Went looking at cars this weekend

[SteveR]

So Melissa and I went driving around to dealerships to see what they had for '08's and prices, and OMG, they're practically giving cars away right now. We went to two Dodge dealers, Pontiac, Cadillac, Lincoln, Ford, Saab, and Subaru. I'm going to be looking for a new DD in maybe 4-6 weeks and I can't believe the discounts on new cars right now. The average we found on a lot of cars was 10-16k off sticker.

Next is to test drive everything and narrow the list down lol Also need to see what people have heard/read about a lot of these cars too. I think right now I'm looking at;

Caddy CTS
Caddy CTS-V *used
Pontiac G8 GT
Pontiac G8 truck thing, if it ever comes out
Ford Fusion
Lincoln MKZ
Lincoln Zepher *used
Saab 9-3 Sport Aero
Saab 9-5 Sport Aero
Saab Turbo X
Dodge Magnum R/T
Dodge Charger SRT8
EDIT: Volvo S60-R *used

What do you guys think?

[NJ Torque]

where did you go / what was the best price on a g8 gt?

[SteveR]

where did you go / what was the best price on a g8 gt?

We went to the Calleremi place on 46 in Mount Olive, but they didn't have any G8s for some reason, so we weren't able to get any prices on that one. I'll probably go to a Pontiac dealer this week and see what I can come up with.

[NastyEllEssWon]

those 9-3 aero verts are sexy

[SteveR]

those 9-3 aero verts are sexy

hell yea man, and they're extremely comfortable too. The Saab dealer we went to had a ton of 9-3 Aero convertibles too.

[maroman88]

that list deff goes best to worst lol.... cts all the way if thats really an option.... it didnt win car of the year from motor trend for nothing!

[NJ346]

that list deff goes best to worst lol.... cts all the way if thats really an option.... it didnt win car of the year from motor trend for nothing!

Idk, I've seen a S60-R in person and there's just something about them that looks sexy until you look down and see it's a volvo

[NJSPEEDER]

If you are looking at a new G8 call up to Flemington Chevy and ask for Alison O'Neil. She is a member and f-body enthusiast. She does everything she can to get people the best price.

-Tim

[SteveR]

Idk, I've seen a S60-R in person and there's just something about them that looks sexy until you look down and see it's a volvo

S60-R is pretty nice, 2.5L turbo making 300hp in an AWD car. New they were pretty expensive, used they're going for 20-25k.

[alamantia]

That CTS with the direct injection 3.6 is hot. The interiors from the 2002-2007 models is cheesy, the 2008 & 2009 interior is sexy. I was looking into one last year, but for 50k for a 2008 I figure I would wait 1-2 years to see some that come off lease and buy a used one thats in good condition for much less $$

[BigAls87Z28]

So Melissa and I went driving around to dealerships to see what they had for '08's and prices, and OMG, they're practically giving cars away right now. We went to two Dodge dealers, Pontiac, Cadillac, Lincoln, Ford, Saab, and Subaru. I'm going to be looking for a new DD in maybe 4-6 weeks and I can't believe the discounts on new cars right now. The average we found on a lot of cars was 10-16k off sticker.

Next is to test drive everything and narrow the list down lol Also need to see what people have heard/read about a lot of these cars too. I think right now I'm looking at;

Caddy CTS
Caddy CTS-V *used

A new CTS vs a used CTS-V? IMO...if you can grab a great deal on a DI RWD CTS, you will be more then happy. I would deff go for a new CTS over a last gen CTS-V.

Pontiac G8 GT
Pontiac G8 truck thing, if it ever comes out
Get the sedan.

Ford Fusion
Lincoln MKZ
Lincoln Zepher *used
MKZ has several nice improvements over the Zepher outside of just a name change. IMO, id rather get a Malibu LTZ. But Im a fanboy, what do I know.
Out of the three, the Milan is the best buy. Better looking then the boring Fusion, and better looking then the old Linc designed MKZ.

Saab 9-3 Sport Aero
Saab 9-5 Sport Aero
Saab Turbo X

9-5?? Get the 9-3, the new design looks great. Go balls out and get the new Turbo X model!! 280hp AWD! Very cool car.

Dodge Magnum R/T
Dodge Charger SRT8

Drive the Charger first, then drive G8 GT. Tell me which one you REALLY want.
EDIT: Volvo S60-R *used

Not bad at all, very cool car.

What do you guys think?

Id throw Malibu LTZ on your list.
252 hp, 6spd auto, Onstar free for a year with connections and directions, bluetooth, XM radio with Aux jack for MP3/iPod, two tone leather interior. And if you want something a bit frugal on gas, the LTZ is now standard with teh 2.4 and 6spd auto getting near 33mpg, best in class.

Id also look at maybe a used Caddy STS with the northstar.

[Tsar]

CTS > all that other stuff you listed.

[mc73nova]

Caddy CTS- The new one yes
Pontiac G8 GT- test drove it and fell in love
Ford Fusion- not a bad car for mid $20's
Saab 9-3 Sport Aero- awd turbo, very nice!
Dodge Charger SRT8- not a mopar man but they have grown on me. nice car
EDIT: Volvo S60-R *used- I have always liked them

Out of the vehicles I would choose, I ranked them for the hell of it.
1-Hands down the G8 GT - style,performance and price for this vehicle new is excellent, imo
2-SRT 8
3-S60-R
4-Saab 9-3
5-CTS
6-Fusion

I know its not on the list and is smaller compared to the others, but the Cobalt SS is a lot of bang for the buck.

