Ongoing General Automotive Thread 2.0

[Table 5]

I'm not surprised when you can easily price out a (non S or R) Civic in the 35-40K range.

The Prelude is basically aimed at well-off GenXers/Boomers who want a "sporty" car that's easy to live with...those people don't care quite so much about actual performance or maximizing every dollar. They probably won't sell a ton, but will do well with that demographic. It's basically the Japanese version of the "personal luxury couple" of the olden days.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Holy crap I'm happy to be far far below that. That sounds miserable.

I love being in my car. I love how comfortable vehicles can be. I love that you can tailor the temperature to within half a degree of what you like. I love cooled seats on with a heated steering wheel on. I love listening to music. I love driving. I love doing neat things...been off-roading my Tremor more and it's so much fun.

Bumper humps can be miserable, but new tech helps with that, too. Blue Cruise drives me on Deerfoot, Glenmore, Stoney, Macleod South and other spots. Hands free, pedal free, no-intervention traffic jam driving. I enjoy my podcasts and just being in a nice space chilling.

I don't eat fast food often, but when I do I like eating in my car and just hanging out. I like car camping...like literally sleeping inside my car. IDK. Cars just rule. Rolling tech/art/power/luxury/transportation/sound system. They're everything cool rolled into one thing.

[Acey]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I'm not surprised when you can easily price out a (non S or R) Civic in the 35-40K range.

The Prelude is basically aimed at well-off GenXers/Boomers who want a "sporty" car that's easy to live with...those people don't care quite so much about actual performance or maximizing every dollar. They probably won't sell a ton, but will do well with that demographic. It's basically the Japanese version of the "personal luxury couple" of the olden days.

They are lucky the 230i isn't exactly a looker because for a couple grand more you get significantly more performance, AWD, still good MPG, more tech...

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Acey

They are lucky the 230i isn't exactly a looker because for a couple grand more you get significantly more performance, AWD, still good MPG, more tech...

I don't know if I have a brain glitch or something, but I think the 2-series is the best looking vehicle in BMW's entire fleet right now. I don't like a single thing in their lineup, but I fkn love the M2. It's a real contender for my next fun car. I can't see what people are seeing when they say they don't like it. I love it.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Sliver

I don't know if I have a brain glitch or something, but I think the 2-series is the best looking vehicle in BMW's entire fleet right now. I don't like a single thing in their lineup, but I fkn love the M2. It's a real contender for my next fun car. I can't see what people are seeing when they say they don't like it. I love it.

A major problem with some of the BMW models the grill/front end is too aggressive and doesn't fit the body of the vehicle. It's like looking to someone's face with large flared nostrils.

I agree that the 2 series (including the M2) is a better looking vehicle, as this issue isn't as pronounced. It's a mostly classic looking sporty vehicle that doesn't look too silly. Not looking silly is a major consideration for me when looking at any sportier vehicle.

[curves2000]

The Honda's and Toyota's of old are not the same quality of cars as they used to be. Still fairly reliable, well designed in a lot of ways but serious cost cutting and become a lot more Americanized. The Japanese designed models were vastly superior.

My parents both have RAV's (09/25) and you can see where the cost cutting is evident. I look at the quality of engineering on my S2000 and think back to some of my older Honda's quality and shake my head. I think my 91 Prelude and 01 Acura Integra had more plush seating and carpet than most $100k l Lexus models now.

[Acey]

Originally Posted by blankall

A major problem with some of the BMW models the grill/front end is too aggressive and doesn't fit the body of the vehicle. It's like looking to someone's face with large flared nostrils.

I agree that the 2 series (including the M2) is a better looking vehicle, as this issue isn't as pronounced. It's a mostly classic looking sporty vehicle that doesn't look too silly. Not looking silly is a major consideration for me when looking at any sportier vehicle.

