I'm buying a Nissan Xterra S - Page 4

**morphius** · 02-11-2007, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by recxjake

I wouldn't buy an Xterra, an 07 Vue, or anything that's been out for several years... there is so much better new stuff available. Yes, they refresh them, but the basics of the car never change. The automotive market is so competitive right now that automakers are constantly creating new, better product.

The 08 Vue... out in April, is compeletely new... new everything! I would wait, but if the lady wants a new car, the lady wants a new car.

The problem with buying the "new" is that the first year of any new model or any major change also leads to more recalls and more minor fixes. If you go with something that has been around for a couple of years, then you stand a better chance of having less complications.

**morphius** · 02-11-2007, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by recxjake

I wouldn't buy an Xterra, an 07 Vue, or anything that's been out for several years... there is so much better new stuff available. Yes, they refresh them, but the basics of the car never change. The automotive market is so competitive right now that automakers are constantly creating new, better product.

The 08 Vue... out in April, is compeletely new... new everything! I would wait, but if the lady wants a new car, the lady wants a new car.

The problem with buying the "new" is that the first year of any new model or any major change also leads to more recalls and more minor fixes. If you go with something that has been around for a couple of years, then you stand a better chance of having less complications.

If you are just going to lease, then those things matter less, but if you plan to own it for a long period of time, well, that is different.

recxjake · 02-11-2007, 09:59 PM

When the Saturn Vue debuted in 2002, it represented Saturn's (as well as General Motors') first homegrown entry in the car-based small SUV segment. As there were already many established players at this point, Saturn's managers knew that just showing up wasn't going to be enough to ensure success. As such, the company equipped the vehicle with unique drivetrain options, a spacious cabin and a low price.

This proved to be enough to garner reasonable success in terms of sales but not much in terms of critical acclaim. Since then, Saturn has been hard at work making improvements and expanding the Vue's model lineup. By most measures, the current Saturn Vue is the best yet, and consumers searching for an SUV with a comfortable ride quality, an available hybrid powertrain and a no-hassle buying experience will likely be satisfied with a Vue purchase.

The Saturn Vue is a car-based SUV. Like most other vehicles of this type, it provides useful cargo-carrying versatility, an elevated driving position, secure handling, optional V6 power and the option for all-wheel drive. Though the Vue is officially classified as a midsize SUV in terms of size, most shoppers compare it to similarly priced compact SUVs during the decision-making process. It's built at Saturn's Spring Hill, Tennessee plant and shares its basic platform with the Pontiac Torrent and Chevrolet Equinox.

Choosing a Vue is a relatively easy affair. There are no specific trim levels but equipment and option availability change slightly depending on which engine is selected. The least expensive model has front-wheel drive, a 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine and a five-speed manual transmission. A five-speed automatic is optional. Stepping up to the 3.5-liter V6 model provides more power, a few more features and the option of getting all-wheel drive and a "Red Line" performance package.

A new addition to the Vue family is the "Green Line." Equipped with a gasoline/electric hybrid powertrain, this model promises to deliver a 20-percent improvement in fuel economy over a four-cylinder Vue. Additionally, the Green Line shaves about 1 second from the 0-60-mph time. From the outside, the Green Line looks like any other Vue. Only the Hybrid badge on the fender identifies it as the tree-hugger special.

In earlier reviews conducted by our editors, the Saturn Vue earned favorable commentary for its strong V6 engine, roomy cabin, comfortable ride and dent-resistant body panels. Noted downsides include below-average build quality, some low-grade interior materials, vague steering and weak performance from the base four-cylinder engine.

Though the Saturn Vue is still in its first generation, it's been around long enough that shoppers interested in buying a used, late-model compact SUV will likely come across it during their search. However, there are a few items to consider before choosing a used Vue. One is that the Vue's interior was notably improved for the 2006 model year. Models built previous to this are notably deficient in terms of interior materials quality and ergonomics.

One should also note that Saturn offered a continuously variable transmission (CVT) for the 2002-'05 model years. Fitted to the 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine, the CVT provided improved fuel mileage compared to the five-speed automatic. But long-term reliability was apparently an issue and Saturn discontinued it. Finally, Vues built through the 2004 model year have a 3.0-liter OHV V6 instead of the current, Honda-engineered 3.5-liter V6. The old V6, though prodigious in torque, was not nearly as refined or powerful as the 3.5-liter V6.

