One thing I'll say--you don't seem to have any trouble making decisions!
The 330i is almost the way I'd have ordered one myself; auto., SPP, etc. altho I might have gotten Xenons, & maybe one in red or blue if they have any nice red or blue shades right now.
Good to know bmw is offering better stereos now.....that wasn't always the case, even with the "upgraded stereo option". I haven't heard the Mark Levinson in a Lexus, but I drove a LX470 once with the Nakamichi system, the best car audio system I've ever heard (I should have bought the vehicle based on that alone).
The stereo in my 6 y.o. 5 series is......."OK"....., nothing great, but I really like the CD changer. I have great FM stations in my area, & what the stereo lacks are "sins of Omission, not Comission". And then, there's the handling, the nice interior, & Engine Music to keep one entertained......
But it's still pretty much hated by all the U.S. media. I know I've been using Japanese cars for the past 15 years. I'd rather have buttons. The more, the merrier.
As for the Honda NAV system, it's supplied by Alpine. BMW's I think is supplied by Siemens VDO.
The 12 year old Nakamichi in my old LS was phenomenal. And the Mark Levinson I heard in the IS at the "Taste of Lexus" event was quite good too. But I listen to mostly techno, house and ambient anyway.
I used to transport cars for Carmax and have driven a few Bimmer cross country. I never have been impressed my thier stereos. But again, that's where opinions come in.
I only bought my TSX with NAV because of the display screen. I like the information display during XM radio.
When Nakamichi was a truly "high end" audio brand in home audio, esp. cassette decks (remember those?), like the Nakamichi Dragon. Also the Nak systems in Lexus's.
I think the deal with bmw's--is that the handling, & driving experience is usually so excellent that you don't focus on the average sounding stereos. That's been my experience....of course, I've drunk the BMW Coolaid......
the BMW Kool-aid is $5 a glass, but its the ultimate drinking experience.
All this talk of high end stereos makes me glad I have a tin ear. I usually like the stock stereo. If it does not have many options , I like it even better. In fact I kind of miss the old style mechanical push buttons.I don't miss the AM stations though.
One issue with touch screen is there is no tactile feedback (although that is changing right now) and the button always requires a glance, where as a hard button (hard control)in a fixed location becomes a balistic movement after a little training (you muscles don't think about from going from the gas to the brake, and your body doesn't check to see if your foot got there). The reach to the radio preset buttons on a car you drive often is also pretty well learned. Eyes off road time when goofing around with in-vehicle systems is a very real concern. This concerns can be mitigated by using other modalities (voice, etc) Brain off road time when goofing around with in-vehicle systems or cell phones may be a bigger concern with few, if any, work-arounds.
rocky....sorry about that. I was actually sitting in Logan airport when I wrote that. Must have been something subliminal. The IS stereo is a Mark LEVINSON. My synapses must have misfired when I wrote that.
Car stereos are funny. We've all run into people that have paid more for their car stereos than their entire car is worth.
Some of these factory systems are becoming very good. They are designed by some of the most respected names in the audio industry (like Levinson, Lexicon, etc). Being something of a home audio "nut", I appreciate the efforts. What one person prefers over another is infinitely variable. Go to a home theater or audio WEB site and you'll see how many companies are actually in the audio biz. You'll also find endless debates on which amplifier or speaker technology is better than others. It's all personal opinion, though.
These Nav systems were once only the province of the very high end in cars. Now, I can get a portable unit at Circuit City for less than $500. Some of them are very good. I travel a lot and use a Garmin NUVI to use in rental cars. It is excellent as a GPS. It also plays MP3s. It's dismal at that function. Consequently, the Nav system in my previous RX8 was poor (it used a knob for navigation, too). That was only 3 years ago. The ones I've seen in use in cars today are worlds better than that one.
Where some of these integrated navi systems get into trouble is when the car manufacturers figure out they can cram many other functions into them by just programming their electronics into them. Heck, I can check my oil levels, see how much pad is left on my brake pads, etc through the unit I have. I can see what they're trying to do. I'm certain it costs less for a manufacturer to cram all these functions into a screen than it is to manufacture more knobs and parts for the same function.
None of these units offer features that you can grasp via a brief explanation by the sales person. Spend some time reading the manual and doing a bit of hands on yields great results, however. I just realized last night that I can use a voice command to speak an address and the navi will take me right to it.
I'm all about "technology" because that happens to be my career. I'm the guy who actually knew how to program my VCR so it wouldn't flash "12:00" all the time.
If you dismiss the technology out of hand after a few minutes as being too complex, you'll be disappointed. Conversely, spend a little time with the manual and a little time doing some hands-on, they are pretty amazing in their capabilities, usefullness and functionality.
Probably the most used fucntion of these systems is "blue tooth" to pair with a blue tooth phone. For better or worse, cell phones are now a way of life. With blue tooth and voice recognition, you can call or receive a call while driving and never take your eyes from the road or you hands from the steering wheel.
