I need a new car...

..and here are the specs..

Published on February 15, 2005 By Draginol In Misc

My car's lease is almost up so I have to think about getting a new one. I currently have a 2003 Bonnaville. It's a pretty good car actually. Cost around $35,000 back in 2003.

But now it's time for a new one? Any suggestions? Here are the specs:

(1) Needs to be front-wheel or all-wheel drive.
(2) I prefer American made cars.
(3) Prefer a head's up display
(4) Prefer but don't require 4-door vehicle.
(5) Needs ot have built in nice GPS type unit.
(6) Needs to have enough horse power so that I never feel like I'm pushing it (I tend to drive fast).
(7) Would like adaptive cruise control

I'm not terribly price conscious. The limiting factor is typically that the cars I want are rear-wheel drive which simply isn't an option in Michigan.

For instance, I'd be tempted to get the Cadillac XLR if it was front wheel drive or all-wheel drive:

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Comments (Page 2)

Jim Geurts

on Feb 17, 2005

I have been really happy with my '04 Saab 93. It's front wheel drive and comes w/ a 210hp turbo standard. Plus it handles nicely in the snow (I live in Milwaukee).

Kobrano

on Feb 17, 2005

What you should get is hands down, the best car i've ever driven in my life.

Link
http://automobiles.honda.com/models/specifications_descriptions.asp?ModelName=Accord+Sedan&Category=EX+V%2D6

Honda Accord EX w/V6 + Leather + Satellite Navigation... I drive one of these myself, pricey at $30,000+ for loaded ones, but i've never driven in a car that has impressed me more and i've owned almost every luxury brand out there. Power moonroof, built in XM Satellite Radio, voice recognition navigation system that TELLS you where to turn!!! Every saftey feature you can imagine including side and canopy airbags that surround the passengers in a "Cocoon" in the event of an accident. They are American obviously, as they are built in Tennesse and they are front wheel drive with 4 wheel disc brakes.

DO NOT buy a rear wheel drive car, my neighbor has a BMW, and has been stuck in her own driveway 20-30 times this year (no joke), while my nice 35K EX drives right past.

jeblackstar

on Feb 17, 2005

And to think, I drive a Daewoo, a korean car they don't even sell in the United Staes anymore. Makes me feel like a Yugo owner. Anyone still have one of those?

Cheers

KarmaGirl

on Feb 17, 2005

Kobrano, I think you missed the "American" bit of the car discussion Just because it is built in the US, doesn't make it American. They import all the parts, and some of it is even assembled before it gets to the plant. Hardly any of Honda's profits stay in the US. Don't get me wrong, almost all cars are made of a mix of foreign and US, but Honda is definitely not an American car. It would be like saying that Mercedes is American (Daimler Chrysler)

My husband has driven a rear wheel drive car his entire life. The only time that I can remember that he ever got stuck was driving a GTZ (front wheel drive). If you get stuck in your driveway 20 to 30 times in a year for any reason, you are simply just a bad driver.

Kobrano

on Feb 18, 2005

They import all the parts, and some of it is even assembled before it gets to the plant.

This is completely incorrect. I researched Honda extensively before I decided to buy "Two" of them for our household (One I bought last year, and another I bought last week because the first one is flat out the best car i've ever owned).. Honda is actually one of the most American cars you can buy. Theres more American Made parts in a Honda, than in your average GM,Ford or Dodge.. A full 90+% of the parts in my Honda, are from the US.. It was assembled in US plants that employ 16,000+ Americans, and I financed them at 3 years with 0% interest at Honda Finance, which is based in the US and employ thousands of Americans. The steel in a Honda, is 100% American Steel, from American Steel Mills. The paint used on the Honda is produced at a Dupont plant in Michigan actually.

Finally, the dealer I purchased it at, is based in Ferndale Michigan, and is owned by a local businessman, and they employ all local people. In a nutshell, when most US automakers are moving/moved plants to mexico/canada, or overseas, Honda is creating jobs here, and putting our people to work - at all levels. We are beyond the point where we can refer to GM/Ford/Chrysler as "American Made" and everyone else as "Foriegn", it just doesn't work that way anymore.

Link
http://money.cnn.com/2003/06/26/pf/autos/americancars_whatis/

Cadillac is the last car i'd examine if I was looking for a new one, especially with their track record. I regret ever buying the 2 cadillacs i've owned in the past, they just felt like oldsmobiles I paid too much for. But hey, thats my recommendation, i'm pretty picky about cars.

KarmaGirl

on Feb 18, 2005

It was assembled in US plants that employ 16,000+ Americans

After looking into it, it does appear that Honda has ramped up their US industry on certain models, so with that I was wrong. However, buying a Honda is not supporting American Made cars. Honda doesn't have plants here because they want to support the US, or that they want to strengthen the American work force, they are here to make more money and take advantage of tax and import savings. With having a certain amount of business in the US, and having a US division, the cars that they import are treated differently.

