Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

nyccarguy

I have a friend who is a pediatrician. One of 4 partners in a practice. He despises the business aspect of being a doctor. Not to mention the hoops they have to jump through to get paid from insurance.

To keep this car related, his wife just got out of her Sienna a few months early and they got a 2017 Highlander which she loves.

sda

stickguy said:

that reminds me. My RDX has an open recall on the airbag. I forget to ever ask about it. Pretty sure they will never mention it.

just got the recall notice for my Sonata (for the moonroof possibly blowing off. Probably won't bother with that until next time an oil change is do. So, maybe the summer!

I made several inquiries with my Honda dealer to get the passenger side air bag recall completed for the Pilot. Their answer was always that the part was ordered but they weren't sure when it would be received. I find it curious that less than a week after opening a case with Honda, I get a call the part is in and schedule an appointment for the repair!

stickguy

my wife's nephew recently finished residency, and this spring an additional fellowship. His wife last spring finished her residency. I'm sure between them they owe enough to buy a high end rolls.

he is emergency medicine (can always work for good money there!) and now certified (fellowship) for ICU care. Wife is a pediatrician. Interesting (well, to me) she also got work at a hospital as staff, not a private practice. He kind of has to with what he does. I don't think he is joining a separate practice that hires out to the hospitals (but he does side gigs for large $ at other hospitals as time permits). Can do OK taking shifts at $100 per hour or so!

sda

mjfloyd1
Congratulations on the new Accord! I have owned many cars and my '13 Accord has been a pleasure to own and drive. I hope you have an equally positive experience.

andres3

imidazol97 said:

andres3 said:

I'm regretting lifting my ban of AT&T ...

My experiences with ATT are negative. I even carefully picked my Tracfones/Net10 phones so the service was Spring or Verison to avoid the ATT/T-Mobile conglomerate for carrier. Too many no calls going through and holes in their coverage despite the roaming switch between them. LOL

I certainly would never use ATT's phone/internet/TV service. My son's apartment group had a couple of buildings that are within the wireless entertainment coverage. AND I own and have owned ATT stock for decades. Even all that was a hot mess.

I don't consider Direct TV to be AT&T TV service just yet. They even have their own bills if you want them that way. The internet decision was designed to save me money monthly (lock in the price savings for 2 years), and keep the amount of bills I get from different people down, as you can ask AT&T and Direct TV to combine their bills ever since AT&T bought out Direct TV last year.

Michaell

I've been with my primary care physician for the better part of 20 years.

He's moved around to several practices in south Metro Denver, made an attempt to start a practice in AZ (he hated the weather, and moved back to CO in less than a year), then took a sabbatical to live in Europe (his wife is Polish).

When he returned, he started his own urgent care practice is an underserved, but wealthy, part of the county I live in. He is the only physician, plus two PA's, plus support staff.

He is now a victim of his own success. They are open 7 days - he works 5 of them. I don't think he likes the business aspect of the practice very much, either.

But, he's a great doc - I'd hate to think what I'd do if he retired or moved away. He's my age, so I hope that isn't anytime soon.

sda

andres3 said:

imidazol97 said:

andres3 said:

I'm regretting lifting my ban of AT&T ...

My experiences with ATT are negative. I even carefully picked my Tracfones/Net10 phones so the service was Spring or Verison to avoid the ATT/T-Mobile conglomerate for carrier. Too many no calls going through and holes in their coverage despite the roaming switch between them. LOL

I certainly would never use ATT's phone/internet/TV service. My son's apartment group had a couple of buildings that are within the wireless entertainment coverage. AND I own and have owned ATT stock for decades. Even all that was a hot mess.

I don't consider Direct TV to be AT&T TV service just yet. They even have their own bills if you want them that way. The internet decision was designed to save me money monthly (lock in the price savings for 2 years), and keep the amount of bills I get from different people down, as you can ask AT&T and Direct TV to combine their bills ever since AT&T bought out Direct TV last year.

