Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

suydam

Usually the hybrids tend to be fully loaded.

Michaell

suydam said:

Usually the hybrids tend to be fully loaded.

Maybe this is a change of tactic, to make the hybrid model more affordable to the masses.

tjc78

As it should be... a hybrid should save you money not cost you more!  Oh and I guess it is better for the environment....

qbrozen

They were using the additional profit margin of the extras to offset the cost of the hybrid components. Gonna be much tougher on lower-cost units. How much will consumers be willing to pay for hybridization if all else between the vehicles is equal? Guess maybe we'll find out.

roadburner

BMW prices their 530e PHEV very aggressively- only $200 ore than the conventional 530i. Unfortunately, tthe PHEV 3er, 7er, and X5 are not so attractively priced...

fintail

C wagon is now listed in Canuckistan

I want this with a diesel, I would even buy it rather than lease it. This as a C220d 4Matic would be the ideal long-termer for me.

ab348

No M-B diesels in N.A. any more. This was originally announced here as a diesel, but later on they couldn't/wouldn't get them certified by the gummint.

Who knows what evil lurks in the electronic heart of your E250?

fintail

Probably none.

But now with the most filled swamp in history, maybe some bribes can be passed and things will come back. Might be the only positive effect of the recent idiocy/unpleasantness.

stickguy

this is probably a fairly good deal, just looking at something completely different!

http://www.royaleasing.com/detail-2013-lexus-rx_450h-used-16725611.html

stickguy

my son is coming home to visit next weekend. Told him we could look at some cars. His suggestion was an RS3. Pretty sure it isn't for me, and I know I should not encourage him.

benjaminh

Reports at that the

stickguy said:

my son is coming home to visit next weekend. Told him we could look at some cars. His suggestion was an RS3. Pretty sure it isn't for me, and I know I should not encourage him.

2018 Audi RS 3

Starting at $54,900

Engine type
Five-cylinder
0—60 mph acceleration
3.9 seconds
Horsepower
400 @ 5,850 – 7,000 rpm

It's more than double your budget. And who needs to get to 60 in less than 4 seconds? 6-8 seconds seems fast enough imho.

28firefighter

I don’t believe “need” is a word any one of us here would use when describing our vehicle choices. 

benjaminh

stickguy said:

my son is coming home to visit next weekend. Told him we could look at some cars. His suggestion was an RS3. Pretty sure it isn't for me, and I know I should not encourage him.

I think the closest thing to this in your budget is a base VW GTI. With discounts my local VW dealer has a GTI for c. 23k. But, as you know, if you wait just a month or so for a 2018 your VW warranty will be twice as long.

roadburner

benjaminh said:

m

It's more than double your budget. And who needs to get to 60 in less than 4 seconds? 6-8 seconds seems fast enough imho.

0-60 in 5 seconds is my minimum standard for a modern car; my Club Sport is an 8 second 0-60 car and it feels very slow. It's still a ball to drive, but hardly "fast enough."

corvette

I survived the Mustang's first road trip to a wedding this weekend. About 450 miles roundtrip, split between Saturday and today. It's comfortable and quiet for what it is, and very fast! About 22 MPG, including several full-throttle launches. The tires provide great traction for acceleration and cornering. My left leg is a little cramped up (yes, it's an automatic, so it's not the clutch). I think the Tahoe may be a better road trip choice if I'm going to be driving thousands of miles.

breld

Wife and I are in London for vacation.  She’s been a couple times, but this is my first time in the UK, so it’s  been a blast (doesn’t hurt it’s just the two of us).  

Always fun to see the cars in a foreign country.  Of course, lots of wagons and hatchbacks. 

breld

There’s also a very cool “Bond in Motion” exhibit with the actual vehicles used in the films. 

stickguy

My son wants to look at a RS3 because he wants one, not because he thinks I should be getting one.

I have not completely written off the GTI, but am actually more likely to get a regular Golf. But it would be a 2018

fintail

C63 wagon, must be a posh area

benjaminh

stickguy said:

My son wants to look at a RS3 because he wants one, not because he thinks I should be getting one.

I have not completely written off the GTI, but am actually more likely to get a regular Golf. But it would be a 2018

The Accord will save you c. $200 a year on gas compared to a Golf, depending on how much you drive.That's not a lot of money, but that might help make up a some of the price difference between those two cars.

But with the new 6 year warranty, I think the VWs are a very nice car for the money suddenly. With a Honda, if you go past the warranty it seems like a good gamble. But with a VW not so much. But now that risk is gone. Impressive room inside the Golf for the size outside.

