Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

qbrozen

stickguy said:

So pretty much the same as if you leased.

Except, with a lease, I'd be on the hook right now for the remaining payments.

qbrozen

Mr_Shiftright said:

Gee, 400HP and only tows 1650 lbs. That's pathetic. Oh, wait, a Macan is never going to tow anything.

Tow?? Its a hatchback!
that'd be like having bought my Fit for towing.

venture

qbrozen said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

Gee, 400HP and only tows 1650 lbs. That's pathetic. Oh, wait, a Macan is never going to tow anything.

Tow?? Its a hatchback!
that'd be like having bought my Fit for towing.

So...when are you picking it up?

qbrozen

Ha! Might be a while. The logical side of my brain says I should be smart and take care of some other short-term bills before taking on a $60k car.

i'm am also considering a new job. So I'll just have to wait and see what happens. It is not like Porsche is offering any kind of deal right now anyway.

js06gv

Doing my part to boost the punch count before 2014 goes away. Traded my wife's '11 Mustang GT for a '15 GT last night. Deep Impact Blue over ebony interior. Surprised her with it as a belated Christmas gift and she was ecstatic. It's an awesome ride, and what an improvement over the old one in technology, ride and features. Will post more as I get some seat time, assuming that ever happens!

jayrider

Congrats -- I wonder if the body shop contingent was responsible for naming the blue "Deep Impact."

nyccarguy

js06gv said:

Doing my part to boost the punch count before 2014 goes away. Traded my wife's '11 Mustang GT for a '15 GT last night. Deep Impact Blue over ebony interior. Surprised her with it as a belated Christmas gift and she was ecstatic. It's an awesome ride, and what an improvement over the old one in technology, ride and features. Will post more as I get some seat time, assuming that ever happens!

NICE! Mazel-Tov & Congrats on the punch!

breld

Very nice! Congrats!

I'm jealous - I'm liking the new model. Just need to convince my wife of it - easy to talk her into a BMW or Audi. I'm finding she doesn't care too much for an American muscle car.

js06gv

breld said:

Very nice! Congrats!

I'm jealous - I'm liking the new model. Just need to convince my wife of it - easy to talk her into a BMW or Audi. I'm finding she doesn't care too much for an American muscle car.

The improvement in ride is the most noticeable difference in my opinion. The '11 was more of a traditional muscle car; this one is glass smooth in comparison. It actually drives a lot closer to what your wife may be used to. A common dig at the restyle by the car mags is it's gotten heavier and softer, which is true but I love the fact that I have a more livable car that still has a 435 hp beast of a motor. Definitely too quiet though (as noted even by my wife, who never has an opinion) so will be at the muffler shop for a pair of Borlas within the week. Ironically, Ford went a little too far in terms of refinement and the car needs some of its rumble back!

roadburner

Performance Package I hope?

Sandman6472

Got up to 80 on the way to work yesterday morning and the car was shaking a bit, enough to where it is annoying so stopped by the service center this morning. My advisor wasn't on today so they asked if I wanted to see the service manager and said sure. it was a lady, very nice, and after I explained the issue, she immediately set me up for another appointment and insisted that I take a loaner so what the hell, Wednesday morning I will go in at 8 and drive out in a loaner of some sort...don't care which one though it'll have to be a slush box. She did say this is unusual and shouldn't be happening as moving one set of wheels to another vehicle should have no affect on the vehicle. She said a weight probably came off, whatever, I just want this issue resolved so I can really enjoy it. They were super busy today or she said she would've done it right then and there. No hit, run or error but folks...fix it on Wednesday!!!

The Sandman

Michaell

Question for the group .. wanting to prove shifty's maxim of "if it runs, it's worth $1500 in a private sale".

Son in CA is thinking about a newer car, so he'll have to sell the '97 Mustang. Base package (3.8L, auto), but TMU.

