Another Danoff Car Purchase Thread - FX35 Purchased

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Philly
I think it's a brilliant car, and some people will be willing to put up with the little extra cost of ownership, and others won't. That's really up to the buyer as to where they draw the line on that.
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I think thats the general feeling across the board with VWs in general. You do have to step lightly into the brand, but if you don't watch it, you'll likely be steamrolled with love for the cars. They're just that damn good.

But, like I tell everyone, know what you're getting into. Insurance isn't cheap, replacement parts are crazy expensive, and they will break on you. More often than a Toyota or Honda, but not that much.

Thing is though:

vw-passat-cc-1-big.jpg


^^ Those start at $26K ^^

...and you can bet that VW will be trying to clear them out in no time at all...
 
You could probably get a brand new Genesis Coupe in a few months. the 380GT has a ZF 6-speed auto.
 
niky
That's weird. Admittedly, I haven't driven the MX-5 more than half-an-hour at full blat, but rear-end breakaway on the PRHT we tested seemed very benign and gradual, pretty easy to catch.
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Perhaps Mazda have made small revisions since the first batch of cars, so that by the PRHT's launch they were fine. In all honesty I haven't read a more recent test of any of the new models (so they may well have improved), but I did read half a dozen launch tests that had reservations.

Either way, I'm not suggesting it's a bad choice for Mrs Danoff, but I felt it worth mentioning. Of course, a test drive would be the best way to tell if it's the right car for her or not.
 
Omnis
You could probably get a brand new Genesis Coupe in a few months. the 380GT has a ZF 6-speed auto.
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Have they even announced the pricing for the Coupes yet?

They're great cars and all, but damn, they look like mini G37's to me as well.
 
They will on the 11th. I read that pricing in Canada is like 25k on average, though. It'll be cheaper here.
 
Assuming that they're dumping the Tiburon, I'd bet that the car would start somewhere just below $20K (like the Mustang), but I really don't know. The Wiki page makes it sound like the Gen Coupe will essentially mirror prices for the Camaro, starting right around $22-23K. Difference is here, you're stuck with the 2.0T in the Hyundai, or you can get the 304 BHP V6 in the Chevy.

2010-Hyundai-Genesis-Coupe1.jpg


2010-Chevy-Camaro-Production.jpg


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...All are pretty decent options, for the price, all for different reasons of course...
 
Would either three of those muscle cars pass in SoCal? They seem more Central Valley than SoCal.
 
A friend of mine felt the Solstice with an auto was a chick's car. I'm eyeing the Solstice GXP with a proper 5-speed.

The soft top is a bit ridiculous to get on and off, and there's a Mayan temple (gas tank) where the trunk space ought to be. The power window controls are under my elbow. The plastics came out of the Rubbermaid factory. But the whole car fit like a glove. I like.

I also don't see very many of them around. Miatas and S2000s are far more plentiful (for good reason, of course).
 
I don't think Danoff's lady would like a Solstice. He said she'd rather not do soft tops, so the targa would be the only option. You can't see out of the thing, even I find it a pain in the ass to get in and out, and it's probably past her threshold of impractical-ness.
 
I think he is referring to the "green" attitude of parts of SoCal, and to that, I'd answer with a resounding "don't know." In all, the fuel economy of the V6 Camaro shouldn't be that bad, certainly better than the other two thanks in part to the DIG setup and the six-speed gearbox.

Seeing as how you could probably pick up a LT V6 Camaro for right around $25-27K, that would likely end up as my nuclear option in terms of what looks good with enough gusto and grip to serve up the performance needed as well. I've yet to see a trim level of the Camaro that doesn't have something appealing, because even stripper LS models look good:

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...Or go for the RS package...

2010-Chevy-Camaro-RS.jpg


Yes, I think Blue is the best-looking color on the car.
 
YSSMAN
I think he is referring to the "green" attitude of parts of SoCal
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I'd be more worried for here... I bet their is more crazy environmentalist in my county then all of California put together... I bet I see 500 Prius's a day.

Oh, and just to disagree with you some more Brad, I think the Camaro looks better in Red, but California sun is murder on red.
 
Hmmm... Genesis Coupe?

Don't know about the Coupe, but the sedan has a quality feeling interior... decent (not perfect) ride and secure (but not inspiring) handling. I'd wager the coupe will feel the same.
 
Keef
Would either three of those muscle cars pass in SoCal? They seem more Central Valley than SoCal.
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What do you mean by "pass?"

I don't know what car you should get but please just don't get a BMW...
 
Update

Test drove the following today:

- 2008 350Z Convertible (only because they didn't have the hard top)
- 2005 G35 Sedan (24k mi)
- 2005 G35 Coupe
- 2006 C230

Attempted but failed test drives:

- 330i
- Z4 Coupe

The takeaway results were that the C230 was quite bad. Insufficient power, hesitation when pushed, hard clunky downshifts, and very boring overall.

The G35 coupe rocked, but was slightly too "old fashioned" in the interior. What my wife means by that is that the interior was luxury rather than sport. The G35 coupe had some impressive power - actually all of the Nissans did (I think they may have all had just about the same engine). One problem I had with the G35 coupe was that it was hard to cruise at slow speed because the throttle didn't have a setting low enough.

