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bobbyd32l

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May 18, 2006
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Well, its almost that time when dealerships start to offer tremendous deals on new cars...

Since I'm a Chrysler guy, I'm torn between a few models.

First I would LOVE the 300C or Charger, but for what you get and what I want I can do much better. A fully loaded Chrysler 300C runs about 38K and a Charger right behind at around 35K... A bit expensive for what you get. The Hemi is nifty, but Im do 90% city driving and 13mpg isn't very good...

I have narrowed the Choice down to the Subaru Legacy GT Limited Sedan or the Infiniti G35 Sport sedan both 2007 models.

Consumer Reports rates them both very well, both have top safety picks (Subaru being higher) and get decent gas mileage.

Legacy: Turbo 4 cyl and AWD
Infiniti: VQ series 3.5L V6 RWD

I have driven both models and found that the customer service at Subaru was MUCH better. I feel that the people at all three dealers I went to took me as a "Young person" and even one of the dealers told me that Infiniti was "out of your league and I was better off with a Civic." (defiantly not happy with that and walked right out)

Living in Massachusetts Snow is a big thing and I Believe that RWD isn't a smart choice So I have gotten it down to The legacy.

In your opinion is the Legacy a good choice?

Anyone own one?

This is the Color I'm looking at as well :
 
One of my dream cars! Subies are awesome cars! They are all over here and they hold up very well.. Although our subaru dealer sucks here, and we don't even have an Infiniti dealer here... I would go for it.. Just as good (if not better) than a toyota or nissan.. Honda just stinks
 
Subaru.

Subarus aren't bad. I drive an '87 Volvo 240 myself, and have no intention of changing that, EVER! A friend of mine has an Impreza, and the AWD makes for some very nice handeling under all circumstances. The car does, however, seem to go through tires more quickly than others and its fuel economy isn't the greatest, though its worlds ahead of a Charger Hemi. I think a Subaru is a decent car, but the Impreza is not made for people nearly 6 feet tall on long road trips! By the way, RWD isn't bad with traction control, and especially with stability control. You really don't need AWD to move in a little snow if you have good tires and aren't doing anything stupid (don't let my Savannah location fool you, I grew up outside of Washington D.C. so I have experienced driving in a winter hell from time to time). I know that Infiniti is the luxury branch of Nissan, so you may want to consider looking at a Maxima, just to compare.

Good luck and drive safely,
Dave
 
I like Subaru's designs. They employ all sorts of "tuff stuff" traditionally used in SUV's and put them into small cars. The result is an extremely durable car that will go many places and do many things that only SUV's can do...only, it's smaller, more efficient, handles better, etc. Earlier Subuarus had rusting problems, but I think that was because more people used them in snow/ice/rocksalt conditions than their other cars, causing them to rust quicker...something to keep in mind if you plan on using the car in these conditions.

I believe the outback Wagon has a 3500 lb towing capacity, which is nice. Don't think the Impreza has that, but you can't beat that turbo engine. I've been sworn on Turbos after owning a SAAB. They give you small engine economy, with big-engine power. Torque comes on lower in the RPM range than a supercharger or just with a tweaked out naturally aspirated small engine. That's the BIG difference between a honda, who uses insanely high RPM's to develop their horsepower, instead of using torque. Trailer towing is something to consider if you're intrested in moving appliances around, and don't have a big truck or van for the hauling chores. Most Japanese cars are not recommended for any kind of trailer towing, which is another advantage of the Subaru's

BTW, the Chrysler 300 Hemis are not that bad on mileage really. They have displacement on demand that scales back engine power during highway use. They also don't have the weight and aerodynamic disadvantages as the SUV's with the same engines in them. My cousin has a Magnum Hemi (station wagon verson of a 300C), and it gets about 24 MPG's on the highway, and about 18 in suburban driving. The car is also AWD.

Also, if you like the looks of the 300C, check out the new Sebring...it's a miniature 300C in appearance! ( not sure if they still use Mitsubishi engines in them, but I'd find that out before considering one, and definitely avoid it if they do!)
 
Chrysler Sebring... Hemi... Nissan Maxima... and RWD

They dropped the Mitsu engine a long time ago... thank god!