One thing kind of nice about the Golf is that it's so rare in the US that it makes a bit of a statement, but in a subtle and logical way.

stickguy

my guess is the Golf, real world in my usage, will get about the same MPG, and I don't put that many miles on it. It will definitely be cheaper to buy. And I do like it being a compact hatch. Really a totally different car. Both have a lot to offer, and would be nice to have (same with the Elantra GT sport).

benjaminh

VW Press release on 2018 Golf....

https://media.vw.com/release/1364/

"HERNDON, VA (April 10, 2017) — Volkswagen’s award-winning Golf family receives styling, technology and driver assistance updates across the lineup. Each refreshed model sharpens its looks and adds even more value over the outgoing version. The revised Golf family goes on sale this Fall as 2018 models.

Interior and Exterior Styling. The updated exterior design showcases sharper lines, with new bumpers and a new chrome grille. Radiant full-LED taillights and Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) come standard, with available full-LED headlights replacing the optional Bi-Xenon headlights in the previous models. Wheel designs and body colors are also refreshed. Interior updates include new trim panels and materials.

Technology. Infotainment systems in 2018 model year vehicles now feature larger, crisper touchscreens. Standard 6.5-inch displays replace the 5-inch screens in previous models. SE and SEL trims feature standard 8-inch touchscreens. The new Volkswagen Digital Cockpit, allowing drivers to customize the vehicle information on the dashboards, is standard on the Golf R.

Driver Assistance Systems. Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist) is now available on most SE trims and above, as is Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert. The updated version of Front Assist now includes Pedestrian Monitoring. Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Departure Warning (Lane Assist), ParkPilot, Parking Steering Assistant (Park Assist), and High Beam Control (Light Assist) are also available on some models.

The 2018 Golf is available with a 1.8L TSI® engine that produces 170 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque (184 lb-ft with the 5-speed manual). Drivers can choose from a 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission on S and SE models; SEL models come standard with the automatic transmission..."

stickguy

I should subcontract all my looking out to you. Thanks for the info. based on this, I would need an SE, and that is probably going to be overpriced. The sweet spot in 2017 was the Wolfsburg edition, which they seem to have done away with.

maybe the pricing will be better than expected, otherwise, will be waiting for massive discounts again!

benjaminh

By late November you will probably be able to get a good discount on a 2018 Golf or 2018 Accord. It won't be the crazy Hyundai discounts you're used to, but something significant.

stickguy

right now the VW and Accord discounts are right up there with Hyundai.

my tentative plan is fake it for 6 weeks or so, and try to nail a good deal right around Christmas (likely the week after, or NY weekend).

Sandman6472

The new Golf looks nice but not sure I really want a do-over and prefer another make and model right now. BMW is the number 1 contender right now but a CPO unit which is more affordable. But will be watching Stick closely to see which one he chooses. About to hit 35K this week so plan on keeping it another couple of years at this point. Works great, newish tires on it which are runflats and lastly, I really like driving it. Thinking is to get the BMW once I retire again.

The Sandman

nyccarguy

"And who needs to get to 60 in less than 4 seconds? 6-8 seconds seems fast enough imho."

are you feeling ok?  Maybe you should sit down for a couple of minutes  

With turbocharging and dual clutch transmissions, getting to 60 in under 4 seconds isn't all that uncommon.  When properly equipped, you can do it in a "base" Porsche Boxster.

benjaminh

Well, there are some people here who drive real sports cars, and that's great!++ But I'm just not one of them....I learned to drive in 1980 in a 1969 VW Bus that took about 25 seconds to get to 60. The c. 7.5 seconds that it takes me to get to 60 in my 2016 Accord EX still seems pretty good to me. But I have to say that the c. 8.5 seconds that it took in my 2008 Accord increasingly seemed slow as the years passed. So acceleration is obviously a moving target in terms of expectations....

tbirdmarco

@stickguy was way off on what you should be getting off on those 2017 Acords! if I would hnowen was that car thaght was an nother brand of car that is y did not take off as much! nice that next weekend your sun is cumming to visit and you all will do sum car looking!

tbirdmarco

@breld have an fun time in England over sees you and your wife! all cars picks you posted above!

tbirdmarco

@corvette glad you had an nice road trip there and back from the weding you whent to with the Mustang this past weekend!

tbirdmarco

just came back from an long weekend upstate at older brothers house good time with family like alwas! keeped up on this bord on my phone witch was an good thing just cant respond on the phone yet have to work on that tho! hope everyone had an good weekend have an good upcumming week all!

stickguy

here is something different. I really like this one overall. Maybe not the interior color. But the rest of it, like I would do it! No clue if the price is good, bad or fantasy!

http://www.eimports4less.com/detail-1967-plymouth-barracuda-barracuda_restomod_5_speed_manual_trans-used-16876902.html

tjc78

That car seems really well done.  Electric fans, AC, modern stereo.  Heck with as much as you drive it may actually work for you ! 

benjaminh

Motor Trend says that the 2018 Accord 2.0T 10AT goes 0-60 in 5.7 seconds.

kyfdx

benjaminh said:

Motor Trend says that the 2018 Accord 2.0T 10AT goes 0-60 in 5.7 seconds.