[BigAls87Z28]

Cobalt SS is a cool car, and the new turbo model has made it the best compact car on the market. Problem is, the rest of the car. Its design and interior fell behind everyone else real fast.
I cannot wait for the new Cruze to hit US dealers.

G8 GT is by far the best car GM makes currently.
That is untill Oshawa goes Job 1 in 3 months :)

[SteveR]

That CTS with the direct injection 3.6 is hot. The interiors from the 2002-2007 models is cheesy, the 2008 & 2009 interior is sexy. I was looking into one last year, but for 50k for a 2008 I figure I would wait 1-2 years to see some that come off lease and buy a used one thats in good condition for much less $$

The AWD version is between 46-50k but the base model starts around 37.5k or so sticker, not counting discounts. If GM and dealerships are doing the same rebates and discounts on the CTS, I'm hoping to find the base in the mid 20's.

[SteveR]

A new CTS vs a used CTS-V? IMO...if you can grab a great deal on a DI RWD CTS, you will be more then happy. I would deff go for a new CTS over a last gen CTS-V.


The new CTS has the 6cyl that the new Camaro is getting right? I saw one of the Hot Lava Edition CTSs and really liked it. I looked it up today and they're hard to find. I think a SOM Caddy would be hot :lol:

Is there any word on the G8 truck thing? I liked the concept but I haven't heard anything else about it.

I like the MKZ and Zephyr, but haven't driven one yet. I'm guessing some of the design is based off the new Taurus, which is based off the S80.

The Saab's are pretty awesome. The 9-3 is really comfortable, but the 9-5 has a lot more leg room, especially in the back. The Turbo X was nice, and they were giving it away. Sticker was 46k, and they reduced it down to 34. I'm sure if it's still there end of November/early December I can get it close to 30. One '08 9-3 they had was marked down from 39k to 25.

The S60-R is on the list because I've always liked them. You can't beat 300hp in an AWD sedan and with Volvo's safety and reliability record.

The Magnum and Charger I like, but do have their negatives when compared to the other cars. First is gas mileage, second is comfort. One thing I was thinking is that if I can get a new DD cheap, I may get a new truck too. Diesel trucks are not selling at all and dealers are giving them away right now. We found a 2008 Dodge 3500 diesel fully loaded for 16k off sticker. It's almost like buy one get one free. I'm sure if I go into a Dodge dealer and tell them I'll take one Magnum that doesn't sell and one diesel truck that doesn't sell, I'll walk out with one hell of a deal.

[NJSPEEDER]

I think having a V6 CTS would be good. I would stay away from the CTS-V because of the temptation to play with that 400hp under the hood, even knowing it is strapped to a rear made of even cheaper glass than a 10bolt.

Going new vs used also gets you in on all of the special financing and great prices that are going around now too.

I would have to take a long hard look at the Saab 9-3 Aero too. They are really really nice cars, have about the lowest insurance of anything in the class, get great mileage, very reliable, and, as Al said, the styling of the new ones is much improved.

-Tim

[alamantia]

idunno, when i priced one out I went with the 3.6 direct injection RWD G80 and yes the base was around 38k but I couldnt see buying a cadillac with no options, if im already going to finance the bulk of a loan for 38k why not get what i really want for 50k i just dont want to be stuck with a car payment for something i dont want, thats my mentality, thats why i didnt go for it. I will limp my tahoe around until i can get what i want. I hate to admit it, but my dad brings those Saturn Auras home alot, i likey...

[BigAls87Z28]

The new CTS has the 6cyl that the new Camaro is getting right? I saw one of the Hot Lava Edition CTSs and really liked it. I looked it up today and they're hard to find. I think a SOM Caddy would be hot :lol:

Yes, the uplevel engine in the CTS, the Direct Injected 304hp 3.6 will be the base engine for Camaro.

Is there any word on the G8 truck thing? I liked the concept but I haven't heard anything else about it.

Wasnt a concept, was a production car. G8 ST and GXP picing should be released soon, with sales starting around the same time as Camaro.

I like the MKZ and Zephyr, but haven't driven one yet. I'm guessing some of the design is based off the new Taurus, which is based off the S80.

MKZ is Zepher upgraded. Zepher/MKZ are built on the Mazda6 platform along side Fusion and Milan. The Fusion tripplets will be getting a redesign very soon.
The Taurus is built of a moddified S80 plaform. Linc just showed off the MKS, the Linc version of the Taurus. The Taurus will be getting a MASSIVE overhaul, said to be the "Superman" Taurus compared to the "Clark Kent" version we have now. Also rumors of the Ecoboost twin turbo V6 making it into a Taurus "SHO" have been boosted with quad-tipped exhaust Tauri running around Ford's proving grounds.
The MKS isnt a bad looking car, carries the new Linc design sceme. The back end is a little Korean looking, but the front end is very bold. Still no Mondeo...

http://www.autospectator.com/cars/files/images/2008-Lincoln-MKS-06.jpg

http://images.myride.com/images/vehicle/2009/Lincoln/MKS/oem/09LincolnMKS_03_HR_(544x408).jpg

The Saab's are pretty awesome. The 9-3 is really comfortable, but the 9-5 has a lot more leg room, especially in the back. The Turbo X was nice, and they were giving it away. Sticker was 46k, and they reduced it down to 34. I'm sure if it's still there end of November/early December I can get it close to 30. One '08 9-3 they had was marked down from 39k to 25.