I'm not sure If I like the Sebring as much as the last style, the hood is what turns me off. I do like that it has the same engine thats in m 300M though!

My father has a 2006 Ram with the Hemi and it has the MDS (multiple displacement system) and he gets about 14 mpg city. I like the hemi, and MDS is cool, but I don't drive on the highway enough to warrant its use. Plus the V8 sounds really cool and I know that I would always romp on it just to hear it :)

As for the Maxima... I'm mad at Nissan for taking away the manual transmission option! I like the styling of the maxima but I really want a manual transmission. Automatics are boring for me and the "Auto Stick" that I have in my 300M is fun but I want to be able to control it with a clutch.

As for RWD in the snow, my sister and my uncle drive Mercedes Benz that have RWD with traction control, and stability control and he can't even drive the car in a dusting because it will get stuck. Granted its a high performance model (CLS550), and my sisters (C320 Sport Sedan) isn't any better and she has all season tires. My 300 M Special has FWD with traction control and its the balls in the snow! gimme a foot or two and I'll plow right through!

Chad: I bought a Toyota in may of 2005 and it was taken back as a lemon! I WILL NEVER purchase a Toyota Product in my LIFE ever again. Especially now that they are having so many problems with their new 5 and 6 speed automatic transmissions. Honda's aren't all that bad. Before my sister got the Benz, she had a 2004 Accord EXV6 coupe with Nav and all the goodies. It was a fun little car!

But I have decided that It will be the Subaru Legacy GT Limited!

Only problem is: I want Navigation, and its not available with the manual transmission, unless you get the Spec B model which is 34K+ ughhh... Maybe Ill be able to add the factory Nav after I buy the car!
 
Scion tC.....

Never have I driven a car that had so many rattles and squeaks then that... UGH I'm getting mad talking about it
 
Bobby, I really like the Chrysler 300s. I see a lot of them out here, and they're fun when they're tricked out with cool rims. But, I didn't realize they were quite *that* expensive. No wonder I've not been able to convince an older friend, who is quite the Chrysler fan, to buy one even though he loves it. I would have thought about $5-10K less. Maybe he'll come on a nice used one in coming years. Do these come with manual or only automatic? I've never driven the current squarish ones, the style of which I really like, but I had one of the previous ones, the more rounded one, as a rental and really liked that.

I had two Chrysler products, one was pretty good, the other absolutely horrible, but that was a long time ago in a land far, far away (LOL) so I know if I were shopping I'd need to let go of that and read more modern statistics.

What's really been eye opening to me on some of these recent car threads is some of the issues people have had with Japanese cars. I came of age at a time when buying any American made car was considered pretty much a ticket to disaster, and while my current car is American and the last couple mostly American by American brands, it's still in my mind that Japanese cars are next to infallible, and I'm learning now that no longer seems to be the case. Either that or it never really was, and it just seemed so by comparison.

Regarding manual transmissions, my personal opinion is that there should be more of them, and successful operation of same should be a prerequisite to having a driver license, and if physical issues stand in the way of that, only then should the license be so endorsed. I think driving is getting too "easy" and manuals would do a lot to keep drivers more engaged with what they're (supposed to be) doing. In the last 15 years they've gotten very hard to find, you pretty much have to go out of your way to get one and find one in a car that has other things you want. I'll probably go automatic next time, simply because I'm tired of fighting that, and tired of no one ever being able to drive my car because they don't know how to shift! LOL

I have a dear friend who is about Bobby's age and of Latino descent, who has also been treated poorly by car dealers making "assumptions." I'm glad you walked away from that situation Bobby! In my friend's case, the white middle aged car salesman got to watch the younger Latino one make a cash sale of a new car (Lexus IS300) to my friend, the younger salesman having happened by shortly after the older guy basically threw away the sale by not taking him seriously.
 
Nav. Systems and Stick Shifts.

