Car Bleg Updated
After my car bleg (lots of excellent comments, thanks!), I’ve decided on either the Infiniti G37 or Volvo S60. Unfortunately, the 2010 Volvo is some concept model which isn’t available until 2011. So, pretty much limits me to used, which is fine. I usually buy used anyway. Thoughts?
January 30th, 2010 at 8:26 pm
We’ve had an S60 for 8 yrs w/o problems. You can get a 3 yr old one for probably 15K. Not the fastest, but safe, good looking, comfortable. I bet the insurance is a hell of a lot cheaper than a G37 (faster and also good looking).
January 30th, 2010 at 8:29 pm
BTW, I’m no hippie, though I do teach college, where Volvos are de rigeur in the faculty lot. We have the only one with an NRA sticker and an HK P2000 in the armrest.
January 30th, 2010 at 9:10 pm
The Infiniti is nice – even though they spel it rong.
January 30th, 2010 at 9:48 pm
my volvo s60 has been trouble free, solid cornering, fun. get the turbo.
January 31st, 2010 at 2:15 am
Woo hoo! I have an ’05 G35, and I love it! I bought it a few months ago. This is a huge massive purchase, please take your time and make sure it’s the right decision for you. I even made an excel spreadsheet with a regression between price and mileage. Also include in your master car buying list:
# Price
# Mileage
# Make
# Model
# VIN
# Carfax ok?
# Website (paste a link here)
# Address
# Phone
# Comments section for the questions that you ask about the car I’m going to copy and past parts of the guide I wrote for my sister too:
Everyone drives a used car – the first time a car is driven off the lot it’s used. According to Dave Ramsey, a personal financial adviser with a national radio show, the average new car looses 60% of its value in the first 4 years. Why not buy a 4 year old car at a 60% discount when it probably only has 40,000 miles on it – maybe 33% of its life used?
But you can probably save $10K or more buying a G37S 6MT with like 15,000 miles on it. 328HP, sooo sick!
# How to value cars
1. Do not trust what the dealer says they are lying.
2. Check Kelly Blue Book for the private party sale price for the car you are looking for in your area
3. Check craigslist
4. Check the newspaper
# Never move ahead without a VIN
1. Carfax
1. Look for title brands – named salvaged or water damaged. This means the car was in such a bad accident the insurance company deemed the car a total loss, paid the value of the vehicle to the owner, and then sold it for scrap.
2. Check on the carfax report if the vehicle was leased. Many leased vehicles are used by middle aged people who work for corporations. These people are probably high income earners and if they are responsible in their professional lives, they probably aren’t racing their cars around town and have the means to regularly maintain the vehicle. Many leases also include regular maintenance for the vehicle.
# Haggling
1. Offer at least 20% below the selling price at a dealer, and 10% below a private sellers price. Why not try it? You can always pay MORE.
# Auto Inspection
1. See elemonators.com or take the car to a reliable mechanic for an inspection. NEVER buy a car if you don’t know it is in acceptable condition, or even in the condition the seller says it’s in.
January 31st, 2010 at 7:26 am
Volvo S60 looks cool.
raul has the right idea get the turbo.
January 31st, 2010 at 12:00 pm
Having drove both many times I personally am a fan of the G. The Volvo is a great car, solid and reliable but the G is truly a drivers car. If you are looking for performance luxury it is the G. The two cars are really different. Hertz rents both of them and I would recommend trying them out for a day or two because they really are that much different.
January 31st, 2010 at 12:28 pm
From a auto technicians viewpoint I vote for the Infiniti. Infiniti is much better about allowing access to vehicle electronics by independent auto repair shops than Volvo is. I also think the Infiniti powertrain is going to be more durable than the Volvo. Volvo used to have a reputation for durability but in the last 15 years that’s gone downhill. The chances of getting a trouble free used car with the Infiniti is way greater.
January 31st, 2010 at 2:00 pm
We like our 1999 Volvo S80 *BUT* I must warn you that it seems like service at the dealer costs us $500 MINIMUM each visit. So when the “CHECK ENGINE” light goes on, we leave it alone until we see actual flames coming out of the engine compartment. Just my $0.02
January 31st, 2010 at 3:24 pm
I just got my 2007 Mercedes CLK 350 with 21K miles for $25k. And it has 18 months of factory warranty left. 20 mpg in town, 28mpg 75 mph hiway cruise. Take the other $10k as a downpayment on a Thompson or Barrett 50.
January 31st, 2010 at 3:35 pm
Vovlo=big money to keep running–We got rid of one last year because of the costs
January 31st, 2010 at 4:01 pm
I used to have an Infiniti G20 and loved it. I bought used while in grad school and finally gave it to charity with 242,000 miles. Other than tires and oil changes, I never needed much in the way of repairs until the end.
The engine was a Nissan engine so the parts were interchangeable. I’m presuming it still is the same.
January 31st, 2010 at 4:32 pm
My wife has a 2001 S60, and I have a 2003 FX35. The Volvo is ok, but it is extremely expensive to fix. We have had to put over $3k in it in the last 6 months. My Infiniti has 10k more miles (105k), and besides oil, tires and new brakes, I have not had to fix anything. The Volvos are nice and safe, but pricey to fix.
January 31st, 2010 at 7:22 pm
.
The G37 Coupe is drop dead sexy. The 4 door, somewhat less. But, the convertible — oh, my. One of the few cars that could make me give up my 3/4 ton diesel truck. ;^)’
January 31st, 2010 at 11:36 pm
As a service technician I advise you to get the G37. The VQ series engines are great. Plenty of power to go around. The Volvos, as others have pointed out, are crazy when it comes to repairs. Not only that, but when people drive up to my shop in a Volvo, or most other Euro-cars, I want to tell them to F%^& Off. They are a pain in the rear to service. I’m sure you’ll be happy with either.
February 1st, 2010 at 12:47 am
I have a 1994 Infiniti Q45t, with 190,000+ miles on it.
We had the transmission serviced at 140,000 miles to the tune of $600, and that was the most expensive repair to date, except for bodywork repairs caused by 6 deer on opening day of deer season when a herd decided to commit suicide and ran into the road where there was no good exit strategy!
It taught 4 teenagers to drive, 2 boys and 2 girls, went on plenty of extended road trips, and is still one of the most fun to drive cars I have owned.
My adult son still drives it daily, and the engine is as strong today as it was the day I bought it, (used, with 40,000 miles on it).
Buy the Infiniti!
Bill
February 1st, 2010 at 2:22 am
I have a good friend with an S60 R. I have to say it’s a really sweet car. It would be high on my list but I think I am headed for a truck. Probably a Toyota Tacoma.
February 1st, 2010 at 5:00 pm
I’d say go with the Nissan.
February 1st, 2010 at 6:01 pm
Trans problems with the Volvo. Also underpowered without turbo.
February 1st, 2010 at 7:19 pm
I am a Volvo nut. Avoid all models between 2000-2003 (transmission, computer and traction control problems). That’s Ford QC legacy. They seem to have sorted it out since then. I had a 2001 V70 T5 that flowerpotted and went, seriously, to Pull-A-Part. $41K new. Couldn’t get $5000 for it 6 years later. A total heap of shit. Now, my Volvo 240DL wagon has about 300000 miles on it and will be pried from my cold dead hands. 🙂
February 1st, 2010 at 7:20 pm
Also, those Infinitis are thief bait. There’s some really easy man-in-the-middle attack to gain access to the remote open and start on those, IIRC.