Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
One annoying feature I find is the CVT. Seems like its only optimized for best fuel economy. The engine whine is annoying when you step on the gas and the accelearation is slow. You have to have patience, and lots of it with this engine/tranny combo. It's one of the reasons I'm not a big fan of CVTs. I'm still used to stepping on the gas like in the Benz, and taking off right away.
The only nice thing is that I can manually shift this tranny as it has 6 preset gear ratios to allow me to have some normal acceleration.
But it's just an observation, not really a complain, as it's a totally different kind of vehicle and I did buy it to save money, not to race it around town or the highway. It will just take me some time to get used to it.
Other observations: love the iPod hookup and the Sirius satellite radio. I have yet to put in a CD into the CD player. Stock speakers are better than average but not better than the Benz's (it had 6 speakers with a factory subwoofer, but they started to rattle anyways).
The only small complaint about the Sirius radio is that the quality does not sound like CD, but rather close to a FM radio.
Inside it has a ton of room to stretch out, expecially for the front passenger on long trips as the window is pushed far ahead. I like the flat folding front passenger seat to load up long items inside (haven't used it yet). The LED flashlight built into the rear is a handy too. And I'll be taking it camping so I'll find uses for the 115 volt outlet built into the front console.
I think I can live with it for now...... and I find a big weight taken off my shoulders as I don't have to wrry about something breaking everytime I hear a new noise like in the Benz. Peace of mind is sometimes priceless.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
If betting is still open, I give it between 9-18 months...
I'm now fearing my 2-year bet may have been a gross overestimation.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
Being able to put up with a noisy powertrain (I listen to my music fairly loudly anyways so no big deal) is better than putting up with a fast lemon, at least for me.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
I have looked around, and there are a number very close to this spec - around 50K, '03-04, AWD - all going for exactly the same money, plus $500 because all the others I have seen are automatics. I think the RAV must hold its value better than I knew.
Yes, new ones are into the low $20s, there's no stick available, and the thing has grown about two feet in all directions. I prefer the compact dimensions of the '01-'05. I could maybe look at Foresters, which are going to be a better deal than Toyotas anyway. But there are a lot less in the pool, so more limited availability.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Had a neighbor offer us his 2007 Ford Taurus SEL in trade for our 97 F-250 and 2006 dump trailer plus a few other misc things that add up to a couple grand on top of the truck and trailer. We are hoping to make the deal tonight and get the car here.
It'll be a good commuter car for us.
See what happens when you guys think I'm cured??? LOL
And an 07 Taurus won't do the same thing as the Pilot. You'll be shopping again in no time!
Who said the Pilot was going anywhere??? LOL We'll own the Taurus outright which will be nice, its a commuter for hubby, I'll still drive the Pilot. :P
I think you can figure the rest...
Why is anyone say Taurus anymore I get a brain cramp and need to think about the year. Then I need to think if someone is trying to compensate for the name change and call it by the new name so that people understand what car it is. The one you are getting I assume is the new Taurus\500.
Why is anyone say Taurus anymore I get a brain cramp and need to think about the year. Then I need to think if someone is trying to compensate for the name change and call it by the new name so that people understand what car it is. The one you are getting I assume is the new Taurus\500.
Yeah, the business is done and it wasn't soon enough. We are burnt out beyond belief, even the thought of having to deal with business/firewood is a stress, after 9 years just stick a fork in, we're done!!
The guy could still change his mind, but I don't think so, its a sweet deal for him and us. The car is the old bodystyle Taurus which is fine, its a nice clean little car. Just going to get the miles run up on it and tossed away when its done, looks don't really matter. Hopefully we'll have the car tomorrow, but we'll see.
I haven't investigated the Sentra any further than sitting in one at the auto shows. I'll admit though, I was impressed by the interior room. I fit fine up front, and there was enough room in the back for me, too. Even the Versa's an interesting little package. Now up front it seemed a little tight for me. Maybe a bit better than my uncle's '03 Corolla, but not much. It more than makes up for it in the back seat, but if I'm going to buy a car, it's the driver's seat I'm the most worried about!
