Something Random

Stereodude said:
FWIW, I had two used cars previously that were stick shifts and didn't have any problems with them.

Besides, I will not be able to buy a S4 new at $50k+, but 2-3 years old used, I might be able to do it.
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How long did you keep those used cars after buying them used? I realize it's hard to gauge the prior owner of a car and there are many variables at play. Even though I found nothing wrong with the used cars before buying them, I still had problems after a year of owning them.

I also wouldn't be able to buy a new S4, but I'd be seriously hesitant to buying one of those used with a manual. I'd guess a typical owner of an S4 is likely to be pushing it hard (especially if they went with the manual tranny). Otherwise, why else would you buy a performance oriented car like that?
 
Handruin said:
How long did you keep those used cars after buying them used? I realize it's hard to gauge the prior owner of a car and there are many variables at play. Even though I found nothing wrong with the used cars before buying them, I still had problems after a year of owning them.
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Several years, and they were high mileage relatively inexpensive vehicles...
I also wouldn't be able to buy a new S4, but I'd be seriously hesitant to buying one of those used with a manual. I'd guess a typical owner of an S4 is likely to be pushing it hard (especially if they went with the manual tranny). Otherwise, why else would you buy a performance oriented car like that?
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Well, FWIW, the cost of new clutch is a lot less than paying the premium for a new car. I also think a manual transmission S4 isn't nearly as likely to be beat on as something like a manual transmission Mustang, or WRX, etc...
 
The only used car I didn't have an issue with was a 355 F1. Of course, you expect people who pay that much to take care of their investments, and it wasn't a manual, anyway. I also only had it for about 4 months, so who knows what could have happened.
 
Not everyone, but they were plentiful. The boss got it, but he was a short guy with a bit of a Napoleon Complex. He ended up with a Land Rover, and the Ferrari was in the pool for about 15 seconds before I got the key. The company folded a few months later.
 
timwhit said:
I would actually doubt that. I'd guess that Ferarris are pretty fragile things.
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The contrast is pretty amazing. The running gear (engine, transmission, suspension) are all really tough, but the body panels will break off if you sit on them too rough (front fenders in my case).
 
timwhit said:
I would actually doubt that. I'd guess that Ferarris are pretty fragile things.
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I didn't mean in terms of smashing into things, I meant track-worthiness. I'd make a guess you could pound the gas and push the brakes quite a bit more than your average car because it's meant to race.
 
I just built one of these into my desk; just the slot showing in the front edge of the desktop. Cheap, and super-slick in a nerdy sort of way. Once I hone my router skills, I hope to stick a slimline USB hub and a card reader next to it.
 
ddrueding said:
I just built one of these into my desk; just the slot showing in the front edge of the desktop. Cheap, and super-slick in a nerdy sort of way. Once I hone my router skills, I hope to stick a slimline USB hub and a card reader next to it.
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Why on earth did you do that?
 
I don't use them that much. Basically all that ever happens is I get the data onto the network, then file the disk. Or I burn something tiny (PDFs, TIFFs, etc) onto a disk and give it out. Maybe once a week.
 
Looks like we will be getting a VW GLI with the DSG 6-speed, and pretty much everything else.

I've attached the build sheet from the web. It says MSRP is just under $32k. What price should I be looking for at the dealership (paying cash - don't know if that helps).
 
Have you found any forums with owners of the VW GLI? When I bought my TLS I searched and asked around what people were getting for prices to give me some buying power in knowing that dealers were letting cars go below sticker fairly easily.

Usually when paying cash it does help. I would call for some quotes over the phone and tell them a lower number than configured to make the offer you something better from the start.

If the car is actually on the lot, you might even have more buying power with a better deal. See if you can get it out the door around $28K-$29K (includes tax, title, destination, reg, etc).
 
ddrueding said:
I suppose the other car that is (kind of) in this category would be the RX-8; but I find it's styling questionable.
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I'm no huge fan of its styling or even performance stats. If they bring back the RX 7, I think that might be worth considering.
 
ddrueding said:
Looks like we will be getting a VW GLI with the DSG 6-speed, and pretty much everything else.

I've attached the build sheet from the web. It says MSRP is just under $32k. What price should I be looking for at the dealership (paying cash - don't know if that helps).
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You went from two cars under $30k together to one car at $30k?

Either way, you should shoot for under invoice and I hope you buy a very long extended warranty.
 
Stereodude said:
You went from two cars under $30k together to one car at $30k?

Either way, you should shoot for under invoice and I hope you buy a very long extended warranty.
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Yup, pretty much. I had my car looked at, and it seems that it will be easily serviceable for another couple years, especially if it stops being our long-distance trip car.

Long extended warranties? Any good with cars? No major loopholes?
 
It was probably obvious, but I think it was SD's passive-aggressive way at saying he doesn't feel VW makes reliable cars. I've never owned one, so I can't comment.

I don't think the extended warranties are worth it for the majority, but they do occasionally pay out. I think you do have to read the fine print at what they cover or else you might get screwed out of coverage.
 
ddrueding said:
Yup, pretty much. I had my car looked at, and it seems that it will be easily serviceable for another couple years, especially if it stops being our long-distance trip car.

Long extended warranties? Any good with cars? No major loopholes?
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Just make sure the warranty is from the manufacturer, not some third party that the dealership is trying to sell you.
 
Handruin said:
It was probably obvious, but I think it was SD's passive-aggressive way at saying he doesn't feel VW makes reliable cars. I've never owned one, so I can't comment.
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I don't think it was passive aggressive. German cars didn't get their reputation for being expensive to fix and not as reliable as some others for no reason. VW is lumped into the bottom of the ratings for dependability / reliability. You will be out of the warranty period pretty fast with a daily 150 mile commute, so that's certainly something to consider.
 
Stereodude said:
I don't think it was passive aggressive. German cars didn't get their reputation for being expensive to fix and not as reliable as some others for no reason. VW is lumped into the bottom of the ratings for dependability / reliability. You will be out of the warranty period pretty fast with a daily 150 mile commute, so that's certainly something to consider.
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I would agree with that. My sample size is small, but most people I know that own German cars have not been impressed with the reliability or the costs associated with repairs.
 
The pool of German cars I currently maintain is small (3), and they are all VWs, but the record is pretty impressive. The one thing I do know is not to buy an American car, that even the Koreans are doing better these days.
 
Cost of repairs, possibly. But I haven't had any repairs, in any of the cars, for their combined 400k mile lifetimes. Two of them have had nothing but oil changes, with the third (mine) needing new brake pads as well, at 150k.
 
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