Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

graphicguy

Thanks all! This would be a '16 GTI.....new! Manual trans. So, sounds like it's cheap to keep.

eriknorcal

graphicguy said:

Thanks all! This would be a '16 GTI.....new! Manual trans. So, sounds like it's cheap to keep.

Drive a DSG first... Trust me. Even if you don't buy the DSG you have to try it! 

Also get an APR or Unitronic tune. Turns the hot hatch into a monster!

breld

The GTI has a great manual trannie - an easy one to operate, even in slow traffic. The DSG will shift quicker than you can, and will be faster overall, but for some, it's still not as engaging.

28firefighter

I agree that the manual is more engaging even though I shift slower. I test drove both and ended up with the DSG mostly for the sake of my knees between downtown Seattle traffic and hills.  I have never even had it in manual mode. 

graphicguy

eriknorcal said:

graphicguy said:

Thanks all! This would be a '16 GTI.....new! Manual trans. So, sounds like it's cheap to keep.

Drive a DSG first... Trust me. Even if you don't buy the DSG you have to try it! 

Also get an APR or Unitronic tune. Turns the hot hatch into a monster!

Thanks....I'm very familiar with the DSG...had one in an Audi S4. Nice trans. I brought him up right....row your own. Although, I've ignored my own advice the last several years.


My son has boiled it down to either a Mazda 3 or the GTI. Thanks for everyone's input.

ab348

graphicguy said:

My son has boiled it down to either a Mazda 3 or the GTI. Thanks for everyone's input.

That strikes me as a bit like having it boiled down to a decision between having a hot dog or a steak for dinner.

graphicguy

AB....Like his Father, my son keeps going back and forth between need and want. He could get by with a Mazda 3, and the car has won some awards. Plus, it's a few thousand less expensive than the GTI. He really does want the GTI, though. He also wants to buy a house, buy furniture for the house, maybe get married to his GF. He wants to take a vacation this summer.

So, like any single person, his priorities shift on a daily basis.

nyccarguy

Tell him to go for the GTI.  This way he won't want to upgrade in a few (months) years to something with (ARGH, ARGH, ARGH) more power.  Driving an underpowered car with less than stellar pickup isn't fun (ask me how I know).  

Is your son's punch a CCBA punch?  If you answer "yes" to any one of these questions, I'd consider it a punch for the board:

Is your son currently living with you?
Are you cosigning for the loan?
Are you assisting him with a down payment?
Is your son currently enrolled in college or grad school that you are footing the bill for?

graphicguy

nyccarguy said:

Tell him to go for the GTI.  This way he won't want to upgrade in a few (months) years to something with (ARGH, ARGH, ARGH) more power.  Driving an underpowered car with less than stellar pickup isn't fun (ask me how I know).  

Is your son's punch a CCBA punch?  If you answer "yes" to any one of these questions, I'd consider it a punch for the board:

Is your son currently living with you?
Are you cosigning for the loan?
Are you assisting him with a down payment?
Is your son currently enrolled in college or grad school that you are footing the bill for?

Bradd....all very good questions.

My son had been living in Columbus, OH working as an IT systems guy for Ohio State. He just got a job in Cincinnati (my home) working for a start up medical software company (started by some ex Procter and Gamble folks). While Ohio State paid "OK", his new job gave him a pretty big salary bump. And, the big payoff will come if/when they go public and he can cash out some stock options.

He's looking to buy a home. But, he's temporarily parked himself at home, with me, since he just moved down from Columbus. He's looking at houses, but knowing his hatred of yard work (mainly born out of me forcing him to do it when he was growing up), he'd be better off in a condo or an apartment.

He's currently driving a 4 year old Fiesta. He bought and paid for it (makes me proud). It's not a bad car. Needs tires right now. It's got a dual clutch automatic (that's what Ford pegs it as), that never did work right, in either the Focus or the Fiestas they came in. They are hard shifting and glitchy. It's been uber reliable, but not very exciting.

