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Come to think of it, the Accord's 240 HP engine that needs only 87 seems like a very good combo, if you forget about the 'covers' on a car for a while.
If you click on the 2005 tl and then go into "specifications" you get different information than what appears under comparison between the 04.
In specs under "safety features", it says that the 2005 has auto on/off headlights. When you look under "interior features",in the same section, it says just auto off.
Also you are correct about the comparo saying the 05 is 3 inches shorter. However, when you look at the picture of 05 at the bottom of the specs page, the specs are exactly the same as the 04, 189.3. I guess we'll just have to wait for the 05 to hit the showrooms to get our answers.
I was hoping the 05 might offer an option of power rear sunshade (nice for so.calif. and the desert), blinkers on the outside mirrors, and 6 way passenger seat (addition of up/down capability).
Nevertheless, I think we all agree the the tl is a great value for the money.
http://www.infiniti.com/content/model/ModelSpecifications/0,,3114- 8,00.html
Leon
That sounds pretty clear to me.. If someone wants to run regular, fine.. but, I'd rather not have your car, when you are done... Sounds like semantics..
If you have an I35 and run regular, what else are you cheaping out on, when it comes to your car?
regards,
kyfdx
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I think if using regular will damage a car's engine, then its manual should say premium required, not just recommended for performance.
I think the use of required vs recommended reflects their level of confidence that no damage will be done when you use regular fuel.
I believe the engine in the I30 is the same as the Nissan Maxima. If memory serves correctly, yes the Infiniti manual says recommended fuel is premium but the same year, same engine Maxima indicates regular fuel.
Always thought that interesting. I could be proven wrong as I can't say I've ever seen a 1998 Maxima manual, maybe someone out here can advise.
I've used premium for years (and I check my mileage just about every tank, top off to top off and check miles versus gallons I put in) and have also used 87 and 89. I always use Chevron (believe it to be good gas, actually its the additives, I think all gas starts with essentially the same base if you will, additives make the difference...at least that's my understading). I can't say I notice a power delivery difference, knocking is not noticeable, maybe using the engine mgmt system it's mitigated and mileage differences are difficult to determine in unscientific analyses.
That being said when I have moved back up to 89 and will stay there. With my next vehicles I will go by what the manual says...it's not worth it to get cute (although thus far I seem to have gotten away with it with the I30t) for the difference in price. Just painful when we initially crossed that $2/gallon mark a few years back...now it's just like a hot bath, I'm used to it now I guess.
Strangely enough I use Mobil 1 religiously in both vehicles...always felt good syn oil is helpful in keeping the engine healthy, so yep not sure why I cheaped out on the gas the last few years...
But, the Shell stations in my area re-named their premium grade last year (V-Power), and raised the octane rating from 92 to 93.. At some stations, they occasionally push the spread to $.22/gal., but only when the price of regular is something like $1.77.. then, premium is $1.99.. However, when regular is $1.79..then premium is still $1.99, not $2.01
It is all marketing, evidently.
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Jeff
The terms are as follows:
The starting price is $30,400
48 Months Lease
0.0022 (2.2) money factor
Residual Value is 50% after 48 months
2,200 up front (including first month payment)
$407/month
includes wheel locks and mud flaps
I appreciate any insights as I am getting to the point now where I may move on this deal today or tomorrow. Thanks!
1) Upfront should include 1st payment ($407), security deposit ($450), and acquisition fee (approx $600). That adds up to about $1457.. I'd want to find out what is included in the $2200... Unless registration fees are $600-$700, it looks like a little padding going on there..
2) Your price is $100 over invoice, so that and the rest of your numbers look good.
3) Assuming you can get the upfront monies straightened out, I'd ask them to roll the acquisition fee into the monthly cost, and keep my upfronts to around $1000. Rolling another $600 into the cap cost will raise the payment about $15/mo.
regards,
kyfdx
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As far as using 89 octane, I often thought that was the least "prudent". At least in my area (DC), the price of premium is often on sale for 5-6 cents off at Shell, Mobil, Exxon or others various days of the week. The last time I bought (Mobil), the price was $1.75 for 87 octane regular $1.85 for 89 octane mid grade, $1.95 for 93 octane premium. But the premium price was reduced to $1.89 on a Wednesday. If you are O.K. with running at 89 octane, you could always fill 1/3 of your tank with premium and 2/3 with regular and get a total price less than mid-grade. When premium is on sale, it is often times the same price as mid-grade, making that "mixing bowl" strategy an even better deal. Click and Clack, those "Car Talk" financial gurus from Nationgal Public Radio even figured that one out. For me, life is too short. Once I figured out I could afford a $20,000, $30,000 or $40,000+ car, I figured out that I could afford the recommended premium gas. Albeit, I do try to buy it on sale.
