I am already pissed enough that there is now a FLOOD of cars coming on the market without a separate coolant temp gauge on the dash.
It's almost a moot point--modern dash coolant gauges are crippled. They're designed to register at midpoint across a very broad range, so you never really know if the engine is running "a little" hot or cool.
The Dodge Charger I rented in Las Vegas actually did get cooler than the midpoint when the car was in third gear, going downhill on a mountain road at about 60 MPH.
One thing to really give me pause on great German ideas (I'm maybe 1/8 German so I can complain a little bit) was that 80 Rabbit. While still in warranty it managed to have the sensor for the coolant die at the same time as the electric fan on the radiator. Engine soup. The local VW guy where I bought it from tried to dump that on me but the moment they had a letter from my brother the lawyer along with all the maintenance records they suddenly reconsidered.
I really miss gauges. On my old 54 Mercedes (a $250 car) you could tell from the oil pressure gauge exactly when it needed a quart. This was a good thing as it was a pretty frequent occurrence.
2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
I was loyal to Allstate for about 15 years(even though I shopped their price every couple of three years). Then about 4 years ago Erie Ins. saved me about $400/ year.
I was with Allstate for awhile too, and like you, Erie saved me big-time! I was still with Allstate, and getting a cheaper married rate when I bought my 2000 Intrepid. I had, umm, forgotten to tell them that I had gotten divorced. Anyway, Allstate was charging me $900 per year. Erie cut that down to about $550 per year, and that was with the more expensive single rate!
I just got my renewal in the mail, and it comes out to about $540 for the Intrepid, $320 for my pickup, and $320 apiece for my two '79 New Yorkers. I remember my insurance rates went up in 2005 because I moved to a higher-risk county, but then dropped in 2006 because I turned 35, and the 35-39 bracket is cheaper. Annoyingly, I actually turned 35 on April 2, 2005, but my insurance renewed on March 20, so I had been 35 for almost a year before finally getting cut some slack!
$1600 sounds good for full coverage on 3 vehicles. I have full coverage on my Intrepid, but only liability on the other three. I thought about dropping it on the Trep, but if it got totaled I'd still probably get around $3-4K for it. And dropping comprehensive and collision would only save me about $150 per year.
Just talked to my agent .. I've taken a new position with my company that allows me to work from home when I want. At the moment, I'm doing just a couple of days a week (I still like the social aspects of coming into the office).
Anyway, I was told that here in Colorado, the state laws just changed so that Uninsured Motorist coverage only needs to be on one vehicle, but that all vehicles at that address are covered. The rates for UM went up, but because I can now drop it for the other two cars, I'm going to save about $200 a year.
Not too shabby for a 5 minute phone call.
Still reluctant to call Geico or Progressive. Have been with State Farm for 15 years and have received excellent service from them on the occasions where we needed it.
I like the Z4 in black on black only to hide the flame surfacing. I thought the Z3 was a better looker, but I know I am in the minority.
Yeah, the Z4 roadster is okay; I had a Z3, so I am partial to that too, I guess. But the coupe is a whole different story. I think the back looks almost Italian. Even though a Cayman is likely a better car, I'd still want that Z coupe. Instant classic.
I'd never use Geico; they led the Safety Geek Jihad against radar detectors. I love returning their postage paid envelopes with a V1 or Escort ad enclosed instead of the insurance application. I do use Progressive for my motorcycle insurance. Considering that I ride a Speed Triple, it's very inexpensive- $132/year for liability and comprehensive coverage.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
So, you haven't tried the trick of the postage paid card glued to a brick yet?
Oh I like that sooooooo much. We always use pre-paid envelopes to send other companies' offerings back; Mastercard to MBNA, AMEX to Visa etc, but always minus any identifying paperwork, of course. An attached brick or old ceramic tile really appeals to the devil in me.
wow. i do the same thing and never thought of adding heavy scraps, either. hmmmm...
I have a few old 10" brake drums from a '68 Dart that might serve in a pinch. I was cleaning out one of my sheds the other day and came across them. Totally forgot that I still had them, and wondered why I held onto them. Guess I must have thought they'd be useful for something, someday....
