Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

au1994 · April 2015

"Without seeing one yet obviously I'd have the Mazdaspeed 3 at the top of the list as my next car. I view at saving me from another go at a Volkswagen."

I know the feeling on VW's now. I have GTI fever in the absolute worst way. Local dealer has a 2 dr SE in white with the lighting package that I just can't stop looking at online. If I could ditch the lease on the 335i, I'd pull the trigger in a heartbeat but I am still upside down to the point where no amount of dealer aggressiveness on the trade is going to make up the difference. Doesn't help that he's knocking 9% off MSRP either!!

As I said over in the trade in values thread the 335 is a great power train mated to awful steering and not much better chassis. I'll give BMW a chance again one day but its time for something different. The 2 series is quite good but I'd have to have the 235i and I can't justify the extra $ over the GTI as good as it is!

kyfdx · April 2015

GTI fever is dangerous.. I have it myself.

I also have a 9-yr-old car that's paid for, that I could sell in a minute.... so, doubly dangerous..

au1994 · April 2015

kyfdx said:
GTI fever is dangerous.. I have it myself.

I also have a 9-yr-old car that's paid for, that I could sell in a minute.... so, doubly dangerous..

Yep, if you are referring to your ZHP it could be gone before sundown!

Highest praise I have seen yet for the GTI...Someone on the C&D staff said it drives like BMW's with an "E" in the chassis code. That did it for me.

nyccarguy · April 2015

au1994 said:
"Without seeing one yet obviously I'd have the Mazdaspeed 3 at the top of the list as my next car. I view at saving me from another go at a Volkswagen."

I know the feeling on VW's now. I have GTI fever in the absolute worst way. Local dealer has a 2 dr SE in white with the lighting package that I just can't stop looking at online. If I could ditch the lease on the 335i, I'd pull the trigger in a heartbeat but I am still upside down to the point where no amount of dealer aggressiveness on the trade is going to make up the difference. Doesn't help that he's knocking 9% off MSRP either!!

As I said over in the trade in values thread the 335 is a great power train mated to awful steering and not much better chassis. I'll give BMW a chance again one day but its time for something different. The 2 series is quite good but I'd have to have the 235i and I can't justify the extra $ over the GTI as good as it is!

Have you tried listing the 335i on swap a lease or lease trader? What's your payment?

au1994 · April 2015

nyccarguy said:

au1994 said:
"Without seeing one yet obviously I'd have the Mazdaspeed 3 at the top of the list as my next car. I view at saving me from another go at a Volkswagen."

I know the feeling on VW's now. I have GTI fever in the absolute worst way. Local dealer has a 2 dr SE in white with the lighting package that I just can't stop looking at online. If I could ditch the lease on the 335i, I'd pull the trigger in a heartbeat but I am still upside down to the point where no amount of dealer aggressiveness on the trade is going to make up the difference. Doesn't help that he's knocking 9% off MSRP either!!

As I said over in the trade in values thread the 335 is a great power train mated to awful steering and not much better chassis. I'll give BMW a chance again one day but its time for something different. The 2 series is quite good but I'd have to have the 235i and I can't justify the extra $ over the GTI as good as it is!
Have you tried listing the 335i on swap a lease or lease trader? What's your payment?

That's a good idea but I am just under a year left on it so I can't imagine it would be too attractive for someone to take over.

nyccarguy · April 2015

au1994 said:

nyccarguy said:

au1994 said:
"Without seeing one yet obviously I'd have the Mazdaspeed 3 at the top of the list as my next car. I view at saving me from another go at a Volkswagen."

I know the feeling on VW's now. I have GTI fever in the absolute worst way. Local dealer has a 2 dr SE in white with the lighting package that I just can't stop looking at online. If I could ditch the lease on the 335i, I'd pull the trigger in a heartbeat but I am still upside down to the point where no amount of dealer aggressiveness on the trade is going to make up the difference. Doesn't help that he's knocking 9% off MSRP either!!

