I have to say that I am unimpressed by the "Americanized" VWs. although as others have noted, it has apparently improved sales.
In other news, my Mini dealer now has a 2010 370Z Sport and a 2011 RX-8 R3 on their used lot. I love everything about the RX-8 except the fuel economy; I could just tolerate a 6 second 0-60 time, but not when the sled returns only 20 mpg. As I've previously mentioned, my MS3 does the sprint in 5 seconds and averages 28-31 mpg(FWD being the only thing I really don't like about it).
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
I can almost see you in a 370Z. I agree with you about the RX8. If you are going to squeeze 20 mpg on the highway out of a motor, it better be really fast. Those Recaro sport seats in the R3 are awful. Great for racing I'm sure, but my 5'10" 150 lb frame wasn't a fan of them when I sat in it at the auto show.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
Exactly! I might as well find a used Shelby GT or similar if I'm only going to get 20 mpg. The 370Z is that gorgeous Black Cherry color and the Sport trim level gets you a mechanical LSD, upgraded wheels/tires, and borderline decent brakes. I'll probably at least give it a brief test drive:
The 370Z is a great choice. I drove the 2010 model.
Engine................. 3.7 L V 6-cylinder
Drivetrain............. Rear Wheel Drive
Transmission ........7-speed Automatic
HorsePower..........332 hp @ 7000 rpm
My sons friend bought this car back in 2010. A 370Z coupe. They bought it over for me to test drive it. Wow this sucker moves and handles great...... Very impressed. Tight inside for the bigger guys. Great choice in sports car for the money.
I'd bet you could drive this vehicle for a couple of years and still recoup most of your money back.
@roadburner said:
I have to say that I am unimpressed by the "Americanized" VWs. although as others have noted, it has apparently improved sales.
Funny you mention that. Yesterday I saw a new Jetta, the top-line version so it was as good as they get, identical to the one my former co-worker bought a couple of months ago. Black on black leather, alloys. My thoughts were (in this order): 1. Is that Karen? (answer: no). 2. Could I live with owning one of them for 5 years?: (answer: definitely not, too dull-looking).
@brian125 said:
The 370Z is a great choice. I drove the 2010 model.
Engine................. 3.7 L V 6-cylinder
Drivetrain............. Rear Wheel Drive
Transmission ........7-speed Automatic
HorsePower..........332 hp @ 7000 rpm
My sons friend bought this car back in 2010. A 370Z coupe. They bought it over for me to test drive it. Wow this sucker moves and handles great...... Very impressed. Tight inside for the bigger guys. Great choice in sports car for the money.
I'd bet you could drive this vehicle for a couple of years and still recoup most of your money back.
Car and Driver found the auto to be faster than the manual, but unlike most used cars, the sticks are actually worth more.
The only down side is that I will have add an oil cooler if I want to track it; the engine cooling is marginal for track use and the car goes into "limp-home" mode after a few laps. It looks like a decent cooler would run $800-$1000.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
@roadburner
Why is the shift knob cocked to the right? Id this one of those "one price" joints? And 2 of the tires are dry rotted. Might definitely be worth a roadburner test drive.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
I would low ball that price of 24.9k. I like the color, It looks showroom condition. If a young kid had this car prior............... you should assume heavy wear on the clutch.
I washed the GLI this morning, and while it appears that the body shop improved most of the problems with their work, there are still some sanding marks visible in direct sunlight (probably from the sanding done on the base coat and not on the clear coat), and the texture of the new paint has more orange peel than the OEM paint. Oh, and the front bumper now seems especially prone to paint chips. And every time I see someone driving like a maniac, I wish my car had a larger footprint/curb weight.
On the other hand, I cringe at the thought of trading in a vehicle which still has a loan on it. I've been paid for the loss in value to the car as a result of the accident, so I should be able to trade without incurring a financial penalty (beside the normal one you incur when trading a car after ~16 months). Any thoughts? (I'm asking the wrong people here, I know...)
Corvette, I would trade it. Mainly because it would also bother me, and my sanity has to be worth something (just a guess on that, so maybe not!) Especially since you got DV paid, go for it.
and IMO, it is easier to trade a car in with a loan. If it is paid off and you take out a loan, that hurts. But if you just switch the loan to a different car, don't even notice! Maybe pushing the payments out a few years, but that would have happened anyway down the line when you finally paid off the GLI and dumped it.
so the question really becomes, what do you want instead, and can you afford it?