Maybe it's time to send a special delivery to Providian Bank. :P
One thing to really give me pause on great German ideas (I'm maybe 1/8 German so I can complain a little bit) was that 80 Rabbit.
I actually had a deposit down on a new '79 diesel (!) Rabbit, in 1979 (duh). I bailed at the last minute & bought a new stripper 1200cc Corolla stick for something like $2K. My ex & I ran it for 7-8 years, & paid about $200 for maintenence & repairs, total. Came in last in a R&T test of econo-cars, but they said it was "bullet-proof". Always started, always ran, as lame as it was in handling, etc., it was like part of the family.
There's something very appealing about being ridiculously frugal with cars......
A house that we are interested in has come on to the market. So, we might just try to mosey down the path to real home ownership. Of course this means some sacrifices, like the 06 Ram has to go and my beautiful horse trailer, but me thinks that just might be worth it!
We would actually be moving out of the boonies and into real civilization!
I'm assuming that it has a garage for the new Pilot? How many spaces?
Well, I guess it did have a garage at one time, but the wife wanted a barn for the horses, so the garage got torn down and a barn was built, LOL. Its ok, the barn is far more useful to me than a garage. There is a concrete foundation for the garage though, so we could build one later on I guess.
I'm hoping this works, but if not, then well, we'll keep looking. Its time to move closer to civilization!
the boonies can be good, if you're young enough, or have enough stamina & energy to deal with it. First thing I do when shopping for a new property (as part of my seemingly eternal moving/house hunting quest) is to do a mapquest on it. To check proximity of Restaurants, grocery stores, doctors, etc.
Real civilization has advantages! Unfortunately for me, around here in urban/suburban Mass., you can't "mosey" into home ownership. The market in desirable towns is still so strong, nice properties can sell in a few days. You practically have to sit in your car 24/7, with the motor running, your laptop on with wi-fi, in order to race to any new listing.
(Then you turn on the news, & real estate is crashing, it's horrible, etc. etc.....). :confuse:
the boonies can be good, if you're young enough, or have enough stamina & energy to deal with it.
Very true! I don't mind the boonies at all, but I do mind being 100 miles from town. That gets on my nerves big time. Sometimes though I love our quiet little spot, no neighbors, off the road a ways, so peaceful. We were standing outside last night watching the northern lights dance across the sky, I really questioned our decision to move.
However, when I snap back to reality and think about the fact my son will be starting high school in the fall and the schools around here are truely terrible or the fact I'm not getting any younger and need to think about a career that's something other than a mom. Ya, those things push me towards moving into civilization.
It is hard though when I think of what we have to give up, our 2006 Dodge Ram, our 2000 American 4 horse trailer, our quiet isolated lifestyle, lots of stuff. Its all about sacrifices and priorities though. Better schools, more opportunities for our kids, ya, its worth it.
I was lucky that just by chance I bought in Southern California in early 1996. The market was really depressed and I bought a bank repossession. The house had sat empty for 4 years which is terrible for a house in the desert. I bought the house at 27.5% of the original asking price from just before the owner gave it back to the bank in '92.
Now 12 years later, I could easily sell my house and adjacent vacant lot (that I purchased a few years later) for AT LEAST 4 times what I paid. If the market starts to turn around, I might could get five times what I paid. This was one lucky situation as you never know when the bottom of the market is.
To get back on track, I have a garage that has three single garage doors but I can park four cars in it. From left to right, the spaces are LONG, MEDIUM and REGULAR. Because spots 1 and 2 are rather long, I can put a car sideways at the end to fit everything in. Right now, the Honda CR-V is sideways at the end of the garage. I switch them around as to balance out the miles.
Akangl, I hope that you can build a garage if that house works out. Especially up north, I would have to have some type of covered parking. The sun here in the desert will eat your car alive!
