Topic: 20-25K used cars

[haoxu123]

thanks for all of your inputs.
The g35 i mentioned earlier has already been sold. Now i found this g35, but i dont think the price is as good. SO what do u guys think i can get it down to. Also hope u guys can give me some bargaining tips I emailed the guy and said to bring it down to 21000, but havent heard from him yet
http://www.megamitsubishi.com/en/usedcars/listing/details.spy?id=638574

[Arthur Dent]

I've got one tip - don't bother emailing or phoning car salesman - its a waste time. Get down there if serious.

From that link the first thing I'd get them to do is drop the $395 fee extra.

[davidm]

My complaint is I can't find everything I want in 1 car at a reasonable price (sub $50k to me is reasonable, and I'll buy used).

1) Real back seats - 2 door is fine, but prefer 4 door

2) At least 16 lbs / HP or / ft-lbs of torque - ie. a 100 HP or ft-lbs car is fine if it weighs 1600 lbs

3) RWD or AWD.  Last resort, FWD with an LSD.

4) weighs less than 3500 lbs overall (really, I'm not asking for much) - 3200 max would be better, but seems hard to find these days

5) manual or VW DSG

6) leather interior

7) OEM sports suspension that means it (as much as any OEM sports suspension even means it)

super grippy, well bolstered front seats

9) decent brakes

10) SABs with curtains

11) HIDs

12) doesn't have plasticy body kit garbage all over it (wings, etc.)

That gets me down to only the 3-series I think.  STi probably just slides in on price and Legacy GT would work if it had HIDs (although the interior is "ok" at best).  JCW Cooper S, perhaps the new GTi get me there with FWD.  RX-8 probably is there although the mileage/reliability question is big.  Others?

When you put that on the board the enthusiast car list gets small very fast.  The cars we would all agree we like and can use as driving (not car) enthusiast oriented daily drivers are very limited in North America.

[initial_D]

Depends on which model.  You liked the 325, I thought it was poo.  It was dog slow and felt cumbersome.

The 330i feels lighter for some reason and has the power to scoot you along.  That's a sports sedan.  Many mistake the entire 3 series line, but it's really only the 330i and M3 that I would consider a sports sedan.

Also BMW's weren't always heavy feeling, they use to be light and nimble, now that they are more badge than substance they are becoming heavier and heavier.  True enthusiasts tend to love the older BMW's more than the newer ones that are more style than driving fun.

  The E30s has a much more "direct connect" in feel compare with the E46s. E46 325s without the sport package is hardly sporty. E46s have different steering systems from MY to MY.

The Asian Market P5 has a slightly different engine tuning and heads, more inline with the Miata 1.8L I4. I prefer the old Protege / P5 than the current Mz3. With upgrade suspension and good tires, the P/P5 feels like a solid German car in the twisties. There is an AWD version of the P5 in JDM, along with a 180HP engine and other MazdaSpeed goodies like Recaro-like buckets.

The G35 4 door has good power and torque, a bit heavy, soft and cumbersome for my taste. The  coupe feels a lot different tho. When a car's weight is over 3000 Lbs, you really feel that weight when it isn't in a straight line. Power isn't everything to a driving enthusiast. 

[wing]

Davidm  CTS

[wing]

I've got one tip - don't bother emailing or phoning car salesman - its a waste time. Get down there if serious.

From that link the first thing I'd get them to do is drop the $395 fee extra.

it seems like dealerships never check or respond to mail

[haoxu123]

so  i need a black boo check of the car
2003     Infiniti     G35     Luxury     4D Sedan
80217km
Low: $19,540.00     High: $22,540.00
and the dealer is selling for $23,850+    $395 fee extra
so should i just show him the black book report, and ask him to drop the price down to 19540? lol im not too good with bargining.

[mdxtasy]

Blackbook means nothing to you as a buyer.  The blackbook is what the wholesale value of the car is.  That's what a dealer might expect to pay for the certain vehicle.  You're not going to buy it from them for that price.  You can ask....

[ghost]

wow... i'm surprised that infiniti g35 sedans aren't holding their resale value at all!

[Zoo]

That Ghost, seems to be a sad trend for many Nissan/Infiniti products...

[Snowman]

wow... i'm surprised that infiniti g35 sedans aren't holding their resale value at all!

Many people are disappointed with changing the brakes frequently and other quality issues. There are tons on the used car market. The Coupes seem to hold their value better and there seems to be many 350’s and Coupes on the used market as well.

