OT: Talking Cars Tuesday - What's next?
Easy idea for this week - what's your next automotive purchase? You may have just bought a car, but there's always time to think about what's next. Maybe one of the kids is getting a license, so they can have your sedan and you can get that fun car! Maybe there's another kid on the way and you're minivan hunting (or 3 row crossover hunting, but you should be minivan hunting. Hooray marketing). Maybe you're actually car shopping soon... there's always a next car.
(Note, probably no thread from me next week, I'll be at one of the Big 3 #supplierlife)
April 18th, 2017 at 11:34 AM ^
summer 2018
April 18th, 2017 at 11:38 AM ^
Can I ask why the Z? It's bones and engine are both pretty old at this point
April 18th, 2017 at 11:55 AM ^
and outdated. If you're looking for a used one, an early model would probably be good performance bang for your buck. The VQ will run forever and they have enough performance stock for track duty and plenty of fun on twisties. But new? Even as a Z owner and lover, that's a hard pass.
April 18th, 2017 at 12:30 PM ^
I will never purchase a pre-owned car.
April 18th, 2017 at 12:41 PM ^
financially that is tough to justify unless of course you are well-to-do, which is fine too.
I've gotten 2 new cars and I much prefer them new. Sure, it's a bit of a financial hit (less so personally thanks to suppleir discounts) but I don't have to worry about what anyone else did to it. Is there suspension trouble looming because the previous owner didn't avoid potholes? Some electrical gremlins waiting to rear their heads? A missed oil change or two that'll bite me later? I consider the extra cost worth the piece of mind.
I agree, as long as I can swing it, I buy new, I can control the maintenance record and it gives me a little more peace of mind as to recourse with problems, etc. I realize it's not the most efficient use of my money, but it lowers the chaos factor and for me it's worth it. I certainly get the arguments on each side.
with this tag line: Chaos is found in greatest abundance wherever order is being sought. It always defeats order because it is better organized. ?
LOL
Touche'
new. at graduation from michigan, sold a year later for the exact amount i'd paid for it including the tax. a van for my wife years ago, which we sold. i indulged her on that one. a diesel suburban that i sold 9 yrs later only because we had to move back to socal, needed a long-commuting car, and my then-business partner in the UP really wanted it so that made an easy decision. the last is the F-350 down-thread which i have 18 yrs and but for the rust issue, i wouldn't be thinking of turning over
it helps that i can buy used vehicles at auction which makes the cost difference that much greater. i understand the fun of a new car/truck, but i think of all the other stuff i could do with the tens of thousands i have/would/will save and i'd rather have the money.
Your post is exactly why I purchase only new cars. Plus, it's just nice sitting in a car that no one else has driven for an extended period of time.
and that new car smell....not many things on Earth smell better.
a brand new car again. I get them lightly used and relatively new, shopping reliable brands, saving thousands.
I get mine (always Ram 1500s) 1-2 years old with <15,000 miles on it and spend a bit for the Mopar lifetime warranty.
All I am responsible for is tires, rotors, brake pads, belts and wipers. Everything else is covered by insurance or warranty. For as long as I own the vehicle. In 20 years I could drop a tranny, have it towed in (for free, and if if anything happens outside my home town, they pay me $1000 towards hotel/travel), and they replace/fix the tranny. For $100.
Saves me quite a bit of $ in the long run vs a new car and anything happens at all for as long as I own it . . . . I pay $100 and it's fixed by a Mopar certified mechanic.
I bought the ultimate "don't buy that" used car. I bought a used rental car with 40k miles. 50k miles later and it has been a great car. You know the car has been driven hard but well maintained. It was a 2 year old Pontiac G6 for $8,900.
Buying cars used cars in the 1960's and 70's was an adventure as build quality generally sucked and cars were at the end of their life around 100,000 miles - either from cancer or mechanical failure.
I would have no problem buying used now but want it to be fairly new 3-5 years old with under 50k miles.
That's great because then I can buy your lightly used two year old car at half the original price at half the tax, and drive the shit out of it. Has worked for me for a lot of years.
This is how I drive cars I'd never be able to afford to buy new. Those first three years of depreciation are a bitch.
