New Car Advice needed

[IA_Chiefs_fan]

I'm probably going to buy a new mustang soon. I'll be getting all the options since this is likely a once in a lifetime deal for me. With all the options it will be around $32,000. I've never purchased a NEW vehicle before so I don't know how much they'll actually come down on price. What can I expect to pay for a car listed at $32,000?

[Skyy God]

Originally Posted by shortbuskid

I'm sure that every person that drove a 3 series and a Mustang picked the BMW. That decision would be easier than marrying the girl with herpes on her penis or some hot chick you see in a magazine.

Seriously though, I drove a G35 coupe, 6MT and everything, and it's a bad car, but it's no 3 series. The control in a BMW is un-freakin-believable.

I'll take the hot chick in the magazine, thank you. Funny you make that analogy. I'm going out with my psych. PhD ex girlfriend with knobby elbows on Wednesday and a 6' former model for Dolce on Thursday. Guess which one I'm hoping works out.

At $32K, you're trading off a substantial amount of top end speed with the 325 vs. the G35. Something like 100 less HP. I'd personally go with the 325, considering how little I'd actually get to use that extra speed.

[SBK]

Originally Posted by Pittsie

I'll take the hot chick in the magazine, thank you. Funny you make that analogy. I'm going out with my psych. PhD ex girlfriend with knobby elbows on Wednesday and a 6' former model for Dolce on Thursday. Guess which one I'm hoping works out.

At $32K, you're trading off a substantial amount of top end speed with the 325 vs. the G35. Something like 100 less HP. I'd personally go with the 325, considering how little I'd actually get to use that extra speed.

With the 325 you get perfect steering, perfect handling, perfect brakes and very little wind noise. It took me several weeks to get used to how well the car was balanced, handled and how smooth it was. Cars with good handling are supposed to be rough.....

The G35 was fast, but it was rough and noisy. The interior wasn't nearly as nice either. Then there's the whole thing about 4 year 50,000 miles of not paying for anything....

I got a 2005 though, they redesigned it and I've heard the new one is way better than the old one. There was a review that called the new 330 the perfect sport sedan. Not a bad review.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by Pittsie

Buying a Mustang to me is just silly. Repair costs and excess depreciation make them much more expensive than a similar German or Japanese car. Check out the sky high 5 year ownership costs at this link. http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/pr...fire&trimid=-1

According to the site you linked: The new Mustang is rated 9 out of 10 by the MSN experts and 9.4 out of 10 by Mustang owners. There is no reliability data available because the car was a complete redesign.

[SBK]

Originally Posted by frazod

According to the site you linked: The new Mustang is rated 9 out of 10 by the MSN experts and 9.4 out of 10 by Mustang owners. There is no reliability data available because the car was a complete redesign.

Top gov't sources have indicated that due to the blue oval on the front of the car no testing is needed. Reliablity sucks.

[King_Chief_Fan]

Originally Posted by Pittsie

Disclaimer: I haven't driven the G35 coupe, just test drove one with my dad and rode in my friends a few times. He knows better not to let me test drive it, as he's been with me when I had my V6 Accord coupe up to 120 on the interstate. That said, it's probably the best balance of performance and value of coupe at that price point. I think they're available with 3% financing also.

Buying a Mustang to me is just silly. Repair costs and excess depreciation make them much more expensive than a similar German or Japanese car. Check out the sky high 5 year ownership costs at this link. http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/pr...fire&trimid=-1

I bought it due to its retro styling and the fact it is supposed to be the best Mustang ever. You have to be an older putz like myself to say the heck with all that jibber jabber about european this that and the other. It is american muscle baby and that is what we want.

To each his own said the lady that kissed the cow.

[andoman]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

Here's page 1 of a 7 page set of articles on how to buy a new car and avoid getting ripped off. It's funny and informative, but it is a long read.

I **STRONGLY** recommend you read it so you understand all the ways dealers can screw you.

A few general tips for you:

1. buy towards the end of the month (whatever month you're talking about) if you can. Not that you'll get a steal, but the dealers are always looking to close out a month strong.

2. If you're financing, try to get financing from your bank or a credit union lined up in advance. Dealer loans are usually at worse rates.

3. If you're doing a trade in, be sure to negotiate it separately. Negotiate the price of the car you're buying, and THEN deal with the trade in.

