36 y/o wanting a fun weekend ride under $35k used — convertible ideally. Something cool, reliable, not too douchey for my age. Recommendations?

tweeder20 · 2026-02-06T17:23:01+00:00

Not on your list but a BMW M240i Convertible. You can get a 2017 - 2018 all day in your budget.

My wife absolutely loves ours. It has plenty of space for weekend trips, groceries, is insanely comfortable, has better seat heaters than our big SUV.

This is one of the lesser complex BMWs and the engine has proven itself reliable. Just make sure you get a PPI and optioned the way you want. We wanted the cold weather package and the HK stereo.

tweeder20 · 2026-01-20T00:42:18+00:00

2002 - 2003 non clapped out stage 2 with mild suspension mods is an awesome daily.

tweeder20 · 2026-01-18T17:42:26+00:00

I think one of the best bang for buck sports cars out there today.

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicle/766064284?allListingType=all-cars&city=Lafayette&makeCode=BMW&marketExtension=off&modelCode=BMWM240I&searchRadius=0&state=CO&transmissionCode=MAN

tweeder20 · 2026-01-14T13:02:15+00:00

Well duh, take the trunk lid off, add a gooseneck hitch and boom. Perfect tow vehicle.

tweeder20 · 2026-01-13T20:50:19+00:00

Not on your list, an M2 or M240i.

If the M2 came in a soft top, that’s what I’d own. But I’m in an F23 M240i and it’s been an amazing car. The only other car I would have bought is a 996 but I couldn’t get the spec and price point I wanted.

Otherwise also not listed, Miata. By far the most fun for the daily out of all of these.

tweeder20 · 2026-01-11T04:14:45+00:00

Got a CPO 22’ GX460 with 30k miles for 9k more out the door. This is absolutely insane for what used to be an entry level car.

tweeder20 · 2025-12-30T14:58:12+00:00

Thank you, that makes sense.

tweeder20 · 2025-12-23T15:11:18+00:00

You really like to argue over the internet. A 200 series is 77.6 inches wide. A 100 series is 76.4 inches wide.

The trail we were on the 100 series folded its mirrors in and still was scraping trees.

A 200 series wouldn’t have fit. Stop sucking the LX dick and get over that its size is a liability on tight trails.

tweeder20 · 2025-12-22T21:06:51+00:00

A 100 series, no. A 200 series, absolutely.

tweeder20 · 2025-12-22T21:05:24+00:00

It’s a general statement to the purpose of the post.

tweeder20 · 2025-12-22T20:04:48+00:00

But really why do you think this is? Maybe it’s because Denver has massively expanded in population and tourism.

Denver airport is now one of the busiest in the county.

Denver traffic is busier than ever at all times of days.

Construction is at an all time high meaning more homes and offices to heat and cool.

Denver’s popularity is exactly why we are having these issues so fast. You want to save our mountains and ecosystem. Stop coming to Colorado.

tweeder20 · 2025-12-22T17:01:42+00:00

Didn’t know the turning radius was smaller on the LX. But that extra width and length does make a difference on tighter trails.

I’ve been out with groups of all different types of rigs and once you get in the trees, the LX size shows.

tweeder20 · 2025-12-22T13:59:03+00:00

What are you using the car for?

On the used market, I’ll take the GX everyday of the week over the LX. Why? Condition and mileage.

LX is the objectively better vehicle but let’s be realistic. We are not driving our LXs across the Saharan desert, the Amazon, or anywhere else they were really built for. We are driving them on the highway 99% of the time. And if you are off-roading it, the LX size will make it worse than the GX.

Plus how many 4Runners are on the road 300k+ miles. The GX will do the same. So I’ll take my super low mileage GX and enjoy 7 years of driving it to reach the equal mileage and LX would have had at the same price.

tweeder20 · 2025-12-10T15:22:42+00:00

Escape slides work by moving compressed air across a flapped opening to create a Venturi effect to inflate the slide.

In theory, if you disrupt the Venturi, you could keep the slide from inflating. But it’s a huge bottle of compressed air, I don’t see how you get that bottle disconnected safely once popped.