I have no skin in the game. His car. His money. His choice. I'm only helping on the "deal" part of it (albeit with no cash out of my pocket....just negotiation and research).

stickguy

Bradd, a 2.5l Mazda 3 stick is pretty quick. And really fun. Probably would remind you a lot of your prelude.

GG, your son sounds like mine. He had pretty much settled on a Mazda 3 for next winter when his lease ends. But he interviewed for a promotion where he works, which comes with a pretty good bump in pay, and conceded that if it goes through, he's caving and depending the money to get an Audi. Though I am encouraging a gently used on yo keep cost manageable.

His money. He already paid off all his student loans, has no intent to buy a house, and is even about to move to a cheaper apartment. So an Audi isn't likely to break him!

Like you, I just get to consult and help shop. He signs everything, including the checks!

28firefighter

I have to agree with, Bradd. Having come from driving a Mazda3, I can tell you that there is no way someone who is seriously looking at the GTI with Performance Pack is going to be happy settling with a Mazda3, even if it is a few thousand cheaper.

nyccarguy

Bingo!  Living at home?  It will count as a punch for the board under your name.  All in favor?  Say I

stickguy

This is nice. Good price I think. 2016 loaner, only in service for 9 months. Love the color.

http://www.cherryhillaudi.com/used/Audi/2016-Audi-A3-5072bba90a0e0a6b1d31b36e6163a6aa.htm

henryn

nyccarguy said:

I think your son will be better off finding an independent VW mechanic for brake fluid drain & fills, the DSG service, coil packs...I'd price the dealer out for oil changes.  Unless they are WAY overpriced, I'd stick with them for oil changes while still under warranty. 

Has anyone else seen the TV ad being run by BMW, criticizing independent auto repair shops? I have to say that it struck me as being rather off-putting. Rather the opposite of the feeling I get from Subaru and the way they support animal rescue organizations.

All in all I have a rather positive view of Subaru and a rather negative view of BMW. And then there's VW, which is down in the sub-basement all by themselves at present.

stickguy

I'll buy (or at least shop hard) Subaru, just because I love the doggies.

28firefighter

stickguy said:

I'll buy (or at least shop hard) Subaru, just because I love the doggies.

Agree.

nyccarguy

stickguy said:

This is nice. Good price I think. 2016 loaner, only in service for 9 months. Love the color. http://www.cherryhillaudi.com/used/Audi/2016-Audi-A3-5072bba90a0e0a6b1d31b36e6163a6aa.htm

Nice looking color @stickguy.  There seems to be a lot of these A3s used as service loaners.  I'd be very concerned about that Nav screen that goes up & down breaking the day after the warranty expires.

For a little bit more, you can get a WRX Limited with a little bit more zip, less potential post warranty problems, and lower maintenance costs.

stickguy

Quite a different car though. Probably a bit rough for us old folks.

And I thought that screen just sat there? It goes up and down? Why?

That car at least has lots of warranty. 39 months of BtoB, plus the power train after that. So just as good as a few year older CPO

corvette

My neighbor traded his Crosstrek for a Forester XT. I think he said it was his ninth(!) Subaru. And he looks to be in his 30's. He may qualify for membership here. 

sda

nyccarguy said:

Bingo!  Living at home?  It will count as a punch for the board under your name.  All in favor?  Say I

Given the influence GG has had on car matters and his son is at home currently, I say I.

28firefighter

stickguy said:

Quite a different car though. Probably a bit rough for us old folks.

I really liked the WRX, in a stick, The CVT version is about what you would expect - not good. It was definitely a harsher, louder ride compared to something like the A3. My other complaint is that it rattled like crazy, which for a brand new car seemed unacceptable.

28firefighter

sda said:

nyccarguy said:

Bingo!  Living at home?  It will count as a punch for the board under your name.  All in favor?  Say I

Given the influence GG has had and his son is at home currently, I say I.

I/Ay.

nyccarguy

Looking for 727 horsepower for under $40K (plus ttl of course)? Live in or near Ohio? Or anywhere in the lower 48 states for that matter?

https://www.yahoo.com/news/talked-ohio-ford-dealer-selling-164500085.html

roadburner

28firefighter said:

stickguy said:

Quite a different car though. Probably a bit rough for us old folks.