I just got another flyer from Direct/AT&T promoting cheaper rates and a $200 Reward Card. Thanks to this discussion I won't even give it any consideration.

andres3

So here's my AllTrack & Clubman S review:

Alltrack: Solid car. It does get the superior DSG 6-speed transmission after all. This efficient transmission works really well, and it gets the 1.8T motor to feel a lot more alive than in the bigger heavier Passat with the slushbox 6-speed automatic. I think this car could easily keep up with the 8-speed slushbox 2.0T in the Clubman S. I did catch VW skimping and cutting costs though. The SE model I drove comes with all the usual gadgets and features you'd expect in a mid-line trim level, but for some reason the 17" wheels are covered with skinny 205/55/R17 tires. Totally unexpected and disappointing given the '15 Sportwagen SE has 225/45/17's. Maybe they did so to eek out the 30 MPG on the highway per the EPA rating; which is very solid for an AWD wagon of this size and power. I think these skinny tires will take away some handling prowess from the AllTrack, though it did fine during my "normal" driving test drive. The 55 sidewalls will probably provide a smoother softer ride though. I know the SEL has 18" wheels, I wonder if they use the wider 225's for that model, but there were none to look at. The base model S doesn't have push button start, sunroof, or Fender premium audio system. I could probably live with all of that except the loss of premium audio. The push button start is nice, but not mandatory IMO, and I actually like sunroof-less cars.

Clubman S: I was tired, it was late, and dark, so my test drive was rather normal, short, and uneventful. Still, it was a nice tight driving experience. It does drive and feel smaller, which is a good thing, but it is smaller, I find the GTI roomier (but it's relatively close), so if you want space, that's an issue. I drove what I was told was a mid-level equipped S Clubman model, with cloth seats and the 8-speed auto. No rearview camera, but I was able to park it without hitting other Mini's on the lot. Visibility is poor with the side and rear-view mirrors though. A nice "different" car, but not sure it's worth mid 30's for us, especially with the spotty reliability track record putting it nicely. I think with a Mini it is something you either love the design of, or you won't get one. I did a quick acceleration test from a stop, and the front wheels didn't spin; didn't check the size of rubber on the car, but was impressed it got the power down; though the transmission and electronics I'm sure contributed to that. I also didn't slam the gas down. In the end I personally think it's still too small for what we want/need.

Need to check out the new Forester XT; though I doubt anything has changed in the last 2 years. I'm sure she'd be interested in an X3 or Q5, but that's not really in the budget unless a CPO; which she doesn't want. I think Volvo doesn't appeal to her. What else should we check out? Maybe X1 or Q3, but not sure those are big enough either.

kyfdx

Travel info for Phoenix?

Going to Spring Training for a week in March (actually, 4 nights).
Any tips on restaurants would be great.
Local joints, Southwest cuisine, taco/mexican, breweries/brew pubs, BBQ.
Hole-in-the-wall joints with great food are perfectly acceptable.

Thanks!

28firefighter

andres3 said:

So here's my AllTrack & Clubman S review:

Alltrack: Solid car. It does get the superior DSG 6-speed transmission after all. This efficient transmission works really well, and it gets the 1.8T motor to feel a lot more alive than in the bigger heavier Passat with the slushbox 6-speed automatic. I think this car could easily keep up with the 8-speed slushbox 2.0T in the Clubman S. I did catch VW skimping and cutting costs though. The SE model I drove comes with all the usual gadgets and features you'd expect in a mid-line trim level, but for some reason the 17" wheels are covered with skinny 205/55/R17 tires. Totally unexpected and disappointing given the '15 Sportwagen SE has 225/45/17's. Maybe they did so to eek out the 30 MPG on the highway per the EPA rating; which is very solid for an AWD wagon of this size and power. I think these skinny tires will take away some handling prowess from the AllTrack, though it did fine during my "normal" driving test drive. The 55 sidewalls will probably provide a smoother softer ride though. I know the SEL has 18" wheels, I wonder if they use the wider 225's for that model, but there were none to look at. The base model S doesn't have push button start, sunroof, or Fender premium audio system. I could probably live with all of that except the loss of premium audio. The push button start is nice, but not mandatory IMO, and I actually like sunroof-less cars.

