New Car Time.

Seems I didn't get an operators manual. Tracking one of those down. I did find some videos that explain part of the cruise control, although how to set the distance on the radar cruise I'm still wondering about. I managed to activate the split screen iDrive screen but switching it back seems to be less logical. I haven't tried the second iDrive yet. DVD player etc... Will try out the fridge after this weeks snow.

Headlights, Xenon are much better than the halogen they are replacing. Night vision is interesting but limited as it is just a flir passive system, just about every car and truck is only hot on the bottom of their exhaust system.

Next is trying to figure out how to activate the headlight washers.

Operators manual is often overlooked until you don't have one. Also wondering about all the CD players changers. DVD nav. CD DVD rear system player. Single disk cdplayer, 6 disk CD changer in dash and 4 disk changer in the floor console. Very confusing.

Yes I have a tpms but how the heck do I find out what the readings are.

I need to download a the manual to this tablet. Time to search the web.

Thankfully I have a tablet.

Downloaded the PDF but I couldn't do it with my Android tablet, had to use windows then my keychain USB drive then my USB port on my tablet. One reason I bought my tablet was the full sized USB.

Seems tpms only works when there is a problem. Headlight washer is special it is linked to the windshield washer and also washes the night vision flir, the flir is then heated to dry. The washer fluid is also preheated.

Still not sure if the iDrive display is full screen sized or always split. I was sure it was full sized but perhaps I was mistaken.

Cruise control, wow I always thought it would be a good idea have more than one setting but this one appears to have 6 simultaneous settings I think, it is confusing, then there is the adaptive settings, set 4 distances and let it adjust as it goes. One wonders if the radar cruise will set off radar detectors?

I haven't tried accelerating full speed fast yet, seems I'm not the speed freak I thought I was. Although the PDF manual did explain how to do it. Now that I think about it, press harder on gas pedal, is kind of straight forward.

It appears that radar cruise does set off radar detectors.

I drove my Marauder yesterday. What a difference. Thought someone replaced the seat and all four tires with beach balls. I'm almost embarrassed by the way I used to think and act. My Marauder is a slug compared to the BMW. Can't corner, can't accelerate, no support on the seat, like going from my Marauder back to my 1966 Mustang, on the tech level. It is just so amazingly different, if I could've fallen off my seat I would have. Never thought two weeks could make such a difference.

Yes BMW is more expensive, sort of. New one was 125k the other 52k. In Canada at the time. I paid more for my 3 year old Marauder than I did for my 7 year old BMW. Gotta love depreciation. Do your homework, get a good one and enjoy the profits of your and someone else's labour.

Just spent the day looking at Chryslers, where I helped a friend playing the ADD friend. Had the sales guys guessing.

I can see how a different friend likes the stow-n-go seating for his samples van. He is a wool rep. Massive flat floor space one minute then in another a seat spring up out of no where.

Also looked at the new 2015 Chrysler 200.

Then popped over to the BMW dealership, so busy there was only one double parking spot left. I snagged it and popped in. My car, new, is 138,000 without the 26,000 in options I have. So glad I buy used. I just pay for the options and get the car for free!

Did have a look through the BMW accessories shop. They have more stuff than most clothes/accessory stores in Tokyo. As my friend noted a car and accessory for each person at each price level. I'll have to go back when the lines are smaller.

I did pick up an accessory catalogue, its just like those Christmas wish books we used to get when a kid.

Bought my new car a couple of weeks ago. Mazda SP25GT manual hatch. I believe the combination is not available elsewhere of the bigger direct injection motor, six speed manual and lots of included tech. Tech includes a HUD for digital speed, 7 inch centre screen that controls most functions, 230w stereo, rear camera and so on. Had no trouble using the computerised controls at all. Leather seats, turning xenon headlights, switchable stability and traction control.
Very happy so far with it. Not a full house hot hatch but ample power for sensible driving with tests of about 15 sec quarters and 7 sec 0-100kph, top speed of 238kph, but more importantly massive midrange torque. With extras cost $32k AUD.
Nothing available here came close for what I wanted. Options included Ford Focus (slower & felt cheap), VW Golf (dreadful reliability), Honda Civic (slow and dated), or Audi A1 (expensive, slow and cramped).