I really liked the WRX, in a stick, The CVT version is about what you would expect - not good. It was definitely a harsher, louder ride compared to something like the A3. My other complaint is that it rattled like crazy, which for a brand new car seemed unacceptable.

I liked the STI, I just found it to be too similar-in terms of the driving experience-to my tweaked MS3.

28firefighter

roadburner said:

28firefighter said:

stickguy said:

Quite a different car though. Probably a bit rough for us old folks.

I really liked the WRX, in a stick, The CVT version is about what you would expect - not good. It was definitely a harsher, louder ride compared to something like the A3. My other complaint is that it rattled like crazy, which for a brand new car seemed unacceptable.

I liked the STI, I just found it to be too similar-in terms of the driving experience-to my tweaked MS3.

I can believe that - really they are in the same class. They offer a lot of raw power without a lot of refinement that you see in the german cars and luxury lines.

stickguy

If I actually got a WRX,mit would definetly be a stick. Otherwise, why bother?

stickguy

The next civic Si could be an option. Even a turbo stick when it arrives, assuming it comes well equipped.

breld

On GG's son's car, I'll buck the popular opinion here and say the Mazda3 is definitely worth considering, even compared to the GTI. For a little while anyway, we had both in the stable together - me with the Mazda3 and the wife with her GTI. The GTI was definitely quicker and a bit more refined in the interior, but I preferred driving my Mazda. I liked the linear response of the engine. And I liked the infotainment system better. For what it's worth, I also had no issues with the Mazda, whereas the wife had a few relatively minor annoyances that had to be addressed by the dealer. But, that was a 2015, so the first year of the MK7.

Having said that, I also love the GTI. Can't really go wrong, but I just wouldn't dismiss the Mazda too quickly.

breld

And one of the current mags (C&D, I think) has a comparison test of the Mazda3 and Golf, with the intention of pitting naturally aspirated against turbo. They picked the Mazda ahead of the Golf, praising its 6-speed auto vs the VW's.

But, of course, different engine and trannie on the GTI, so while that may be nice praise for the Mazda, I'm confident it wouldn't fare as well against the "hotter" Golf.

breld

stickguy said:

Quite a different car though. Probably a bit rough for us old folks.

And I thought that screen just sat there? It goes up and down? Why?

That car at least has lots of warranty. 39 months of BtoB, plus the power train after that. So just as good as a few year older CPO

Yeah - that screen will retract when the car shuts down (based on the wife's S3 ownership), but I believe there is a setting to just keep it up all the time.

breld

stickguy said:

The next civic Si could be an option. Even a turbo stick when it arrives, assuming it comes well equipped.

I'm very interested to see what Honda brings with the new Si. I've heard it will be available only in sedan and coupe form, with the "hot" hatch version being reserved for the Type R.

But that turbo stick should be pretty nice too - the mags all had some short review recently on a turbo coupe, and the numbers seem pretty impressive.

roadburner

breld said:

Having said that, I also love the GTI. Can't really go wrong, but I just wouldn't dismiss the Mazda too quickly.

I'd go as far as to say that I would still be driving a Mazda if the rumored 300 hp AWD MS3 had materialized. I wanted something faster than my 2007 MS3- with either AWD or RWD.

nyccarguy

"... but I believe there is a setting to just keep it up all the time."

For when it breaks the day after the warranty runs out and the dealer has to take the entire dash board apart to replace the electric motor.
  

@stickguy - what's the sticker on that A3 when it was new?

graphicguy

nyccarguy said:

Looking for 727 horsepower for under $40K (plus ttl of course)? Live in or near Ohio? Or anywhere in the lower 48 states for that matter?

https://www.yahoo.com/news/talked-ohio-ford-dealer-selling-164500085.html

About 20-30 minutes from me. I actually know one of the Sales Managers there. No bait and switch. They are the real deal. Pretty cool.

