New car buying dilemma. Suggestions?

[Bulletdog]

Do customer satisfaction surveys, maintenance issues, and overall hassles mean much to you?

I frequently look at what Consumer Reports has to say when considering a new vehicle. My father has also been a mechanic since before I was born. Based on that, I would not buy a VW, a Jeep, or a Benz. Your time and money though. I see lots of those cars driving around. Well, when they are not in the shop, I mean.

[The_War_Wagon]

Something PRE-electronic ignition. EMP-proof.

[CoryCop25]

I love my Passat 2.0T gas. It's 7 years old now and I have only ever replaced brake pads and tires. And recently an ignition coil that cast me $57.
Before the Passat, I had a 2004 BMW 325iX, the Passat was more comfortable, faster and has better features then the BMW. Oh yeah, and cheaper.
This is my third VW and I won't buy Jetta's anymore.

[jpmuscle]

To the original poster -

How is your 2012 Passat running? has it ever had any problem? I'm asking because I have a 2013 Passat SE (gas, 5 cyl, leatherette (fake leather) seats. I haven't had any problem at all since I bought it. Just wondering what am I to expect in the coming years.

I can't tell you which car to choose but I can offer advice on the price and payment issue. Don't get bog down on the number of payments and amount of monthly payment. That's how a buyer gets into trouble with paying too much for a car. A sales weasel (that's what they are) are always trying to finagle with the numbers to get a potential buyer hooked. Concentrate and insist on the final bottom line purchase price. $25000? 28000? 30,000? Then figure out the financing next.

Oh I'll throw my two cents in on the styles, the more organic/aerobic/shapely/modern the car looks, the quicker it goes out of style. The more conservative (or boring but classy) it is, like your Passat, the longer that look will last. Consider a 1990s Mercedes 190 or 300 class cars, they don't look out of style even after over 20 years.

Good luck.

No major issues in the 33K or so that I've put on it. I few months back I had the right rear caliper hang up on my way home from work. Not to the point of locking the wheel up or anything but dragging just enough to throw off some noticeable heat standing in my driveway. It only happened that one time and has been fine since so idk. It may have had something to do with the E-brake but like I said it was a one time deal.

If you like to drive then buy the Mazda. I agree though that the Honda will have a better resale value.

As for leasing, if you can afford to just buy the car I think that is the route to take. The only time I see where a lease makes sense is to buy a car if you only drive a limited amount not exceeding the allotted mileage. Some people also lease more expensive brands to avoid the greater up front expense.

For what it's worth Honda is offering is 0.9 and 1.9% interest rates on some models.

Get what you can afford and as my financial advisor friend likes to say "a car is the worst place to put your money".

I keep reminding myself that as I am looking at used BMW M3's on-line.

The 0.9% offer is available on the sport that I'm looking at so I'm entertaining that option as well.

If you find your current Passat "a bit boring," you are not going to find the Accord less so. The Mazdas I've driven handle better than their Honda counterparts. Hondas have the edge on comfort, but suspensions too mushy IMO. My sister's Passat was the best shifting sedan I've ever driven. Of your three I would opt for the Mazda in your situation because of it's reputation as a fun to drive car, and for a change of pace from the VW.

If an Acura TL SH-AWD lease is in your price range, at least give one a test drive. The torque vectoring awd system is incredible. Go into a cloverleaf a little too fast with a front drive on the edge of understeer, you would let off the gas a bit. In the awd TL you give it MORE throttle and the computer will kick the rear out just enough to swing you around the curve. It is not like drifting a rear drive like my Miata, just a non-startling, easily controlled squaring the circle. A blast to drive plus the optional surround sound system is exquisite.

I looked at that offering briefly and it is a bit out of my price range. Cool tech for sure.

Don't figure out financing at the dealership. Figure that out ahead of time through, ideally the same financial institution you use for your everyday banking. It will simplify payments etc. Even if you're a point higher, its worth it to make sending in payments for the next five years.

Dealership negotiations is about OTD price. Out the door. Watch for add ons. **** pinstripes. If you pull onto a dealer lot and every car has dealer applied pinstripes...leave.

I don't look for passionate driving experiences with cars like that. They are all about practical experiences. My SUV is my go everywhere car. If you want to have an extreme experience on a vehicle buy a motorcycle. A Ducati Panigale 1199 has more horsepower than a MX-6, but weighs about 360lbs...with a 2.5 sec 0-60 and a 9.9 1/4 mile. To get that level of tech and performance in a car, you're over 100k easy.