As I said over in the trade in values thread the 335 is a great power train mated to awful steering and not much better chassis. I'll give BMW a chance again one day but its time for something different. The 2 series is quite good but I'd have to have the 235i and I can't justify the extra $ over the GTI as good as it is!
Have you tried listing the 335i on swap a lease or lease trader? What's your payment?
That's a good idea but I am just under a year left on it so I can't imagine it would be too attractive for someone to take over.

You never know.

au1994 · April 2015

nyccarguy said:

au1994 said:

nyccarguy said:

au1994 said:
"Without seeing one yet obviously I'd have the Mazdaspeed 3 at the top of the list as my next car. I view at saving me from another go at a Volkswagen."

I know the feeling on VW's now. I have GTI fever in the absolute worst way. Local dealer has a 2 dr SE in white with the lighting package that I just can't stop looking at online. If I could ditch the lease on the 335i, I'd pull the trigger in a heartbeat but I am still upside down to the point where no amount of dealer aggressiveness on the trade is going to make up the difference. Doesn't help that he's knocking 9% off MSRP either!!

As I said over in the trade in values thread the 335 is a great power train mated to awful steering and not much better chassis. I'll give BMW a chance again one day but its time for something different. The 2 series is quite good but I'd have to have the 235i and I can't justify the extra $ over the GTI as good as it is!
Have you tried listing the 335i on swap a lease or lease trader? What's your payment?
That's a good idea but I am just under a year left on it so I can't imagine it would be too attractive for someone to take over.
You never know.

True. I'll look into the fees involved. I think I remember hearing BMWFS charges a transfer fee which is almost as much as one of my monthly payments.

qbrozen · April 2015

breld said:

Even though the rumors indicate it may beat the WRX on horsepower, and add AWD to the mix over a GTI, I still think it will have to play nicely in the price range of those competitors. My 3S GT hatch had an MSRP of about $26,500 (not including the dealer added appearance package). I imagine you'll get a Touring trim and a Grand Touring trim on the Mazdaspeed3, with the Touring trim coming in around $28k, and the Grand Touring a bit over $30k. Apples to apples from a trim perspective, that's about a $4k premium for the turbo, AWD and other cosmetic features (wheels, body kit, etc.). Plausible?

I dunno. Could be tough. I'd imagine Recaros, which are expensive, all different suspension, different engine and trans, etc, etc.

An STi Limited is $38.5k, and I think that's a more appropriate comparison. Hell, that's $8500 more than a WRX Limited. Granted, the mazda probably won't have the adjustability the STi does. I'm thinking $33k is reasonable, and $35k is possible.

nyccarguy · April 2015

au1994 said:

nyccarguy said:

au1994 said:

nyccarguy said:

au1994 said:
"Without seeing one yet obviously I'd have the Mazdaspeed 3 at the top of the list as my next car. I view at saving me from another go at a Volkswagen."

I know the feeling on VW's now. I have GTI fever in the absolute worst way. Local dealer has a 2 dr SE in white with the lighting package that I just can't stop looking at online. If I could ditch the lease on the 335i, I'd pull the trigger in a heartbeat but I am still upside down to the point where no amount of dealer aggressiveness on the trade is going to make up the difference. Doesn't help that he's knocking 9% off MSRP either!!

As I said over in the trade in values thread the 335 is a great power train mated to awful steering and not much better chassis. I'll give BMW a chance again one day but its time for something different. The 2 series is quite good but I'd have to have the 235i and I can't justify the extra $ over the GTI as good as it is!
Have you tried listing the 335i on swap a lease or lease trader? What's your payment?
That's a good idea but I am just under a year left on it so I can't imagine it would be too attractive for someone to take over.
You never know.
True. I'll look into the fees involved. I think I remember hearing BMWFS charges a transfer fee which is almost as much as one of my monthly payments.

