Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

[QUOTE=TAFKAS]The Honda CR-V is probably my top choice right now. But I've been hearing good things about the Subaru Forester. I know Consumer Reports gave them both good reviews

Canthetuna, any thoughts on the Toyota SUVs? I know that's your area of expertise.[/QUOTE]


Believe it or not, the 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid was rated highest among SUVs priced above $30,000 by Consumer Reports. I'm looking at a bunch on Yahoo autos right now, and I only see a couple over $30K. They are mostly in the $25-$28K range.

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

[quote=Schneed10]I bolded a part of your post because I flat out disagree with it.[/quote]

Of those cars that you bolded, there are several world class cars in there that are VERY high quality. I think your statement, and post in general, exemplifies the type of attitude that the CNN article above argues is unfounded.

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

[quote=Schneed10]I like how you are analyzing the costs/benefits of each car, because the price definitely has to enter the equation when you're talking about quality.

But be careful in your comparisons, a Dodge Neon (compact) is not the same class as a Toyota Camry (midsize sedan). If you're looking for the same-class comparison, go with the Neon and the Toyota Corrolla or Honda Civic.[/quote]

But that's exactly my point. Too often foreign car buyers make blanket statements about "American cars" that might be supportable if they cite to cars like the Dodge Neon, Ford Escort, or Chevy Cavalier. I've conceeded that in that segment the Japanese have the edge. Basically I was warning about the same thing you mentioned here too: i.e. let's keep it apples to apples and not make broad generalizations.

[quote]The American models are often cheaper, but the quality isn't as good as the Japanese. I bolded a part of your post because I flat out disagree with it. None of the American cars you mentioned in that bolded section rank very high in terms of quality, and the Japanese makers are ahead according to just about every publication available. That is supported by Consumer Reports, JD Power, Motor Trend, etcetera.

It's a given that Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai are better quality than GM, Chrysler, Ford, and Chevy. But you're right to question whether or not the extra money spent is worth it. That part comes down to individual perception.[/quote]

Well, like I said, we could sit here and argue specifics, but I think you are discounting many of the cars I mentioned based on your own biases. The Covette consistently gets rave reviews for being one of the best performance cars in the world for the money. The Cadillac CTS isn't high in quality? I'd take serious issue with that. The Charger has gotten exceptional reviews for its bang-for-the-buck.

Really a lot of this comes down to personal preference. But my personal preference for American cars doesn't have me making broad statements about other foreign cars. I mean, personally, I wouldn't trade you my friend's lexus SUV for my Denali unless he threw in an extra 10 grand. Quality? I've ridden in it, it's an ok car. Overpriced for the money, lacks features, lacks power, and is fairly uninspiring. But again, that's just my preference.

My other friend's BMW 3 series? I dusted it with my old 2001 Stratus RT, and I had less problems with my car in 5 years than he had in 3 with his. Quality? Not from what we saw.

I think that's why cpayne's article was so on point to this discussion. Everyone just assumes that Acura, Honda, BMW and Toyota produce so much better cars than anything GM can put out, but it's just not true. To the extent you can point to lower quality lines like Chevy and Ford, and simply discount Caddillac, Lincoln, and Buick, I could easily point to Mitsubishi, Subaru and Nissan and discount Toyota and Honda. I guess what I'm trying to say is it's not as simple as Japan v. USA. There are way too many variations in "foreign" or even "Japanese" cars to simply say that they are better than "American" cars. You'd never catch me buying a Ford (no offense to anyone else), but you'd also never catch me buying a Mitsubishi.

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

no,i dont own a lexus,my daughter does.got it for school when i couldnt talk her into buying american.im proud to say i have never owned anything but american in my lifetime:)

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

I really appreciate the advice you guys are giving me.

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

[quote=cpayne5]Of those cars that you bolded, there are several world class cars in there that are VERY high quality. I think your statement, and post in general, exemplifies the type of attitude that the CNN article above argues is unfounded.[/quote]

The article states that it depends on whose survey you believe, first and foremost. Consumer Reports doesn't rate the American's nearly as highly, and there's a good reason.

But that's besides the point. Take a look at JD Power's survey ratings. Of course the American luxury brands should rank higher than any non-luxury brand. It makes sense, after all you're paying 20-40% more for the car when you buy a luxury model.