9-5 is sooooo old, its platform is like the Sweedish Wbody, only without the bullietproof 3.8.
9-3 is on an European Epsilon platform, and now with the addition of AWD, is a heck of a car. A new 9-5 will be coming out next year.

The S60-R is on the list because I've always liked them. You can't beat 300hp in an AWD sedan and with Volvo's safety and reliability record.

Nope, its just that it is a rare car, a rare imported car, and a rare imported AWD expensive 300hp car. Not fun to fix IMO.

The Magnum and Charger I like, but do have their negatives when compared to the other cars. First is gas mileage, second is comfort. One thing I was thinking is that if I can get a new DD cheap, I may get a new truck too. Diesel trucks are not selling at all and dealers are giving them away right now. We found a 2008 Dodge 3500 diesel fully loaded for 16k off sticker. It's almost like buy one get one free. I'm sure if I go into a Dodge dealer and tell them I'll take one Magnum that doesn't sell and one diesel truck that doesn't sell, I'll walk out with one hell of a deal.

You could...or you can go to a PBG dealer, get a G8 V6 and a GMC Sierra 2500 dmax for the same deal and be better off all around!

[SteveR]

You could...or you can go to a PBG dealer, get a G8 V6 and a GMC Sierra 2500 dmax for the same deal and be better off all around!

Thats a good idea. If I get a G8, it'll be a V8 though. The G6 GXP is also an idea too, but I haven't seen one in person yet. The problem I think is going to be finding a dealership with both that I'm looking for. The truck has to be a bare bones no frills diesel work truck. All it has to be is diesel, 4x4, tow package, block heater. thats it. no bucket seats, no leather, no carpeting. The only place I think I'll find that new will be a dealer that specializes in corporate fleet sales or something. I don't want to spend 40k on a truck I plan on driving in snow and bad weather, put heavy things in, and pull heavy things with. If I can find the truck for say 20-25k, and the car for 20-25k, I'll be happy.

[alamantia]

Thats a good idea. If I get a G8, it'll be a V8 though. The G6 GXP is also an idea too, but I haven't seen one in person yet. The problem I think is going to be finding a dealership with both that I'm looking for. The truck has to be a bare bones no frills diesel work truck. All it has to be is diesel, 4x4, tow package, block heater. thats it. no bucket seats, no leather, no carpeting. The only place I think I'll find that new will be a dealer that specializes in corporate fleet sales or something. I don't want to spend 40k on a truck I plan on driving in snow and bad weather, put heavy things in, and pull heavy things with. If I can find the truck for say 20-25k, and the car for 20-25k, I'll be happy.

Whats wrong with that fine F250 you found in VT? That would make a good work truck, no?

[Slow96LT1]

i get the cts-v

[rscamaro73]

Stick to a used 'something'.....2 years old...and haggle the SHIZNIT outta them on it....

[SteveR]

Whats wrong with that fine F250 you found in VT? That would make a good work truck, no?

It's not a bad truck at all, but it needs work. It needs a trans rebuild, the engine needs to be gone over as it only starts when it feels like it, and a bunch of other things, but I have the parts for all the other stuff. My concern is that it's 21 years old and I'd be driving it all over and the last thing I need is it breaking down in the snow half way between NJ and VA. It would be great for a work truck, but I don't feel comfortable right now driving it 300 miles each way, and with the deals on new trucks right now, I can get something that'll last a long time.

[SteveR]

Stick to a used 'something'.....2 years old...and haggle the SHIZNIT outta them on it....

That's what I usually do, but right now you can get a new 2008 for the same price as a used 2006. The deals are that good right now. At Saab, the price for a used 2006 9-3 Aero is 23-24k. It's the same price for a new 2008 9-3 Aero right now.

[NastyEllEssWon]

http://www.edmunds.com/pictures/VEHICLE/2008/Saab/2008.saab.9-3.20136752-396x249.jpg


^^^
worth a thousand words :nod:

[Tsar]

http://www.edmunds.com/pictures/VEHICLE/2008/Saab/2008.saab.9-3.20136752-396x249.jpg


^^^
worth a thousand words :nod:

Is ugly one of them?

[bcgetfresh]

I would go with the CTS or G8 no doubt...

[Featherburner]

G8 GT but that's me. I may be a little biased. :mrgreen:

[SteveR]

Ok, so we went and spent 6 hours today test driving cars :) We drove;

2009 Pontiac G6 GXP
2008 Pontiac G8 GT
2006 Dodge Magnum SXT
2006 Dodge Magnum R/T AWD
2006 Chrysler 300C SRT8
2006 Saab 9-3 convertible
2008 Saab 9-3 Aero
2007 Saab 9-5


All of the cars were nice, but some really stood out over the others. First was the Dodge Magnum SXT. I wanted to get an idea of how the Magnum felt and its visibility. The V6 was kinda crappy, and the cloth seats were uncomfortable. Visibility wasn't bad though and I kinda like the way it looks. There was plenty of room in the back seat for two adults. There was a good amount of cargo space and with the back seats folded down you could really put a good amount of stuff in there.