It might not be worth the hassle, especially if you have less than a year. Look at the bright side, the GTIs will surely come down in price as they "cool off" a year from now.

au1994 · April 2015

nyccarguy said:

au1994 said:

nyccarguy said:

au1994 said:

nyccarguy said:

au1994 said:
"Without seeing one yet obviously I'd have the Mazdaspeed 3 at the top of the list as my next car. I view at saving me from another go at a Volkswagen."

I know the feeling on VW's now. I have GTI fever in the absolute worst way. Local dealer has a 2 dr SE in white with the lighting package that I just can't stop looking at online. If I could ditch the lease on the 335i, I'd pull the trigger in a heartbeat but I am still upside down to the point where no amount of dealer aggressiveness on the trade is going to make up the difference. Doesn't help that he's knocking 9% off MSRP either!!

As I said over in the trade in values thread the 335 is a great power train mated to awful steering and not much better chassis. I'll give BMW a chance again one day but its time for something different. The 2 series is quite good but I'd have to have the 235i and I can't justify the extra $ over the GTI as good as it is!
Have you tried listing the 335i on swap a lease or lease trader? What's your payment?
That's a good idea but I am just under a year left on it so I can't imagine it would be too attractive for someone to take over.
You never know.
True. I'll look into the fees involved. I think I remember hearing BMWFS charges a transfer fee which is almost as much as one of my monthly payments.
It might not be worth the hassle, especially if you have less than a year. Look at the bright side, the GTIs will surely come down in price as they "cool off" a year from now.

But I want one now! Waaaa!!!

stickguy · April 2015

I want something smaller and sportier too. And I have 2.5 years left on my lease!

Wait it out.

au1994 · April 2015

stickguy said:
I want something smaller and sportier too. And I have 2.5 years left on my lease!

Wait it out.

You are all correct of course. VW will make another GTI just like the one I have found.

Thanks for talking me off the ledge.

Michaell · April 2015

au1994 said:

stickguy said:
I want something smaller and sportier too. And I have 2.5 years left on my lease!

Wait it out.
You are all correct of course. VW will make another GTI just like the one I have found.

Thanks for talking me off the ledge.

All this talk of GTI's make me want one as well. Test drove the last generation model about 18 months ago. Really liked it.

So .. stick or DSG? 2 doors or 4? Let's get specific, people!

au1994 · April 2015

Michaell said:

au1994 said:

stickguy said:
I want something smaller and sportier too. And I have 2.5 years left on my lease!

Wait it out.
You are all correct of course. VW will make another GTI just like the one I have found.

Thanks for talking me off the ledge.
All this talk of GTI's make me want one as well. Test drove the last generation model about 18 months ago. Really liked it.

So .. stick or DSG? 2 doors or 4? Let's get specific, people!

I have my heart set on an SE, DSG, 2dr with the lighting package. I'd be happy with white, silver or gray.

roadburner · April 2015

au1994 said:

Michaell said:

au1994 said:

stickguy said:
I want something smaller and sportier too. And I have 2.5 years left on my lease!

Wait it out.
You are all correct of course. VW will make another GTI just like the one I have found.

Thanks for talking me off the ledge.
All this talk of GTI's make me want one as well. Test drove the last generation model about 18 months ago. Really liked it.

So .. stick or DSG? 2 doors or 4? Let's get specific, people!
I have my heart set on an SE, DSG, 2dr with the lighting package. I'd be happy with white, silver or gray.

Make mine an S 4 door with the Performance and Lighting Packages- in blue, gray, or white...

xwesx · April 2015

stickguy said:
I want something smaller and sportier too. And I have 2.5 years left on my lease!

Wait it out.

Smaller and sportier... I can't imagine that lasting too long in your driveway!

stickguy · April 2015

What? The sonata or new car lasting?

As long as it is roomy and comfy enough for me and the wife all good. A golf is fine. A MAZDA 3 too. Just not going too far into hard core sports car again!

Will be interesting to see what is available in 2 years. And if I have any money left to pay for it!

kyfdx · April 2015

4-door, stick-shift.. I'd love all the options, but would probably go for an SE. Performance package would be awesome, but really hard to find, around here..