It is amazing how much of that my I don't have. I have a top of the range 7 year old car, but even an entry level car has features they never considered 7 years ago. Only camera I have looks forward. I can use the buttons on the wheel to shift manually, sort of, but it won't stay manual if it might hurt the engine. Not that one would want it too. My problem is that I don't fit into so many cars. Almost all cars in Canada have sunroofs and their isn't a Mazda I can sit in. Except the 5 but that has zero knee room, knees literally pinned against the dash. Backseat is wonderful though.

Be thankful you are not tall.

HUD would be nice. Is your hatch a small wagon or a two door with hatch?

I've raced a Mazda 3 speed in my Marauder before. I barely loaded it, Flashed and easily won, BMW is better than Marauder in every way except the HSTC. Not sure if it is compatible with the DSC/DTC. Xenon lights are sure good though, make night into day.

I presume everyone here remembers the lights before Halogen, back when there were slower speed limits at night. I can't remember how god awful those were. I do remember the 100kph speed limits with dual signs 90 kph at night. The good old days.

I'm 182cms tall and 130kgs, yet don't have the driver's seat all the way back or seat height down in the Mazda. It has Xenon and LED headlights, brighter than halogen.
I drove a Westfield clubman for seven years daily (on road and track) that I built - a carbon fibre 500kg with 160kw that did 12.7 sec quarters on street tyres, and fitted in that as well.

I'd agree that a large capacity muscle car would out accelerate my Mazda, but on a circuit or country road it would be slower overall. It is a five door hatch (not a wagon).

It sounds like your BMW is an automatic, handy in traffic but does blunt the driving experience somewhat. What series is it (7)?

Incidentally I googled "Marauder" and the only thing I could find was a South African armoured car.

Lord Skimper wrote:It is amazing how much of that my I don't have. I have a top of the range 7 year old car, but even an entry level car has features they never considered 7 years ago. Only camera I have looks forward. I can use the buttons on the wheel to shift manually, sort of, but it won't stay manual if it might hurt the engine. Not that one would want it too. My problem is that I don't fit into so many cars. Almost all cars in Canada have sunroofs and their isn't a Mazda I can sit in. Except the 5 but that has zero knee room, knees literally pinned against the dash. Backseat is wonderful though.

Be thankful you are not tall.

HUD would be nice. Is your hatch a small wagon or a two door with hatch?

I've raced a Mazda 3 speed in my Marauder before. I barely loaded it, Flashed and easily won, BMW is better than Marauder in every way except the HSTC. Not sure if it is compatible with the DSC/DTC. Xenon lights are sure good though, make night into day.

I presume everyone here remembers the lights before Halogen, back when there were slower speed limits at night. I can't remember how god awful those were. I do remember the 100kph speed limits with dual signs 90 kph at night. The good old days.

2007 750li every option. 19" wheels. Xenon with washers, parking sensors, night vision flir, advanced radar cruise control, abs, ebd, DSC, DTC, ... Led tail lights, power doors, power trunk / boot, power folding mirrors, power steering adjust, power everything under the hood, 22 way power seat driver, 20 way passenger, 14 way both outer rear seats, all heated, all ventilated / cooled, all with dual memory's, drivers seat massages or perhaps undulates would be a better way to put it. Heated steering wheel, even has a steering wheel air vent to warm or dry your hands, dual navigation, rear DVD / CD changer, front and dual rear stereos, front and rear iDrive, rear powered side and rear shade, look through mesh shades. Rear fridge, front console is also heated or cooled, voice activated front option, cruise is radar distance controlled from 20 kph to 250, has six settings which can be preset, speed limitation option Still haven't figured that out yet, front Six disk CD changer, single front CD, DVD navigations, four extra CD holders, phone adapter thingy (2007 phones), Bluetooth link, iPod MP3 links, 4 zone HVAC, roof rail option, trailer option, 4 ventilated disk brakes with brake drying feature, heated washer fluid reservoir for flir, headlights and windshield wipers, rain sensing wipers, variable adjust wipers, special heater dryer for flir, dual sub woofers under front seats, 440 watt logic 7 Harmon Kardon, although it is one of the few things that needs fixing, has a blown capacitor, known defect for this year. Everything else works. What else? Dual paned windows auto up and auto down on all four and they all go all the way down. Sunroof, glass clear with cover. Can be opened with remote. Alarm, comfort, keyless access, push button start and stop. Door opens automatically, closes locks and activates alarm with a single touch of the door with key in pocket. Auto parking brake, no hand brake, no foot parking brake, one button, column shift. Third multifunction display on instrument display. Real analogue gauges. Drive by wire everything else, takes some getting used to. Auto suspension adaption, with comfort and sport mode options, eco mode transmission, sport mode and manual modes. 30 mpg highway 36 mpg imperial. Premium fairey pee 91 octane petrol / gas. 4.8L V8 360 Bhp 360 torque, 0-60 5.4 seconds 150+ mph limited. .87g cornering. 245mm / 9" wide front tires rft option has tpms, 275mm / 11" wide rear tires. Studded rft snow tire option, its a real winter thing. Battery is in the trunk, but there is a under hood / bonnet post as well. In car diagnostics tells you what tire settings are, all engine components, oil and all other fluid levels, oil quality, etc...