Clubman S: I was tired, it was late, and dark, so my test drive was rather normal, short, and uneventful. Still, it was a nice tight driving experience. It does drive and feel smaller, which is a good thing, but it is smaller, I find the GTI roomier (but it's relatively close), so if you want space, that's an issue. I drove what I was told was a mid-level equipped S Clubman model, with cloth seats and the 8-speed auto. No rearview camera, but I was able to park it without hitting other Mini's on the lot. Visibility is poor with the side and rear-view mirrors though. A nice "different" car, but not sure it's worth mid 30's for us, especially with the spotty reliability track record putting it nicely. I think with a Mini it is something you either love the design of, or you won't get one. I did a quick acceleration test from a stop, and the front wheels didn't spin; didn't check the size of rubber on the car, but was impressed it got the power down; though the transmission and electronics I'm sure contributed to that. I also didn't slam the gas down. In the end I personally think it's still too small for what we want/need.

Need to check out the new Forester XT; though I doubt anything has changed in the last 2 years. I'm sure she'd be interested in an X3 or Q5, but that's not really in the budget unless a CPO; which she doesn't want. I think Volvo doesn't appeal to her. What else should we check out? Maybe X1 or Q3, but not sure those are big enough either.

I loved the X1, as you read, but for us it didn't make sense. It has leading class cargo space, but whether that is enough for you is for you guys to decide.

Michaell

kyfdx said:

Travel info for Phoenix?

Going to Spring Training for a week in March (actually, 4 nights).
Any tips on restaurants would be great.
Local joints, Southwest cuisine, taco/mexican, breweries/brew pubs, BBQ.
Hole-in-the-wall joints with great food are perfectly acceptable.

Thanks!

Which side of town?

My nephew usually has a baseball tournament during spring training in Gilbert (SE suburbs), and my sister or BIL travel out there. They might have some suggestions.

If you're on the west side of town, no idea.

stickguy

maybe the upcoming Countryman? A little bigger, and new (shared with X1) platform? I found the X1 to be pretty roomy. certainly seemed as big as a Golf SW if not bigger.

as to tires, well, it is supposed to be an "SUV", so higher sidewalls should be included. Better for off road. If you want big wheels and skinny tires, you can add them. SEL tends to come with them standard anyway.

kyfdx

Staying on the West side (Goodyear for the Reds), but we won't be stuck over there. (which is a good thing, unless you are just crazy for chain restaurants).

andres3

stickguy said:

maybe the upcoming Countryman? A little bigger, and new (shared with X1) platform? I found the X1 to be pretty roomy. certainly seemed as big as a Golf SW if not bigger.

as to tires, well, it is supposed to be an "SUV", so higher sidewalls should be included. Better for off road. If you want big wheels and skinny tires, you can add them. SEL tends to come with them standard anyway.

OK, so as an off-road vehicle, VW could and should have used 225/55 or 50R17 or 215/55/R17 at least,, not 205/55/R17. 225/55R17 would make a better off-road tire than 205/55R17.

This was an accounting move, or an eek out MPG move.

andres3

stickguy said:

maybe the upcoming Countryman? A little bigger, and new (shared with X1) platform? I found the X1 to be pretty roomy. certainly seemed as big as a Golf SW if not bigger.

as to tires, well, it is supposed to be an "SUV", so higher sidewalls should be included. Better for off road. If you want big wheels and skinny tires, you can add them. SEL tends to come with them standard anyway.

Any news on when the Countryman will be available?

ab348

I read a review of the Allroadtrack up here where the guy was critical of the in-car tech for the various infotainment apps and services we now have come to expect. He said it felt like it was a generation behind.

Mr_Shiftright

March 2017, latest I've heard from Mini PR. The hybrid comes in June.

stickguy

based on what our Jetta has, compared to my Hyundai, it is at least a generation behind. Not even close to look, feel, or functionality.

andres3

ab348 said:

I read a review of the Allroad up here where the guy was critical of the in-car tech for the various infotainment apps and services we now have come to expect. He said it felt like it was a generation behind.