I could live with an S w/PP.. I'd miss the sunroof the most.. I like cloth interior, however..

au1994 · April 2015

kyfdx said:
4-door, stick-shift.. I'd love all the options, but would probably go for an SE. Performance package would be awesome, but really hard to find, around here..

I could live with an S w/PP.. I'd miss the sunroof the most.. I like cloth interior, however..

I wish you could get the plaid cloth with the other SE goodies. I love that retro touch!

stickguy · April 2015

By then,I'm could probably get away with going back to a stick. Will be a tough decision.

Michaell · April 2015

Opinions wanted ... buy at end of lease or not?

http://forums.edmunds.com/discussion/33979/general/x/newbie-here-what-makes-most-financial-sense-in-my-situation-lease-end-buying#latest

roadburner · April 2015

I'll tell you what I find tempting in a weird sort of way- Swope VW has a used 2014 Fiesta ST equipped with the Recaro Package for $20K. Assuming you could get $2K knocked off the price that would give you enough money to buy the Mountune MP215 Performance Upgrade and have it installed(which preserves the new car warranty). Torque gets boosted by 16% and the 0-60 time is close to that of the GTI.

nyccarguy · April 2015

Don't worry, I'm not running down to my local Mercedes-Benz Dealer anytime soon. The only CPO cars I see out there that seem to be very nicely priced compared to new is the GL. There seem to be a decent amount of 2012s & 2013s out there (GL450s & GL 350 BlueTecs) with asking prices in the mid to high $40K range with anywhere between 18K & 33K miles. These SUVs have original MSRPs of $75K - $80K.

breld · April 2015

au1994 said:

corvette said:

sandman_6472 said:
Did the bathfitter thing in our master walk down shower yesterday and turned out pretty nice...didn't want to do a full gut job at this juncture so started here and will have the room painted to better match the new color scheme.
I had the cabinets painted and countertops replaced (by a contractor) and replaced the tile backsplash (with my dad's help) in my old house. Also got a new dishwasher, sink, and faucet. Amazing what a big change you can make for $5,000 or so, as opposed to gutting the kitchen and spending $20k or more.
Ditto that. Around the holidays last year I put granite, new sink and faucet, new cook top and new cabinet hardware in in the kitchen. Slapped a new coat of paint on the wall and it looks like I spend 4x my all in 5k number.

Wife and I were just talking about replacing our countertop and backsplash this morning. Thing is, our house is only 4 years old and we have perfectly good quartz countertops and a travertine tile backsplash. We're just a little bored with it (see a pattern here).

Although - that would be much better than starting over with a new house (we like looking at new showhomes too).

breld · April 2015

kyfdx said:
GTI fever is dangerous.. I have it myself.

I also have a 9-yr-old car that's paid for, that I could sell in a minute.... so, doubly dangerous..

Ooh Ooh! Pick me, Pick me! I'll take that ZHP off your hands!

breld · April 2015

qbrozen said:

breld said:

Even though the rumors indicate it may beat the WRX on horsepower, and add AWD to the mix over a GTI, I still think it will have to play nicely in the price range of those competitors. My 3S GT hatch had an MSRP of about $26,500 (not including the dealer added appearance package). I imagine you'll get a Touring trim and a Grand Touring trim on the Mazdaspeed3, with the Touring trim coming in around $28k, and the Grand Touring a bit over $30k. Apples to apples from a trim perspective, that's about a $4k premium for the turbo, AWD and other cosmetic features (wheels, body kit, etc.). Plausible?
I dunno. Could be tough. I'd imagine Recaros, which are expensive, all different suspension, different engine and trans, etc, etc.

An STi Limited is $38.5k, and I think that's a more appropriate comparison. Hell, that's $8500 more than a WRX Limited. Granted, the mazda probably won't have the adjustability the STi does. I'm thinking $33k is reasonable, and $35k is possible.

You may be right Q, and much of my analysis is from a hopeful perspective.

