New cars?

[pascal]

When you convert that to gallons it costs the same as the US. Right now 1 gallon is $2.30

A gallon is 3.785 liters then 1 gallon is $3.40 here (48% more )

That engine is ok. It certainly is anything to write home about. There are 1.8 liter engines out on the market that put out 190 bhp...

But this engine will work many years with minimal maintenance

I have already drived the 318i, the 325i, and others cars. Usually a car capable to do 0-100km in 9 seconds is very good IMHO. It is more like an A4 1.8T class car

 

[horvendile]

If Russ still reads this thread:
Some time ago, maybe a year, you started a thread about which car to buy. Well, what became of it? I don't recall you ever stating a decision. (Could have something to do with me decreasing my B3D activity, of course.) Or did you do as I ususally do when I start a thread about buying something - chicken out in the end?
Just curious.

 

[epicstruggle]

couple things:
-1 US gallon = 3.7854118 liters
-in detroit, gas price is about $1.80/gallon OR $0.476/liter OR in euros €0.366/[liters]
-diesel is making a comeback in the US. You will see more manufacturers releasing diesel based cars, and there is at least one diesel hybrid car on its way.

epic
edit: wrong unit

 

[RussSchultz]

If Russ still reads this thread:
Some time ago, maybe a year, you started a thread about which car to buy. Well, what became of it? I don't recall you ever stating a decision. (Could have something to do with me decreasing my B3D activity, of course.) Or did you do as I ususally do when I start a thread about buying something - chicken out in the end?
Just curious.

I ended up with a subaru legacy GT wagon.

2.5L turbo, 250 hp. 0-60 in about 5.5.

It gets 20-26 mpg city/hwy.

I now stare longingly at an A6 Avant (or an A4 avant with the 3.1FSI). But, I made my bed so now I gotta sleep in it.

 

[horvendile]

Oooh, I'm - in a theoretical sense - quite tempted by those, or at least by their European counterparts.
Thanks, BTW.

 

[RussSchultz]

I rented an armada once, and they're pieces o-crap.

Really? You don't recall which one it was, do you? They have an LE, LS, SE, & SE offroad model. The SE OR sort of looked nice after adding all the options I wanted.

The interior was cheap. Of course, it was a rental, but Nissan isn't reknown for their luxurious interiors (they do have good mechanicals, though)

 

[digitalwanderer]

I've liked the interiors on all my Nissans, it's one of the things I like about 'em.

I dunno, the more I think about it the stupider it is to trade in me cars....I'll probably just keep what I got. I like having at least one vehicle that is all paid off and ours. (The Pathfinder, we still have a few years of paying on the Quest. )

 

[pascal]

0–100 km/h in 9.0 seconds

100km/h is about 60mph, right? If so, my mini-van could stomp all over that thing off the line!

What Pathfinder model do you have?

I did some google search and 1998 pathfinders do it in 8.8 sec (Nissan info) http://auto.consumerguide.com/auto/used/reviews/full/index.cfm/id/2290

 

[Alejux]

What I really don't understand is this obsession with trucks. I mean, seriously, if you don't live on a farm with crappy road access, and if you don't go carrying loads of cargo, why have a SUV? If I don't need any of those things, I much rather have a confortable sedan, like a BMW or a Lexus (or a sports car if there's no need for a backseat).

 

[RussSchultz]

Think of an SUV as a salon (station wagon) that can tow things.

And yes, a large number of people (at least here in Austin) own boats, etc. and need the ability to tow things.

 

[cristic]

One thing I would say is that if you live somewhere which is icy a lot of the time, it is NOT a good idea to get a BMW. As a rear-wheel drive car it is a little dodgy in the snow/ice to say the least!

But the adverts always claim how great their "near perfect 50:50 weight distribution" is

You know, there are BMW woth all-wheel-drive... They contain a X in their model name like 330ix or 330dx 8)

 

[Alejux]

Think of an SUV as a salon (station wagon) that can tow things.

And yes, a large number of people (at least here in Austin) own boats, etc. and need the ability to tow things.

That would be 10% of SUV owners out there. Most SUV owners just need a car to go to work or the supermarket. They don't really need it.

