Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

Sandman6472

Think we are going to purchase Thanksgiving week if not sooner. We're throwing in a wild card, the Audi A3 just to see if it indeed has "it all" and then she'll decide. If she's going to like it like I think she will and the price isn't too crazy, she might just go for it! Crazy as that may seem...it just could be the perfect vehicle for her!

The Sandman

stickguy

your wife doesn't sound like the type that is going to fall in love with a car and decide to spend an extra 10-15K to have it. But stranger things have happened.

I am putting my chips on the Rio.

jayrider

sandman_6472 said:

Think we are going to purchase Thanksgiving week if not sooner. We're throwing in a wild card, the Audi A3 just to see if it indeed has "it all" and then she'll decide. If she's going to like it like I think she will and the price isn't too crazy, she might just go for it! Crazy as that may seem...it just could be the perfect vehicle for her!

The Sandman

If Audi seems possible -- check out the Golf --- rated highly and costs less.

stickguy

I really liked the Golf. Would be a serious contender if going that small.

nyccarguy

Sandy

No way your wife is going to spring for an A3. I see a Prius II in her future.

fintail

He loves the city mpg, but loathes how it is on the highway, and the radio/bluetooth/nav have failed multiple times. He almost flipped when the dealer once told him his car didn't actually have nav (it does, but mediocre). Apparently, the more powerful hybrid cars are better. I'd like to experience the Bluetec hybrid models that Europe gets - hybrid city mpg with diesel highway cruising, sounds like a win-win.

ab348 said:

The experience with the Pious Prius didn't turn him off the concept of a hybrid? Interesting.

Sandman6472

Yep, my money's on the Kia Rio also at this point...but I'm not counting out the Mazda3 either because anything can happen on any given day. And to be honest, I'm cool with whatever she gets because that's the way we do things in our household. Also helps that we each have our own funds now so permission is no longer needed to purchase a new vehicle. We just give our opinions to each other because why do something that's not well thought out. I know I spent over a month looking and testing, and so has she...I know you can relate to this as you have also spent some time looking for the right vehicle. I guess since we don't purchase that often, we take a longer time looking to ensure we get the right vehicle as swapping out isn't that easy.

The Sandman

stickguy

oh, I think most people don't look enough and jump in (but yes, you can go too far the other way). And I agree about getting buy in from the spouse. even if they say (like mine) that it is your car, you decide!

breld

@stickguy - blind spot, rear cross traffic, "smart" trunk... Man! That's a lot of features for the money. Very cool.

stickguy

smart trunk I will probably never turn on. I did see how the cross traffic works at the supermarket today. Actually pretty cool. Should come in very handy when trying to back out when stuck between a couple of hi rise pickups.

fantastic headlights too, low and high beam.

stickguy

Michael, just noticed your question: "Question for you - will your daughter be returning to college by herself in the Volvo, or will you caravan with her the first time?"

no chance I am turning her loose by herself on that drive. My plan is to drive down with her after winter break, and just take the train back home. I won't have any extra time to stay and visit, so it doesn't make sense to take 2 cars down with the wife coming along.

There is actually an Amtrak stop about 10 minutes from campus. The train stops there at 9:01 AM, and goes all the way up to Philly without changing. Only costs about $80 for the ticket. Much cheaper than a 1 way flight (just longer!), and probably less than driving round trip.

corvette

nyccarguy said:

How many did we have last year?

36 in 2013.

fintail said:

Toyota didn't win a repeat customer with that thing, great in the city, but not good for trips, and the ICE has been a constant problem, been in the shop a lot for such a simple car.

That's shocking, the Prius is supposed to be the most reliable Toyota.

au1994

@stick...congrats on the punch! Looks like you won on the most features per dollar meter!

jayrider

corvette said:

nyccarguy said:

How many did we have last year?

36 in 2013.

fintail said:

Toyota didn't win a repeat customer with that thing, great in the city, but not good for trips, and the ICE has been a constant problem, been in the shop a lot for such a simple car.

That's shocking, the Prius is supposed to be the most reliable Toyota.

40K miles on my 2010 -- runs perfect -- only issue was the rear hatch lifts were replaced under warranty. I believe my experience is typical but but there are no perfect car models.

roadburner

OK, my bride now says that I should go look at the CPO SRT8- more news as it develops...