JD Power's Ratings (based on problems per 100 vehicles during first 3 years)
Lexus (luxury)
Lincoln (luxury)
Buick (luxury)
Cadillac (luxury)
Infiniti (luxury)
Toyota
Mercury
Honda
Acura (luxury)
Ford
Saturn
Chevy
Oldsmobile
GMC
Pontiac
Mazda
Subaru
Nissan
Mitsubishi
Suzuki
Isuzu

My other problem with JD Power's survey, it rates cars based on [B]the first 3 years only[/B]. But everyone here will acknowledge that the Japanese makes do a lot better in the later years than the American makes. Consumer Reports has used car ratings which measure the life of cars over a greater period of time, and they have the Americans down a peg.

And did JD Power not even rate Hyundai??? The JD Power data is garbage in this case.

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

[QUOTE=dmek25]no,i dont own a lexus,my daughter does.got it for school when i couldnt talk her into buying american.im proud to say i have never owned anything but american in my lifetime:)[/QUOTE]

If you paid for her college tuition you've owned it alright. :)

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

Hell, buy American. Buy a tank.

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

I'm I the only one who thinks JD Powers is a big whore...they'll take your money in exchange for a shiny trophy.

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

[QUOTE=PSUSkinsFan21]
I think that's why cpayne's article was so on point to this discussion. Everyone just assumes that Acura, Honda, BMW and Toyota produce so much better cars than anything GM can put out, but it's just not true. To the extent you can point to lower quality lines like Chevy and Ford, and simply discount Caddillac, Lincoln, and Buick, I could easily point to Mitsubishi, Subaru and Nissan and discount Toyota and Honda. I guess what I'm trying to say is it's not as simple as Japan v. USA. There are way too many variations in "foreign" or even "Japanese" cars to simply say that they are better than "American" cars. You'd never catch me buying a Ford (no offense to anyone else), but you'd also never catch me buying a Mitsubishi.[/QUOTE]
True.

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

[quote=PSUSkinsFan21]But that's exactly my point. Too often foreign car buyers make blanket statements about "American cars" that might be supportable if they cite to cars like the Dodge Neon, Ford Escort, or Chevy Cavalier. I've conceeded that in that segment the Japanese have the edge. Basically I was warning about the same thing you mentioned here too: i.e. let's keep it apples to apples and not make broad generalizations.



Well, like I said, we could sit here and argue specifics, but I think you are discounting many of the cars I mentioned based on your own biases. The Covette consistently gets rave reviews for being one of the best performance cars in the world for the money. The Cadillac CTS isn't high in quality? I'd take serious issue with that. The Charger has gotten exceptional reviews for its bang-for-the-buck.

Really a lot of this comes down to personal preference. But my personal preference for American cars doesn't have me making broad statements about other foreign cars. I mean, personally, I wouldn't trade you my friend's lexus SUV for my Denali unless he threw in an extra 10 grand. Quality? I've ridden in it, it's an ok car. Overpriced for the money, lacks features, lacks power, and is fairly uninspiring. But again, that's just my preference.

My other friend's BMW 3 series? I dusted it with my old 2001 Stratus RT, and I had less problems with my car in 5 years than he had in 3 with his. Quality? Not from what we saw.

I think that's why cpayne's article was so on point to this discussion. Everyone just assumes that Acura, Honda, BMW and Toyota produce so much better cars than anything GM can put out, but it's just not true. To the extent you can point to lower quality lines like Chevy and Ford, and simply discount Caddillac, Lincoln, and Buick, I could easily point to Mitsubishi, Subaru and Nissan and discount Toyota and Honda. I guess what I'm trying to say is it's not as simple as Japan v. USA. There are way too many variations in "foreign" or even "Japanese" cars to simply say that they are better than "American" cars. You'd never catch me buying a Ford (no offense to anyone else), but you'd also never catch me buying a Mitsubishi.[/quote]

I agree that it comes down to personal preference a lot of the time. From what I can gather from your posts, you tend to judge quality based on the car's performance (engine strength, handling, feel etc) and your personal experience with it. I personally place a great deal of importance on crash tests and scientific surveys examining reliability for the long term.