They have about 16,000 workers in the US. GM has about 150,000. And, they also employ almost as many in their finance division (which also includes Ditech, which is owned by GM)

There is no way that you can lump an XLR with the typical Cadillac (or any car, for that matter). That is just absurd. It, and the CTS to a lesser degree, are luxury sports cars. The XLR is almost like a luxury Corvette. The XLR has a retractable hard top- it doesn't fold, it completely retracts (best of both worlds: have it open on nice summer days, and have a hard top without noise for the rest of the time). The XLR has heated and cooled seats (that would be handy). It also has an amazingly tuned suspension and a 4.6L V8 with variable valve timing. It does a quarter mile in 14.3 seconds (damn, that is one fast Cadi!!) What about the touch screen climate and audio controls? It also has hands free navigation that can be customized for different driver profiles. Bose stereo. Push button start (no key needed, just your keyless remote). Heads up display (first "luxury" auto to have it). Adaptive cruise control (senses the traffic patterns in front of you, and adjusts cruise control- especially handy if on a business call while driving, even with hands free)........ not the typical "car" in any class.

The last car that I would consider is a Jag. They are just a really expensive, fancy looking Taurus. Jag+Ford=bad idea.

Kobrano

on Feb 18, 2005

However, buying a Honda is not supporting American Made cars.

You are correct, thats because buying a Honda *IS* buying an American Car, even more so than buying many of the Big Three's cars.

But I get the distinct impression that you are disagreeing for the sake of disagreeing, without adding any additional facts to the discussion. The further implications by you that they invest so much here to avoid tarriffs and taxes, and that they'd be more American or help our country more if they kept their plants overseas is ludacrious. Of course they are here to make money, thats what all corporations do, thats why the big three moved most of their plants to Mexico or outside the US, to make more money. But my point was, Honda is a good friend to the US and continues to increase investment in this country, while our own big three continue to divest their operations here. Their cars are some of the most "Made in America" cars you can now purchase. Do I care $65.00 doesn't go to line the pocket of some US executive, and instead goes to a Japanese CEO? Not in the slightest, its all of the other money chains that concern me, and for that, Honda delivers to the American people.

My point on the Cadillac was in general, I think they are all overrated and overpriced for what you get. But it sounds like you've already made up his mind for him on what to get and that you are more excited about it than him!

KarmaGirl

on Feb 18, 2005

But I get the distinct impression that you are disagreeing for the sake of disagreeing,

Nope. I've owned foreign cars. I own a few right now. I have no problem with people buying foreign cars.

The further implications by you that they invest so much here to avoid tarriffs and taxes, and that they'd be more American or help our country more if they kept their plants overseas is ludacrious

Uh, I said that by having plants here that they get tax and terriff breaks on their imported cars. How does that imply that "they'd be more American or help our country more if they kept their plants overseas"? Now you are just manking your own assumptions.

My point on the Cadillac was in general, I think they are all overrated and overpriced for what you get. But it sounds like you've already made up his mind for him on what to get and that you are more excited about it than him!

Yes, and the generlization was "Cadillac is the last car i'd examine if I was looking for a new one", which would include the Cadillac that he is looking at, and the one that this entire thread was based on. I was also trying to bring the response back on topic (since the topic was basically "this is the car that I am looking at, but is there one as good that is front wheel drive". I was pointing out the features of the car. It's hard to top the features that it has. And, simply, if I had the cash to blow on a single car, I'd buy that car. But, I don't...and I already have too many cars....so it doesn't matter.

Brad seems pretty smart, so I am pretty sure that he can make up his own mind.

Draginol

on Feb 23, 2005

The Accord isn't quite what I'm looking for. No HUD, no adaptive cruise control and I don't like the body styling.

My friend who works at Ford is suggesting this one:

The Jaguar S-Type. It has a lot of the specs I'm looking for. Though I'm not crazy about the body styling. It isn't clear that it's all-wheel drive though my friend says it is. I'm not a big fan of the European styling in it I guess you'd say (the interior in particular). But I'm planning on checking it out further.

The Cadilac CTS looks pretty good but it's rear-wheel drive.

Gallery Image

Other than real wheel drive it has all the other specs met and can seat 4.

I should also state: I prefer American cars. It's not a requirement. I'm a capitalist. If American car companies can meet the needs of consumers, then market forces will punish them. But all things being equal (and even a bit unequal) I'll choose American if I can.

The Acura RL looks impressive:

There is also the new Cadilac STS:

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So I'm still looking.

Draginol

on Apr 16, 2005

I got the new car:

Jaguar S-type RACER upgraded to 500 HP!

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