Next was the Pontiac G8 GT and G6 GXP. The G8 GT was very comfortable, and the interior is laid out real nice. Everything is ergonomic and easy to reach. I'd say front passenger area is in the same size class as the Audi A4. One thing we noticed is that the center console in the G8 is almost identical to the Saab 9-3, minus the Saab center console key thing. We drove one once a few weeks ago and it handled good, and there was plenty of power. The only thing I noticed when we drove it is that there is a very noticeable lag from foot-to-floor to engine reaction. Next was the G6 GXP. The interior is a bit bigger than the G8, with more leg room in the front and back (we drove the sedan). The ride quality was really good, the seats felt comfortable and it was a blast to drive. The motor was responsive and it has plenty of power. The looks of it are really nice in person with the mesh grill and optional black chrome wheels. I had only seen a few pictures of them here and there but never in person. We test drove a black on black one and I was very impressed with the looks of it. As much as I rag on Pontiac for always using the same double grill thing on every single car, they really made it look good this time.

Then we went over to the Saab dealer and played with them for a while. I wanted to take the 9-3 convertible out first and see what the road noise was like. It handles great and there really isnt much noise difference between the convertible and the sedan. There really isnt much of a back seat though in the convertible. Back seat in the 9-3 sedan was ok, but tall adults will have their knees in the back of the front seat. The 2.0L turbo had decent power, but it took a little while for the turbo to kick in and felt a little sluggish down low. The trans also didnt respond predictably in the one we drove so I never really felt comfortable that the car was going to do what I wanted it to.The interior is very well laid out and the seats were amazing. Next was the 9-5, and I like the way it looks, but it didn't feel as good as the smaller and cheaper 9-3. The seats didnt feel as contoured as the 9-3, and the center console wasnt as easy to reach and just trying to turn the radio on was a chore. The ride was nice and smooth though as the convertible felt a little stiff over bumps. Finally we took out the 2008 9-3 Aero. The 2.8L turbo V6 was very nice and was a huge improvement over the 2.0L, and all the trans issues were gone. The two tone tan and chocolate leather interior was very well done and the seats were so comfortable you could sleep in them. For some reason though they used interior design ideas from the older 9-5 in the new 9-3 which I think was a step back as the previous dash and console from the 9-3 was better I think, but not a huge deal, as it was still a little closer to the driver than the 9-5. After driving the '08 9-3 Aero, I knew it was going to be a strong possibility.

Finally we went to a Dodge dealer and first took out a 2006 Magnum R/T AWD. The interior upgrades over the SXT was night and day. The leather was decent, and the contour of the seats were a lot more comfortable. I didn't really get on it, but it had good enough power from the 5.7L hemi. Everything in the interior is easy to reach and for some reason, unlike the Saab's, all the controls on the steering wheel are lit so you can see them at night. I can see how people make fun of the SXT and SE though, as they arent very comfortable, and they are underpowered. The R/T on the other hand really felt like an entirely different car. The interior was much better, the engine more responsive, and the ride quality smoother. Finally was the 2006 Chrysler 300C SRT8. All I can say is OMFG. Love it or hate it, until you drive one, you have no right to make fun of it. The handling was responsive, the interior was very comfortable, everything was laid out nice, and with 425hp, it moves to say the least. The salesman let us take it out by ourselves so we had time to really see what it had. I was really impressed with it. The SRT8 seats were also really nice.

In the end, all the cars, minus the Magnum SXT which is being stricken from my memory, all fall into roughly the same price range of 20-25k after rebates and such. I still havent taken out a CTS yet, or found an S60-R locally to test drive, so following these last few days of playing, I'd have to say the list right now is;

300C SRT8
Magnum SRT8
Saab 9-3 Aero
Pontiac G6 GXP
Caddy CTS
Volvo S60-R
Lincoln MKZ

After these last few days I think it's going to be hard to choose just one of these cars as I'm very impressed with all the ones on the list that we've taken out so far.

[NastyEllEssWon]

those saabs are real nice man. im glad you noticed :nod: theyre high on the list of cars i would buy if i was in the market for a sporty coupe

[SteveR]

those saabs are real nice man. im glad you noticed :nod: theyre high on the list of cars i would buy if i was in the market for a sporty coupe

They're awesome. I highly recommend taking one out sometime. We went to the one in Denville and the salesman let us take them out by ourselves so we went on a 10+ mile test drive with each one, going over a winedy mountain, through town, and up another mountain through a community so we got a very good idea of how it handles in a lot of different situations and it was awesome all around. The new 9-3 Aero really stood out. It had plenty of power, great handling, great interior, and I can easily see driving it on long trips without getting tired of it. They also have a new '08 Turbo X, but that was just way too tempting so I declined the test drive as I know I would have left there with it :lol:

[79CamaroDiva]

I almost completely agree 100% with his list. Before we went to the 2nd Dodge dealer, I thought the Saab 9-3 Aero would be it. The car was a super comfortable, very nice sporty, luxury sedan. We went to Dover Dodge to test drive a magnum and a charger, but then saw the 300c SRT-8 and had never thought about it. But the car is so beautiful inside and out, we scratched the charger and asked for the keys for the 300. Magnum was ok, I like it, but not sure its my thing. The 300c SRT-8 however left a smile on my face and a funny feeling in my pants. I am just completely in love with the car.

to me the list is

1. 300c SRT-8





2. 9-3 Aero
3. Magnum SRT-8
4-7 are the same as his.