There's a current-style Sentra in the parking lot at work. One day I really noticed how big it actually is, when it was parallel-parked at the curb, in front of a mid-80's Cutlass Supreme sedan. Both cars were a similar shade of green, so that might be why the comparison really caught my eye. Seeing them both in profile, side-by-side like that, really showed how big some smaller cars have gotten.
I just looked up the specs, and was kinda surprised at how big the Sentra actually is!
Wheelbase 105.7
Overall length 179.8
Overall width 70.5
Overall height 59.5
In comparison, that mid-80's Cutlass it was near was probably about 198" long, 108.1" wheelbase, maybe 54-55" tall, and 71-72" wide. Not a huge difference, really, except for overall length. But the Cutlass had a couple extra inches tacked on up front to make it look more upscale. A comparable 1978-83 Malibu sedan is about 5" shorter, and I think it was all up front with a longer header panel and longer bumper supports to make the front bumper stick out a corresponding amount. So there's 5" of waste right there. Plus, the Sentra doesn't have much rear overhang, getting most of its trunk volume from height rather than length.
I might have to check one out.
Wheelbase 105.7
Overall length 179.8
Overall width 70.5
Overall height 59.5
Sigh. Yeah, the Sentra is really a barge these days. The old B13 ('91-94) was far more svelte and nimble:
Wheelbase 95.7 in
Length 170.3 in
Width 65.6 in
Height 53.0 in
LOL...here I am, applauding the car for finally being something big enough that I'd actually consider, yet I guess it could be alienating plenty of other buyers for being too "barge-like"!
I liked the style of the 1991-94 era Sentra, but imagine the car would just be too small for my tastes.
The SE trim really meant nothing more than a rear spoiler and alloy wheels (13"!!!). No A/C, no cruise, only power mirrors. It also had the shoulder belt that was attached to the door and was meant to be kept latched 100% of the time.
I paid something like $10K (before TTL). I was looking at the Hyundai Scoupe as well, but the Nissan was much better built. I really should have gotten a Mazda Protege, but my (then) wife already had one and it seemed silly to have two of the same make and model, though I would have gotten a stick.
Andre, you'd be surprised at how roomy it was. I used to take my dad, uncle and cousin to the golf course ... and all our clubs fit in the trunk nicely.
That car got me through my divorce as well as a move from California to Colorado, where it was unceremoniously traded in on a '93 Accord.
If I were shopping now I'd definitely look at a Sentra. Unfortunately the Nissan dealer in town, who is also the Honda dealer, is just impossible to deal with.
Now don't jump on me because the Patriot is not a class leader either in terms of refinement, but if you're comparing small sedans, I'd go for a Corolla or a Civic because they're about same money (at least in Canada).
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
Amen. A car--or a house--that you're really attached to, but needs so much work that it drives you crazy, may not be worth it. And sometimes there's nothing wrong with "settling" for a vehicle that isn't totally turning you on, but is affordable.
I finally gave up on my 15 y.o. e24 M6 when it needed about $4K in suspension & brake work, etc. (This was after it had been rear-ended, & took a year for the body work to be done). It was still gorgeous, low miles, but I couldn't deal with it anymore.
In retrospect my only mistake was not selling it sooner, when the hassles became greater than the pleasure, & agonizing for so long about it........
In contrast, I wish that I'd kept mine. I switched to 750i front rotors and Axxis Metal Master pads so it wasn't a big deal if I used them up at an HPDE. I fitted stiffer LCA bushings and that was all the front end needed. Dropping the cat and adding a Dinan chip gave me about 310 bhp at the crank. As I've mentioned before, I suppose that's why I like the E46 M3 so much, it's very similar to my 6er in size and weight, but with even more power. My kind of track tool...
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive
I bought mine used and in a hurry and it was OK and dependable. Thank goodness it did have AC.
I might take a little look around....but there are a lot less Foresters out there than RAVs.
