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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

#21 of 1950 Choices,Choices... by merckx Oct 09, 2001 (9:55 am)
Silvercrown,trading in your Camry anytime soon will be a bad idea,financially. This might be a little too practical,but how about keeping the Camry for a while longer and be good about saving/investing what would be new car payments? Then,in say 18 0r 24 months,buying your dream car,a BMW525i? If necessary,get it stripped. I LOVE my new Passat. And as much interest as you seem to have in cars,I would really suggest you consider a 5-spd. manual. It really adds a lot of fun to a daily drive. You've really got to master it to understand what I'm saying,and it IS easy. I considered a BMW 525i,but the Passat actually has a bigger back seat. The ride has a pleasing softness. And I was a little worried about my first stickshirt car being an expensive one,in case I hated shifting and needed to trade it in. But you've been talking of a fairly loaded Passat. If you got the Beemer with vinyl and no sunroof,It would be more affordable than you might think.
#22 of 1950 yeah, but try selling a Bimmer with no sunroof.......n/m by ghulet Oct 09, 2001 (9:30 pm)
#23 of 1950 Stretching for that Dream Car by merckx Oct 10, 2001 (3:36 am)
Yes,but once you get it,I suggest keeping it for so long that all that matters when you sell it is if it rolls. Or,when it's so old you doubt its reliability,it can make a great hobby,weekend car.
#24 of 1950 Stickshift? by silvercrown Oct 10, 2001 (9:07 am)
One of the pluses for the Passat is the Tiptronic clutchless manual shift. I've only driven automatics my whole life, although I've been curious to learn how to drive a stick. I haven't had the opportunity to do that as of yet. But the Passat w/Tip would give me a chance to get used to that style of driving without being "married" to a car that I may not be comfortable driving. It's a great option.   Although I may not trade my car in next spring, I don't think I'll want to wait 2 years. While I'm fairly practical (usually), I guess I'm just not that patient.   However, a 5 Series Bimmer would be sweeeeeet ......
#25 of 1950 Tiptronic by merckx Oct 10, 2001 (9:23 am)
It really is nothing like a manual shift. After most play with it for a week or so,they usually just leave it in D... A manual Passat would be fairly easy to sell,as A large number of prospective owners would want the manual shift. The pedal modulation might seem daunting,but it really is easily learned.It is a lot of fun!
#26 of 1950 Tiptronic by gerapau Oct 10, 2001 (9:44 am)
I agree with merckx in that it is nothing like shifting gears yourself. With the Tiptronic you can have more fun then with a regular auto tranny but as merckx said, most who buy Tiptronic (or whatever each manufacturer calls it) tend to play with it for a short period of time and then never touch it again. Also of note, most cars with Tiptronic type trannies actually accelerate quicker if you actually leave them in drive instead of trying to change gears yourself.
#27 of 1950 I totally agree by canadiancl Oct 10, 2001 (5:39 pm)
all these manumatics are a waste of time. Just a gimmick. In the year or so that I've had my CL-S, I think I've used the sportshift 4 times. Somehow, as a driver, you're programmed to either drive an automatic with total non-involvement, or a stick for which you have to invoke hand and foot. A manumatic, being in between, screws up your internal programming. I find when I use it, I have to consciously think about when to upshift, and when to downshift.
#28 of 1950 well by qbrozen Oct 11, 2001 (9:44 am)
Not to defend the manumatic, but not ALL are a waste of time. We're talking about cars that, frankly, are on the low-end when it comes to this kind of technology. I really wish I still had that link, but someone on one of these boards quite some time ago posted a link to a BMW that was being developed with a manumatic that performed better than any previously produced transmission (manual or auto). Microsecond shift times and the ability to rev before engaging first, among other features.   The Acuras, the Audis, and pretty much every other current mass produced car that can be had by the regular working man offers a manumatic that IS, as canadiancl put it, a gimmick, but that doesn't mean that a good one doesn't exist.
#29 of 1950 I've narrowed the choice from 4 to 2. by peteri1 Oct 11, 2001 (10:25 am)
After exhausting all of the info in all of the topics and having absorbed as much info as I can stand, I've eliminated the Q45 and the A8. The Q, as loaded as it is, just doesn't hold up to a $59K plus price tag. If you slapped a Lexus or BMW badge on it, you probably couldn't find one. With the Infiniti emblem, they just don't sell. The A8, feature for feature, IMO, shouldn't command the added $$ over the A6. Why pay more for aluminum? The interiors are almost identical. It's down to the LS430 and the A6 4.2. Two different cars--quattro vs. the Lexus experience. I'll be interested to see if Lexus' residual value will make it price competitive vs. an Audi which will sticker for $6500 less with no cost maintenance to boot.
#30 of 1950 peteri by qbrozen Oct 11, 2001 (12:31 pm)
Ah, I was wondering if you had decided yet. Interestingly enough, there is a comparo in this month's Motor Trend for these "entry luxo sedans" (as they call them). And, they brought up a car that I can't believe I didn't think of (considering I drive one, its even more absurd) - the Volvo. All of the testers in that article picked the volvo as the best. They only used the S60 2.4T in their comparo, to boot. My suggestion is to check out the S60 T5. I think you will be impressed. (I drive a '98 S70 T5 and it is amazing.) And, as they also pointed out, its one of the cheaper of the bunch as well.

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