If you are considering buyback which cars are you looking at as replacements?

[redbarron55]

Unless you want the height.

My dad, for instance, would be unable to get out of the Golf without extreme pain - too low for him.

A driving force for the purchase of a 2016 Town & Country you can get the height with out the SUV.
We are getting 28 mpg highway and it is quiet and fairly refined.
We are old enough that we appreciate just swinging out and standing up.
This is why we didn't buy a 2015 when they came out and got a used 2013 JSW instead. The Golf wagon was lower and the roof was lower as well.
If we could just but the Euro version with the diesel!
The V6 seems to be OK so far and we got 250,000 miles out of our 1998 Plymouth Caravan, I hope this one holds up as well.

 

[TDIinMA]

Why are there so few used Audi A3 hatches and "sportbacks"? it seems they are pushing the e-tron, but at 50K? I did see one for 37, but...wow

 

[atomicfront]

Why are there so few used Audi A3 hatches and "sportbacks"? it seems they are pushing the e-tron, but at 50K? I did see one for 37, but...wow

Because no one bought them new.

 

[chadbag]

Why are there so few used Audi A3 hatches and "sportbacks"? it seems they are pushing the e-tron, but at 50K? I did see one for 37, but...wow

Well my $47.5k e-tron was $39.4k (negotiated) minus another tax credit $4500 (for me $5500 with state) = $33.xK

So not unreasonable for a new A3

 

[crazyrunner33]

I am having so much trouble deciding what to get it's ridiculous.

Little background, I live in VT and commute 70ish miles roundtrip all highway to franconia, NH for work. Easy drive, I have driven in snow with fwd, awd and rwd. SO I know what I'm doing, I do see benefits of AWD vs RWD/FWD, but for me fwd/rwd is the same.

Input on previous experiences would be great, if you've had any, or any insight on these vehicles. I will be financing any vehicle I get for at least 60 months (don't have cash to buy outright).

(snip)

Next in line is a 2011 dodge ram cummins with a stick at 69k. Around the same price as the miata when all said and done. Bout half the fuel economy, on diesel, that I get with the TDI. Warranty wears off at 100k and that's when I decide what id want to do. This is a base trim level with a few add-ons. Best part is the cummins and manual.

(snip)

Then you have the truck which would be ~800 bucks more in fuel a year then I pay now, also would be financing a long term on an already 6ish year old vehicle (but holy cow do they hold their value amazingly well). I would, however, never have to worry about snow, and I could haul my mopeds around and get into snowmobiling now that I'd have a way to tow.

Any input would be greatly appreciated, opinions, fact, w.e just need some help.

Also wide open to other suggestions, only caveat is it must be available with a stick, and preferably be affordable with the nav/infotainment package.

Do you want an emissions legal vehicle? If so, the 2011 Cummins 6.7 is a bad choice. Those engines are plagued with EGR related issues, sticky vanes, poor fuel economy, and the DPF plugging up prematurely. They have a very similar emission design when compared to the gen 1 TDI. The 2013 and newer uses SCR with urea injection, the fuel economy is much better, and the emission system is very durable on these newer engines. My buddy works on these engines all the time and says it isn't uncommon to see over 10,000 hours without issues, the same cannot

Personally, I'm waiting to buy a newer one until after 2018 when Cummins removes the EGR system.

 

[HBarlow]

Your buddy obviously doesn't own a Dodge-Cummins truck.

I have a 2008 Dodge Ram 3500 cab and chassis with the Cummins ISB6.7. The truck has 176.000 miles on it now. Have never had any issues of any kind with the emissions control system. People I know who own them have had no problem either.

The truck has spent most of it's miles pulling heavy trailers. It's had routine oil and filter service until a couple months ago when I had to have the exhaust manifold gasket replaced after pulling a long grade of several miles with a heavy trailer and my foot well into it on a summer vacation trip to the Pacific Northwest. EGT was 1300° for a long time during that climb.

If someone bought one and uses it for short trips to the grocery store he might experience diesel particulate issues.

 

[j1mbo]

As much as I love both of my TDIs I am going to upgrade to a Nissan Murano Platinum, and the Wife will likely get a Mazda 3. MPG isnt a big issue since most of our driving is in town, but it will take a little while not to miss the Torque!

