Seriously contemplating selling the 350GT

[Andy_V35Sky_350GT]

I've had the car for over 2 and a half years, and it's going to be incredibly hard to part with, however, due to the GFC and the drop in the $A against the J Yen, the market value of my car has actually gone up by a couple grand (was valued at $A36k by my insurance this year, up $A4k from last year). Whether or not someone is willing to pay that bit extra is yet to be seen. Trouble is, I really don't know what to replace her with. I have been considering becoming 'boring' and getting a 'regular' car, something perhaps a little cheaper so that I can save some $$$. I have been looking at either an Alfa Romeo GT or 159. These things are insanely nice on the inside (bright cherry leather yes please) but are a bit on the boring side engine wise. I'm also not sure on their reliabilty and how well they will retain their value (3 year old cars are already selling for half their sale price here). I was considering a Honda Accord Euro (but, its a Honda) or, wait for it, even a Crossfire (this would be a huge mistake, right, considering Chrysler, is, well, screwed)?

I really don't know what to do. My car has 60k kms and I'm starting to get itchy feet for a change. I'm really starting to notice how much she drinks as well, especially now that fuel is starting to increase again.

[ryan_g35]

ok so no post for months and you come back to tell us that you want to sell your car? You"ll never feel the love you with the 350gt with any other car .. I can't believe youuuuuuuuu! jk welcome back

[Rivalry]

f*** it... I'll buy it.

[zozoka1212]

Hey Andy long time no see. Got the new car buying itch. I have that every 2-3 years. LOL

Alfa is a great car but if you never owned one I suggest to talk to someone who does/did. Alfa's have been nice to me before(long long time ago). But they are pain in the arse sometimes. They have little girks you have to live with it. It is a love and hate relationship. At least that was for me and some of my friends who owned one. It was a 146 in 97 I believe. Not sure maybe 98. Had it for 2 years. Couple of problems with it nothing major but it wasn't a first year for that model. Never buy Alfa first year for sure. They never get it right at the first time. My friend used to be an Alfa boy and man never heard a guy so much and the next day totally oposite and all good best car ever, love and everything. . LOL

To me the crossfire is ugly. Looks like a frog from some angle.

If you want to go for a cheaper one you should go for the 2009 VW Scirocco. Nothing special tho. Do you guys will get that or have that overthere or it is only in Europe?

[Andy_V35Sky_350GT]

Is that what you guys call the Passat? We get the Golf, Eos, Jetta, Bettle, and a few other models, but that one isn't listed on the site.

http://www.volkswagen.com.au

I'm really not sure what to do. I am going to go to a dealer over the weekend and maybe take a GT and 159 for a test drive. These things are just so sexy on the inside, I've always had a thing for cherry leather in cars. I've read some very mixed reviews on Alfas and their history, so I'm really not sure.

The only other option is a used IS250, but I really didn't want to spend that much.

[zozoka1212]

I did not see that on the Aus website. Damn VW does not sell that thing outside of Europe. Bustards. Same with the new Focus. I love both of them.

here is the Scirocco



here is the Foci

[BrandAidDesignG35]

Welcome back mate!

Sorry to hear your selling the Skyline, I always really loved yours.

IF you must, I'd say get something that you really want, if it's not a G, take the time to test drive everything you can. You'll hate going from a G to an entry level car. Good luck bro!

[joe603]

How about a 370GT? There is a new convertible coming out that's sweet!

[Rivalry]

f*** it... I'll buy it.

[zozoka1212]

^^^Shipping would kill you. From Aus to the state would probably cost you a fortune. Not to mention they are driving on the wrong side of the road. LOL Sorry Andy had to.

I only drove once in London England for 15 minutes and I pulled over and gave the key back to my friend.

[Rivalry]

[G_whizz]

Yikes!!

Nooooo....don't do it!!

There is no replacement...

[SVTCOBRA]

I know I didn't read that right....go from a Skyline to a Chrysler??

don't remember how old you are, but perhaps you are due a few regrets.....I've got my share and if you part with the 350GT, you will start to accumulate some too. part of life, hindsite is 20/20 & foresite is damn blurry!!

[Andy_V35Sky_350GT]

Haha, I'm 25. I don't know why, but I've always had a thing for American cars (and being a non-American, I probably don't that the same views you guys have on your cars). I just don't know why but the Crossfire has always appealed to me, especially the SRT6, which I would imagine would be quicker than my car.

What do you guys think of Pontiac G8's (Holden Commodores here).

This car is going to be seriously hard to part with.

[awdjdmtalon]

Andy. Don't do it. Alfa's have HUGE reliability issues. They are no longer state site due to that.

The New Golf goes on sale here later this year for the 2010 M/Y. As a VW Master Tech. I would advise you of this. VW's like all german cars require thier scheduled maint. if you want it to last.

Unlike Jap cars that you can get by w/ doing less to them.

