Buying my first car
- Thread starter Tomato
- Start date
They just have nothing fun at all in their lineup in my opinion. Every brand needs something with a little pizazz. Other Japanese brand like Honda, Mazda and Nissan understand this, but Toyota just go with their "quality" thing. Sorry, rather have a car that actually inspire enough feeling in me about it that I actually care for it.
My second car was a Vauxhall (Opel) Astra 1.4ltr. Reliable enough, we had fun times in it but a little underpowered compared to any of the cars I've had since
I could care less about the sexiness. Yes I would love to have an awesome cool car. But in the end practically vs. pizaaz. So discussed with my pops. He seems more interested in the Matrix. My aunt leases a lot from nissan so there is discussions there too but be some discounts. But for me to buy a sentra. I might as well get a corolla. same price anyways.
Funny enough quality is the first thing I'm looking for and fun/pizazz a second.. if at all.
I like my cars safe, economic and with a price tag that doesn't give me a heart attack. Maybe that makes me a boring person but in the end a smile when i read about people complain about their pizazz cars when they break down and costs mount.
Wow Ten year old cars from these overpriced brands cost as much as brand new cars from most other brands?
Well there's definetly a way to get both. Take for example the new Opel Insignia. Looks fantastic and I don't see any reason why the quality should be lackluster, also very sympathetic pricing.
Funny enough quality is the first thing I'm looking for and fun/pizazz a second.. if at all.
I like my cars safe, economic and with a price tag that doesn't give me a heart attack. Maybe that makes me a boring person but in the end a smile when i read about people complain about their pizazz cars when they break down and costs mount.
And then there's also something to be said about a sleeper so to say. My car, '99 Saab 9-5 is a pretty regular car in Sweden but the version I have is the strongest 4-cylinder from that year and it even outperformed the V6 from the same year. It's got a pretty damned good grunt and the acceleration is very adequate for a 4-banger of that weight and comfort. Not to mention with the stick and some smart driving 30 mpg is very easily attained.
I think that whay you connect with "pizazz cars" are cars like the performance cars or supercars from places such as Ferrari and the like. In which I agree that it isn't worth the price. I think that to have some fun you really don't have to look far or very high price, you just gotta know what to look for.
In the end it's all of course of the everyone to decide for themselves. I love cars with V8s and rear wheel drive, and another guy might think me crazy for not loving all over the latest Volvo.
Pretty much part of the point I'm making. It's actually too bad that the Mazda RX-8 is a bit too heavy on the fuel economy and a bit unreliable because of the Wankel engine, otherwise I'd seriously consider one.
And yes, I'd also get a Ford over a Toyata. And I'm no fan of Ford, I consider the Focus to be an abomination. But I have to admit that the new Mondeo and Fiesta are pretty good looking and I'd serioulsy consider buying a Mustang GT if I had the money.
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Well there's definetly a way to get both. Take for example the new Opel Insignia. Looks fantastic and I don't see any reason why the quality should be lackluster, also very sympathetic pricing.
Funny enough quality is the first thing I'm looking for and fun/pizazz a second.. if at all.
I like my cars safe, economic and with a price tag that doesn't give me a heart attack. Maybe that makes me a boring person but in the end a smile when i read about people complain about their pizazz cars when they break down and costs mount.
The Honda Fit is another good example. It's an extremely fun little car to drive, despite only having about a 110 HP under the hood. In fact, I think it actually has LESS HP than the comparably priced but mind-numbingly dull-to-drive Toyota Yaris.
I'll tell you right now HOW to buy a car.
Find the type of car/model you want and with what features/packages.
Punch in this information into Cars.com and find out the car's invoice price (usually a few grand less than MSRP -the "sticker" price.)
Take that number, the invoice price, to your dealer and offer them that plus $200 or $300. If they decline, walk out.
Do NOT talk in terms of payments and do NOT tell them you have a trade (if you do) until the price is settled and THEN you stick them.
After you settle the price they'll send you into the "closer" the guy who's going to try and offer you all of stickler things like undercoating and scotch-guarding. Don't get any of it. All a scam. Undercoating you shouldn't have to worry about if you wash your car often -esp on the days of nice weather after a bout of weather that caused road treatments to be used- and scotch guarding can be done either by yourself or at another place far cheaper than the dealer will do it.
The only thing you may want to consider is the extended warranty but that's totally up to you if you want to spring for it.
So...
1. Find out specifically what car you want.
2. Research that car's invoice price.
3. Offer them the invoice price plus $300.
4. If they accept then tell them about any trades you might have.
5. If they refuse threaten to walk out. They'll settle with you in some manner, probably by negotiating the price over invoice. Don't go above $400 or even $500 TOPS if they won't do it for $300.
6. Don't get any of the additions offered to you by the "closer" other than, maybe, the extended warranty.
Find the type of car/model you want and with what features/packages.
Punch in this information into Cars.com and find out the car's invoice price (usually a few grand less than MSRP -the "sticker" price.)
Take that number, the invoice price, to your dealer and offer them that plus $200 or $300. If they decline, walk out.
Do NOT talk in terms of payments and do NOT tell them you have a trade (if you do) until the price is settled and THEN you stick them.