In the end we're just looking at different things, I think. When I say quality, I'm thinking along the lines of how often is this thing going to break down or need repairs. To me, a car is simply something that can get me from point A to point B consistently, safely, affordably, and comfortably. I could care less what it looks like, how fast it accelerates, what color it is, etcetera.

There are American models which rate ahead of the Japanese, I don't mean to make a blanket statement saying all Japanese cars are better. So you definitely have to compare model to model. But in the end, there's a reason that the Toyota and Honda brands have a better reputation.

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

[QUOTE=TheMalcolmConnection]Hell, buy American. Buy a tank.[/QUOTE]

Why stop there? Boeing Wants You, buy a 747!

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

But I hear those 747s get HORRIBLE gas milesage.

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

[quote=Schneed10]My other problem with JD Power's survey, it rates cars based on [B]the first 3 years only[/B]. But everyone here will acknowledge that the Japanese makes do a lot better in the later years than the American makes. Consumer Reports has used car ratings which measure the life of cars over a greater period of time, and they have the Americans down a peg. [/quote]

I wouldn't acknowledge that. Like I said before, my parents have never kept a car for less than 10 years, and have never had major problems with their American cars. In fact, I can't wait to get around most older Japanese cars I get stuck behind because I can't stand the blue smoke from the burning oil that comes billowing out their tailpipes. Yet my best friend's 1985 Monte Carlo SS with the original engine and transmission and 150k+ miles doesn't do that. And my 1984 Cutlass Supreme with 120k+ never did that. And my wife's 1991 Lebaron Convertible with over 112k miles that we just sold didn't do it. I guess everyone's experiences are different.

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

Couple of things that makes me wonder a little about the JD stuff is the fact that the Mercury and Ford are rated slightly different. Correct me if I am wrong but aren't a lot of the Mercurys just reworked Fords? I know at last a few of the models are simply a Ford with a different body. Also the ommision of Hyundai is weird.

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

[quote=PSUSkinsFan21]I think that's why cpayne's article was so on point to this discussion. Everyone just assumes that Acura, Honda, BMW and Toyota produce so much better cars than anything GM can put out, but it's just not true. To the extent you can point to lower quality lines like Chevy and Ford, and simply discount Caddillac, Lincoln, and Buick, I could easily point to Mitsubishi, Subaru and Nissan and discount Toyota and Honda. I guess what I'm trying to say is it's not as simple as Japan v. USA. There are way too many variations in "foreign" or even "Japanese" cars to simply say that they are better than "American" cars. You'd never catch me buying a Ford (no offense to anyone else), but you'd also never catch me buying a Mitsubishi.[/quote]

You're right, it's not country vs country. To me, it's Toyota and Honda (Japan's best) vs GM (America's best). Toyota and Honda outrank GM in just about every class of vehicle.

Then if you want to compare luxury line to luxury line, then you're talking Lexus vs Buick. And Japan still wins. America competes better in the luxury lines though.

Again, you have to go class to class, model to model to really compare. And if you do that, Toyota and Honda come out on top more often.

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

I go on the reputation of the cars themselves, not the makers. If one model of the Geo Metro is supposedly superior to the Civic, I would get it (after LOTS of research).

Just because a car is American, Japanese or Hindii, doesn't mean it's going to be a bad car. A lot of parts come from different manufacturers. I have a Mazda3 and it most of the inside parts are Ford Focus, the transmission is Volvo and there's some random parts inside and out from other places.

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

[quote=PSUSkinsFan21]I wouldn't acknowledge that. Like I said before, my parents have never kept a car for less than 10 years, and have never had major problems with their American cars. In fact, I can't wait to get around most older Japanese cars I get stuck behind because I can't stand the blue smoke from the burning oil that comes billowing out their tailpipes. Yet my best friend's 1985 Monte Carlo SS with the original engine and transmission and 150k+ miles doesn't do that. And my 1984 Cutlass Supreme with 120k+ never did that. And my wife's 1991 Lebaron Convertible with over 112k miles that we just sold didn't do it. I guess everyone's experiences are different.[/quote]

Yeah you're kind of basing your judgments on anectdotal evidence you've witnessed, which isn't exactly scientific, nor is it a big enough sample size to pass any meaningful judgment.