Mark
2010 Land Rover LR4, 2013 Honda CR-V, 2009 Bentley GTC, 1990 MB 500SL, 2001 MB S500, 2007 Lincoln TC, 1964 RR Silver Cloud III, 1995 MB E320 Cab., 2015 Prevost Liberty Coach
watching the northern lights dance across the sky, I really questioned our decision to move
Personally, I find it hard to evaluate all the pros & cons of moving to a new area--you can do it rationally, make a list, etc., but if you really like even 50-75% of what you have in your current place, it can be tough. And you're evaluating "what you know", against "the unknown".
100 miles from town, in AK? Sounds almost like a Jack London story, a great adventure. But personally, I vote for civilization, & home ownership, if the house & price make sense.......& hey, you've got a new Pilot, you'll fit into any 'burb in the USA!
If you are planning to buy a new vehicle soon, but are holding off for the time being, a reporter wants to talk with you. Please respond to ctalati@edmunds.com with your daytime contact information and a few words about your experience no later than Wednesday, March 19, 2008.
need some group therapy. I'm seriously thinking I'll be leaping off the wagon very soon. It would be such a bad financial move given the current state of my lease.
The following is what I posted on another thread, but is better suited here:
Plans were to go to the NYAIS today, but that kind of fell apart. So I went to the volvo dealer instead. This dealer is the one I bought my S70 from all those years ago. They had an '04 S60R 6-speed advertised on their site. Of course, I found out that was sold. But they were kind enough to allow me to test drive a C30 2.0 6-speed demo. It was OK. I'm not enamored with the tranny. The clutch, however, is very very light. Maybe too light. The car felt tight, light, and fairly well balanced. Power was adequate. Problem was, I didn't fit comfortably. Its just a smidge off. I could almost live with the leg room, but the big problem was how tight it was under the dash. My size 14s would get caught up under there every time I needed to shift or move to the brake.
They were then kind enough to let me drive an '04 automatic S60R they had with 69k miles on the clock. Honestly, I'm in love! And all the bad things I've read about the auto tranny in that car I feel are completely unwarranted. It is NOT slow! And WOW do I love that adjustable suspension. It feels like a Lexus in the comfort setting, a bimmer in the Sport setting, and a kit car in the Advanced setting. This thing is FUN FUN FUN! The grip is just amazing. I kept trying to induce some sort of sliding, but it just refused. That is, at least, at the speeds I was driving, which was about the max I am comfortable with on public roads. I think this is going to be the car. After driving a used 330i a month or so ago, I thought that would be the one, but, at the same time, I didn't feel like I HAD to have one. This car is different. It is calling to me.
The 2 that they had were both wrong for me, which is probably a good thing. 69k miles is too many and the other one was an '06 with 14k miles, so that was too expensive. They say they'll call if another comes around. I'd like to try the 6-speed, but I think I may be perfectly happy with the auto.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
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oh yeah, i do. But now that I've talked myself into an '06 model (6-speed auto came out that year), it ain't gonna happen. We can't bump my payment that high right now. Maybe after my wife's lease is gone.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Nah, it is time to keep it. Now that you are over 100k the value dropped another $500. At least that is what the used car manager tod me when I went to trade in my Exploder as 99,600 miles. I had made the deal with my trade and told them I would be back in 2 days to complete the deal. He said just make sure I kept the mileage under 100k or he would deduct $500 from the deal.
has an '04 S60R with 33K miles, asking $24K. Good price? Looks like a real fun car. Has orange leather seats. They also have an '06 V70R, 10K miles, asking $32,995, but that one's an automatic. :-(
I was there to take a look at the C30 - I like the looks a lot, and I assume that the base model, while less sporty-handling than a base model GTI, would be significantly more reliable over the long haul. They had several with a stick - very encouraging. I like the version 2.0 as well, but it gets near the top of my price range with typical options...gotta have the moonroof, dontcha' know. ;-)
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
The base C30 seems like a pretty good deal. Hard to say if the reliability will be there long term; late Volvos make me a little nervous and I personally wouldn't want one past the B2B warranty. Still, a very cool car, and is likely a way better gamble than a GTI!