The 350Z rocked. When you drop the hammer that thing takes off, and it's got a great loud throaty growl. The interior was "just right". Hard to get a feel for handling when the dealership is located in the middle of the city. My complaints were that the side mirrors were too small, and the rear visibility was quite low. But it was an impressive performance. I found that the 350Z had better throttle control.

The G35 sedan surprised me. Luxurious inside, looks on the outside, and really goes when you tell it to. The wife was so surprised by the power in the G35 that it made her break out of her coupe/2 seater focus and take notice. The salesman offered it to us for $18.7k, but we turned it down in favor of driving more models. A little research shows that's not as screaming a deal as it sounds anyway.

We attempted a visit to BMW, but they told us that they have too many customers on the weekends to do test drives and should return during the week. That's some nerve, especially in a down economy. I think we'll opt for test driving used BMWs at other dealerships on the weekend.
 
Change in Outlook

After some discussion with the wife, it appears as though this car will be almost certainly a 2 seater, with exceptions made for outstanding 2+2s. Sedan is basically out. I'm glad we're finally narrowing the focus so that we can have an easier time of picking from a very crowded market.

It looks like the updated Audi TT might just barely be in our range, so that one gets renewed focus.

Still to test drive:
- Civic Del Slo
- Miata MX-5 Mk3 CC
- TT (+A4 while we're there)
- Boxter? (soft top, not sure I can put that over)
- S2000? (soft top, not sure I can put that over)
- Genesis
- Z4
- VW Eos (is this the GLI DSG?)
- CLK 350

Cars I haven't asked her about yet:
- Pontiac G6 CCoupe

Basically eliminated:
- Sedans
- Micra CC
- M3
- Camaro
- Charger
- 'Stang
- Corvette
- RSX :(
- MR2
- Supra
- Solstice
- Sky
- Beetle

Test Driven Front Runners
- 350Z
- G35 Coupe
 
Not to be mean, but I find the concept of someone cross-shopping a Porsche Boxster with a del Sol to be hilarious.

You can get a hard top for the S2000, though its arguable as to whether you would like it.

Also, the G6 coupe is very nice on the eyes but also very horrible.
 
Danoff
Still to test drive:
- Genesis
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I think you will have to do a little waiting on that one. The coupe is going to become available in the Spring, at least according to wikipedia.


I think if you looked hard you might be able to find a 2008 BMW 128i close to your target price range, but you would probably have to travel a bit to pick it up. On the site it says a new coupe starts at $29000, but I guess mark-up and options would not make it close to that price.
 
RE: DSG Box in the Eos

Its the same unit that is used in the GTI and GLI, but it has radically different programming making it much more "civil" in and out of town. I believe the Eos ditches the paddle shifters too (I can't recall), but the manual shifting can still be done on the shifter itself. The jury, as I recall, was "out" on the Eos's version of the DSG box. Its not bad, it just doesn't seem to want to do "sporty" as well as the others.

RE: Pontiac G6 Coupe/Convertible

Float it by, see what happens. I'm not sure what dealer stocks look like down in CA, but we're overflowing in the great white north. You could probably save a HUGE amount of money flying up here, buying, and driving back if you were really that interested. I'm willing to bet that there are 2008 models they're dying to get rid of...
 
YSSMAN
RE: DSG Box in the Eos

Its the same unit that is used in the GTI and GLI, but it has radically different programming making it much more "civil" in and out of town. I believe the Eos ditches the paddle shifters too (I can't recall), but the manual shifting can still be done on the shifter itself. The jury, as I recall, was "out" on the Eos's version of the DSG box. Its not bad, it just doesn't seem to want to do "sporty" as well as the others.

RE: Pontiac G6 Coupe/Convertible

Float it by, see what happens. I'm not sure what dealer stocks look like down in CA, but we're overflowing in the great white north. You could probably save a HUGE amount of money flying up here, buying, and driving back if you were really that interested. I'm willing to bet that there are 2008 models they're dying to get rid of...
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I'm sure GM dealers in SoCal would give some good discounts to... Hell even Toyota is putting 1500-2000 discounts on their Prius. And they sell like hotcakes here!!!
 
ROAD_DOGG33J
I think you will have to do a little waiting on that one. The coupe is going to become available in the Spring, at least according to wikipedia.
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Please do some more research next time.

3.8 Coupes are all over America now. There are at least a couple in each major city in the country. The 2.0 turbos will follow mid-March. Public test driving started over the weekend, as far as I can tell.
 
I didn't see any when I drove into the Hyundai dealer today, but perhaps I'll go back and check as I hunt down the i30 I saw today...
 
If the Boxster is a no-no because of the soft-top (though you can buy them with a bolt-on hard-top), have you considered the Coxster?

Too new still and too pricey?
 
Famine
If the Boxster is a no-no because of the soft-top (though you can buy them with a bolt-on hard-top), have you considered the Coxster?

Too new still and too pricey?
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I believe you're referring to what we call the Cayman. The Cayman would be the perfect choice for her - absolutely perfect in every way. I have no doubt that if it were in our price range we'd buy one without having to look around.

But unfortunately the cheapest one I saw on autotrader was $35k, which is too far outside the box.
 
We call it the Cayman too, but it's slightly more popular to call it the Coxster - both in deference to its origins (Coupe Boxster) and the general image of Porsche ownership...
 
Famine
We call it the Cayman too, but it's slightly more popular to call it the Coxster - both in deference to its origins (Coupe Boxster) and the general image of Porsche ownership...
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Gotcha. I'd never heard that term before.
 

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