Went looking at cars this weekend

[NastyEllEssWon]

^^^
worth a thousand words

[Tsar]

Originally Posted by NastyEllEssWon

^^^
worth a thousand words

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.

[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 theyre high on the list of cars i would buy if i was in the market for a sporty coupe

[SteveR]

Originally Posted by NastyEllEssWon

those saabs are real nice man. im glad you noticed 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

[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.

[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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by mc73nova

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]

Originally Posted by 79CamaroDiva

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?

[WildBillyT]

Originally Posted by 79CamaroDiva

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]

Originally Posted by mc73nova

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]

Originally Posted by WildBillyT

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

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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

[SteveR]

Originally Posted by mc73nova

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

That's the one we took out

[mc73nova]

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

[LTb1ow]

Originally Posted by 79CamaroDiva

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]

Originally Posted by Tru2Chevy

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]

Originally Posted by mc73nova

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.