 

[rfortson]

Why are there so few used Audi A3 hatches and "sportbacks"? it seems they are pushing the e-tron, but at 50K? I did see one for 37, but...wow

You can get an e-tron pretty well spec'd for around 40k and that's before the $4502 tax credit (not deduction). Still more than a comparably equipped A3, but then the regular A3 doesn't get near the mileage the e-tron does, if you drive a lot of short trips to take advantage of the battery.

As the trip gets longer, eventually you'll wind up around 40mpg highway. However, my last tank I put 750 miles and filled up with 7.9 gallons. The tank lasted a month. Came out to 95 mpg for the tank. Adding in my cost of electricity and converting it to my cost for gas, I got an equivalent of 53mpg. Best I ever got in my JSW was 38mpg. You can see my long term fuelly in my signature.

 

[J.R.]

Story of my car choice life... Take the mazda CX5 for instance (and the 6 for that matter). They offer it with a stick, but EXCLUDE so many things! Only on the super base CX5 (no AWD), and you simply can't get the sunroof/XM/heated seat package on the 6... Silly.

Mine too. I know that feel bro. We were born on the wrong continent.

You can get a CX5 with a diesel, AWD AND a stick elsewhere in the world. But here we get stuck with the base engine and FWD and no options

I'd be even happier if they had the Mazda 6 wagon ('Estate') here!

 

[crazyrunner33]

Your buddy obviously doesn't own a Dodge-Cummins truck.

I have a 2008 Dodge Ram 3500 cab and chassis with the Cummins ISB6.7. The truck has 176.000 miles on it now. Have never had any issues of any kind with the emissions control system. People I know who own them have had no problem either.

The truck has spent most of it's miles pulling heavy trailers. It's had routine oil and filter service until a couple months ago when I had to have the exhaust manifold gasket replaced after pulling a long grade of several miles with a heavy trailer and my foot well into it on a summer vacation trip to the Pacific Northwest. EGT was 1300° for a long time during that climb.

If someone bought one and uses it for short trips to the grocery store he might experience diesel particulate issues.

You're one of the few who use these trucks for what they are intended for. In industrial applications with mostly WOT, or heavy towing,the LNT style emission systems last. The vast majority of people who drive these trucks use them for the short trips and grocery store runs that you mentioned.

Your EGT is hot enough to see plenty of passive regenerations. The user I replied to mentioned they would use it for DD driving, type of driving that will not experience many passive regenerations.

 

[mopower]

Then I see pictures online of this F350...

 

[HBarlow]

You're one of the few who use these trucks for what they are intended for. In industrial applications with mostly WOT, or heavy towing,the LNT style emission systems last. The vast majority of people who drive these trucks use them for the short trips and grocery store runs that you mentioned.

Your EGT is hot enough to see plenty of passive regenerations. The user I replied to mentioned they would use it for DD driving, type of driving that will not experience many passive regenerations.

Yeah, there are probably many of the trucks owned for the wrong reasons and used for the wrong purposes.

A TDR member I knew several years ago bought a new Ram cab and chassis in '07 when they were reintroduced. His pulled a long flat bed gooseneck dual wheel tandem axle trailer every day of it's life hauling oilfield supplies. 100% loaded and mostly highway use but some oil field roads. I think his diesel particulate filter clogged at around 250k miles and it is or was pricey to replace. That is probably the truck's greatest weakness.

 

[zoomydu]

Story of my car choice life... Take the mazda CX5 for instance (and the 6 for that matter). They offer it with a stick, but EXCLUDE so many things! Only on the super base CX5 (no AWD), and you simply can't get the sunroof/XM/heated seat package on the 6... Silly.

THIS eliminates MOST cars that are available with MT, for me. Once I narrow it down to hatchback/wagon body style, there are precious few options. VW, Mazda, Kia, and Mini are really about it. Was super stoked to check out the new Honda Civic hatch...but manual only with minimal features. I'd love the upcoming Si, but I suspect that will still only be a coupe. I miss the days when the Si was a hatch.

 

[J.R.]