Allroad = Lifted Audi A4 Wagon with Cladding and Quattro AWD

Alltrack = Lifted VW Golf Wagon with Cladding and AWD.

I did notice even the SE model didn't have blind spot monitoring on the VW. I don't mind, as I'm annoyed by the feature more than I am helped by it in the TTS. Also, the Kia doesn't have it, so I haven't been able to be spoiled by it driving both cars around.

What I miss the most driving the Kia around instead of the Audi is the following:

#1 - The hundreds of missing horses as compared to the Audi.
#2 - The body tightness and agility/handling.
#3 - The LED headlights of the Audi (are my lights even on in the Kia; have to double-check; same in the VW).
#4 - The very good Bang & Olufsen sound system vs. the lackluster base Kia system.

What I do like:

#1 Close to 30 MPG overall in the Kia on 87 Octane.
#2 Much less depreciation since the car costs less than half as much.
#3 Softer Cushier ride with wider seats for wider bottoms.
#4 Room for car seat and 3 other passengers fairly comfortably.

Honorable Mention:

I prefer an Electronic switch E-Brake instead of the huge clunky foot parking brake of the Kia Optima.

stickguy

I hate not having the blind spot monitoring. Miss it in our Acura. Wonderful feature IMO.

Mr_Shiftright

That's one of the few "nanny" gadgets I could live with. That and a backup camera for my truck. A backup camera on a Mini is kind of pathetic, if you think about it.

As far as collision avoidance and lane monitoring, it clearly interferes with my driving style

I want nothing "autonomous", ever.

sda

I don't have blind spot monitoring but the lane watch in the Accord is effective. I find I rely on it frequently and when I drive the Pilot I look for it only to realize it isn't there. I also rely upon the back up camera, a great addition. The Pilot has about a 2 inch screen in the review mirror for the back up monitor, which for my 57 year old eyes, is too small. I have to get my reading glasses out to get a good view. And while I'm at it, the keyless entry and push button start is tremendous. Not having to fumble for keys is a real plus.

28firefighter

I really like the Alltrack. The fact it doesn't come with blind spot monitoring seems really silly, especially since it is offered on other cars (e.g. the Golf Sportwagen S) and comes with other driver assistance nannies.

ab348

andres3 said:

Allroad = Lifted Audi A4 Wagon with Cladding and Quattro AWD

Alltrack = Lifted VW Golf Wagon with Cladding and AWD.

My bad. I was referring to the VW.

breld

@andres3 - thanks for providing the feedback on your experiences with the Alltrack and Clubman. Both were contenders for my wife, though she never did get around to driving the Alltrack. Between her previous GTI and the daughter's current Jetta Sport, she figured she had a pretty good idea of how the Alltrack would feel.

I think you're right about the MINI's styling - you have to like it to really consider the car; and my wife LOVES it. With this new crop of models, there's a lot of BMW "goodness" packed into the vehicles, so it's nice that there's a lot of substance behind the style too.

sda

As most of you know I love convertibles, I have had 5. As an alternative I place a high priority on a car having a sunroof. Panoramic sunroofs are quite common now and am wondering what they are like to live with from day to day. Do they rattle and squeak? Is there more wind noise than a standard sunroof and is there an issue with a green house effect from the sun? For those hot days I would hate to not be able to block out the sun and not have an effective shield from the heat generated.

stickguy

for some reason, my wife is actually interested in a Mini. She normally doesn't like anything flashy, but likes the standard Mini. Just assumed it was too small. Perked right up when I mentioned the countryman. Will be interesting to see what she thinks about it at the car show. I assume the new one will be there, maybe just up on a turntable.

28firefighter

sda said:

As most of you know I love convertibles, I have had 5. As an alternative I place a high priority on a car having a sunroof. Panoramic sunroofs are quite common now and am wondering what they are like to live with from day to day. Do they rattle and squeak? Is there more wind noise than a standard sunroof and is there an issue with a green house effect from the sun? For those hot days I would hate to not be able to block out the sun and not have an effective shield from the heat generated.