[Ian]

if you get the SRT-8, be prepared to pay a lot for brake parts. the rotors are not serviceable, the front brake pads cost $400, tires are expensive. if for some reason you have to get a new rim, its about $1200 for ONE of them!

[NastyEllEssWon]

ive yet to drive the 9-3 aero but i have ridden in one. a friend of mine recently traded in his subaru legacy gt for it. man thing rides sooo nice and the interiors are sweet on em. larger inside then they look from out (if that makes sense).

deff one of the cars ill be buying into in the next few years when prices drop. :nod:

[jims69camaro]

i'd have to tell you to wait a year, then add one more car to your list. but that's just me...

[mc73nova]

I almost completely agree 100% with his list. Before we went to the 2nd Dodge dealer, I thought the Saab 9-3 Aero would be it. The car was a super comfortable, very nice sporty, luxury sedan. We went to Dover Dodge to test drive a magnum and a charger, but then saw the 300c SRT-8 and had never thought about it. But the car is so beautiful inside and out, we scratched the charger and asked for the keys for the 300. Magnum was ok, I like it, but not sure its my thing. The 300c SRT-8 however left a smile on my face and a funny feeling in my pants. I am just completely in love with the car.

to me the list is

1. 300c SRT-8





2. 9-3 Aero
3. Magnum SRT-8
4-7 are the same as his.

Of course you would say that, you're a Mopar chick!
I was surprised to see the Charger not on that list. Even the G8 didn't make the cut. I give you credit though, I have never researched like that before. I usually act like a kid in a candy store and jump in the first thing I see shiny!

When I went for the Cobalt SS they kept pushing back the release date, I actually ended up getting the Ion Redline, they were pushing the 04's out to make room for 05's I paid $16k the sticker was $22.5K. That was an awesome car, I should have kept it (yes a Saturn, don't knock it 'til you try it!)<<<<<<<<<<<unnecesary rambling!

[79CamaroDiva]

Of course you would say that, you're a Mopar chick!
I was surprised to see the Charger not on that list. Even the G8 didn't make the cut. I give you credit though, I have never researched like that before. I usually act like a kid in a candy store and jump in the first thing I see shiny!

When I went for the Cobalt SS they kept pushing back the release date, I actually ended up getting the Ion Redline, they were pushing the 04's out to make room for 05's I paid $16k the sticker was $22.5K. That was an awesome car, I should have kept it (yes a Saturn, don't knock it 'til you try it!)<<<<<<<<<<<unnecesary rambling!

haha, besides that, the car just looks and feels amazing. i wouldn't care if it was a toyota if it looked and felt like that. i love the "bentley" type styling, the seats are as comfortable if not moreso than the saabs, and the feel of all that power in a car so unassuming is just awesome.

we're looking more into practical, respectable, responsible looking cars for him (ha, funny, right?) otherwise the challenger would be up there. he wants something fast and fun to drive, but also something that has an air of maturity around it for meeting all the important people he has to meet for work (generals and government types)

[Knipps]

but also something that has an air of maturity around it for meeting all the important people he has to meet for work (generals and government types)

Wait, are you talking about the same SteveR? :shock:

[WildBillyT]

he wants something fast and fun to drive, but also something that has an air of maturity around it for meeting all the important people he has to meet for work (generals and government types)

I have a friend who did the same thing. He's a higher up at Hanscom AFB and he sold his 2000 Z28 for a new Saab 9-5 2.3T. Killed him to do it but you have to look the part. "Dress for the job you want, not the one you have" means more than clothes.

My dad drives a 300C AWD every day and he loves it. It's a great car. The only gripe I have about it is the wacky steering feel. I'm sure it's something you get used to but it seems very imprecise to me.

[SteveR]

Of course you would say that, you're a Mopar chick!
I was surprised to see the Charger not on that list. Even the G8 didn't make the cut. I give you credit though, I have never researched like that before. I usually act like a kid in a candy store and jump in the first thing I see shiny!

When I went for the Cobalt SS they kept pushing back the release date, I actually ended up getting the Ion Redline, they were pushing the 04's out to make room for 05's I paid $16k the sticker was $22.5K. That was an awesome car, I should have kept it (yes a Saturn, don't knock it 'til you try it!)<<<<<<<<<<<unnecesary rambling!

The Charger was originally on there, but after driving the 300C and Magnum, the Charger to me falls between them, and there are already enough cars on the list. The G8 is an awesome car, but I felt the leg room and comfortability of the G6 GXP was a little better. I felt better about the idea of having to drive the GXP on long trips as there was a lot more leg room for the driver than the G8. I know kinda what I wan the car to do, and I'm trying to find what car best fits that idea.

Saturn's are pretty cool. I had a '95 SC2, and I was actually looking for an Ion Redline when Melissa was looking for her car and when we went to the Saturn place they said they stopped making them.

[SteveR]

I have a friend who did the same thing. He's a higher up at Hanscom AFB and he sold his 2000 Z28 for a new Saab 9-5 2.3T. Killed him to do it but you have to look the part. "Dress for the job you want, not the one you have" means more than clothes.

My dad drives a 300C AWD every day and he loves it. It's a great car. The only gripe I have about it is the wacky steering feel. I'm sure it's something you get used to but it seems very imprecise to me.

Very true, unfortunately. And I always confuse Hanscom AFB with Hickam AFB. One's in Hawaii, and the other.... isnt :lol:

I'm glad to hear he likes the 300C. I think the next step will be to read reviews and see what owners have to say.

