Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
What you're really saying is the BMW is the gopher to and from the Acura shop
In five years' time, it'll be interesting to see where the two brands are, relative to where they are today.
Given how the Euro vs. the $ vs. the Asian currencies are trending, combined with the long-term (and initial, for that matter) reliability numbers are headed, I'm not sure I'd want to be holding European.
As often happens, I'm almost as happy to be wrong.
Oh yeah? The entire Acura service department came to my house last week and remodeled my bathroom, put up all my xmas lights, and then baked lemon pound cakes for the whole cul-de-sac - no, wait...my wife made the pound cakes.
Does that really matter? Lincoln and Cadillac have also been near the top in these surveys and they've been around a lot longer than the Germans. Lincoln set a new record in the last CSI survey.
Plus, you can get a basic service on a Northstar Cadillac (that's 8 quarts of oil) for $13 at my dealership. The latte and muffins better be pretty darn good to make up for that.
maxhonda99... Did they renovate the building significantly? A, I, & L had completely new franchise agreements when they came on line. And they deliberately started off with small networks in an attempt to better "manage" customer service issues vis-a-vis dealers.
A new franchise agreement doesn't necessarily mean the new franchisee has to build totally new buildings. Ultimately any car showroom can be used to sell any other cars with slight modifications like a window where customers can look into the service bays, breakfast area for customers, etc.
I don't think most of the surveys existed before about 1990... I believe MB was at the top early on and have been on the downslide for a long time.
I'd guess that Cadillac and Lincoln were pretty bad at the beginning, but are near the top now. Cadillac's one of the few in the top 5 in IQS, VDI and CSI for 2004... only 3 brands have managed to pull off this trifecta - Lexus and Buick are the others.
I'm near you. I tried the GX AWD. I was not impressed with the way it handled on the highway (lots of road noise), and the brakes were really, really touchy (common complaint). The Summit infinit dealer is very nice.
Denville dealer is nice, just won't go down on their prices.
Have you considered the FX by infiniti? That's really nice, and you might be able to scoop up a really good deal on a 2004.
Snagged a 325xi wagon elsewhere (c. 12,000 miles certified), but haven't been impressed with the gas mileage, yet. If I had known, might have picked the FX (if presented with a really good deal), but this summer was cringing at gas prices.
I read somewhere that the Acura is kind of junky....but that's only gossip to be checked out on that board.
Hope that helps. Good luck!
Thanks for the headsup. I am actually heading out the door in about 30 minutes with my wife to drive both the 325xi and the G35x. I have quotes on both and I can honestly say I am not sure what I will do. The Acura is off the list. I am not crazy about the look.
I'll let you all know what we do.
cdost.
I'm currently looking for a new car. I have the 300C, 3's, G35, ES and TL in my list.
300C is off the list because I wasnt impressed by it's handling, front grill and interior, but boy the car was really flying. I guess its time to move up to a real entry luxury performance class
Test drove the ES, everything is perfect except for acceleration, speed and handling. And I guess this one is also off my list.
Now I'm leaning towards the last 3 cars. I would have taken the TL off my list after reading some comments, but I decided not to (not yet).
I havent test driven the car, no so crazy about it. Too many of them on the street.
Having said that, I did some research on the new TL on all car related websites, NHTSA and many others. I'm quite surprised that ES'04 has more trans failures than all those 3's, followed by 3's, G35
and TL'04. (I couldnt find any about trans failure on TL'04, is this for real?
but more on BMW3'04, G35'04 and especially the ES'04)
I'm going to test drive the G35 this afternoon and 330/325 later on. I'm hoping that G35 is the one. I love that sexy looking car.
One question though, I read some post that the G35X is not as fast as the G35 and I also heard the 6MT has problems with it's transmission. According to some, Infiniti just hasnt issued a recall unless more people complain.
Is there any other things that I should look at (I understand that the interior is probably the cheapest among the other 3 but I can live with that)?
