new year + new job = new car?

[isildur]

EDIT: LOL

oops, hit return by mistake there:

so...discuss:

- 2003 Jetta GLI
= 2.8l V6, 6 spd manual
= ~$25,000

- 2003 Mazda 6
= 3.0l V6, 5 spd manual
= ~$24,000

- 2003 MazdaSpeed Protege
= 2.0l TC 4 cyl, 5 spd manual
= ~$21,000

- 2003 Nissan SE-R Spec-V
= 2.5l 4 cyl, 6 spd manual
= ~$20,000

- 2003 Honda Accord EX Coupe
= (V6 not available w/ manual?? V6 auto = ~$30,000 > much)
= EX 5sp manual (2.4l 4 cyl) = ~$22,000

- 1996-1998 Audi A4 1.8T
= ~$14,000 - $18,000 by mileage

 

[DaFinn]

Was that a question?


EDIT:

Oh, I see...

 

[radioouman]

No! That is bad math. Sounds like something the RIAA would have come up with.


EDIT: Since it sounds like it would be secure, then get something at 0% now if you are going to finance a new car. If you are planning to pay cash, then hold out as long as possible

 

[nord1899]

Why? Is your old car not cutting it for you?
Is your new job safe and secure and pays well enough?
Is it a new years resolution?


BTW, what car do you have now and what do you want?

 

[flood]

Audi.

 

[DaFinn]

Just don't get Honda, Mazda or Nissan and you'll be ok!

 

[isildur]

damn you guys are fast, I couldn't even get the thing edited before you were all over it!

the new job is potentially a large promotion at current place of work (been here 2 1/2 yrs) and would be quite secure, although pay scale is still uncertain yet, which will be a large determinant.

the current vehicle is NOT, I repeat NOT cutting it - it is my 3rd hand-me-down beater and I'm ready for something nice for once.

 

[Rudee]

Is this a true of false test?

I think you should get a truck or a SUV. little cars are for women.

 

[amdskip]

RossMAN will say accord and I'll agree with him on that.

 

[BatmanNate]

I would hold out a few years unless your current car is in dire straights.

 

[FuZoR]

hmm... the mazda or the german cars

 

[isildur]

in a few years interest rates will be higher

for reference: currently driving 1991 Olds 88 w/ 150k miles

:-(

 

[vi edit]

Find a closeout '02 Maxima with the 6 speed manual and the 255HP 3.5L in it.

 

[nord1899]

Okay so the old car isn't good anymore, I can accept that.

But what do you want in a new car? What are you looking for? What separates the good from the better in your opinion?

 

[isildur]

Originally posted by: nord1899
Okay so the old car isn't good anymore, I can accept that.

But what do you want in a new car? What are you looking for? What separates the good from the better in your opinion?

I'm no "enthusiast" so I'm not looking for something to mod the crap out of and race teenagers on Saturday nights. I like the stylings of these cars & want something with a good level of both comfort and performance that I can afford. Fairly typical desires I would guess: quick, stylish, livable mileage/insurance, fair comfort/options.

These prices reflect roughly the trim levels I would want, going by the "build your own" feature on the corp web sites.

- cost of ownership is another consideration too - I keep hearing that audi's are pricey to maintain

 

[vi edit]

Personally, I think the Spec-V and the GLI are way, way, way overpriced for what you get. You can get a "like-new" Maxima, Altima SE, or Passat complete with V6's and all the fixin's for roughly the same price. Much larger cars, much more comfortable, much more powerful engines(except the passat), and much better options for the same price.

Just not worth the money.

 

[isildur]

I should have mentioned that too - I'm not interested in "bigger" so much. Passat/Maxima are really pushing it for me in the size that I would prefer. I'm married, but have no kids and none on the horizen so a smaller sports sedan is more to my liking.

 

[isildur]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Personally, I think the Spec-V and the GLI are way, way, way overpriced for what you get. You can get a "like-new" Maxima, Altima SE, or Passat complete with V6's and all the fixin's for roughly the same price. Much larger cars, much more comfortable, much more powerful engines(except the passat), and much better options for the same price.

Just not worth the money.

"Like new" Passat for roughly same $$?

I can see the Altima/Maxima for roughly that price, but I didn't think a "new-er" Passat could be found for that dime.

 

[nord1899]

Originally posted by: isildur
I should have mentioned that too - I'm not interested in "bigger" so much. Passat/Maxima are really pushing it for me in the size that I would prefer. I'm married, but have no kids and none on the horizen so a smaller sports sedan is more to my liking.

Okay, so you want a good performing smallish 4 door sedan, is that about right? Something in the Jetta to Accord size range. From the looks of it, below $25k.

The cars listed will all do. But check out the Subaru's too.

Read the reviews over at Edmunds.

Out of the ones you listed, I'd probably get the Nissan (and I am not a Nissan fan boy, I drive an Acura CL which will be replaced with an Audi A4 or Subaru WRX in less than a year).

 

[Thegonagle]

No way in hell should anyone pay $25,000 for a Jetta, nor $14,000-$18,000 for a 5-7 year old, tarted-up, shrunken Passat, AKA, the Audi A4 (a 96 A4 should be well under $12,000 anyway, but it's still too much money for what you get, a 7 year old car that will only be worth $2000-3000 by the time you've paid for it).

AFAIK, you can buy a new V6 Passat for less than $25,000.

Still, I love Accords. Great cars, great value.

 

[vi edit]

I got a two year old Passat with 30k miles on it that could have passed for a new car. Immaculate condition. It was originally a $28,000 car. I paid just over $20,000 for it a little under a year ago. It was two years old, and had 30k miles on it, and I saved about $8,000.

 

[isildur]

Originally posted by: Garfang
No way in hell should anyone pay $25,000 for a Jetta, nor $14,000-$18,000 for a 5-7 year old, tarted-up, shrunken Passat, AKA, the Audi A4 (a 96 A4 should be well under $12,000 anyway, but it's still too much money for what you get, a 7 year old car that will only be worth $2000-3000 by the time you've paid for it).

AFAIK, you can buy a new V6 Passat for less than $25,000.

Still, I love Accords. Great cars, great value.

I would be shocked - you can trim out the JETTA to be over $25k new. There is no way that a new v6 passat is less than the v6 jetta.

 

[SyahM]

I just bought myself 2000 Audi A4 for $17k, I'd say you shouldnt spend more than $15k for 1999- Audi A4.

 

[CraigRT]

I would actually probably get the Accord coupe out of any of those others.
there is a big difference from an SE-R and an Accord... so I am not really sure what you are looking for.

 

[gotsmack]

WRX or maybe a STi?