[SteveR]

Well, today we went out and found a Volvo S60-R. And they aren't very easy to come by locally, at least that I saw. It was a 2007 with only 7800 miles on it, and it had the Sport Package which is a requirement. First impression was that it looks damn sexy in person. The Sport Package body kit really makes it look a lot more aggressive than without. The interior was very comfortable and well laid out. Everything was easy to reach, and well lit. The backseat was a little cramped though. I took it out on the highway and immediately could tell that it was going to be fun to drive. The handling was very responsive and probably the best out of everything we drove so far, with the Saab right behind it. There's also a selectable computer controlled suspension system where you can select the ride quality from Comfort, Sport, and Advanced. I could feel the suspension get stiffer with each setting, but with the salesman in the car, I couldn't throw it into any turns like a crazy person, so I didn't get a full feel of the differences. The motor was very responsive and the trans shifted firm and predictably. What really made me grin was twice sitting at a red light waiting for the light to turn green to make a left, then flooring it and feeling the front tires grab and pull the car around the turn. I guess I've never driven a fairly powerful AWD car before, but that was damn cool.

[Tru2Chevy]

Did you look for any Cummins trucks that fit your requirements at the dodge dealer?

- Justin

[mc73nova]

Well, today we went out and found a Volvo S60-R. And they aren't very easy to come by locally, at least that I saw. It was a 2007 with only 7800 miles on it, and it had the Sport Package which is a requirement. First impression was that it looks damn sexy in person. The Sport Package body kit really makes it look a lot more aggressive than without. The interior was very comfortable and well laid out. Everything was easy to reach, and well lit. The backseat was a little cramped though. I took it out on the highway and immediately could tell that it was going to be fun to drive. The handling was very responsive and probably the best out of everything we drove so far, with the Saab right behind it. There's also a selectable computer controlled suspension system where you can select the ride quality from Comfort, Sport, and Advanced. I could feel the suspension get stiffer with each setting, but with the salesman in the car, I couldn't throw it into any turns like a crazy person, so I didn't get a full feel of the differences. The motor was very responsive and the trans shifted firm and predictably. What really made me grin was twice sitting at a red light waiting for the light to turn green to make a left, then flooring it and feeling the front tires grab and pull the car around the turn. I guess I've never driven a fairly powerful AWD car before, but that was damn cool.

I was just gonna say, there is one in Parsippany!

[SteveR]

I was just gonna say, there is one in Parsippany!

That's the one we took out :D

[mc73nova]

I figured! Is that gray or blue? It is very sexy.

[LTb1ow]

he wants something fast and fun to drive, but also something that has an air of maturity around it for meeting all the important people he has to meet for work (generals and government types)

What do you do?

[SteveR]

Did you look for any Cummins trucks that fit your requirements at the dodge dealer?

- Justin

Funny you should mention that. I was looking around and found a few new Dodge diesels so I went and looked up owner opinions and reviews on the new ones. Basically, all the reviews are very bad on the new 6.7L diesel engine. Not so much that the engine doesn't have good towing capacity or anything, but the overall consensus is that Dodge never road tested the new truck for any long period of time with the new engine. I read story after story of owners saying that the truck would just die on the road for no apparent reason and they'd have to get it towed to a dealer to get fixed. Now having to have a car towed to a dealer is one thing, but a truck and trailer is a whole different thing. The problem is that all the smog and emissions crap Dodge had to throw on to meet EPA requirements creates too much back pressure in the exhaust and is overheating the turbo and sending soot back into the engine, causing it to die. A lot of owners are also complaining that Dodge won't allow any of the owners to return the trucks or agree to the Lemon Law, so everyone is stuck with a 40-50k truck that can't actually go anywhere. It was determined that to fix the problem, you could remove all the emissions crap, but that would be both illegal, and void your warranty, so if it happened again, or if all the problems prior caused any permanent engine damage, Dodge is no longer liable. So therefore, a new Dodge diesel is off the list.

[SteveR]

I figured! Is that gray or blue? It is very sexy.

It's like a medium charcoal metallic color, and it looks really nice! I highly recommend taking it out if you're in that area.

[Tru2Chevy]

I don't suppose you have found any used 5.9s either, huh?

I have done some reading on the 6.7, but just enough to know that many people think they suck.

- Justin

[79CamaroDiva]

What do you do?

me or him? I'm assuming you mean him even though you quoted me. I'll let him toot his own horn about work :)

[LTb1ow]

Oops, yea I figured the message would make it through...

[bcgetfresh]

Ok, so we went and spent 6 hours today test driving cars :) We drove;

2009 Pontiac G6 GXP
2008 Pontiac G8 GT
2006 Dodge Magnum SXT
2006 Dodge Magnum R/T AWD
2006 Chrysler 300C SRT8
2006 Saab 9-3 convertible
2008 Saab 9-3 Aero
2007 Saab 9-5


All of the cars were nice, but some really stood out over the others. First was the Dodge Magnum SXT. I wanted to get an idea of how the Magnum felt and its visibility. The V6 was kinda crappy, and the cloth seats were uncomfortable. Visibility wasn't bad though and I kinda like the way it looks. There was plenty of room in the back seat for two adults. There was a good amount of cargo space and with the back seats folded down you could really put a good amount of stuff in there.