@stickguy said:
Corvette, I would trade it. Mainly because it would also bother me, and my sanity has to be worth something (just a guess on that, so maybe not!) Especially since you got DV paid, go for it.
I agree with stick - we felt the same way after my wife was the victim of a hit 'n run in her daughter's Beetle. The repairs were pretty good - sounds like better than on your GLI - but we always had it in our head that something wasn't quite right after the accident.
As for the loan, that really shouldn't make a difference - the loss on the car is what it is regardless of any loan payoff. It's just a little extra paperwork, but the dealers are certainly used to that. Like stick said, "substituting" a loan for a loan is pretty painless.
Good luck with the decision - we're happy to help out with unsolicited advice!
yeah, that's true. But we did get about $11k trade value on it, though, so it would have been more expensive than yours. Although loaded up and fewer miles (87k), so probably would have been well worth it for you.
Salesperson just left. Its about the most complicated deal I've ever made on a vehicle. I really couldn't even begin to describe it where it would make sense. In any case, the wife wound up getting a much more expensive model than we set out to get. It is a Limited with Luxury Group. A lower choice on the color scale (silver), but that's of little concern. At least its a nice silver.
And here I thought I'd get through 2014 without a punch. Oh well.
'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
Not a punch (us poor folk can't really help in that regard), but I tried the next best thing. Since we unexpectedly had a cool, overcast afternoon, I gave the RDX a much needed wash and wax, and even vacuumed the interior. So it at least looks and feels new! I do love that silky smooth feeling of a freshly waxed car.
With the lease on my Regal ending in October, I took some time today to cruise a few lots and see what tickled my fancy. I was surprised.
I have always been a loyal GM guy for the most part. Right now they have little that appeals to me. Cadillac ATS/CTS/XTS, updated Regal (hard to find), not much else. The Caddys are all very pricey. The GM dealers here have Cobalts and Ions stacked up like cordwood. Not sure if they are trades waiting to be wholesaled or cars affected by the recall that are waiting for parts. Not good. Despite my GM loyalty, I'm feeling a cloud of doubt hanging over GM right now and I don't know if they are going to get my business if and when I decide to make a move.
I looked at a M-B dealer and they had a couple of 2013 C300s on leftover clearout, but I am not particularly thrilled with them. I like the E series but those are out of my range. So I went down the street to the Infiniti dealer. I have never been a particular fan of theirs but they had a good supply of Q50 sedans out front. I guess I'm just not an Infiniti guy, because the styling struck me as not for me and the interior was nice but nothing special. Pass.
I visited a couple of Toyota/Scion/Lexus dealers and here is where the surprise for me was found. Two opposite extremes. The Lexus dealer had a bunch of new ES350s and I am shocked to say I really liked what I saw. They had one in particular in red with a tan interior that looked really good. I know it is an old man's car but I'm retired now so maybe that's why it appealed to me. Only thing I didn't like is that the 17" wheel/tire combo looked a bit undersized but that could be fixed. The interior is gorgeous on these.
The other funny one I found that surprised me was at the other Toyota dealer, they had a few Scion tC coupes. About as far from the ES350 as you could get. I don't know why these appealed to me, but they did. I've never driven one or even noticed many of them before but it was just a cool little car, considerably cheaper than the others of course.
I have yet to visit a VW dealer and I expect they will have something that appeals to me. Don't think Chrysler, Ford, or Kiyundai will get my business.
@ab348 said:
With the lease on my Regal ending in October, I took some time today to cruise a few lots and see what tickled my fancy. I was surprised.
I have always been a loyal GM guy for the most part. Right now they have little that appeals to me. Cadillac ATS/CTS/XTS, updated Regal (hard to find), not much else. The Caddys are all very pricey. The GM dealers here have Cobalts and Ions stacked up like cordwood. Not sure if they are trades waiting to be wholesaled or cars affected by the recall that are waiting for parts. Not good. Despite my GM loyalty, I'm feeling a cloud of doubt hanging over GM right now and I don't know if they are going to get my business if and when I decide to make a move.