THIS eliminates MOST cars that are available with MT, for me. Once I narrow it down to hatchback/wagon body style, there are precious few options. VW, Mazda, Kia, and Mini are really about it. Was super stoked to check out the new Honda Civic hatch...but manual only with minimal features. I'd love the upcoming Si, but I suspect that will still only be a coupe. I miss the days when the Si was a hatch.

I can still get a manual Outback here in Canada as option at least. But yet again, base engine only

 

[Don Splaun]

You can get a Mazda 3 Grand Touring manual. Has almost all options

 

[zoomydu]

I can still get a manual Outback here in Canada as option at least. But yet again, base engine only

Same here...base engine, fabric seats, no sunroof. Meh.

 

[zoomydu]

You can get a Mazda 3 Grand Touring manual. Has almost all options

Which is likely what I will end up with. We'll be trading in our '06 3s Touring. Planning to test drive the Kia Forte5 SX, too, but I suspect it won't handle as well and I believe the fuel efficiency on the Kia is pretty crappy, too.

 

[jkowalski]

Interested in a manual Alltrack, or a SportWagen SEL 4-Motion, if it existed.

Maybe an in-family SUV, if the price is right.

 

[J.R.]

You can get a Mazda 3 Grand Touring manual. Has almost all options

Which is likely what I will end up with. We'll be trading in our '06 3s Touring. Planning to test drive the Kia Forte5 SX, too, but I suspect it won't handle as well and I believe the fuel efficiency on the Kia is pretty crappy, too.

Yeah, it's on my short list. Problem is, I wish it was a bit bigger. The Mazda 6 wagon would be perfect.

In order of preference:

1- 2017/2018 GSW TDI manual
2 - 2015 GSW TDI manual when/if available IF i can get a good price.
3 - Mazda 3 Sport GT manual
4 - Subaru Outback 2.5i manual

I'll also have a look at the new Cruze diesel hatch when it becomes available but my expectations are pretty low...

 

[St.Hubbins]

Why are there so few used Audi A3 hatches and "sportbacks"? it seems they are pushing the e-tron, but at 50K? I did see one for 37, but...wow

boggles my mind they didn't sell well - it's possibly the perfect car for this family of four... throw a Thule up on the racks and we could even road trip with a domesticated beast of substantial size! but alas, America is the land of Canyoneros and monster trucks.

e-tron has much smaller cargo, no? if any "fixed" low mile ones show up, i would jump on one if i were ye.

 

[zoomydu]

Yeah, it's on my short list. Problem is, I wish it was a bit bigger. The Mazda 6 wagon would be perfect.

I'll also have a look at the new Cruze diesel hatch when it becomes available but my expectations are pretty low...

Yep. If Mazda were to bring in the 6 wagon here...there wouldn't be any debate. That would be our next car. We'd almost certainly not look at anything else.

 

[Conrad -JSW]

Changed my mind about a CX-5. I'm going with a 2017 VW GSW SE instead. With my $500 Goodwill cash it'll only cost me around $1.5k for the new VW.

 

[pparks1]

To the recent poster who got the Civic, great choice. I personally like the styling, but then again I replaced my TDI with a 2016 Accord EX-L. While I am only a averaging 31MPG in my Accord (with no highway), versus 40 in my TDI, since gas is cheaper than diesel here in michigan, my average cost per mile on my first 3k miles on the Accord is cheaper than it was over 52k in my TDI.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

Does the Avalon hybrid have auto engine stop/start? I was behind one at a traffic light this morning and when the light changed the trunk lid shook. Wondered if it was the engine starting. If so, nice feature.

 

[Don Splaun]

Yes all Toyota hybrids have auto engine start / stop.

 

[bennybmn]

Mine too. I know that feel bro. We were born on the wrong continent.
You can get a CX5 with a diesel, AWD AND a stick elsewhere in the world. But here we get stuck with the base engine and FWD and no options
I'd be even happier if they had the Mazda 6 wagon ('Estate') here!

Every time I see this I drool... It really would be absolutely perfect. And you could strap plywood to the roof in a pinch. I still hate how Mazda pinches options with the MT, but I'll get seat heaters installed if I had to!

