I bought a 2011 GMC Terrain two weeks ago. It was $4K lower than the same 2012 model. GMC also sent me a $1500 "secret" inlcentive offer which I gladly accepted. Traded in a 2007 Ford Freestyle and they gave me a very nice deal on that. Also dropped $3K on a down payment...my bank hooked me up with nice financing as well...bottom line is that I bought a brand new car and am paying less than $200 a month for the pleasure of driving the vehicle. Runs well, huge interior for a small SUV, is loaded at the base level (I don't need all the tech upgrades, leather seats or heated seats) and I have to say that the GMC Design team has really been superb over the last four years. Their vehicles are really top notch, something I would have laughed at a decade ago.

Woody wrote:Their batteries are supposed to last 150,000 miles, /bucky

180,000 and counting on mine

bumped this because we are going to be buying soon.

we've taken and ruled out the highlander, sorrento, pathfinder, and rav4 (the toyotas because of lack of standard options, kia because it's a kia, and pathfinder because it doesn't have enough room in the second row for a rear-facing car seat)

we're still considering the pilot (too expensive, but we both loved it), cr-v, forrester and outback. we haven't bought yet for a few reasons- mainly because the dealers didn't seem too interested in negotiating the 2012 models. at what point in this year can we expect that to change?

does anyone have any experience with any of theses cars (in recent model years)?

Love our CR-V but it's 9 years old. Honda makes a good engine from what I can tell. The CR-V had a reputation for constantly improving the model -- that might still be true. Everything I read about the thing seems to be positive. If we ever get around to buying a new car, the CR-V is in the serious contenders.

1 wrote:

Woody wrote:Their batteries are supposed to last 150,000 miles, /bucky

180,000 and counting on mine

bumped this because we are going to be buying soon.

we've taken and ruled out the highlander, sorrento, pathfinder, and rav4 (the toyotas because of lack of standard options, kia because it's a kia, and pathfinder because it doesn't have enough room in the second row for a rear-facing car seat)

we're still considering the pilot (too expensive, but we both loved it), cr-v, forrester and outback. we haven't bought yet for a few reasons- mainly because the dealers didn't seem too interested in negotiating the 2012 models. at what point in this year can we expect that to change?

does anyone have any experience with any of theses cars (in recent model years)?

define "mainly because the dealers didn't seem too interested in negotiating the 2012 models." They weren't budging at all? You should be able to get $0-$500 over invoice on any of those models. The Subaru place in Allentown (Becker I think?) was always known for selling Subarus cheap when I worked at the dealer in Jenkintown.

smitty wrote:Love our CR-V but it's 9 years old. Honda makes a good engine from what I can tell. The CR-V had a reputation for constantly improving the model -- that might still be true. Everything I read about the thing seems to be positive. If we ever get around to buying a new car, the CR-V is in the serious contenders.

Our 2002 CR-V just turned 97,000 miles (thank you public transportation) and in the last three months I've gotten new brakes and new tires. It's a great vehicle. There are some goofy little things wrong with it, but I'd buy another CR-V in a heartbeat.

The Crimson Cyclone wrote:

1 wrote:

Woody wrote:Their batteries are supposed to last 150,000 miles, /bucky

180,000 and counting on mine

bumped this because we are going to be buying soon.

we've taken and ruled out the highlander, sorrento, pathfinder, and rav4 (the toyotas because of lack of standard options, kia because it's a kia, and pathfinder because it doesn't have enough room in the second row for a rear-facing car seat)

we're still considering the pilot (too expensive, but we both loved it), cr-v, forrester and outback. we haven't bought yet for a few reasons- mainly because the dealers didn't seem too interested in negotiating the 2012 models. at what point in this year can we expect that to change?

does anyone have any experience with any of theses cars (in recent model years)?

define "mainly because the dealers didn't seem too interested in negotiating the 2012 models." They weren't budging at all? You should be able to get $0-$500 over invoice on any of those models. The Subaru place in Allentown (Becker I think?) was always known for selling Subarus cheap when I worked at the dealer in Jenkintown.

We only got that far at Honda, and the guy flat out told us they didn't have to take any money off because they can't keep the 2012s in stock.

We haven't talked numbers at other dealerships because we are on a limited time budget due to the baby. By the time we talk, test drive, and check things out, it's time to go home.

GrizzledVeteran wrote:

smitty wrote:Love our CR-V but it's 9 years old. Honda makes a good engine from what I can tell. The CR-V had a reputation for constantly improving the model -- that might still be true. Everything I read about the thing seems to be positive. If we ever get around to buying a new car, the CR-V is in the serious contenders.