A hot topic in my household. I hate them. I've found that I never use them, they eventually rattle and it is something else to leak. My wife swears by them and doesn't want to have a car without one. Thus, my GTI is the base model with no sunroof and her car has a panoramic roof.

stickguy

I would have a serious problem buying a car that I would be using without a moonroof. Just love them.

Mr_Shiftright

sda said:

As most of you know I love convertibles, I have had 5. As an alternative I place a high priority on a car having a sunroof. Panoramic sunroofs are quite common now and am wondering what they are like to live with from day to day. Do they rattle and squeak? Is there more wind noise than a standard sunroof and is there an issue with a green house effect from the sun? For those hot days I would hate to not be able to block out the sun and not have an effective shield from the heat generated.

Depends on the car. Just about every car I've owned in the last 20 years had a sunroof. I like them because they give you a more "airy" or well-light cockpit. Driving with them open on a freeway is not pleasant. And yes, they can very easily leak if you leave them open to the point where debris from overhanging trees can clog the drains. If they can't drain, they will leak over into your headliner or side trim.

On a country road at 35-40 mph, they can be quite pleasant.

Another downside is that they can reduce headroom, so you'd best sit in a showroom model that has the sunroof before you buy one with that option.

Michaell

My Jetta has a steel roof; the Outback a conventional sunroof; the MINI, a panoramic roof.

I can take it or leave it.

cdnpinhead

kyfdx said:

Travel info for Phoenix?

My recommendation for a hole-in-the-wall authentic (if there is such a thing) Mexican food restaurant is the Tee Pee Tap Room (usually referred to as the Tee Pee. . .imagine) on Indian School. That's where I was eating lunch when my wife went into labor with my daughter (30+ years ago). It's a borderline dump, but the food suits me.

Hope you have a decent visit.

tifighter

Our Soul EV has the full pano roof; for me it was a selling point as it makes the interior so much brighter and spacious feeling. Full interior cover when you don't want it, but I rarely use it. No squeaks or rattles so far even in cold weather, but we've only had it since June. It makes the moonroof in our Volvo seem pretty lame.

kyfdx

cdnpinhead said:

kyfdx said:

Travel info for Phoenix?

My recommendation for a hole-in-the-wall authentic (if there is such a thing) Mexican food restaurant is the Tee Pee Tap Room (usually referred to as the Tee Pee. . .imagine) on Indian School. That's where I was eating lunch when my wife went into labor with my daughter (30+ years ago). It's a borderline dump, but the food suits me.

Hope you have a decent visit.

Thanks!

andres3

28firefighter said:

I really like the Alltrack. The fact it doesn't come with blind spot monitoring seems really silly, especially since it is offered on other cars (e.g. the Golf Sportwagen S) and comes with other driver assistance nannies.

We'll going for the OFF-ROAD use theme, maybe they figured blind spot monitors weren't needed as most dirt roads in the USA don't have multiple lanes going the same direction Did the H2 have safety nannies?

Not even the SEL has them???? Are we sure about that?

28firefighter

andres3 said:

28firefighter said:

I really like the Alltrack. The fact it doesn't come with blind spot monitoring seems really silly, especially since it is offered on other cars (e.g. the Golf Sportwagen S) and comes with other driver assistance nannies.

We'll going for the OFF-ROAD use theme, maybe they figured blind spot monitors weren't needed as most dirt roads in the USA don't have multiple lanes going the same direction Did the H2 have safety nannies?

Not even the SEL has them???? Are we sure about that?

Positive. I asked.

andres3

breld said:

@andres3 - thanks for providing the feedback on your experiences with the Alltrack and Clubman. Both were contenders for my wife, though she never did get around to driving the Alltrack. Between her previous GTI and the daughter's current Jetta Sport, she figured she had a pretty good idea of how the Alltrack would feel.