Next was the Pontiac G8 GT and G6 GXP. The G8 GT was very comfortable, and the interior is laid out real nice. Everything is ergonomic and easy to reach. I'd say front passenger area is in the same size class as the Audi A4. One thing we noticed is that the center console in the G8 is almost identical to the Saab 9-3, minus the Saab center console key thing. We drove one once a few weeks ago and it handled good, and there was plenty of power. The only thing I noticed when we drove it is that there is a very noticeable lag from foot-to-floor to engine reaction. Next was the G6 GXP. The interior is a bit bigger than the G8, with more leg room in the front and back (we drove the sedan). The ride quality was really good, the seats felt comfortable and it was a blast to drive. The motor was responsive and it has plenty of power. The looks of it are really nice in person with the mesh grill and optional black chrome wheels. I had only seen a few pictures of them here and there but never in person. We test drove a black on black one and I was very impressed with the looks of it. As much as I rag on Pontiac for always using the same double grill thing on every single car, they really made it look good this time.

Then we went over to the Saab dealer and played with them for a while. I wanted to take the 9-3 convertible out first and see what the road noise was like. It handles great and there really isnt much noise difference between the convertible and the sedan. There really isnt much of a back seat though in the convertible. Back seat in the 9-3 sedan was ok, but tall adults will have their knees in the back of the front seat. The 2.0L turbo had decent power, but it took a little while for the turbo to kick in and felt a little sluggish down low. The trans also didnt respond predictably in the one we drove so I never really felt comfortable that the car was going to do what I wanted it to.The interior is very well laid out and the seats were amazing. Next was the 9-5, and I like the way it looks, but it didn't feel as good as the smaller and cheaper 9-3. The seats didnt feel as contoured as the 9-3, and the center console wasnt as easy to reach and just trying to turn the radio on was a chore. The ride was nice and smooth though as the convertible felt a little stiff over bumps. Finally we took out the 2008 9-3 Aero. The 2.8L turbo V6 was very nice and was a huge improvement over the 2.0L, and all the trans issues were gone. The two tone tan and chocolate leather interior was very well done and the seats were so comfortable you could sleep in them. For some reason though they used interior design ideas from the older 9-5 in the new 9-3 which I think was a step back as the previous dash and console from the 9-3 was better I think, but not a huge deal, as it was still a little closer to the driver than the 9-5. After driving the '08 9-3 Aero, I knew it was going to be a strong possibility.

Finally we went to a Dodge dealer and first took out a 2006 Magnum R/T AWD. The interior upgrades over the SXT was night and day. The leather was decent, and the contour of the seats were a lot more comfortable. I didn't really get on it, but it had good enough power from the 5.7L hemi. Everything in the interior is easy to reach and for some reason, unlike the Saab's, all the controls on the steering wheel are lit so you can see them at night. I can see how people make fun of the SXT and SE though, as they arent very comfortable, and they are underpowered. The R/T on the other hand really felt like an entirely different car. The interior was much better, the engine more responsive, and the ride quality smoother. Finally was the 2006 Chrysler 300C SRT8. All I can say is OMFG. Love it or hate it, until you drive one, you have no right to make fun of it. The handling was responsive, the interior was very comfortable, everything was laid out nice, and with 425hp, it moves to say the least. The salesman let us take it out by ourselves so we had time to really see what it had. I was really impressed with it. The SRT8 seats were also really nice.

In the end, all the cars, minus the Magnum SXT which is being stricken from my memory, all fall into roughly the same price range of 20-25k after rebates and such. I still havent taken out a CTS yet, or found an S60-R locally to test drive, so following these last few days of playing, I'd have to say the list right now is;

300C SRT8
Magnum SRT8
Saab 9-3 Aero
Pontiac G6 GXP
Caddy CTS
Volvo S60-R
Lincoln MKZ

After these last few days I think it's going to be hard to choose just one of these cars as I'm very impressed with all the ones on the list that we've taken out so far.

whooaaaaaa your tellin me you can buy a G8 GT for 20-25k???

[BigAls87Z28]

Wait, the G6 had more room then G8? Did you drive the right car?

[79CamaroDiva]

Wait, the G6 had more room then G8? Did you drive the right car?

interior wise, yes it did. he could have sat behind himself in the g6 but not the g8, plus the g6 seats were much more comfortable. the g8 feels a little hard.

[BigAls87Z28]

interior wise, yes it did. he could have sat behind himself in the g6 but not the g8, plus the g6 seats were much more comfortable. the g8 feels a little hard.


I honestly dont think you sat in the same car I did. I sat in the back seat of a G8, behind a guy that was 6'4, and had enough room to slouch in the seat!!
G6 is roomy, but no where near as roomy as the G8. Not even close. Width, leg room, everything.

[SteveR]

I honestly dont think you sat in the same car I did. I sat in the back seat of a G8, behind a guy that was 6'4, and had enough room to slouch in the seat!!
G6 is roomy, but no where near as roomy as the G8. Not even close. Width, leg room, everything.

We took out an '09 G6 sedan, not the coupe, and it may not even be that the cubic foot space was more, but the way it was laid out it felt like I had more front leg room and the back seat was big enough for me without any issues. The G8 was good and I don't mean to put it down, but the G6 GXP just felt a little more comfortable and that I could stretch out more.

[SteveR]

I don't suppose you have found any used 5.9s either, huh?

I have done some reading on the 6.7, but just enough to know that many people think they suck.

