New VW vs Used Honda......

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Originally Posted By: Nick1994
Originally Posted By: CKN
Originally Posted By: Nick1994
Originally Posted By: jigen
On top of that, the FRS/BRZ should give you Toyota reliability. I'd take a strong naturally aspirated 200hp 4cyl over a 170lb turbo motor all day, especially when it is tuned strictly for driver enjoyment and is powered from the rear wheels. Go test drive one! If I was without kids it would have been on my radar a couple years ago. Maybe you can even get a good deal on the Scion since they are now donzo.
FRS/BRZ have Subaru engines. No thanks.



It's really amazing here on BITOG when a motor has a problem a model year or two-how some think it's never addressed and goes on for perpetuity. I will take new Subaru over your Toyota which has over 200,000 miles on it.....
Yeah if it were free I'd take a new Subaru over my car too.

All I've heard about with Subarus is years and years of head gasket issues, oil burning, and random engine failures. I personally wouldn't buy one.


Bad motors must be the best kept secret around. Nothing but record sales the past nine years-

Subaru, the only Japanese brand that didn’t experience a U.S. sales slide during the financial crisis, will finally see tight supply crimp volume growth in 2016.

The all-wheel-drive specialist forecasts another year of record sales -- its eighth straight year of records and its ninth year of increases.

Seems to be a best kept secret of "bad motors" -or the owners your talking too are doing something terribly wrong.
 
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Greg, though I haven't always lived out this advice myself, I recommend that you keep what you have if you're happy with it, for a few reasons, and these are in no particular order.

Finances. KrisZ makes a great point that trading cars often encourages you to trade cars often. You get into the habit of getting something else every few years, and that's an expensive habit to be in. Some trades will be more or less expensive than others, but this is generally a more expensive way to go than keeping something for the long haul. Don't forget taxes, registration, insurance, all that stuff...

Reliability. I'm not here to argue that a Honda is a more reliable car than a VW. I'm of the opinion that anything made today is a good bet. That being said, there's an inherent risk in switching vehicles. My family had a horrible experience with a minivan we bought brand new in 2007. Brand doesn't matter -- it can happen with any brand. Someone else said that your Accord has successfully completed a 40k mile test drive. There's wisdom in that -- you have a vehicle now that you know and trust. There's value in that.

My wife's 2005 MDX will turn 140,000 miles soon. Aside from the fact that few current 7-seaters interest us for a variety of reasons, we know and trust this Acura. I replaced the timing belt on it myself. I did brakes on it when we first bought it about 80,000 miles ago, and I'll be doing brakes again in the near future (probably this winter or next spring). I've changed the fluid in every single sump on this vehicle, from the radiator clear back to the rear differential. I proactively replaced the radiator to prevent failure of corroded transmission fluid line fittings, and added robust power steering and transmission fluid coolers while I did it. This is OUR vehicle! We trust it. We'd be throwing a lot of trust away by buying something else. Something that may or may not deliver another 140,000 comfortable and dependable miles.

On the other hand, though, there's value in being happy also. If you trade your current car for something else, do it because you WANT to do it, not because you've told yourself that it's the smart thing to do.
 
Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Greg, though I haven't always lived out this advice myself, I recommend that you keep what you have if you're happy with it, for a few reasons, and these are in no particular order.

Finances. KrisZ makes a great point that trading cars often encourages you to trade cars often. You get into the habit of getting something else every few years, and that's an expensive habit to be in. Some trades will be more or less expensive than others, but this is generally a more expensive way to go than keeping something for the long haul. Don't forget taxes, registration, insurance, all that stuff...

Reliability. I'm not here to argue that a Honda is a more reliable car than a VW. I'm of the opinion that anything made today is a good bet. That being said, there's an inherent risk in switching vehicles. My family had a horrible experience with a minivan we bought brand new in 2007. Brand doesn't matter -- it can happen with any brand. Someone else said that your Accord has successfully completed a 40k mile test drive. There's wisdom in that -- you have a vehicle now that you know and trust. There's value in that.

My wife's 2005 MDX will turn 140,000 miles soon. Aside from the fact that few current 7-seaters interest us for a variety of reasons, we know and trust this Acura. I replaced the timing belt on it myself. I did brakes on it when we first bought it about 80,000 miles ago, and I'll be doing brakes again in the near future (probably this winter or next spring). I've changed the fluid in every single sump on this vehicle, from the radiator clear back to the rear differential. I proactively replaced the radiator to prevent failure of corroded transmission fluid line fittings, and added robust power steering and transmission fluid coolers while I did it. This is OUR vehicle! We trust it. We'd be throwing a lot of trust away by buying something else. Something that may or may not deliver another 140,000 comfortable and dependable miles.

On the other hand, though, there's value in being happy also. If you trade your current car for something else, do it because you WANT to do it, not because you've told yourself that it's the smart thing to do.


Great advice! Thank you. Your absolutely right that having a vehicle that you trust is worth its weight in gold.
 
A little update, yesterday evening the dealer sent me an email saying they could do it for $14K. Its currently listed at $18,900. Would any of you bite at this point?
 
Originally Posted By: gregk24
A little update, yesterday evening the dealer sent me an email saying they could do it for $14K. Its currently listed at $18,900. Would any of you bite at this point?




If its a new car with no damage/minimal miles and full warranty and I was in the market for a car > probably.
 