If he threw it on CL for $1795 and took the first $1500 that showed up, would that be a good deal?

js06gv

Performance Package would've been wasted on my wife with this being a daily driver. You'll be further disappointed in me for opting for an automatic too. If the car was for me, I'd option it a little differently. At least this automatic has a manual mode and paddle shifters. Not the same I know, but the '11 oddly didn't have a manual mode at all (didn't arrive until '13).

henryn

Congratulations on the new car, @js06gv. Looks like you're just down the road from me.

fintail

Pics!

The new Mustang is really exotic looking for the money, superior styling to the competition IMO.

js06gv said:

Doing my part to boost the punch count before 2014 goes away. Traded my wife's '11 Mustang GT for a '15 GT last night.

abacomike

js06gv said:

Performance Package would've been wasted on my wife with this being a daily driver. You'll be further disappointed in me for opting for an automatic too. If the car was for me, I'd option it a little differently. At least this automatic has a manual mode and paddle shifters. Not the same I know, but the '11 oddly didn't have a manual mode at all (didn't arrive until '13).

Congrats on the new Mustang.  Gorgeous car and the handling upgrades sound terrific.  Hope your wife enjoys if you let her drive it.  It would be tough for me to buy my wife a new Mustang and not drive it all the time!

roadburner

abacomike said:

js06gv said:

Performance Package would've been wasted on my wife with this being a daily driver. You'll be further disappointed in me for opting for an automatic too. If the car was for me, I'd option it a little differently. At least this automatic has a manual mode and paddle shifters. Not the same I know, but the '11 oddly didn't have a manual mode at all (didn't arrive until '13).

Congrats on the new Mustang.  Gorgeous car and the handling upgrades sound terrific.  Hope your wife enjoys if you let her drive it.  It would be tough for me to buy my wife a new Mustang and not drive it all the time!

On second thought, if I was getting a Mustang for my wife it would have to be sans Performance Package and three pedals as well- simply to ensure that she would be the only one that drives it.

qbrozen

sitting here at the chrysler/dodge/jeep dealer waiting for my wife's van at service. They have a 2015 Challenger Scat Pack sitting on the floor, so I poked around it. As much as they have improved the interior, it still isn't very nice. Hard rubber on the dash and tops of doors, only partial power seat (who puts 4-way power lumbar but leaves manual seatback tilt??), not a very comfy seating position overall, cheap feeling steering wheel, awkward center stack, etc. I asked the sales manager if the 2015 Charger is similar (assuming he has seen it), and he said it largely is. So I think that takes the Hellcat off my list. I mean, its one think to have all that in a sub-$40k musclecar, but if i drop 60 large on a car, I want to be impressed every time I sit down. Am I wrong?

If I get out of here soon enough, I think I may drop by the Porsche dealer down the street and see if I can't get a seat in a Macan.

Anybody have any other suggestions for $60k that I might be overlooking? BMW/Benz/Audi just aren't really on my radar. Too many audis where I work, and I can't shake my mindset that they are quite unreliable. My 135i experience really soured me on BMW. And Benz... well, its not completely out of the running. I keep thinking maybe I should check out a GLA45, but, for what I've read, it doesn't compare to the Macan in any department other than performance. I dunno... now that I've got Porsche on my brain, everything else seems ... meh. But maybe that will change once I sit in one.

js06gv

On second thought, if I was getting a Mustang for my wife it would have to be sans Performance Package and three pedals as well- simply to ensure that she would be the only one that drives it.



Understood, but the automatic and lack of perf pack hardly makes it so unenjoyable that I wouldn't want to drive it. The car also has sport and track modes and adjustable steering effort that I've yet to fiddle with.

roadburner

Not saying it's a bad car- just not my ideal pick.
-

brian125

@‌qbrozen said : but if i drop 60 large on a car, I want to be impressed every time I sit down. Am I wrong?

Agreed........... I would give these 2 Audi's below a look. The A / S6 is the best of both worlds in any car out there for the price. Audi nailed this one.

Test drive the 2015 Audi A or S6. The challenger will be a after thought.