230/240 look completely different than M2. For me the problem is mostly the rear, it looks terrible IMO.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Acey

230/240 look completely different than M2. For me the problem is mostly the rear, it looks terrible IMO.

I was being harsh. Not all of the new BMWs have those two giant grill pieces right in the front. Some so though. Find it very odd.

[Erick Estrada]

IMO the M3/M4 look much better in person as the big nostrils simply don't photograph well. What's lost in the talk about the front end is that they now offer supercar performance for non-supercar money and the added bonus of high end reliability which is something these types of vehicles were never associated with in the past. Audi and MB simply can't compete on the same level of performance and reliability.

[Calgary14]

Pricing on the 2026 Rav4s is out and it it looks like most will be around $46k for the base model pre tax. Add in the fact supply will be scarce and total cost will be a lot higher since dealers will add markups like extended warranty

[3thirty]

Originally Posted by Texas

Wife is debating between a new Lexus RX, Audi Q5 or Genesis GV70. Any advice or experience? She is on the shorter side so seating position is always an important part of her decision for cars.

And do dealers negotiate anymore? Haven't bought a new car in a while.

Audi has 0% lease on Q5 now and $500 off, they have a ton of stock so I'm sure you can negotiate. Also likely includes Audicare which is 4-5 years of included maintenance.

It also helps the two dealers have separate owners in the city now instead of being part of the same group.

We've had 2 SQ5's and love them.

[3thirty]

Originally Posted by Acey

Absolutely criminal behaviour by Honda.



https://hondanews.ca/en-CA/releases/...ficient-models

Honda would rather retain the profit than dealers on something that will have more demand than supply.

Price it lower and dealers will just throw BS mandatory warranty/accessories (3m, tint, rust proof) and end up the same or more since they can't do ADM.

[Erick Estrada]

I don't understand how the average person is able to pay today's new vehicle pricing and still provide food and shelter for a family. $46k RAV4's, $50k Preludes, etc. This is nuts.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I don't understand how the average person is able to pay today's new vehicle pricing and still provide food and shelter for a family. $46k RAV4's, $50k Preludes, etc. This is nuts.

Jesus $46K for a RAV4, that POS

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I don't understand how the average person is able to pay today's new vehicle pricing and still provide food and shelter for a family. $46k RAV4's, $50k Preludes, etc. This is nuts.

Because they finance them over 8 years. Everything in our society is a subscription model, even cars.

[Old Yeller]

The share of these new-car buyers committing to monthly payments of $1,000 or more hit an all-time high of 19.3% in Q2 2025

Edmunds analysts report that 84-month+ loans set a new record in Q2 2025, accounting for 22.4% of new-vehicle financing.

That's Edmunds, but I assume it's similar if not worse in Canada.

[curves2000]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I don't understand how the average person is able to pay today's new vehicle pricing and still provide food and shelter for a family. $46k RAV4's, $50k Preludes, etc. This is nuts.

I call it luxury poverty society. You would be shocked at how much of it is out there when you think about it. People driving any new car on lease/finance payments with virtually no money. Having $4k in bank accounts and little to no savings and driving a 2026 model car? You have NO money, why are you faking a new car?

Cars, clothing, electronics, trips, food delivery, restaurants all the time. It's officially out of control.

[Ironhorse]

I'm not surprised, considering how much new car prices have skyrocketed in the past 5 years. Our truck cost $63K in 2015, an equivalent replacement is now $98k.

[Ashasx]

Inflation adjusted, almost all new vehicles are cheaper than they were 20 years ago.

Price sensitive customers never shopped new to begin with.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Inflation adjusted, almost all new vehicles are cheaper than they were 20 years ago.

The problem is that 1) our purchasing power has not kept up, so relative to what we have to spend, they are more expensive. 2) a lot of the inflation shock has happened in the last 5 years, making the change feel much more drastic.

I'm in my mid 40s and have never bought a new car, so maybe I'm not the right demographic to ask, but buying one today definitely feels extra prohibitive.