Have a 46" Toshiba DLP. The model is 46HM95 and has all the normal options of HD, picture in picture, hdmi ,integrated tv guide, and such.

Comes with matching stand. I actually like the DLP screen better for sharpness/brightness/contrast than an lcd, but looks awkward hanging on a wall.

The lamp was replaced and has about 6 months of casual run time on it so you should be good for a several more years.

Here is a link to the specs and photos

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.overstock.com/Electronics/Toshiba-46HM95-46-inch-HD-DLP-Projection-TV-w-HDMI-Refurbished/1733564/product.html">http://www.overstock.com/Electronics/To ... oduct.html</a><!-- m -->

Asking $300 for the TV and stand, know its not the latest and greatest, but the setup was real spendy new and still pretty sweet

Also have a decent technics receiver and a pair of Bose 201 Series V Direct/Reflecting Speakers I could sell if interested.

H'ok. My current contract w/AOL is up in February, and as far as I know I'm on track to convert to a salaried position, accompanied with a pretty decent bump in pay. My car just rolled over 180k and has, among many other issues, a pretty significant headgasket seep, so I'd like to buy a daily pretty soon after converting to salary and stop driving the M3 so I can actually fix things more frequently than I break them. For once.

I have a pretty good idea of what my salary will be, and about how much I want to spend on a daily driver, probably more than $7k, probably less than $10k. My "dream" daily is a Merc W211 E320 or E350 Bluetec, but those are still in the mid-$20k range, so that's out of the running for this go-round. (Unless I get a gajillion dollar salary offer or sell the M3, both of which are pretty unlikely.)

So anyway, I'd like to start test driving some stuff pretty soon, so by the time February rolls around I'm ready to start seriously shopping. I currently have an application in to become a member of Navy Federal, which is the only Credit Union I've found that doesn't have age or mileage restrictions on their auto loans. Assuming I become a member there, the cars I'm thinking about are:

02-05 Audi A4 1.8T Quattro 6spd- I know you're going to flame the crap out of me for this because they aren't exactly reliable. But I grew up with a bunch of Audi's and VW's and I really have a soft spot for them. I love the idea of AWD for the 1% of time I could take advantage of it, and the little 1.8T produces a reasonable amount of grunt with a reflash. They can be had for $7-8k in really good shape, which would leave me a nice wide repair budget to pay someone else when the AWD craps out on me.

02ish-05 VW MKIV GTI 5spd- Same engine as the Audi with 10 more hp from the factory and two less wheels to turn. I like the idea of the hatchback for practicality, and it has less parts to break, but the Audi has another gear for the highway and WAY more features. They can be had for $6-8k in great condition too.

04-07 Acura TL Auto- This would be my "full practicality" option. They can be had for $8-9k, and seem to be pretty dead reliable, half of the ones for sale have like 170k+ on them. The upside would be having a car I never really had to worry about, and could just get in and go to work, its also a pretty awesome motor. The downside is the stickshifts are $3-4k more because of the rarity, so it would be a slushbox, and after a while I imagine it would feel like driving a dose of Novocaine to work.

04-07 Acura TSX 6spd- As reliable as the TL, but more nimble and more plentiful in a 3 pedal configuration. The downside is they are effing slow, and torqueless to boot. After having 2??hp on tap for 3.5 years, I don't think I could handle going to a wimpy little naturally asiprated 4-banger. Especially in NOVA's affinity to slam on the brakes at the end of every onramp.

02-06 WRX- This has all the same drivetrain features that make me like the Audi, but the economy car interior is a big turnoff. I might look for a Saabaru "Aero" to test drive and see if the slightly nicer interior trimmings helps out, I think I've seen those sub $10k too.

03-05 BMW 330i 6psd- The price of these have gone into a freefall since the F30 came out. You can get a well optioned one for $8-9k with less than 100k on it. One the one hand, I know pretty much every part on those things inside and out and wouldn't have to learn any new tricks to keep it going. On the other hand, I already had an E46 325i, and I'm currently driving a 3.0L, RWD, stickshift BMW, I'd just like something different, and something I could rely on to get us around in a snowstorm, because Lauren's car is RWD too.

There are a lot of cars I'd love to own but have already ruled out. I've always wanted an E38 740i sporty shorty, but the cost of ownership freaks me out, and we already have one of those 4,4L motors to deal with in Lauren's 540i. You can also get a B6 S4 for under $11k these days, but its for good reason and I should know better than to even think about it. I'd love to have an MKV GTI with the DSG trans, but those are more like $14k which would pretty much decimate my BMW-fixing budget.

So what else should I test drive? I'm looking for something that's a reasonable balance between "nice" (I like leather and heated things), reliable (reliable from the perspective of someone that's been dailying an M3 with 180k on it for 3 years, not from the perspective of a sorority girl) and somewhat fun to drive, while still being quiet and comfortable. I already have a loud rattly sports car, which hopefully will be reborn even louder and a little less rattly sometime next year, so I don't need another one.

Pet peeves.

Go.


People who chew with their mouths open

Auto show season is starting a little bit early this year

The two new cars that are the most interesting to me are the Fiesta ST and all-new Cayman. Two cars that couldn't be more different but what the hell.



While Porsche's styling changes slower than glaciers melt I do like the upgrade with the Boxster and now the Cayman. Looks a bit meatier and curvy in the right way. I doubt most people could tell the difference though.

The new Cayman is a bit lighter but only gets 5 more hp. Seems kind of silly of Porsche not to give the S more power, I imagine that they don't want to let the Cayman get too fast and step on the 911's toes. For my money, the 911 owner who would care about a Cayman being faster is the guy who's buying a Turbo, not a Carrera. With 375 hp or so the Cayman S would probably be able to run with the Carrera but it wouldn't come close to the Turbo or GT3.

