2 car buying questions...

[Pazuzu]

(1) Has anyone ever bought a car through Costco (at least their discount program)? Happy or not?

(2) Toyota Matrix/Kia Sephia/Mazda3/Pontiac Vibe...what others? Give me suggestion on the hip and hot crossover market...I wanna feel like a 24 year old banker cruising in NYC. I have my brand loyalty, but in this case, it doesn't mean much. Was there a specific model year of any of them that stood out (I'd 100% consider buying certified used).

Thanks assholes

[DEnd]

Spawny sez get an FX
someone else on here say's get that tiny little Suzuki thingamablob...

[Pazuzu]

We looked at a used QX 2 weeks ago...whatever he claims, it was just a reskinned Nissan Pathfinder.

[Grim Reaper]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

(1) Has anyone ever bought a car through Costco (at least their discount program)? Happy or not?

(2) Toyota Matrix/Kia Sephia/Mazda3/Pontiac Vibe...what others? Give me suggestion on the hip and hot crossover market...I wanna feel like a 24 year old gay bank teller cruising for men in NYC. I have my brand loyalty, but in this case, it doesn't mean much. Was there a specific model year of any of them that stood out (I'd 100% consider buying certified used).

Thanks assholes

Why are you so interested in a midtown Atlanta cruiser?

I have not heard anything bad at all about Costco purchase from the couple people that I have heard that did it. It is pretty cut and dry. This is the price, pay it or don't, with no haggling. So if you are looking for a no sales maggot involved purchase it seems to be the way to go.

You might actually get a better deal on a left over if you can find them at the dealer but you need to make sure you plan to drive it for 5+ years otherwise you will loose some on resale.

Actually I like the Matrix/vibe. Thought about one for my wife as a grocery getter. I think I would stick with the Matrix for the warranty service. I would rather I had Toyota mechanics working on it not cross trained GM mechanics. Seems to be a reliable car from most reports.

The Toy is probably going to do the best on Resale down the road. Kia and Mazda tend to have poor resale. The Pontiac may as well even though its a rebadged Toyota.

Kia may have the better warranty. Neighbor has a Kia sedan and very happy with it. Has a 100k warranty they were telling me. So far they have been very happy with the treatment the dealer has given them and no complaints on the product.

Don't know anything about the new zoom zoom. Last Mazda I had was a 86 RX7. Buddy had a Protege his wife drove that they liked a lot but that's both been a while ago.

[Doc Holiday13]

Don't quickly dismiss the Scion's. I don't have one, but they are made by toyota and I personally know 3 people that own one and they all love them.

[Joe_W]

I have not heard a bad thing re the Mazda 3. Good friend has one, she loves it. I've ridden (sp?) in the back seat and was comfortable. Theres a few people on the board who have them and also have had good things to say. May very well be g/f's next car.

[Paul Gagnon]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

(2) Toyota Matrix/Kia Sephia/Mazda3/Pontiac Vibe...what others? Give me suggestion on the hip and hot crossover market...

Wow I never thought I'd hear people call station wagons hip and hot.

[DMG]

I work on the Mazdas and they seem to be well made but I am disturbed by the amount of Ford influence I see in them. The new Suzuki is the SX4 and it seems to be pretty good but this is just the first year.

I would buy a Toyota (again) or a Honda (again)

Also, check out he Subie Forester XT.

[Spawn_X]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

We looked at a used QX 2 weeks ago...whatever he claims, it was just a reskinned Nissan Pathfinder.

This is an Infiniti QX4 - http://press.nissan-global.com/COMMO...iti_qx4_01.jpg

This is an Infiniti FX - http://www.autobellausa.com/images/c...initi_fx40.jpg

and yes, check them out

[Joe_W]

Originally Posted by Spawn_X

This is an Infiniti QX4 - http://press.nissan-global.com/COMMO...iti_qx4_01.jpg

This is an Infiniti FX - http://www.autobellausa.com/images/c...initi_fx40.jpg

and yes, check them out

Ones a rebadged Murano and ones a rebadged Pathfinder, his point is still valid


and you called it the wrong thing originally as well

[roundhouse]

Originally Posted by Paul Gagnon

Wow I never thought I'd hear people call station wagons hip and hot.

They are when you call them "crossovers"

I guess the Mitsu Colt Vista 4WD Wagon was about 20 years too early huh?

A Cadilliac station wagon?
Geeze even Lexus makes a wagon now.

[Paul Gagnon]

I think wagons are cool but it makes me laugh that people didn't want them simply because they were called station wagons and now that they are called crossovers everyone (not specifically Paz) wants them. I have said for a long time that what most people really want is not SUVs, they want AWD station wagons. Looks like I was right.

Originally Posted by roundhouse

A Cadilliac station wagon?
Geeze even Lexus makes a wagon now.

There are Mercedes and BMW station wagons, what's the big deal?

[DEnd]

Originally Posted by Paul Gagnon

Wow I never thought I'd hear people call station wagons hip and hot.

