New Car Time

[Kinman]

I've owned a set of Toyota Highlanders about fifteen years apart. I don't have a complaint with the new one as it has much more leg room than the earlier model. I would never order a sunroof, I probably have opened the sunroof on both vehicles less than a dozen times. I do not understand what the attraction is, I am usually only in the vehicle for fifteen to thirty minutes tops, I think I can do without opening up the roof. I did order this one without the roof rack and have yet to kick myself for doing so, I have kicked myself for not getting the tow package. I could have gotten the 360 degree camera option but I could not think of a time it would come in handy, I do not live in a high crime area where I need to know what is going on 360 degrees around. I do appreciate the back up camera as well as the lane avoidance option, I like the new cruise control that allows three different settings for following distance. If I needed to I would buy another Highlander, I looked at everything, price was not an issue. I did like the Cadillac, who wouldn't? The air ride suspension turned me off, comfy yes but problematic if some sensor or component goes awry. More than one friend and a son that owned air rides had problems.

 

[lihpster]

Living where I do, with the weather here, I won't own a car with a hole in the roof. Don't need it and don't need the leaks.

 

[LVSteve]

Heard the ultimate pano sunroof story recently. The next generation BMW X3 will have a glass roof, but no opening panel. Why? BMW say the data tells them that fewer than 5% of owners ever open a sunroof. So, it's cheaper for BMW not to fit one, while charging the same price, naturally. I still haven't worked out how glass is cheaper to engineer as a roof than sheet steel.

 

[BC38]

Nice looking SUV.

If you're happy paying a premium for a new vehicle, then I'm happy for you. Especially if that's what it takes to make your missus happy.

New cars, and the depreciation that comes with buying one, aren't for me. I won't put my hard-earned money into a rapidly-depreciating "asset" just to drive a new car - and keep up with the Joneses.

Thankfully my wife defers to my judgement on our automotive purchases.

I like to buy vehicles that are 3-5 years old - with less than 50k on the odometer. That way I get a "nearly new" (and new to me) vehicle at around 1/2 the price of a brand new one. Best of all, I can pay cash for them - instead of having to pay the ridiculous interest rates for a car loan.

That has worked out pretty well for us over the last couple of decades.

JMO and YMMV. Pun intended...

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

My wife and I bought a 2024 Corsair GT plug-in hybrid back in June...it's been an exemplary car in every respect. It runs on electric for 27-34 miles per charge before switching over to gas. Since the vast majority of our driving has been within that range it's average well above 100 mpge...the only time I've had to put gas in it was to use up fuel credits before they expired.

 

[ladder13]

The other half is looking to trade her 2020 RDX. we’ve been looking at another RDX, a RX350H and a X3.

That Lincoln has really peaked my interest though.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

When looking for a new car...my wife and I considered a Jaguar F-Pace as well before deciding on the Lincoln. The Jaguar was physically bigger but has less interior room...required premium fuel...did not have the plug-in hybrid option...plus was more expensive. A friend with a Jaguar was also less complimentary about the customer service at the local Jaguar dealership. A Lincoln has a much better service network.

There was no comparison between them...the decision was easy.

 

[LVSteve]

When looking for a new car...my wife and I considered a Jaguar F-Pace as well before deciding on the Lincoln. The Jaguar was physically bigger but has less interior room...required premium fuel...did not have the plug-in hybrid option...plus was more expensive. A friend with a Jaguar was also less complimentary about the customer service at the local Jaguar dealership. A Lincoln has a much better service network.

There was no comparison between them...the decision was easy.

What motor does you Lincoln have that it doesn't require premium fuel? EDITED TO ADD: Is it the 2.5 non-turbo mill?

I have read enough on the Web and seen engine tear down videos on turbo cars run on 87 to make me think that it is a bad plan. Indeed, Honda (1.5 turbo Accord) and Audi (2.0 turbo) have just upped the fuel requirements to 91 octane. I suspect they have finally realized that 87, turbo, and the EPA regs don't mix in the real world, regardless of their previous testing.

 

[LVSteve]

New cars, and the depreciation that comes with buying one, isn't for me. I won't put my hard-earned money into a rapidly-depreciating "asset" just to drive a new car - and keep up with the Joneses.

Right now I think depreciation is a huge thing. Buddy was at an Audi dealership this week and the discounting on new stuff was very aggressive. I'm also seeing prices slashed on used luxury cars in this area. The local M-B and BMW stealerships have used stock jammed in every corner of the lot. Whether this is the 'end of year clearance' game or a sign of general weakness in the market I cannot say.

 

[Nevada Ed]

The only thing I HATE about buying a new car after ten years.....

is learning to drive it !!

All the new stuff takes a week to learn, just to get around the block, without any problems.

I had to pull of a main street with a 35 mph limit, on the way home with the new Jeep,
because I messed with the paddle wheels!

When I finally got into reno, in town at a stop sign, the controls finally kicked in and my trany was in 1st gear !
I was hitting high rpms and had to hang the first right onto a side street to see what was up. Not knowing, I shut the engine off and restarted it.
My 1st problem was solved, on the "Re-set" of gearing to the "Drive" mode.

 

[LVSteve]

The only thing I HATE about buying a new car after ten years.....

is learning to drive it !!

All the new stuff takes a week to learn, just to get around the block, without any problems.

I had to pull of a main street with a 35 mph limit, on the way home with the new Jeep,
because I messed with the paddle wheels!

When I finally got into reno, in town at a stop sign, the controls finally kicked in and my trany was in 1st gear !
I was hitting high rpms and had to hang the first right onto a side street to see what was up. Not knowing, I shut the engine off and restarted it.
My 1st problem was solved, on the "Re-set" of gearing to the "Drive" mode.

On most cars with paddle shifters on a slushbox, pulling the upshift paddle and holding it usually resets everything into normal automatic mode.

 

[Oldengineer]

Just took delivery of a 2025 Grand Touring PHEV Lincoln Corsair. Lots of new control icons but overall a very pleasing automobile. It’s got 170 miles on the odometer and showing a combined fuel economy of 58 mpg. The 2.5L Atchinson cycle I4 gas engine has good NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) and the interior is plush. My wife loves it.

Tom H.