Thanks, darren
while imo the TL is the fastest, it doesnt handle as nicely as the other 2, particularly the torque steer and (sometimes) floaty ride at high speeds.
The gx is slower, true, and somehow its handling isnt as impressive as the rwd model as well. i never drove the 6mt so i cant say anything about it. also, if ride-comfort is on your list you really should try before buying, since many people (including me) think the rides harsh and uncomfy on longer rides. one more thing, try the seats for a while to make sure youre comfortable w/ it, the seats controls are awkwardly placed and might hurt you on longer rides.
3ers are ok, quite underpowered and overpriced though. i say comfort is better than the g but still second to the TL. oh and prepare yourself for minor electrical problems (common w/ any bmw models)
hope it helps, goodluck
The IS300 has consistently scored well with Consumer Reports, JD Powers, and Intellichoice. And its crash test results for NHTSA and IIHS have been very good. Lexus has better standard warranty though BMW has "free" maintenance. Believe Lexus' extended warranty is much less expensive than BMW's.
Saw all the posts. I will try to answer them as succintly as possible.
I eliminated the the TL pretty quickly. Liked the drive not that crazy about the look. (I just bought an MDX two months ago.)
First on my quotes. The best I could do on the 325xi in NJ was 36,299. On the 330xi 40,299. These quotes included Premium Pkg, Leather, upgraded stereo auto transmission, wood trim. The quotes came from 2 different dealers JMK (325xi) Flemington (330xi). I don't think the mats are typically included in the BMW pricing but I did not really haggle here since I ended up purchasing a G35x.
After driving all 3 cars I decided on the Infiniti. I think I liked the tighter handling of the BMW but the 325xi just seemed way underpowered compared to a G35x. This just was my feel. I am sure a BMW loyalist would argue I don't know what I am talking about but that is what it felt like to me. The 330xi would have been great. More power than the 325xi and tighter than the G35x but I could not rationalize the additional $6500 in price for a car with less backseat and room with a 3 year old.
I saw the posts on the RWD and really cannot comment since I wanted an AWD and only drove them. Again speed and power seemed relative and a RWD was not in the decision set.
The G35x felt nice to me. (My last 2 cars were Maximas) It handled nicely and had plenty of pep. Believe it or not it seemed to run quieter than the 325xi as well.
The last thing is I have had 3 Nissan's and none of them owed me anything when I gave them up (All with 8 - 10 years and 150k+ miles). That was the final factor.
I am picking it up tomorrow and assuming I do not jerked around at the last minute my 2005 G35x will cost $34,250 with Premium C Pkg, Full Size Spare and Wood Trim. The only thing not in here is TT&L. Splash guards are not available at the moment on the 2005 G35x.
I hopes this helps everyone.
If I have any surprises I will chime back in.
Regards,
Craig
I test drove the G35 yesterday,
After I started the car, I 've noticed some rattle noises (chattering gear noise) when launching from a stop.
It seemed coming from the drivetrain.
I asked the salesman, he said it's normal because the engine was cold.
I couldnt help looking at the rim, there was a lot of brake dust. How long do they last(brakes)?
Is there any way to improve the ride on the car? road and engine noise, vibration and stiff suspension.
But everything else was perfect, except for interior and audio which I dont really care so much.
I loved its handling and imo its one of the best looking cars.
I told my wife, that I didnt want to go to any other place but she insisted to go to a BMW dealership.
Apparently she didnt like the ride. Well...tough luck charlie, I just didnt want to upset her.
Went to a Bimmer dealership, and test drove a 325i.
The car was too small for us and wasnt powerful enough compared to the G35 although it rode slightly better than the G, tighter handling and better interior/audio. I guess 325 is out of the picture.
Anyway I decided to test drive the 330i. It felt more powerful than the 325 but not the G35.
Has anyone noticed the wind noise, tougher ride/vibration (slightly better than the G), and somehow weak? power steering? or was it just that car?
