Need help picking a car. Possibly narrowed down to IS350 / TT / M235i

[phucheneh]

G37 sedan can be had for a song, relatively speaking. But it looks like you're shopping coupes.

edit: Was curious enough to look it up...if you compare sedan to sedan, the G is 7-8k cheaper than the IS350 (which I forgot, is only available as a sedan). And that's list...might get one for less if a dealer is clearing out inventory.

 

[Imported]

I don't want a G37 sedan. Had a G35 coupe before. The G37 sedan does nothing for me.. the Q50 I'd test drive but I'm not sure I want to go back to Infiniti.

 

[Imported]

In the back of my mind, I was using the 435 as a point of reference. I did not realize it actually had different suspension than the 335 and that it has been updated with improved electronic steering the 335 has yet to receive. That's really disappointing.

I wish the 435 didn't come out to 60k+ for the options I want. $46k base and options add up quickly.

 

[Midwayman]

I wish the 435 didn't come out to 60k+ for the options I want. $46k base and options add up quickly.

That is the problem with the Germans. Base isn't in the same neighborhood as selling price. Though Lexus is getting pretty bad about that now too. The 'premium' package for each make is pretty much stuff that should be included at their price points.

 

[Imported]

That is the problem with the Germans. Base isn't in the same neighborhood as selling price. Though Lexus is getting pretty bad about that now too. The 'premium' package for each make is pretty much stuff that should be included at their price points.

Lexus, atleast for the IS350, has 2 packages: Premium and F Sport, both around the same price and you can't have both. I can get the car for under $45k so.. 50k out the door after TTL. The bad thing is you can't pick and choose like the German cars.

 

[Midwayman]

Lexus, atleast for the IS350, has 2 packages: Premium and F Sport, both around the same price and you can't have both. I can get the car for under $45k so.. 50k out the door after TTL. The bad thing is you can't pick and choose like the German cars.

That's not quite true.
It comes in RWD and AWD
RWD has 3 options. None, luxury and sport.
AWD has 10 options.

Either way the real price of the RWD model is ~$7k more than base price as I'm sure its impossible to order one without one of those packages. They aren't as fine grained as the Germans in choices, but they are just as guilty in having a base MSRP nowhere close to what you really get the car for.

Compare to Toyota where you can get a Camry L, LE, SE, or SE sport. Each has a base price, but its really possible to buy a car at those base prices. Acura is more transparent as well. They don't hide all stuff you're expect to be included in an option package and never stock the base model.

I feel like they way they advertize boarders on dishonest like the 'loss leader' cars you see in the paper. Its theoretically possible to get that car, but not really likely.

Didn't mean to turn your thread into a rant, just having gone through it recently it was annoying me.

 

[eng2d2]

The new IS are nice but why no bumper?

 

[MiataNC]

I feel like they way they advertize boarders on dishonest like the 'loss leader' cars you see in the paper. Its theoretically possible to get that car, but not really likely.

Back in the '90s Toyota/Lexus of North America would order a handful of "base" equipped cars with no other options to meet the advertised starting price. I was shown that only 3 1997 model ES300s shipped to the states with cloth halfway through the model year.

I am guessing that hasn't changed.

 

[Jimzz]

Back in the '90s Toyota/Lexus of North America would order a handful of "base" equipped cars with no other options to meet the advertised starting price. I was shown that only 3 1997 model ES300s shipped to the states with cloth halfway through the model year.

I am guessing that hasn't changed.

That's real big and they order more like that now due to many wanting the name not Bluetooth, usb/hard drive, performance package, etc...

Finding a CTS or Genesis with memory package was very difficult when we were shopping for cars. European cars are even worse. They have a million options and if you want anything, other than a name, good luck with anything near the base price.

 

[Phanuel]

Yeah, but I can still order a car from europe with exactly the options I want usually. I'm assuming you can do that with the other manufacturers as well.

 

[MiataNC]

Yeah, but I can still order a car from europe with exactly the options I want usually. I'm assuming you can do that with the other manufacturers as well.

Not from Toyota/Lexus unless something has changed. It used to be all cars were ordered as Base, Package A, Package B, Package C etc. in various colors. If the dealer can't find the mix of options you want in a predefined package, you are shit out of luck.

 

[Phanuel]

Not from Toyota/Lexus unless something has changed. It used to be all cars were ordered as Base, Package A, Package B, Package C etc. in various colors. If the dealer can't find the mix of options you want in a predefined package, you are shit out of luck.