Acura has blue tooth capability as does BMW. I've read where some blue tooth phones won't "pair" with in car systems. I've got a Motorola phone, and it paired easily with both Acura and the BMW.
Voice commands are the key to keeping your hands on the steering wheel and your eyes on the road. Change the radio station? Just say the command. Make a phone call? Again, say the command. There are voice commands for everything from changing the temperature, to playing a CD.
I do reach down to my "knob" to scan radio stations. But, that's about the only time I take my right hand off the steering wheel. I can do that function via voice command too, though. It can also be done on the steering wheel buttons.
What scares me most is the folks who "hack" these navi systems to play DVD movies on the navi screen. They've got surround sound alreayd installed via the stereo system. It's like they've got a rolling theater.
I can't fathom why they would want to do that (and yes, I've heard all the excuses of how they want to keep little "johnny" entertained while driving). But, that would be a huge distraction. Yet, people insist on doing that. I've encountered these folks on the road....can see the "movie" playing on their nav screen. They're all by themselves, too. Personally, I think the penalties should be an automatic license suspension to anyone who does that.
My first experience with voice activation was the Clarion "AutoPC" from the late 90s/early 00s. Its pretty amazing how we got from that to the Alpine system in the Acura. I am curious to see how new workload managers play into these systems and the level and types of features drivers will have access to while driving.
Was reading the paper at lunch and noticed that for today and tomorrow only, the John Elway dealerships here in Denver are offering 120% of Blue Book value on trade ins.
If my L is worth $11,500 (according to nada), then 120% is 13,800, which gives me over $6K in equity.
Take a good look at the fine print. Usually those ads are accompanied by a disclaimer stating that it's 120% of Blue Book value of a car in FAIR condition. They also may stipulate it can't have more than a certain number of miles on it and they'll deduct for every paint chip and scratch on the car.
Blue book value is also different than NADA (Blue BOok is usually lower).
Hope it works out, but they always have some "gottchas" in those type of ads.
I saw that too...wondering what the catch is, MSRP on their end? We have an 01 Civic that's paid for, book is $8500 so 120% would be $10,200 down on a 4Runner/Sequoia???
My L would be in fair condition - 49K, runs like a top, no body issues (thank you, polymer panels!), interior could use a good vacuuming and a new drivers side floor mat.
kbb.com shows fair condition trade in value at $9270, good condition at $10,565 and excellent condition at $11,325. 120% of those numbers comes out to $11,124 (fair), $12,678 (good) and $13,590 (excellent). I owe $7400 on it.
I've emailed the dealer to see what the story is. First response from the dealer was:
I have reduced our Prices in hopes of breaking my sales record! (goal is 30, I have 23 so far!)
The Accords are now priced at: (in-stock units) LX= $18,299 EX= $20,299 EX-L = $21,799 EX-V6 = $24,599
These prices end at the end of the month! Want to talk about a better deal?
Prices seem to be below TMV - EX is showing TMV of $21,633 (with destination - $21083 without).
Here's what I got from my "contact" at one of the stores:
unfortunatly the add is semi-deceptive. It is "up to" 120% of NADA "loan value", minus "reconditioning and market adjustments" and "on select vehicles"... Here are some semi-accurate sites to refrence your Civic's value as a trade... Of all the vehicles we could take on trade though, the Civic is one that we really would like to have! try these links: Kelly-> http://www.kbb.com/kb/ki.dll/ke.kb.sp?kbb&&&usedCars;slp Edmunds -> http://www.edmunds.com/tmv/used/index.html
Given the 120% KBB value to be a legit offer (sounds like you're car is already stipulated as "fair condition"...I'd still give it a good wash vacuum before taking it to them), this might be worth investigating. According to Edmunds, there's $750 dealer cash for marketing support on Accords.
TMV in my area for the Accord is as follows... --LX manual trans=$18,544 --LX automatic=$19,225
--EX manual=20,780 --EX automatic=21,523
I didn't look up leather, navi, V6 or SE versions, but in general, their prices look good.
when i bought my mustang gt convertible back in '91, i put antenna in the trunk when i got home from picking it up. it's still there. otoh, in a different vehicle, i like a good audio system. i haven't bought a car in over 2 years. that's a long time for me.
2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
We met the buyers at the airport today. They were planning on driving it back to Tampa, Florida this afternoon. A father (who already owns one Beetle TDI) bought it for his college-age son. They seemed genuinely happy with it. It wasn't in perfect condition, but it would be very difficult to find a 145,000 mile example in better shape. Doubt he will use the heated seats much in Florida.
I still have the X3 loaner. I still haven't driven it a great distance in good weather, but I do like driving it.