I think you're right about the MINI's styling - you have to like it to really consider the car; and my wife LOVES it. With this new crop of models, there's a lot of BMW "goodness" packed into the vehicles, so it's nice that there's a lot of substance behind the style too.

Okay, so I went and looked at an X1 during lunch. Nice CAR! Way bigger than I had anticipated. Very roomy, inside and out. Reminds me of a recent model X3 in size really. Bigger than the Q3 for sure, more like the Q5 which costs significantly more. The Q3 is just a lifted A3 hatchback; very small.

I liked the headroom in the X1; even with a moonroof; but even better without it. I found out it was only FWD or AWD; that is disappointing. I didn't know that until the salesman told me (didn't test drive) A FWD BMW and it still costs $40K reasonably loaded? I'd have preferred RWD, but maybe the wife won't notice. X3 is still RWD as I understand it.

So a stripper X1 for $35K MSRP..... Doable for 90% of MSRP, or are SUV's too hot selling? Being FWD it really is a MINI on a bigger body with a BMW badge isn't it? Not necessarily a bad thing; where do they build/assemble these?

corvette

mjfloyd1 said:

I'm quickly becoming disenchanted with healthcare becoming a business.

If it's a business, it has some of the worst customer service I've ever seen. Called a local specialist to make an appointment yesterday, the receptionist asked me to hold and sat the phone down on the desk for five minutes rather than putting me on hold, meanwhile, I'm overhearing every detail of patients being checked out, things being dropped on the desk, etc. I hung up. I treated it the same way I would if a car dealer ignored me: Today I called a different office (ironically, part of the same practice group) and the receptionist seemed more like she had it together.

kyfdx said:

Travel info for Phoenix?
...
Going to Spring Training for a week in March (actually, 4 nights).

What do you need spring training for, I thought you were retired?

ab348 said:

I read a review of the Allroadtrack up here where the guy was critical of the in-car tech for the various infotainment apps and services we now have come to expect. He said it felt like it was a generation behind.

VW's infotainment has felt like it was a generation behind for as long as I can remember.

sda said:

Panoramic sunroofs are quite common now and am wondering what they are like to live with from day to day. Do they rattle and squeak? Is there more wind noise than a standard sunroof and is there an issue with a green house effect from the sun?

My Murano has a pano roof and I really like it but could live without it. The shade is powered and is completely opaque (the one in the Jetta SportWagen was somewhat translucent), so it does a good job of blocking heat. I don't open it much (only the front panel opens), but I didn't notice more wind noise than a conventional sunroof. I mostly leave the shade open in the winter to encourage the greenhouse effect and prevent the car from getting so cold. No rattles or leaks.

28firefighter

andres3 said:

breld said:

@andres3 - thanks for providing the feedback on your experiences with the Alltrack and Clubman. Both were contenders for my wife, though she never did get around to driving the Alltrack. Between her previous GTI and the daughter's current Jetta Sport, she figured she had a pretty good idea of how the Alltrack would feel.

I think you're right about the MINI's styling - you have to like it to really consider the car; and my wife LOVES it. With this new crop of models, there's a lot of BMW "goodness" packed into the vehicles, so it's nice that there's a lot of substance behind the style too.

Okay, so I went and looked at an X1 during lunch. Nice CAR! Way bigger than I had anticipated. Very roomy, inside and out. Reminds me of a recent model X3 in size really. Bigger than the Q3 for sure, more like the Q5 which costs significantly more. The Q3 is just a lifted A3 hatchback; very small.

I liked the headroom in the X1; even with a moonroof; but even better without it. I found out it was only FWD or AWD; that is disappointing. I didn't know that until the salesman told me (didn't test drive) A FWD BMW and it still costs $40K reasonably loaded? I'd have preferred RWD, but maybe the wife won't notice. X3 is still RWD as I understand it.

So a stripper X1 for $35K MSRP..... Doable for 90% of MSRP, or are SUV's too hot selling? Being FWD it really is a MINI on a bigger body with a BMW badge isn't it? Not necessarily a bad thing; where do they build/assemble these?

