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Smart Shopper What's the best vehicle for my needs?
1145 messages, Last post on Sep 17, 2009 at 12:59 PM
You are in the Smart Shopper Forum. Your Hosts are kirstie_h & tidester
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Replying to: plekto (Jul 27, 2009 8:43 pm) Yeah, I know you did. I read it. But what some of us are saying is that everything you are describing - all your wants and needs - still points to one. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck ... And I never said a new one. That wouldn't fit your budget constraints by a long shot. So what I'm not clear on is why, since it fits your bill perfectly, you refuse to accept it as a consideration. |
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Replying to: kirstie_h (Jul 28, 2009 6:22 am) *** Oh - about the car, the E36 was the last one I'd consider. But I'd have to get a 1999 model and ten years old is too old. Ten year+ old BMWs are a lot like ten year+ old Porsches. Expensive to maintain and a total roll of the dice. I just don't like the more current generation BMWs at all. Just like I don't like the Mustang or the current generation Mercedes(look like melted jellybeans) As for the responses, this site is well known to be overrun with BMW and Hyundai fanboys. Such is life here.  As for the trucks/suvs, those are the only two I'd even consider since I'm not entirely sure whether I want a truck or a car. Those are the only two I could even stomach driving... I'm generally not a fan of SUVs...
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Replying to: plekto (Jul 28, 2009 7:25 am) Really? Interesting. Seems to be a lot of honda chatter, too, though. I wonder why that is. Oh yeah, cause they're popular and reliable. ;b Seriously, though, my first response was going to be G35, but someone beat me to it and you shot it down. You should be able to get a RWD 6-speed sedan in your range. Finding one is a different story, though. I do happen to own a G35, 325i, and XC90, so of course those makes will be my suggestions. It only stands to reason. No RWD volvo, though, so yer SOL there. If you'd accept AWD, on the other hand ...
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Replying to: qbrozen (Jul 28, 2009 7:39 am) The 2004-2005 CTS apparently has also depreciated enough to be considered - if I haggle hard that is. I loved the 3.6VVT engine in it. My only gripe is you can't possibly see out the rear. Absolute zero visibility for parallel parking. So final list is shaping up to be this: CTS 2004 GTO (LS1 engine) G35 IS300 530i Excluded: Mustang (handles like, well, a muscle car. Worst interior of all of these) 3 series (please no complaints - a BMW *did* make the cut...) C class (can't find one in base trim other than gray market it seems. In theory you could order one, but nobody ever did. Coupe is hideously ugly - reminds me of that BMW 318Tii abortion from the 90s...) E class (I'd have to go gray-market to find one, like the C class) Towncar (too big by far) RX-8 (too pricey, reliability issues with the first years. Impossible to find one that's properly cared for since 95%+ of owners don't understand rotary engines) Corvette (duh, plus the early 2000s models are ugly) Z (no rear seat) |
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Replying to: plekto (Jul 28, 2009 7:49 am) You think the CTS has bad rear visibility I was just behind a GTO today and the visiblity on that is much, much worse. I still say 530i. They are dependable fairly common compared to the other stuff you are looking at and relatively easy to work on. Changing the oil on a IS300 is an exercise in futility. Usually with Japanese cars that put the oil filter in a stupid place it is just a matter of having small hands/arms and being flexible. It also helps to have a high pain tolerance and a good burn sleeve. You need all of that for a IS300 oil change but in the end it won't help you. Once you do finally manage to get the oil filter off it won't fit through either the bottom of the top of the motor. There is no room to get that small 1/4 quart filter out. You have to either push it down and to the rear of the engine where it will finally fall out somewhere back by the trans or you have to crush it with pliers and squeeze it out. Obviously the new filter is just as difficult to put back in but at least it isn't hot and you could wait till the engine cooled to make it easier. Sometimes I have had luck dropping the new filter from above and letting it plinko down to a place where I might be able to do something with it but that doesn't always work either. Now I actually like the IS300 thought they were fun cars to drive. The ones with the upgraded seats have some of the most comfortable seats I have ever sat in. Worlds better then almost any other Japanese seat. That being said they are a pain in the ass to work on and would have been better cars if Toyota had left the Turbo 4 cylinder in them when they brought them over. Second part of my advice is to wait a year and buy a one year old Genesis Coupe. Solid axle or not the Mustang is not that bad. I do wish ford would at least offer a IRS option. Finishing in second place . . . the Ford Mustang GT. Mind you, this was a photo-finish. The Mustang with Track Pack blew us all away with its sublime steering, incredible front-end grip, stylish cockpit, and beauteous V-8. As Loh notes, "That's what most impressed me: Ford's two competitors had the advantage of sampling 45 years of Mustang DNA, yet they still couldn't pull out a runaway win." The Mustang scores well on value, too: base price for the GT is $28,845, and with Premium package, Track Pack, security package, and the comfort group, our test car totaled $34,330. The Ford might even have scored an upset, except it cannot match the Camaro's unfailing poise, its breathtaking power, or its styling drama. Those quality issues sure didn't help, either. link title Best skid pad of the 3 at .90 g and close to the Camaro for figure 8 too Mustang vs Genesis V6 also very, very close |
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Replying to: british_rover (Jul 28, 2009 8:16 am) So no, I disagree. No IRS option for the Mustang. Do it right, and put it in every car, or don't do it at all. 
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Replying to: colin_l (Jul 28, 2009 8:30 am) REPORT: S197 Ford Mustang could have had independent rear suspension for $100 per car Ford could have done it they just chose not to. |
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Replying to: british_rover (Jul 28, 2009 8:16 am) Exactly the sort of "overlooked" car I wanted to add to the list. I have nothing against Hyundai's latest offerings, either. They are what they are - cheap and fun cars you use and toss after the payments are over with.(lot like VW that way... heh) The 2004 GTO is fine to see out of the rear, since it's a re-badged but otherwise stock Holden(just removing or not ordering the rear spoiler fixes this issue). The 2005+ got all sorts of wrong with the body changes, IMO. The CTS needs a rear backup camera, no doubt about it.(same can also be said about the Honda Civic, so GM's not the only one with brain-dead designers) The IS300 isn't a huge deal since I get the Toyota dealer two blocks from my work to do oil changes as it is - let them burn their fingers.
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Replying to: plekto (Jul 28, 2009 8:37 am)
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Replying to: plekto (Jul 28, 2009 8:37 am)
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