The car was smaller and a lot more expensive.
I understand that sporty ride means stiffer suspension, I just wish my wife does too
I wanted to go back to the Infiniti dealership again. A funny thing happened, the salesman was upset when I asked about his opinion on Acura TL. Have to admit, it made me curious.
Riez, thanks for the suggestion but I think the IS is too small for us. but I'm sure its a good car.
Tommorow I need to go to another G35 and Acura dealership. Hope I can get it before the year end,
some said its the best time to buy a car!
Thanks for the info cdost1, greatly appreciated, I might go with the rwd.
Is it true that the cars MPG is not that good? how bad can it be?
Anyway have a good time and enjoy your new car, buddy!
m4d_cow, Eventhough I'm almost convinced that I'll go with the G35 but it doesnt hurt to test drive the TL. Have to buy it by friday.
(Unless the TL has less vibration/ wind noise/ engine noise, handle as good as the G/3's, faster than 330, better MPG and softer ride)
Thanks for your help.
On the other hand, the TL rides significantly better than the G35, but it's not as creamy as the ES330.
It may turn out to be the perfect sport/comfort mix you're looking for - plus, it's interior materials and layout are a couple notches above the G35.
Yes I still enjoy the car very much. However, in spite of the fact that it's made Car and Driver's "Ten Best List" for two straight years now, my initial impressions are proving to be true.
After 18 months of ownership, the thrill is starting to fade. Yes, I know - it has a gorgeous cockpit, peppy acceleration, and nimble handling, but like all Honda's...it's lack of "soul" is beginning to take it's toll on me.
I might start modding it (summer tires, rear sway bar, coil-overs, I-H-E) to make it sportier and add some personality, or I may finally get serious about leaving this segment behind (do I really want to be here?) and replace it with something more sporting and less luxurious.
A '95ish Porsche 911, a '98ish BMW M3, or perhaps a brand-new Mitsubishi Evo RS - they're all on my mind. Any thoughts/opinions?
http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp;?tracktype=usedcc&se- - archType=22&pageNumber=0&numResultsPerPage=50&largeNu- - mResultsPerPage=0&sortorder=descending&sortfield=PRICE+de- - scending&certifiedOnly=false&criteria=K-v8%7CE-ALL%7CM-_8- - _%7CG-30000%7CB-40000%7CH-%7CD-_6128_%7CN-N%7CR-10000%7CI-1%7CP-P- - RICE+descending%7CQ-descending%7CX-popular%7CZ-61282&aff=nati- - onal&paId=161943042&recnum=0&leadExists=true&sell- - erFirst=true
Looks like the link works, but if it doesn't this is a CTS-V with 851 miles on it.... under $40K.
A friend of mine bought a $50K used Porsche on-line, after his experience, I would never do something like that. Within two weeks the car was literally falling apart and the seller wouldn't give him money back, since it was sold "as-is". He is now suing.
'01 Porsche Boxster
911 is a great idea... absurdly expensive to buy used...
If you don't want a convertible, the E36 M3 is a good choice..
regards,
kyfdx
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
CTS-V's are rated at 16/25, only a couple of mpg less than a G35. Plus, you don't have to get on it to go really fast. The Vette engine has always been noted for getting excellent gas mileage for such a powerful engine.
I've seen plenty of reports on TH of G35's getting bad gas mileage, but I haven't seen that argument as much of a reason not to buy it.
Plus, the performance difference between a G35 and a CTS-V is significant, to put it mildly.
"A friend of mine bought a $50K used Porsche on-line, after his experience, I would never do something like that."
This is a dealer, not some guy selling online. I bought my Miata by finding it online, then going to the dealer, who was a couple of hundred miles away. Full factory warranty (4 years/50K miles)would be in effect as well.
I certainly wouldn't be fearful of a car with 851 miles on it.
