MB CLA250 or BRZ?

[thill]

Originally Posted by WolfpackS2k

1) Volvo ain't going anywhere. They have a huge backer in China.

2) Porsches are amongst the most reliable cars to own in the long run (look it up). Yeah their parts cost a lot but it's not often they need replacement.

For #1 that might be, but if you just Google Volvo there is tons of press about Volvo potentially leaving the US if sales don't improve. They have also shaken up management in the US multiple times with no real results. It is a business. Volvo releasing a bunch of new models will surely help, and I would agree the likelihood of them leaving is slim, but the possibility still exists, and like Mitsubishi, will affect sales until things improve. Volvo has lost considerable marketshare in recent years and gaining it back wont be easy as their competitors in the space have all been aggressive with new models and more entry level cars.

And of course Volvo will say they are committed to the US. They have to.

For #2, it really depends on how much you are spending and whether we are talking used, new, certified, etc and where you live. When I was researching Cayman S's not long ago it was hard to find anything under $60K with low mileage even used in the 2011-2014 model year range within 200-300 miles. New was in the mid 70-80K range. Dealers here don't sell base models they like to pile on the options

Once the kids are out of the house I will own a Cayman S, but it will 100% not be my daily driver. It will be my fun weekend car.

[serialk11r]

I have a trouble seeing how getting another car would be cheaper than just driving your Cayman...the gas mileage isn't so bad and I doubt the extra repairs would end up over the cost of leasing an MB. Unless you want to keep the Cayman pristine and low mileage.

[reni]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

I have a trouble seeing how getting another car would be cheaper than just driving your Cayman...the gas mileage isn't so bad and I doubt the extra repairs would end up over the cost of leasing an MB. Unless you want to keep the Cayman pristine and low mileage.

It's probably close over a 3 year period... gas alone maybe $250/mo, maintenance not sure but let's say avg $3k/year, that leaves ~$20k left over at the end. Would a Cayman with 60k extra miles be worth $20k less?

Leasing something cheaper say a GTI - $400 for the lease, same $250 for gas, $100 for insurance, ($0 for maintenance) = ~$13k leftover with no extra miles on the Cayman. Of course the Cayman will still continue to depreciate even if it's not driven at all.

So even if you want to argue with some of my estimates, the point is it's still pretty close to break even... it just depends whether the OP wants to trade in the Cayman sooner, or keep that particular car for a long time. Personally I would be leaning toward just driving it. Keeping many cars is a hassle and I hate driving a boring car while a fun car is just left to sit...

[calmtigers]

Really, no one has mentioned an E class?
Those things are plush.

Mercedes really are cruisers. When it comes down to it try taking the Cayman out because that will just be a better version of the BRZ. If you can see yourself driving a worse car than it then go for the BRZ.

If you want comfort and some nice power for passing. A benz

Experience: Dad drives drives about the same amount. Of all his previous cars (c350, ML500 ) he's loved this the most. We've test drove all the competition and it really cant compete for highway.
Why?
Interior, Comfort, passing power, confident feel

Competition
Honestly go luxury if you dont mind the cost.
Do not think a non-luxury brand is going to bring you the same feel even it has "fancy ammenities"
I'd take a bare bones benz over a lights and switches any day.

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by reni

So even if you want to argue with some of my estimates, the point is it's still pretty close to break even... it just depends whether the OP wants to trade in the Cayman sooner, or keep that particular car for a long time. Personally I would be leaning toward just driving it. Keeping many cars is a hassle and I hate driving a boring car while a fun car is just left to sit...

Yea depends on how you run the numbers, obviously if something big goes wrong with the Porsche you're in the red, but the Porsche is a reasonably comfortable car (at least the interior is going to be better than any cheap car, and I would imagine that Porsche would not sell so many cars if owners wouldn't put up with the noise), it's got more passing power than any Mercedes, and the gas mileage isn't horrible though it's probably worse than a CLA250 since those have tiny engines. What you save on insurance and rent may or may not pay for depreciation and repairs but there's no hassle of having another car, and you get to enjoy the car you already own.

[Iixii]

For the past three nights I've test driven BMW 328d (yes diesel) for optimum mileage, Acura TSX, Volvo S60, Subaru Legacy 2.5, and IS250. I'm scheduled to do IS350 tonight and Legacy 3.6 this weekend. Best contender right now is the BMW and Volvo. Volvo has a great lease promo of $365/mo with 0 drive-off and Subaru salesman told me he can match that rate for the Legacy 3.6 or even lower. The TSX V6, IS350, and Legacy 3.6 were not available and are very hard to find. The interior of the IS250 is the sportiest as if you are in a cockpit. The 328d has good power but I'll also try the 328i which has little more power than the diesel.

[Turbowned]

Originally Posted by Iixii

For the past three nights I've test driven BMW 328d (yes diesel) for optimum mileage, Acura TSX, Volvo S60, Subaru Legacy 2.5, and IS250. I'm scheduled to do IS350 tonight and Legacy 3.6 this weekend. Best contender right now is the BMW and Volvo. Volvo has a great lease promo of $365/mo with 0 drive-off and Subaru salesman told me he can match that rate for the Legacy 3.6 or even lower. The TSX V6, IS350, and Legacy 3.6 were not available and are very hard to find. The interior of the IS250 is the sportiest as if you are in a cockpit. The 328d has good power but I'll also try the 328i which has little more power than the diesel.