I went to the auto show in Denver on Friday night. Random comments about what I saw and sat in:
Nissan Maxima
Oh, wow ... and not in a good way. Very interesting shape, almost like different design teams worked on the front and rear of the car. Quite bulbous in the rear. Looks like a 7-series from the rear 3/4 view. Odd.
BMW 1-Series
This was the car I really came to see. Found it to be much better looking in person than in pictures. Found that I fit in it just fine. Not a huge fan of the red (or whatever they call it) leather that was in the show car. I'd probably stick with a more traditional color.
Mini Cooper Clubman
I was quite surprised by how much I liked the looks of this. The dual rear doors, while funky, are pretty cool, though I'm not entirely sure how practical they would be with really bulky items. There is quite a bit of space available when the rear seats are folded down. Was also impressed by the 28/37 MPG of the base model.
However, earlier today I did something that will probably keep me in the L-series for a few more years .. had a new car stereo installed. Has both an AUX jack and a USB port for my iPod, which allows me to control it through the stereo. The stereo also came with a remote, which is not something I expected. Overall, the shop did a nice job with the installation and I'm pleased with how it all works and sounds.
Keeping my fingers crossed that I don't have any major mechanical expenses anytime soon.
But, just to keep my joneses going for a new car, the AutoNation dealers here in Denver are advertising their "120% of KBB trade in" promotion. Took a quick look at the L and, for "Good" condition, they quote $7200 and for "Fair" condition, $6200.
I just gotta keep telling myself "I don't need a new car, I don't need a new car". The nice thing is that I've only put 2900 miles on the L since the middle of December - it's nice to have the option of working from home!
The new stereo probably bought you another 3-4 months of not getting the itch, at least with me thats what improvements or a big repair will buy me.
I know that you know the Auto Nation deal is just playing with dollars, the real difference is not going to be 20% more than the next dealer down the street. They will just not discount the new car price. The only place it may work is on a car they are not discounting like a Mini.
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(hm... isn't this under the "always" category for this crowd?)
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name. 2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h) Review your vehicle
It has navigation, 18" rims, seems like just about the works for this model, I should think. And it IS Volvo-certified. And yes, it is a 6-speed stick.
I figured the price was on the high side, my experience is that CPO cars are universally overpriced regardless of manufacturer and/or dealer.
But it sounds like I might be thankful for an extended warranty, from what someone else said. I thought Volvos were a fairly safe bet, reliability-wise.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Fezo - the one I drove was at Princeton Volvo. I've dealt with them and the other 2 you mention and I really only want to ever deal with Princeton in the future.
nippon - the prices I gave are based on Galves plus $3500-$4k to compensate for profit and certification. So that unit you say is somewhere around $8k-$9k over wholesale, which is more than ridiculous, IMHO. Stick and Nav is about $16k-$16.5k wholesale.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
A reporter from a large newspaper hopes to speak with consumers who just purchased a used car vs. a new car because you were looking to save money because of the current economic conditions. If you just bought a used car, please respond to ctalati@edmunds.com with your daytime contact information no later than Friday, April 4, 2008.
Comments
It's almost a moot point--modern dash coolant gauges are crippled. They're designed to register at midpoint across a very broad range, so you never really know if the engine is running "a little" hot or cool.
The Dodge Charger I rented in Las Vegas actually did get cooler than the midpoint when the car was in third gear, going downhill on a mountain road at about 60 MPH.
But because I love the Z4 coupe so much, I guess I can forgive them.
25 NX 450h+ / 24 Sienna Plat AWD / 23 Civic Type-R / 21 Boxster GTS 4.0 / 03 Montero Ltd
I really miss gauges. On my old 54 Mercedes (a $250 car) you could tell from the oil pressure gauge exactly when it needed a quart. This was a good thing as it was a pretty frequent occurrence.
I was with Allstate for awhile too, and like you, Erie saved me big-time! I was still with Allstate, and getting a cheaper married rate when I bought my 2000 Intrepid. I had, umm, forgotten to tell them that I had gotten divorced. Anyway, Allstate was charging me $900 per year. Erie cut that down to about $550 per year, and that was with the more expensive single rate!
