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Help Me Choose!

1950 messages,  Last post on Nov 23, 2009 at 6:58 PM

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Malibu, Nissan Maxima, Mazda MAZDA3, Nissan Altima, Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Lexus IS 250, Acura TSX, Car Comparisons, Sedan

#1682 of 1950 After 30 + hours solid research... by sincraft Apr 08, 2008 (7:56 pm)
The Nissan Altima wins. We are in the market for a new vehicle. Orignally we loved the Altima but started to look everywhere else too. We tried American cars also.   But now we have a problem. We want a black car. Nissan and black...eh not the best combo. (I have their black truck - frontier). Now, it gets worse - we want a black car with blond leather interior AND a 4cyl. And I tossed the whole 6 or 4 thing around many many times too...just not worth it after driving the powerful nissan 4 cyl.   So - that leaves us with only TWO cars within 400 miles.   I've read unbelievable deals regarding the 2.5 s with the sl package, many 1k sub invoice pricing WITH additional percs (all weather mats , etc etc)   BOTH cars are scratched. The one is beautiful for the most part with the bumper being scratched very low about 8" wide with tiny 1cm scratches, about 15 of them. They called and said they buffed most of them out but there are still a few left.   The other, their teenaged car washer decided to use the same water he has been using all day with the same rag and dragged the rag all over the car. It's VERY noticable , at least to me. Not to mention, there is some bug gunk that it looks like they couldn't or didn't care to remove.   I know that after 4 or 5 washes the car will look like this no matter how much care I take with Nissans VERY soft paint. But do we want to accept this new?   The first, they will sell at invoice. The last, they will sell for $200 under. I tried to get them down, they let us walk out ...even when I told them don't expect us to call - please don't lose a sell if someone is interested...go ahead and sell it. We had another car in the game but it's pretty far away and only a little bit better of a deal and is not the exact color she wants.   I expected at least a phone call before they closed. Neither called. They know they are the only game on the block and that we will only take black or will just save another 10 k and head into the luxury lines and start this whole buying process over again. (although I don't want to do that, I'm not a big fan of forking over $600 per month on a car payment...we are lookign at only $350 for the Altima as it is)   What would you do? I don't want to lose the car, but at the same time I don't want muscled into the car. We NEED another car very soon or, we need to fix an older car for inspection. (we are selling it outright, not trading it in) Replies to this message: backy (Apr 09, 2008 5:27 am) kdshapiro (Apr 09, 2008 7:51 am) perna (Apr 09, 2008 10:39 am) sincraft (Apr 09, 2008 5:23 pm)
#1683 of 1950 Re: After 30 + hours solid research... [sincraft] by backy Apr 09, 2008 (5:27 am)
Replying to: sincraft (Apr 08, 2008 7:56 pm) What I would do is I would never, ever set my heart on a single car, let alone a single color. Then they know they have you by the b... well, they know they have you.   One thing you might do is try to find out when they (or another dealer) will be getting another black Altima in, and hold out for that one (even rent a car or buy a beater to use in the meantime if you must have a car now). You are spending a lot of money on this car--why settle for less than what you want?
#1684 of 1950 Re: After 30 + hours solid research... [sincraft] by kdshapiro Apr 09, 2008 (7:51 am)
Replying to: sincraft (Apr 08, 2008 7:56 pm) I would take two deep breaths and not buy a car that had sample defects the dealer had not fixed. Only you can decide. Keep in mind how you would feel in a year or so of ownership. Would you do it again?   If you are asking what i would do. I would ask them to fix the cars. If they couldn't I would walk away and see how my Honda dealer is doing.
#1685 of 1950 Re: After 30 + hours solid research... [sincraft] by perna Apr 09, 2008 (10:39 am)
Replying to: sincraft (Apr 08, 2008 7:56 pm) Have you looked into the dark gray color? I forget exactly what it's called (Dark Slate maybe?), but that's what I chose for my '08. The paint imperfections are much less noticeable then on a black car, IMO.   I'm on my second Nissan with the dark gray color, and it holds up very well.   I love the new Altima, BTW. It betters my '03 Maxima in every way. You will really, really enjoy the car. Replies to this message: sincraft (Apr 09, 2008 5:23 pm)
#1686 of 1950 Re: After 30 + hours solid research... [perna] by sincraft Apr 09, 2008 (5:23 pm)
Replying to: perna (Apr 09, 2008 10:39 am) I'm p!ssed.   I broke down today and told the dealer nearest to us with the car washed fine imperfections all over that we wanted the car IF they could wash it again properly thus removing the bug goo, dirt on the wheels / front grill etc. And have a detail guy go over it an hit some of the trouble spots.   That's all I was asking for.   The salesperson calls me back and says his manager is telling him that they no longer are offering me the deal, they don't want to work with me.   Yesterday I asked for another measly $100 off which would take this car down to $300 under invoice. They blew us off. Hard.   So I'm writing a letter to Nissan. I write them when I have good experiences, but rarely write about the bad ones because I've already moved onto trying to solve the problem at hand. I will however make an exception for these folks. I stopped using their service dept for the same reason, horrible service. I later saw one of the asst service manager guys at another dealer I was doing computer work for, and he said that the owner and manager force their hands to do alot of shady things there.   Then you talk to the dealers around and they have NO idea that the CA emissions cars that are being sold in like 19 states now get 1 mpg less! They actually believe the sticker is correct. Those EPA guys already butt heads with the tree huggers, if they labeled the stickers at 1mpg less they would be DEAD. It's fear that is keeping us a nation from moving ahead due to political correctness. Hey I want clean to breath air, but I don't want to be lied to about MPG nor do I want to pay for a hoax which has been disproving in almost every country by scientists far superior to ours that AREN'T being paid off like ours are.   *gets off soapbox*