Although I drive an '87 Volvo, my spare car is a 2002 Saab 9-3. I hate the Saab because it has been a maintenance & repair NIGHTMARE! I do, however, like its turbo and manual transmission. I might start looking to replace the Saab with a, '85 Volvo 240 Turbo station wagen with a stick shift. I agree that driving is too easy, and I think a manual transmission is a great remedy, also it can get you wonderful fuel economy. My Saab is supposed to get about 34 mpg on the highway, but I have managed to average as high as 43. About 200 pounds of torque, and 205 horsepowr while getting over 35 miles per galon is fine with me.
DO NOT get a built-in navigation system! I have an old Garmin portable and couldn't be happier. With a portable, you can take it with you if you sell your car, or take your friend's car. Also, not all user interfaces and mapping is created equal, or accurate. I think Garmin is the best, but before getting a built-in nav. system, do research and find out if the one offered by the car's manufacturer is worth a darn, and see if the option is cost-competitive to a portable unit. Also, consider the cost of updating the maps on a portable and a built-in.

Good luck,
Dave
 
Pete,

LoL.. I know some car salesman take people only at face value.. I never did, i always wore kakis and a button down shirt.. I refused to wear a tie, the first place i worked always fussed over that, the hyundai/acura out fit never did.. I always treated people the same regardless of dress/race/age/sex/anything else.. I'll never forget the lady who came in ripped jeans and an old halter top driving a beat up acura.. No one else would help her, as some thought she was just kickin tires.. I whent out and helped her and she wound up buying a brand new Acura RL with every thing for $44,500 she had a perfect beacon score and made tons of $$$$$... Than again i have seen people all dressed to the nines who couldn't even buy a hamburger with there credit..

But car dealers are snakes.. My next car will probably come from the Ford dealer i take the cars to for service or Carmax or maybe the saturn place scince they got a new sales manager... I really want a Corolla/Prizm or Matrix/Vibe or Subaru or maybe an Acura RL, but i need to strengthen my credit first.. LoL..
 
My 1996 Legacy L All-Wheel Drive sedan hasn't needed anything beyond regular maintenance. Some of the interior hardware needs replacing but that boxer engine still sings and it has a smoother ride than many entry-level Beemers and Benzes (observed as a passenger in the latter two).

And, hey, it's made in Indiana! :)
 
The 2004 LeSabre is a big car. You will never forget you are driving a Buick! Check and see if it has GM's trusty old 3.8 liter V-6 engine. That is liklely the best all around engine used in an American car in recent years. It is powerful, pretty fuel efficient, and very reliable. The LeSabre is a pretty roomy, comfortable car, and very often under-rated. It's one of the few American cars I would consider owning.

Nice choice,
Dave
 
But I think Bobby might be fairly young, and Buick is a car for seniors. Just come to our church and the nearby funeral home in our area, you see a lot of white-haired people coming out of Buick, especially LeSabre.
 
Navigation... Manual transmissions.... and Buicks

I have the factory Navigation in my 300M and love it! What gets me is that the Subaru factory nav isn't available with the manual transmission... But, If you step up to the Spec B it has nav and the manual... Marketing ploys... I Would get the factory nav because I like the look.

I hate that they are taking the manuals away from cars that should have them. The Maxima, no longer an option, Camry only on 4cyl (yuck) Accord has them on both V6 and 4 cyl on both coupe and sedan but everyone owns an Accord around here... Then High end cars such as the Infiniti G35 BMW 3 series etc... No the 300 doesn't have manual as an option, and If it did I'd be all over it!

Only Buick I'd be interested in is the Lucerne with the V8, but then again there is the gas mileage issue, and the fact that I have many issues with GM especially after watching "Who Killed the Electric Car?"

I have an appointment with Planet Subaru (where a good friend of mine is the sales manager!) on Monday and hope that the numbers work out. If not I'm going to wait for the next big car sale. Right now they are offering 2.9% interest for 60 months, or 24 month lease, and I know that I qualify. The only issue I have is the negative equity on my trade....
 
I'm upset... took the car to Planet on Monday and they are screwing me on trade! KBB says car is worth a little over 14K they want to give me 9K! WTF! My car is in Excellent shape and has only 40K miles and its a 2002! This is probably the part I hate most about dealers.... The nickel and dime you until you give up...

and then...

They tell me that NO ONE in New England has the model I want, But Metro West Subaru, Manchester Subaru, and Natick Subaru ALL HAVE one! So on Friday Im taking a ride up there to see if anyone else can help me better!

Any Suggestions?
 

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