But otoh it's only 1 mpg less than the estimates. However by nature I would not consummate this type of sale for a used car, that's why I don't buy demos. But that's me.
When I bought my Miata, it was almost 3 years old, but only had 11K miles on it. Ran a Carfax and it turned out it had had 3 owners, none of them private. It had been a Ford executive car and owned by 2 dealerships - driven by them, but not sold. No problem, bought the car and other than it having a broken roof latch header when I got it (fixed under warranty, which still had a few months to go), it's been perfect.
So, I've got no problem with doing this kind of deal, especially when you get $10K off before negotiations start and you're going to get almost all of the factory warranty.
well, the TL has all on your list except for the handling, still quite a few notch below g/3ers. TLs ride and comfort are practically the best among the 3 choices
id have chosen the tl when i bought my car if only it doesnt have that annoying torque steer, and im not crazy about the looks for sure.
the 330s ride is harsher cos its equipped w/ sport suspension (standard on all 330is), though sadly the gs ride is still harsher compared to bmws w/ sport suspension.
so if you can sacrifice a little handling the TL is totally worth it.
designman: 911 cabrio or targa is my dream car, ive been working hard and was so close to getting one of those until my car crashed
I think there's nothing wrong with using a subjective "like" as your main criteria. After all, most of us could be perfectly well served driving old saturns.
dave
Of course, it was my dream car.. so, I may be a bit biased....
regards,
kyfdx
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
I still remember driving the Gen I MR2.. What a hoot that was to drive... Almost made the salesman quit his job on the test drive..
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
My heart knows you're right on this point.
"You may want to throw the STi into the mix."
I looked at the STi and Evo briefly last weekend. Based on what I've read and seen, the Evo looks like the more fun-to-drive package with more bang-for-the-buck (in RS form) to boot.
"And if you can forsake utility drive the Miata, S2000 and Boxster."
Don't want a 2 seater or a convertable since it needs to be able to haul the kids in a pinch, and since I intend to track it, I don't want to install roll protection and five-point harnesses.
"'99 M3
'01 Porsche Boxster
911 is a great idea... absurdly expensive to buy used...
If you don't want a convertible, the E36 M3 is a good choice.."
Great list kyfdx! The M3 is probably the "best" choice, since it performs close to the Porsche, yet has real four person utility. Honestly though, I've never warmed to the e36 - which brings me full-circle back to an e30...which has a surprising amount in common with the TSX (size, stance, attitude, acceleration, tossability, etc.).
Hell, I should probably stop fooling myself. I'm sure I won't be truly satisfied with anything but a 993. So many emotions to contend with...
and now my sister starts begging me for a 350z, which will be another 30k on shopping list
means ill have to work hard another year or two to get my 911
There are a lot of uninsured drivers in Colorado so it's almost mandatory to have some form of uninsured/underinsured coverage.
They even check to make sure you have insurance (liability) when you get pulled over for traffic violations or when you register your car. Of course, there are ways of getting around that.
My wife wrote a paper on automobile insurance and the economics of a fault/no fault basis for insurance. Just out of curiosity, what state are you in?
the other party turned out to be DUI and uninsured, i dont know whats happening to him, probably in the slammer by now, heck i wish he is, he smashed a chevy s-10 to an almost brand new 330i
btw i live in WA, and frankly i dont know much about the law regarding insurance stuffs here. i decided not to go for a lawsuit as its more of a waste of time for me.
ES 8496 units |Total sold in 2004 : 75916
G35 4227 units |Total sold in 2004 : 42800
325i 4592 units |Total sold in 2004 : 41538
325xi 1244 units |Total sold in 2004 : 12805
TSX 3004 units |Total sold in 2004 : 30365
IS300 671 units |Total sold in 2004 : 9972
GS300 734 units |Total sold in 2004 : 6914
330i 739 units |Total sold in 2004 : 8288
330xi 564 units |Total sold in 2004 : 6012