I have a dozen cm and half that in Kg on you.

Ahh yes 6 speed automatic.

Memory works with key and sets the seat, mirrors, steering wheel, and radio selection. It detects the key and sets everything up automatically. Can also then set your phone etc...

When you turn the engine off it moves the seat from driving position to an easy entry exit position. Moves the steering wheel out of the way and such.

I'm still forgetting something, or possibly haven't found out about it yet. It is the kind of car 6 months later that can surprise you.

Rear seat foot rests?

Dual rear headphone options. Axillary inputs for tunes or games.

Rear fold down, out of the roof, mirrors.

Oh my headlights also have the turning and self levelling features. Xenon HID.

Oh yeah the ac system(s) have a filter but they also have a recirculation option that can use outside air, inside air or auto switch if it detects an odour or pollution and automatically switch from outside to inside air. Crazy crazy.

4 zone auto HVAC in each zone. 2 front 2 rear. Rear seats also recline go up and down with full lumbar.

Rear side door mirror, passenger side switches from normal to curb view, with a switch. Curb view works great for backing up next to a curb. Turning it off works better for letting me line up with my garage.

Couple adjustable macro buttons.

Voice control can control just about everything the iDrive or buttons can. Even has a 5 minute voice record function. Get pulled over and you can record the conversation. Whether that is legal is something else, but easy to do. Can also do voice notes, license plates, ideas etc...

I have my Dvd changer loaded up with season 14 of Top Gear, yes Minister and a couple movies.

2004 Mercury Marauder is a fairly low production car, which they (Ford) barely advertised. Based on the Crown Victoria / Grand Marquis. It is related to the Lincoln Town car as well. The sporty short wheelbase cousin. 10.5" less than my BMW. Makes it feel like a smaller car than its 212" length. It corners very well 0.87 stock g. With adjustments, the Marauder is very adjustable, a friend took his up to 1.25 g cornering. It was a full on race car and pace car. Acceleration is limited stock to (2004) 0-60 mph 6.9 seconds. With a CAI and tune this was dropped to low 5's, add in a 4.10 rear end (ring and pinion) and sub 5 second times. From here many would supercharge or turbo charge the 251 cubic inch / 4.6 L mach 1 mustang high reving engine, twin overcam, bringing the then 302-320 to 450+ Bhp. Torque from 320 to 450 range as well. Some go well beyond this to the 1000+ range. Depending on nitrous applications. 0-60 mph no longer makes much difference as most do drag racing but would be in low 3 second high 2's. 1/4miles in 12 to 10's the current as mid last year was Marty Och with a 9.5 second when driven by his Stig.

Some further modify with new bored out blocks, in the 302 / 5.0L up to 5.3L range. Marty-O uses a 4.6L. Plus $50,000+ of lower engine stuff. But again made for drag racing.

Lower engine stuff upgrades the HSTC High Stall Torque Converter, taking the 2400 rpm stall which doubles the torque of the line pinning it at instant max torque 320 becomes 600. To a better 2.5-3 times. At a higher stall. 450-500 torque multiplied to 1200 to 1500. Marty-O must be pushing 2500-3000 torque.

Mi2quik4U and Dr Caleb both road course raced their Marauders. They would frequently pass 911's, TT's, Ferrari's, Nissan GT's, and race prepped versions, plus numerous mustangs and corvettes.

Nothing worse than seeing what appears to be a big black (cop car) behind you when your speeding. Several Marauders were picked up by the police and used as high pursuit vehicles. Dennis Reinhart (sp?) In his infamy, is known to having rebuilt most of the Florida State Highway Interceptors.

I'll add some links.

Every once in a while a bunch of the various clubs have meets and typically get police escorts as so many cars that look like police cars can cause havok.