Here's what I got from my "contact" at one of the stores:
unfortunatly the add is semi-deceptive. It is "up to" 120% of NADA "loan value", minus "reconditioning and market adjustments" and "on select vehicles"...
Heh. I'd say that John Elway has been engaging in some unsportsmanlike conduct!
I'm not sure ...ignoration is actually a word? At least, I can't find it in Webster's. Ignorer is a word, as is ignoramous, & many other derivations of the word ignore......
The guy's got guts, I'll give him that, driving a 145K VW from KY(?) to Tampa. Hopefully, for his sake, it has A/C?
Glad the X3 loaner is working out. I'm still amazed that a dealer that you didn't buy the car from is doing that for you. That would take the sting out of it for me.....as long as you have a nice bmw to drive, who cares if it's not the exact one you bought?
Yes, the A/C was working well on the Beetle. Haven't heard from them--hope they made it okay from KY to FL, that's a long haul!
They were supposed to have a part for my car here on Thursday, but I haven't heard from them, so I'm not sure what the status is. I think the 2007 X3 with the more powerful engine will really be something!
The people who bought your Beetle are probably broken down on the side of the road somewhere in 95 degree heat in GA & cursing......you, & VW, & ebay.....(sorry, an attempt at sick humor).
I have a huge bias towards vehicles with some "cargo capacity". Why I bought my E-39 wagon. It's really nice being able to load all kinds of stuff in the car, & then still have a great-handling vehicle.
Before that, I test-drove an E-46 3 series wagon, stick, SPP, no other options, & it drove like a go-cart. Possibly the most fun bmw I've ever driven. I also had major lust for an X-5, but soooooo pricey.
Maybe I'll check out the 2007 X3.......lately I've had leanings towards the new RDX tho.....could be fun test drives, except when I tried to test drive an MDX a few years ago, the local Acura dealer wouldn't allow it, you had to order one, & then, I think, they'd "allow" the buyer to actually drive the vehicle(?)......when it arrived......is it just me, or is that a turn-off?
Hmhh yeah that is a turn off on the test drive thing. I will let pretty much anyone test drive a Range Rover as long as they have a valid Drivers license and are over 18.
Not to toot my own horn but check out the LR2 when it comes out I think you will be pleasantly surprised. It should be about equal to the X3 in most capacities for a little less money.
I've actually found a truck that can keep up with me. We just returned from a 4 day fishing trip and the black Ram did wonderfully. Pulled the TT perfectly and averaged 12.5 to 13 mpg, which isn't too bad considering its pulling a 6000 lb windsail! The Titan usually averaged 7-8 mpg pulling the same trailer.
The truck was great, the TT is being a pain this year, it once again popped the trailer running lights fuse in the truck, the toilet is leaking, and the sink is leaking. Probably time for a trip to the dealer, gotta love a house on wheels!!
Nothing more relaxing than standing in ice cold water up over my knees trying to hook onery salmon that only want to jump on the hook of the guy next to me!! Actually we caught quite a few fish and had a great time. Weather was HOT and my sunburn HURTS!!
I'm sort of serious about this: someone should do a Reality TV show about your adventures with your trucks, etc. in AK. Or at least, a magazine article, with pics. Owning a gigantic diesel Ram P/U, going salmon fishing, etc., this is just fantasy stuff for us surbanites on the Right Coast with our fancy bmw's.
I want to say one thing: I think.......I'm the only person on this board who steadfastly supported your diesel Ram P/U idea. Where are all the naysayers now?
I got my car back today. They replaced something called the "intelligent battery sensor." Mine wasn't very intelligent, because it was causing the A/C fan to cut out and preventing the radio from operating in accessory mode. I also suspect it was to blame for the residual heat function not working, but we'll have to wait until winter to know for sure.
There are still some ticks and rattles in the cabin, but they're better than before.
When they pulled the car around, I got inside, started adjusting the seat, and discovered a plastic panel in the passenger side floorboard. I brought it back inside and the service advisor reinstalled it--it was the fuse cover in the glovebox. I've never had occasion to remove it before, so I wasn't certain that was what it was.
I'm happy I don't have to worry about the aircon cutting out. But, the fact that it spent nineteen days out of service in its first thirteen months of ownership will probably factor heavily into ownership decisions as it approaches the end of its warranty. It's also vexing that the radio problem was present from the day that I got it a little over a year ago--it seems like something that should have been caught at the factory or during the Performance Center's pre-delivery inspection.
I'm happy I don't have to worry about the aircon cutting out. But, the fact that it spent nineteen days out of service in its first thirteen months of ownership will probably factor heavily into ownership decisions as it approaches the end of its warranty.
Glad you got your car back and I know where you are coming from. I think I stopped counting at about 50 days out of service (I know it was more) for the Titan in the 18 months I owned it. When I traded it in there was less than 4000 miles left on the powertrain warranty and even though I really liked the truck I couldn't justify owning it past the warranty.