Does seem like a bit of a leap for Mazda to go up against the STI and Golf R crowd right away, even with the addition of AWD. So, maybe the higher end of the WRX/GTI trims - which brings us right back to that low-$30's you speak of.

breld · April 2015

I'll have to share all this intense desire for a new GTI with my wife - will make her feel good.

It is indeed a nice car - as much as I like my Mazda, I have no doubt I would've ended up with a GTI if she didn't already have one. As it is, it is nice to have the variety in the garage.

And to stickguy's point, I rather like the sporty, but not too sporty, feel of the Mazda for everyday driving (not that that's stopping me from looking toward the Mazdaspeed version).

I was browsing cars.com last night and came across a 2011 328xi wagon - manual, sport package. 42k miles for $26k. Not bad. Gives my wife a little pause, as she is nostalgic for her 3-er wagon. She probably traded out a bit early on that one.

xwesx · April 2015

breld said:
Wife and I were just talking about replacing our countertop and backsplash this morning. Thing is, our house is only 4 years old and we have perfectly good quartz countertops and a travertine tile backsplash. We're just a little bored with it (see a pattern here).

Although - that would be much better than starting over with a new house (we like looking at new showhomes too).

At this point, I think just having a countertop (or even just a backsplash) would be an amazing thing. I'm still looking forward to having a real kitchen and an actual bed. It's been so long, though, I'm not sure what I'd do with myself if I had these things. Sometimes dreaming about having them is far better than having them (with all the finality and, possibly, compromises that brings).

breld · April 2015

au1994 said:

stickguy said:
I want something smaller and sportier too. And I have 2.5 years left on my lease!

Wait it out.
You are all correct of course. VW will make another GTI just like the one I have found.

Thanks for talking me off the ledge.

It is nice when you know the car you want will be readily available. Plus, VW will start putting in their new infotainment system, with Apple CarPlay and the Droid version, next year.

Plus, let them work out any first year bugs too.

Or...just go get one now.

stever · April 2015

xwesx said:
Sometimes dreaming about having them is far better than having them.

Anticipation is half the fun. Or in my case, most all the fun. Was surprised to learn today that @kyfdx has a car in his stable older than ours though. My Seward friend is on the bus from West Texas right this minute. Depending on the mechanic's progress, he'll probably pick up his new truck tomorrow morning and then he'll be able to drive back to Alaska in a few weeks. Assuming he doesn't break down in Tok, lol.

"Buying" a car for someone else was kind of entertaining though. You get to spend their cash, and don't have to worry if the truck is a dog. They'll blame the issues (hopefully) on the seller, or Ford.

stickguy · April 2015

I love helping people buy (spending their money). I just got a new "client" this week. Someone my sister works with is in need of her first car purchase (currently has an older PT Cruiser that was a family hand me down).

Looking for a compact/mid size CUV type vehicle. I had lots of suggestions.

thebean · April 2015

xwesx said:
At this point, I think just having a countertop (or even just a backsplash) would be an amazing thing. I'm still looking forward to having a real kitchen and an actual bed. It's been so long, though, I'm not sure what I'd do with myself if I had these things. Sometimes dreaming about having them is far better than having them (with all the finality and, possibly, compromises that brings).

What, do you live in a cave?

. What's your situation, if you can share?

xwesx · April 2015

thebean said:

xwesx said:

At this point, I think just having a countertop (or even just a backsplash) would be an amazing thing. I'm still looking forward to having a real kitchen and an actual bed. It's been so long, though, I'm not sure what I'd do with myself if I had these things. Sometimes dreaming about having them is far better than having them (with all the finality and, possibly, compromises that brings).

What, do you live in a cave? . What's your situation, if you can share?

LOL No, an igloo!

Clearly, I jest. The igloo melted last week. We're camping out until new snow in October allows us to build another.

xwesx · April 2015

No, but seriously, and I really am being serious this time (or at least trying to as I laugh and try to type)....

We began building our house from scratch in 2002, which, as history tells, was an absolutely horrible time to take on a full-scale house-building project out-of-pocket. Between 2002 and 2004, the price of building materials quadrupled. The good news is that they have, for the most part, held pretty steady since then (except in the case of metals, such as copper).

