So... what car do you guys drive when not flying?

[Keith009]

Think I've found my next car... been drooling over it ever since spy shots surfaced last year. How cool is that interior! Hopefully just as plush and refined to drive as the sedan. The poor man's E class coupe... not only based on the same platform but the interior is strikingly similar.

http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-mercedes-benz-c-class-coupe-geneva-2011/

It'll be in Australia in Q3... just in time for an upgrade from my baby bimmer. This or a convertible... hmm

I don't believe we are 100 - 200% more expensive than the poms!!!

Look what they pay for fuel?

I was referring to the purchase price of cars in the UK. Purchase price + running costs all equals up to a point me thinks as cars here are more expensive. An S class with onroads in the UK can be had for about GBP65k.... it's over A$200k over here!

 

[Moopere]

Think I've found my next car... been drooling over it ever since spy shots surfaced last year. How cool is that interior! Hopefully just as plush and refined to drive as the sedan. The poor man's E class coupe... not only based on the same platform but the interior is strikingly similar.

2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe: Geneva 2011 -- Autoblog

It'll be in Australia in Q3... just in time for an upgrade from my baby bimmer. This or a convertible... hmm

Yes, looks like pretty good value for money. I have a couple of worries though.

- Does the back window open/wind down? Looks like it doesn't but I might be wrong.
- The enormous featureless areas of the dash look like it might be hard flat plastic as has been the common fashion for low-mid range cars for a while now. Overall, aside from this potential dashboard issue the interior looks pretty nice - a bit more angular then I'd prefer but thats the fashion I guess.

 

[Keith009]

- Does the back window open/wind down? Looks like it doesn't but I might be wrong.
- The enormous featureless areas of the dash look like it might be hard flat plastic as has been the common fashion for low-mid range cars for a while now. Overall, aside from this potential dashboard issue the interior looks pretty nice - a bit more angular then I'd prefer but thats the fashion I guess.

Not sure about your first point, but as for the hard plastic dash, it is an improvement on the current C class IMO. I think they have to distinguish it from the more expensive E class somehow by offering a lower level trim level. I reckon it's a rather sleek, trendy package on the whole, and it does look very nice for an entry level luxury car.

 

[RailFlyer]

Think I've found my next car...

Hi QF009,

I've just finished car shopping for the wife (ended up with a used Audi TT). However if looks are a big selling point for you I would recommend you take a look at the newish Peugeot RCZ. They look like nice cars in mags etc, but we stumbled across one in a dealership the other day and were both blown away by its look. It is honestly the best looking car I have ever seen, and I'm not one who normally cares about such things.
Don't trust what you have seen in pictures, take a look a one close up, they are really special. The double bubble roof leading seamlessly into a double bubble rear window is sublime, even a Ferrari 458 rear window would probably be cheaper to replace!!!

Really been wanting to tell somebody that for a while now, and this seemed like the best opportunity I would get!


Anyway, good luck with the car hunting in the future.
[FONT=&quot]
PS: I'm not a major Peugeot fan, have pretty boring memories of driving a 406 in the UK, so hopefully you can believe me that I am not biased in any way![/FONT]

 

[Jasecoop]

Audi Q5 3.0 TDI with most of the gadgets

 

[Keith009]

Hi QF009,

I've just finished car shopping for the wife (ended up with a used Audi TT). However if looks are a big selling point for you I would recommend you take a look at the newish Peugeot RCZ.

Comfort is also a big priority for me, and I am looking for a boulevard cruiser rather than a quasi race car. I've driven both the RCZ and TT as a friend of mine was shopping for one of those (he went for the RCZ). The RCZ has a very firm ride, you tend to feel every bump in the road, and doesn't have very good noise insulation (there's a constant drone from engines when accelerating and wheel noise), the TT is softer and slightly quieter but still too rough. They're both very nice to look at but feel claustrophobic and simply too uncomfortable. Currently on the list are the C class coupe or the Lexus IS250C convertible - I've yet to test drive the coupe obviously but the sedan is nice, and as for the IS250C it just floats along and has so many wonderful gadgets. Love the look of the A5 cabriolet also (it is so fetching with my fave pair of Oliver Peoples' sunnies!), but again it seems to be designed for a sporty drive than comfort.

 

[The Rok]

Just bought a new Volkswagen Passat. Will keep it for 6 - 9 months then buy a Range Rover.

 

[Moopere]

The RCZ has a very firm ride, you tend to feel every bump in the road, and doesn't have very good noise insulation (there's a constant drone from engines when accelerating and wheel noise)

Currently on the list are the C class coupe

Mmm. The lines on this car are quite nice and I really anticipated its arrival. Now its here and I've had a look I'm not going to buy one. Similar to the CLC its a firm ride and a bit noisy inside (tyre noise mainly), per your experience with the RCZ above. I think the C class sedan, perhaps with an AMG kit would feel/drive better and still look pretty interesting.