1 – Congratulations on the 330i acquisition. Hope you enjoy it! At least for a while. [ j/k ]
2 – Since I am looking at a 335i as a possibility ( to feed MY habit ) would you mind ‘testing’ something regarding the STEPTRONIC?
When last I drove a 330i, I was puzzled by a couple of the trans. actions - in particular, at ( or near ) WOT, in manumatic mode, it would ignore a request to upshift. Apparently assuming (?) that if you were at WOT, you MUST really, really want to reach max RPM before upshifting.
This is the only such trans. ( I have a manumatic now, and my past 3 have had similar devices ) that I have driven that did ( didn’t do ? ) this.
Would you mind testing this?
I am scheduled to drive 335i Coupes at a “Drive It Hard & We’ll Pay For Gas & Tires” BMW event here near Atlanta in a couple of weeks, but I am not sure I’ll have the opportunity to test this aspect. . .
Thanks, - Ray Looking for a 12 step program for this HP \ TQ addiction . . .
Maybe it's related to being the first-year of a new model? I remember that the '97 5-series had more problems than later years of that version.
ticks and rattles--& radio problems--nineteen days out of service--I probably would be way more frustrated than you, if I had spent around $40K (?) on a brand new car.
I've owned 2 bmw's, & knock wood, both were built like tanks, including the interiors. The late 80's 6-series started having problems at around 10 years old, altho probably nothing unusual for a 10 y.o. car. My current one, a 2000 5-series (& I don't want to tempt fate by bragging about it), has had 3 minor problems in 6 years, & definitely no ticks and rattles. Again, it seems extremely solid & well built, like you imagine an expensive German car should be.
Honestly, If I were you, I'd be thinking of selling it sooner, rather than later--the depreciation curve on most bmw's is not good as the years go by. Esp. if the hassles are starting to weigh on you. I'd rather have a TL, or RDX, even if they're not quite as fun to drive.....
You make some very good points, and, yes, I am disappointed in the fact that the car spent so long out of service.
If I had everything to do over again, I would make some changes. I would probably (gasp) get an automatic. I like driving a manual on a desolate, twisty road, but the other 98% of the time, it doesn't matter so much, and it's occasionally a hassle. I think I want satnav. I'd also like to have something I wouldn't feel guilty about parking outside the garage if/when I need to, but I suspect I'd feel that way with most near-luxury cars (Acura, Lexus, etc).
I've driven some form of sporty/luxury sedan (plus a Grand Am coupe) for most of my driving career, save the brief stint in the Canyon pickup. I think I'd like to try a small or mid-size SUV next time, but I'd still like something that feels sporty.
had a Saturn Vue that needed 150 miles put on it quick. Since I live so far from work I drove it home. It was 2003 AWD V6 (pre-Honda 3.0L) with 15,000 miles. It drove OK. The interior was a far cry from any Honda I have driven. Too much hard plastic and too many shapes and materials. The steering feel real light but it felt pretty stable. All in all I came away thinking "not bad". If a 5-speed manual came through that was a raging bargain (I'm thinking > $5,000) it wouldn't be a bad option for the occasional times we need an SUV-type vehicle.
<$5,000 Would be an absolute steal. <$10,000 You would still be stealin it.
At +/- $12,000 would be about what I would pay for an AWD Vue witk 15k miles. I think with gas prices going up, many people still wanting an SUV are looking at the smaller ones.
Since the beater Dodge Ram died we've been down to basically one functional vehicle - the 2004 Mazda MPV - which has been a pain, but we've made do. Since then I got the Alfa Spider running again, thanks to a complete engine rebuild in my garage, including conversion from the nasty mechanical fuel injection to nice reliable Webers. But I still needed a new commuter for when we move to northern Virginia next week. And the wife made me promise NO MORE BEATERS!
While I was out at our new place for work I started car shopping. I started out looking for used Civic Hybrids, since there are tax / HOV benefits to hybrids where we're moving. Driving them reminded me that I just don't get the Honda thing. Plus, I've gotten used to having a little pickup for hauling around car parts, lawn stuff, bikes, etc.
I've had my eye out on a 2002-2004 Ext cab. 2WD Mazda B2300. They have the excellent 2.3L motor from the Mazda3 / Mazda6, the little jump seats so it will seat the whole family in a pinch, and fantastic gas mileage - 24/29, which is as good as it gets in a pickup. Most ext cabs (including all Ford Rangers) have the rotten 3.0L Vulcan. Reliable, but horrible. I think you gain only 5 HP or so over the 4 cyl but you lose like 6 MPG!
So I find a nice B2300 Ext Cab, about 50 miles from our new place. 2004, 17k miles, Cruise, A/C, CD, kind of a metallic sand color with grey guts. Nice, clean truck. The seller is a very nice lady in her late 50s / early 60s who was recently widowed, and is selling the truck because it was her husband's and she doesn't need it any more. She was asking $11k, I offered $10k. She thought about it, said, "well, I could probably get around $9k from a dealer, so that sounds pretty good."