Our 2002 CR-V just turned 97,000 miles (thank you public transportation) and in the last three months I've gotten new brakes and new tires. It's a great vehicle. There are some goofy little things wrong with it, but I'd buy another CR-V in a heartbeat.

The one thing that drives me nuts about the CR-V is that it doesn't have Homelink (garage door opener) included. All of the other models in the Honda lineup have had it for over 10 years, yet the new 2012 CR-V still doesn't have it. Probably a $5 part, make absolutely no sense.

1 wrote:

The Crimson Cyclone wrote:

1 wrote:

Woody wrote:Their batteries are supposed to last 150,000 miles, /bucky

180,000 and counting on mine

bumped this because we are going to be buying soon.

we've taken and ruled out the highlander, sorrento, pathfinder, and rav4 (the toyotas because of lack of standard options, kia because it's a kia, and pathfinder because it doesn't have enough room in the second row for a rear-facing car seat)

we're still considering the pilot (too expensive, but we both loved it), cr-v, forrester and outback. we haven't bought yet for a few reasons- mainly because the dealers didn't seem too interested in negotiating the 2012 models. at what point in this year can we expect that to change?

does anyone have any experience with any of theses cars (in recent model years)?

define "mainly because the dealers didn't seem too interested in negotiating the 2012 models." They weren't budging at all? You should be able to get $0-$500 over invoice on any of those models. The Subaru place in Allentown (Becker I think?) was always known for selling Subarus cheap when I worked at the dealer in Jenkintown.

We only got that far at Honda, and the guy flat out told us they didn't have to take any money off because they can't keep the 2012s in stock.

We haven't talked numbers at other dealerships because we are on a limited time budget due to the baby. By the time we talk, test drive, and check things out, it's time to go home.

well it is possible for a particular model to have some low supply vs demand so the dealer may do that, just move off the Honda then and look at your alternatives. My wife and I have had 3 Outbacks so far, so I would always recommend them

1 wrote:does anyone have any experience with any of theses cars (in recent model years)?

My friend has the Kia (2011), it's completely bad assed. You shouldn't discount it (unless like, kidding aside, it's too small or something).

Gonna get new tires for the Mustang convertible, likely next week. After researching, I'm leaning towards Goodyear Eagle GT (unless anyone has anything bad to say about 'em like bad tread life, they randomly asplode, whatever).

From someone who has driven a million miles:

Differences in cars are smaller than in the past; it's hard to make a mistake unless you buy GM or Mopar.

A low mileage car of recent vintage is the sweet spot. Less than 15k.

Japanese cars are sure reliable, but becoming more (American) boring every year.

German cars are best if you really care about the driving experience; if you want to change the radio station without consulting the owner's manual. Perhaps a tad less reliable than a Honda, but a great trade-off.

Is there a better value proposition of style, comfort, speed, fuel economy, and looks than a 2-year old VW CC? I couldn't find one. Mercedes quality at a Chevy price.

I've heard a lot of horror stories in recent years about VW.

TomatoPie wrote:German cars are best if you really care about the driving experience; if you want to change the radio station without consulting the owner's manual.

i can't even read all the japanese instruction on my mitsubishi's panel

It might be a piece of junk (combining the efforts of Alfa Romeo and Chrysler doesn't sound like a good idea) but the Dart II surely looks pretty snazzy.

Chrysler has a bit of a history in making interesting looking vehicles that when all is said and done, aren't very good. Alfa Romeo is the perfect partnership for them.

my Dodge Charger is still going strong with 125k. had an issue with a tranny sensor(common among these mercedes trannys apparently). other than that its been just regular maintenance.

want to get another 80k out of it at least

jamiethekiller wrote:tranny sensor

heehee

Been thinking of replacing my truck lately. It's a 99 with only 130k miles. It's losing some horsepower and it's losing it's suspension from Lebanon's delightful mix of potholes, train tracks, manholes sunk 4" below road the surface, and speed bumps around my work. A car really makes the most sense for me as I'm almost exclusively driving <20 miles a day, mostly in town. Having driven this same pickup for the last 10+ years though I'm not sure I could handle going back to driving a car. Anyone who's made the transition from longtime pickup driver to small/midsize car, how did you get past the feeling that you're driving a roller skate?

just get a bigger truck

For likely a $100 more a month payment, and 10-20 mpg less fuel economy it really doesn't make sense, much as I want it to. Plus, I like smaller pickups as full sized ones feel unwieldy in town. Small trucks are disappearing, the Tacoma has gotten bigger, I've never liked Chevy's trucks, and Dodge and Ford scrapped the Dakota and Ranger. What I really want is for Ford to remake the F-100 with an EcoBoost V-6 and some retro styling cues. I figure it's the least they could do since I can't even buy a new Ranger anymore.