[johngenx]

I think one reason there are quite a few G35's on the market is the popularity of the car early in it's life.  Those cars are coming off lease now, and I imagine the majority of them were "bought" on 3-4 year leases.

I suspect that most of the cutomers had no intention of buying the car at the end of the term.

[wing]

Yes they are low, I have been eyeing them as well

[initial_D]

You can get an Infiniti at around 55% of the original MSRP after a 3 year lease return, still have 1 year and tons of mileage left on its 4 yr/100K warranty. Very tempting indeed. There is so much coupes available tho, and still have to wait a year or 2 for the AWD model.

Will be very interesting to see how the M35/M45 hold up their value in 3 years. The Q45s are taken dives at the used market.

[davidm]

Davidm  CTS

Really? 

[Snowman]

Davidm  CTS

Really? 

  Dave…you never read JB’s famous CTS test drive?...where have you been man?

[wing]

Sure look:
My complaint is I can't find everything I want in 1 car at a reasonable price (sub $50k to me is reasonable, and I'll buy used).
Sub $50k CHECK

1) Real back seats - 2 door is fine, but prefer 4 door, HUGE back seats CHECK

2) At least 16 lbs / HP or / ft-lbs of torque - ie. a 100 HP or ft-lbs car is fine if it weighs 1600 lbs
210hp (17hp/lb) or 255 hp(14hp/lb) 3600 lb curb weight, so CHECK


3) RWD or AWD.  Last resort, FWD with an LSD.
RWD, CHECK

4) weighs less than 3500 lbs overall (really, I'm not asking for much) - 3200 max would be better, but seems hard to find these days
Ok it's 3600lbs, but it's only 100lbs more than your asking for, so not too bad, I'd say CHECK

5) manual or VW DSG
Manual CHECK

6) leather interior
CHECK

7) OEM sports suspension that means it (as much as any OEM sports suspension even means it)
CHECK

super grippy, well bolstered front seats
Well bolstered, not super grippy though hard to get super grippy with leather.  Half CHeck

9) decent brakes
Check

10) SABs with curtains
Check

11) HIDs
CHECK

12) doesn't have plasticy body kit garbage all over it (wings, etc.)

AND............. CHECK

[davidm]

Davidm  CTS

Really? 

  Dave…you never read JB’s famous CTS test drive?...where have you been man?

Somehow I must have missed that.  Probably skipped over it because it said the word "Cadillac".  I'll track it down.  Thanks.

[davidm]

Sure look:
My complaint is I can't find everything I want in 1 car at a reasonable price (sub $50k to me is reasonable, and I'll buy used).
Sub $50k CHECK

1) Real back seats - 2 door is fine, but prefer 4 door, HUGE back seats CHECK

2) At least 16 lbs / HP or / ft-lbs of torque - ie. a 100 HP or ft-lbs car is fine if it weighs 1600 lbs
210hp (17hp/lb) or 255 hp(14hp/lb) 3600 lb curb weight, so CHECK


3) RWD or AWD.  Last resort, FWD with an LSD.
RWD, CHECK

4) weighs less than 3500 lbs overall (really, I'm not asking for much) - 3200 max would be better, but seems hard to find these days
Ok it's 3600lbs, but it's only 100lbs more than your asking for, so not too bad, I'd say CHECK

5) manual or VW DSG
Manual CHECK

6) leather interior
CHECK

7) OEM sports suspension that means it (as much as any OEM sports suspension even means it)
CHECK

super grippy, well bolstered front seats
Well bolstered, not super grippy though hard to get super grippy with leather.  Half CHeck

9) decent brakes
Check

10) SABs with curtains
Check

11) HIDs
CHECK

12) doesn't have plasticy body kit garbage all over it (wings, etc.)

AND............. CHECK

Okay, okay, I get it.  These must depreciate fast I bet, wonder what the used market looks like.  I'll check it out.  That said, I'm not really looking to replace the bimmer, want to replace the Audi and my wife doesn't share all the same priorities as I do.

[wing]

$18-$24k for an '03 with under 80,000km (IE still warranty left).  There's one in Niagara for $24k that has an extended warranty for 6 years 120,000km.

I'm looking at a CTS or a TSX.  The TSX I feel may be a safer bet being a Honda, also the options aren't as complicated, a TSX is a TSX unless it has Navi lolz.