Then she says something that's like crack cocaine for a car nut... "you wouldn't happen to be interested in a little convertible, would you?" ....
She opens up the garage door, and sitting there is an absolutely pristine white 1992 Miata, all set up for track duty! Roll bar, racing seat, harnesses, etc. Nice Konig wheels with very expensive looking Bridgestones. She tells me her husband would never drive it if it looked like it was going to rain. The paint is phenomenal - not a scratch on the thing. The interior looks brand new. I couldn't resist - I took it for a spin and it was tight and surprisingly fast. Sweet little car, all the way around.
I bring it back and ask, "so how much are you looking for on this?" She responds, "oh, it's going really cheap. Kelly Blue Book says it's only worth about $2500" Me - trying not to choke on my tongue - "So, $12,500 for the pair?" Her - "Sure - you have a deal!"
So now we have the (Mazda) MPV for family hauling, the (Mazda) pickup for everyday driving / work, the (Mazda) Miata for wringing out at the track, and the (Alfa) Spider for cruising, classic car shows, and tinkering in the garage... I think we're set, for a while.
Car buying & owning is all so individual......& there are so many ways to approach it (duh).
I'm almost glad to hear you say you'd prefer an automatic, mainly because that's what I have. I drove an E-39 5 series manual before I bought my car, & the clutch I found very.....twitchy, or like it was on a hair-trigger or something. It was fine while driving, but a drag in bumper-to-bumper traffic or waiting in line at a stop sign. And in Metro-Northeast traffic, it's more survival driving than anything else, & shifting is just one more thing to do/distract.
I just got the new acura RDX brochure. I think it might be a great choice for me for a new vehicle (if I had $33K+ to blow, & if my bmw hadn't already depreciated so much). Good luck with the 3-series tho, hopefully nothing else will go wrong.......
I hit a log hanging from the sky this morning in my RX300. It pretty much tore off my passenger side mirror and put a couple of minor scratches on the side. I figure the damage will just enough to fail to meet my insurance deductible.
Now I really want something else. I can't stand my stupid Lexus.
And, yes, I hit a log hanging from the sky. It didn't occur to me to be on the lookout for this type of situation.
Comments
Rocky
The 330i is almost the way I'd have ordered one myself; auto., SPP, etc. altho I might have gotten Xenons, & maybe one in red or blue if they have any nice red or blue shades right now.
Good to know bmw is offering better stereos now.....that wasn't always the case, even with the "upgraded stereo option". I haven't heard the Mark Levinson in a Lexus, but I drove a LX470 once with the Nakamichi system, the best car audio system I've ever heard (I should have bought the vehicle based on that alone).
The stereo in my 6 y.o. 5 series is......."OK"....., nothing great, but I really like the CD changer. I have great FM stations in my area, & what the stereo lacks are "sins of Omission, not Comission". And then, there's the handling, the nice interior, & Engine Music to keep one entertained......
Enjoy the 330i!
As for the Honda NAV system, it's supplied by Alpine. BMW's I think is supplied by Siemens VDO.
The 12 year old Nakamichi in my old LS was phenomenal. And the Mark Levinson I heard in the IS at the "Taste of Lexus" event was quite good too. But I listen to mostly techno, house and ambient anyway.
I used to transport cars for Carmax and have driven a few Bimmer cross country. I never have been impressed my thier stereos. But again, that's where opinions come in.
I only bought my TSX with NAV because of the display screen. I like the information display during XM radio.
I think the deal with bmw's--is that the handling, & driving experience is usually so excellent that you don't focus on the average sounding stereos. That's been my experience....of course, I've drunk the BMW Coolaid......
All this talk of high end stereos makes me glad I have a tin ear. I usually like the stock stereo. If it does not have many options , I like it even better. In fact I kind of miss the old style mechanical push buttons.I don't miss the AM stations though.
Eyes off road time when goofing around with in-vehicle systems is a very real concern. This concerns can be mitigated by using other modalities (voice, etc) Brain off road time when goofing around with in-vehicle systems or cell phones may be a bigger concern with few, if any, work-arounds.
Car stereos are funny. We've all run into people that have paid more for their car stereos than their entire car is worth.
Some of these factory systems are becoming very good. They are designed by some of the most respected names in the audio industry (like Levinson, Lexicon, etc). Being something of a home audio "nut", I appreciate the efforts. What one person prefers over another is infinitely variable. Go to a home theater or audio WEB site and you'll see how many companies are actually in the audio biz. You'll also find endless debates on which amplifier or speaker technology is better than others. It's all personal opinion, though.