Either way, don't think I'll be able to do a used Cayman for the time being. No room to have 3 cars and motorcycles in my new garage, not to mention the $$$ to do so.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/28/2014-porsche-cayman-la-2012/">http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/28/2014 ... n-la-2012/</a><!-- m -->



Not bad, 197 hp and 214 ft-lbs of torque in a car that weighs about 2500 lbs. For a subcompact econohatch this could be the tits. And who knows what it could do with some extra boost.

Chances are the wifey will be getting a hatch or sedan as our next car so we'll probably shop this along with the Focus ST. Truth be told though, I'm gonna try for a STi hatch. I'm just glad Ford is giving us the good stuff and that small performance cars are getting some love.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/28/2014-ford-fiesta-st-la-2012/">http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/28/2014 ... t-la-2012/</a><!-- m -->

1990 535i CirrusBlau/Blau, originally auto trans, converted to manual. 305k miles.

I need a newer fun/project car with passenger airbag for my better half’s peace of mind. I bought it needing a head gasket and head freshening. It had not been overheated. I took care of that plus some tie rod ends (Lemforder), exhaust hangers, clutch slave cylinder, Gen III injectors, Behr fan clutch, belts, and I forget what else. It runs strong. I could still see cross-hatch marks in the cylinders when the head was off. Deutschland uber something!

The previous owner converted it from auto trans to manual using a E28 Getrag 265 and E24 single-mass flywheel (7 lbs lighter than E34 dual mass FW). He also installed a chip. Throttle response is great as is acceleration as it still has the 3.90 LSD rear. He installed a Z3 M short shifter.

He also installed Bilstein sports and H&R springs. I will soon have M5 sways on it.

I received it with the rear door panels off as the PO was in the middle of replacing the door lock actuators for those doors. I have not yet finished that work yet and no guarantee that I will :mrgreen:

It also has fresh Conti DSW’s on E38 style 5 rims seen in pics below. I would like to get $1700 for it. Open to offers including BMW, Volvo, and motorcycle trades. My contact info is stevebmwcca over at yahoo.

I've read three threads this morning. In all three "to" and "too" were used incorrectly. As your inability to understand the English language has an effect (not affect) on the value of the line in my resume that reads "James Madison University," I care.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.educationbug.org/a/to-vs--too.html">http://www.educationbug.org/a/to-vs--too.html</a><!-- m -->

Too - Expresses excessiveness or addition.
To - Almost all other times.

This is probably third grade material... You can do it! :thumbup:

A few of you also need to read <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.educationbug.org/a/their--there--they-re.html">http://www.educationbug.org/a/their--th ... ey-re.html</a><!-- m -->.

The benefit of knowing this stuff is other intelligent people who know these rules won't cringe or automatically dismiss you for breaking them. I know I'm an asshole, but if I'm to hire someone and they screw up any of these in any of our pre-hire conversing, they're not getting the job.

Hi all,

It seems some of you alums and non-alums want your voice heard on what you would like to the club focus on next semester. That's great! This thread will be a place where all of the (good) ideas will be compiled and discussed. Criticism is welcome, as long as it is constructive.

DJ already mentioned a desire for more educational meetings, which I think is a good idea if we can get enough interest. Much of what we've done this semester has been more visual and not cerebral, and I think this could be apt point of discussion. Let me know what else you would like to see, and what you would like to see more of.

Thanks!

(

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/28/la-display-confirms-diesel-mazda6-for-us/">http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/28/la-d ... a6-for-us/</a><!-- m -->

Im saying it right now -- All the diesel fanboys who swore up and down that you would buy one are going to complain about the cost, not buy one and mumble about buying one later used. Sales will be slow and mazda will pull the engine in a couple years.


on the internet Im the minority in that I give diesel a big "meh"

higher cost of the vehicle and higher cost of fuel can make the cost savings not much or a wash. And you still have to deal with lower fuel availability.

And lets not forget that just because it has 310 ft lb doesnt mean it drives like a gasser with 310 ft lb. Diesel engines dont rev and arent nearly as satisfying to drive IMO.

So here's the deal, I've rode/raced BMX bikes for years, but I'd actually like to go more than 10 feet without feeling worn out or completely uncomfortable, so it is time that I step up to a mountain bike.

I don't need anything crazy, but I do want something that isn't a piece of crap and can take some mild abuse. I'd like to hit some easy/moderate trails starting out, but who knows what else.

I just want something that isn't going to break or break the bank. Basically, I'm cheap and I don't know if I want to put the money into something new just to start out with.

Any suggestions?

Hello Madison Motorsports,


For those of you who might not have caught my introduction thread, my name is Ben Maddock and I'm the VP of Car Club at Virginia Tech. Coming up this weekend is an event located at Summit Point, below is information one of our members posted about it.

sleepy Wrote:I'm doing this event because it's $75 for a 2 day event running every course at Summit Point; Main, Jefferson, and Shenandoah.

It's a blast. I think it's a Drift Nirvana event, so it's spectator friendly. I don't know what it's like to spectate, but here are some things I've seen spectators doing: hang out, get some rides, take pictures of crap with DSLR's, drink like its car show weekend, wear skater clothes, etc.

Last year Vaughn JR showed up with his mustang and trailer. So did another formula D guy Matt Waldin with a 350Z that made stupid power. It was cool to see those guys cut loose on fun runs. Anyways, you can probably expect a few pro's to show up along with all the normal Pro-am guys from the region.

Did I mention its only $75? TO DRIVE?!!? Seriously, like 1/2 the cost of a normal ONE DAY event, with 2x as many drift loops set up.

I think its like $10 per person at the gate or something trivial if you're not driving.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/embed/t-syfNWW_pw">http://www.youtube.com/embed/t-syfNWW_pw</a><!-- m -->