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Cincinnati, OH Car Consumer Discussions

Re: The LPS life. . . [lexusguy]

by markcincinnati on Wed Nov 12 13:57:31 PST 2008

I read that the S4 (upcoming) will be at the price point of the 335xi sedan. My car, all equipped as it is, is priced content wise a tiny bit less than a 328xi (and the Audi has a lot more content than is offered in the 328xi, so the A4 actually seems quite a bit more car for the $.) The RS4 will be the M3 rival and as for the 3.2, I'll bet they'll be awfully difficult to move if the prospective customer has a chance to test drive the 2.0TFSI back to back with the 3.2FSI variant. The only thing the 3.2 has on the 2.0 is a bit sweeter sound -- but the A4 is so quiet it is really hard to make that argument worth $3,000 -- especially since the 2.0T gets better mileage and is quicker due to its greater and more instantaneous torque. There has been an argument put forth that demonstrates a 328xi equipped EXACTLY like an A4 3.2 are even close enough in price to not get the 3.2 to be put up against the 335xi. I am pleased -- but I really liked the A6; and it was the most reliable car ever as far as I am concerned. 60,000 miles and it felt "like new."

And for the rest of us...

by alpha01 on Tue Nov 11 13:16:03 PST 2008

Interesting. But, for the rest of us that are looking for a sub-$30K (heck, even 25K) new car that is fuel efficient, practical, and still fun, I'd be curious to know what the IL editors would unanimously pick.

The LPS life. . .

by markcincinnati on Mon Nov 10 19:22:19 PST 2008

. . .must be passe, based on activity level here on this board. Well, what the heck, I, too am no longer in the LPS life or lane, I am, er, in the NEAR LPS crowd, now that I have my, er, $49,000 "entry level" LPS Audi A4 (and the thing has a 4 cylinder in it to top it off.) I must say, however, that I have sacrificed little. My outgoing A6 (2005) was about an inch longer in wheel base and perhaps 5 inches longer in overall length. Audi wisely widened the new A4 too, so even tho it isn't quite as wide as the outgoing A6, I don't miss it one bit. Now, I am in a lighter, better balanced and more powerful car (258 pound feet of torque at sub 1,900 rpm vs 243 at over 3,200.) Of course the new ride is lighter, has RWD biased AWD, 19" wheels full sport everything and Bang & Olufsen 550watt sound system and "four golden rings," couldn't resist considering the upcoming season. The engine sips gas and with all the stuff at this price point, I even get the Audi Drive Select system and Blind Spot warning, backup camerat and an automatic power rear window sunshade. Sport seats, sport suspension, sport this that and the other thing -- great great great sound system and paddle shifters, bi-xenons, full voice command and a much improved map system for the DVD nav (next guy will get the hard drive and new MMI). The CD player is an in dash changer which is a nice step up from the outgoing A6. In any case, I dropped from a $53K+ car to a $49K car as equipped. I have made a major step forward in engine, handling, transmission, sound system and overall comfort. I did not get a heated steering wheel, rear heated seats or a power actuated steering column (all of which I would expect for this much money.) I also had to buy my own tail pipe tips to round out the upscale look of a brilliant white paint job with 5 spoke 19" wheels with 255 wide tires on a 35 series shoulder. This thing is seriously fast and quick -- and the smoothness defies and belies that it is a four cylinder powerplant. If fours can be made this smooth and this powerful and this frugal, who needs a six? (Well, the new supercharged V6 would probably change my mind in about 4.5 seconds, eh?) This is the quietest car I have ever had -- and remember I have had an A8. In full on dynamic mode, this thing is painfully capable of making you think "sports sedan." I keep it dialed down ONE notch from full on dynamic mode. I keep all the other modes, however, at full tilt boogie. One dollar more per month on the lease than the outgoing A6. I had had the C6 A6 for 60,000 miles and it still felt new to me. I hope the same can and will be said about the new A4 which I leased for 50,000 miles (up 5K from the outgoing A6.) I was considering the Infiniti G35X (which seemed cramped) and a 3 series BMW (ditto), an outgoing A6 was offered at a super sweet deal, but this 2009 A4 beats even my patriotic CTS choice -- by far. So, I bid you all, as it were, a fare thee well and will be checking back from time to time to see if there is any activity here in LPS land. Drive it like you live.

Re: 94 factory stereo to aftermarket cd player swap [snickers1127]

by petgre on Sun Nov 09 11:00:53 PST 2008

Thank you for the reply to my question. I don't think this truck has an anti theft system on it. It is a work truck that has a 4.3 v 6, automatic trans, a/c that still works,and an am/fm/cassette player with the cassette player in the middle of the dash and the radio controls by the drivers seat.That is what intimidates me about swapping this out myself. I just bought this truck off my step father with only 122,000 miles on it so I'm hoping this truck has alot of life left in it.

Re: Toyota Frame Rust Buy-Back Program [theiglu]

by tcincy on Sat Nov 08 12:39:58 PST 2008

chkman: There is no way you should have to wait that long. Also, when I turned mine in they lent me an '08 Corolla. My advice: Call the Toyota service facility and get the phone number of the ISG rep who will handle paperwork for turn-ins at THAT dealership. Call the ISG rep and ask how long it will take. I think each ISG rep has a number of dealerships he visits and co-ordinates. Mine was close by, here in Cincinnati, and he handled all the northern Ky and southwest Oh dealerships. Service sent in paperwork, it was about 2 weeks later the ISG rep called me with the offer, which was correct ! About 4 days later I received an overnight envelope - from Texas - it was a contract to sell the vehicle for the amount the ISG guy quoted. I signed and dated it (and made a copy of course) and sent it back overnight same way. About a week later the ISG guy called me and about a week after that we met and he gave me the check. Get online at Kelley Blue Book, and using your vehicle's year, mileage and options on it, compute the "Average Retail" "Excellent" value. Then multiply that figure by 1.5 - THAT is what they should offer you, and I would fight anything less - that is what they are advertising. Mine was figured by the ISG guy exactly what I figured using the Kelley Blue Book website computing method. No funny business, no haggling. He had the exact amount. No reason for your ISG rep to do things any differently. Hope this helps

I'm sure glad I bought a reliable Mazda...

by roadburner on Fri Nov 07 09:30:29 PST 2008

As some of you know, I passed on a couple of really nice E46 BMWs(a 330i ZHP and an almost-new M3) in order to try something "different"- i.e. a new 2007 MS3. Well, the sled hasn't reached 27000 miles yet and I've already had to replace a blown LF strut as well as the turbocharger. If the parts had failed outside of the warranty period I'd be looking at @$2500 worth of repair costs. And for the record, I've never had to replace a strut before 100000 miles on any of the nine BMWs I've owned. So much for the supposedly knowledgeable claims concerning Mazda's stellar reliability and inexpensive operating costs that were made by some "experts" earlier in this topic... :surprise: So much for my thinking that the MS3 would make a durable and entertaining track toy... :mad: As for driving pleasure, I'm finding my 1995 318ti Club Sport to be a much more involving drive. Ditto for the 1975 2002 I just picked up on eBay. Most of the time the MS3 only sees duty as my work beater. Having said all that, my dealer(Kings Mazda, Cincinnati) has provided excellent service before and after the sale. Too bad the car itself didn't measure up.