I just got my renewal in the mail, and it comes out to about $540 for the Intrepid, $320 for my pickup, and $320 apiece for my two '79 New Yorkers. I remember my insurance rates went up in 2005 because I moved to a higher-risk county, but then dropped in 2006 because I turned 35, and the 35-39 bracket is cheaper. Annoyingly, I actually turned 35 on April 2, 2005, but my insurance renewed on March 20, so I had been 35 for almost a year before finally getting cut some slack!
$1600 sounds good for full coverage on 3 vehicles. I have full coverage on my Intrepid, but only liability on the other three. I thought about dropping it on the Trep, but if it got totaled I'd still probably get around $3-4K for it. And dropping comprehensive and collision would only save me about $150 per year.
Anyway, I was told that here in Colorado, the state laws just changed so that Uninsured Motorist coverage only needs to be on one vehicle, but that all vehicles at that address are covered. The rates for UM went up, but because I can now drop it for the other two cars, I'm going to save about $200 a year.
Not too shabby for a 5 minute phone call.
Still reluctant to call Geico or Progressive. Have been with State Farm for 15 years and have received excellent service from them on the occasions where we needed it.
Yeah, the Z4 roadster is okay; I had a Z3, so I am partial to that too, I guess. But the coupe is a whole different story. I think the back looks almost Italian. Even though a Cayman is likely a better car, I'd still want that Z coupe. Instant classic.
25 NX 450h+ / 24 Sienna Plat AWD / 23 Civic Type-R / 21 Boxster GTS 4.0 / 03 Montero Ltd
I'd never use Geico; they led the Safety Geek Jihad against radar detectors. I love returning their postage paid envelopes with a V1 or Escort ad enclosed instead of the insurance application.
I do use Progressive for my motorcycle insurance. Considering that I ride a Speed Triple, it's very inexpensive- $132/year for liability and comprehensive coverage.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Thanks! Now I have something new to try... :P
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
I'll be looking for my 10% commission in the mail. :shades:
Heck, I'll take a dinner out instead!
Oh I like that sooooooo much. We always use pre-paid envelopes to send other companies' offerings back; Mastercard to MBNA, AMEX to Visa etc, but always minus any identifying paperwork, of course. An attached brick or old ceramic tile really appeals to the devil in me.
I could probably swing that. Although depending on where you'd want to go, I might be better off just sending you the 10%
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
I don't have expensive tastes ... really, I don't.
Heck, I drive a Saturn, for gosh sakes!
I have a few old 10" brake drums from a '68 Dart that might serve in a pinch. I was cleaning out one of my sheds the other day and came across them. Totally forgot that I still had them, and wondered why I held onto them. Guess I must have thought they'd be useful for something, someday....
Maybe it's time to send a special delivery to Providian Bank. :P
I actually had a deposit down on a new '79 diesel (!) Rabbit, in 1979 (duh). I bailed at the last minute & bought a new stripper 1200cc Corolla stick for something like $2K. My ex & I ran it for 7-8 years, & paid about $200 for maintenence & repairs, total. Came in last in a R&T test of econo-cars, but they said it was "bullet-proof". Always started, always ran, as lame as it was in handling, etc., it was like part of the family.
There's something very appealing about being ridiculously frugal with cars......
I'd have been disappointed if you said you didn't. :P
dad23 - I've been out to dinner with michaellll. He's a cheap date. Go for it. You'll come in under budget.
Hey now, don't you go sullying my pristine internet reputation with comments like that. I'd like to keep some of the mystery about my persona intact.
However, fezo is right .. I am a cheap date.
Hate to burst your bubble, but I think they may just throw it away. It was a nice thought, though!
Gee, michaelll. I guess the cat's out of the bag now....
We would actually be moving out of the boonies and into real civilization!
I'm assuming that it has a garage for the new Pilot? How many spaces?
Keep is posted!
