Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/25 for details.
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/25 for details.
Options
Comments
Steve
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
The Forester is an excellent rig. I owned one for a little less than a year and loved every
minute of it. The only draw back is its size. All the Subaru's are just too darn small
which really sucks because I love their cars. When it came time to trade in the Sienna,
(I think you made a good decision not buying one) I so wanted to get another Forester.
I asked my wife if we could trade in one of our kids so that we could fit the entire
family in it. She said no, so we bought an Aztek instead, and the rest is history,
(I actually had to throw that last sentence in because I realized my post had
nothing to do with the Aztek).
Second, I learned an extremely valuable lesson when I bought the Toyota Sienna, so all you would
be car buyers listen up. You see, since Seattle is so close to Canada a lot of dealers
like to purchase cars up there and sell them down here. The Toyota I bought was Canadian.
However, I knew this going into the deal. At the time I heard conflicting information from
dealers whether or not factory warranty was still valid so I did not know what to believe.
I have since discovered
to never buy a Canadian car from a US dealer because, THE FACTORY WARRANTY IS NULL AND VOID! Now I
was pretty lucky when it came time to trade-in the Sienna because I traded it in
at a Pontiac dealership that knew nothing about Toyota's. However, there were some Pontiac
dealers around here that did know about this scam and the first thing they would ask me was whether
my Sienna was Canadian or American.
Would an American Aztek be different than a Canadian Aztek?
Mark
But it wins awards.......In my books it wasv not close. AND THE PRICE was ridiculous for what you get.
I PREFER MY ROACH. By the way......3 parking lot attendants.....Gas station guy thought the ROACH coolest vehicle on the road today.
One of my CLIENTS....an accountant hated it (what do bean counters know anyway ; )
Mark
Good luck...
Drew
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket and Accessories message boards
Believe it or not. My first ride in a cab in Rhodes was in BMW. I was shocked. When I spoke to the Cabbie he told me he wants a Ford (a Good Car).
Curious
A Brand is an interesting thing....... Is a SONY better then JVC? Often not..Just the SONY commands a higher price and MARGIN for the manufacturer.
your AZTEK PAL
juancho : I have heard of Americans having problems buying cars in Canada, but that's a new one. The big draw is that many models are cheaper here on a strait exchange rate basis. This is mainly due to the U.S. dollar's strength over the past 2 years.
Din: SONY prime example. In 1976 I bought a SONY. It was an outstanding product and lasted 20 years without so much as an adjustment. Yes worth the PREMIUM. Now in 1997 I bought a SONY to replace the old reliable. 3 years later BLOWN tube...$400 repair.
Many luxury bRANDS suffer the erosion of quality over time...but continue to maintain the reputation and command higher margins.
BMW, MERCEDES.......for my good friend Tin...I'll even call Subaru...a luxury brand.
; )
Signed ....
your AZTEK pal
On the subject of American vehicle desirability in Europe, they are rare and unusual status symbols. The most desirable ones are large or Sports models, I doubt if you would find a European lusting after a Neon or other economy model. BMW, Mercedes and other European manufacturer's sell more utilitarian versions of their vehicles there than they do here, cloth seats, manual windows etc. Many of these are looked at the same as we look at Tauruses, Camrys, Accords, etc., just day to day transport.
Mercedes and BMW are premium brands in Germany and in the rest of Europe.
And they cost as much there or even more.
Yes you can buy them in the more stripper versions, but still, not too many Europeans can afford them.
As I SAID earlier.....lol...repeating just for effect. A LUXURY brand name more often pads the profit margins of the MANUFACTURER. The cost of PRODUCTION and Materials rarely if ever command the PREMIUM at the CONSUMER level.
Lets choose two vehicles:
A $30,000 Cdn Subaru Forester .......and a $60,000 BMW x.5
Do you really believe that you are getting $30,000 MORE vehicle when you purchase the x.5.
I dare say.....NOT!!..... Materials , R&D (spread out over production of vehicle), Marketing...may command a real PREMIUM of 10K-15K and that is generous.
When you drive that BMW ......you get to SHOW your neighbors. You BUY THE FEELING of ......LOOK AT ME.......LOOK WHAT I DRIVE.......I dare say I'm a better human being then you.
Ohhh yes I really bought this for the fine German engineering & CORINTHIAN LEATHER.
Yeah.... right. THE LUXURY BRANDS SELL STATUS......far beyond the percieved quality differences.
That said......I would love an x.5 in my drive way. Because it is such a QUALITY vehicle ; )
Cabdriver in Greece?
How about the cabdrivers in Russia? I'm sure they will admire just about any Ford or Chevy. And the call themselves "Europeans" too.
And please accept my sincere apologies for misspelling your precious ticker.
It wasn't done on purpose.