As an example, I bought a 3 year old Volvo S80 T6, less than 40k miles and still under warranty. Sticker price of almost 50k.
I paid 17.5.
April 18th, 2017 at 12:29 PM ^
Because it looks cool. What is so outdated about it?
EDIT: My resized picture in my first post disappeared for whatever reason. Here is another:
It looked cool in 2005 when it came out too. It's an old, heavy platform with an old, heavy (updated once since 2005) engine.
That doesn't bother me. I still think it's a sexy car. Perhaps it will be changed in 2018. I'd like to get it now, but cannot just yet. I want to put at least $10,000 cash down. I can do that now if I really wanted to, but my savings account would take too much of a hit for my liking. By spring or summer 2018, I'll certainly be able to do that, assuming I don't need to drop a large amount of money on something beforehand.
Don't get me wrong, I love the Z34. I own a Z33 (previous gen 350Z), and ran a club in my mid 20's for Z/G cars. It's just the fact that the Z34 in 2017 is basically the exact same car you could buy in 2009. Meanwhile the Mustang, a commonly cross-shopped car, has gone through multiple revisions. The VQ is a great motor but it's long in the tooth. The gas milage is not great, it drinks premium fuel, and the motor is high compression from the factory and very hard to make more power with. The platform is heavy for a 2-seater and resale value is very low.
If you have 10k, my advice is to take another year and save 5k more. You should be able to get one with low milage for cash, and not lose anything in regards to performance... because again, the car is the same as it was 8 years ago except a different front bumper.
Again, sexy car. My Z33 is black like your picutres (though heavily modified), and people still stop me and ask what it is and can't believe it's 10 years old. I saved cash after college and purchased it for 15k, and I've had it in the repair shop a grand total of maybe 3 times in 50,000 miles for consumables like wheel bearings. No reason to pay a car payment for one.
It looked cool in 2005 when it came out too. It's an old, heavy platform with an old, heavy (updated once since 2005) engine.
April 18th, 2017 at 11:34 AM ^
Hopefully I won't have to purchase a car for a while; two vehicles at under 100k miles. Our van should last for another five years or so, the sedan close to that.
Assuming there isn't an issue with one of those two, I could theoretically get a pickup, which I've found I need occasionally. That could wind up replacing the sedan some time down the road. Cheap pickup, though, nothing fancy, just something with four-wheel drive (hello, winter and serious hills) and a place to throw big stuff that I need to haul around.
April 18th, 2017 at 11:37 AM ^
Last I checked they were OMG expensive.
April 18th, 2017 at 11:39 AM ^
Gotta hunt for it though. And they get pricey quickly with options.
April 18th, 2017 at 11:42 AM ^
If you go for the mid-size ones(which these days are plenty big) like the Chevy Colorado or Toyota Tacoma, they're still affordable, if pricey. I can't see justifying buying a full size anymore unless you need it for your business.
April 18th, 2017 at 11:58 AM ^
Can you get one to swallow a 4x8 sheet of plywood?
If you can, and with the engines out there now (300hp V6's) I think they would be great.
I had a 2005 Colorado 4x4 for 10 years. I had a tailgate extender because the bed was short. It had a 5cyl engine but was a good tuck and I sold it for about $10k with 100k miles. I can't live without the utility of a truck but I like them on the smaller side.
April 18th, 2017 at 12:22 PM ^
I really wanted a Colorado, but there are so few used on the market and I can't justify the premium of the smaller/newer truck over a used full 150/1500.
I leased a Silverado 2 years ago because they were cheaper than a Colorado. If you don't mind the size - the Silverado offers good value. I am leasing a Colorado extended cab now (I had the previous generation Colorado) and may buy it at the end of the lease depending upon the cost at that time.
April 18th, 2017 at 11:34 AM ^
SHO if I can, if not, then I'll go down a bit to get a real bloody key instead of one of those stupid expensive smart monstrosities.
I like sedans. I like the room provided by a trunk where I can put my stuff without having it impinge on the passenger area.
I like the 20cu ft. trunk on the Taurus.
And if you get it with side curtain airbags, etc. the thing is safe as hell.