I looked at a M-B dealer and they had a couple of 2013 C300s on leftover clearout, but I am not particularly thrilled with them. I like the E series but those are out of my range. So I went down the street to the Infiniti dealer. I have never been a particular fan of theirs but they had a good supply of Q50 sedans out front. I guess I'm just not an Infiniti guy, because the styling struck me as not for me and the interior was nice but nothing special. Pass.
I visited a couple of Toyota/Scion/Lexus dealers and here is where the surprise for me was found. Two opposite extremes. The Lexus dealer had a bunch of new ES350s and I am shocked to say I really liked what I saw. They had one in particular in red with a tan interior that looked really good. I know it is an old man's car but I'm retired now so maybe that's why it appealed to me. Only thing I didn't like is that the 17" wheel/tire combo looked a bit undersized but that could be fixed. The interior is gorgeous on these.
The other funny one I found that surprised me was at the other Toyota dealer, they had a few Scion tC coupes. About as far from the ES350 as you could get. I don't know why these appealed to me, but they did. I've never driven one or even noticed many of them before but it was just a cool little car, considerably cheaper than the others of course.
I have yet to visit a VW dealer and I expect they will have something that appeals to me. Don't think Chrysler, Ford, or Kiyundai will get my business.
Leftover 13s in June? Yikes! My dealer seems to put their unsold units into loaner service.
Lexus ES might be the most sensible thing the brand sells right now. A lot nicer than the Avalon for not a fortune more. That or the GS might be the only things sold by the brand that I'd want - I've seen sweetheart leases on GS too, they aren't selling - AWD model for 1999 down/489month, and that's the TV price, you can probably do better.
My lease is up not much after yours. I'll probably be a brand loyalist, but I might drive a few things in a few months.
@ab348 said:
With the lease on my Regal ending in October, I took some time today to cruise a few lots and see what tickled my fancy. I was surprised.
I stopped at the VW dealer last week to see if there were any 2015 Golfs on the ground (not that I could find). But I did find one of the 2 identically MSRP GLIs still sitting in the same spot that it was back in January when we were shopping for the Jetta. It was the black one my son really wanted, that they did not seem to be interested in dumping.
so, they are sitting on a brand new 2013, about to be 2 MYs old. Good luck with that.
@fintail said:
Leftover 13s in June? Yikes! My dealer seems to put their unsold units into loaner service.
I saw several, not just at the M-B dealer. One of the Scion tC coupes was also a leftover 2013. Hell, until recently the local Mazda dealer had a leftover 2012 MX-5 Miata! Not sure why they don''t get more aggressive to move them.
They could always come across an unsuspecting buyer who doesn't look all that closely at the model year. Local Nissan dealer still has 2 2013 Titans on the lot. Not only uncompetitive in its segment, the rebates on the 13s aren't really any better than the 14s. Not to mention, you can get a better equipped Ram or Silverado (both better choices) for the same price after discounts.
funny about the Titans. There are 2 on my block (an LE and an SL), one brand new and the other fairly new. I really like the way they look. Might be an illusion, but they don't seem quite as big (which is a plus to me). the new ones just seem to get more and more massive. I could not imagine driving a ram or F150 on a daily basis, but the Nissan might be just as big.
and the Chevy just bothers me aesthetically, because they usually look like they have twice the room needed in the wheel wells.
I like the sizes from a few generations ago actually. Which will probably be about what the upcoming Colorado is.
Drove a Suburban from one location to ours yesterday and I for the life of me can't understand why there are so many of these on the roads down here. Unless one has a big family, just don't understand the attraction these beasts have! Even the smaller Tahoe's seem massive to me but more manageable for day to day living. Betting the mpg's on these rigs is dismal but it's like owning a high priced luxury vehicle, if one can afford the entry price, one can afford the upkeep. Still, I just don't see the allure here.
Thinking back to my search last year before I got my latest vehicle, the one vehicle that I was really really excited about was the Lexus CT 200h even though it was too pricey for my budget and going used was something I didn't want to do. I actually didn't mind the quirkiness of the hybrid engine and the tranny, it was something I knew I could get used to. The vehicle had almost perfect ergonomics with everything right at hand and logically placed. And the mpg figures were really great and a big selling point I was going to use on the wife had I gone in that direction. The only downfall besides the hefty price of admission was the difficulty of getting in and out...egress and ingress was almost impossible with my bad spine. It was downright painful getting in and out of the thing and the main reason for getting out of my beloved Civic was because of the difficulty of getting in and out. This was actually the real reason I finally passed on it...I knew that I needed to get a vehicle I could drive pain free and a CUV was the answer here. Still, whenever I see a CT pass me on the road, I feel a bit sad because I really fell in love with it and would've justified the cost of owning one somehow.
