bkw

I don't know why I hadnt thought of this earlier..

The S4 Avant sounds like everything you need. Quattro, fun to drive, handles great, gobs of power, and the Avant so you can haul stuff around! This was the car we *were* going to get, but the wife was concerned with reliability thus chose the Honda.

vp911

Hey! The CTS-V is a great idea - my friend's uncle is the VP for GM so I will have to arrange something with him. great idea!

vp911

The reason I have really been avoiding the german cars is reliability. I don't really want to sit in the shop all day, although, I am a BIG fan of the S4. I may have to go look at it.

Rob L

get the rx400H. your mom needs a classy SUV.

vp911

The S4 sticker price loaded is 56k, and the gas mileage is lower than I would like (Granted, it is a V8) but the 56k price tag throws it out of my price range.

vp911

You know, I have seriously considered the rx400h, but the savings in gas won't pay off. She won't keep the car more than 3-4 years (which at least is more than I can say about how long I keep my cars )

Aside from hybrid, is there really any advantage over the rx330? I know there is more power, but I would be the only one to want the extra power for the few months that I drive it, she would never use it.

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

Really??

I think we need to assemble a team from AZ to consult at GM to get them out of their problems. Care to facilitate an introduction?

vp911

I'm not so sure how much he would like that. I've already told him how they can change to get me to stop buying Japanese cars Suggestions? I'll make sure and harrass him about them

bkw

VP, we negotiated the price of the S4 Avant with tip and navi ($55k msrp) to $51k pretty easily.

Will you be buying, leasing or financing? Cash talks!

vp911

Financing - I put 18-20k miles a year on a car, so leasing isn't really the best choice. Generally the credit union kills the rates offered by the dealers around here though.

That seems like a pretty good price... I wonder if it can go down even more

delacura

I agree with Vic. I have had my RL for 6 months and have become very bored with it. It really has no life... no personality. It is fine for a cruise but besides that it is really just starting to feel like an "old man's" car to me. I really was captured with my initial impression, all the bells and whistles, but I hardly use half the stuff e.g. the voice recognition aint worth the effort. Anyway it is BORING me to death. I quess I am stuck with it for a while

WhitePearl_RL

My oldest son is most likely going to buy a 2006 CTS-V. The 2006 has th LS2 engine, better driveshaft, and they have eliminated most of the wheel hop from what I have read. He has been quoted $47K out the door at our local dealership. Not a bad deal for a car with so many options and 400hp to boot ... plus a 5 year 60K warranty!

vp911

That is a pretty good price. I wouldn't buy an american car though. Resale values are down the toilet the minute you sign. You had better plan to keep it forever if you want to buy it. I guess a better indicator is this... the dealers here, when taking a trade-in on an american car will go to KBB and pick the "fair" or "poor" rating for the value on which to give for the person trading in. Even if the car has 1000 miles on it.

jftjr

$50K for a Cadillac is insane, IMHO.... the interior is still made out of the GM parts bin, you still have to deal with "Mr. Goodwrench" service, and the ride and handling aren't up to German or Japanese snuff. Yeah, it's fast in a straight line, but it's just not in the same class as the competition in any other respects.

*shrug* I guess someone's got to buy them.....

I shudder to think who's going to pony up $77K for an STS-V, when an M5 can be had for pretty much the same price....

catpat8000

Respectfully, I don't agree. The CTS-V is a great car, especially at
$45-47K. It has world class handling, power, and braking. The car
compares very well in performance to the best the Japanese and
Germans had to offer in 2005. Of course you might argue the new M5
offers more but it also costs roughly $30-40k more too.

The real achilles heel of this car is that the 2004 and 2005 models
suffered from severe (and I mean severe) wheel hop and, as a result,
many, many broken rear differentials. On the CTS-V boards there are
many drivers on their 3rd and some on their 4th rear ends.

Cadillac and GM are intimately aware of this problem but I don't know
if the 2006 model year fixes it to any real degree.

If I were looking into a CTS-V (and I did before buying my C6), I'd try to
learn as much as possible about the rear end changes on the 06 model.

Pat

vp911

I wouldn't go so far to say it's insane to pay 50k for a cadillac. But, I would say lease it, don't buy it.

WhitePearl_RL

To say a CTS-V does not handle like its German and Japanese counterparts is far from the truth. I have spent some good time behind the wheel of a 2004 CTS-V at track events and it does handle better than most of its competition. From my experience, the B6 S4 and E46 M3 were the only two German competitors that could outhandle the V, but lacked in the torque department.

vp911

I'm not going to lie - after driving today I almost want to keep the RL. It was absolutely amazing how many cars were spun out and in accidents everywhere because of the snow and ice. I am not really sure if it was the AWD or the Snow tires which made the difference. My guess is the snow tires - not the awd which kept me on the road.

SodaLuvr

Heh...I know a GM engineer...VP lives in the 'hood...so I may be able to....