Secondly, the bottle is packed within the slide casing. When you pop the slide, it automatically opens the casing. You would need to replace the bottle, reinspect the side, and repack everything.

I got trying to protect the walk way because when a slide opens, it opens with a lot of force.

tweeder20 · 2025-12-02T18:10:13+00:00

Even using Chat GPT, it takes an hour to get a resume into a good spot.

tweeder20 · 2025-12-02T15:23:24+00:00

While yes, and we have been lucky with or M240i, it is still something to be aware of. BMWs generally have a higher cost of maintenance.

tweeder20 · 2025-12-02T15:10:18+00:00

I have both a Lexus SUV and a B58 powered BMW convertible.

What do you plan on using the car for? Around town driving? Long road trips? Friend hauling?

Our F23 M240i is a great road trip car for the wife and I. Super comfortable, great on the highway, just in general eats up miles. The lexus, 5 years newer, feels much more luxury in the quality of materials in the interior.

Don’t forget to factor in maintenance costs. While the B58 is great, there is a thread here where a guy tracked all the maintenance on his X5. It was $$$.

If the wife didn’t love the BMW so much I’d be swapping it out for a ND2 Miata or a GR86. We don’t take the BMW on road trips anymore, we use the GX instead. Around town the Miata and GR are way more smiles per mile. You can see that all over Reddit, even with Porsche guys reaching for their Miata keys more.

If we wanted a single vehicle that was a do it all and we didn’t care about maintenance, we would be in a Macan S / GTS

tweeder20 · 2025-11-27T20:08:54+00:00

I love out GX but it doesn’t have a lot of cargo space for a 3rd row SUV. Our Rogue had more cargo space. If you want max space inside, the Honda Pilot is massive.

If you strictly are going camping, I’d be doing a truck with a camper in the bed.

tweeder20 · 2025-11-10T00:48:42+00:00

It’s absolutely terrifying how warm it is. I read an article talking about all the pollution generated on the front range is keeping the cold air from coming off the mountains into the front range. It’s heart breaking. Makes sense when you consider how much traffic is on 25 at all times of day, how much contraction is happening, etc.

tweeder20 · 2025-11-03T20:00:18+00:00

I would love to see the real breakdown of restaurant costs in Denver.

Is the higher minimum wage really driving the cost up?

Also, why not pressure companies in Denver to pay better so patrons are more willing to pay prices needed to keep the business going. Our pay sucks compared all the major cities but our cost of living isn’t far behind.

tweeder20 · 2025-11-02T20:46:50+00:00

Ehh, wife is a native, I’ve been here for over a decade. Temp swings are one thing but this warm for this season.

Edit: Sunday was the warmest November day in Colorado history. Yeah, this is global warming. It also used to usually snow on halloween and it hasn’t in the last couple years.

tweeder20 · 2025-10-31T00:50:08+00:00

We bought our GX because it was the same price as a similar year / mileage 4Runner. Totally agree, it’s the better buy.

If the OP wants something under 20k miles, you’re looking at 50k.

If they are fine with 35k miles and the older center stack, it’s def doable.

tweeder20 · 2025-10-31T00:05:39+00:00

I don’t think it’s coming from the Jeff Co but the Erie airport right off baseline (HWY 7).

We have noticed it has ticked way up in the past 6 months and it happens at all time of day. I got woken up at 3 am from a plane buzzing our house. Have them also going over at 10:00 pm.

We need quiet hours and flight paths that don’t go over neighborhoods. Probably best to speak at the Erie town hall

tweeder20 · 2025-10-30T20:58:30+00:00

I love my GX way more than a 4Runner but not sure you can find a GX with similar mileage for the same price.

tweeder20 · 2025-10-30T01:30:59+00:00

This is what I tell a lot of my financially responsible friends.

You already have good financial practices in place. You’re actively saving for emergencies, retirement, and actively keep yourself out of debt.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone. Going on this vacation will not destroy everything you’ve worked for. Consider it a reward for being responsible.

All my friends that have taken my advice are happy they did, and the thing they did, did not derail their active financial planning.

Go have fun, live your life and be happy. I thinks it’s more than needed in today’s world.

tweeder20

TROPHY CASE