Sorry, I just don't understand the attraction for trucks, when any normal car would do. They're ugly, waste a lot of gas, are much worse handling in curves and so... Maybe it's so that people can feel big, I don't know.

 

[digitalwanderer]

What Pathfinder model do you have?

98 SE 5-speed with the handling package.

 

[jaymind]

The Maxima, to me, is the best car out there for under $35K. When I was looking it was either the Maxima or an A6 2.7T. And considering if you pay anywhere near 35K for any of them you aren't doing a good job of negotiating.

My 04 Max is loaded with everything (SE) - stickered at 34K. I ended up getting it for $29K. Can't beat that. At the same time I bought that, I got my wife a Murano SE.

Both cars are great. The only problem with the Max is the torque steer, they didn't null to well but you get used to it. But the car is smoking fast. Handles sharp and has more "luxury" than most luxury cars under 40K.

The Murano is fun. It's fast, handles really well and is super stable in crappy conditions. No 3rd seat though, but if you can live without that it's a good buy.

 

[Xmas]

Ah, it's threads like this that make me wish the whole world would use SI units...

What kind of gas are we talking here? Assuming 95 octane, 1l of gas is about 1,10€ here, which means well over $5 per gallon.
But that's only one reason why I'd never buy a car that burns more than 8l per 100km.

 

[RussSchultz]

In Austin, petrol is $2 for a gallon of 93 octane currently.

 

[digitalwanderer]

Sorry, I just don't understand the attraction for trucks, when any normal car would do.

For me it's because of the winters around here, we need one of our vehicles to be a 4x4 to make sure we can get around when the snow gets deep.

Both my Pathfinder and Quest get about the same mileage, 11.5mpg. (We don't put a lot of miles on 'em. 98 Pathfinder just broke 30k and my 02 Quest just cracked 5k. )

 

[pascal]

What Pathfinder model do you have?

98 SE 5-speed with the handling package.

Sorry, You as talking about your mini-van (Nissan Quest ?). I did additional search and it do 0-60 in 8.75 sec (2004 model) This is good but my guess the 320i probably is more fun to handle/brake/etc. Anyway this mini-van looks a great and sportive family car

 

[digitalwanderer]

Sorry, You as talking about your mini-van (Nissan Quest ?).

Yeah. Again, the SE model with an aftermarket handling package so it isn't quite stock. (The dealer added the handling packages though so they're warrantied.)

The SE is their sports model and tends to get a bit worse mileage and go a little quicker.

I did additional search and it do 0-60 in 8.75 sec (2004 model) This is good but my guess the 320i probably is more fun to handle/brake/etc. Anyway this mini-van looks a great and sportive family car

It isn't the sportiest looking, but it ain't overly ugly either...it's pretty much totally inconspicous and blah looking. Just your generic green mini-van, but it drives like a fiend!

EDITED BITS: Uhm, just re-read your original post and I was NOT talking about me mini-van in there...I was talking about my wife's Pathfinder. The 98 is the Pathfinder, the 2002 is the Quest.

I'm still not sure which is quicker off the line 'tween the two of them, although I lean towards the Pathfinder since manuals always do me better for going quick than automatics.

 

[horvendile]

Okay. About SUVs.
A lot of people are angry with SUVs, with wildly different arguments.

Arguments concerning fuel cosumption I can understand, if not wholeheartedly agree with - there are SUVs that are not especially thirsty, and if you outlaw SUVs on fuel consumption basis, you should also outlaw more "normal" cars with thirsty habits, something which is seldom suggested.

Arguements concerning safety I can also understand. On one hand, it's your own life, so if you knowingly go and buy an unsafe car - well, it's your choice. (This can also be argued, but I won't.) But SUVs also tend to be dangerous to other people. Again, I can understand that kind of argument.

What I do not understand is* arguments concerning the need for a SUV. I hear that a lot here in Sweden. "You don't need a SUV." Well, no. And I don't strictly need broadband either, or a Playstation, or my favorite cognac. But what kind of argument is that? Since when do I have the right to dictate that other people should only buy things they strictly need for their survival? That is a mentality don't approve of.

And no, I don't drive a SUV, nor do I plan to buy one.


*Should that be "is" or "are"?