Originally Posted By: gregk24
A little update, yesterday evening the dealer sent me an email saying they could do it for $14K. Its currently listed at $18,900. Would any of you bite at this point?
I'd bite if I didn't already have a really nice reliable car, as you already do.
 
That's a great price. What do you owe on the Honda? They are going to try to kill you on your trade. If you're serious about the VW I would have them write up some paperwork of the sale price. Then go sell your accord at carmax and bring that check for the VW.
 
Originally Posted By: jigen
That's a great price. What do you owe on the Honda? They are going to try to kill you on your trade. If you're serious about the VW I would have them write up some paperwork of the sale price. Then go sell your accord at carmax and bring that check for the VW.


What is Carmax exactly? Do they give you better deals than most dealers?
 
carmax is a no-haggle used car dealership that also buys cars. Reason why you might consider them is it decouples your trade-in from your purchase so the dealer can't make a profit indirectly by low-balling you on the trade in. If you get an appraisel at Carmax then the dealer has to match that on the trade-in. Of course, in some states, you are only taxed on the purchase price minus the trade-in so there are tax advantages trading it in when you purchase the Passat. Not sure how it works in Florida.

I do understand though that Florida has among the highest doc fees in the nation. So you are looking at a car that is going to cost close to $15K after fees, tax, license etc.
 
It's worth checking out. Two years ago my mom was looking for a new car and was trading in her 2003 Corolla with 150k+ on it. It was a manual trans and the clutch was noticeably on its way out. Body was a little beat up too from a deer smacking into the side of the front fender. Oh and the sunroof was leaking when it rained.

Dealership said $1000 was the best they could do.

Carmax appraised it in 30 minutes and offered $4200 which she had 72 hours to come back and redeem the offer. She took their check. Since Hondas have grea resale value I think you'd make out better than the VW dealer. I'd give them a try if you're serious about the car.
 
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Originally Posted By: gregk24
A little update, yesterday evening the dealer sent me an email saying they could do it for $14K. Its currently listed at $18,900. Would any of you bite at this point?


I'm skeptical of a dealer taking FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS off the price of a sub-$19k car to someone over email. I would proceed with caution if you do go talk to them.
 
Originally Posted By: gregk24
A little update, yesterday evening the dealer sent me an email saying they could do it for $14K. Its currently listed at $18,900. Would any of you bite at this point?


What does KBB say a (two year old) 2014 Passat with 1000 miles is worth, because that is what you will have in a month? Its sure won't be anywhere near 18,900. Will it be more than the total OTD price that they are offering you? The dealer being so desperate to unload it would give me pause as well. Could there be an issue with that particular car? I wouldn't even consider this if I was in your position.
 
Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Originally Posted By: gregk24
A little update, yesterday evening the dealer sent me an email saying they could do it for $14K. Its currently listed at $18,900. Would any of you bite at this point?


I'm skeptical of a dealer taking FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS off the price of a sub-$19k car to someone over email. I would proceed with caution if you do go talk to them.


Makes me wonder if they plan to push hard on the back end with the F&I guy to make that $5k back (warranties, documentation processing fee, window etch, etc).
 
No doubt they will try. Which is why Greg needs to do his homework and have the final numbers nailed down before he even walks into the dealership.
 
Kbb trade in value on the Accord has a high value of $13,795 in excellent condition. The trade is half the deal so you're half way there. See if they will throw some cash at you. If you end up even then great. You can tell them that it will be easy and more profitable for them to sell a used late model Accord versus a 2014 Passat. Most shoppers look at the Passat as being two years old.
 
Do you really think that financially you will come out ahead if you take that deal?

Do it only if you want to have new car.
 
Originally Posted By: SatinSilver
Kbb trade in value on the Accord has a high value of $13,795 in excellent condition. The trade is half the deal so you're half way there. See if they will throw some cash at you. If you end up even then great. You can tell them that it will be easy and more profitable for them to sell a used late model Accord versus a 2014 Passat. Most shoppers look at the Passat as being two years old.


Wow I just checked the kbb on a 2014 Passat Wolfsburg with 1K miles. It is lower than that Accord's! Even though I'm more of a VW guy than a Honda guy, I wouldn't be able to financially justify a deal like this, especially when Greg likes his car and knows that it's reliable. I would only do a deal like this if a car is a "must have" and I can't see a Tennessee built, watered down for the American market Passat, being that car.
 
Originally Posted By: VeeDubb
Originally Posted By: SatinSilver
Kbb trade in value on the Accord has a high value of $13,795 in excellent condition. The trade is half the deal so you're half way there. See if they will throw some cash at you. If you end up even then great. You can tell them that it will be easy and more profitable for them to sell a used late model Accord versus a 2014 Passat. Most shoppers look at the Passat as being two years old.


Wow I just checked the kbb on a 2014 Passat Wolfsburg with 1K miles. It is lower than that Accord's! Even though I'm more of a VW guy than a Honda guy, I wouldn't be able to financially justify a deal like this, especially when Greg likes his car and knows that it's reliable. I would only do a deal like this if a car is a "must have" and I can't see a Tennessee built, watered down for the American market Passat, being that car.


That's why I suggested looking it up. I wasn't sure of the exact trim or I would have done it myself. That's even worse than I thought. Really isn't much of a deal at all. 14k is too much for that car. And if you would compare the two cars in two years, I bet the Honda is significantly above the VW in value. Hondas really hold value.
 
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