V6M@PSUVM.BITNET (02/08/85)
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For what it's worth...
I believe my car should give some sort of driving pleasure and if I could
afford it I'd be JUST a driving machine for recreation. Unfortunatley I can't
afford it.
Anyway if I had my choice I'd go with Audi 4000, 5000 or Quatro.
They have room, style, performance, mpg economy, finish, good
construction, and a great warranty, and THEY ARE PRACTICLE.
Unfortunatly the dealer work out of waranty is expensive, and when you
get an Audi that is not up to par or was POORLY treated by a past ownwer
there is hell to pay.
My compromise choice was an 84 Jetta, which was basically a poor mans
Audi 4000.
I've had quite a few minor annoyances but they were covered under the
ONE YEAR warranty. I've just had the 15k mile work and Penna emmision
inspection and the car was EXCELLENT.
BTW I have always used Premium gas and switched to ARCO methanol blend
premium. It is not as good as AMOCO or SUNOCO premium but it is still
more than adequate. It burns unbelievably clean and gives good milage.
I had no trouble with VW in using it either.
The only US car I would buy would be an Iaccoca product built in the US.
But I've been so happy with Audi and VW that until I get shafted I'll
stick with it. GM can go pound sand sideways!!!!
If I had the Bucks I"d get an Alfa Romeo GTV!!
I fit perfectly in that car!!!
Vince Marchionniwalt2@ihuxl.UUCP (Walt Kurszewski) (01/10/86)
Well it looks like Old Faithful (my '77 Monte Carlo) is quickly becoming Chitty-Chitty Bang-Bang. I've pretty much driven her into the ground and I'd be pressing it if it tried to milk another year out of her. Are new car salesmen born buffoons or is it a learned behavior? I tell them I intend to wait until the Chicago auto show February 8th before I buy. "Are you sure it's in February? I haven't seen any dates yet." Anyone in the auto business should know when the big annual event is. "What would it take to sell you this car tonight?". Sell it to me for a dollar. "This car incorporates the latest technology into its revolutionary design." Is electronic instrumentation available? "Nah! That's just one more thing to go wrong." "You don't want a hatchback! You'll rip the sh*t out of the seats and block your visibility." I suppose it was a coincidence that they didn't have many hatchbacks in the lot but they had dozens of 2-door coupes. "You don't want blue, silver is selling like hotcakes." That would explain all those *silver* 2-door coupes. If the guy had a dead horse in the back lot he'd give me 100 reasons why I needed *this* dead horse *today* and that 500 bucks was an incredible bargain. If the horse had spots, he'd charge me extra. I think the best way to get to the "bottom line" is to say as little as possible. He throws his pitches, I say, "Well... I really should wait for the auto show to see what's available..." He throws more pitches.... "I really should look at the imports/domestics closer..." When he says, "Let me talk to my boss" the dance is almost over. He'll go talk to the janitor about the Bears for five minutes and come back with something more reasonable. If the place is a class act he'll go into the next room and you'll hear: "WHAT!!?? ARE YOU CRAZY?? WE'RE NOT HERE TO GIVE THEM AWAY!! ANY LOWER THAN THAT AND IT COMES OUT OF *YOUR* COMMISSION!!!" Then he comes back with only 100 bucks knocked off. And now the opinion poll: Chevy Z24 Cavalier hatchback with: fuel injected six, automatic, air, tilt, 14" Eagle GT steel belted radials with alloy rims, AM/FM stereo, heavy duty battery, rear window defogger/washer/wiper, spoiler, electronic instrumentation, custom interior, rustproofing with a lifetime warranty, 5yr/50,000mi warranty, 7.9% GMAC financing What I didn't get: cruise control, sun roof, power locks/windows All for a "bottom line" (delivered) of 10,900 frogskins. Do you think this is a fair price? Any horror stories about the car or the options? And now for the warm-up question before the $64,000 question - will 20 degrees below zero damage an engine that's not broken in? I live in balmy Chicago and I believe that this is the reason car sales take a dive in fall and winter. If anyone can post actual data on the matter they've got my vote for sainthood. Thanks in advance. Walt Kurszewski ihnp4!ihuxl!walt2 (312) 979-6307