The Sandman
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2025 VW GTI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
Funny, I stopped at a Buick/GMC dealer on my way home from my son's little league game. They had a Silver AWD Regal (nt sure which model). I liked the styling of the car. The silver just makes it look kinda blah. $40K sticker (Yikes!).
Happy Father's Day everyone!
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
Bradd, now you made me sad. One thing I really miss about my son getting older was all those little league games over the years (and I was on the coaching staff). That was replaced during HS (with 1 year overlap) by marching band gigs, where I was the primary truck driver. Now I don't get to have any fun!
I also happen to like the looks and interior on the Buick. I assume that sticker his highly negotiable. And that you can get a pretty darned good deal on a slightly used one.
I'm jealous of you people out shopping, when you know for sure you will be getting something new. I might take a few laps around some PUs (I did see a nice GMC in the storage lot behind the local dealer when I drove by today that looked pretty neat). Once I get the kids all settled, I am going to have a lot of free time!
Hey Roadburner, is this the version of the Ti you have? I can't quite tell if there is a line on the roof indicating it has a sunroof. But it looks pretty clean, and is at least claimed to have been babied and protected from the weather! might be pricey, but I like it.
If it passes a PPI it is dirt cheap; I'd also want to verify the brake upgrade as well as whether the wheels are genuine. To be honest, the 17" wheels and "M3" brakes are a complete waste- a stock ti is close to being over-tired on 16" wheels and the stock brakes are more than adequate even on the track.
Also, the air dam is either modified or has been replaced; the 1995 Club Sport and 1996-1999 Sports don't have the mesh grill or the black lower lip:
The games are special. I made sure today that I went to each game with just the boy who was playing. Left the other & my daughter home with my wife. They are so proud of their trophies!
The "big reveal" went over very well. My Dad was shocked & completely overwhelmed. He took everyone around the block, me, my kids, my nieces, my Mom, my sister, & even one of his close friends from college came up and he got a ride.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
well, my deal is not quite that simple. We did have some negative in the one we traded. Sticker was $44,595, I believe. Selling price was $40,814. Rebates? well, that's where it kinda gets weird. SO, I could have insisted on the $9750 incentives and used an outside bank at something like 7.5% lease rate, but they showed me that they could use $2750 in rebates and a damned near 0% lease rate through Chrysler and come up with the same payment. I decided it did not matter and went with that route since they seemed to want it for whatever reason (extra spliff from Chrysler, I presume).
However, I have a call into the dealership this morning. I am pretty sure their system made a tax error. Finance guy I talked to is of the opinion that the totally automatic software does what it does and they've never had a problem. But all info I have found is telling me it is wrong.
So we have roughly $20k in depreciation cost, a $14k trade-in value, a $14k payoff (negative eaten by rebates), and tax of $1400. Hmmm... well, wait a sec, in NJ, even with a lease, you get a trade tax credit, regardless of payoff. NJ division of taxation website confirms this. So what am I missing?
I did not catch it at the time because I was so tied up in the 2750 vs 9750 business, but figured taxes are taxes and they can't really rip us off on those without facing the government's wrath. It didn't occur to me until afterwards. Finance guy is pretty much set against doing anything about it, but I'll be going over there soon and I'll address it again. AND, since we are addressing that, well, I have also since taken a better look at the situation and I believe I'd be better off financing it. I think it would still be $4k incentives plus the cheap Chrysler financing. So if they have to redo contracts for tax, well.....
'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
Would it not be cheaper to take the $9750 lease cash, lease it through an outside financing company, and then immediately buy out the lease and finance it through a bank of your choice?
well, no, vette. On a lease, you owe the money no matter what. The interest is all charged up front. If you buy out early with financing, you are paying interest on interest. A 3-yr lease on a $45k vehicle using standard leasing rates comes out to about $7k in interest charges. That $7k would be tacked onto what I had to finance if I bought it out, thereby cancelling out the rebates.