These Nav systems were once only the province of the very high end in cars. Now, I can get a portable unit at Circuit City for less than $500. Some of them are very good. I travel a lot and use a Garmin NUVI to use in rental cars. It is excellent as a GPS. It also plays MP3s. It's dismal at that function. Consequently, the Nav system in my previous RX8 was poor (it used a knob for navigation, too). That was only 3 years ago. The ones I've seen in use in cars today are worlds better than that one.
Where some of these integrated navi systems get into trouble is when the car manufacturers figure out they can cram many other functions into them by just programming their electronics into them. Heck, I can check my oil levels, see how much pad is left on my brake pads, etc through the unit I have. I can see what they're trying to do. I'm certain it costs less for a manufacturer to cram all these functions into a screen than it is to manufacture more knobs and parts for the same function.
None of these units offer features that you can grasp via a brief explanation by the sales person. Spend some time reading the manual and doing a bit of hands on yields great results, however. I just realized last night that I can use a voice command to speak an address and the navi will take me right to it.
I'm all about "technology" because that happens to be my career. I'm the guy who actually knew how to program my VCR so it wouldn't flash "12:00" all the time.
If you dismiss the technology out of hand after a few minutes as being too complex, you'll be disappointed. Conversely, spend a little time with the manual and a little time doing some hands-on, they are pretty amazing in their capabilities, usefullness and functionality.
Acura has blue tooth capability as does BMW. I've read where some blue tooth phones won't "pair" with in car systems. I've got a Motorola phone, and it paired easily with both Acura and the BMW.
Voice commands are the key to keeping your hands on the steering wheel and your eyes on the road. Change the radio station? Just say the command. Make a phone call? Again, say the command. There are voice commands for everything from changing the temperature, to playing a CD.
I do reach down to my "knob" to scan radio stations. But, that's about the only time I take my right hand off the steering wheel. I can do that function via voice command too, though. It can also be done on the steering wheel buttons.
What scares me most is the folks who "hack" these navi systems to play DVD movies on the navi screen. They've got surround sound alreayd installed via the stereo system. It's like they've got a rolling theater.
I can't fathom why they would want to do that (and yes, I've heard all the excuses of how they want to keep little "johnny" entertained while driving). But, that would be a huge distraction. Yet, people insist on doing that. I've encountered these folks on the road....can see the "movie" playing on their nav screen. They're all by themselves, too. Personally, I think the penalties should be an automatic license suspension to anyone who does that.
I am curious to see how new workload managers play into these systems and the level and types of features drivers will have access to while driving.
Rocky
If my L is worth $11,500 (according to nada), then 120% is 13,800, which gives me over $6K in equity.
Hmm ..... Accord EX?
Blue book value is also different than NADA (Blue BOok is usually lower).
Hope it works out, but they always have some "gottchas" in those type of ads.
Here's the ad with fine print at the bottom...
http://img.travidia.com/rop-ad/3288670
kbb.com shows fair condition trade in value at $9270, good condition at $10,565 and excellent condition at $11,325. 120% of those numbers comes out to $11,124 (fair), $12,678 (good) and $13,590 (excellent). I owe $7400 on it.
I've emailed the dealer to see what the story is. First response from the dealer was:
I have reduced our Prices in hopes of breaking my sales record! (goal is 30, I have 23 so far!)
The Accords are now priced at: (in-stock units)
LX= $18,299
EX= $20,299
EX-L = $21,799
EX-V6 = $24,599
These prices end at the end of the month! Want to talk about a better deal?
Prices seem to be below TMV - EX is showing TMV of $21,633 (with destination - $21083 without).
I responded to his email with the following:
Are the prices below for the coupe? Automatic or manual transmission?
What colors and transmission choices do you have for both the EX and EX-L coupes?
Is it possible to get a ballpark number on my trade?
EDIT: this dealer is way on the other side of town from where I live - probably 35-40 miles.
unfortunatly the add is semi-deceptive. It is "up to" 120% of NADA "loan value", minus "reconditioning and market adjustments" and "on select vehicles"... Here are some semi-accurate sites to refrence your Civic's value as a trade... Of all the vehicles we could take on trade though, the Civic is one that we really would like to have! try these links:
Kelly-> http://www.kbb.com/kb/ki.dll/ke.kb.sp?kbb&&&usedCars;slp
Edmunds -> http://www.edmunds.com/tmv/used/index.html
:shades:
Given the 120% KBB value to be a legit offer (sounds like you're car is already stipulated as "fair condition"...I'd still give it a good wash vacuum before taking it to them), this might be worth investigating. According to Edmunds, there's $750 dealer cash for marketing support on Accords.
TMV in my area for the Accord is as follows...
--LX manual trans=$18,544
--LX automatic=$19,225
--EX manual=20,780
--EX automatic=21,523
I didn't look up leather, navi, V6 or SE versions, but in general, their prices look good.
i haven't bought a car in over 2 years. that's a long time for me.
