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Please help me decide between...

562 messages,  Last post on Sep 17, 2009 at 6:31 AM

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#533 of 562 Re: van [fezo] by exb0 Mar 16, 2009 (9:31 am)
Replying to: fezo (Mar 16, 2009 7:27 am) Man, we are following in your footsteps.   We had a ’95 Windstar that needed a new engine in ’99 (fixed under ESP). Traded that for 2000 Accord, and used ’98 Exploder until ‘04 as our family truckster. In 04 leased Ody EXL for $330 per month (good old days). In ’07, got EXL w/ R&N. The ’07 is going to be replaced with ’09 EXL w/ R. Replies to this message: fezo (Mar 16, 2009 9:59 am)
#534 of 562 Ford Focus v. Hyundai Elantra v. Toyota Corolla by vzeeibor Mar 16, 2009 (9:37 am)
I'm looking for a safe, cheap, reliable, new, automatic sedan with air-conditioning. I have narrowed it down to these three. Honda Fit, Civic cost a bit more than I want to pay.   Would you go with the Ford Focus (S or SE), Hyundai Elantra (GLS), or Toyota (Base or LE) Corolla? Replies to this message: qbrozen (Mar 16, 2009 10:24 am) dtownfb (Mar 17, 2009 8:33 am)
#535 of 562 Re: van [exb0] by fezo Mar 16, 2009 (9:59 am)
Replying to: exb0 (Mar 16, 2009 9:31 am) We had a 95 Windstall as well. Went through the engine seals one by one despite the fact that as soon as one went I said while you've got the engine dropped check them all. They reimbursed me on the head gasket but the others weren't cheap. Once we settled all that the tranny failed. Ford treated us like lepers.   I hear they are much better these days. I sure hope so.
#536 of 562 Re: Ford Focus v. Hyundai Elantra v. Toyota Corolla [vzeeibor] by qbrozen Mar 16, 2009 (10:24 am)
Replying to: vzeeibor (Mar 16, 2009 9:37 am) If new, then Corolla by a long shot. The resale value exceeds the Ford and Hyundai by leaps and bounds.
#537 of 562 Re: Ford Focus v. Hyundai Elantra v. Toyota Corolla [vzeeibor] by dtownfb Mar 17, 2009 (8:33 am)
Replying to: vzeeibor (Mar 16, 2009 9:37 am) I would lean toward the Elantra because of the longer warranty. Consumer Reports rated the Elantra (SE) as their best buy in the small car category. Plus Hyundai is more like to deal on the Elantra than Toyota will on the Corolla.
#538 of 562 Re: Buy now or wait? [tidester] by cliffsr Mar 17, 2009 (8:41 am)
Replying to: tidester (Mar 15, 2009 7:17 pm) The main reason to buy now would be because there are still a few '08's out there and they are being deeply discounted. By July they'll probably be gone so I'll either have to go with an '09 with fewer options or wait until the 2010 model comes out so they start discounting again.
#539 of 562 Re: Between Lexus IS250, BMW 3-series, MB C-class -- also, New or CPO? [gre [plekto] by greeneyespsu Mar 17, 2009 (8:54 am)
Replying to: plekto (Mar 15, 2009 1:41 pm) Thanks for the input! So weird I didn't get an email about your reply.. seems I'm only getting email updates on the thread about every 10 or so messages.   Anyway, manual is absolutely not an option for me. I live in Los Angeles and the traffic here is a nightmare, it's not worth the headache of a manual. Seriously, I would never drive because I would want to drive the car off a cliff.   I'm not a fan of the CTS, it seems too big and the look just isn't what I want. I love the Lexus for the interior, the BMW for the exterior, and the MB for the exterior. MB seems to have the worst resale, and Lexus the best (Lexus 2 year old car is only valued $6K under what I can get an '09 for, so that's pretty good). BMW pays first 2 payments so that helps with depreciation by a little over $1000. I'm going shopping again today, I'll report back. Thanks for the help so far! Replies to this message: plekto (Mar 17, 2009 9:28 pm)
#540 of 562 Re: Between Lexus IS250, BMW 3-series, MB C-class -- also, New or CPO? [gre by plekto Mar 17, 2009 (9:28 pm)
Replying to: greeneyespsu (Mar 17, 2009 8:54 am) Well, that doesn't make much sense to me - the resale value being terrible is *exactly* in your favor if you're looking at a slightly used vehicle. You want something that depreciates like a rock the first 3-4 years so that you only eat about 1K a year to run it instead of 10K in the first 3-4 years.   The Mercedes and BMWs are terrible - rock bottom in fact on their automatics and electrical systems that go with them(stability control/etc). Manuals have none of that but don't generally need it, either, as it's harder to not pay attention, IME, with a manual.   That leaves the first generation CTS and the Lexus. The IS300 is a *far* better car than the new IS250. More power, a couple of hundred pounds lighter, slightly smaller footprint, better transmission, better engine, and used, they are nearly indestructible. Oh - and affordable. We're talking new Civic or Corolla prices used.   