I just got back from my visit. The GM's jaw was on the floor when I explained they have apparently been overcharging (and overpaying) taxes on all such deals. But, regardless, they were cool with redoing the contract. So, in the end, its roughly $8400 off msrp plus 1.9% for 72-mos.
'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
Comments
I have to say that I am unimpressed by the "Americanized" VWs. although as others have noted, it has apparently improved sales.
In other news, my Mini dealer now has a 2010 370Z Sport and a 2011 RX-8 R3 on their used lot. I love everything about the RX-8 except the fuel economy; I could just tolerate a 6 second 0-60 time, but not when the sled returns only 20 mpg. As I've previously mentioned, my MS3 does the sprint in 5 seconds and averages 28-31 mpg(FWD being the only thing I really don't like about it).
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
A 3% hike in residual is quite significant. Hopefully the residual stays strong and the money factor drops a bit.
@roadburner
I can almost see you in a 370Z. I agree with you about the RX8. If you are going to squeeze 20 mpg on the highway out of a motor, it better be really fast. Those Recaro sport seats in the R3 are awful. Great for racing I'm sure, but my 5'10" 150 lb frame wasn't a fan of them when I sat in it at the auto show.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
@nyccarguy
Exactly! I might as well find a used Shelby GT or similar if I'm only going to get 20 mpg. The 370Z is that gorgeous Black Cherry color and the Sport trim level gets you a mechanical LSD, upgraded wheels/tires, and borderline decent brakes. I'll probably at least give it a brief test drive:
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
that certainly looks like fun.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
my daughter just walked by, and saw the picture, and said "nice car". then asked if I was buying it for her.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
@roadburner
That's really sharp looking. You don't see too many of them on the road either. What are the stats on that? Asking price? Year? Miles?
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
The 370Z is a great choice. I drove the 2010 model.
Engine................. 3.7 L V 6-cylinder
Drivetrain............. Rear Wheel Drive
Transmission ........7-speed Automatic
HorsePower..........332 hp @ 7000 rpm
My sons friend bought this car back in 2010. A 370Z coupe. They bought it over for me to test drive it. Wow this sucker moves and handles great...... Very impressed. Tight inside for the bigger guys. Great choice in sports car for the money.
I'd bet you could drive this vehicle for a couple of years and still recoup most of your money back.
23 Telluride SX-P X-Line, 23 Camry XSE
Funny you mention that. Yesterday I saw a new Jetta, the top-line version so it was as good as they get, identical to the one my former co-worker bought a couple of months ago. Black on black leather, alloys. My thoughts were (in this order): 1. Is that Karen? (answer: no). 2. Could I live with owning one of them for 5 years?: (answer: definitely not, too dull-looking).
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
They are asking $24,495 and it has 13,066 miles on it:
2010 370Z
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Car and Driver found the auto to be faster than the manual, but unlike most used cars, the sticks are actually worth more.
The only down side is that I will have add an oil cooler if I want to track it; the engine cooling is marginal for track use and the car goes into "limp-home" mode after a few laps. It looks like a decent cooler would run $800-$1000.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
@roadburner
Why is the shift knob cocked to the right? Id this one of those "one price" joints? And 2 of the tires are dry rotted. Might definitely be worth a roadburner test drive.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
I think the knob is just loose on the shifter; I don't know how it is attached on that car.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
I would low ball that price of 24.9k. I like the color, It looks showroom condition. If a young kid had this car prior............... you should assume heavy wear on the clutch.
23 Telluride SX-P X-Line, 23 Camry XSE
I love that color.
I washed the GLI this morning, and while it appears that the body shop improved most of the problems with their work, there are still some sanding marks visible in direct sunlight (probably from the sanding done on the base coat and not on the clear coat), and the texture of the new paint has more orange peel than the OEM paint. Oh, and the front bumper now seems especially prone to paint chips. And every time I see someone driving like a maniac, I wish my car had a larger footprint/curb weight.
On the other hand, I cringe at the thought of trading in a vehicle which still has a loan on it. I've been paid for the loss in value to the car as a result of the accident, so I should be able to trade without incurring a financial penalty (beside the normal one you incur when trading a car after ~16 months). Any thoughts? (I'm asking the wrong people here, I know...)
I like that color too on the Z. And it meets RB criteria (very fast, no moonroof, 3 pedals and RWD).