Michaell

roadburner said:

OK, my bride now says that I should go look at the CPO SRT8- more news as it develops...

For $28,500, what's stopping you?

kyfdx

Opinions needed!

http://forums.edmunds.com/discussion/30669/general/x/what-used-car-shall-we-get#latest

roadburner

Michaell said:

roadburner said:

OK, my bride now says that I should go look at the CPO SRT8- more news as it develops...

For $28,500, what's stopping you?

Financial responsibility, darn it!!!

Mr_Shiftright

Remember, love can perish but possessions are forever.

Sandman6472

Looks like the Mazda3 I Touring hatch has been added to the short list, seems to be a bit smaller which appeals to her though she really prefers a trunk. I think she really wants all the safety features so looks like the Mazda is going to be the winner I suspect now. We just talked and Thanksgiving weekend is the new purchase date or the Wednesday before with a Friday pick-up. We go to Marathon Wednesday so there's no time to buy this week. But right now, I'm thinking it's 75/25 on the Mazda winning over the Rio. But we are almost down to the wire here which is good...I'm just ready for her to do something!

The Sandman

xwesx

sandman_6472 said:

I'm just ready for her to do something

Ah, so now Sandy knows how the majority of the "CCBA Wives Club" feel on a regular basis!

stickguy

my wife supports this. She was washing her hands of me. Flat out said she would not go to a dealer again unless it was because I had made a deal, and needed a ride over to pick it up!

Sandy, what happened to the idea of looking at the A3? Right size, and must have the safety goodies.

suydam

I have always liked the Mazda hatches better than the sedans. The 6 wagon was sharp too.

jpp75

@stickguy‌

Congrats! That's a great payment for so much car, as others have echoed I really like the looks of the 2015.

19 months left on my Fusion, can't wait to get rid of it.... and not just so I can buy a new car.

fintail

Went looking today, was offered a very good deal on a moderately equipped E350 gas (diesel still has a bad money factor per the sales manager) - same MSRP as the Bluetec but less upfront and a 10% lower payment. Only drawback is no pano. Might be the one.

graphicguy

Fintail....sounds like another punch. Color?

fintail

Iridium silver (I know, boring, but at least it is bright) on light grey. Nice car overall - premium of course, parktronic, lane departure, keyless with trunk, wood wheel, folding seats, etc.

fintail

One would think that of the C, being so simple. The car itself has been fine, but the electronics, not so much. He recently told me Toyota said they might just end the lease early and let him walk away no strings. He's complained about it - I think the "your car doesn't actually have nav" bit broke some faith.


=

corvette said:

That's shocking, the Prius is supposed to be the most reliable Toyota.

graphicguy

fintail said:

Iridium silver (I know, boring, but at least it is bright) on light grey. Nice car overall - premium of course, parktronic, lane departure, keyless with trunk, wood wheel, folding seats, etc.

Sounds nice. What I've noticed, whether it's Benz, Audi, BMW, even Cadillac, they couldn't get any more boring with their colors.....Black, Grey, White, sometimes Navy. Or, different shades of those colors, seem to rule the day.

I've seen a couple of bright silver cars that I've sort of liked. I can't remember what brand had that bright of a color, though

Caddy has a really slick red metallic, but that's as far as they go.

At least JAG has some pizzaz in their interior color selections.

Still, sounds like a nice car. Sounds like all these premium brands are going in the same direction......parking assists, lane keep, blind spot, sonar/radar to keep you from hitting anyone. Now, if they can only figure out how to keep someone else from hitting us........

When do you take delivery? AWD? RWD?

ab348

graphicguy said:

fintail said:

Iridium silver (I know, boring, but at least it is bright) on light grey. Nice car overall - premium of course, parktronic, lane departure, keyless with trunk, wood wheel, folding seats, etc.

Sounds nice. What I've noticed, whether it's Benz, Audi, BMW, even Cadillac, they couldn't get any more boring with their colors.....Black, Grey, White, sometimes Navy. Or, different shades of those colors, seem to rule the day.

I've seen a couple of bright silver cars that I've sort of liked. I can't remember what brand had that bright of a color, though

Caddy has a really slick red metallic, but that's as far as they go.