It was bound to happen. I'm just waiting on Mini-Vans to become cool.

[Paul Gagnon]

Originally Posted by DEnd

It was bound to happen. I'm just waiting on Mini-Vans to become cool.

Will never happen. The minivan craze was because there were less station wagons. Now that they are back minivans are going away. Besides no matter what you do to a minivan they still drive like a van.

[paniolo]

Originally Posted by roundhouse

I guess the Mitsu Colt Vista 4WD Wagon was about 20 years too early huh?

I wanted one of those back in the 80's! It would have been perfect for hauling stuff around the farm and also taking all the newborn kid crap to the beach. Couldn't get financing though.

edit: Ended up with a used mini van instead

[Krusty]

Spaz---- I have a Matrix--- i and the wife love it.
the Mazda3, there have been problems getting even an oil filter for---- even from the dealer--- but we are a small town. the Vibe is an GM overpriced toy--- wouldn't do it....

the Matrix is getting @31/32mpg at my cruiseing speeds-- @80/90 in somewhat hilly country. I can go shopping at COSTCO if i lay the back seats down !!!
and the rear seats will seat adults in relative comfort.
I would buy a Matrix-XR again in a heartbeat !!!

[roundhouse]

Originally Posted by Paul Gagnon

I think wagons are cool but it makes me laugh that people didn't want them simply because they were called station wagons and now that they are called crossovers everyone (not specifically Paz) wants them. I have said for a long time that what most people really want is not SUVs, they want AWD station wagons. Looks like I was right.



There are Mercedes and BMW station wagons, what's the big deal?

I want the FX 45 wagon, now thats a manly station wagon!

Next best thing would be a nice Volvo wagon with a 5.0 & a 5 speed.

Unless you need 4 doors Id get a Mini Cooper.

Its hard to select nowdays, theres a bazillion different kinds of cars to choose from, just stick to one that was not assembled in North America, and dont get an automatic, and you should have 250 troublefree miles.

Its a generational thing, the kids dont want whatever kind of car thair parents hauled them around in, if you got trucked around as a kid in a wagon, you want a minivan, if you got hauled around in a minivan, you want a "crossover".
I just require V-8 power 4WD and something heavy enough to be safe in an accident, like over 4000 lbs.

[landusepbb]

To answer your first question, I tried Sam's program, same thing. The dealers around here were unwilling to work with me on it, I guess it cut into their profits.

[rustycruiser]

I really love my Scion Tc. Not a "crossover" but a great car. Toyota through and through.

[itsbeenawhile]

I don't know anything about the Costco program but I know a little bit about the Kia's. I had an 02 Kia Rio that I bought used for $3k. Its gas mileage was great and it had a lot of features but it was small. I traded it in (got a great trade in deal $3k) and purchased an 05 Kia Spectra SX (sporty model better suspension). The car was really nice and handled great even in the nasty ice and snow. Gas mileage wasn't to bad on it and we had plenty of room. I liked the SX over the other models because of the look. It definetly had some power behind it. I paid around $10k for it.

Just this week I traded it in for a Nissan Frontier 4 door offroad package! I needed a truck more!

Heidi

[Scott@Rockstomper]

BTDT, very recently. Check threads started by me in chitchat for what info I got.

Wife wrecked her Mazda Protege5. She drove a Matrix, sat in the Mazda3, and we were going to "just go look at" the Kia Spectra5... and she fell in love with it. More room than the Mazda, a dash that she likes, more engine than the Matrix, better standard-equipment than the Matrix, and a fair bit cheaper than either of the other two. A little less interior space than a Matrix, and a little less "zoom zoom" than the Mazda, but not bad in either regard.

So far so good, we've only had it three weeks, and last night she came home with the front air dam in her hands (she knocked it off sliding on the sloped iced parking lot at work, running over a snow clump and hitting a fence) but it doesn't look like it'll be tragic to try and put it back.

[Paul Gagnon]

Originally Posted by roundhouse

Its a generational thing, the kids dont want whatever kind of car thair parents hauled them around in, if you got trucked around as a kid in a wagon, you want a minivan, if you got hauled around in a minivan, you want a "crossover".

My Dad hauled us around in a convertible. I still want a convertible.

[roundhouse]

Originally Posted by Paul Gagnon

My Dad hauled us around in a convertible. I still want a convertible.

I hear ya,

when I was 9 my dad bought a new 1974 Caprice convertable with power everything and a 454.

What a cool car!
he kept it for over 20 years.

[Haole]

Originally Posted by Doc Holiday13

Don't quickly dismiss the Scion's. I don't have one, but they are made by toyota and I personally know 3 people that own one and they all love them.

We're happy with ours. Don't have to worry about dickering over price. The xA model ceased to be produced and is being replaced by the xD in 2008. Couldn't find a pic of the new model.

[Haole]

Originally Posted by Paul Gagnon

My Dad hauled us around in a convertible. I still want a convertible.

My dad had a lot of cars that I'd love to have. Including an Opel or two.