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

[quote=PSUSkinsFan21]I wouldn't acknowledge that. Like I said before, my parents have never kept a car for less than 10 years, and have never had major problems with their American cars. In fact, I can't wait to get around most older Japanese cars I get stuck behind because I can't stand the blue smoke from the burning oil that comes billowing out their tailpipes. Yet my best friend's 1985 Monte Carlo SS with the original engine and transmission and 150k+ miles doesn't do that. And my 1984 Cutlass Supreme with 120k+ never did that. And my wife's 1991 Lebaron Convertible with over 112k miles that we just sold didn't do it. I guess everyone's experiences are different.[/quote]

And besides, right now you're mentioning cars that are friggin 20 years old. Nobody would buy a 1985 vehicle now. If you're serious about buying a car right now, you're talking about something from 2000 or later. Quality has changed a ton over the last 20 years.

Toyota and Honda have been pwning GM for the last five years in the ratings. Those are the relevant years to this discussion, since few would buy a car older than that.

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

[quote=Schneed10]I agree that it comes down to personal preference a lot of the time. From what I can gather from your posts, you tend to judge quality based on the car's performance (engine strength, handling, feel etc) and your personal experience with it. I personally place a great deal of importance on crash tests and scientific surveys examining reliability for the long term.

In the end we're just looking at different things, I think. When I say quality, I'm thinking along the lines of how often is this thing going to break down or need repairs. To me, a car is simply something that can get me from point A to point B consistently, safely, affordably, and comfortably. I could care less what it looks like, how fast it accelerates, what color it is, etcetera.

There are American models which rate ahead of the Japanese, I don't mean to make a blanket statement saying all Japanese cars are better. So you definitely have to compare model to model. But in the end, there's a reason that the Toyota and Honda brands have a better reputation.[/quote]

They have a reputation because people like you keep making these silly posts! :joke:

Actually I think you are right on mostly here. It really does come down to what's important and personal experiences. I've never had my American cars really let me down. If I had a ton of bad exeriences, I might be singing a different tune. And to me, performance is a really big deal. I simply can't drive a Camry with a 4 cylinder engine because my penis is just too small for that.......so I need something that can represent a bigger extension of my schwanger. ;) I also have this road rage problem that mandates a faster car to either catch up to someone to flip them off or to get away from the wrong guy who I just flipped off.

Seriously though, I think my only real problem was people making blanket generalizations. I'm not going to sit here and tell people the Neon is a great car. But that doesn't mean the Cadillac CTS or Envoy or Charger or G6 can't be good either. Just like it'd be unfair to lable a suzuki or isuzu a great car just because it's japanese. If people want to make specific recommendations about specific cars they have some knowledge about, that's great.......but not at the expense of ripping an entire country's automobiles.

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

To be a further extension of MY dong piece, that is why I own the Mazda. It looks like a tadger!

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

Subliminal messages ya'll, subliminal messages.

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

[QUOTE=Redskins8588]Are you aware that most honda's, toyota's and hyundai's are made here in america?[/QUOTE]

That's not entirely true, they are "Assembled" in America to get around the tariffs of importing there cars already assembled as opposed to shipping the parts over in boxes for us Americans to assemble.

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

[QUOTE=TheMalcolmConnection]I go on the reputation of the cars themselves, not the makers. If one model of the Geo Metro is supposedly superior to the Civic, I would get it (after LOTS of research).

Just because a car is American, Japanese or Hindii, doesn't mean it's going to be a bad car. A lot of parts come from different manufacturers. I have a Mazda3 and it most of the inside parts are Ford Focus, the transmission is Volvo and there's some random parts inside and out from other places.[/QUOTE]

That's because Ford owns all those companies.

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

[quote=Schneed10]And besides, right now you're mentioning cars that are friggin 20 years old. Nobody would buy a 1985 vehicle now. If you're serious about buying a car right now, you're talking about something from 2000 or later. Quality has changed a ton over the last 20 years.

Toyota and Honda have been pwning GM for the last five years in the ratings. Those are the relevant years to this discussion, since few would buy a car older than that.[/quote]

Well, I was just responding to your comments that the rakings weren't reliable because they didn't address long term durability. Would you prefer I stick to discussing my former 2001 Stratus? Ok, I never had a problem with that.