April 18th, 2017 at 11:35 AM ^
I've always wanted an early 70s Saab Sonnett. They are hard to find in decent shape.
I'd also like something fast with a big, snorty, V-8. That sound is just the best.
My DD is almost 12 years old now, though, and my youngest is going to need basic transportation in the fall, so I'm afraid one or both of those things will take precedence over another 'fun' car.
April 18th, 2017 at 12:25 PM ^
I think one of the mechanics at Auto Europe in Troy has a Sonett....maybe for sale, my memory is failing me. I've got a pal who has a project Sonett...and I do mean a project. Cool little cars. I've got an Opel GT myself, similar small euro car.
My grandfather had one when I was little. Sentimental issue. I also have a thing for unusual two-seaters, Fiero, Sky, Bugeye Sprite in the stable.
Have missed out on a couple here, including a runner that was bit of a parts car for $100 locally. D'oh!
Didn't see a Sonnett on the Auto Europe web site, but was reminded that I'd also like to own an Elise S.
April 18th, 2017 at 11:35 AM ^
If I had to get another car tomorrow, I'd probably get another GTI. It's pretty great for where I see my life for the next 5+ years. That said... I do look longingly at the Golf R. Can I convince my wife that AWD would be better??
If VW brought the Golf R Wagon over, I'd drive that in a second. 292HP, that much cargo space?
April 18th, 2017 at 11:39 AM ^
you and I have a different idea of alot of cargo space. ;-)
Of course, you don' thave kids do you? So that opens up the possibility of just putting down all the seats.
April 18th, 2017 at 11:41 AM ^
and living in Chicago. I do well with my hatchback I've got today, and think we'd be just fine with 1 kid and it.
April 18th, 2017 at 11:43 AM ^
1 kid isn't that hard to pack in, especially when you are balancing city driving and parking. Thank God I don't have to deal with that.
Also, I'm an admitted space whore.
April 18th, 2017 at 11:41 AM ^
April 18th, 2017 at 11:47 AM ^
But winter tires are better.
April 18th, 2017 at 11:52 AM ^
We live in different places...but for me AWD is essential. Winter tires on a RWD car SUCKED. They just sucked less than normal tires on a RWD car. My sub doesn't plow in the winter often to save on the roads (which we own). So we get a thick cap of ice/snow over the roads. Trying to go up a decent driveway incline with RWD was a nightmare.
That said, I'm also a tire snob. I spend a ton of $$ on tires.
April 18th, 2017 at 12:02 PM ^
April 18th, 2017 at 11:55 AM ^
Love this. An American (I'm assuming you're not European) who appreciates hot hatches and wagons.
April 18th, 2017 at 12:03 PM ^
the dislike for hot hatches. When I was a kid I wanted an Omni GLH in the worst way because it looked like a stupid amount of fun.
And some of the people that I talk to who hate hatches drive.... SUV's with tailgates. That act like hatches...
That said, I weep for the demise of the trunk. An SUV/Hatch is fine, but the storage space given is often misleading. You get the space up to the level of the rear seat. Then if you stck stuff higher it risks falling on passengers/occluding your rear view. But people aren't buying sedans anymore like they used to.
April 18th, 2017 at 12:06 PM ^
Agree with this completely. When I was a kid, I loved the GTI, and I couldn't understand why anyone would buy a more expensive car. "Just buy the GTI and put the rest of the money in sick mods. Duh."
April 18th, 2017 at 12:42 PM ^
station wagons are beyond horrendous looking
Depends on the Wagon. I like the Volvo P1800
April 18th, 2017 at 12:04 PM ^
I've had my Golf R for about a year now. Lapiz Blue with DSG and the driver assistant package. It's really hard to beat. It practically drives itself in traffic on the daily commute and it's an absolute blast on the backroads and on-ramps. Do it!
April 18th, 2017 at 12:07 PM ^
with paddles?
I'd get a stick, but that DQ250 (next year it's a DQ381) double clutch is one of the best autos on the market.
April 18th, 2017 at 11:39 AM ^
In 2004 I bought a '94 Wrangler and loved it. Gave it to my son when he needed a vehicle in 2014. In a couple years -- I will be buying another! What is the BEST version of a Wrangler to buy (not new)?