After you settle the price they'll send you into the "closer" the guy who's going to try and offer you all of stickler things like undercoating and scotch-guarding. Don't get any of it. All a scam. Undercoating you shouldn't have to worry about if you wash your car often -esp on the days of nice weather after a bout of weather that caused road treatments to be used- and scotch guarding can be done either by yourself or at another place far cheaper than the dealer will do it.
The only thing you may want to consider is the extended warranty but that's totally up to you if you want to spring for it.
So...
1. Find out specifically what car you want.
2. Research that car's invoice price.
3. Offer them the invoice price plus $300.
4. If they accept then tell them about any trades you might have.
5. If they refuse threaten to walk out. They'll settle with you in some manner, probably by negotiating the price over invoice. Don't go above $400 or even $500 TOPS if they won't do it for $300.
6. Don't get any of the additions offered to you by the "closer" other than, maybe, the extended warranty.
^I'd also consider Lojacking to be a worthwhile dealer add-on. Talk to your insurance agent first though. Some insurance companies will give you discounts on your insurance for this.
Well there's definetly a way to get both. Take for example the new Opel Insignia. Looks fantastic and I don't see any reason why the quality should be lackluster, also very sympathetic pricing.
Funny enough quality is the first thing I'm looking for and fun/pizazz a second.. if at all.
I like my cars safe, economic and with a price tag that doesn't give me a heart attack. Maybe that makes me a boring person but in the end a smile when i read about people complain about their pizazz cars when they break down and costs mount.
Interesting mentioning the new Opel Insignia.
For everyone else: http://www.moto-schneider.ch/jla/images/stories/2009-opel-insignia-5.jpg
I nearly doubled over a few months ago when i learned of it (i don't follow car news at all).
Opel has (or had?) an old grandpa image in Germany.. boring cars primarily driven my middle-aged working class men. Mediocre quality, not too expensive.. forgettable in a word.
Now in recent years Opel entirely revamped their lineup, "sexed" it up and tried heavily to change their image and the culmination is the new Insignia and if i had the money i'd instantly buy one.
It looks sexy as hell, has a hell of cool gadgets for a middleclass car, has a reasonable price (certainly lower than anything comparable from Mercedes or Audi) and is Car of the Year 2009 (a price issued together by various car magazines in Europe).
Sorry for going off topic for a bit..
http://www.moto-schneider.ch/jla/images/stories/2009-opel-insignia-5.jpg
Thanks for the tips. My aunt knows the owner of a nissan dealership and the versa hatchbacks looks decent enough. Who knows what deals there are I guess I'll play it by ear.
I just forgot who owns a repair shop on this board and they said nothing but bad things about nissan.
I partly mentioned it since it premiered at the local dealer this weekend...and I'm stuck at home because of my foot inflammation. I really want to go see it. It looks so fantastic and it's about one of the few cars that would make me abandon my beloved Saab as my choice for regular cars (remember, Saab is a domestic brand here and thus much cheaper then in the states).Interesting mentioning the new Opel Insignia.
For everyone else: http://www.moto-schneider.ch/jla/images/stories/2009-opel-insignia-5.jpg
I nearly doubled over a few months ago when i learned of it (i don't follow car news at all).
Opel has (or had?) an old grandpa image in Germany.. boring cars primarily driven my middle-aged working class men. Mediocre quality, not too expensive.. forgettable in a word.
Now in recent years Opel entirely revamped their lineup, "sexed" it up and tried heavily to change their image and the culmination is the new Insignia and if i had the money i'd instantly buy one.
It looks sexy as hell, has a hell of cool gadgets for a middleclass car, has a reasonable price (certainly lower than anything comparable from Mercedes or Audi) and is Car of the Year 2009 (a price issued together by various car magazines in Europe).
Sorry for going off topic for a bit..
And yes, Opel really have started turning a corner with their image. It's really too bad I'm to tall to be able to drive the Opel GT, because it's a sexy little roadster.
Remember guys, I'm in Europe, different cars by the looks of it. The European focus is just...let me say it like this: I'm no fan of Toyota, but I'd rather drive my dads Prius then a Focus.
Yeah, that's the bit that got me too (especially with fuel prices here in the UK). It's also supposed to be a bit of an oil hog according to some of the reviews.
CaptainHawk1
Commodore
I have two cars, both paid off (long ago).
A 2004 Toyota 4Runner Limited.
A 2000 Honda Accord EX.
These are by far the two best vehicles I've ever owned and sadly, all of the other vehicles I've ever owned have been GM's and a couple of Fords. I can honestly say that I will never buy American again.
I've been wanting to get a new Accord for 4 years now but I can't justify it because my vehicle is in near showroom condition and the engine is hardly broken in at 114,000 miles.
I had to get a rental last month because some lady hit my Honda and I was stuck with a 2009 VW Jetta. Other than every American car out there it's safe to say that VW makes the worst piece of shit car on the market. If I had to wait any longer for my vehicle I ewould have gone back and requested the Ford they were trying to push on me to begin with or a bus pass.
Yes, those cars are that bad.
Go Honda or Toyota and never have to worry about your vehicle again.
-Shawn