PS: Premium vehicles cost far, far, far more to design and build well. However, quality vehicles don't have to be premium vehicles. Hondas and Toyotas are legendary -- bulletproof -- yet cost little or no more to make than buzzy, underwhelming Grand Mas, etc.
An X5 is far bigger than any Subaru, is tremendously faster, has a far more sophisticated engine, and far better handling. The wheels and tires on an X5 alone would account for several thousand dollars of the difference.
If what you said were true, everybody would just make X5's.
I dare say the Aztek isn't helping matters much.
Maybe in Japan, but then your talking about older American
cars. I have heard that in Germany, Mercedes Benz is the only car to buy.
You only buy a BMW if you can't afford a Merc.
That said, is an X-5 really worth the $30,000 premium...HELL YES!
Kissfan1, I suggest you test drive both cars back to back and then you will
understand why the extra $30,000
My cousins would kill to be able to afford an Intrigue like have. Fact is, you have to make some big money there to be able to buy what I would consider a mid level sedan.
Kissfan1, I suggest you test drive both cars back to back and then you will
understand why the extra $30,000<<<
Pay 30k extra for a vehicle that has some of the worst (alongside the Mercedes M -Class) warranty numbers in the business? I'll stick with the Aztek and go buy a couple Sea Doos. Quality is not an issue with the Aztek.
By the way, did you hear what those brilliant businessmen that run Mercedes did today? Last week after slashing 26,000 American jobs, they have awarded the 140,000 German workers $1400 bonuses. I don't care what kind of car or vehicle they build, I don't want it littering my driveway! What an arrogant attitude. First they plunder an American company, now they have nerve to think we won't notice. But if you have the desire to whine about "how ugly the Aztek is" and brag about how great the German stuff is, more power to you.
Steve
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
We are so righteous, moral, and responsible.
All the decisions made by American corporations are
first and foremost ethical, and never motivated by profit.
Leave it up to those [non-permissible content removed] to rape and plunder an American institution.
GROW UP!!! Your anti-German sentiment is not appreciated.
Corporations are in the business to make a profit.
Daimler has made a profit, Chrysler has not. Guess what the
first thing American corporations do when they don't make a profit? They cut jobs.
Listen to the news, it is happening all around this great nation of ours.
If you really must vent about the ailing economy
then try to directing your frustration towards corporations in general. When you target a certain race
as you have in your post, some people might mistake you for a closed minded, xenophobic, bigot.
As for the X-5, you can expect to have problems with a car that is
infinitely more advanced in every way to any American car. Besides that's what the 4 year 50000 mile warranty is for. I wonder why American car companies, (with the exception of the now defunct Oldsmobile) doesn't offer a better warranty on their cars. It must be the Germans fault.
X-5 worth the $30k premium?? ya right! Boy I'd feel great paying that kind of cash for a vehicle with so many initial problems. What a joke.
This forum isn't about American vs foreign, it's about Aztek. I only wish GM had made this vehicle a little less radical.
About the AZTEK......In honour of my friends on this Board.....I'm starting an Official COOL vs UNCOOL CAR POLL.
To date: 7 Cool 3 Uncool
People come up to me all the time....I keep you POSTED!
AZTEK PAL
Tincup: Apparently to you any time somebody dislikes something it's "bias". My dislike of the heinous Aztek is not "bias", it's a reaction to what I saw driving down the highway. Several months ago I saw a split-pea-green one, and I thought, "Egad, what in God's name was that thing? Must be a Pontiac." Then I startled myself with the realization that somewhere, as improbable as it might seem, there must be somebody willing to defend that roadwart, and sure enough, here they are.
That said, the Aztek defenders have done remarkable work. Some of them have been here since day one. Although the assertations that sales will "pick up", etc., have faded, the Alamo defenses have not. I'm very impressed with the tenacity, if nothing else.
Steve
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
Sorry, just not true. Of course a premium car, does have some additional cost into it. The manufacturer is going to pay more for that better leather, bigger engine, extra finishing work, etc. Another big chunk of the cost however, is that your tooling & development costs are carried by a much lower volume of vehicles. And of course the luxury car carries a higher margin. A BMW may be a wonderful wonderful car, but don't ever think that you would be getting more bang for your buck, compared to say, an Aztek. Why do you think that premium vehicles cost "far far far" more to design?
How fast is the pace car required to go? Muscling that big, 'ole ugly [non-permissible content removed] around the track at high speed would seem to be a handful, to me. It looks like it's about as aerodynamic as a brick, and a tall one at that, and I could see it being a bit of a menace. It's not like it's a Viper or 'Vette, which would be fun to drive around the track at high speed. Don't think I'd want to do it with an Aztek, though. 'Course, I don't want to be seen in an Aztek under any circumstance...
Waah! He's makin fun!