Buying My First New Car

[Dion]

Originally Posted by COGENT

This is definitely something I am considering. However, I am curious if a newer one would have better gas mileage? My 07 isn't terrible on gas but I would prefer if it was better.

I doubt the mileage would be any better. That and i hate the new body style they have for the Escapes. I own a 2005 Escape and love the older style.

With dealers struggling to make sales i'd say you have a great bargaining chip when it comes to buying out that 07 Escape.

[DESS]

I wonder what kind of premium a guy would pay for a Hybrid Escape...maybe it's worth it.

[Claeren]

I saw my first Hyundai Genesis Coupe in person on Tuesday and it is one hot hot car both inside and out.

That being said, I think Hyundai is still a few years away from something I would recommend buying. On the plus side though, at least their cars get better every generation instead of stagnating like many of the domestic nameplates have for years and years. The big thing is that even if they were making the worlds best cars, until the depreciation is not horribly bad the cost of ownership is far too high.

I recall an article about two years ago about a big year-end speech from the CEO of Toyota where he talked about Nissan-Renault, Subaru and Honda all being healthy competition, but that only Hyundai was seen as a long term threat to Toyota as their projected growth and rate in improvement of product was formidable -- and that their car segments were directed solely at Toyota's own segments (whereas Honda, Nissan and Subaru all offered models in between Toyota's chosen segment offerings).


Regardless, I am a big fan of Honda, Toyota (<although often a bit too 'boring' in driving-personality) and lately -- Subaru. Subaru is where I would personally be shopping right now. Their styling has finally caught up with their engineering, if only they could get 2WD fuel economy out of their awesome AWD system.... (can't have it all! lol)




Claeren.

[Dynamic]

Instead of starting a new thread I'll just ask here.

Me and the wife are looking at a new Toyota Rav4 base FWD. I just want a peice of that 0% financing for 36 months and we both have cars and want something bit more useful.

Anyways the base starts at 24 295 but doesn't include freight. Also the wheels on the base FWD are just steel with hubcaps which I would get upgraded. Any advice with dealing with Toyota. Going Saturday for our second visit and car appraisal jazz.

[STeeLy]

I remember the last time my parents purchased a Toyota, it was no haggle pricing... but you can try to get the dealer to throw stuff in for you... Outside of that, I don't really know how you can deal with them.

[MickMcGeough]

Originally Posted by HOOT

What's the hate for Hyundai? What model car do you have?

They were rated the second best company just behind Lexus by JD Power, but what do they know? Anyone who still thinks Hyundai's are garbage has not driven one in a very long time.

You even look now at the type of cars they are bringing out like the Genesis Sedan which beat out the Lexus ES350 and is about $15-20K cheaper with equal options. Then the Genesis Coupe which is beating out Infiniti G35's, Nissan 370z', Ford Mustangs, etc. for overall quality and price.

This isn't the same Hyundai that built the Pony, they are a different company now. They actually remind me a lot of Nissan in the 80's where everyone was laughing how they would never break into the market and built nothing but crap. Now in the 90's and 00's the Nissan Maxima is one of the best cars out there for resale value even beating out BMW, Lexus, etc.

My suggestion to you if you are looking at a new car is going test drive all the ones you like, narrow your options down and then read the reviews and compare each car against each other.

Apparently you missed this post. I have plenty of recent experience with Hyundai, thanks.

My opinion is heavily colored by my experiences with the Calgary dealerships. In my opinion, finding a good dealer is important when buying a new car (not so much a used one). All-in I've sunk around 4 grand into repairs for my car while it was under "bumper-to-bumper" warranty. Not maintenance. Repairs.

I haven't driven a Genesis. It looks nice. You can have it. Good luck

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by DESS

I've driven a Cooper S, but not the Clubman. I really like those cars, but I find them to be a touch pricey for a car that wouldn't work well for me as a primary car with two kids. And if it's just a toy, they aren't quite fast enough to justify the expense. I'm wanting a 370z when it's time to go back to a fun car. At least with a Cooper they can work great year-round here being FWD. I say go for it!

It wouldn't be just a toy. It would be a daily driver. We have Jeep Liberty right now and 90% of the time it's in use, it has only one person in it. The gas savings alone would make up the lease payment differences.