[edit: oops, just realised I have replied to a 6 month old post]

 

[Keith009]

Mmm. The lines on this car are quite nice and I really anticipated its arrival. Now its here and I've had a look I'm not going to buy one. Similar to the CLC its a firm ride and a bit noisy inside (tyre noise mainly), per your experience with the RCZ above. I think the C class sedan, perhaps with an AMG kit would feel/drive better and still look pretty interesting.

[edit: oops, just realised I have replied to a 6 month old post]

I ended up ordering an Audi A5 Coupe, due to be delivered in Jan. Came down to the C Coupe and A5. I liked both a lot but somehow found the A5 just that bit more composed, quieter, and it had nicer lines. Also helped that they let me have the face lifted model (with the A6 style front), and I negotiated a pretty sweet deal (I think).

 

[The Rok]

What engine? I considered the A5 before I bought the Passat but could not justify it as I will do 50,000km's this year and the depreciation on the Audi at those km's would be horrendous.

 

[Keith009]

2.0T front wheel drive which will be reincarnated as the 1.8T A5PI. Compared it with the C250 CGI Coupe .

With Audi pricing, always mentally subtract about 15% off the driveaway price with options is what I've been told. And indeed I managed to get about 16% off the initially quoted price. Options list was crazy compared to Benz!!

 

[The Rok]

Meh, I worked in dealer land so pricing is something I know. I really wanted a Range Rover Vogue Signature and will get one in 12 months. Just needed something for the high km's this year to tie me over.

Will look at an S5 for the other half when hers is due in a couple of months. Maybe then I can play with it.

 

[Keith009]

So are Audi prices massively inflated or what? I know they're chasing volume but the gap between RRP and 'deal' pricing don't seem to be as big with the other brands. Would have gone with the Benz had I not got the deal I did with Audi, keeping in mind Benz's generally better resale.

 

[The Rok]

Not really. The standard margin is about 8% of the RRP + an additional 4% Hold Back + whatever margin is in the Dealer Delivery. The question is what are the dealers overheads and what part of that margin are they prepared to give away?

There are also factory bonuses from time to time, usually on aged inventory which can be $1,000 - $8,000, that's where the really good deals are.

There will usually be some level of profit in the deal. Some cars will make $10,000 or more, others will lose $10,000 for whatever reason.

The dealer will operate on a pool of gross each month.

FYI the industry average GPU on a new car in Australia in the medium to upper sector according to Deloitte's is about $2,800.

Consider the investment in infrastructure, monthly overheads, risk, it's not exactly a wealthy business to be in. That's why so many dealers go bust.

 

[bossreggie]

Not really. The standard margin is about 8% of the RRP + an additional 12% Hold Back + whatever margin is in the Dealer Delivery. .

Holdback is 2.5% at the very most. With Audi you will find that it is 1.5% up front with the extra 1% contingant on attaining sales target and customer satisfaction score.

Whilst the bottom line is less than 2% of turnover, the real money is made when selling your business and retaining the freehold for the delership.

Othe perks abound for owners. My favourite.... Paying for all the "on road costs" using a credit card which earns frequent flyer points. That can make you MILLIONS of points each year. (And back when AMEX was accepted with no surcharge, ensured you were one of the initial Australian residents offered a "Centurian Card". Which was declined as I refuse to pay a fee for a credit card)

 

[Fantic125]

Maybe then I can play with it.

Ahem. I'm assuming you're talking about the car?

 

[MadFairlane]

Dailys

09 Toyota Aurion sportive ZR6
11 Mazda BT-50

Toy

1967 Ford Fairlane, with too much money thrown at it

 

[cove]

Perth roads are getting tricky with double demerits and speed cameras at intersections so my next drive may be on a bike.

 

[elbarto]

An 05 Holden Astra.


Sent from an Apple wireless device

 

[The Rok]

Holdback is 2.5% at the very most. With Audi you will find that it is 1.5% up front with the extra 1% contingant on attaining sales target and customer satisfaction score.

Whilst the bottom line is less than 2% of turnover, the real money is made when selling your business and retaining the freehold for the delership.

Othe perks abound for owners. My favourite.... Paying for all the "on road costs" using a credit card which earns frequent flyer points. That can make you MILLIONS of points each year. (And back when AMEX was accepted with no surcharge, ensured you were one of the initial Australian residents offered a "Centurian Card". Which was declined as I refuse to pay a fee for a credit card)

Apologies, typo. Meant an additional 4% meaning a total of 12%.

Usually the last 3% of total margin is dependant on the following being achieved month.

Monthly sales target
Monthly CSS Customer Satisfaction Surveys
Monthly service volume
Monthly parts volume
Monthly no repeat repair bonus