Dealership is in a small but historic city. I might go check them out if I get some time.

stickguy

From building one, with the big ticket items, about $38,500. So asking a bit over 9k less. Not sure what same car new would go for after grinding. Maybe $35k?

stickguy

I don't see why it motors down. You need it all the time, for radio, etc. makes sense only if it is just used when navigating, like Volvo used to do.

corvette

They posted about those Mustangs on TTAC. Consensus was you need more than just the boost kit to make the car a complete package. 

Michaell

corvette said:

They posted about those Mustangs on TTAC. Consensus was you need more than just the boost kit to make the car a complete package. 

Yep, no improvements to suspension, brakes, tires, etc. Just the motor mods.

Mr_Shiftright

Hmmm....300 more HP than stock with no brake or suspension or tire upgrades? Not a great idea.

xwesx

graphicguy said:

AB....Like his Father, my son keeps going back and forth between need and want. He could get by with a Mazda 3, and the car has won some awards. Plus, it's a few thousand less expensive than the GTI. He really does want the GTI, though. He also wants to buy a house, buy furniture for the house, maybe get married to his GF. He wants to take a vacation this summer.

So, like any single person, his priorities shift on a daily basis.

Well, if he wants to keep the "maybe get married to his GF" on the list of available options, he may want to push that one to the top.

On a serious note, he should probably consider TCO more heavily than purchase price in this case. Things like insurance, fuel, and maintenance don't go away, and they have a nagging way of eating into one's ability to address some of those other items on the "wants" list.

houdini1

stickguy said:

From building one, with the big ticket items, about $38,500. So asking a bit over 9k less. Not sure what same car new would go for after grinding. Maybe $35k?

I think you get 2 years of scheduled maintenance with an Audi CPO.

stickguy

a couple of oil changes and tire rotations. Not that big a deal.

Sandman6472

Got the 10K on VW's dime, bought the 20K and 30K at a discount. I was sitting there but do not remember what the wife got early but I seem to think she's covered up until the 50K service. Think that's what the service guy said Saturday but not totally sure. I somehow get the impression that she won't have the A3 as long as she had the Mazda3. I know she likes it, as it was the only real choice when she was looking, the only one that checked all the boxes. Think i'll depend if any issues crop up and if they do, how frequent and how costly they are. Like Stick's wife, the first time it leaves her stranded...she's gonna want something else...and soon! I have a better tolerance for that kind of stuff to be honest and have no problem until things get out of hand. Like most, or many women, a car is just an appliance to get her to where she has to go and I think they don't care that much about looks like we do. I know in my case, I have to really like the looks of my car to be really happy with it. A snoozemobile just isn't going to make the cut with me...I have to get that [non-permissible content removed] eating grin on my face every time I see it to really be happy. The Golf does this, really makes me smile. The '06 Civic was the same way. The '03 Sentra, '14 Tucson and and '96 Corolla DX well, not so much. My '88 Corolla FX was a real fun vehicle but once I got the Toyota bolt on wheel covers from the parts department, I really really liked it a whole lot more. And the funniest part was that the wife never ever noticed that they were on after a few months of ownership.
With the '06 Civic, I never really liked the bolt on wheel covers that came on the LX model so about 6 months in, started to look into eBay and getting Honda rims, 16" size. After seeing a bunch on there, ended up with a set from an '05 Civic SI from a seller in California. Only one of them had some slight curb rash on them and he sold them to me for $234.00 delivered to my mechanic at the time. I just had to supply the necessary lug nuts set from Honda which cost me an additional $20. Add to that mounting and balancing and the car looked very cool. that [non-permissible content removed] eating grin returned until I sold it. In hind site, should have waited another couple of years to have traded out of it but as y'all know. once we get the notion that we need to have something new, all logic goes out the window and we buy on emotion. Financially and logically it was the wrong move but in my head, it was the only thing to do! The wife thought I had lost my mind but she let me be which I did appreciate.

