torn on cars

[jedovaty]

I was in an accident in september and totaled my 2003 jag xkr coupe

Now I cannot decide (from least t to most expensive):
- stick with dad's 1995 s320 with 300k miles (~free)
- a new jetta tdi
- a classic benz such as 280sl or 190sl (and drive it half the time, interchange with the aforementioned s320 above)
- get another jag xkr coupe (nothing newer than 2006, they get ugly imo)
- audi a5/s5

I saw an a5 yesterday on the road and thought it looked almost as good as the xkr coupe. Beautiful car. I really want the tdi version (diesel holds a sentimental value to me) but those are not available in the states . I can get a jetta for half the price and tdi. And the jag - for some reason, it was a love-hate for me. It was beautiful, attracted too many old guys (chick magnet feature was busted) but because it was used (and slightly abused until I babied it), it never felt right. I love the old benz's, have a great mechanic lined up for them, they are convertible and small and so much fun to drive even if slow - but they lack the safety features and modern bells like heated seats and nice sound system. With the jetta, I'd feel too "common" (I like to be unique) and maybe like I'm taking a step back. The s320 feels like I'm driving dad's mercedes, which, well, I am - but I'm dieing to invest in the RE market now having spent the last 10 years living at home and saving my hard earned income, and the car is enourmously comfortable.

Thoughts? Features I "want" - unique, good looking, heated seats, convertible. I realize I cannot have all these without spending too much (if I could afford one, I'd get a 300sl roadster from the 50's and put in my own seats). I live in so cal, so new cars like bmw's and mbz's are fairly bourgeois. I wish I could lease but I put too many miles on the car per year (about 20k).

There are deals to be had out there now wrt new cars. I've heard cool stories about the bmw's with 0 maintenance programs, huge discounts off the sticker, or amazing lease deals. I like how they well outperform the audi at a lower cost, too, but - there's just something too common about them, too, like the jetta.

[Holden_C04]

Normally, I would say that you should probably continue driving the car you have which would cost you nothing. On the other hand, this really is a good time to be a car buyer. There are fantastic used car and new car deals. Here, BMW is offering a $10,000 discount off the e92/e90 M3.

Personally, the unreliability of the Jaguar throws me off. Combine that with a lack of quality control, and it's not my pick of the litter (unless you're looking at the DB9 replica Jag-probably out of your price range).

An Audi A5/S5 is a pretty reasonable choice. It's a very luxurious, beautiful, and powerful vehicle. My biggest concern with a brand new Audi would be resale. If you can find it for the right price, then by all means go for it.

A Jetta TDI is pretty reasonable car, though a bit on the expensive side for cars in its class, and considering Volkswagen's reliability/quality control issues. Another concern I would have is the way the oil companies manipulate the cost of diesel. It's far less expensive to produce than gasoline, and yet it costs more? On the other hand, if you're the handyman/do-it-yourself kind of guy, you can go the WVO route and operate your vehicle at a far lesser cost.

WVO = Waste Vegetable Oil

If you have no idea what I am talking about, visit this site:

Greasecar Vegetable Fuel Systems

[Mark77]

I don't understand the constant complaint about VW reliability here? VWs are considered well built and get good ratings in Europe. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that US VWs are built in Mexico??
Diesel is maybe cheaper to produce than Gasoline(here in Finland diesel is cheaper than gasoline) but it needs about 15% more oil to produce than the same amount of gasoline.

[MBenz]

here is a compromise for you. Look at the w124 chasis 300cd. early to mid 90's mercedes coupe with a diesel. They are rare and unique, soild, safe, and you can find them with heated seats.

They look like this.


If you like the idea of the 300cd, but can't find one, you might consider the w123 chassis.

[Holden_C04]

Originally Posted by Mark77

I don't understand the constant complaint about VW reliability here? VWs are considered well built and get good ratings in Europe. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that US VWs are built in Mexico??
Diesel is maybe cheaper to produce than Gasoline(here in Finland diesel is cheaper than gasoline) but it needs about 15% more oil to produce than the same amount of gasoline.