Mark
Well, I guess it did have a garage at one time, but the wife wanted a barn for the horses, so the garage got torn down and a barn was built, LOL. Its ok, the barn is far more useful to me than a garage. There is a concrete foundation for the garage though, so we could build one later on I guess.
I'm hoping this works, but if not, then well, we'll keep looking. Its time to move closer to civilization!
Real civilization has advantages! Unfortunately for me, around here in urban/suburban Mass., you can't "mosey" into home ownership. The market in desirable towns is still so strong, nice properties can sell in a few days. You practically have to sit in your car 24/7, with the motor running, your laptop on with wi-fi, in order to race to any new listing.
(Then you turn on the news, & real estate is crashing, it's horrible, etc. etc.....). :confuse:
Good luck with it tho, sounds promising!
Very true! I don't mind the boonies at all, but I do mind being 100 miles from town. That gets on my nerves big time. Sometimes though I love our quiet little spot, no neighbors, off the road a ways, so peaceful. We were standing outside last night watching the northern lights dance across the sky, I really questioned our decision to move.
However, when I snap back to reality and think about the fact my son will be starting high school in the fall and the schools around here are truely terrible or the fact I'm not getting any younger and need to think about a career that's something other than a mom. Ya, those things push me towards moving into civilization.
It is hard though when I think of what we have to give up, our 2006 Dodge Ram, our 2000 American 4 horse trailer, our quiet isolated lifestyle, lots of stuff. Its all about sacrifices and priorities though. Better schools, more opportunities for our kids, ya, its worth it.
Now 12 years later, I could easily sell my house and adjacent vacant lot (that I purchased a few years later) for AT LEAST 4 times what I paid. If the market starts to turn around, I might could get five times what I paid. This was one lucky situation as you never know when the bottom of the market is.
To get back on track, I have a garage that has three single garage doors but I can park four cars in it. From left to right, the spaces are LONG, MEDIUM and REGULAR. Because spots 1 and 2 are rather long, I can put a car sideways at the end to fit everything in. Right now, the Honda CR-V is sideways at the end of the garage. I switch them around as to balance out the miles.
Akangl, I hope that you can build a garage if that house works out. Especially up north, I would have to have some type of covered parking. The sun here in the desert will eat your car alive!
Mark
Personally, I find it hard to evaluate all the pros & cons of moving to a new area--you can do it rationally, make a list, etc., but if you really like even 50-75% of what you have in your current place, it can be tough. And you're evaluating "what you know", against "the unknown".
100 miles from town, in AK? Sounds almost like a Jack London story, a great adventure. But personally, I vote for civilization, & home ownership, if the house & price make sense.......& hey, you've got a new Pilot, you'll fit into any 'burb in the USA!
good luck, woody
The following is what I posted on another thread, but is better suited here:
Plans were to go to the NYAIS today, but that kind of fell apart. So I went to the volvo dealer instead. This dealer is the one I bought my S70 from all those years ago. They had an '04 S60R 6-speed advertised on their site. Of course, I found out that was sold. But they were kind enough to allow me to test drive a C30 2.0 6-speed demo. It was OK. I'm not enamored with the tranny. The clutch, however, is very very light. Maybe too light. The car felt tight, light, and fairly well balanced. Power was adequate. Problem was, I didn't fit comfortably. Its just a smidge off. I could almost live with the leg room, but the big problem was how tight it was under the dash. My size 14s would get caught up under there every time I needed to shift or move to the brake.
They were then kind enough to let me drive an '04 automatic S60R they had with 69k miles on the clock. Honestly, I'm in love! And all the bad things I've read about the auto tranny in that car I feel are completely unwarranted. It is NOT slow! And WOW do I love that adjustable suspension. It feels like a Lexus in the comfort setting, a bimmer in the Sport setting, and a kit car in the Advanced setting. This thing is FUN FUN FUN! The grip is just amazing. I kept trying to induce some sort of sliding, but it just refused. That is, at least, at the speeds I was driving, which was about the max I am comfortable with on public roads. I think this is going to be the car. After driving a used 330i a month or so ago, I thought that would be the one, but, at the same time, I didn't feel like I HAD to have one. This car is different. It is calling to me.
The 2 that they had were both wrong for me, which is probably a good thing. 69k miles is too many and the other one was an '06 with 14k miles, so that was too expensive. They say they'll call if another comes around. I'd like to try the 6-speed, but I think I may be perfectly happy with the auto.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
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Smelling blood in the water....
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
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I have 9 months to go on my 30,000 mile lease, and I've only put 10,500 miles on my car... Time to start planning some summer road trips...
ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!! (you expected me to say different?? :P )
My Pilot is 8 months old and just turned 20k yesterday. At this rate I'll be over 100k by the time its around 3 years old.
Right now its whining for an oil change.......reminds me everytime I start it. :sick:
AWD?? Whatever, I agree, look for a way lower mileage one. And even CR gives it good reliability ratings.....
I was there to take a look at the C30 - I like the looks a lot, and I assume that the base model, while less sporty-handling than a base model GTI, would be significantly more reliable over the long haul. They had several with a stick - very encouraging. I like the version 2.0 as well, but it gets near the top of my price range with typical options...gotta have the moonroof, dontcha' know. ;-)
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
25 NX 450h+ / 24 Sienna Plat AWD / 23 Civic Type-R / 21 Boxster GTS 4.0 / 03 Montero Ltd
Nissan Maxima
Oh, wow ... and not in a good way. Very interesting shape, almost like different design teams worked on the front and rear of the car. Quite bulbous in the rear. Looks like a 7-series from the rear 3/4 view. Odd.
BMW 1-Series
This was the car I really came to see. Found it to be much better looking in person than in pictures. Found that I fit in it just fine. Not a huge fan of the red (or whatever they call it) leather that was in the show car. I'd probably stick with a more traditional color.
Mini Cooper Clubman
I was quite surprised by how much I liked the looks of this. The dual rear doors, while funky, are pretty cool, though I'm not entirely sure how practical they would be with really bulky items. There is quite a bit of space available when the rear seats are folded down. Was also impressed by the 28/37 MPG of the base model.
However, earlier today I did something that will probably keep me in the L-series for a few more years .. had a new car stereo installed. Has both an AUX jack and a USB port for my iPod, which allows me to control it through the stereo. The stereo also came with a remote, which is not something I expected. Overall, the shop did a nice job with the installation and I'm pleased with how it all works and sounds.
Keeping my fingers crossed that I don't have any major mechanical expenses anytime soon.
But, just to keep my joneses going for a new car, the AutoNation dealers here in Denver are advertising their "120% of KBB trade in" promotion. Took a quick look at the L and, for "Good" condition, they quote $7200 and for "Fair" condition, $6200.
I just gotta keep telling myself "I don't need a new car, I don't need a new car". The nice thing is that I've only put 2900 miles on the L since the middle of December - it's nice to have the option of working from home!
I know that you know the Auto Nation deal is just playing with dollars, the real difference is not going to be 20% more than the next dealer down the street. They will just not discount the new car price. The only place it may work is on a car they are not discounting like a Mini.
If so, that's WAY high. In my neck o' the woods, $19k-$19.5k should buy that car with volvo certified warranty. $17.5k-$18k without.
Add about $1k for nav and $1500 for auto trans.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
(hm... isn't this under the "always" category for this crowd?)
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2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
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I figured the price was on the high side, my experience is that CPO cars are universally overpriced regardless of manufacturer and/or dealer.
But it sounds like I might be thankful for an extended warranty, from what someone else said. I thought Volvos were a fairly safe bet, reliability-wise.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
I've dealt with them and the other 2 you mention and I really only want to ever deal with Princeton in the future.
nippon - the prices I gave are based on Galves plus $3500-$4k to compensate for profit and certification. So that unit you say is somewhere around $8k-$9k over wholesale, which is more than ridiculous, IMHO. Stick and Nav is about $16k-$16.5k wholesale.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S