Woody: I don't do eBay, not my thing. I used to do craigslist, but nowadays there's just so much junk and scams on there, it's like finding a needle in a haystack to find the few good deals on there.
So I mainly cruise the dealers I know, and look on AutoTrader.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
So much for being cured..........
Allrighty, put me in for Halloween.
Congrat's on the Taurus, they are not fancy, but the one we have had for our sales guys have ben very dependable. One guy bought his from the company and gave it to his kid at 100k miles, it now has over 175k. Not that you would ever keep it that long.
As for eBay, it is great if you want a Bricklin or a '65 Alfa, but is pretty worthless for modern plain cars.
Yes, with late-model cars, there's this hostile dichotomy where sellers set a reserve price (often too high), and buyers refuse to bid on auctions with a reserve, assuming (often correctly) that the reserve is too high. I've found a few sellers with reasonable reserve / BIN prices and good feedback, and have added them to my favorite sellers list for future reference.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Stick with the Rav-4\Cr-v approach. I know everyone loves Foresters but they have always seemed like an odd duck to me,kind of homely looking.
LOL, cute. Once we move hubby will be commuting 500 miles/week, so we figured when this guy offered us the car in trade for our 97 F-250 and 2006 dump trailer plus a few other little things it was a good time to get a car. No real money out of our pocket, just a trade deal.
So the old F-250 has a new home, I was actually really sad to the old girl go. She's been a super good truck for us in the 2 years we've owned her.
Just have our log skidder left to sell, then we are outta here.
Green '99, AWD, 105K, asking $9995, the guy produced receipts for timing belt/water pump and new tires (cheapos, but at least they were new).
Drove it, couldn't listen to the radio as its display reads "Erre: code". The route involved some uphill at which point it was so low on gas that it began to buck and choke, and I almost got in an emergency situation.
Beyond that, I rather liked the driver controls, it had a good clutch and a nice stick, good pedal response, but on the highway it was very loud. Tire roar, wind roar, and some kind of muted shriek coming from around the wheels (possible wheel bearing? Yikes). Even the routine noise was MUCH louder than in the RAV4. Too loud for me. And with the other things going on, no sale.
But it's pretty hard finding recent vintage of either model with a stick. Funnily enough it has been a bit easier finding RAVs than CRVs.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Typically great Honda clutch and shifter.... very underpowered, though... Unfortunately, I lost that one the hard way...
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
Or, I pulled out in front of someone and blew the airbags... one or the other...
Naturally, it was my wife's fault...
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
It sounds like maybe you do your own wrenching? That makes a huge difference. Or, just being so dedicated to a 15-20 y.o. bmw/mb/porsche (& well funded)! that you're willing to spend whatever it takes.
I found an e39 5-series to be so much more modern, practical, safer, can drive year 'round (mostly), it helped me get over the remorse of selling the M6. Not as sexy of course.
If I bought a 2nd car now, would I get another e24? No, life is too short, & too many cars I'd like to experience. Maybe a used Mini, or Z4, or some flavor of e46. But that's just me, & it sounds like yours was awesome with all the mods/upgrades.
I find the "Wheel Deals" for every market I travel into, and look cover to cover. I can rarely look at a page without finding something I'm interested in.
The antidote is having a spouse who controls the purchasing urge by witholding the purse.
GM employee pricing... Why I keep looking, I don't know.. Check out the Saab 9-7X on-line.. Yeah.. I know it's just a gussied up TrailBlazer, but it looks pretty good.. and the Saab model has all the goodies standard..
The 6-cylinder with 285 hp is the base model.. MSRP is just under $42K.. Employee pricing minus the $8000 rebate brings it to just under $30K.. Not too bad, I'm thinking.. 4yr/50K warranty.. 100K powertrain warranty.. Free scheduled maintenance for 3yr/36K.. ooooookay..
2008 EPA MPG ratings.. 14 city 20 highway
Gulp!
Also, on the down side... vaunted Saab resale values..
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator