Considering buying a new or new used car

[wordoflife]

I'd say the most realistic cars on my list (in order) would be the CC or the 320i, with the Z4 being the most likely to be bought used option on my list.

If you're already bored with your 1.5 y/o car, how are any of these cars, maybe except for the Z4, going to be any different? It's my opinion that the difference will feel minimal and possibly short lasting.

Anyway, I think I like the A3 (quattro) the most. Not a fan of coupé's (so you see how narrowed down the list becomes for me; I like the practicality of having four doors).

 

[puma1552]

If you're already bored with your 1.5 y/o car, how are any of these cars, maybe except for the Z4, going to be any different?

The CC turns heads bigtime which makes it fun since its flashy despite being a sedan, and the 320i is RWD which makes it fun. Both have a good bit more power than my current car also and deliver peak torque below 1500 RPMs compared to 4200 RPMs for my current car. Given equal prices I'd take a 228i over a 320i since I'd prefer a coupe. The CC just happens to be one of very, very, very few sedans I like a lot.

Past experience says if a car is fun to drive or at least flashy looking/head turning (not to be confused with badge snobbery, hence CC), I can be happy with it for a good while. My current car is the first car I've had that checks neither of these boxes and I found that features are no substitute. Now I know why most people aren't car people, they've been driving boring boxes all their lives and have no idea what they are missing!

The Z4 would be one hell of a hoot though.

 

[adk]

Anxiously awaiting the 2-series unveiling later this month and official pricing and options packages.

My uninformed guess would be that the 2 series will be priced to compete with the new Mercedes CLA's base price of $30k or so. Have you heard otherwise?

 

[AustinIllini]

Yeah, the only VW on my list in the OP is a new one...luckily I would be able to afford the CC brand new.

I don't plan on keeping any of these cars to 70,000 miles, unless it would be the Mustang or maybe the Z4 (but who knows, life circumstances may change or the car may end up being flawless).

I believe you had a used Audi up there. Same rules apply. I bought Japanese because I wanted to keep the car 7 or 8 years. If I knew I could replace the car before 70,000, I would have bought a bimmer.

 

[MyiBill]

I just went to the Audi site and it looks like I'd actually be north of $40k for those options. Too expensive, and I know the B9 A4 will be out soon which looks awesome, but I'm sure the A3, while intentioned to be a cheaper alternative to the current A4, will almost certainly end up in current A4 pricing within a couple years because I believe the B9 is going upmarket. I still would prefer an A3 sized car, so spending more on a car that's larger than I would like wouldn't be the way to go for me. I really like the upcoming A3 for a small Audi.

Just so you know most Audi dealers will take 3-5K off the car just through email. I ended up getting the A4 with those exact specs for $32K with the maintenance plan/insurance I was talking about.

And for all those people who say VW/Audis arent reliable I bet they have not owned one themselves or are still stuck on one point in history they werent reliable. I would take my Audi over any american car, I have not personally heard of one person complaining about their reliability in person. And who is going to use a 140K R8 as their daily driver?

 

[AustinIllini]

Just so you know most Audi dealers will take 3-5K off the car just through email. I ended up getting the A4 with those exact specs for $32K with the maintenance plan/insurance I was talking about.

And for all those people who say VW/Audis arent reliable I bet they have not owned one themselves or are still stuck on one point in history they werent reliable. I would take my Audi over any american car, I have not personally heard of one person complaining about their reliability in person. And who is going to use a 140K R8 as their daily driver?

I have owned an Audi. But seriously, how many times do I have to post this?

Audi and Volkswagen are still garbage.

 

[leftywamumonkey]

People misunderstand Porsches (i'm one of them). If you're looking at a new BMW, a used Porsche might be a better options (They're Lexus reliable).

OP, if you are worried at all about the prices of fixing the car, do not buy anything manufactured by Volkswagen (See J.D. Power and Associate ratings. Audi, Volkswagen are awful. porsche is the exception). If you want the BMW, get the BMW. You won't regret it, and they at least maintain their value.