I would shoot for a leftover 2016, if you can find one. Best bargains are to be had there.

roadburner

After nearly one year of ownership I have yet to open the sunroof on the 2er.

cdnpinhead

I use the "moon"roof on my TSX routinely to vent the cabin while the vehicle is parked in the miserable heat of the "valley of the sun." I can count on one hand the number of times I've actually opened it up as I think it was intended over the past 8 years.

suydam

I don't open mine up but I like to slide the shade back on dreary days. Also use it for venting when it's hot. The Volt doesn't have one. That and a power driver's seat are 2 features I miss.

tjc78

Our LaCrosse had the pano moonroof. It was great, the sunshade (power) coveted the whole thing if you wanted. When open it when above the roof rather than slid inside but was no noiser than any other moonroof.

The Enclave has two one in the front that is a traditional moonroof and a fixed panel for the middle row, really lightens up the interior. Both have manual sun shades.

Sandman6472

Absolutely love my sunroof and use it a lot this time of year. Opened it this morning but it started to rain half way down but coming home, open all the way. Doubt I'll ever get a vehicle without one but living down south, I can use it a lot from January through April. Still liking the idea of a Mini or X1 and both will be on the short list when the time comes. All depends on the way each one drives and the deals to be had. Just want a smooth vehicle with a bit of lux that will hold up through the warranty period and longer without shakes and rattles. Lastly, the vehicle has to be "fun" that I can toss around a little. Anything over 180" will be a problem as I still like small and won't do a mid-size vehicle ever again.
On a side note, drove a newish '16 Kia Forte earlier today and was impressed by the way it scooted around, excellent acceleration with just a tap on the gas pedal. The interior is a bit on the plasticy side but the seating was comfortable and the red color wasn't to in your face red, it was a very pleasing shade of red. No way was it a penalty box in any way, shape or form.

The Sandman

qbrozen

sda said:

As most of you know I love convertibles, I have had 5. As an alternative I place a high priority on a car having a sunroof. Panoramic sunroofs are quite common now and am wondering what they are like to live with from day to day. Do they rattle and squeak? Is there more wind noise than a standard sunroof and is there an issue with a green house effect from the sun? For those hot days I would hate to not be able to block out the sun and not have an effective shield from the heat generated.

Since you specifically asked about panoramic, I can only comment on the 2 we have, which is the LR2 and Jetta wagon. Yes! The greenhouse effect is BRUTAL. Neither has a totally opaque shade, so there is nothing to be done about it. I'd probably put dark tint on if it were up to me.

qbrozen

kyfdx said:

So, when I told my RR seller that we weren't going to buy it, he dropped the price to $500. Now, that's all I was going to pay, anyway... but..

Too damned far away for me.

Sandman6472

Talked with the wife earlier and she's liking the idea of renting a minivan for our trip to Chicago later this year. If the others weren't flying up, think we could get away with a smaller cuv like a Rogue or Sportage but knowing that there will be 5 of us for the weekend to cart around, a minivan is mandatory I suspect. But again, a Sportage could work if done right. And a vehicle with decent mpg's will help with the budget as who knows where the price of petrol will be by then. Like the looks of the Sportage way better than the Tucson since the new models came out. Drove by a Tucson SE like I had today and can not believe that I actually owned one of them for just over a year. Just proved to me that I no longer will settle for a vehicle because one will never be happy in said choice. Best to spend a bit more to get something that puts a smile on your face daily...like my Golf does. Still love it after almost 25 months, it's the perfect vehicle for me right now.

The Sandman

stickguy

I use my moonroof year round. above 40? good enough. summer too. I don't like cold air blowing on me. only time the shade ever closes is if the wife does it. and the Sonata has the nice pano roof. pretty darkly tinted, so no issue even without the shade slid closed.

nyccarguy

@sandman_6472 - Sandy, you are missing the point of this whole trip. Your wife's A3 would make an awesome road trip car. German cars are built for the open highway.

stickguy

but an A3 is not meant to carry 5 adults.