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

Absolutely, there is more room in there than you might think. I can fit both the kids in my Cooper S hatchback for day trips, and the Clubman is roomier than mine. And the drive is like no other.

I think there would be room for a dog and a future lil Barnes. I have a Grand Cherokee as well that has been sitting for almost two years that I could fix up as a Home Depot/dump/dog park runner.

I really should be in the market for a Mazda 3 Hatch/Lancer/Impreza but there's something about the Clubman S that makes me want to take it behind the Jr High and get it pregnent.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by DESS

Hyundai is getting better for sure, although Mike's experience runs contrary to what we're hearing in the media. And maybe Hyundai is rated better than the ones bolded above for quality, but Hyundai still consistently rates below all of the competition when it comes to driving dynamics, though they are catching up.

Well in all honesty I would expect them to rate below the competition because the competition is charging you a lot more for the same options and so on. Would I rather drive a Lexus over a Hyundai? Hell ya! Do I want to spend another $20K? Hell no!

I can see how Mike could be and should be frustrated but no matter the product when you are producing something at the rate they do with cars you are going to run into problems here and there. I also have about a half dozen buddies with Hyundai's and none have any problems with their vehicles or warranties.

I don't work for Hyundai or anything but I do drive one and I think a lot of people don't give them enough credit for what they are doing and starting to become. I was actually shocked and couldn't beleive I was driving a Hyundai the first time I took my car for a test drive.

[DESS]

Originally Posted by HOOT

Well in all honesty I would expect them to rate below the competition because the competition is charging you a lot more for the same options and so on. Would I rather drive a Lexus over a Hyundai? Hell ya! Do I want to spend another $20K? Hell no!

Very true. They do offer good value and the Genesis Coupe is a step in the right direction from an enthusiast's perspective.

[COGENT]

Originally Posted by Barnes

there's something about the Clubman S that makes me want to take it behind the Jr High and get it pregnent.

I could never find the right way to explain why I want a clubman... until now!

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

Absolutely, there is more room in there than you might think. I can fit both the kids in my Cooper S hatchback for day trips, and the Clubman is roomier than mine. And the drive is like no other.

The drive is not like no other because it is FWD. FWD is horrid for a performance oriented car and rips any of the fun out of off the line launches or accelerating out of corner exits out of driving. Not to mention guaranteed understeer.

FWD=satan.

If you want a performance car, don't touch it. Ever. FWD does absolutely nothing better than RWD or AWD except for compensate for people's lack of driving ability and give better fuel economy.

That said, the mini did a great job of squeezing a lot out of a front engine, front drive platform.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by MickMcGeough

Apparently you missed this post. I have plenty of recent experience with Hyundai, thanks.

My opinion is heavily colored by my experiences with the Calgary dealerships. In my opinion, finding a good dealer is important when buying a new car (not so much a used one). All-in I've sunk around 4 grand into repairs for my car while it was under "bumper-to-bumper" warranty. Not maintenance. Repairs.

I haven't driven a Genesis. It looks nice. You can have it. Good luck

Yes I read that post after I had posted.

Which Hyundai model do you own?

I am not saying what happened to you is right but to think BMW, Lexus, Mercedes Benz, etc haven't had similar issues in the X number of years they have been around is crazy.

It could happen to anyone spending $10,000 or $100,000 on a car. It's the nature of the car business and it is always pass the buck from my experience and I work very closely with a lot of dealerships.

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

The drive is not like no other because it is FWD. FWD is horrid for a performance oriented car and rips any of the fun out of off the line launches or accelerating out of corner exits out of driving. Not to mention guaranteed understeer.

FWD=satan.

If you want a performance car, don't touch it. Ever. FWD does absolutely nothing better than RWD or AWD except for compensate for people's lack of driving ability and give better fuel economy.

That said, the mini did a great job of squeezing a lot out of a front engine, front drive platform.

While I will agree with you that FWD is inferior to RWD (having owned both), reality is that the majority of cars sold now are FWD due to packaging and ease of manufacturing reasons.

I should note that in my MINI, I experience virtually no torque steer and can put just about all the power down coming out of a corner. I'm sure the LSD helps with that, and like you said, MINI has done a great job squeezing a lot of performance out of its platform. I've even experienced oversteer when I have the sticky summer tires on.