IMO, there's a difference between driving a Porsche and driving a Boxster.

 

[AustinIllini]

IMO, there's a difference between driving a Porsche and driving a Boxster.

I'm referring specifically to reliability. I don't know that there is a big difference in reliability across the Porsche lineup, but they are by far the best reliability bet among the German brands.

 

[MyiBill]

I find it hard to believe that a Suzuki is more reliable than a VW/Audi or any other brand lower than it on that list.

 

[puma1552]

My uninformed guess would be that the 2 series will be priced to compete with the new Mercedes CLA's base price of $30k or so. Have you heard otherwise?

Not sure yet, pricing hasn't been released. I doubt it will be as cheap as the CLA though, BMW is releasing a new 1 series which will be front wheel drive to compete.

 

[puma1552]

Test drove a new CC the other night again. That car is so much nicer from behind the wheel, pics just don't do it justice.

Car drives great, but the DSG behavior is a little awkward, as they usually are.

 

[ipodlover77]

I put my vote in for the 320i.

I would say ignore the schmucks who will say 320i owners only buy it for the badge but it seems as though you don't care about the detractors (which is good) so i say go with the 320i.

The 370z seems a bit "ricer" to me, no offense. Maybe its because all the 370z drivers in my area are under 24 and rev the holy heck out of it at red lights.

A used 135i is also nice but buying used cars always left me weary just for the fact that you never know how badly dogged the car is from the first owner.

 

[sdilley14]

My vote is for the CC or the A3.

 

[puma1552]

I put my vote in for the 320i.

I would say ignore the schmucks who will say 320i owners only buy it for the badge but it seems as though you don't care about the detractors (which is good) so i say go with the 320i.

The 370z seems a bit "ricer" to me, no offense. Maybe its because all the 370z drivers in my area are under 24 and rev the holy heck out of it at red lights.

A used 135i is also nice but buying used cars always left me weary just for the fact that you never know how badly dogged the car is from the first owner.

I agree on both counts regarding the 370Z and the 135i.

I don't know that I could really see myself driving a 370Z, I've always grown up with muscle cars or European cars so having something like that is definitely outside my realm, but I figured it should at least be on the list.

Problem with the 135i is if I could even find one optioned how I wanted with ultra low miles and a good price, I'm sure it will have been ragged hard on. And if it hasn't been ragged hard, it's still hard to go from my 2013 to even a 2010-2011 something. I did see a couple Z4s at the local BMW dealer lot last Sunday; even though these ones were not ones I was looking at buying (too expensive or not the right options) the paint was just plain beat for 2-4 year old cars. I looked at an '09 Z4 (too old) with only 21k miles and the paint was just absolutely trashed. Then looked at an '11 Z4 and while this one was way too expensive at $44k, it was a white car with 20k miles and even with the white paint I could see it had never been taken care of. Things like that pushed me to go back and drive a new CC again.

The wife actually gave me approval to go ahead and buy a car now, but I haven't decided if I will or not. I'm thinking I still will wait until spring.

 

[2298754]

I have owned an Audi. But seriously, how many times do I have to post this?

Audi and Volkswagen are still garbage.

My current Audi S7 is my 8th straight VW/Audi product. I've never had any major issues with them. Never. Completely reliable. Same with my other car, a BMW.

Out of all my German cars, only one turned out to be a complete POS. I should have known better than to buy a MB in the Chrysler-era.

----------

Test drove a new CC the other night again. That car is so much nicer from behind the wheel, pics just don't do it justice.

Car drives great, but the DSG behavior is a little awkward, as they usually are.

I had a 2010 CC with the 2.0T/DSG combo. I miss that car. The two-tone interior is just gorgeous.

My brother also bought one around the same time and it recently got totaled. Solid car. Nothing happened to him.