Just keep using the Ti for the track. Though an oil cooler and upgraded brake pads certainly can't hurt.
Not going to find many of those around.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Corvette, I would trade it. Mainly because it would also bother me, and my sanity has to be worth something (just a guess on that, so maybe not!) Especially since you got DV paid, go for it.
and IMO, it is easier to trade a car in with a loan. If it is paid off and you take out a loan, that hurts. But if you just switch the loan to a different car, don't even notice! Maybe pushing the payments out a few years, but that would have happened anyway down the line when you finally paid off the GLI and dumped it.
so the question really becomes, what do you want instead, and can you afford it?
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
This looks like a good deal: CPO 2012 328i for $28,990.
If it was an M Sport I would even be tempted- autobox and all...
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
I could live with that. though I don't really care for bright red.
though just noticed that it is over 50K miles already. Seems kind of pricey considering that.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
The red doesn't bother me at all, The automatic, though.....
'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
Cool! Good luck and, if all goes well, congrats!
2024 Audi Q8 e-tron - 2017 911 C4S - 2025 BRZ - 2023 A6 Allroad - 2024 Genesis GV60 - 2019 Cayman
I agree with stick - we felt the same way after my wife was the victim of a hit 'n run in her daughter's Beetle. The repairs were pretty good - sounds like better than on your GLI - but we always had it in our head that something wasn't quite right after the accident.
As for the loan, that really shouldn't make a difference - the loss on the car is what it is regardless of any loan payoff. It's just a little extra paperwork, but the dealers are certainly used to that. Like stick said, "substituting" a loan for a loan is pretty painless.
Good luck with the decision - we're happy to help out with unsolicited advice!
2024 Audi Q8 e-tron - 2017 911 C4S - 2025 BRZ - 2023 A6 Allroad - 2024 Genesis GV60 - 2019 Cayman
@qbrozen, dang, if you had done that a month ago, I could have sprung for your '08.
yeah, that's true. But we did get about $11k trade value on it, though, so it would have been more expensive than yours. Although loaded up and fewer miles (87k), so probably would have been well worth it for you.
Salesperson just left. Its about the most complicated deal I've ever made on a vehicle. I really couldn't even begin to describe it where it would make sense. In any case, the wife wound up getting a much more expensive model than we set out to get. It is a Limited with Luxury Group. A lower choice on the color scale (silver), but that's of little concern. At least its a nice silver.
And here I thought I'd get through 2014 without a punch. Oh well.
'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
Still plenty of time for another punch this year too.
Congrats!
@qbrozen
Mazel-Tov & Congrats on the new van!
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
Gotta get Craig over here. He just posted in the projects thread he picked up another BMW convertible with a Christmas tree dashboard.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Not a punch (us poor folk can't really help in that regard), but I tried the next best thing. Since we unexpectedly had a cool, overcast afternoon, I gave the RDX a much needed wash and wax, and even vacuumed the interior. So it at least looks and feels new! I do love that silky smooth feeling of a freshly waxed car.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
What is this wax that you speak of?
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With the lease on my Regal ending in October, I took some time today to cruise a few lots and see what tickled my fancy. I was surprised.
I have always been a loyal GM guy for the most part. Right now they have little that appeals to me. Cadillac ATS/CTS/XTS, updated Regal (hard to find), not much else. The Caddys are all very pricey. The GM dealers here have Cobalts and Ions stacked up like cordwood. Not sure if they are trades waiting to be wholesaled or cars affected by the recall that are waiting for parts. Not good. Despite my GM loyalty, I'm feeling a cloud of doubt hanging over GM right now and I don't know if they are going to get my business if and when I decide to make a move.
I looked at a M-B dealer and they had a couple of 2013 C300s on leftover clearout, but I am not particularly thrilled with them. I like the E series but those are out of my range. So I went down the street to the Infiniti dealer. I have never been a particular fan of theirs but they had a good supply of Q50 sedans out front. I guess I'm just not an Infiniti guy, because the styling struck me as not for me and the interior was nice but nothing special. Pass.
I visited a couple of Toyota/Scion/Lexus dealers and here is where the surprise for me was found. Two opposite extremes. The Lexus dealer had a bunch of new ES350s and I am shocked to say I really liked what I saw. They had one in particular in red with a tan interior that looked really good. I know it is an old man's car but I'm retired now so maybe that's why it appealed to me. Only thing I didn't like is that the 17" wheel/tire combo looked a bit undersized but that could be fixed. The interior is gorgeous on these.