Silock · 02-11-2007, 10:26 PM

Well, there's always Carfax, which isn't 100% accurate, but there are plenty of cars that were always taken to the dealership for service and have all records.

Also key is not buying a vehicle that falls apart just because it's driven hard. Why would you want a car like that anyway?

recxjake · 02-11-2007, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silock

Well, there's always Carfax, which isn't 100% accurate, but there are plenty of cars that were always taken to the dealership for service and have all records.

Also key is not buying a vehicle that falls apart just because it's driven hard. Why would you want a car like that anyway?

I wouldn't, but I I had dents all over that thing, burn holes in the seats, smelled like beer... just a very well used high school car! I went way over on getting oil changes... Scrapped the bottom of it up very hard, the tires were bald.

Silock · 02-11-2007, 10:32 PM

Obviously, that's not the kind of used car I'm talking about buying.

Buying a car 2 years old that's still under warranty is the best thing you can financially do. You aren't the one that took the major hit on depreciation, and you still get many thousands of miles under warranty.

recxjake · 02-11-2007, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silock

Obviously, that's not the kind of used car I'm talking about buying.

Buying a car 2 years old that's still under warranty is the best thing you can financially do. You aren't the one that took the major hit on depreciation, and you still get many thousands of miles under warranty.

Mine was an 04, got an 06 a few months ago. Luckily I get GM employee pricing so I don't have to worry about getting screwed. Now GM's warranty goes to 100,000 so I think it will really help out GM's resale values... they announced a few days ago that the new 100k mile warranty goes on all used cars now too!

Silock · 02-11-2007, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by recxjake

Mine was an 04, got an 06 a few months ago. Luckily I get GM employee pricing so I don't have to worry about getting screwed. Now GM's warranty goes to 100,000 so I think it will really help out GM's resale values... they announced a few days ago that the new 100k mile warranty goes on all used cars now too!

That should help. Foreign car makers have been doing that for years now on their Certified Pre-Owned vehicles, and it really paid off.

Miles · 02-11-2007, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silock

Obviously, that's not the kind of used car I'm talking about buying.

Buying a car 2 years old that's still under warranty is the best thing you can financially do. You aren't the one that took the major hit on depreciation, and you still get many thousands of miles under warranty.

I definitely tend to agree with that line of thinking so long as you have enough left on the warranty and find one that was well cared for. Only problem is if you are financing it can be a pain.

Silock · 02-11-2007, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miles

I definitely tend to agree with that line of thinking so long as you have enough left on the warranty and find one that was well cared for. Only problem is if you are financing it can be a pain.

Definitely. Buying like that tends to eliminate impulse buying, because it forces you to do your homework and take some time when making a decision.

The good news is that most certified pre-owned cars have financing rates comparable to new cars. I got the same financing rate on my certified used MDX that I would have on a brand new one.

Miles · 02-11-2007, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silock

Definitely. Buying like that tends to eliminate impulse buying, because it forces you to do your homework and take some time when making a decision.

The good news is that most certified pre-owned cars have financing rates comparable to new cars. I got the same financing rate on my certified used MDX that I would have on a brand new one.

When I bought my latest car, around a year and a half ago and also an Acura the certified pre-owned was a big turn off for me. The dealerships in my area used it as a way to charge too much of a premium and were not willing to negotiate much.

Silock · 02-11-2007, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miles

When I bought my latest car, around a year and a half ago and also an Acura the certified pre-owned was a big turn off for me. The dealerships in my area used it as a way to charge too much of a premium and were not willing to negotiate much.

That sucks. The good news is that in the world of cars, especially used cars, there is always someone willing to deal.

**morphius** · 02-11-2007, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silock

Obviously, that's not the kind of used car I'm talking about buying.

Buying a car 2 years old that's still under warranty is the best thing you can financially do. You aren't the one that took the major hit on depreciation, and you still get many thousands of miles under warranty.