Well, that's useful information to know. I haven't really looked at Japanese imports new so I wasn't aware of that. Guess I'd be looking at used IS350s in another 2-3 years instead as all I'd care to pay new for would be the F-sport package and nothing else.

 

[Imported]

That's not quite true.
It comes in RWD and AWD
RWD has 3 options. None, luxury and sport.
AWD has 10 options.

Either way the real price of the RWD model is ~$7k more than base price as I'm sure its impossible to order one without one of those packages. They aren't as fine grained as the Germans in choices, but they are just as guilty in having a base MSRP nowhere close to what you really get the car for.

Compare to Toyota where you can get a Camry L, LE, SE, or SE sport. Each has a base price, but its really possible to buy a car at those base prices. Acura is more transparent as well. They don't hide all stuff you're expect to be included in an option package and never stock the base model.

I feel like they way they advertize boarders on dishonest like the 'loss leader' cars you see in the paper. Its theoretically possible to get that car, but not really likely.

Didn't mean to turn your thread into a rant, just having gone through it recently it was annoying me.

Wasn't looking at AWD at all so I wasn't aware of all those.. Good to know.

 

[GoatMonkey]

What about an Audi S3? It looks much better than the standard A3. The reviews of it make it look like it would be fun. I sat in one at the car show and the interior looked really nice. It's pretty small, but if you're considering a 235...

 

[Midwayman]

Not from Toyota/Lexus unless something has changed. It used to be all cars were ordered as Base, Package A, Package B, Package C etc. in various colors. If the dealer can't find the mix of options you want in a predefined package, you are shit out of luck.

I know acura/honda is a little more flexible. You'll probably have to talk to someone at least at regional level and be willing to pay MSRP, but I've heard of folks being able to order interior/exterior combos that aren't officially available.

I long for the day that you can avoid the dealer entirely. Order the car you want online and have it delivered after its produced. No stupid packages. No 4 square sheets.

 

[GoodRevrnd]

What about an Audi S3? It looks much better than the standard A3. The reviews of it make it look like it would be fun. I sat in one at the car show and the interior looked really nice. It's pretty small, but if you're considering a 235...

Bring back the A3 hatchback and make it into an S3. That would be amazing.

 

[k3n]

Is she an expert on cars? Does she keep your balls in her purse? :biggrin:

Anyone who refuses to look at or consider American made cars is simply ignorant. There is nothing special about Euro or Japanese cars anymore. Times have changed.

Speaking of purses...Why pay more to maintain a Euro car, when you can get the same or better performance for less?

http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-reviews/road-tests/2014-chevrolet-ss-drive

And I'm guessing she's making little, if any, monetary contribution to the purchase. No wonder the divorce rate is so high... Good luck with your (?) purchase, OP. Better than anything I'll be driving within the next decade or so, lol.

 

[smackababy]

Wasn't looking at AWD at all so I wasn't aware of all those.. Good to know.

The AWD version was the only version available in my area for awhile. They wouldn't even let me configure and ship a RWD version until this model year.

 

[Imported]

What about an Audi S3? It looks much better than the standard A3. The reviews of it make it look like it would be fun. I sat in one at the car show and the interior looked really nice. It's pretty small, but if you're considering a 235...

I'm looking to buy sooner than later. S3 doesn't come out til October.. probably won't be til December when I'd be able to get a good deal. Although people are already getting M235s for 2k under MSRP..

 

[Phanuel]

I'm hearing August for the S3 but nobody really has any confirmations of actual dates yet that I'm aware of.

 

[Imported]

The Audi dealer I was at this past weekend said October. August would be nice.. I'd only have to wait a few more months.

Have an appointment set to drive the M235i this weekend. Weee.

 

[Midwayman]

The AWD version was the only version available in my area for awhile. They wouldn't even let me configure and ship a RWD version until this model year.

Well I do see a hell of a lot more audis, MB 4matics, bmw xdrives, etc than RWD versions (if applicable) going up and down 90 everyday.

 

[Phanuel]

I just don't get BMW pricing these days anymore for people who want to purchase. It's astronomical and they hide it in the leases by subsidizing them. I'm looking for something fun-ish that I could live for with 8-10 years.

My A4 is 6 years old and outside of regretting getting the automatic instead of the manual and the sedan instead of the wagon, I'd have been perfectly find keeping it for another 2-4 years.

 

[rh71]

Anyway, you need to tell her :

(1)- I'm a man, and I've worked hard for the money I've earned.
(2)- I'm picking what I want, you can pick what you want.
(3)- Gimme a sandwich.

Can the OP please put this on video as it happens?

 

[Imported]

Can the OP please put this on video as it happens?

Good luck with that.