4. Often, the salesperson will be asking you questions that are irrelevant. "How much a month are you looking to spend". That's not the question. The question is how much is the car. THEN you figure out your monthly from there.

RESEARCH what you are doing and how you will do it before you walk into the dealership. Don't be a "lay down" for them. Cars are usually the second most valuable thing people buy, and yet they nearly always go to the dealership, clueless, hat in hand, hoping the dealer will treat them fairly. And often, that ain't how it works out.

Sometimes you can get a rebate or cash back if you finance with the dealer. Then you can turn around a pay it off with another loan!

[htismaqe]

You should buy a GM. Best cars in the world, hands down.

[foxman]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

Here's page 1 of a 7 page set of articles on how to buy a new car and avoid getting ripped off. It's funny and informative, but it is a long read.

I **STRONGLY** recommend you read it so you understand all the ways dealers can screw you.

A few general tips for you:

1. buy towards the end of the month (whatever month you're talking about) if you can. Not that you'll get a steal, but the dealers are always looking to close out a month strong.

True most dealers are trying to close on a high note, but dealers also like to get off to a good start.

Originally Posted by Amnorix

2. If you're financing, try to get financing from your bank or a credit union lined up in advance. Dealer loans are usually at worse rates.

This is rediculous and total B.S. Dealers do provide the service and sure they do it to make money, otherwise they wouldnt be called so and so motors they would be called the United Way. Profit is not a dirty word people Jeebus would think that paying a profit was somehow illegal. What you don't think the bank is making money or the credit union? Grow up. Now, I do agree it's a good idea to know what your bank or credit Union is offering so you know when the Finance Manger tells you what he can offer whether it's reasonable or not. Dealers get better bank rates then you can get because of vollume. Credit Unions are a differant breed all together, but don't mistake there rates for not making a profit. Odviously if they have the lowest rate then it might be to your benefit though so find out but don't commit until you know what the dealer can do. Some dealers are signed up through credit unions to be able to offer those same rates without the hassle of making a seperate trip.

Originally Posted by Amnorix

3. If you're doing a trade in, be sure to negotiate it separately. Negotiate the price of the car you're buying, and THEN deal with the trade in.

This is not bad advise, but be prepared to feel like you have been rapped. The trade is worth the same regardless of whether you negotiate or not up front. The used car manager is good for a bump in most cases unless he missed the car altogether for a couple of hundred in most cases. Trade differance is what you need to focus on if you don't negotiate up front.

Originally Posted by Amnorix

4. Often, the salesperson will be asking you questions that are irrelevant. "How much a month are you looking to spend". That's not the question. The question is how much is the car. THEN you figure out your monthly from there.

Not true. Most buyers are payment buyers and because of that the salesman doesnt want to sell you a car that will yeild a $500 payment if you can only afford $300. Sure if you are not a payment buy then you need to get him off of what payment you want.

Originally Posted by Amnorix

RESEARCH what you are doing and how you will do it before you walk into the dealership. Don't be a "lay down" for them. Cars are usually the second most valuable thing people buy, and yet they nearly always go to the dealership, clueless, hat in hand, hoping the dealer will treat them fairly. And often, that ain't how it works out.

Research is very important. Dealers might not be able to make as much profit on an informed buyer, but the informed buyer is sometimes the easier sale because it cuts through some of the process.

[Randallflagg]

Before you buy the Mustang (I Love 'em!) you might check this out:

http://www.allpar.com/cars/dodge/challenger.html


Pretty sexy.....

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by BiStateNo

Before you buy the Mustang (I Love 'em!) you might check this out:

http://www.allpar.com/cars/dodge/challenger.html


Pretty sexy.....

Agreed. The Challenger concept is, quite simply, magnificent. I saw it at the Chicago auto show last month. Bigger, badder and closer in styling to the original than the new Mustang. The perfect retro car. Absolutely love it.

But I simply can't imagine it being in the same ballpark price-wise as the Mustang. IMO, it will cost substantially more.

But maybe it won't. The Dodge people don't consult with me.

[redbrian]

Say what you will about the big 3 and all the problems they brought on themselves.

But with out a doubt they are rolling out some of the best looking stuff around.

The stuff from the east is about as stylish as your grandma’s slippers, for the most part they all are shapeless and look the same.

The new Chrysler luxury model with the Northstar V-8 is a very nice.

[foxman]

Bump so Amnorix can rebut my claims that his post was borderline idiotic.