Actually, that depends. If you look back a year or two ago, many of the deals on the new cars were making the price almost the same as used.

recxjake · 02-11-2007, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morphius

Actually, that depends. If you look back a year or two ago, many of the deals on the new cars were making the price almost the same as used.

Yea, the GM employee pricing for all really ended up hurting GM....

The good news now is that rebates are down, and transaction prices are up!

02-11-2007, 09:59 PM	#3
recxjake MVP Join Date: Oct 2005 Casino cash: $10004900	When the Saturn Vue debuted in 2002, it represented Saturn's (as well as General Motors') first homegrown entry in the car-based small SUV segment. As there were already many established players at this point, Saturn's managers knew that just showing up wasn't going to be enough to ensure success. As such, the company equipped the vehicle with unique drivetrain options, a spacious cabin and a low price. This proved to be enough to garner reasonable success in terms of sales but not much in terms of critical acclaim. Since then, Saturn has been hard at work making improvements and expanding the Vue's model lineup. By most measures, the current Saturn Vue is the best yet, and consumers searching for an SUV with a comfortable ride quality, an available hybrid powertrain and a no-hassle buying experience will likely be satisfied with a Vue purchase. The Saturn Vue is a car-based SUV. Like most other vehicles of this type, it provides useful cargo-carrying versatility, an elevated driving position, secure handling, optional V6 power and the option for all-wheel drive. Though the Vue is officially classified as a midsize SUV in terms of size, most shoppers compare it to similarly priced compact SUVs during the decision-making process. It's built at Saturn's Spring Hill, Tennessee plant and shares its basic platform with the Pontiac Torrent and Chevrolet Equinox. Choosing a Vue is a relatively easy affair. There are no specific trim levels but equipment and option availability change slightly depending on which engine is selected. The least expensive model has front-wheel drive, a 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine and a five-speed manual transmission. A five-speed automatic is optional. Stepping up to the 3.5-liter V6 model provides more power, a few more features and the option of getting all-wheel drive and a "Red Line" performance package. A new addition to the Vue family is the "Green Line." Equipped with a gasoline/electric hybrid powertrain, this model promises to deliver a 20-percent improvement in fuel economy over a four-cylinder Vue. Additionally, the Green Line shaves about 1 second from the 0-60-mph time. From the outside, the Green Line looks like any other Vue. Only the Hybrid badge on the fender identifies it as the tree-hugger special. In earlier reviews conducted by our editors, the Saturn Vue earned favorable commentary for its strong V6 engine, roomy cabin, comfortable ride and dent-resistant body panels. Noted downsides include below-average build quality, some low-grade interior materials, vague steering and weak performance from the base four-cylinder engine. Though the Saturn Vue is still in its first generation, it's been around long enough that shoppers interested in buying a used, late-model compact SUV will likely come across it during their search. However, there are a few items to consider before choosing a used Vue. One is that the Vue's interior was notably improved for the 2006 model year. Models built previous to this are notably deficient in terms of interior materials quality and ergonomics. One should also note that Saturn offered a continuously variable transmission (CVT) for the 2002-'05 model years. Fitted to the 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine, the CVT provided improved fuel mileage compared to the five-speed automatic. But long-term reliability was apparently an issue and Saturn discontinued it. Finally, Vues built through the 2004 model year have a 3.0-liter OHV V6 instead of the current, Honda-engineered 3.5-liter V6. The old V6, though prodigious in torque, was not nearly as refined or powerful as the 3.5-liter V6.
Posts: 5,133

02-11-2007, 10:26 PM	#4
Silock MVP Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Overland Park Casino cash: $10020882	Well, there's always Carfax, which isn't 100% accurate, but there are plenty of cars that were always taken to the dealership for service and have all records. Also key is not buying a vehicle that falls apart just because it's driven hard. Why would you want a car like that anyway?
Posts: 19,908

02-11-2007, 10:32 PM	#6
Silock MVP Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Overland Park Casino cash: $10020882	Obviously, that's not the kind of used car I'm talking about buying. Buying a car 2 years old that's still under warranty is the best thing you can financially do. You aren't the one that took the major hit on depreciation, and you still get many thousands of miles under warranty.
Posts: 19,908