At least JAG has some pizzaz in their interior color selections.

Still, sounds like a nice car. Sounds like all these premium brands are going in the same direction......parking assists, lane keep, blind spot, sonar/radar to keep you from hitting anyone. Now, if they can only figure out how to keep someone else from hitting us........

When do you take delivery? AWD? RWD?

Same question here regarding whether it's AWD. 2014 or 2015?

I like the idea of Iridium with gray inside. Up here the dealer orders about a third of his inventory in that paint color but just about every single one of them has a black interior. The MB gray is nice.

GG, I noticed when I was buying the ATS that Cadillac has some very disappointing colors. The one they originally tried to sell me was "Majestic Plum Metallic" which allegedly has some purple in it. I could not see it. I looked like a very dark gray. The actual gray paint they list is very dark as well. (I like metallic grays but the shade needs to be carefully chosen. The favorite one I've seen is on a Dodge Avenger, of all things - just a gorgeous gunmetal grey with lots of metallic in it. Around '08 or '09 Buick had a very nice metallic gray also, with a hint of blue to it). Then Cadillac has 2 blacks, one metallic, one not. And the silver they use sucks the life out of the styling I find.

I do note that this year they have a new "Adriatic Blue Metallic" that is a nice dark blue, a color they have struggled with getting right the last few years. Plus the very bright "Opulent Blue" which you seldom see.

I really do think that I got the right color in Red Obsession Tintcoat. It looks fabulous in the sunshine.

One thing I will give Cadillac some credit for is offering some interior shades - red upholstery in the ATS, and a Twilight blue in the CTS I believe.

breld

I previously found silver to be fairly boring too, but it really caught my eye on the A5 I had and I really like the clean look of it on my current 535i. As has been pointed out, it really depends on the "shade" of silver, and perhaps the lines of the car too.

By the way, wife and I visited a Chevy dealer over the weekend to check out the new Tahoe, with the thought it could be an eventual replacement for the Odyssey. We had all the kids with us, so thought it was a good opportunity to really try it out.

The big test is how comfortable the 3rd row is - on the Tahoe, the floor for the 3rd row is really high, so my 11 year old is "kissing" his knees. The salesperson suggested a Suburban, which I thought only added additional cargo room (which it most certainly does), but something about the position of the 3rd row (in relation to the rear wheels, I presume) results in a more normal seating position.

Anyhow, we took that Suburban out for a test drive and I have to admit, I really liked it. Very smooth and quiet ride. Also had a surprisingly tight turning radius.

Now, the Suburban is total overkill for our needs, though I'd like to rent one for our next roadtrip. I much prefer the proportions of the Tahoe, but that 3rd row is pretty much a killer. And above all, these things cost a fortune - who buys these?!?!

At the end of the day, I like the more "manly" feel and look of these vehicles, but you just can't beat the functionality of the minivan.

Mr_Shiftright

@breld -- I rented a Tahoe recently for a long road trip and I too, was impressed. But at the price of a base Mercedes E class one has to wonder about the value factor. The thing was really easy to drive, however, for a Nimitz class vehicle, and had all the safety nannies. I remained amused by the vibrating driver's seat that activates if you back up and are too close to something, but I thought it was dialed in too cautiously. If you back into something with the rear view camera beeping and the vibrating seat shaking you, maybe it's time to hand the keys over to the front desk at the retirement home?

breld

Yeah - it seems they hold their value pretty well too, so even used ones are pretty pricey.

Now, the new Dodge Durango received a great write-up in a recent Motor Trend comparison of 3-row SUVs. It claimed the 3rd row was more comfortable than some of the competitors' 2nd rows. One knock on it was it had the greatest amount of expected depreciation - but that's great news for someone like myself who likes to buy used anyway.

Hmmm - that could be a great way to go if I wanted to replace the van with an SUV. Never had a Dodge before, but I do kinda dig the new "Charger" look of the 2014 Durango.

graphicguy

Agree with everyone about the Tahoe. The one I had was the previous gen, bought it 8 years ago. Kept it for 4 years.

That 3rd row seat is just about worthless. Matte of fact, I took it out and used the space for cargo.