The other funny one I found that surprised me was at the other Toyota dealer, they had a few Scion tC coupes. About as far from the ES350 as you could get. I don't know why these appealed to me, but they did. I've never driven one or even noticed many of them before but it was just a cool little car, considerably cheaper than the others of course.
I have yet to visit a VW dealer and I expect they will have something that appeals to me. Don't think Chrysler, Ford, or Kiyundai will get my business.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
Test drive everything you like and enjoy.
Leftover 13s in June? Yikes! My dealer seems to put their unsold units into loaner service.
Lexus ES might be the most sensible thing the brand sells right now. A lot nicer than the Avalon for not a fortune more. That or the GS might be the only things sold by the brand that I'd want - I've seen sweetheart leases on GS too, they aren't selling - AWD model for 1999 down/489month, and that's the TV price, you can probably do better.
My lease is up not much after yours. I'll probably be a brand loyalist, but I might drive a few things in a few months.
I stopped at the VW dealer last week to see if there were any 2015 Golfs on the ground (not that I could find). But I did find one of the 2 identically MSRP GLIs still sitting in the same spot that it was back in January when we were shopping for the Jetta. It was the black one my son really wanted, that they did not seem to be interested in dumping.
so, they are sitting on a brand new 2013, about to be 2 MYs old. Good luck with that.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I saw several, not just at the M-B dealer. One of the Scion tC coupes was also a leftover 2013. Hell, until recently the local Mazda dealer had a leftover 2012 MX-5 Miata! Not sure why they don''t get more aggressive to move them.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
They could always come across an unsuspecting buyer who doesn't look all that closely at the model year. Local Nissan dealer still has 2 2013 Titans on the lot. Not only uncompetitive in its segment, the rebates on the 13s aren't really any better than the 14s. Not to mention, you can get a better equipped Ram or Silverado (both better choices) for the same price after discounts.
funny about the Titans. There are 2 on my block (an LE and an SL), one brand new and the other fairly new. I really like the way they look. Might be an illusion, but they don't seem quite as big (which is a plus to me). the new ones just seem to get more and more massive. I could not imagine driving a ram or F150 on a daily basis, but the Nissan might be just as big.
and the Chevy just bothers me aesthetically, because they usually look like they have twice the room needed in the wheel wells.
I like the sizes from a few generations ago actually. Which will probably be about what the upcoming Colorado is.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Drove a Suburban from one location to ours yesterday and I for the life of me can't understand why there are so many of these on the roads down here. Unless one has a big family, just don't understand the attraction these beasts have! Even the smaller Tahoe's seem massive to me but more manageable for day to day living. Betting the mpg's on these rigs is dismal but it's like owning a high priced luxury vehicle, if one can afford the entry price, one can afford the upkeep. Still, I just don't see the allure here.
Thinking back to my search last year before I got my latest vehicle, the one vehicle that I was really really excited about was the Lexus CT 200h even though it was too pricey for my budget and going used was something I didn't want to do. I actually didn't mind the quirkiness of the hybrid engine and the tranny, it was something I knew I could get used to. The vehicle had almost perfect ergonomics with everything right at hand and logically placed. And the mpg figures were really great and a big selling point I was going to use on the wife had I gone in that direction. The only downfall besides the hefty price of admission was the difficulty of getting in and out...egress and ingress was almost impossible with my bad spine. It was downright painful getting in and out of the thing and the main reason for getting out of my beloved Civic was because of the difficulty of getting in and out. This was actually the real reason I finally passed on it...I knew that I needed to get a vehicle I could drive pain free and a CUV was the answer here. Still, whenever I see a CT pass me on the road, I feel a bit sad because I really fell in love with it and would've justified the cost of owning one somehow.
The Sandman
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2025 VW GTI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
@qbrozen
Will you at least tell us what the sticker on your van is and what the final lease payment is after you applied all of those crazy rebates?
@ab348
Funny, I stopped at a Buick/GMC dealer on my way home from my son's little league game. They had a Silver AWD Regal (nt sure which model). I liked the styling of the car. The silver just makes it look kinda blah. $40K sticker (Yikes!).
Happy Father's Day everyone!
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
Bradd, now you made me sad. One thing I really miss about my son getting older was all those little league games over the years (and I was on the coaching staff). That was replaced during HS (with 1 year overlap) by marching band gigs, where I was the primary truck driver. Now I don't get to have any fun!
I also happen to like the looks and interior on the Buick. I assume that sticker his highly negotiable. And that you can get a pretty darned good deal on a slightly used one.
I'm jealous of you people out shopping, when you know for sure you will be getting something new. I might take a few laps around some PUs (I did see a nice GMC in the storage lot behind the local dealer when I drove by today that looked pretty neat). Once I get the kids all settled, I am going to have a lot of free time!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Hey Roadburner, is this the version of the Ti you have? I can't quite tell if there is a line on the roof indicating it has a sunroof. But it looks pretty clean, and is at least claimed to have been babied and protected from the weather! might be pricey, but I like it.
http://southjersey.craigslist.org/cto/4513775889.html
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
If it passes a PPI it is dirt cheap; I'd also want to verify the brake upgrade as well as whether the wheels are genuine. To be honest, the 17" wheels and "M3" brakes are a complete waste- a stock ti is close to being over-tired on 16" wheels and the stock brakes are more than adequate even on the track.
Also, the air dam is either modified or has been replaced; the 1995 Club Sport and 1996-1999 Sports don't have the mesh grill or the black lower lip:
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
The games are special. I made sure today that I went to each game with just the boy who was playing. Left the other & my daughter home with my wife. They are so proud of their trophies!
The "big reveal" went over very well. My Dad was shocked & completely overwhelmed. He took everyone around the block, me, my kids, my nieces, my Mom, my sister, & even one of his close friends from college came up and he got a ride.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
@nyccarguy, this is the Corvette restoration project, right? Super cool Father's Day!
@stever
Yup! I'll post some pics and maybe even a video later:)
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
well, my deal is not quite that simple. We did have some negative in the one we traded. Sticker was $44,595, I believe. Selling price was $40,814. Rebates? well, that's where it kinda gets weird. SO, I could have insisted on the $9750 incentives and used an outside bank at something like 7.5% lease rate, but they showed me that they could use $2750 in rebates and a damned near 0% lease rate through Chrysler and come up with the same payment. I decided it did not matter and went with that route since they seemed to want it for whatever reason (extra spliff from Chrysler, I presume).
However, I have a call into the dealership this morning. I am pretty sure their system made a tax error. Finance guy I talked to is of the opinion that the totally automatic software does what it does and they've never had a problem. But all info I have found is telling me it is wrong.
So we have roughly $20k in depreciation cost, a $14k trade-in value, a $14k payoff (negative eaten by rebates), and tax of $1400. Hmmm... well, wait a sec, in NJ, even with a lease, you get a trade tax credit, regardless of payoff. NJ division of taxation website confirms this. So what am I missing?
I did not catch it at the time because I was so tied up in the 2750 vs 9750 business, but figured taxes are taxes and they can't really rip us off on those without facing the government's wrath. It didn't occur to me until afterwards. Finance guy is pretty much set against doing anything about it, but I'll be going over there soon and I'll address it again. AND, since we are addressing that, well, I have also since taken a better look at the situation and I believe I'd be better off financing it. I think it would still be $4k incentives plus the cheap Chrysler financing. So if they have to redo contracts for tax, well.....
'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 buy makes sense since you seem to hang onto the vans and pile up miles.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Would it not be cheaper to take the $9750 lease cash, lease it through an outside financing company, and then immediately buy out the lease and finance it through a bank of your choice?
well, no, vette. On a lease, you owe the money no matter what. The interest is all charged up front. If you buy out early with financing, you are paying interest on interest. A 3-yr lease on a $45k vehicle using standard leasing rates comes out to about $7k in interest charges. That $7k would be tacked onto what I had to finance if I bought it out, thereby cancelling out the rebates.
I just got back from my visit. The GM's jaw was on the floor when I explained they have apparently been overcharging (and overpaying) taxes on all such deals. But, regardless, they were cool with redoing the contract. So, in the end, its roughly $8400 off msrp plus 1.9% for 72-mos.
'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 didn't follow this all the way, but the rebates are all taxable, I'm pretty sure..
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