And again, I don't think it's fair to say Toyota and Honda have been owning GM, since GM is comprised of Chevy, Pontiac, Olds, Buick, Saturn, Saab, GMC, and Cadillac. And many ratings, just like anything, are completely subjective. Just because a Motortrend editor likes the layout of a Camry's dashboard doesn't mean I will. Reliablity? Ok, they've beaten out some of GM's line. Performance? Don't think so. Features for the same price? Not from what I've seen. Again, just because you value certain things and discount others (like performance) doesn't mean it's a verifiable fact that Toyota is better than Pontiac. It means it's your preference.

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

[quote=PSUSkinsFan21]They have a reputation because people like you keep making these silly posts! :joke:

Actually I think you are right on mostly here. It really does come down to what's important and personal experiences. I've never had my American cars really let me down. If I had a ton of bad exeriences, I might be singing a different tune. And to me, performance is a really big deal. I simply can't drive a Camry with a 4 cylinder engine because my penis is just too small for that.......so I need something that can represent a bigger extension of my schwanger. ;) I also have this road rage problem that mandates a faster car to either catch up to someone to flip them off or to get away from the wrong guy who I just flipped off.

[B]Seriously though, I think my only real problem was people making blanket generalizations.[/B] I'm not going to sit here and tell people the Neon is a great car. But that doesn't mean the Cadillac CTS or Envoy or Charger or G6 can't be good either. Just like it'd be unfair to lable a suzuki or isuzu a great car just because it's japanese. If people want to make specific recommendations about specific cars they have some knowledge about, that's great.......but not at the expense of ripping an entire country's automobiles.[/quote]

Nice post, I'm with you, especially on the bolded part.

I think to sum it all up, it's safe to say that the way to go about buying a car would be:

1) Figure out what kind of features are important to you (safety, performance, styling, reliability, price, cost of maintenance, gas mileage, etc.). This helps you narrow your search to certain classes and models.

2) Take in data from Consumer Reports, JD Power, Motor Trend, and any other pertinent data you can find. If you're looking at a used 2002 model though, make sure you find ratings for the 2002 model. Don't read a rating on the 2006 and assume it applies. And if you're looking for a used model, find a used car rating for it. The new car rating that came out on the 2002 model will not apply as well as a used car rating written in 2006. This research helps you narrow your focus to a few models.

3) Test drive a couple and compare how they feel. If you're a performance guy like PSU, place more emphasis on Test Driving than on the research. If you're like me and don't care much about how the car looks or feels, place the emphasis on the research.

4) Find market pricing data. Look on the internet for dealer invoice prices for each model you like. Expect to pay 200-500 above invoice. This gives you a better feel for guaging prices than comparing sticker price.

5) Buy at the end of the calendar month. Dealers look to move cars faster at the end of the month to push the sales onto their books for the month. Buying at the end of a quarter, or best yet, near the end of a model year (July-August) gives you more negotiating power.

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

[quote=PSUSkinsFan21]Well, I was just responding to your comments that the rakings weren't reliable because they didn't address long term durability. Would you prefer I stick to discussing my former 2001 Stratus? Ok, I never had a problem with that.

And again, I don't think it's fair to say Toyota and Honda have been owning GM, since GM is comprised of Chevy, Pontiac, Olds, Buick, Saturn, Saab, GMC, and Cadillac. And many ratings, just like anything, are completely subjective. Just because a Motortrend editor likes the layout of a Camry's dashboard doesn't mean I will. Reliablity? Ok, they've beaten out some of GM's line. Performance? Don't think so. Features for the same price? Not from what I've seen. Again, just because you value certain things and discount others (like performance) doesn't mean it's a verifiable fact that Toyota is better than Pontiac. It means it's your preference.[/quote]

We're having trouble here because of our difference in focus, I think. When I talk about ratings, I'm talking about the scientific tests that are done which measure the reliability of a car. Those ratings are as objective as it gets, they simply measure the frequency and severity of problems.

But there are ratings done where people are basically writing their opinions of a car's performance. And you're right, those are subjective.

That's my fault, I wasn't clear. Again, as you can see I'm focusing on how often a car breaks down and how costly it is to fix. Because the 2nd most important thing to me when it comes to cars is money (second to safety); what does it cost to buy, what does it cost to finance, what does it cost to fix, what does it cost to fuel. But we're clearly different, performance is more important to you than reliability. And that's cool.

Step one for any car buyer is to figure out what kind of driver they are. You and I definitely have a feel for that at this point.

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

[quote=Schneed10]Nice post, I'm with you, especially on the bolded part.

I think to sum it all up, it's safe to say that the way to go about buying a car would be:

1) Figure out what kind of features are important to you (safety, performance, styling, reliability, price, cost of maintenance, gas mileage, etc.). This helps you narrow your search to certain classes and models.

2) Take in data from Consumer Reports, JD Power, Motor Trend, and any other pertinent data you can find. If you're looking at a used 2002 model though, make sure you find ratings for the 2002 model. Don't read a rating on the 2006 and assume it applies. And if you're looking for a used model, find a used car rating for it. The new car rating that came out on the 2002 model will not apply as well as a used car rating written in 2006. This research helps you narrow your focus to a few models.

3) Test drive a couple and compare how they feel. If you're a performance guy like PSU, place more emphasis on Test Driving than on the research. If you're like me and don't care much about how the car looks or feels, place the emphasis on the research.

4) Find market pricing data. Look on the internet for dealer invoice prices for each model you like. Expect to pay 200-500 above invoice. This gives you a better feel for guaging prices than comparing sticker price.

5) Buy at the end of the calendar month. Dealers look to move cars faster at the end of the month to push the sales onto their books for the month. Buying at the end of a quarter, or best yet, near the end of a model year (July-August) gives you more negotiating power.[/quote]

I am in 100% agreement with this. And as to #4, I would recommend Kelly Blue Book ([URL="http://www.kbb.com"]www.kbb.com[/URL]). I just used them to get the fair value on my trade in and to know the general invoice price on the car before I even walked through the door. I got a great deal by pretty much printing everything out and saying "I know what the heck I'm talking about, here it is, either make it happen or I walk". It cut out at least two or three rounds of waiting while the guy goes to his manager, comes back, goes back to his manager, comes back, goes back again, comes back and claims he's not making any money on the car, goes back again........

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

[quote=Schneed10]We're having trouble here because of our difference in focus, I think. When I talk about ratings, I'm talking about the scientific tests that are done which measure the reliability of a car. Those ratings are as objective as it gets, they simply measure the frequency and severity of problems.

But there are ratings done where people are basically writing their opinions of a car's performance. And you're right, those are subjective.

That's my fault, I wasn't clear. Again, as you can see I'm focusing on how often a car breaks down and how costly it is to fix. Because the 2nd most important thing to me when it comes to cars is money (second to safety); what does it cost to buy, what does it cost to finance, what does it cost to fix, what does it cost to fuel. But we're clearly different, performance is more important to you than reliability. And that's cool.

Step one for any car buyer is to figure out what kind of driver they are. You and I definitely have a feel for that at this point.[/quote]

Makes sense.

And just let me also add that capabilities are really important to me as well (not just in terms of raw performance, but also in terms of luxury, towing capacity, functionality, features, etc.).....and in my experience I've been able to get more for my money in those departments buying American. Admittedly, yes, reliablity ratings and resale value aren't typically as important to me in a general sense. Of course, I always check to see that the specific car doesn't have any reliablity concerns or recurring problems areas......but the fact that "Hondas" are generally more reliable than "GMC's" doesn't mean much to me because every model is different (which is why I really liked your 5-step process so much......the issue is more about the specific model for the specific year than it is about generalities with the manufacturer).

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

[QUOTE=PSUSkinsFan21]comes back and claims he's not making any money on the car[/QUOTE]
Geez, don't they all try this one? I don't think I have ever bought a car that the dealer was actually making money on or wasn't going "backwards" on. No wonder all these dealerships are going out of husiness.


Sarcasm intended on that last part there.

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

[quote=FRPLG]Geez, don't they all try this one? I don't think I have ever bought a car that the dealer was actually making money on or wasn't going "backwards" on. No wonder all these dealerships are going out of husiness.


Sarcasm intended on that last part there.[/quote]

Unbelievable isn't it? They always pull that crap......like I'm supposed to even care.........or like I'm dumb enough to believe it. They never tell you about all the dealer incentives they get. They just love to show you that invoice number and sing the blues about how they won't be able to buy their kids school shoes after this deal. Personally, I hate the whole process. If it was up to me, I'd just buy directly from the manufacture if I could.

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

I have a '97 Acura CL and I love it. I'm not going to argue foreign or domestic because honestly, I don't feel that it matters. I look at all the cars available to me in my price range and pick what I want. From what I've seen on a lot of similar American cars I don't like their look and how the interior is setup. That's not true for all American cars, but many.

I've had one problem with my car since I bought it (used) it has nearly 200K miles on it now, and I've had to replace the alternator.

My mother always had a Ford Explorer since right after they were released. She loved her first one which she drove into the ground over a 10-15 year period. So she decided to get another one, which has been nothing but constant trouble for her, she has since sworn off Ford and American cars in general.

I'm thrilled with the quality of my Acura, and my roommate loves his Saab. Toyota actually RAISED prices so that American companies could compete with them.

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

Man, cars are such a touchy subject with people.

I drive a Ford Focus. Why? Because my brother works at a Ford dealership and basically got me a deal that was insane... nearly 50% off the sticker price for a brand spanking new car.

Frankly I don't care much about what I drive, as long as it gets me from here to there, I'm good to go.

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

[QUOTE=Mattyk72]Man, cars are such a touchy subject with people.

I drive a Ford Focus. Why? Because my brother works at a Ford dealership and basically got me a deal that was insane... nearly 50% off the sticker price for a brand spanking new car.

Frankly I don't care much about what I drive, as long as it gets me from here to there, I'm good to go.[/QUOTE]

Unlike you, my "Ford Dealer Experience" was quite crappy. Right out of college I wanted to splash on a new car so I went to a Ford dealership to check out what they have...lo and behold this sales person was pushing me, a 6'5" two hundred and forty pounder, to buy a Ford Focus for 18K. I think, he thought I was restarted or something.

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

[quote=saden1]Unlike you, my "Ford Dealer Experience" was quite crappy. Right out of college I wanted to splash on a new car so I went to a Ford dealership to check out what they have...lo and behold this sales person was pushing me, a 6'5" two hundred and forty pounder, to buy a Ford Focus for 18K. I think, he thought I was restarted or something.[/quote]

LOL......you could always take out the front seat and sit in the back seat to drive it.

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

saden what did you end up with?

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

[QUOTE=dmek25]saden what did you end up with?[/QUOTE]

I ended up buying a new 2003 Nissan Altima SL. It was the sound system that did me in....simply marvelous!

The whole buying experience at the Nissan Dealership was so much better. I called the sales guy, told him how much I was willing to pay. He took a hundred dollar deposit over the phone and told me to bring my favorite CD. I went there the following weekend and saw a sign on the car that said "For [My Name]" as he handed me the key. He asked for no license no noting. He simply said "here you go, take it for a spin or take it for the whole day if you want." I took it for a 20 min spin and took it home 3 hours later.

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

[quote=saden1]Unlike you, my "Ford Dealer Experience" was quite crappy. Right out of college I wanted to splash on a new car so I went to a Ford dealership to check out what they have...lo and behold this sales person was pushing me, a 6'5" two hundred and forty pounder, to buy a Ford Focus for 18K. I think, he thought I was restarted or something.[/quote]

LOL

Do you find something comical about my appearance when I am driving my automobile? Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

[QUOTE=cpayne5]What cars were you comparing? [/QUOTE]

I was comparing Chrysler 300M, Chevrolet Impala, Ford Taurus, Pontiac Grand Prix, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, and Nissan Altima sedans.

Re: Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy
 

[QUOTE=Schneed10]LOL

Do you find something comical about my appearance when I am driving my automobile? Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?[/QUOTE]

Nice Simpsons Quote...I bought a [URL="http://www.80stees.com/products/Homer-Simpson-tshirt.asp"]t-shirt[/URL] with the following image yesterday:


[IMG]http://www.80stees.com/images/extraLarge/SIMP005_LG1.jpg[/IMG]