Understood. That's part of the reason why I went with the Passat when I did. I wanted something simplistic and practical. It fit that bill very well. As for the real sport experience I'd still have my 03' ZX12-R if it wasn't for having to pay for grad school I miss that bike everyday lol.

Sonata 2.0T? No manual, sure, but I love my wife's Sonata a lot more than my Mazda3 lol.

BTW, still have my 4th gen WS6 :-)

My mom has an Elantra and while a nice car along with the sonata the lack of a manual is a deal breaker lol. I miss my 4th gen z-28 probably just as much as my bike. Growing up is dumb..

Do customer satisfaction surveys, maintenance issues, and overall hassles mean much to you?

I frequently look at what Consumer Reports has to say when considering a new vehicle. My father has also been a mechanic since before I was born. Based on that, I would not buy a VW, a Jeep, or a Benz. Your time and money though. I see lots of those cars driving around. Well, when they are not in the shop, I mean.

They matter a ton imo. When I was younger I didn't mind wrenching on my stuff. No I just want to put gas in it and go, if its fun in the process then Bonus. By all accounts the Honda seems to be rated slightly better in most areas than the Passat, but not by much except in the handling category. My line of thinking was/is that if anything breaks they can come and get my car and fix it since with the lease everything was/is under warranty. If I buy and keep for a number of years then the concerns you raise become more critical I agree. The one big thing I liked about VW are the service intervals. Every 10k miles worked really well since the dealership is almost an hours drive from my home town. I call and schedule a couple days before. Easy peasy.

[Dienekes]

Do customer satisfaction surveys, maintenance issues, and overall hassles mean much to you?

I frequently look at what Consumer Reports has to say when considering a new vehicle. My father has also been a mechanic since before I was born. Based on that, I would not buy a VW, a Jeep, or a Benz. Your time and money though. I see lots of those cars driving around. Well, when they are not in the shop, I mean.

I'm waiting for Occam Motors to announce their new RAZR.

[jpmuscle]

Just to follow up quick. I've gone back and forth a few times today with the Honda guys over the phone and this is where I'm at currently.

If I lease I'm looking at the following:

2014 Accord Sport - BLK, manual trans, etc - $269/month/35 months, $0 down, first month free, plus they'll buy out the last month of my Passat lease. The $269/month includes all TTFs, so less monthly if I pay that up front. I can also exercise an option to roll into a new lease at 18 months or new vehicle purchase should that be what I decide or want to do.

Payment total = $9,415
Residual value = $13,723
Total Vehicle Cost = $21,295.

From everything I can gather and find online that $21,295 is under the generally estimated dealer cost of $22,713. Sticker price on the window is $25,505 which is obviously inconsequential at this point but I mention it for reference sake.

If I buy I'm looking at the $21,295 @ .09% for 60 months. It works out to around $385/month. With 4K down that comes down to approx $315/month which is slightly more than what I'm paying now.

I see this as an attractive offer. If I had more to put down on a buy it would be better.


My VW dealer is closed today for the holiday so I'm going to touch base with them in the AM and see what they will do. I figure a 2014 Passat SE with manual trans, leatherette, etc comes in at the same sticker price so their dealer cost has to be pretty damn close. Either they match or beat the same lease rate and I'd be happy with that. If I buy I think the Honda is the way to go considering how quick the equity builds but I think the Passat is a better lease deal option for option, assuming they match the same numbers.

[SkiDevil]

I would BUY the Honda Sport at that price. When I bought my first Honda it was 1.9% for 60 months, so 0.9% is ridiculously low.

I drove the same car in an automatic and it was a nice ride.The only thing I thought it was missing was leather and a sunroof. The Accord Sport is modified from the standard models with an upgraded suspension, exhaust, wheels/ tires.

We have had three Hondas in my family and each one went over 200k miles.

[tylerw02]

My spouse and I purchased a 2014 Mazda 6 in January. We absolutely love the car! It drives great, gets good mileage, and has more room than anything else we tried. We looked at Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Dodge Dart, Ford Fusion (very similar car), and just about everything else.

So far, the only complaints we have is the mirrors are placed in a funny spot, and you will take several months to remember to open the fuel door before you get out to fill it up.

Also, the iPod mod won't let you control it from the pod when it's plugged in and automatically starts the entire library alphabetically. Kind of annoying in that regard.


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[ramairthree]

Grab a Charger RT AWD,
fill the huge trunk with guns and ammo,
buy an extra computer module from a totaled car at a junk yard, bubble and Faraday wrap it, put it in the trunk,
then relax and await the solar flare/EMP.

[jpmuscle]

Although not necessarily germane to this discussion GM can go to hell.

http://drudgegae.iavian.net/r?hop=ht...44feabdc0.html