LOL...

feeenux

I'd say keep it and run the crap out of it...KBB estimate is way too optimistic. I paid less than $42k for my NEW RL back in August. I'm thinking you'd be lucky to get $35k, unfortunately.

BTW, I've got an 01 S2000 and it puts a smile on my face every time I drive it. I bought it new in 01 and got raped on the price, but you could do much better now.

If you could put together the bucks, the new Z06 looks like it is probably pretty cool and would give you the thrill you're looking for...although Chevrolet usually produces trash and the dealerships are the worst. ...my opinion, of course.

trancemission

I say keep it Vik. Forget that damn SUV.........

vp911

^ you would be happy if I stayed in the acura line...say get an MDX?

Classic_martini

FYI:

Alfa Brera
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/evo/dri...meo_brera.html

VW Scirocco
http://www.carspyshots.net/zerothread?id=16896&page=2
http://www.autobild.de/projektor/gal...tikel_id=10265

vp911

^ sexy

Classic_martini

Rather. Cheers.

And - to continue my off tanget whoring - MODERN Diesels are a GREAT way of getting low-end torque (ie quick off the line) while having the benefits of small engine displacement (+ a lighter weight car) and great fuel economy - how does 1000kms to the tank grab ya? - All wrapped in fine European style...

Anyway - back to the RL...

catsailr

My wife drives the RL most of the time and would not think of selling it. If I were considering a sporty car I would definitely consider the new Honda Civic Si. I haven't driven one yet, but from what I have read it would be hard to beat for the money. It is Motor Trend's car of the year, but you can take that for what its worth. The Si seems that it would be a fun car to drive.

jftjr

No matter how clean, quiet, efficient, powerful, or high-performing you might make a Diesel engine.... visions of early-80's GM cars fitted with Diesel engines flit in the head of every US citizen at the mere mention of cetane-burners.


And yes.... Dad did let me drive his 1981 Olds 98 Regency Diesel when I was in high school.....

Classic_martini

How humiliating. Very "charater building", as parents are wont to say.

BTW - Check out the torque curve for this baby...
http://forums.mbworld.org/forums/sho...d.php?t=108666

crazytsxmods

Hey Vp911, sorry to hear about you selling your RL. I totally understand though. Its been a crazy last month for me and long story short Acura bought back my 05 rl and I got an 06. Lots of software updates and things I notice that make me love the car now. For instance when you leave the lights in auto there is no more beeping sounds when you exit the vehicle. Also got the wood grain wheel and love it. It makes it like a differant car. The car really feels about 15% faster with the shifting and what not. The 05 had a sluggish start off the line all the time. Maybe try driving an 06? Hope it all works out for you. If you have any questions about software changes or anything feel free to pm me or ask. Also the voice recognition and nav traffic works like a dream in this one as before I had to repeat commands 10 times over.

vp911

Glad to hear they bought yours back and you are now happy! I am sure some of the other members would like to hear about the software updates (as would I of course) but, there is nothing wrong with my car - I just find it big and would like to downsize and get something a little more sporty.

crazytsxmods

I tottaly understand and have felt the same way. But because of my line of work I have passengers in my car allot so it is good at doing what the RL is meant to do. If I do good next year I would like to get a used C6 for a fun car.

andrewgg2

Well, VP911 if you are considering IS350 your might be sorry, since the car does not have AWD, voice recognition, and integrated phone (one of the best features on your RL) etc. Also you would have to get it loaded, since it would be hard to settle for less after RL. Given this, you would pay about $43 for your IS350, plus another 7K loss on your RL . $50K is very expensive for IS350!
Also, guys I am getting sick of these posts above. RL is not a sports car, and you should have done better research when you were getting your RL. I drove CL-S for almost 5 years, and now I got 05 RL. The reason that you are feeling board etc, is because in RL you can't really hear the engine power. This does not mean that it is not fun to drive or has less power. It is a LUXURY CAR and it is very quite! I love my RL, and I would never trade it for any BMW 530i, IS350, M35 etc. If you want a sharper look, and more sporty fell get a A-Spec package and 19 inch wheels. Also consider to change your exhaust. The other day, I drove a TL and it was raining. Owning a RL now and getting use it, the TL felt sloppy and all over the place. I guess, I have forgot how many times my tires where spinning in my CL-S and how “all over the place it was in snow” Just my 6 cents.

vp911

The IS350 does not have AWD, correct, but it does have voice activation and bluetooth for the phone

andrewgg2

Actually you are right, it does have voice activation and Bluetooth. I forgot to select the appropriate package when I was configuring this car. Sorry

vp911

Expensive it is though.... especially for not being discounted much.

fuckleberry

damn it's tempting

tyrael

I just got quoted from a dealership to buy my car for 35.5K! Huge hit I tell ya... Oh well...

vp911

^Yup, killer.

crazytsxmods

So what replacement cars have you narrowed it down to Vic.

vp911

A CPO Audi S4, 330i, IS350. Of course if none of those are available immediately I will get the RX330 and order whichever car I decide on. Other suggestions are welcome!