Possible I guess... but, straining credulity.

benjaminh

kyfdx said:

benjaminh said:

Motor Trend says that the 2018 Accord 2.0T 10AT goes 0-60 in 5.7 seconds.

Possible I guess... but, straining credulity.

Car and Driver says the same thing. But those numbers can be taken with a grain of salt, like all magazine numbers for all cars.

ab348

I hate to think how much flex would be in that Barracuda given what looks like a strong engine and the convertible platform. Those were based on a Valiant, remember, and were not all that robust. Just a couple of weeks ago there was an original one of those at a cruise-in locally - factory 383 automatic convertible, unrestored, really quite nice. Can't remember the last time I saw one around here.

stickguy

5.7 seemsvrwasonable for the power output, weight and gears.

Mr_Shiftright

stickguy said:

here is something different. I really like this one overall. Maybe not the interior color. But the rest of it, like I would do it! No clue if the price is good, bad or fantasy!

http://www.eimports4less.com/detail-1967-plymouth-barracuda-barracuda_restomod_5_speed_manual_trans-used-16876902.html

Really depends on the quality of the build and how the car drives. Sometimes these resto-mods drive really well and sometimes they are simply awful Frankencars. The dealers always take you to some abandoned air strip to test drive but I advise anyone buying a resto-mod to go find some traffic. Look for harsh ride, heavy clutch, overly noisy exhaust and hi-lift cams.

ab348

Mr_Shiftright said:

stickguy said:

here is something different. I really like this one overall. Maybe not the interior color. But the rest of it, like I would do it! No clue if the price is good, bad or fantasy!

http://www.eimports4less.com/detail-1967-plymouth-barracuda-barracuda_restomod_5_speed_manual_trans-used-16876902.html

Really depends on the quality of the build and how the car drives. Sometimes these resto-mods drive really well and sometimes they are simply awful Frankencars. The dealers always take you to some abandoned air strip to test drive but I advise anyone buying a resto-mod to go find some traffic. Look for harsh ride, heavy clutch, overly noisy exhaust and hi-lift cams.

Yep. A race engine doesn't work too well in traffic. And I always get nervous when I see all those metal-braided hoses and chrome catalog pieces under the hood.

Mr_Shiftright

Lowering the car too much and using poly bushings can also make for an unpleasant ride on anything less than smooth straight roads.

It really takes a good deal of thought to build a nice custom. Ordering from a catalog and bolting parts on without a proper introduction to each other can lead to disappointment.

I've seen guys bolt on suspension and disk brake conversion kits only to throw them away and buy another kit that was infinitely better.

stickguy

Some good news today. Had my lease turn in pre-evaluation done on the sonata. Nice lady that did it reported no charges due, so at least not getting dinged for anything. I was worried about the windshield star I had repaired, but must have been good enough.

Now just need to figure out what to replace it with, and when!

ab348

Speaking of leasing, something over the weekend blew my mind. My old ATS lease was thru GM Financial, who had taken 35 payments out of my bank account automatically. The last payment was due last Monday (9/25) but they did not take it. Instead they sent me an invoice for it. I guess when the dealer took the car back they notified them and they stopped everything for some reason.

So yesterday I was doing my weekly online banking and went to pay the invoice since I had gotten a cheque for that sum from the dealer. I went to pay it online and looked for GM Financial in the list of payees, no dice. I called the 1-800 number on the invoice but no response on a Sunday, which I understand. So I sent an email to the address on the invoice. I got a response this morning - no way to pay them online as they are not set up for electronic banking. Only ways to pay them are via a cheque in the mail or via credit card, but for the latter you need to fill out a form and mail that in first. Unbelievable! So I had to buy a stamp and mail them a cheque. What a pain. Hard to believe in this day and age.

stickguy

Hyundai financial for some reason stopped my autopay a month early. Intentionally, not because I set it up that way. Now I have to call this week to make last payment.

breld

Another couple viewings while walking around London today.  

At an Audi dealership right in the middle of the city (more of a boutique really).  



And this, spotted on the street, was really cool.  Golf R wagon.

stickguy

I love how in Europe everyone folds their mirrors in

breld

And even though available in the US, these were the other two cars in the Audi shop...

28firefighter

My buddy lives in London (moved from Seattle earlier this year) and bought an S3 Sportback. Loves it but says he barely gets to open it up in London traffic. He had a 2015 GTI SE while he lived here.

stickguy

got another little bonus today. Volvo sent a packet in the mail, which included an offer for a $75 gift card for taking a test drive. Considering that I was planning to stop in anyway, a nice surprise and good timing.