I don't foresee any major issues with the CC. It's pretty late into its model cycle. The DSG takes a few weeks to equilibrate to your driving style.

 

[AustinIllini]

My current Audi S7 is my 8th straight VW/Audi product. I've never had any major issues with them. Never. Completely reliable. Same with my other car, a BMW.

Out of all my German cars, only one turned out to be a complete POS. I should have known better than to buy a MB in the Chrysler-era.

Unless you have owned like 1000 cars, your anecdotal evidence does not disprove the fact that German cars are unreliable.

 

[puma1552]

So I had been negotiating on the CC I drove the other night, and the most they will come down to from the $35,690 sticker was $33,390 after a week of negotiating. I told them I'd sign papers tonight at $31,500 with what I thought was fair on my trade ($900 over high NADA trade value was their offer which I was cool with) but no dice. That's about the same amount off in dollars as I got on my Jetta, which was $10k cheaper - and I got 0% interest on it so this current offer for the CC isn't good at all, overall.

I can get that car all day long in the spring (fresh off the truck, not even model year end) for $4k off no problem based on what I saw this year, so I'll wait and by then maybe I'll be in something else. At $4k off tonight and with my trade along with holdback, floorplan, incentives for number of sales in the month, and financing through them they would've made $5k easy pretty quickly. Oh well, they need to sell, I don't need to buy.

The sales manager said this has been a horrible month, but not horrible enough I guess. Oh well. The 2 series will be unveiled on the 25th so I'll be looking forward to that.

 

[MyMac1976]

Cars are all pretty reliable at this point if you actually do the recommended maintenance. My wife had a VW Polo from 97 to 05 at which time we bought a Focus, the next car looks like it'll be a 316 wagon. We have not had to any money in repairing any of the cars we just do the maintenance and drive. I wouldn't be afraid of any car made in the last 20 years.

 

[AustinIllini]

Cars are all pretty reliable at this point if you actually do the recommended maintenance. My wife had a VW Polo from 97 to 05 at which time we bought a Focus, the next car looks like it'll be a 316 wagon. We have not had to any money in repairing any of the cars we just do the maintenance and drive. I wouldn't be afraid of any car made in the last 20 years.

You're not entirely wrong. A modern car can run when there's oil in the coolant (not well, and you'll have to add lots of oil). A lot of the issue comes at how much money you're willing to put into your car. Can I afford an Audi? Well, yeah I could. I loved my Audi. But it was used and much of it wasn't under warranty. $1000 per repair is a lot.

 

[MyMac1976]

You're not entirely wrong. A modern car can run when there's oil in the coolant (not well, and you'll have to add lots of oil). A lot of the issue comes at how much money you're willing to put into your car. Can I afford an Audi? Well, yeah I could. I loved my Audi. But it was used and much of it wasn't under warranty. $1000 per repair is a lot.

My parents had a w12 Passat that was much the same..

We buy our cars in cash and get all the services we're suppose to and don't have problems. My 99 Wrangler is problem free also dunno I've been driving for a bit over 20 years and I've not had a problem child modern car nor a problem child BMW no matter the age.

 

[sdilley14]

So I had been negotiating on the CC I drove the other night, and the most they will come down to from the $35,690 sticker was $33,390 after a week of negotiating. I told them I'd sign papers tonight at $31,500 with what I thought was fair on my trade ($900 over high NADA trade value was their offer which I was cool with) but no dice. That's about the same amount off in dollars as I got on my Jetta, which was $10k cheaper - and I got 0% interest on it so this current offer for the CC isn't good at all, overall.

I can get that car all day long in the spring (fresh off the truck, not even model year end) for $4k off no problem based on what I saw this year, so I'll wait and by then maybe I'll be in something else. At $4k off tonight and with my trade along with holdback, floorplan, incentives for number of sales in the month, and financing through them they would've made $5k easy pretty quickly. Oh well, they need to sell, I don't need to buy.