#1687 of 1950 Trying to decide... by bfluegie Apr 19, 2008 (9:50 am)
I’m looking for a new (to me) ride. I don’t have to decide just now, but probably sometime in the next couple of months. What I am considering is a (probably) pre-owned BMW 325xi (maybe a 330xi if the deal is right, but I’m not too sure I want a turbo), G35x (I have VPP so I might go new for this), Audi A3 or A4 (I like the A3 better but they’re hard to find in the northern IN vicinity), Acura TSX or maybe TL, but it’s larger and I don’t like it as much. I might consider the Altima coupe as well, but not the sedan. While I like the sedan styling more than the Accord or Camry, I don’t like it as much as the Infinity, and the Altima sedans are everywhere. I don’t want to put my car away for the winter, so I prefer all wheel or front wheel drive. That leaves out the Infinity G-coupe (sigh) and the BMW 3 series coupe. I know several people who drive the G coupe and they either garage it for the winter or get adequate but not great driving with winter tires. I prefer the security of good winter handling. I haven’t completely ruled out a small SUV or crossover, but after 8 years of driving an Exploder I’m ready for a more responsive ride. I joke about the Explorer, but with the exception of an unfortunate “Bambi” incident I have never been left stranded. No significant repairs other than normal wear and tear either. It’s just 10 years old and it is time to move on to something else. As long as I’m moving on, I want to add some fun. I won’t be racing or pushing for maximum speed, but I do like the feel of a car that you don’t have to slow to a crawl when going around a curve. I suppose I want to feel like I am part of a driving system rather than the occupant of a vehicle.   I would consider a 2006-2007, maybe a 2005 as well. I know the Infinity was a new model in 2007 but I like the previous model as well. The BMW was a new model in 2006 and I don’t know anything about the 2005. I might be overlooking something else as well, so any suggestions for additional cars to consider (or avoid) are welcome. I’m considering a manual in the BMW or A4 but I didn’t like the manual in the ‘07 TL I drove (the clutch seemed to have a very tiny “sweet spot” and it didn’t help that the salesperson sneered a little when I lurched on a start). I don’t know if the TSX would be any better. The G35X is only available in an auto. Manual vs. auto isn’t a big factor for me so I probably wouldn’t rule out an auto BMW or Audi either. Since I’m going to continue getting older and creakier, the auto might be a smarter choice, just not as much fun in the pre-creaky years. Replies to this message: kyfdx (Apr 19, 2008 11:50 am) bfluegie (Apr 19, 2008 12:12 pm) kdshapiro (Apr 20, 2008 9:06 am)
#1688 of 1950 Re: Trying to decide... [bfluegie] by kyfdx HOST Apr 19, 2008 (11:50 am)
Replying to: bfluegie (Apr 19, 2008 9:50 am) One note... The 330xi is not a turbo....   The only turbo is the 335xi, which came out in 2007... Replies to this message: bfluegie (Apr 19, 2008 12:12 pm)
#1689 of 1950 Re: Trying to decide... [kyfdx] by bfluegie Apr 19, 2008 (12:12 pm)
Replying to: kyfdx (Apr 19, 2008 11:50 am) Thanks. I must have been thinking of the 335xi. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Obviously my research is far from complete...
#1690 of 1950 Re: Trying to decide... [bfluegie] by kdshapiro Apr 20, 2008 (9:06 am)
Replying to: bfluegie (Apr 19, 2008 9:50 am) I know several people who drive the G coupe and they either garage it for the winter or get adequate but not great driving with winter tires.   I would garage my Ferrari during the winter not my G. I drove a RWD 330 in the snow for a few years with all seasons. It wasn't great but I limped along. I now own an AWD turbo that when it snows, says: "Let me at it".   Seems to me you need to get your priorities in order. What's more important, body style or drivetrain, manual or auto? If you decide AWD is the way to go and is most important, everything else will fall into line.
#1691 of 1950 Civic Hybrid vs. Civc vs. Fit vs. Prius by crutnacker Apr 20, 2008 (10:11 am)
Replying to: thegraduate (Mar 24, 2008 8:12 am) I'm trying to decide what I might get when I'm ready to deal. Here's what I'm interested in:   The Honda Fit -- I'm impressed with the amount of interior space in a small space, I like Hondas, and it's different than the ubiquitious Civic. What I worry about most is getting killed in the thing.   Honda Civic Hybrid and Civic -- I loved my 95 and 98 Civics and like the idea of owning a Hybrid to get better gas mileage. But I also have read of issues with the Civic Hybrid, and I'm not sure the regular Civic thrills me enough.   Prius -- I like the fact that it is different looking, has far more options (and colors) than the Civic Hybrid, and apparently is roomy inside. But I don't think I could get as good a deal as the Civic Hybrid.   The car would primarily be a commuter car, but given gas prices, might become the primary car on weekends when my wife, six year old, and I go places.

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