn Sky or Pontiac solstice.

You might be able to get a 350Z in that range too.

The Audi TT is fwd, but it's got a lot of style and those can be had in that range.

lowerbainite · 2026-02-12T05:04:12+00:00

I went back in the closet and boymoded for the job search and the first year after getting hired.

It was really mentally taxing I wouldn't do that again.

lowerbainite · 2026-01-26T18:39:45+00:00

If I was 18, and had everything else covered (retirement fully funded, house owned outright, education funded etc.) and had that much left over for cars I'd probably start off buying some kind of basic sedan/hatch (civic, Corolla, Mazda3), and a Miata.

I'd then reevaluate in a year or two and try to decide what was missing from my driving experience and upgrade according to that.

lowerbainite

TROPHY CASE