The Sandman

Sandman6472

Out of all the 2016 new vehicles that I have driven at work, I think I'll have to give Hyundai and Kia the award for the best new vehicles to hit the market with Honda close behind. It's no secret that I love the Optima and the Sonata as well as the Forte and the Elantra. The new Tucson is a really really nice machine now and they definitely fixed up the looks of it nicely. Can't wait until we get the new 2017 Elantra's in the fleet which shouldn't be too long. Honda did an outstanding job with new Civic and the HR-V, both of which I'd purchase in a heartbeat if my Golf wasn't as good as it is. Honda has come back with two winners and I think they will both sell very well.
Just wish the domestics could manufacture some models which could compete with these other companies. With auto sales at record highs these past couple of years, the domestics need to do what they do best as they started the auto industry years and years ago! And to be honest, there's really no domestic model that I'd even consider buying right now!

The Sandman

suydam

I'm kinda interested in checking out the new Chevy Volt.

iluvmysephia1

Out of all the 2016 new vehicles that I have driven at work, I think I'll have to give Hyundai and Kia the award for the best new vehicles to hit the market with Honda close behind.

sandman, you speaketh the truth but I think that it's only you, stever and I who get it. Sad what kind of bogus bias Kia has to fight through. Kia is really the star of all vehicles sold on the planet right now. Let them continue producing great vehicles while companies like Audi get all the space in rags like Road and Track. If they never get it it's no skin off of our nose, right?

stickguy

consumers reports gave the Optima a really high score (sonata close behind, I think the difference was trim level they tested mostly).

Sandy, I still think you would find the HR-V too slow, based on what you have said about your Golf and the Tuscan. But, don't know until you try.

I saw a new Tuscan last time I was at the hyundai dealer. I remember not liking the drivers seat (might have been the headrest pushing on my head) but would really need to try it out on the road to know for sure. But, I have no real intention of getting another CUV like that since we already have one, but never say never!

ab348

suydam said:

I'm kinda interested in checking out the new Chevy Volt.

I was behind a new Volt in traffic last week. The styling is good although a bit more mainstream than the original. One thing that struck me oddly was that all the rear lamps are regular incandescent bulbs. I would have expected LEDs given the need to conserve battery power, the image, and the price point.

Sandman6472

Drove a Sonic LTZ turbo and it really was a real nice vehicle.Not a fan of the motorcycle gauges but they work well giving the driver the information needed. Did everything good enough though I'm not fond of the looks but that's a personal thing. The 5-door hatch looks nicer than the 4-door sedan but getting the LTZ turbo model does get one nicer alloys and racier looks. For someone on a limited budget who wants a domestic, the Chevy Sonic is an excellent choice. The Spark is just too slow for my tastes and after having the front tire shred while driving on the highway, something which put a real scare into me. It wasn't the Spark's fault, it was a bad tire, but the whole experience rattled me a bit.
I can understand why the auto magazines like Audi's because even in the least expensive model like we have, the A3, it really is a very nice vehicle. I think I like it a bit more than my who actually bought it because I love the looks and the size of it. It drives great once one gets used to the turbo. From what I've read and heard, the rest of the Audi line is outstanding and I will have to test an A4 one day to see what they are all talking about. Ditto with Mercedes Benz and BMW. Have only driven a 328i but instantly fell in lust with it. Have driven a GLA, again in lust with it, and the new C Class as well as the CLA and the outgoing GLK. Not sure of the name of the small convertible but that was a blast to drive.
Will be pretty hard when I'm in the market next time to decide on what to purchase since it will be my retirement vehicle. It's one that I plan on keeping awhile since I expect to lower the amount of miles I drive per year by 2/3 if not more. So I'm going to have to decide on getting a new model or a CPO model of one of the German makes. Now that's going to be a very hard decision to make when the time comes but look forward to actively search for my next ride!

The Sandman

roadburner

I might HAVE mentioned this before, but I took a fairly long test drive in an Optima Turbo and was very impressed. I even said I would just as soon drive it as an F10 528i, as neither car was a sports sedan and at least the Optima is much less expensive.