My new car

[hammer]

Ok, not much narrower, only 195s available in 16", but still a little better than 205. For the WS-60s, 205/50-17s are $133 vs. 195/60-16s at $104, and as I remember it, steel wheels off Tire Rack can be had for around $25-50 (though that's going back a few years, for 15" wheels at $25 per.) So you're just about breaking even going down a size with new wheels, plus no mounting/balancing every change.

Wouldn't separate wheels be the way to go? Cost aside, I'd think that mounting tires twice a year would beat up the stock rims a bit...

 

[hammer]

Took the first drive into work this morning...car is quite composed at 70-80 MPH, surprising for a small car. Quite a different ride from my Subaru Outback.

Just wondering...we normally never get any of the dealer add-ons but we did pull the trigger on a clear film called Roadblock which they applied to the front bumper, part of the hood, and the side mirrors. Has anyone else ever had one of these put on? I checked around auto forums and it seemed like a lot of people were sold on it, and previous cars I've had have their share of front end marks from road "stuff".

 

[Geoff]

Took the first drive into work this morning...car is quite composed at 70-80 MPH, surprising for a small car. Quite a different ride from my Subaru Outback.

Just wondering...we normally never get any of the dealer add-ons but we did pull the trigger on a clear film called Roadblock which they applied to the front bumper, part of the hood, and the side mirrors. Has anyone else ever had one of these put on? I checked around auto forums and it seemed like a lot of people were sold on it, and previous cars I've had have their share of front end marks from road "stuff".

I have the 3M stuff on the nose of my GTI. I did the sheet metal on the front edge of the hood and fenders, not the plastic bumper below. My last one looked like I took it out in the woods and shot at it with a pellet gun. It's working so far. I wish I'd done the rear edge of the driver's door. I picked up paint chips there from my very narrow garage when I was living in Portsmouth, NH.

I really should get some touch-up paint for my car and get to the paint chips before winter. It's orange over white primer so the chips are all pretty obvious. I have all the ultra fine wet sandpaper, sanding blocks, and compound to make it look like new.

 

[campgottagopee]

Took the first drive into work this morning...car is quite composed at 70-80 MPH, surprising for a small car. Quite a different ride from my Subaru Outback.

Just wondering...we normally never get any of the dealer add-ons but we did pull the trigger on a clear film called Roadblock which they applied to the front bumper, part of the hood, and the side mirrors. Has anyone else ever had one of these put on? I checked around auto forums and it seemed like a lot of people were sold on it, and previous cars I've had have their share of front end marks from road "stuff".

You'll be glad you have that---will save that "sand blast" look in couple years time.

 

[ComeBackMudPuddles]

nice ride! safe, reliable, scandinavian.

you'll be thinking of the swedish bikini team every time you drive her....time to plan a nice long road trip!

 

[Glenn]

Sweet! I've always liked the lines on those cars!

If you do go snows, get separate wheels. I I used to do the change out myself every fall and spring....in my driveway.

 

[WJenness]

I've circled a few things that seem wrong about this car...

(I realize it's a personal choice, and I respect yours, mine would have been different is all)

Automatic transmissions just seem like a waste of a 'fun' or 'good' car to me... YMMV.

Otherwise I think you got yourself a nice ride... If I find a bunch of money between now and when I have to replace my car, it'll probably come down to Audi S4, S5 or Volvo S60R.

-w

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I've circled a few things that seem wrong about this car...

(I realize it's a personal choice, and I respect yours, mine would have been different is all)

Automatic transmissions just seem like a waste of a 'fun' or 'good' car to me... YMMV.

-w

When I saw that I thought..sweet..I can drive it!!!! Sweet interior and it looks like power seats!!!

 

[hammer]

I've circled a few things that seem wrong about this car...

(I realize it's a personal choice, and I respect yours, mine would have been different is all)

Automatic transmissions just seem like a waste of a 'fun' or 'good' car to me... YMMV.

Otherwise I think you got yourself a nice ride... If I find a bunch of money between now and when I have to replace my car, it'll probably come down to Audi S4, S5 or Volvo S60R.

-w

Can you believe it? The T5 AWD doesn't come with a stick. The spouse does not drive a stick so I would have had to go with the automatic anyway. I've driven automatics for some time so it's no big deal, and if I want to let the engine rev a bit more I can always use the paddle shifter.

We test drove an S60 as well...nice car but the ride wasn't quite as sporty, and the standard T5 engine (same as on the S40) had OK pickup but sounded noisier in this car. Interior room was only marginally more.

Right now they have big incentives on the S60...I think the car's due for a redesign.

 

[WJenness]

Can you believe it? The T5 AWD doesn't come with a stick. The spouse does not drive a stick so I would have had to go with the automatic anyway. I've driven automatics for some time so it's no big deal, and if I want to let the engine rev a bit more I can always use the paddle shifter.

