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Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous

15297 messages,  Last post on Nov 29, 2009 at 8:00 PM

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What is this discussion about? Car Buying


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#13526 of 15297
[no] manual trans Re: another new one.... [roadburner] by rayainsw
Dec 18, 2008 (6:56 am)
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Replying to: roadburner (Dec 18, 2008 6:46 am)

"However, you have to move up to the GXP-and pay extra-to get a manual transmission, so that's the deal-breaker for me"
 
I hear you.
A non-issue, for me, as even if I did want
a manual trans, severe bursitis means that I could not...
 
If the 335 or M3 is large enough, enjoy!
I have a lot of respect for BMW and for
the 3 Series in particular...
 
Enjoy!
- Ray
Enjoying the automatic even more than I thought I would...
#13527 of 15297
Re: [no] manual trans Re: another new one.... [roadburner] [rayainsw] by michaell
Dec 18, 2008 (6:59 am)
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Replying to: rayainsw (Dec 18, 2008 6:56 am)

Ray - congrats on the new ride. I've taken a close look at the G8 and find it to be a screaming bargain. It's just a tad too large to fit in my garage, unfortunately.
 
I presume that you have no worries about GM as a going concern and that your dealer will be around to do maintenance and warranty work?
 
Also curious about the deal you got, given the current state of the industry.
#13528 of 15297
Re: [no] manual trans Re: another new one.... [roadburner] [rayainsw] by roadburner
Dec 18, 2008 (7:42 am)
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Replying to: rayainsw (Dec 18, 2008 6:56 am)

Here's the thing; whatever I buy next is going to replace my Mazdaspeed3 as my daily driver and track rat, so an automatic is off the table. I don't hate automatics unless I'm on the track. The autoboxes in my wife's X3 and my 2002 work just fine. I drove a GT for only a short distance but even then I could tell that it was a competent sports sedan.
#13529 of 15297
speaking of Mazdas by nippononly
Dec 18, 2008 (8:29 am)
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there is $2000 cash on any remaining 2008 Mazda3s (except MS3)...hmm, it's got me thinking....I rather like my sister's, and hers is the 2.0. I found a gray 's' with the 2.3L near me that is a 2008. Could this be the end for the Matrix??
#13530 of 15297
Re: [no] manual trans Re: another new one.... [roadburner] [rayainsw] [mi by rayainsw
Dec 18, 2008 (8:48 am)
Reply

Replying to: michaell (Dec 18, 2008 6:59 am)

I prefer not to post specifics of my ‘deals’ – as my experience has been that someone[s] will always follow up with “I got better” “That’s terrible” etc.
 
I was satisfied with what I saw as a fair [ and fairly aggressive ] sale price of the G8 - and with the overall transaction.
 
I certainly have concerns, about both GM & Pontiac dealers, specifically.
Those concerns were outweighed ( for me ) by the driving dynamics of the G8 GT - vs. anything that I think could fairly be called a competitor.
 
The BMW 335i is so much smaller & so much more expensive [ new vs. new ] that I don’t consider that to be a fair comparison, personally. Though I will admit that the dynamics & raw performance numbers are quite similar.
 
A BMW 535i or 550i is much closer in size & weight – and the base MSRP for either is way, ** WAY ** more expensive than even a loaded G8 GT. 2009 535i base price is now over $50K.
 
Although I will certainly concede that the BMWs have a higher grade of interior materials & some bells and whistles available that are desirable to many. I happen to prefer the styling, both exterior & interior, of the G8 GT to either the current 5 or 3 series.
 
And I still ** GREATLY ** prefer several of Pontaic’s programming choices in the G8’s 6L80 – even compared to the latest & greatest ZF Steptronic. The behavior suits me much better – and I did drive 3 different 335i-s.
 
And ( again ) the 3 & 5 series BMWs ( except Ms ) do not include or even provide as an option a true LSD. Just weird.
 
Is the BMW ‘better’, dynamically – particularly in some of the finer aspects of the ride \ handling compromise? Likely so. But this car’s ride & handling suit me very well, indeed.
 
- Ray
Happy with the new toy. . .
#13531 of 15297
nippon by stickguy
Dec 18, 2008 (9:37 am)
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Could be a good time to snag a Mazda3. leftovers, economy, and a new model on the way.
 
I really liked the hatch GT (for the power seat, although the other goodies are nice too!). Not really quite big enough or right for my current needs, but it got to the short list.
 
IIRC, MSRP for a 5 door GT Auto is ~23,500. Figure a couple grand off from the dealer, at least, and 2K from mazda, and you should be down to ~ 19 for a loaded up one.
 
start deducting for lower trim lines! Migth be a fantastic deal on an i 4 door.
#13532 of 15297
Re: [no] manual trans Re: another new one.... [roadburner] [rayainsw] [mi by corvette
Dec 18, 2008 (10:01 am)
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Replying to: rayainsw (Dec 18, 2008 8:48 am)

Cool car.
 
Everything is built to a price. BMW cuts some corners on their interiors. Audi puts the same four-banger engine in the A3 and A4 that is in the Passat and Jetta (which cost roughly half as much).
#13534 of 15297
Re: [no] manual trans Re: another new one.... [roadburner] [rayainsw] [mi [rayainsw] by guss
Dec 18, 2008 (3:42 pm)
Reply

Replying to: rayainsw (Dec 18, 2008 8:48 am)

I think GM is on a roll around here. My Malibu, Corvette's G6, and now your G8. The V-6 was on my list, if the deals 4 months ago were as good as they are now I probably would have bought one.
 
I just wish GM would make them here instead of down under and shipping them in.
#13535 of 15297
'08 Malibu - Poor GM by sandman46
Dec 18, 2008 (6:41 pm)
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Rented one of these on Saturday and turned it back in on Monday after the tire pressure monitoring gauge wouldn't go out no matter what they did...very disappointed with that and the vehicle as a whole. They put us into a '08 Accord LX-P about 180 miles from home and what a 180 turn around...much better car no matter how I look at it! Shame too as the Impala LTZ we rented back in '06 was a killer drive...was highly impressed with it. And what's up with 1/2 a power seat that GM uses on certain cars? The Accord had the full power chairs, as my lower spine went into spasm on our 2nd day out and I was basically hotel bound for two days. Growing up in a GM family, will never go back if possible .
 
I know the car was a rental with 21k on the clock, but comfort stunk, visibility sucked, mileage was dismal...definitely not worth what they must be charging. Again, why can't our domestic brands make cars that match the foreign brands in every way...comfort, mileage, comfort...? We were the best at one time bar none...why did we drop the ball? I now know why our big 3 are in such "dogcr-p"...we've lost our way and this bailout isn't the answer guys. Going back and doing what "we did best" is the only answer. I know there are literally thousands like me that left the big 3 for the better cars that were being produced overseas and would rather support U S companies but this latest experience just reinforces why our family left for the "other guys" including purchasing our 1st Korean nameplate last month. Need another car in a couple of weeks and no U S brands are on the short list...nor will they be I suspect...even our kids know what brands they want us to buy for them.
 
Sorry for my rant but I'm a very unhappy American consumer here with more cash to plunk down for another auto really soon.
 
The Sandman

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