THIS eliminates MOST cars that are available with MT, for me. Once I narrow it down to hatchback/wagon body style, there are precious few options. VW, Mazda, Kia, and Mini are really about it. Was super stoked to check out the new Honda Civic hatch...but manual only with minimal features. I'd love the upcoming Si, but I suspect that will still only be a coupe. I miss the days when the Si was a hatch.

Exactly. Plus with a car seat limiting seat folding (conveniently at least), a true wagon is really what I need, I'm worried a GTI would be tight for me.

Interested in a manual Alltrack, or a SportWagen SEL 4-Motion, if it existed.
Maybe an in-family SUV, if the price is right.

I'm going to talk to a dealer about realistic ship dates for a manual car. I thought I'd be done with VW, but they cornered the market...

Yeah, it's on my short list. Problem is, I wish it was a bit bigger. The Mazda 6 wagon would be perfect.
In order of preference:
1- 2017/2018 GSW TDI manual
2 - 2015 GSW TDI manual when/if available IF i can get a good price.
3 - Mazda 3 Sport GT manual
4 - Subaru Outback 2.5i manual
I'll also have a look at the new Cruze diesel hatch when it becomes available but my expectations are pretty low...

Yep. If Mazda were to bring in the 6 wagon here...there wouldn't be any debate. That would be our next car. We'd almost certainly not look at anything else.

That's how I feel about the 3/GTI/Mini/Kias etc. Juuuuust a bit too small. That and a Mini Clubman with anything resembling an option is a $35k car...
Also I was this close to pulling the trigger on a used Accord Sport MT with only 4k for 17 grand, then I realized the folding rear seat isn't split. REALLY Honda?!? If I didn't have a car seat, I wouldn't care. But as it is now I can swing by home depot at lunch (200 yds from my office) and pick up some 8' lumber no problem, and still pick my son up from daycare. Or take him with me to Home Depot, or "Heepo" as he calls it. He loves the carts with the steering wheels and looking at weed whackers.

 

[atomicfront]

boggles my mind they didn't sell well - it's possibly the perfect car for this family of four... throw a Thule up on the racks and we could even road trip with a domesticated beast of substantial size! but alas, America is the land of Canyoneros and monster trucks.
e-tron has much smaller cargo, no? if any "fixed" low mile ones show up, i would jump on one if i were ye.

The A-3 wagon was too small for families. I thought about getting one back when I had dogs. I looked at the back and there was really room for my 3 dogs. One being a Mastiff. I guess if you are young and single they make more sense. But getting a stroller and a couple of car seats in them isn't really feasible.

 

[splatkid10]

BMW340i - Don't feel good about sending that money right back to VW and getting an Audi S4...not to mention the S4 for 2017 won't be released until sometime after the new year. Too far out - gonna drive the "Bimmer" crowd.

 

[rfortson]

boggles my mind they didn't sell well - it's possibly the perfect car for this family of four... throw a Thule up on the racks and we could even road trip with a domesticated beast of substantial size! but alas, America is the land of Canyoneros and monster trucks.
e-tron has much smaller cargo, no? if any "fixed" low mile ones show up, i would jump on one if i were ye.

I don't believe so. The battery sits over the rear axle, under the rear seats. I've compared my e-tron to a co-worker's gas A3 Sportback and cargo area looks the same to me. There's no obvious difference, like there is in a Volt or other purely EV car.

I don't have the numbers to do a direct comparison, I'm just talking about the eyeball test.

The A-3 wagon was too small for families. I thought about getting one back when I had dogs. I looked at the back and there was really room for my 3 dogs. One being a Mastiff. I guess if you are young and single they make more sense. But getting a stroller and a couple of car seats in them isn't really feasible.

Yeah, I'll agree with this. Two car seats and a stroller probably wouldn't fit. The two car seats should, but you'd have to tow the stroller along behind.

 

[bring]

BMW340i - Don't feel good about sending that money right back to VW and getting an Audi S4...not to mention the S4 for 2017 won't be released until sometime after the new year. Too far out - gonna drive the "Bimmer" crowd.

I traded in my 3 series ('01 new - had it 15 yrs) for my TDI. Best car I ever owned. Miss driving it. Don't miss paying for fixes there at the end though

I test drove an IS 350 F Sport awd yesterday - that felt BMW-ish