I'd just have to see the breakdown to know...
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Is it better to purchase an 04 because not only will you be able to get a better deal (ie. Auto with no Navi for $30,887) but you'll start off with an 04 with alot less miles on it...compared to picking up an 05. Since there will be little difference between an 04 and 05 - having alot less mileage might be the way to go.
Your thoughts........thanks
akirby, you're so right. I've read a fair amount about differences between 87 and 91 and what the related impacts might be re: not using the recommended fuel. I grew up without much money and find myself fortunate (worked damn hard to get here) but still have my old mechanisms in place sometimes re: finances. It's just plain questionable (was going to write dumb, but then figured I would be in this category and would offend others as well : )
Thanks habitat re: Maxima info. I wasn't sure as I wrote in my post...something I heard years ago and never cared enough to investigate.
All this being said 87 seems to have done fine in my Infiniti. Again, unscientifically I can't tell much of a difference in performance at all in mileage or power between the grades, too subtle I guess.
I don't see any incentives for manufacturers to artificically recommend premium, don't see what's in it for them. Perhaps there are subtle but real performance diffs...for the 150 bucks a year probably worth it to just comply, I know.
And yes, the spread doesn't change...it's just stubborness and "questionable" judgment that caused me to move to 87....I'm back at 89 FWIW.
Also, here in So Cal, mostly it's 10 cent even diffs between grades, so no math to determine value....it's up the middle between the grades...
A 4-year-old '04 with 45K miles... or
A 3-year-old '05 with 45K miles...
I'm not sure that the mileage thing will make a big difference, one way or another..
The '04s are a good deal right now, but the less time you own the car, the more the difference in model year hurts you on resale..
If you keep it 6-7 years, then that low, low price you got on the '04 is just money in your pocket..
For many people, they need the lower price on the '04, just to afford the car, so there isn't a lot of choice.
just my $.02
regards,
kyfdx
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Now I haven't done this comparison lately and it may not work on different vehicles but it's easy enough to check on any website that does used car values.
Bottom line is you're not worse off taking an 04 if it's at least $1k cheaper than the 05 and if it's more than $1K cheaper you may actually be ahead.
I'm sure if you kept it more than 3 years the difference is much less.
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And they may have also introduced new ones......
All I meant to suggest is that you don't automatically dismiss a leftover model if it has a discount. There are always other factors to consider.
just got back...
yeah....I hear you....perhaps it's the extra horses that are making the mpg a little less than expected...
but like you said, the other cars got similar or better mpg, even though they are older, with less new light components.
Perhaps the engine needs to be running at 60 mph for peak efficiency ?
Didn't know if your reply was directed at me or not so just thought I'd clarify. I drive a Maxima and always run premium. There have been several reports of problems down the road with Maximas when using regular so I play it safe. I agree with your comments above though. If you can afford the car, you should be able to afford the gas and everything else it requires.
the higher octane chip , which works if you can get a hold of 93 or higher octane gas, will give you more horsepower....
if you use 87, the hp may decrease....but many newer vehicles have fuel systems and engines which can temporarily accomodate big differences in octane.
FWIW, I used to work for a consulting group which tested gasoline, and we did octane numbers for both buyers and sellers....
each batch of gas is different...and have diff octane numbers...and the lower quality batches must have toluene /benzene, etc added , to up the octane numbers.......
on the TL....my highway gas mileage for TL, going about 70 to 75 mph, is 27 mpg...
I guess if I go 60-65 mph, it may improve to 30 mpg.
Over the weekend, I went to a shopping mall for an "auto show" (with only a dozen cars) run by one of the big dealers here -- Rallye -- that sells Acura, Lexus, MB and BMW. No 05 RL was available, and the salesman told me that the public won't see its debut until mid-Oct at the earliest.
PS- They also echo the same thing over and over-
"This car is an amazing product".
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