Macan or the Audi SQ5 would compete. No reason to keep Audi's past the 4yr / 50k warranty so drive them and enjoy. Wondering how reliability will stand up on a Macan 4 / 5 yrs. down the road ? To new to tell yet? But a excellent choice.

There are a lot of ho-hum vehicles out there getting big $$$$. BMW has left me uninspired with several of there models.

I just test drove a 2015 VW Golf GTI. For under 30k VW has a real winner on there hands. Fun to drive , Fast, and handles great. This vehicle is well made. Nice interior quality in this German vehicle. 2 thumbs up for anyone interested.

ab348

fintail said:

Pics!

The new Mustang is really exotic looking for the money, superior styling to the competition IMO.

Not to rain on the new-car congrats - Congrats, @js06GV ! - but the styling of the new Mustang still hasn't grown on me. It looks too Asian for my liking, not very American and certainly not very Mustang-like. As someone said, it looks like a Honda that got rear-ended by a Hyundai.

carnaught

ab348 said:

Congrats, @js06GV ! - but the styling of the new Mustang still hasn't grown on me. It looks too Asian for my liking, not very American and certainly not very Mustang-like. As someone said, it looks like a Honda that got rear-ended by a Hyundai.

Strongly disagree with that "someone's" opinion....would like to know what he or she drives.

abacomike

ab348 said:

Pics! The new Mustang is really exotic looking for the money, superior styling to the competition IMO.

Not to rain on the new-car congrats - Congrats, @js06GV ! - but the styling of the new Mustang still hasn't grown on me. It looks too Asian for my liking, not very American and certainly not very Mustang-like. As someone said, it looks like a Honda that got rear-ended by a Hyundai.

I do not agree with your assessment of the new Mustang styling ab348 - certainly not a Honda that got rear-ended by a Hyundai.  As for not looking very American and too Asian, I am somewhat confused.  What is an American looking car and what is an Asian looking car?  

As for js06GV, just enjoy your family's new Mustang - sharp looking my most people's standards.

js06gv

Thanks for all the well wishes.

I agree the styling took a pretty sharp departure from the old in some respects and may not be everyone's cup of tea. Even I had a hard time with the very sloped rear end but it's been growing on me. I've heard the front criticized as too Fusion looking but I like the Fusion too so no problem there.

Weather is very crappy in Dallas currently. Will post pics when I take it out of the garage.

qbrozen

So went over to Porsche. Found no Macans outside. Went in and had a salesperson assigned to me. No other shoppers there, so no worries about taking him away from a real sale. Anyhoo, Macans are on about a 4-mo backorder. All are sold before they arrive so far.

 He did, however, let me sit in and start up a customer's car in service. This was a pretty base S with panoramic roof. Base wheels, seats, etc. The exhaust is definitely raw. I like it. Interior is much of what you'd expect from Porsche. I was surprised to find that the height and width are so close to the Cayenne. We had trouble spotting it sitting amongst its bigger brothers. From the rear is a different story, though.

probably needless to say, I am very interested. He's going to email me some info about possibly pre-trading my mustang and we'll go from there. On the way home, I was wondering what a lease would look like. Might be the better way to go.

ab348

abacomike said:

I do not agree with your assessment of the new Mustang styling ab348 - certainly not a Honda that got rear-ended by a Hyundai.  As for not looking very American and too Asian, I am somewhat confused.  What is an American looking car and what is an Asian looking car?  

As for js06GV, just enjoy your family's new Mustang - sharp looking my most people's standards.

The Honda/Hyundai line is one I read somewhere, here perhaps. I do see it - the rear half of the car reminds me of a Genesis coupe, and the front end is very busy with lots of tortured angles like many Asian cars have. I find many Asian cars like that now, quite a contrast from the '90s where Asian cars were almost generically bland. I don't know if I could describe in words what an American car looks like but I do think there is a distinct character that is different from Asian cars. I don't automatically think "Mustang" when I see this 2015 model.

fintail

In 2014, Asian styling = lots and lots of styling, some gingerbread, some animal or insect themes, and I will add lots of styling at the end. See Toyolex or Hyundai, not to mention some Nisfiniti creations.

American styling = traditional and sometimes bland, sometimes muscular, sometimes semi-European.

abacomike said:

What is an American looking car and what is an Asian looking car?

fintail

I recently was curious about those, and researched them, too. The one I saw on the local lot was a well equipped S, 78K MSRP (I think) - seems like something to buy less equipped, I have to imagine 60K or below would be pretty modest - crank windows, AM radio, etc, after all, it is a Porsche I suspect there are no lease incentives, and as a new shape should have good resale for the first ~5 years, maybe better to buy.

It's definitely the most attractive 4 door Porsche of any height, but I fear it will attract the X6 and Range Rover demographic, which around here isn't a good thing. Kudos to the Germans for finding a way to get back some kleptocrat money.

qbrozen said:

So went over to Porsche. Found no Macans outside. Went in and had a salesperson assigned to me.

abacomike

ab348 said:

I do not agree with your assessment of the new Mustang styling ab348 - certainly not a Honda that got rear-ended by a Hyundai.  As for not looking very American and too Asian, I am somewhat confused.  What is an American looking car and what is an Asian looking car?  

As for js06GV, just enjoy your family's new Mustang - sharp looking my most people's standards.

The Honda/Hyundai line is one I read somewhere, here perhaps. I do see it - the rear half of the car reminds me of a Genesis coupe, and the front end is very busy with lots of tortured angles like many Asian cars have. I find many Asian cars like that now, quite a contrast from the '90s where Asian cars were almost generically bland. I don't know if I could describe in words what an American car looks like but I do think there is a distinct character that is different from Asian cars. I don't automatically think "Mustang" when I see this 2015 model.

AB348, I would agree with that statement you made at the end of your post - it is a departure from the Mustangs of the 2009-2014 era.  I guess they said the same thing when the originally changed the body style and each new era of Mustang.  This will grow on you, AB.  I didn't like the 2010 E Class at first because it was such a major change from the E's of the 2000-2009, but it grew on me.

I think Asian, American and even European cars are slowly but surely condensing into a more generic styling that will become more predominant in the coming years.  A Tesla looks like a combination of just about all styles and bodies of cars.  I think that is the future of styling.

qbrozen

fintail said:

I recently was curious about those, and researched them, too. The one I saw on the local lot was a well equipped S, 78K MSRP (I think) - seems like something to buy less equipped, I have to imagine 60K or below would be pretty modest - crank windows, AM radio, etc, after all, it is a Porsche I suspect there are no lease incentives, and as a new shape should have good resale for the first ~5 years, maybe better to buy.

Yeah, I think so. I happened to run across a lease ad at another NJ dealer. If the numbers I see there hold true, I'd be looking at ~$800/mo $0/down 10k/yr 48-mo lease, with a $32k residual... for kicks and comparisons, then take that $32k and finance it for 3 more years at $995/mo. So, to compare, that same vehicle would be ~$860/mo on a 7-yr loan from the get go.

Sandman6472

Saw an ad today for 0% financing at VW...guess I never inquired when I bought a couple weeks ago as I always intended to just pay cash. But if I had known, might of considered it if the finance charges weren't too much. Have always just paid cash after my first one back in 1981 before I was married. We paid it off when we got back from the honeymoon as the wife said we don't do financing on anything except a home...been that way ever since. Did finance for a few weeks when the kid bought her first vehicle since there was a rebate tied with it. Once we were able to, we paid it off and that was that. But again, with 0% financing, might just do it depending on the numbers.
At this point, we're both still happy with our new vehicles and hope things go well with them both. Once we get the vibration problem solved, I'll be so much happier and I believe that come Wednesday, all will be over. And if not, we'll deal with it then and will suggest a different brand of rubber if they can not get it solved. Sure not all Golf's came with the same tire brand...something to look into if things do not get solved. Think it has Continentals on there now but if these don't work, we'll see what else they have as I know they want me to be happy since it is a brand new vehicle.

The Sandman

Sandman6472

Just curious, anyone here have a Galaxy S 5 smartphone and if so, do you like it? Have a mid range HTC One VX and it's just an o k phone...would like one with a bigger screen and one that just does more stuff. The bigger screen is a big want of mine. Have AT&T as our carrier but I was told that they no longer give a discount on a new phone when you upgrade and one has to pay the full cost of the phone within the contract period, no more $1.00 phones. My guy at AT&T said the same thing as did another poster in here but trying to find a more economical way to get this new Samsung smartphone.

The Sandman

Michaell

qbrozen said:

fintail said:

I recently was curious about those, and researched them, too. The one I saw on the local lot was a well equipped S, 78K MSRP (I think) - seems like something to buy less equipped, I have to imagine 60K or below would be pretty modest - crank windows, AM radio, etc, after all, it is a Porsche I suspect there are no lease incentives, and as a new shape should have good resale for the first ~5 years, maybe better to buy.

Yeah, I think so. I happened to run across a lease ad at another NJ dealer. If the numbers I see there hold true, I'd be looking at ~$800/mo $0/down 10k/yr 48-mo lease, with a $32k residual... for kicks and comparisons, then take that $32k and finance it for 3 more years at $995/mo. So, to compare, that same vehicle would be ~$860/mo on a 7-yr loan from the get go.

Macan S has a 53% residual for 48 months, 10K per year. Base MF is .00200, or 4.8%.

Expensive to buy or lease, IMO.

qbrozen

hey, thanks, Michaell. May I ask what a 3yr/12k looks like?

Michaell

qbrozen said:

hey, thanks, Michaell. May I ask what a 3yr/12k looks like?

60% residual, same .00200 MF.

qbrozen

ouch. makes no sense to lease it. thanks for the info.

wish i had less expensive taste.

roadburner

I do like the GTI, but again it would be a retrograde step for me. I really don't want another FWD car- especially one that's slower than the sled I currently drive.

qbrozen

brian125 said:

Agreed........... I would give these 2 Audi's below a look. The A / S6 is the best of both worlds in any car out there for the price. Audi nailed this one.

Test drive the 2015 Audi A or S6. The challenger will be a after thought.

Macan or the Audi SQ5 would compete. No reason to keep Audi's past the 4yr / 50k warranty so drive them and enjoy. Wondering how reliability will stand up on a Macan 4 / 5 yrs. down the road ? To new to tell yet? But a excellent choice.

Well, S6 is $75k for starters, and the A6 3.0T wouldn't be fast enough for my tastes. The SQ5 gives up some of the cool performance tricks you can get in the porsche for not a huge savings. It is also heavier.

Now, the GLA AMG comes in at something like $5k less... but its quite a bit smaller. I dunno, I guess maybe I should at least take a look at one in the flesh. I have to admit the interior looks pretty awful in the pics, though.

corvette

Congrats, js06gv! If my count is correct, we're at 36 punches for the year, and have now surpassed all guesses from our members. au1994 was the closest guess at 35 punches.

"You've all overbid!" - Bob Barker

Any guesses for 2015? I have stever down for 39 and nobody else.

corvette

sandman_6472 said:

But if I had known, might of considered it if the finance charges weren't too much. Have always just paid cash after my first one back in 1981 before I was married. We paid it off when we got back from the honeymoon as the wife said we don't do financing on anything except a home...been that way ever since.

That's a good financial philosophy... That said, the "loan fee" on my GLI was something nominal like $99, and the interest rate is 1.99%. Once I got paid for the diminished value due to the wreck, I paid some extra to make sure I didn't have negative equity.

I would probably still kick in a little extra if I hadn't moved to the city recently, now I'm making a rent payment I didn't have before! In the long run, I think it will work out for the better. Once I sell my old house, I plan to buy another one here, but would rather not own two at once.

jayrider

sandman_6472 said:

Saw an ad today for 0% financing at VW...guess I never inquired when I bought a couple weeks ago as I always intended to just pay cash. But if I had known, might of considered it if the finance charges weren't too much. Have always just paid cash after my first one back in 1981 before I was married. We paid it off when we got back from the honeymoon as the wife said we don't do financing on anything except a home...been that way ever since. Did finance for a few weeks when the kid bought her first vehicle since there was a rebate tied with it. Once we were able to, we paid it off and that was that. But again, with 0% financing, might just do it depending on the numbers.
At this point, we're both still happy with our new vehicles and hope things go well with them both. Once we get the vibration problem solved, I'll be so much happier and I believe that come Wednesday, all will be over. And if not, we'll deal with it then and will suggest a different brand of rubber if they can not get it solved. Sure not all Golf's came with the same tire brand...something to look into if things do not get solved. Think it has Continentals on there now but if these don't work, we'll see what else they have as I know they want me to be happy since it is a brand new vehicle.

The Sandman

Zero % financing isn't free, you would have paid more for the car.

stickguy

2015 has to be lower. Too many guys jumped in that will not be doing so next year. Me and sandy fir sure!

roadburner

Wow, I am SO glad I didn't buy into the hype and buy a Fiesta ST when all the magazines were fawning over it; Automobile magazine has one for a long term test and after only three track days the rear shocks were blown out, three wheels were bent and all four tires were DOA. I would be seriously ticked if that was my car. Even my MS3 performed better than that. And after 19 years and over 140,000 miles my Club Sport track rat is still on its original shocks and wheels.

nyccarguy

I think the surprise punches of 2014 have been @graphicguy's CTS & @sandman_6472‌ 's Golf.

roadburner

nyccarguy said:

I think the surprise punches of 2014 have been @graphicguy's CTS & @sandman_6472‌ 's Golf.

Yep!

28firefighter

Put me down for 33 for next year.

Happy Holidays everyone! Wishing you and yours a happy and healthy 2015!

28FF

breld

brian125 said:

I just test drove a 2015 VW Golf GTI. For under 30k VW has a real winner on there hands. Fun to drive , Fast, and handles great. This vehicle is well made. Nice interior quality in this German vehicle. 2 thumbs up for anyone interested.

Agreed.

breld

qbrozen said:

brian125 said:

Now, the GLA AMG comes in at something like $5k less... but its quite a bit smaller. I dunno, I guess maybe I should at least take a look at one in the flesh. I have to admit the interior looks pretty awful in the pics, though

Probably at least worth a look. I really liked the way it looked and drove (GLA250 model), but did think the interior indeed left a bit to be desired.

henryn

sandman_6472 said:

Just curious, anyone here have a Galaxy S 5 smartphone and if so, do you like it? Have a mid range HTC One VX and it's just an o k phone...would like one with a bigger screen and one that just does more stuff. The bigger screen is a big want of mine. Have AT&T as our carrier but I was told that they no longer give a discount on a new phone when you upgrade and one has to pay the full cost of the phone within the contract period, no more $1.00 phones. My guy at AT&T said the same thing as did another poster in here but trying to find a more economical way to get this new Samsung smartphone.

The Sandman

I have the Samsung Note 4, which is similar to the S5 only bigger still. My previous phone (for 2 years) was the Samsung Galaxy S3.

I am with Verizon rather than AT&T, but I think the situation is similar. You can get a subsidized phone, or you can pay for the phone outright and get a lower monthly rate. Or you can get a hybrid deal, sort of halfway in between. You get the lower rate, you pay $xx per month for the phone and after 12 months (roughly) you can upgrade and get a newer phone, instead of the usual 24 month upgrade cycle. It all becomes rather complex, go into an AT&T store and ask them to break it all down for you. Be sure to bring pencil and paper and be prepared to take notes.