Europe *may* be getting German-built VW's. The majority of the VW's here are built in Mexico/Brazil and they do suffer quite a few reliability issues. There was a 98 Jetta Wolfsburg in my family that was nothing but trouble. Obviously, one opinion doth not make unanimity but I have heard very similar stories pretty unanimously from other VW owners.

[longdx]

New Jettas are made in Mexico. New Rabbits (Golf) are made in Germany. Unfortunately, the Mexican plant has been known for lax quality standards. I know that VW wants to be on track as the largest automobile manufacturer(worldwide) and part of that philosophy is addressing the quality issues (either perceived or real). VW decided to make the expensive (for them) choice of building the Rabbit in Germany and shipping it to the States (rather than build it in Mexico).

Personally, Id take the 1995 S320 (free) because I am a cheapskate at heart.

[soccerjunky]

Avoid a5, s5 is not a bad choice except resale

BMW 0 maintenance is basically 3 free oil changes so don't factor this into the equation(you may get a set of pads to)... they allow you to change the oil only every 15k miles....

if your looking to save , used e46 m3 decent choice

[Awsomeshine]

With the dollar rate you could import a German made VW/Audi with stonking 2.0TDi engine. With Variable servicing you can do up to 30,000 miles between oil changes, all warranted by VW/Audi as long as you use a VW/Audi approved oil. You will be getting nearlly 60mpg (manual 6 speed) or 50mpg auto.

[jedovaty]

I'm not sure how resale value here plays much of a role. Unless I buy an older vehicle that's fully depreciated (e.g. old w123 or w126 mbz), I'm going to kill value anyway with all the miles I put on the car.

My jag was very reliable, the only major issues I had was a broken telescoping wheel and the passenger window motor, both easily fixed and under warranty. That said, thanks for the notes on the VW.

Diesel has been more expensive here mostly due to demand - it fuels more than just cars, it's used in industry, and thanks to the global economic boom we experienced, demand rose considerably. It doesn't QUITE make sense because diesel and gas come from effectively the same source..

I like the idea of the mbz coupes, I've looked into those before, but I'm hesitant to pick up a used car again. It was just too much of a love-hate for me.

The search continues Thanks for ya'll's help!

[Accumulator]

jedovaty- I'd say get another XKR, but maybe I'm just spending too much time around the XKR owners in my Jag club

My wife and I had a pair of the big Benz coupes (W126 560 SECs, one was an AMG car). My wife and I simply *LOVED* them, but they're not getting any newer and the maintenance can be really something. Much as we liked them, once we got the Audis we never really gave them another thought. Glad we had them, but wouldn't buy one now.

IME (and everybody will have their own opinion), a truly vintage Benz is more fun to think about than it is to really drive so I'd pass on the 280SL (a friend of mine has one for his wife's other car and it just doesn't do it for me). The 300 SEL 6.3 sedans drive *almost* like modern cars, but the maintenance will simply kill you and finding a nice one is tricky.

S5s are nice *IF* the sunroof treatment doesn't bug you. I was surprised to find that it really bugged me. Sorta a pricey ride though.

I don't think the Jetta will do it for you, but that's just a guess. Their R32 or something like that might be more to your liking, but after the Jag...eh..I doubt it.

Interesting situation, wonder what you'll decide to do

[grease]

Originally Posted by Accumulator

S5s are nice *IF* the sunroof treatment doesn't bug you. I was surprised to find that it really bugged me.

whats wrong with the sunroof? I havent sat in one yet.

[Accumulator]

Originally Posted by grease

whats wrong with the sunroof? I havent sat in one yet.

It doesn't have a completely-light-blocking position, or at least I didn't figure out how to make it block 100% during the time I sat in one (somebody correct me if I'm off-base here). I despise sunroofs anyhow, so maybe I'm touchy on this subject.

Otherwise, and other than the MMI (which I guess we're stuck with just like the grille), it *is* a really great two-door IMO. This might sound nutty, but I'd rather have an S5 that's serviced by my Audi dealer than a Bentley Continental GT that's serviced by somebody I don't know.