Cars We Drive!

Originally Posted by distinctive

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Thinking about an A4. Any Audi owners want to share your thoughs on repair costs/reliability?

I have (had? it's just kinda rotting away at my parent's place after all these years but still there) one, a B5 A4 Avant, sport pack with a tiptronic, xenons, basic options like leather and roof, etc, was cheap - it's low mileage and driven occasionally, but had a couple near-catastrophic failures, the one most significant being a crankcase blowback ventilation system that rendered the engine dead, before 80K, and apparently, it was a known problem and paid for by Audi USA out of warranty, on any car that showed proof of regular oil changes, which my car could. Otherwise, it would've been a case of a $10K crate engine swap on a car that is probably worth less than $10K now - oh yeah, that's the other thing, these things have no resale value compared to the cost of ownership - they're on the Volvo side of the spectrum, rather than the BMW side. it's kind of fun to bounce around on that rubbery Audi suspension, know that you always have tons of traction, but honestly, they're overpriced, underpowered, less reliable, and just as expensive as a BMW, and have a poorer road feel, and less comfortable, IMO.

Originally Posted by username79

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My argument was for buying a used car as many seem to advocate that as the holy grail.

Since I am ordering an M3, I have done the comparison. Residual is 59%. The lease deal is roughly equivalent on paper to the 1.9%/60mo deal currently offered in terms of TCO. However, if you factor in what happened with the E46 M3, where trade-in values for 2006 M3s were about 35-38% of MSRP in good cases, with the probability that this may happen again with the introduction of the new model during the 3 year period, it makes darn good sense to lease.

Correct me if my reasoning is off..

Your reason is spot on. How many times do I have to repeat:

Leasing guards you against risk in the used car market

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before people will start to believe it?

i like to have an extra cash asset I can sell if **** ever hits the fan.

My current daily driver, shot while undertaking the classic Coupes des Alpes Alpine rally route earlier this week with a bunch of pals in a Mk1 Miata and a 3.0 Z3 Coupà .

^beautiful scenery

Originally Posted by thekunk07

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i like to have a depreciating asset I can sell if **** ever hits the fan.

FTFY.

1998 Bristol Blenheim 2
1984 Renault 4
1991 Land Rover Defender 110
1967 Alfa Romeo Spider in Antibes

At some stage I'd like to replace the Alfa with a 275 NART. Not going to happen any time soon though!

Originally Posted by username79

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Paying for cash? The **** you talking about?

It makes the most sense to me to rent a liability.

I do not understand buying a car (unless you are talking about an older classic car or something with sentimental/hobby interest). You are always losing money in depreciation, whether you make payments or not. Then you are paying out of pocket for things that break and maintenance. This costs both time and money. Then you are driving an old car with outdated safety features, an aged suspension, paint losing its luster, interior parts wearing, things starting to rattle, etc. Buying a used car is even more of a gamble of the old CarFax "oh, sorry, there was a record three years ago that popped up right before you decided to trade it in saying your car had frame damage, so sorry now that your car has lost 50% of its value overnight and you are still financed on 100% of that!"

Or you could simply pay one payment for a brand new car, pay nothing for maintenance, have to take it in one time for a couple hours during the entire lease period, not worry about having to sell it, trade it in, or if it's been in an accident, and be in another brand new a few years down the line.

For me it is such a no brainer that it astounds me that people do anything else. Don't even get me started on the people that think it's smart to pay $50+K up front in cash on something that will lose 40-50% in three years. Jesus.

no i'm not talking about paying 50k up front on a car..that's insane. Then a payment plan would be in order. I was saying pay for a car you can afford in cash. Things break on new cars just as well..however most of the time it's covered sure. I was merely saying i would rather pay cash for a used car. Hell oil changes cost 15 dollars these days..and if you keep up maintenance on a car it won't break down all the time. That's the problem, people don't want to do tune ups etc.. and it ruins the car.

For me leasing is like a never ending carnote..i would rather pay 500 on a repair than 500 a month

Originally Posted by il ciclista

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no i'm not talking about paying 50k up front on a car..that's insane. Then a payment plan would be in order. I was saying pay for a car you can afford in cash. Things break on new cars just as well..however most of the time it's covered sure. I was merely saying i would rather pay cash for a used car. Hell oil changes cost 15 dollars these days..and if you keep up maintenance on a car it won't break down all the time. That's the problem, people don't want to do tune ups etc.. and it ruins the car. For me leasing is like a never ending carnote..i would rather pay 500 on a repair than 500 a month
You're essentially advocating leasing here.

i can see how you'd take that from the 1st half. I'm terrible at explaining myself.

ok, i see the usefulness of leasing if you didnt care about paying a car note and getting nothing in return except a new car every few years

However, it seems more financially wise to pay for a car you can afford in cash or short term payoff. Then you could roll that car payment money into an actual investment that has a return on it.

Originally Posted by Poincare

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1998 Bristol Blenheim 2
1984 Renault 4
1991 Land Rover Defender 110
1967 Alfa Romeo Spider in Antibes

At some stage I'd like to replace the Alfa with a 275 NART. Not going to happen any time soon though!

How's the Bristol?

Originally Posted by LabelKing

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How's the Bristol?
I thought of you the other day, LK, when I read they are selling Elvis' 1970 Mercedes 600. Apparently he paid $15k for it new back in '69.

Originally Posted by il ciclista

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i can see how you'd take that from the 1st half. I'm terrible at explaining myself.

ok, i see the usefulness of leasing if you didnt care about paying a car note and getting nothing in return except a new car every few years

However, it seems more financially wise to pay for a car you can afford in cash or short term payoff. Then you could roll that car payment money into an actual investment that has a return on it.

This statement is so incorrect.

Originally Posted by Poincare

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1998 Bristol Blenheim 2
1984 Renault 4
1991 Land Rover Defender 110
1967 Alfa Romeo Spider in Antibes

At some stage I'd like to replace the Alfa with a 275 NART. Not going to happen any time soon though!

I want the Blenheim 4 so badly.

http://www.bristolcars.info/forums/m...lenheim-4.html

R

Originally Posted by Piobaire

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This statement is so incorrect.

Could you tell me what you get out of it when the lease is over? Besides over mileage fees you don't get anything to my knowledge.