That said, it was one of the most comfortable, reliable, and utilitarian vehicles I ever owned. Never had a speck of trouble with it, either. Had to replace the tires on it and routine maintenance. That's it. No warranty work, either. It's was as thirsty as the Nimitz though. And, I owned it when gas prices were within kissing distance of $5/gal (amazing how all the oil company excuses for high prices were no more than a bunch of hot air). I think the best I could do was all highway on a trip to Chicago and barely got 17 MPG. Mostly, it was between 13-14 MPG is mixed driving.

Today, they have cylinder deactivation, better fuel maps, etc. MPG should be better.

Shifty....materials are really nice in the new ones, They seem to be built well.

But, unless you're towing or need all the space, it's essentially a huge 4-5 passenger vehicle with lots of room.

$60K isn't surprising as an MSRP. Save a few bucks and get a 5 passenger Buick LaCrosse, or the E Cleass you mentioned for about the same money.

I was going to ask fintail the price range of the E class he just ordered. But, I know the '14 leftovers around these parts are getting some pretty huge discounts.

Heck, get a Caddy XTS for that kind of money.

nyccarguy

Tahoe & Suburbans

I'm a fan. My Dad is on his 2nd (2010 & 2011). My best friend is on his 3rd (2009, 2011, & 2015), 2 of which he still has. No they aren't cheap to buy. They cost as much as an X5, ML, E, 5, & even a Cayenne. The 5.3L Pushrod V8 is as old school as it comes. 3rd row is a joke for a vehicle its size.

The thing about it is that it doesn't "look" expensive. As the owner of a small business in a bad neighborhood, some customers would often make cracks when they saw my Dad drive up in an X5 (Hey Jerome, I see you got a Bimmer. That's why prices are so high), now they see him in the Tahoe (Hey Jerome, nice truck).

They are smooth riding, power from the V8 is adequate, & comfortable. Gas mileage is nothing to write home about. They are very manly looking too. Maintenance is minor. We have our local mechanic change the oil, filter, rotate the tires, change the transmission fluid & filter, change the brakes...

A few weeks ago, a rock hit my Dad's headlight & cracked it. I ordered an entire new headlight assembly (complete with bulbs) for $188.29 and replaced it myself in an hour. On a German car, that's an insurance claim.

The new 2015 has a gorgeous interior to boot.

That being said, for space & people moving, you can't beat a minivan:)

breld

The dealership I went to also was a Caddy dealer, but we didn't bother with looking at the Escalade (not that I would really consider it anyway) - The Tahoe in the showroom was $68k - can't imagine what the Caddy version goes for.

And yes, you can't beat the minivan for functionality - after our excursion at the Chevy dealer, the six of us piled back into the admittedly less manly Odyssey, and drove around the rest of the day in great comfort.

I also love the hauling capability of the van - with the 3rd row folded and 2nd row removed, it's a large bread box. A box I don't mind getting beat up a bit either - probably would feel a bit different in a $60k SUV!

andre1969

This has been years ago, but I remember driving a Tahoe and a Suburban at a GM test drive event, on a closed course. It was May, I remember that much, and either 2004 or 2005. Anyway, one thing that surprised me was that the Equinox actually felt like it had more front and rear legroom than the larger 'Burbs and Tahoes did! Of course, the Equinox was too small to have a 3rd row.

Another thing I found surprising...I swear the Tahoe, and even the Suburban felt more nimble than the Equinox did. I got behind the wheel of the Suburban, and it felt like I was home. I had no trouble whipping that thing around the closed course they had, and it had a confident, well-planted feeling to it. Sure, parking it in a tight space might be a pain. It's not the length so much...I've had cars that are longer...but the height, that makes it harder to judge. But, in contrast, the Equinox was vague and wallowy, almost like the worst of the 70's had been reincarnated. In fact, I had a friend with me, and even as a passenger, its handling scared him...he thought I was going to tip us over!

But, that was a different era, where GM had big vehicles down pretty much to a science, but had a bad knack of making their small ones feel bigger and clumsier than they really were, almost as if they were trying to engineer a big car feel into the smaller ones. Also, the Equinox had electric steering, which I think was still in its infancy back then, so they didn't have the kinks worked out of it yet.

Oh, as for the Durango, I kind of like them, too. I always figured my next new/new-ish car would be a Charger. But, the last time I drove one, I didn't like the feeling of sitting down so low, and the bad visibility. I guess I've gotten too accustomed to the driving position of a truck. So, I figured the Durango might make a nice compromise. To me, it doesn't really look like an SUV, but rather more like a station wagon that's been jacked up.

Plus, I don't really like the restyle of the Charger for 2015. IMO they really uglied-up the front-end. Whatever magic the 2011-14 style had, the 2015 lost it for me.

stickguy

The traverse is a much more practical package if you need/want a full size, 3 row SUV. Vastly better 3rd row and more economical. And cheaper. Just give up towing, and a little macho,

fintail

It's done, I signed my life away for another couple years. It's a leftover 14, RWD, Iridium Silver on Grey with black ash wood (a very dark batch, which looks nice) - has P01, wood wheel, folding seats, grey headliner, lighting package, keyless with trunk, lane tracking package, parking assist package. MSRP within spitting distance of the Bluetec, I got this for less out of pocket and a bit less per month. I can live with the "old" model (very minor changes for 15, where the 14+ facelift has many changes, some of them kind of cool) for the significant savings. They also forgave the cracked running light and bumper scrape on the Bluetec, and threw in a parcel hook for the trunk - something discontinued for the facelift, but still fits. I like the diesel powertrain more, but this is probably better value overall. Here are some pics.

qbrozen

nice looking interior. I'd dread taking the kids in it!

au1994

fintail said:

It's done, I signed my life away for another couple years. It's a leftover 14, RWD, Iridium Silver on Grey with black ash wood (a very dark batch, which looks nice) - has P01, wood wheel, folding seats, grey headliner, lighting package, keyless with trunk, lane tracking package, parking assist package. MSRP within spitting distance of the Bluetec, I got this for less out of pocket and a bit less per month. I can live with the "old" model (very minor changes for 15, where the 14+ facelift has many changes, some of them kind of cool) for the significant savings. They also forgave the cracked running light and bumper scrape on the Bluetec, and threw in a parcel hook for the trunk - something discontinued for the facelift, but still fits. I like the diesel powertrain more, but this is probably better value overall. Here are some pics.

I likey a lot!

rayainsw

Fintail - congratulations!
Is that gray as light colored as it looks in those pictures?
= Ray
Do like gray interiors - but not white....

roadburner

Congrats, fintail!!!

xwesx

They sure didn't waste any time getting your BlueTec up on their website! At least, I assume it was yours.

fintail

Thanks all.

Yes, it is a very light grey, which I like - it really brightens things up, and I have no kids to destroy it. It even has matching floor mats - probably not a good idea, but I took the all weather mats from the old car, which adds a nice contrast too. The German love of black interiors can make things pretty somber. This light color compensates for the lack of pano, and it looks good in the dark with the ambient lighting - I have selected the blue color for that. Had this car been diamond silver with pano and a beige or grey interior, it would have been ideal - but probably a unicorn. For the savings, I can overlook those.

graphicguy

fintail...sawheet! Congratz! So, '14s and '15s are the same, I'll assume?

Sandman6472

Stick, I think the A3 is just a bit too expensive for us and doubt we could get into one for less than $30k and that's just way past our comfort zone to be honest. I really think that the 3 I Touring hatch is the best compromise for her...a little smaller but still having the safety features she really wants and I think if she gets the Rio, she'll be settling and that's no way to buy any vehicle. As much as I like the Rio, I'm keeping my mouth shut and will let her get whatever she wants.

The Sandman

nyccarguy

@fintail‌

Nice ride! Congrats on the MB E350 Punch!

fintail

Nope, the car on the site isn't mine - mine had pano and a few less miles. The salesman (same guy I worked with last time) said he'd probably find a buyer in no time, as I am a little OCD, and kept it immaculate.

Minor changes from 14 to 15, the biggest being power folding mirrors. But, they aren't worth the amount of money I'd save with the older car, which covers a good part of my insurance bill.

So, another punch is added. This is a 27 month term instead of 24, so I won't do it again until around this time in 2016 at the earliest.

stickguy

that E is a nice looking car.

Lot of high end iron moving on the board lately. I think this pulls Mercedes back ahead of Cadillac on the year!