I still have the X3 loaner. I still haven't driven it a great distance in good weather, but I do like driving it.
unfortunatly the add is semi-deceptive. It is "up to" 120% of NADA "loan value", minus "reconditioning and market adjustments" and "on select vehicles"...
Heh. I'd say that John Elway has been engaging in some unsportsmanlike conduct!
I'm not sure ...ignoration is actually a word? At least, I can't find it in Webster's. Ignorer is a word, as is ignoramous, & many other derivations of the word ignore......
See? You're actually not being ignored at all!
Glad the X3 loaner is working out. I'm still amazed that a dealer that you didn't buy the car from is doing that for you. That would take the sting out of it for me.....as long as you have a nice bmw to drive, who cares if it's not the exact one you bought?
They were supposed to have a part for my car here on Thursday, but I haven't heard from them, so I'm not sure what the status is. I think the 2007 X3 with the more powerful engine will really be something!
I am sorry, did you just post something? :P
BTW, I dislike the newly inconvenient forum navigation as well. And miss the flags...
I have a huge bias towards vehicles with some "cargo capacity". Why I bought my E-39 wagon. It's really nice being able to load all kinds of stuff in the car, & then still have a great-handling vehicle.
Before that, I test-drove an E-46 3 series wagon, stick, SPP, no other options, & it drove like a go-cart. Possibly the most fun bmw I've ever driven. I also had major lust for an X-5, but soooooo pricey.
Maybe I'll check out the 2007 X3.......lately I've had leanings towards the new RDX tho.....could be fun test drives, except when I tried to test drive an MDX a few years ago, the local Acura dealer wouldn't allow it, you had to order one, & then, I think, they'd "allow" the buyer to actually drive the vehicle(?)......when it arrived......is it just me, or is that a turn-off?
Not to toot my own horn but check out the LR2 when it comes out I think you will be pleasantly surprised. It should be about equal to the X3 in most capacities for a little less money.
The truck was great, the TT is being a pain this year, it once again popped the trailer running lights fuse in the truck, the toilet is leaking, and the sink is leaking. Probably time for a trip to the dealer, gotta love a house on wheels!!
Nothing more relaxing than standing in ice cold water up over my knees trying to hook onery salmon that only want to jump on the hook of the guy next to me!! Actually we caught quite a few fish and had a great time. Weather was HOT and my sunburn HURTS!!
I want to say one thing: I think.......I'm the only person on this board who steadfastly supported your diesel Ram P/U idea. Where are all the naysayers now?
cheers, woody
There are still some ticks and rattles in the cabin, but they're better than before.
When they pulled the car around, I got inside, started adjusting the seat, and discovered a plastic panel in the passenger side floorboard. I brought it back inside and the service advisor reinstalled it--it was the fuse cover in the glovebox. I've never had occasion to remove it before, so I wasn't certain that was what it was.
I'm happy I don't have to worry about the aircon cutting out. But, the fact that it spent nineteen days out of service in its first thirteen months of ownership will probably factor heavily into ownership decisions as it approaches the end of its warranty. It's also vexing that the radio problem was present from the day that I got it a little over a year ago--it seems like something that should have been caught at the factory or during the Performance Center's pre-delivery inspection.
Glad you got your car back and I know where you are coming from. I think I stopped counting at about 50 days out of service (I know it was more) for the Titan in the 18 months I owned it. When I traded it in there was less than 4000 miles left on the powertrain warranty and even though I really liked the truck I couldn't justify owning it past the warranty.
2 – Since I am looking at a 335i as a possibility ( to feed MY habit ) would you mind ‘testing’ something regarding the STEPTRONIC?
When last I drove a 330i, I was puzzled by a couple of the trans. actions - in particular, at ( or near ) WOT, in manumatic mode, it would ignore a request to upshift. Apparently assuming (?) that if you were at WOT, you MUST really, really want to reach max RPM before upshifting.
This is the only such trans. ( I have a manumatic now, and my past 3 have had similar devices ) that I have driven that did ( didn’t do ? ) this.
Would you mind testing this?
I am scheduled to drive 335i Coupes at a “Drive It Hard & We’ll Pay For Gas & Tires” BMW event here near Atlanta in a couple of weeks, but I am not sure I’ll have the opportunity to test this aspect. . .
Thanks,
- Ray
Looking for a 12 step program for this HP \ TQ addiction . . .
ticks and rattles--& radio problems--nineteen days out of service--I probably would be way more frustrated than you, if I had spent around $40K (?) on a brand new car.
I've owned 2 bmw's, & knock wood, both were built like tanks, including the interiors. The late 80's 6-series started having problems at around 10 years old, altho probably nothing unusual for a 10 y.o. car. My current one, a 2000 5-series (& I don't want to tempt fate by bragging about it), has had 3 minor problems in 6 years, & definitely no ticks and rattles. Again, it seems extremely solid & well built, like you imagine an expensive German car should be.