The sales manager said this has been a horrible month, but not horrible enough I guess. Oh well. The 2 series will be unveiled on the 25th so I'll be looking forward to that.

Smart dude. Well put, especially the bolded statement.

I work for a lending institution and I see it EVERY day, people over spending on vehicles they don't need and/or can barely afford, getting straight up raped on their trade in's but making the deals anyway because they neeeeeeed to have that new car right now, regardless of how awful of a deal they're getting. :S

 

[Tsuchiya]

My current Audi S7 is my 8th straight VW/Audi product. I've never had any major issues with them. Never. Completely reliable. Same with my other car, a BMW.

Out of all my German cars, only one turned out to be a complete POS. I should have known better than to buy a MB in the Chrysler-era.

----------



I had a 2010 CC with the 2.0T/DSG combo. I miss that car. The two-tone interior is just gorgeous.

My brother also bought one around the same time and it recently got totaled. Solid car. Nothing happened to him.

I don't foresee any major issues with the CC. It's pretty late into its model cycle. The DSG takes a few weeks to equilibrate to your driving style.

S7 eh? Any pictures in the car thread?

I've got my eye on an A7, it'll definitely be what replaces my A5 Sportback in a few years unless BMW do something completely fresh with the 5-series.

 

[2298754]

So I had been negotiating on the CC I drove the other night, and the most they will come down to from the $35,690 sticker was $33,390 after a week of negotiating. I told them I'd sign papers tonight at $31,500 with what I thought was fair on my trade ($900 over high NADA trade value was their offer which I was cool with) but no dice. That's about the same amount off in dollars as I got on my Jetta, which was $10k cheaper - and I got 0% interest on it so this current offer for the CC isn't good at all, overall.

I can get that car all day long in the spring (fresh off the truck, not even model year end) for $4k off no problem based on what I saw this year, so I'll wait and by then maybe I'll be in something else. At $4k off tonight and with my trade along with holdback, floorplan, incentives for number of sales in the month, and financing through them they would've made $5k easy pretty quickly. Oh well, they need to sell, I don't need to buy.

The sales manager said this has been a horrible month, but not horrible enough I guess. Oh well. The 2 series will be unveiled on the 25th so I'll be looking forward to that.

Are you looking at MY14 or MY13 models? I wonder if you could get a better discount on a leftover MY13 CC, since the dealers need to get rid of them ASAP.

 

[puma1552]

Are you looking at MY14 or MY13 models? I wonder if you could get a better discount on a leftover MY13 CC, since the dealers need to get rid of them ASAP.

'14. There are definitely better deals to be had on '13s, but the car I have now and have had for nearly a year is a '13. There are hardly any changes to the '14 but from a dealer trade in perspective the '13s are already a year old; if I were keeping the car 10 years then I'd just grab a '13 since it won't matter if it's 9 or 10 years old down the road in terms of resale value, but as someone who doesn't plan to keep the car more than 3-5 years, buying a '13 would save me more up front now but would cost me more in resale/trade value in a few years.

Really it works out pretty much the same either way if you don't keep the car terribly long, either pay less up front and get less on trade as it'll be viewed a year older, or pay a little more up front and get a little more on the backend.

The '13s that are left though are not optioned how I'd want them and that's a deal breaker (I also don't want to ship one in off some other dealer's lot from somewhere else in the country because who knows what cosmetic issues it may have, plenty of brand new cars have cosmetic issues right on the lot so unless I'm special ordering and present when it comes off the truck, or unless it's on the lot and I can give it a good inspection after hours when not being bothered by the sales guy I don't like to bring a car in from elsewhere). This '14 I made an offer on just happened to be an absolute exact match to what I would special order, and after giving it a thorough inspection, I didn't see any issues with it.

Oh well. I'm sure they will give me a call in January/February when it's still on the lot and has had salesmen/detail kids drag a snowbrush across the paint scratching the hell out of it numerous times.

 

[yg17]

If you only plan on keeping the car for a few years, why don't you lease?