IMHO...

I usually don't post 3D images but after coming across the GQ photoshoot of Gillian Jacobs & Alison Brie from the show Community it was hard not to. Hopefully everyone is getting into the Christmas spirit and finished with their shopping unlike me. Too many ways to procrastinate like updating the WORKING!! Square Enix 2012 Calendar. Favorite image is Inami from May with the boxing gloves on.

[2011-12-15, 01:28]

Wow, it's a long time since I did an update with some recently acquired scanned material. I actually received the bundle of import calendars sometime in November but only lately had the time & motivation to add them to the site. To test my skills to see if everything was still up to par I worked on the Nurarihyon no Mago Shueisha 2012 Calendar. Will try to add something new every week from now on.

[2011-12-12, 11:42]

After about three months of searching and just missing out on a couple of vehicles I finally have my mode of transportation. Not being overly familiar with what was on the market I actually test drove sedans & SUVs from Audi, BMW, Buick, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Hyundai, Honda, Infiniti, Kia, Lexus, Mazda, Mercedes Benz, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, and Volvo. I wanted something fun to drive yet still practical for the snowy area I live in.

I thought I had my heart set on the Mazda CX-9 due to the price, performance, and options but it was a much larger vehicle than I needed. It wasn't until I was test driving a BMW 328i xDrive Sedan that the X3 was brought to my attention. It handled like the 328i but had more space for passengers & cargo and road clearance. Not having enough to purchase a new BMW I focused on the certified pre-owned inventory for the quality & extended warranty.

In the immediate area all that were available were 2008s, 30K miles, & priced sort of high. It wasn't until I expanded my search to all available CPO X3's in the USA that I started to make some headway. Eventually found a couple ones in North Haven, CT that were a good bang for the buck. Lost out on one because someone put a deposit down on the vehicle while I was on the phone with a salesman inquiring about it. About five minutes later they gave me a call that they had a similar one, 20K miles, with more options that they could give me for the same price as the other one but I had to make a quick decision.

I was a bit leary about an out of state internet sale 550 miles away without the benefit of seeing the SUV in person though it was coming from an authorized dealer. It was listed on both BMW's CPO inventory and North Haven's individual website so I decided to give it a shot. Getting a car loan and insurance weren't an issue but making arrangements in getting the vehicle back to Ohio & having all the proper paperwork took some effort.

Crunching the numbers it would be cheaper to fly out to New Haven, CT catch a taxi to the dealership, and drive it back including meals, tolls, gas, & a hotel stay than to have it delivered. It would also give me a chance to view the X3 and test drive it before making an ultimate decision. It would be more exciting that just waiting for it to be transported so I made the arrangements to go with my father.

I think I lucked out because the 2010 X3 drove better/smoother than any of the 2008's I tried in Cleveland. We took the southern route through NYC, New Jersey, and I-80W across Pennsylvania. It handled the Friday rush hour stop-and-go city traffic as well as the turns & elevations of the Appalachian Mountains like no other vehicle I've ever personally driven. It was fun to drive around swervy mountains doing 85mph without the feeling of the tires losing grip or the engine not having enough power.

Honestly, I probably spent about $5000 more than originally aniticipated but much happier with the result. Seeing how I might not be able to acquire another BMW in my lifetime I may just drive this one until it gets too expensive to repair. Final note, it's amazing that just about every bank loan officer I delt with owned a BMW at some point in their lives.