Honestly, If I were you, I'd be thinking of selling it sooner, rather than later--the depreciation curve on most bmw's is not good as the years go by. Esp. if the hassles are starting to weigh on you. I'd rather have a TL, or RDX, even if they're not quite as fun to drive.....
Just my 2 cents, woody
If I had everything to do over again, I would make some changes. I would probably (gasp) get an automatic. I like driving a manual on a desolate, twisty road, but the other 98% of the time, it doesn't matter so much, and it's occasionally a hassle. I think I want satnav. I'd also like to have something I wouldn't feel guilty about parking outside the garage if/when I need to, but I suspect I'd feel that way with most near-luxury cars (Acura, Lexus, etc).
I've driven some form of sporty/luxury sedan (plus a Grand Am coupe) for most of my driving career, save the brief stint in the Canyon pickup. I think I'd like to try a small or mid-size SUV next time, but I'd still like something that feels sporty.
< is "less than"...
So you mean < $5,000 right?
Mark
<$10,000 You would still be stealin it.
At +/- $12,000 would be about what I would pay for an AWD Vue witk 15k miles. I think with gas prices going up, many people still wanting an SUV are looking at the smaller ones.
Since the beater Dodge Ram died we've been down to basically one functional vehicle - the 2004 Mazda MPV - which has been a pain, but we've made do. Since then I got the Alfa Spider running again, thanks to a complete engine rebuild in my garage, including conversion from the nasty mechanical fuel injection to nice reliable Webers. But I still needed a new commuter for when we move to northern Virginia next week. And the wife made me promise NO MORE BEATERS!
While I was out at our new place for work I started car shopping. I started out looking for used Civic Hybrids, since there are tax / HOV benefits to hybrids where we're moving. Driving them reminded me that I just don't get the Honda thing. Plus, I've gotten used to having a little pickup for hauling around car parts, lawn stuff, bikes, etc.
I've had my eye out on a 2002-2004 Ext cab. 2WD Mazda B2300. They have the excellent 2.3L motor from the Mazda3 / Mazda6, the little jump seats so it will seat the whole family in a pinch, and fantastic gas mileage - 24/29, which is as good as it gets in a pickup. Most ext cabs (including all Ford Rangers) have the rotten 3.0L Vulcan. Reliable, but horrible. I think you gain only 5 HP or so over the 4 cyl but you lose like 6 MPG!
So I find a nice B2300 Ext Cab, about 50 miles from our new place. 2004, 17k miles, Cruise, A/C, CD, kind of a metallic sand color with grey guts. Nice, clean truck. The seller is a very nice lady in her late 50s / early 60s who was recently widowed, and is selling the truck because it was her husband's and she doesn't need it any more. She was asking $11k, I offered $10k. She thought about it, said, "well, I could probably get around $9k from a dealer, so that sounds pretty good."
Then she says something that's like crack cocaine for a car nut... "you wouldn't happen to be interested in a little convertible, would you?" ....
-Jason
I bring it back and ask, "so how much are you looking for on this?" She responds, "oh, it's going really cheap. Kelly Blue Book says it's only worth about $2500" Me - trying not to choke on my tongue - "So, $12,500 for the pair?" Her - "Sure - you have a deal!"
So now we have the (Mazda) MPV for family hauling, the (Mazda) pickup for everyday driving / work, the (Mazda) Miata for wringing out at the track, and the (Alfa) Spider for cruising, classic car shows, and tinkering in the garage... I think we're set, for a while.
The end.
-Jason
Almost as good as one of those "found in a barn" stories.
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited Velvet Red over Wicker Beige
2024 Audi Q5 Premium Plus Daytona Gray over Beige
2017 BMW X1 Jet Black over Mocha
Don't let shifty know about your Weber conversion on the Alfa.
'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
'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'm almost glad to hear you say you'd prefer an automatic, mainly because that's what I have. I drove an E-39 5 series manual before I bought my car, & the clutch I found very.....twitchy, or like it was on a hair-trigger or something. It was fine while driving, but a drag in bumper-to-bumper traffic or waiting in line at a stop sign. And in Metro-Northeast traffic, it's more survival driving than anything else, & shifting is just one more thing to do/distract.
I just got the new acura RDX brochure. I think it might be a great choice for me for a new vehicle (if I had $33K+ to blow, & if my bmw hadn't already depreciated so much). Good luck with the 3-series tho, hopefully nothing else will go wrong.......
cheers, woody
Now I really want something else. I can't stand my stupid Lexus.
And, yes, I hit a log hanging from the sky. It didn't occur to me to be on the lookout for this type of situation.
maybe a stealthed helicopter?
or aliens?
what exactly would you tell your insurance company?
lol. sorry. don't mean to be laughing at your misfortune. but, man, that's a darned funny statement.
'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