I am a fan of the G8 GT's. I like th look of them, and the power # are very nice. But I have yet to drive one.

As for the Crossfire. It is a Chrysler. Which here in the states, most ppl run from them.

Just my .02

[Andy_V35Sky_350GT]

Cheers. Yep, the new Golf was released here last month. I saw an awesome CC at a dealership I drove past yesterday, but I would imagine it would be out of my price range.

I have always wondered way Alfa's depreciate so rapidly. I always assumed they were a 'luxury' brand, and would have that kind of reliability.

Yeah, my GT is actually due for a service, its been 6 months and 7000 km's, but I run fully synthetic and I drive pretty cautiously, and she is still running the same - I wonder if a VW would be the same.

Thanks for all the input guys! Need to have a serious think. The new Honda Accord Euro won car of the year over here, might look into one of those.

[SVTCOBRA]

My BIGGEST car buying regret was buying a new 1984 Chrysler Dodge Daytona Turbo Z instead of the 1984 300Z!!! That POS was at the dealership more than with me!!! I was just out of college and decided to save money on the monthly payment....

The CC is very overpriced!! Looked at one, nice, but too much $$$ for a VW.

Have driven the G8 GT. Very nice car. Really liked the seats and interior. They sticker for around $32K here. My dealer just got 4 slightly used G8 GT's all with less than 18K miles....They were priced at $21K and change. Big drop in 1 year!!! You should be able to get a great deal on one.

Sat in the G8 GXP. SHould be a fun car to drive with the boost in HP, not sure if it's work the extra $$$ tho, but the one I sat in had a 6MT.

I've been impressed with the Holden cars. I think the GTO is a great bang for the buck car on the used car market.

But, I would seriously stay away from Chrysler. Will look up the cross file on CR and let you know. Have you sat in one?? They have a metal console!! You're arm will be hating it on a long drive.

Oh, and I'll be 48 this year. I was around 23 when I made my biggest car buying mistake and settled for that POS Dodge. Traded a 1969 Mach 1 with a shaker hood....

[awdjdmtalon]

SVT hate to burst you bubble on the CC. You can get into one for 27,900. Not a bad price for what you get. Now they do go as high as 36,000. But that is for the fully loaded AWD w. a 3.6L V6.

VW's are one of the most technologicly advanced cars on the road. VW for the last 10 yrs has been leading the market on advancements. They were the first ones to use fiber optics in their audio system on the 04 Pheaton.

I could go on for hours about what they have done but I will spare you all. Next time you are at a VW dealer take a close look at the window sticker. Look at what you are getting for the $$$$. You get tons of stuff as standard features that you have to pay big $$$ in option packages on other brands.

On a down side. They can be difficut to work on w/o the right tools and training. And the new ones are getting to the point that most DYI's are not able to work on them. I get peolpe asking me all the time. "Where is the oil filter?".

And the build quality is spot on. Shut the door on a new VW, then on a Honda. Listen to the sound. VW's sound very solid, Honda's have a tin sound to them. Even my G doesn't have the sould sound that a VW of the same year has.

[SVTCOBRA]

sorry to disappoint, bubble fully intact!!

When I was looking at the CC, the salesman was telling me an AWD (based on FWD) was around $43K with 280HP.

I was comparing to a new 2008 G35XS sedan AWD (based on RWD) that stickered at $39K with 306HP.

But, in all fairness, I will go back and check out the CC AWD again just cause I LOVE to look at cars!!!

Sorry if I hit a nerve.

[RED_DET]

If I live in Australia, I would own a GTiR.

[Slyberia]

I looked at a VW CC VR6 4Motion back in Jan. It's a nice car but the dealer (Jack Daniels in Fair Lawn, NJ) wouldn't go less than $38,600 for a model w/out the Technology Package.

I ended up buying a new 09 G37Xs a month later for $1000 less and with the premium, sport, and navigation packages. Add Infiniti's reputation for reliability vs. VW and it wasn't even a contest for me.

[TeflonG35]

You got some nice ford falcons and beastly holdens in aussie land. Why not check them out? VWs are useless. Way too many problems.

[Andy_V35Sky_350GT]

Yeah, I personally don't like Falcons all that much, though the new GE6 Falcon is incredibly nice.

I'm actually looking at possibly a Holden Monaro (Pontiac GTO), cheap as chips around these parts.

I told a mate of mine at work that I was thinking of selling my Skyline for an Alfa... He asked me if i was mental.

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

Hey Red... are those Brembos on your Sedan?

How much did you pay for them with rotors?

DJ

[TeflonG35]

I like the GTO just for the motor. But I'm 6'3" and it wasn't very comfortable when I test drove it. My head kept hitting the side pillar. Probably would be bad in an accident.

But then again I drove a Buick there. I knew the inside wouldn't be anywhere as roomy as a Buick.