But, our original budget was shot all to heck by that, so we've pretty much spent the last thirteen years playing catch-up with inflation. We're ahead of it now, though, and have a pretty substantial nest egg available for getting this old beast squared away. The problem now is a matter of inertia (e.g., I'm pretty comfortable in this partially finished house, despite the lack of some amenities y'all take for granted) and time (part of that keeping up with inflation thing was increasing my earnings, which means being "more important" and therefore spending way, way too much time at work trying to keep up with demands).

Big plans for this year, though! Completing the ventilation system, along with wiring/plumbing the main living area, then rocking, mud/tape, paint, flooring. It should start feeling like a real house after that, even if it doesn't really look like it from afar.

Oh, and wife really wants us to expand the place since we designed/built it as a two-bedroom (kid's room is the only finished space in the house), and of course we have two children, and of COURSE that means one of each gender. Our son, born about two years after we built the first section of the place and moved in, will be eleven in June. Scary stuff!

Right now, my goal is pretty much just to have the place finished before he moves out. LOL

au1994 · April 2015

breld said:

au1994 said:

stickguy said:
I want something smaller and sportier too. And I have 2.5 years left on my lease!

Wait it out.
You are all correct of course. VW will make another GTI just like the one I have found.

Thanks for talking me off the ledge.
It is nice when you know the car you want will be readily available. Plus, VW will start putting in their new infotainment system, with Apple CarPlay and the Droid version, next year.

Plus, let them work out any first year bugs too.

Or...just go get one now.

And I used to like you Breld.

Kidding aside, my back of the envelope math says that maybe by the end of the year I'll be even and can make a move.

Sandman6472 · April 2015

Naturally VW brings out these new goodies the model year after the one I bought! Would be nice to have the most up to date tech in a brand new model but hey, I'm just a consumer who now feels a bit screwed over by the company! Such is life but, it just kinda stinks to be honest...company's need to start really thinking about the consumers more and putting our needs first! I'm a bit pissed off but it could've been any company for that matter.

The Sandman :@

fezo · April 2015

Get used to it. Cars are advancing quickly enough in the technology department that when you've had one three years it's kind of an antique. My newest is a 2010. How quaint.

au1994 · April 2015

fezo said:
Get used to it. Cars are advancing quickly enough in the technology department that when you've had one three years it's kind of an antique. My newest is a 2010. How quaint.

Its also part of the product planning process. These upgrades were planned long before the release of the MKVII GTI in order to keep interest in the model going.

stickguy · April 2015

My 2013 RDX seems like a 75 vega infotainment wise compared to my sonata. Might put a crimp in the plans of keeping that 10 years!

kyfdx · April 2015

I'm still ticked off that they've made improvements, since I bought my 2006 model in 2010.

au1994 · April 2015

kyfdx said:
I'm still ticked off that they've made improvements, since I bought my 2006 model in 2010.

Lol! I'd say the same things except there are definitely aspects of my 05 I like a lot better than my 13!

suydam · April 2015

The '14 Encore added rear cross traffic alert and blind spot monitoring as standard; the '15 added wifi. Oh, the poor '13 owners! I think it's going to be this way for some time. The average car on the road is still over 10 years old so I just enjoy what I've got.

nyccarguy · April 2015

When I bought our Pilot back in 2011, I bought the EX-L 4WD w/ Navigation. I didn't want to buy the Touring model because it was about $2000 more, I didn't like the wheels it came with, & I didn't want the DVD player that was built into the car. What the Touring model did have was the power rear lift gate, which I didn't realize my wife wanted so very badly (which she reminds me of every time she sees someone opening or closing a minvan or SUV with a power lift gate). So of course, for 2012 (the next year) all Pilot EX-L came with a power lift gate.

stickguy · April 2015

I hate power lift gates. Though I am not short so what do I know?

