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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
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| Say, I've been reading up on turbocharged cars. I like the idea of a car with the fuel economy of a 4-Cyl, but the power of a V6 or V8 - BUT, I've heard mentions of a "turbo lag". I figure it's not a big deal when accelerating from a stop. But is turbo lag going to negatively affect my ability to pass in and out of traffic quickly? I'm a lot more concerned about navigating high speed highway traffic than zooming up the fast lane, so I'm not sure if turbo is the way to go in that case. | |
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Replying to: demigawd (Jun 24, 2009 6:39 am) |
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Replying to: demigawd (Jun 24, 2009 6:39 am) However, "the economy of a 4-cyl with the power of a V6 or V8" is marketing BS, for the most part. Power costs gas, no matter how it is achieved. For example, a WRX STi gets 19mpg combined (300hp turbo 4 AWD). A 335ix gets 19mpg combined (300hp turbo 6 AWD). A G35X gets 19mpg combined (300hp NA 6 AWD). |
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Replying to: qbrozen (Jun 24, 2009 9:10 am)
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Replying to: jeffyscott (Jun 24, 2009 9:23 am) |
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Replying to: qbrozen (Jun 24, 2009 9:10 am) I've committed to hunting down G35x's, but I also need to keep some of my options open. Assuming I abandoned the absolute requirement for an AWD, but instead wanted a compact turbo car (sub-7 0-60) with a good reputation for maintenance and good handling in wintery Chicago conditions, what would you recommend? I was thinking something in the mold of a 1999 Saab 9-3 turbo that a friend of mine used to have. He had it in a hatchback and I really enjoyed riding in it. It could park easily because of the size, but had a great interior and could haul-ass. I've heard that the newer Saabs have really lost their reputation for quality, which prevents me from going for a 2003+ model. The fast Jettas fit that mold too (and, according to a post here, handle well in the winter), but I've heard bad things about THEIR reliability and maintenance as well. So is there a car that fits that mold but retains high reliability and reasonable maintenance costs?
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Replying to: demigawd (Jun 24, 2009 11:33 am) Yes. I can't suggest either Saab or VW as reliable vehicles. I would suggest Volvo, however. I don't think it will be quite as reliable as Infiniti, but I've had good luck with them. My S70 T5 was one of the best vehicles I ever owned. Was great in the snow, the high-pressure turbo made it a blast to drive, and it was supremely comfortable. However, I did have to put some money into it at around the 100k mile mark (suspension, ABS module, turbo oil seal), but I don't think that's unreasonable, especially since I drove it so hard. And, keeping on that turbo vs NA thing, I netted right around 24 mpg with the S70 during its stay with me. That was a 236hp turbo 5-cyl 2.3 liter. The 3.5liter 280hp 350Z that followed used to return 25.5mpg. The 3.2liter V6 Accord after that was 26.5mpg. So, again, turbo'ing a smaller engine does not automatically equal better mileage.
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Replying to: qbrozen (Jun 24, 2009 11:43 am)
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Replying to: demigawd (Jun 24, 2009 11:56 am) The S60 is the model that replaced the S70. The S60 is a tad tighter inside than the G35, but not by much. In the S60, when i have the driver's seat set to where I'd be comfortable, nobody can get behind me. In the G, it is still tight behind me, but someone could get their legs in there. I don't know how the outside dimensions compare, however. I was considering suggesting an S60R for you, but finding a clean one in your range may be tough. Plus, I went through this choice myself (S60R vs G35X) and bought the Infiniti. The S60R was more appealing, but the G35X won for what I anticipate will be lower lifetime operating costs. Even now, though, just 1 year into my '04 G35X ownership, I find myself wondering what it would be like to own an '06 S60R now. ;b
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Replying to: qbrozen (Jun 24, 2009 12:04 pm) What do you guys know about Evolve? I've seen some mentions of an S60R Evolve edition, and it sounds like some kind of modification package. Any information about it? The price? Upside? Downside?
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