We test drove an S60 as well...nice car but the ride wasn't quite as sporty, and the standard T5 engine (same as on the S40) had OK pickup but sounded noisier in this car. Interior room was only marginally more.

Right now they have big incentives on the S60...I think the car's due for a redesign.

Such a shame (no stick available)... Seems to happen quite a bit these days...

My first two cars were automatics, and I had wanted to learn stick... My girlfriend taught me on her car... The next car I bought (my A4) is a stick, and it will be that way until A: I can't get a car I like with a stick or B: I'm too old and feeble to operate a clutch (but then I probably shouldn't be driving anyway).

You might be right on the S60 redesign... The S60 itself I don't find that interesting... The S60R however, is it's own beast...

-w

 

[hammer]

You might be right on the S60 redesign... The S60 itself I don't find that interesting... The S60R however, is it's own beast...

Didn't test drive the S60R...would be nice if it was available with AWD, though. They only pair AWD with the base engine.

 

[WJenness]

That's the thing with the S60R (at least on the '04-'07 models, don't think there was an R in '08 or '09, but I expect it's coming back), it has Haldex AWD and an available 6 speed (see wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_S60)

And it looks like you're right on the redesign. "The last of the first generation S60 rolled off the factory line in Ghent in March 2009." So they're just trying to get rid of them now...

I imagine the S60R will follow the standard S60 by about a year when the new design is introduced.

-w

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

The big question is what kind of amazing deal did you get on the S40? I know car dealers are practically giving cars away..

 

[WJenness]

The big question is what kind of amazing deal did you get on the S40? I know car dealers are practically giving cars away..

Seriously. Some of the car commercials I've heard on the radio in the past week have surprised me.

-w

 

[wa-loaf]

Seriously. Some of the car commercials I've heard on the radio in the past week have surprised me.

-w

They are taking that rebate into the price they are advertising, so unless you have a used car that qualifies you are SOL.

I've always wanted a V70R wagon. Nothing like 350hp family car. :-D

 

[hammer]

The big question is what kind of amazing deal did you get on the S40? I know car dealers are practically giving cars away..

I got a good deal but not an amazing deal...went through a buying service, and with manufacturer to dealer incentives it was a little over $4000 off of MSRP. That sounds pretty good, but the cars are expensive to begin with.

The S60s had higher incentives and I could have bought one for less than the S40, but the S40 was a better "fit" for the type of car I wanted.

 

[hammer]

That's the thing with the S60R (at least on the '04-'07 models, don't think there was an R in '08 or '09, but I expect it's coming back), it has Haldex AWD and an available 6 speed (see wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_S60)

And it looks like you're right on the redesign. "The last of the first generation S60 rolled off the factory line in Ghent in March 2009." So they're just trying to get rid of them now...

I imagine the S60R will follow the standard S60 by about a year when the new design is introduced.

-w

I guess the S40 engine isn't quite the same as the S60...

From the Volvo web site:

S40 T5: Horsepower 227 @ 5,000 RPM; Torque 236 @ 1,500-5,000 RPM
S60 2.5T: Horsepower 208 @ 5,000 RPM; Torque 236 @ 1,500-4,500 RPM
S60 T5: Horsepower 257 @ 5,500 RPM; Torque 258 @ 2,100-5,000 RPM

I don't even see the S60R...did they stop selling those?

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I got a good deal but not an amazing deal...went through a buying service, and with manufacturer to dealer incentives it was a little over $4000 off of MSRP. That sounds pretty good, but the cars are expensive to begin with.

The S60s had higher incentives and I could have bought one for less than the S40, but the S40 was a better "fit" for the type of car I wanted.

What exactly is a buying service? I always look up what deal holdback is as well...I'm guessing with the $4k off you got it for high 20s??

 

[hammer]

What exactly is a buying service? I always look up what deal holdback is as well...I'm guessing with the $4k off you got it for high 20s??

I insure through USAA...they have a car buying service where you can get a "fixed" price for individual cars, usually near factory invoice (or below if there are incentives).

We've gone through this service and another through Costco in the past and we feel that we get a good deal with minimal price negotiation. Not all vehicles are listed, however...for popular ones, you are on your own.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I insure through USAA...they have a car buying service where you can get a "fixed" price for individual cars, usually near factory invoice (or below if there are incentives).

We've gone through this service and another through Costco in the past and we feel that we get a good deal with minimal price negotiation. Not all vehicles are listed, however...for popular ones, you are on your own.

Right on so what was the #??? I really enjoy the negotiation part and putting dealers against each other and then right when I'm about to sign.having second thoughts and getting another couple hundred off..