The IS300 handles about 95% as good as the BMW 3 series. It used the same tried and true sport sedan formula. Inline 6 engine up front and RWD. It's a fantastic vehicle. The IS250 honestly is too soft and drives like a Buick or Mercedes by comparison. The IS300 was and still is the only car out of Japan in the last 20 years that has a strictly European feel to it. It reminded me a lot of the Volvo 850 or the late 90s BMW 3 series when I was test driving it.   *note - the "test drive" was going 40-50 mph around the ring road around the island of dealerships in Ontario, CA. It's a 2-3 mile loop with several intersections and no traffic at all. It has paddle shifters on the wheel, so you can manually shift the automatic as well. The gearing on the automatic is set up to be nearly identical to the manual as well.   http://www.canadiandriver.com/ctc/blog/sedans/lexus-is300-vs-new-is250.htm   IS250: Softer suspension. 11 less HP. Almost 200 lbs more weight. Several inches wider and longer. Better look and feel/bling but it's lost its soul. It's Toyota and not a real Euro competitor. A 2005 IS300 that's certified is a perfect choice.   **** The First generation CTS is also like this - it's noticeably lighter, smaller, and more pleasing to look at than the new one. With the 3.6 VVT engine in it, it flies down the road - and based upon tests around the Nurburgring, it competes nearly toe to toe with a BMW 5 series. It's not your father's Cadillac. This thing has serious teeth. Oh - and it seats 5 pretty comfortably.   Get a dark color. They look better that way.   Yes, everyone looks at it and goes "ack - a GM!". Then they see the silly low prices used and say "I guess I'll test drive it..." And their mind warps because nothing fits with their image of old men and soft floating driving. It's fun and an honestly good car. I'd much rather own one than a boring Camry or Accord.   Oh - did I mention half the cost to fix the transmission and a 100K drive train warranty?
#541 of 562 why suggest something someone doesn't want by suydam Mar 19, 2009 (7:02 am)
But the poster clearly said she didn't like the CTS, so why push it? Same with the manual transmission -- if the poster doesn't want one, why work to hard to convince? It's very hard to re-sell a manual transmission car, by the way, because in fact most people in the USA don't want them.   If you like the interior of one car better, and you're going to spend a lot of time commuting, that is a big thing to think about. You don't drive a car on the outside.   With both the BMW and Lexus, slightly used CPO might be the way to go. Let us know what you decide! Replies to this message: greeneyespsu (Mar 19, 2009 8:10 am) plekto (Mar 19, 2009 10:35 am)
#542 of 562 Re: why suggest something someone doesn't want [suydam] by greeneyespsu Mar 19, 2009 (8:10 am)
Replying to: suydam (Mar 19, 2009 7:02 am) You're exactly right. I'm leaning towards the new Lexus. I am going to check out the Camry today too just to see (but I think it's the same as the ES model of Lexus which is too big for me -- plus the Camry may be more affordable now, but will I be happy with still driving it over the Lexus a year or two down the line??). I went looking for 2006 325i CPO deals and there really are none to be had. Prices are up from what they were in December (I coulda gotten a 2006 325i with prem, xenon, etc and like 18000 miles for $23995 with pretty much no negotiating so I probably coulda done slightly better -- didn't buy cause I didn't like that color, but I do now.. I'm an idiot). Now the same build with 10k more miles is selling for $5k more sticker and they'll only go down another $2k MAYBE $3k and it's not worth it. Oh plus the one in December they were paying first 2 payments so that cut the price another $1200 or so, that program is done now, of course. Plus with BMW there are so many horror stories (let's face it, BMWs are either NO probelms or ALL problems, there's never an in between) and the interior is bland for me. As far as a Lexus CPO I can get a new one ~$5K more than a 06 or 07, plus the interest on a CPO would be 3.99% through PenFed cause Lexus is so high on APR, whereas the lease would be .0001 MF (.24% APR) so I'd make up a chunk of the difference there.. and when/if I decide to buy out the interest rate would have been practically 0 for the first half of what I'd owe on it. Plus I like the gray burl wood trim that's new to the 08 and 09 so CPO doesn't have that.. well 08 would, but it'd be more than a 09.   Anyway, I'm deciding today.. this is scary!!! Replies to this message: plekto (Mar 19, 2009 10:35 am)

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You are here: Forums Smart Shopper Please help me decide between...