Mr_Shiftright · April 2015

Maybe not if we look closely. A lot of the changes in technology are refinements of older tech. There really hasn't been anything earth-shattering in new cars. A person driving a 2005 car could easily adapt to a 2015 car in the space of one day's driving, at most. But going from say a 1945 car ( which was really a 1941 car) to a 1955 car was quite a jolt to the senses.

fezo said:
Get used to it. Cars are advancing quickly enough in the technology department that when you've had one three years it's kind of an antique. My newest is a 2010. How quaint.

suydam · April 2015

The safety, technology, and fuel economyadvancements from my '01 Maxima to my '13 Accord are pretty significant. that plus items that were once only on high end cars are now standard everywhere.

roadburner · April 2015

au1994 said:

kyfdx said:
I'm still ticked off that they've made improvements, since I bought my 2006 model in 2010.
Lol! I'd say the same things except there are definitely aspects of my 05 I like a lot better than my 13!

Ditto for my '95 compared to my wife's '09; for example, the interior in my 140k mile ti(and for that matter, the interior of my 151k mile MS3) show less wear than the interior of my wife's '09 after just 70k miles.

breld · April 2015

I think this integration of your phone's actual operating system into the car's infotainment system is pretty significant - maybe not earth-shattering, but significant.

With all the functions we tend to use our phones for, it will be nice when the cars simply "piggy-back" off that, instead of trying to re-invent the interface and functionality.

For instance, when I was shopping the Civic Si, I liked the idea that you could simply purchase an app for the iPhone then plug it in via HDMI, and you now have navigation (and other functions) on the screen, via your phone. I think it was something like $150 for the app and "special" cable - as opposed to the $1,500-$2,000 manufacturers tend to charge for "built-in" navigation.

au1994 · April 2015

Mr_Shiftright said:
Maybe not if we look closely. A lot of the changes in technology are refinements of older tech. There really hasn't been anything earth-shattering in new cars. A person driving a 2005 car could easily adapt to a 2015 car in the space of one day's driving, at most. But going from say a 1945 car ( which was really a 1941 car) to a 1955 car was quite a jolt to the senses.

fezo said:
Get used to it. Cars are advancing quickly enough in the technology department that when you've had one three years it's kind of an antique. My newest is a 2010. How quaint.

Agree. Its typically existing tech or features that are added from model year to model year to show incremental value and drive customer interest. Major additions of tech etc are typically saved for model refreshes. There are exceptions of course.

xwesx · April 2015

Mr_Shiftright said:
Maybe not if we look closely. A lot of the changes in technology are refinements of older tech. There really hasn't been anything earth-shattering in new cars. A person driving a 2005 car could easily adapt to a 2015 car in the space of one day's driving, at most. But going from say a 1945 car ( which was really a 1941 car) to a 1955 car was quite a jolt to the senses.

fezo said:
Get used to it. Cars are advancing quickly enough in the technology department that when you've had one three years it's kind of an antique. My newest is a 2010. How quaint.

I definitely agree. Mostly all we have on modern cars are new methods to compensate for poor drivers, all the while encouraging them to be further distracted from the task of driving. I'm sure I've said it before, but take the average driver of today and put them behind the wheel of my '69 Econoline (in particular) or my C20, and they would be incapable of driving them.

People like to tout all the added safety features that go along with all the other convenience gizmos out there, and how the death rate amongst drivers is so much lower than in the past, etc., etc., but the truth of it is that if we just stripped all the distractions out of the cars, left all the safety features, and plunked drivers from thirty or forty years ago directly into new cars of today, one would likely see a true drop in crashes/fatalities for a time because today's cars really are safer and those drivers were, on average, better. But, the driving populace of today is dumbing down at the same pace the tech advances, so what you really get is the same, if not more, crashes, but with fewer fatalities/injuries due to advances in occupant safety.

Personally, I'd rather see fewer crashes in the first place. And, yes, I know that the new rage to accomplish that is "let the car drive for you." That's the way we'll go and we're clearly headed there already, but dang, we lose so much in the process.

Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

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