- Justin

Everyone I talk to loves the 5.9. I'd definitely look at getting one, but people ask a lot of money for a newer 5.9 diesel. The Ford's are pretty nice, but I'd look for a '99.5 - '02 7.3 Power Stroke over a 6.0 ('03 - '07), and the 6.4 is amazing (2008), as long as you make sure it wasnt one of the first batches that were built as they had turbo issues. If you can find a new 6.4, they're really nice. The hard thing is finding a bare bones truck. Most if not all have all sorts of luxury options like leather bucket seats and stuff I really dont want. I went looking at GMCs and they're pretty nice and I've heard good reviews of the 6.6, they're definitely a huge improvement over the 6.5. What I dont like about them is that in the end the diesel option for either a Chevy or GMC is almost 10k. It's like 7500 for the motor, and like 1400 for the Allison trans. That puts GM at the most expensive in terms of just the option alone, whereas Ford is only 6400 total. Used Fords are really easy to come by too, especially fleet trucks. I made a post a while ago about the cost of diesel trucks right now. You can easily pick up a six or seven year old diesel for 6k or less right now.

[SteveR]

whooaaaaaa your tellin me you can buy a G8 GT for 20-25k???

Sticker on a base 2008 G8 GT was around 28k. If you can find a new 2008 left-over at a dealer, the incentives right now are something like 7500 cash back alone. So if you found one for say 30k sticker, you could easily drive it off the lot for something like 20-21k. The big thing is negotiations. Bottom line is that the dealership marks up new cars 3-5k on average, some less. All incentives are reimbursements from the manufacturer and are NOT taken off by the dealer, so never let them tell you that the incentives are their mark down, as they still have their mark up in the car after the incentives are taken out. And always make sure you qualify for all incentives and rebates and that the salesman puts those in BEFORE you haggle on the price. You want to see how low on the car you can get before trying to get them to budge on their mark up. If you beat them up on the price, then ask about the incentives and rebates, they're most likely not going to give you everything you qualify for in the deal, then add them to the deal after you sign the paperwork and make money back that way. I think that's illegal, but all dealerships bend the rules to make money, because there is NO regulation on it. So if you can get a total of say 9k in incentives and rebates, then have them take 2k more off the car, you just saved 11k. The thing is not to try and steal the car from them. The salesmen make their living off commission, so make your focus on the incentives and rebates, as that doesnt affect the dealer invoice and salesman commission. The incentives for the 2009s aren't nearly as good, so they'd be more money.

[SteveR]

What do you do?

I work for the government trying to make things that were made to blow up not blow up.

[Tru2Chevy]

Everyone I talk to loves the 5.9. I'd definitely look at getting one, but people ask a lot of money for a newer 5.9 diesel. The Ford's are pretty nice, but I'd look for a '99.5 - '02 7.3 Power Stroke over a 6.0 ('03 - '07), and the 6.4 is amazing (2008), as long as you make sure it wasnt one of the first batches that were built as they had turbo issues. If you can find a new 6.4, they're really nice. The hard thing is finding a bare bones truck. Most if not all have all sorts of luxury options like leather bucket seats and stuff I really dont want. I went looking at GMCs and they're pretty nice and I've heard good reviews of the 6.6, they're definitely a huge improvement over the 6.5. What I dont like about them is that in the end the diesel option for either a Chevy or GMC is almost 10k. It's like 7500 for the motor, and like 1400 for the Allison trans. That puts GM at the most expensive in terms of just the option alone, whereas Ford is only 6400 total. Used Fords are really easy to come by too, especially fleet trucks. I made a post a while ago about the cost of diesel trucks right now. You can easily pick up a six or seven year old diesel for 6k or less right now.

Yea, my brother picked up an '05 3500 quad cab 5.9 last spring. It's a great truck. 4x4 and an 8' bed, cloth interior, and with his predator programmer he's getting about 22mpg around town and 26-27 on the highway (as long as he keeps it under 80).

- Justin

[SteveR]

Yea, my brother picked up an '05 3500 quad cab 5.9 last spring. It's a great truck. 4x4 and an 8' bed, cloth interior, and with his predator programmer he's getting about 22mpg around town and 26-27 on the highway (as long as he keeps it under 80).

- Justin

wow :shock: thats some awesome gas mileage. You can really get those engines running efficiently once you do some minor work to them. Thats a nice looking truck too :)

[Tru2Chevy]

wow :shock: thats some awesome gas mileage. You can really get those engines running efficiently once you do some minor work to them. Thats a nice looking truck too :)

Yea, before the tuner he was getting 18-19 in town and 22-24 on the highway, which is still damn good. More mods are in the works....with just the tuner the truck has no problem lighting up all 4 tires now :twisted:

- Justin

[SteveR]

if you get the SRT-8, be prepared to pay a lot for brake parts. the rotors are not serviceable, the front brake pads cost $400, tires are expensive. if for some reason you have to get a new rim, its about $1200 for ONE of them!

Thats good to know. How do they hold up maintenance wise? Any major known issues? Also, the salesman told us that the suspension for the 300C SRT8 is different than the suspension for the Magnum/Charger/Challenger SRT8, do you know if that's true?

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

wow :shock: thats some awesome gas mileage. You can really get those engines running efficiently once you do some minor work to them. Thats a nice looking truck too :)

There's a guy I know with a 600+rwhp, 1300+ rwtq TT 07 Cummins 5.9 crew cab that averages ~17 overall :lol: