Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

stickguy

first time I saw one (at the car show) I thought it was a Sonata until I got closer to it. Interior really is a clone.

that interface is nice. Basically what I have in my car, but I think you get a smaller screen. Should have carplay on yours I assume, so free navigation!

lots of equipment for a modest price by today's standards.

stickguy

oh, these have a 2.0l NA 4 with a standard AT in them. There is a model with the eco 1.6l turbo/DSG, but this isn't it.

tjc78

Yes mine is the 147 hp 2.0. Certainly not a rocket, but similar acceleration to my Grand Marquis.

Screen size is 7", that seems about the average today.

stickguy

I think that is what I have. I guess you get upsized with one of the packages you got.

henryn

Speaking of a cheap lease, I spotted this in the newspaper.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
New 2016 Volkswagen Passat S
S Model, Auto, Several to choose, MSRP $23,580

$0 Down $179 Month

36 Month Closed End Lease. $0 Down + TT&L due at Lease Inception(Cash or Trade)
1st Payment is NOT due at lease inception. Security deposit is waived with approved credit.

Total of payments: ’16 Volkswagen Passat $6,444

All advertised prices in this ad include early termination and& excessive wear & tear fees., 12,000 miles per year with $.20/mile for additional miles, maintenance & auto insurance are customer’s responsibility, penalties and other charges will be imposed for delinquent payments.

Prices and payments good through November 30, 2016.

stickguy

OK, that would get me to sign up. would cost about $1K in NJ to drive off (tax and DMV), then the $179.

wonder what the fine print is? must be some incentives. I suppose if I was current military + recent college grad might qualify for them!

henryn

Looking at Truecar, for my zip code (Houston), there is $500 for USAA, $1,000 owner loyalty, and another $500 for captive financing. Brings the Truecar price down to $17,585 for the 2016 Passat S.

Here in Texas, that would run about $1,100 for sales tax, and maybe $300 for title, license, etc. So about $1,400 out of pocket. Not a bad deal at all. If you rolled that in, it should add about $40 per month, so $219 with truly nothing out of pocket.

rayainsw

And so it begins, in earnest – approaching 29,000 miles and a goal of replacing it before the BtoB warrantee expires – I have started to seriously look around at options.

On myreturn flight from New England Sunday night, after driving a rental 2017 Fusion SE for about 600 miles, I was pondering the question about what I will replace my current 2015 Dodge Charger with – eventually. [ Mine is now at approx. 28,700 miles – so probably by next April-ish. ]

One that I will almost certainly test drive is a 2017 somewhat ‘updated’ version of my current car. New for 2017, all 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 Charger models, including Daytona, feature a 2.75-inch electronically controlled active exhaust system to deliver a signature Dodge muscle-car sound.

There is so much that I do like about my Charger – and very little that I do not like – I will probably want to see what refinements will be apparent in a new one. And if that will mean a 2017 is the best ‘bank for my bucks’. With a reasonable discount from MSRP, the Charger is a bargain, in the sense that it does so many things [ that are important TO ME ] very well that I will probably give it very serious consideration.

And if it is not exactly a ‘screaming bargain’, I do consider it very attractively priced, given what it is and how well it performs – and [ for example ] how comfortable and supportive the seats are for my particular [ old ] body !

This coming Saturday I have an appt. to drive a new 2017 Audi A4. This is certainly one of the more expensive options I am currently considering – and one of the least quick – but still has much to recommend it, I think.

More to come . . .

sda

rayainsw said:

And so it begins, in earnest – approaching 29,000 miles and a goal of replacing it before the BtoB warrantee expires – I have started to seriously look around at options.

On myreturn flight from New England Sunday night, after driving a rental 2017 Fusion SE for about 600 miles, I was pondering the question about what I will replace my current 2015 Dodge Charger with – eventually. [ Mine is now at approx. 28,700 miles – so probably by next April-ish. ]

One that I will almost certainly test drive is a 2017 somewhat ‘updated’ version of my current car. New for 2017, all 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 Charger models, including Daytona, feature a 2.75-inch electronically controlled active exhaust system to deliver a signature Dodge muscle-car sound.

There is so much that I do like about my Charger – and very little that I do not like – I will probably want to see what refinements will be apparent in a new one. And if that will mean a 2017 is the best ‘bank for my bucks’. With a reasonable discount from MSRP, the Charger is a bargain, in the sense that it does so many things [ that are important TO ME ] very well that I will probably give it very serious consideration.

And if it is not exactly a ‘screaming bargain’, I do consider it very attractively priced, given what it is and how well it performs – and [ for example ] how comfortable and supportive the seats are for my particular [ old ] body !

This coming Saturday I have an appt. to drive a new 2017 Audi A4. This is certainly one of the more expensive options I am currently considering – and one of the least quick – but still has much to recommend it, I think.

More to come . . .

Also on your list, are you going to test out the Fusion Sport with the turbo V6? I am very interested to learn about that one.

rayainsw

I drove one of those a few months back.
Will probably drive another - at some point...
- Ray
As well as others...

graphicguy

Ray....that's the fun part of buying a car....shopping and test driving. So, sounds like you have had no issues with the Charger. That's a good thing. Mind me asking what exactly your requirements are?

rayainsw

Absolutely no issues with the Charger – dead reliable, so far !

Hmmm – requirements. Here are a few – in no particular order.
[ Note that a LOT of this is highly subjective. And subject to change without notice. ]

Well, it has to be quick enough to be entertaining – meaning [ generally ] a quarter mile in less than 14 sec. The A4 tests I have seen put it right at about that limit. The Charger R/T [ a much heavier car ] test reports that I have seen show this as a 13.6 – 13.7 sec. machine.

Good torque from low engine RPM.

A civilized and refined Grand Touring experience.

Sedan – or equivalent outward vision – so Camaro SS is out, for example.

Not too low to the ground.

Bigger than the GTI that I had – but no bigger than my Charger.

Comfortable & supportive front seats. Lumbar support up \ down as well as more \ less.

Seats available in gray – not black - or cream, or beige.

Reasonable ride \ handling compromise. Good steering ‘feel’.

Low engine RPM at highway cruise MPH.

Reasonable MPG.

Excellent automatic or very good DCT – good here meaning not just quick up & downshifts, but also smooth in stop & slow traffic, at parking lot speeds, etc. I really enjoyed the BMW 335iS with the 7 speed DCT – when driving enthusiastically – but not quite so good on my typical commutes home.

Perfect downshift rev-match.

Steering wheel shift paddles that are active in every mode, ‘Drive’, ‘Sport’ and [ obviously ] ‘Manual’. The ability to manually shift via the console shifter as well.

Heated seats and steering wheel – A/C seats.

A good navigation system.

Blind-spot and cross-path warning systems.

Sunroof – with a solid sunshade. [ No ‘mesh’, like I have seen on Audi S3s & newer GTIs ! ]

A spare tire of some sort.

Nice exhaust note – but very little mechanical noise from under hood.

Good OEM tires – and prefer NON run-flats.
- Ray
Incomplete list, I am sure – but all I have time for right now . . .

roadburner

Ray, I'd stick with the Crager R/T. 'Murican V8 and RWD.

stickguy

well, outside potentially of the sunshade, the A4 actually seems to be almost dead on what you described.

28firefighter

I've actually been thinking about a Charger as an alternative to the GTI. They depreciate like crazy.

I'd feel better though if it was AWD, which it is not.

roadburner

Well, we are thinking about cutting down on the fleet- buying one vehicle to replace two- the Wrangler and the X3. Since we live on an old family farm and need to drive off road sometimes I want something with true off road ability. My wife prefers an automatic- otherwise I'd just sell the X3 and keep the Jeep. Trying to find something for under $15k- figuring I can sell the Jeep and X3 for at least $10k-$12k.
Prospective replacements in order of preference:
Wrangler TJ
Xterra
Liberty
4Runner
Whatever we pick out won't get driven more 3k per year- tops.
I'd really like a Discovery but I lack the courage to pull the trigger...

henryn

rayainsw said:

Absolutely no issues with the Charger – dead reliable, so far !

Hmmm – requirements. Here are a few – in no particular order.
[ Note that a LOT of this is highly subjective. And subject to change without notice. ]

...

Excellent automatic or very good DCT – good here meaning not just quick up & downshifts, but also smooth in stop & slow traffic, at parking lot speeds, etc. I really enjoyed the BMW 335iS with the 7 speed DCT – when driving enthusiastically – but not quite so good on my typical commutes home.

...

This is the problem I have with the DSG in this Passat TDI. I park in a parking garage downtown. The entrance is steep, and you have to stop, and use a badge to gain entrance, while holding on a very steep upwards incline. I would not, repeat NOT enjoy doing this every day with a clutch. Could I? Sure. I just don't want to. And the DSG is not good at this.

I also do quite a bit of stop and go traffic in my daily commute. The DSG does not excel at this, a regular automatic would be better. But it's not as much of a problem as that incline in the parking garage entrance. And there is one exit ramp where I sometimes get backed up and have to creep uphill, stopping and starting several times. Not where you want to have a DSG or DCT.

28firefighter

Why not just put beefier tires on the X3? Not enough ground clearance?

roadburner

28firefighter said:

Why not just put beefier tires on the X3? Not enough ground clearance?

I want something with a LOT of ground clearance and a true low range in the transfer case.

Michaell

roadburner said:

28firefighter said:

Why not just put beefier tires on the X3? Not enough ground clearance?

I want something with a LOT of ground clearance and a true low range in the transfer case.

Of those you've listed, I should think the Liberty would be the easiest to find at your price point.

Mr_Shiftright

roadburner said:

Well, we are thinking about cutting down on the fleet- buying one vehicle to replace two- the Wrangler and the X3. Since we live on an old family farm and need to drive off road sometimes I want something with true off road ability. My wife prefers an automatic- otherwise I'd just sell the X3 and keep the Jeep. Trying to find something for under $15k- figuring I can sell the Jeep and X3 for at least $10k-$12k.
Prospective replacements in order of preference:
Wrangler TJ
Xterra
Liberty
4Runner
Whatever we pick out won't get driven more 3k per year- tops.
I'd really like a Discovery but I lack the courage to pull the trigger...

No pickups, maybe with crew cab?

roadburner

Mr_Shiftright said:

No pickups, maybe with crew cab?

I have thought about that- either a Frontier or Tacoma.

Mr_Shiftright

Given how little you're going to use it, it doesn't have to be expensive or pretty. I scored a club cab Dodge Dakota 4X4 for $1800--I put a bit more into it but not that much. And it's a good truck and quite presentable from 5 feet away, and easily capable of trips of a few hundred miles or more. Runs great.

corvette

I liked the Xterra I had as a rental, other than thinking it was very dated for the price. I think it would be fine as an extra car.

stickguy

how about a Toyota FJ Cruiser? Though it seems like they have been going up in price lately.

roadburner

stickguy said:

how about a Toyota FJ Cruiser? Though it seems like they have been going up in price lately.

Nice, but the only ones in my price range are extremely miled up.

sda

roadburner said:

stickguy said:

how about a Toyota FJ Cruiser? Though it seems like they have been going up in price lately.

Nice, but the only ones in my price range are extremely miled up.

Probably older than you're looking for, but what about a 4x4 Ford Ranger or Mazda B3-4000?

stickguy

Yeah, I heard the prices on these Yotas were silly. I thought of it after seeing this one. Nice and clean, but 10 YO with 120K on it, is that still realistic market value?

http://www.royaleasing.com/detail-2007-toyota-fj_cruiser-used-15469296.html

kyfdx

Filled up w/diesel, today. $2.39/gal at Kroger.

36.6 mpg on mostly errand running.. No commute, no highway trips.

nyccarguy

@rayainsw - Thank-you for your offer (of looking at my computer system proposal). I will take you up on it as I'll take all the help I can get.

cdnpinhead

roadburner said:

Prospective replacements in order of preference:
Xterra
Whatever we pick out won't get driven more 3k per year- tops.

Well, as I think you know, I'm a Nissan guy through and through. Among the '68 1600 (this was before they started calling it the 510), my '73 240Z, my 510 and the current ('04) Pathfinder, I've decided that the running gear (especially the engines) are bulletproof. The electronic crap, I'm not so sure about. Either way, keep us posted.

As if. . .

breld

So we're at the airport getting ready to board a flight to Orlando. Then tomorrow we get in the Disney Fantasy for our 7-night TCM (Turner Classic Movies) Cruise. Woo-hoo!

If we weren't traveling, I'd probably be making a quick trip down to Colorado Springs this weekend to check this out:

2013 Q7

It's the exact color combo and packages I'd want. They just reduced the price by $1k, and cargurus claims it's $4k under market (for whatever that's worth).

On the other hand, being out of warranty would scare me a little, and if I had the choice, I'd probably opt for the diesel.

So...probably good I'm going out of town. But if it's still available when I get back...

sda

cdnpinhead said:

roadburner said:

Prospective replacements in order of preference:
Xterra
Whatever we pick out won't get driven more 3k per year- tops.

Well, as I think you know, I'm a Nissan guy through and through. Among the '68 1600 (this was before they started calling it the 510), my '73 240Z, my 510 and the current ('04) Pathfinder, I've decided that the running gear (especially the engines) are bulletproof. The electronic crap, I'm not so sure about. Either way, keep us posted.

As if. . .

We had a '71 510 wagon. The drive train was stout but the interior didn't hold up and the body rusted out quickly. Both of my sisters learned to drive a stick on it. They were brutal on the clutch but the car didn't falter. Dad sold it with about 165k, and we saw it drive up and down the road for at least another 2 years. Good car.

xwesx

I hope your family has a great trip, breld!

roadburner

cdnpinhead said:

roadburner said:

Prospective replacements in order of preference:
Xterra
Whatever we pick out won't get driven more 3k per year- tops.

Well, as I think you know, I'm a Nissan guy through and through. Among the '68 1600 (this was before they started calling it the 510), my '73 240Z, my 510 and the current ('04) Pathfinder, I've decided that the running gear (especially the engines) are bulletproof. The electronic crap, I'm not so sure about. Either way, keep us posted.

As if. . .

Well, I've had an SPL-311 as well as a 1993 Pathfinder SE and both were great. A new Xterra SE ran a close second to the CPO X3 we picked up in December 2005. Either that or a TJ are at the top of my list.

graphicguy

breld said:

So we're at the airport getting ready to board a flight to Orlando. Then tomorrow we get in the Disney Fantasy for our 7-night TCM (Turner Classic Movies) Cruise. Woo-hoo!

If we weren't traveling, I'd probably be making a quick trip down to Colorado Springs this weekend to check this out:

2013 Q7

It's the exact color combo and packages I'd want. They just reduced the price by $1k, and cargurus claims it's $4k under market (for whatever that's worth).

On the other hand, being out of warranty would scare me a little, and if I had the choice, I'd probably opt for the diesel.

So...probably good I'm going out of town. But if it's still available when I get back...

Cool....cruise line? Ship?

breld

xwesx said:

I hope your family has a great trip, breld!

Thanks! And despite being on a Disney ship, this is more an adults cruise, given the classic movie theme. So it's just my wife and I - no kids. Guilty pleasure and indulgence for sure!

breld

xwesx said:

I hope your family has a great trip, breld!

Thanks! And despite being on a Disney ship, this is more an adults cruise, given the classic movie theme. So it's just my wife and I - no kids. Guilty pleasure and indulgence for sure!

stever

What's on the playlist? Titanic, Poseidon Adventure, Bermuda Triangle Revealed: The Devil's Graveyards?

Really liked the V-series engine on our 99 Quest. Not so sure about the CVT transmissions on the newer models after reading about all the Rogue issues with it. But the complaints seem to have largely fallen off.

roadburner

stever said:

What's on the playlist? Titanic, Poseidon Adventure, Bermuda Triangle Revealed: The Devil's Graveyards?

Nah- it HAS to be Juggernaut

ab348

I didn't know Orlando was a seaport. Must have missed that when I visited. Enjoy the cruise!

I love TCM, but miss Robert Osborne.

houdini1

RB- I remember driving an older miled up Xterra a few years ago, looking for a truck for one of my boys. We ended up not buying it, but I was totally shocked at how solid and rattle free it was, great steering feel on the hiway, etc., and really was just a very nice truck. You should drive one if you haven't.

We ended up with a 2003 Tacoma 4X4 crew cab. Loved it. Drove it for 4 years and sold it at 140,000 miles. Sold it in 2014 for $10,500. We paid $11,000. for it.

graphicguy

breld said:

xwesx said:

I hope your family has a great trip, breld!

Thanks! And despite being on a Disney ship, this is more an adults cruise, given the classic movie theme. So it's just my wife and I - no kids. Guilty pleasure and indulgence for sure!

Great....I personally steer clear of Disney ships for the very reason you stipulated......they're geared towards kids. But, if it's more of an adult focused passenger list, it should be fine.

Have fun!

corvette

I've never been on a cruise but I've heard a lot of horror stories about them. Paying restaurant retail for adult beverages the whole week would really drive me nuts. I'd probably buy some of those fake shampoo bottles to sneak some additional liquid on. 

roadburner

We went on one Royal Caribbean cruise. We enjoyed the on-shore visits to Jamaica and the Grand Cayman Islands, but the cruise itself left us cold. Nothing was horrible- just not our cup of tea.

rayainsw

Narrative:
I drove 2 2015 Audi S3s, before settling on the Charger.
I liked a lot about the S3, but a few things prevented me from pulling the trigger.
1 – Price – the S3 was at the upper limit of what I wanted to spend at the time. MSRP = $45K+
2 – There was a bit too much 4 cylinder thrash. Just not as smooth as I prefer.
3 – RPM at cruise was much higher than I prefer. [ That 6 speed DCT – still on 2017 A3\S3. ]
4 – The sunroof cover was an open mesh. Not appropriate for the [ hot ] southeast summers.

The 2017 A4 is [ for me ] much like an S3 with my criticisms corrected. It is a bit larger that the S3, but certainly not a large car. The price is still an issue – and I am not sure the Audi ‘goodness’ is worth the asking amount, but we shall see.
The new 4 cylinder is much improved in smoothness. Between that and the much lower RPM at cruising speeds, I think I could be quite satisfied. Although the A4’s absolute acceleration is not quite as good as the S3, once moving, it felt quick. Probably quick enough for me.

The sunroof has a solid cover – to completely shut out the summer sun here.
The test drive unit was a relatively loaded A4 Premium Plus:

http://www.audiatlanta.com/new/Audi/2017-Audi-A4-atlanta-ga-6dea37ff0a0e0a6b204ca8fd5e17d135.htm

Interesting that while I was at the Audi dealer, Saturday morning, PBS was broadcasting a MotorWeek episode with tests of both the A4 and the Ford Fusion Sport – another car of interest, that I test drove a while back. I have only glanced at them, but will certainly watch again.
Anyway – I liked how it drove, I liked the seats, I liked the sharp instrument panel displays. The acceleration was quite good – no discernable ‘turbo lag’ at any time. The interior materials, fit & finish are [ typical Audi ] excellent.
Despite a few quibbles [ see below ] it remains on my short list.
- Ray

This is a very nice car – and a sporty sedan.
Quiet smooth I4
Very refined - best 4 cylinder I have ever drive – impressively smooth & torquey
Confirmed RPM at cruise verified – very low – nice. MUCH lower than S3 w/6speed.
TOP-GEAR REVS @ 60 MPH = 1,260 rpm [ MT test ]
No 2nd gear start – odd ???
Reasonably quick – enough for me, I think
Kick down switch – v. good.
Paddles not active in anything but manual mode ?
Center console shifter – rather large, square and clunky – for use in manual shifting . . .
No ‘stack’ function re: paddle shift requests
7 speed DCT excellent, in most other respects – precise rev match on downshifts, etc
Excellent seats
Ride very good, in the short [ maybe 3 miles, only up to 60 mph ] route I drove.
Solid sunroof shield – with exhaust vents
31 mpg EPA highway – much better than the Charger – or the Fusion Sport
combined EPA rating = over 30% better than the charger
transparent AWD
Weight - 3650 = Much less than the Charger – or the Fusion Sport !

rayainsw

2017 A3 - EPA says the A3 has a 7 speed DCT, AUDIUSA.com build says a 6 speed.
Odd.
Need to check an in-stock unit ....

rayainsw

Looks like the FWD version of the A3 has a 7 speed
and the Quattro has the 6 speed.

kyfdx

I like this for under $10K
(pretty sure it's a 2005 1/2 model)

http://www.autosruslex.com/2005_Audi_S4_Lexington_KY_5778480.veh

stickguy

Brave man. That is taking "drive what you like" to a pretty high level. Probably a fun beast though.