I dunno about the IS; it felt very cramped inside. Cockpits are nice but for a lot of driving I think I'd want the ability to stretch out a little more. The Legacy 3.6 is nothing to write home about (I sell them; very few at that).

I'm right there with you, buddy. I didn't want to commute in my BRZ and I bought an '04 STi for a winter car; that was a mistake. Not an enjoyable commuter, either! Sold the STi and got an Audi RS 6, which is muuuuch more comfortable although the gas mileage is atrocious. Don't care, I can go FAAAST because the BRZ is SLOOOW (for now).

I took a close-up look of the CLA250 yesterday; I gotta say, it looks damn nice inside! The exterior proportions are a little weird, though. And it's FWD although for commuting that makes little difference. When does the Audi A3/S3 come out? I'd hold out for one of those, if possible!

[thill]

Originally Posted by Iixii

For the past three nights I've test driven BMW 328d (yes diesel) for optimum mileage, Acura TSX, Volvo S60, Subaru Legacy 2.5, and IS250. I'm scheduled to do IS350 tonight and Legacy 3.6 this weekend. Best contender right now is the BMW and Volvo. Volvo has a great lease promo of $365/mo with 0 drive-off and Subaru salesman told me he can match that rate for the Legacy 3.6 or even lower. The TSX V6, IS350, and Legacy 3.6 were not available and are very hard to find. The interior of the IS250 is the sportiest as if you are in a cockpit. The 328d has good power but I'll also try the 328i which has little more power than the diesel.

I would take the Volvo over the Legacy. Have you checked out the Cadillac ATS? I have never been a Cadillac/GM guy, but that car impressed me. I was not expecting it to drive as well as it did.

[WolfpackS2k]

Originally Posted by thill

For #2, it really depends on how much you are spending and whether we are talking used, new, certified, etc and where you live. When I was researching Cayman S's not long ago it was hard to find anything under $60K with low mileage even used in the 2011-2014 model year range within 200-300 miles. New was in the mid 70-80K range. Dealers here don't sell base models they like to pile on the options

I mean, you can always order a base Cayman S from the factory. You just have to be patient and not do it towards the end of the year.

[thill]

Originally Posted by WolfpackS2k

I mean, you can always order a base Cayman S from the factory. You just have to be patient and not do it towards the end of the year.

Hopefully one day I will do just that Although by the time the kids are out of the house who knows what will be out there... I am still kicking myself for not buying a Lotus Elise several years ago when prices were lower... I expect prices to keep going up on lower mileage well maintained Elise's..

[chrisl]

Originally Posted by Iixii

For the past three nights I've test driven BMW 328d (yes diesel) for optimum mileage, Acura TSX, Volvo S60, Subaru Legacy 2.5, and IS250. I'm scheduled to do IS350 tonight and Legacy 3.6 this weekend. Best contender right now is the BMW and Volvo. Volvo has a great lease promo of $365/mo with 0 drive-off and Subaru salesman told me he can match that rate for the Legacy 3.6 or even lower. The TSX V6, IS350, and Legacy 3.6 were not available and are very hard to find. The interior of the IS250 is the sportiest as if you are in a cockpit. The 328d has good power but I'll also try the 328i which has little more power than the diesel.

I didn't really think about the 328d, but that could actually be a good choice. Great gas mileage, good low RPM torque for cruising and passing, and comfortable on the highway.

[Hanni_0176]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

Yea depends on how you run the numbers, obviously if something big goes wrong with the Porsche you're in the red, but the Porsche is a reasonably comfortable car (at least the interior is going to be better than any cheap car, and I would imagine that Porsche would not sell so many cars if owners wouldn't put up with the noise), it's got more passing power than any Mercedes, and the gas mileage isn't horrible though it's probably worse than a CLA250 since those have tiny engines. What you save on insurance and rent may or may not pay for depreciation and repairs but there's no hassle of having another car, and you get to enjoy the car you already own.

[n2oinferno]

Originally Posted by Iixii

Wow. I'm impressed and thanks for the thorough explanation.

The only problem is that if you're looking at the Benz, his numbers are off.

Lease special on a CLA with premium package right now is 329+tax/mo, 3623 due at signing, 36 mo. lease with 10k miles per year. Based on a capitalized cost of 33925.

Assuming nothing changes, after three years you're going to have racked up 72k miles on this. Mileage overage on this lease special is 0.25/mi. So you're looking at 42k miles over the lease limit, and owing an extra 10500 at the end of the lease. So that attractive 329/mo lease rate in actuality is 620/mo.

If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't lease unless my company said I had to. My head isn't currently functioning 100% so someone correct my maths here if I'm wrong.
I'd buy a comfortable CPO sedan that gets good gas mileage for about 20 grand with a 100k mile warranty and about 25-30k on the clock, and put that same 3500 dollar down payment bringing financing to 16500. Monthly cost would be around 470. When the car is paid off you'll have about 5400 dollars more in your pocket than if you had leased based on the above example. On top of that, you own the car and can do what you wish with it. Sell it for cheap? Well, that's another ten grand you can put into your next vehicle purchase, even on top of the five you've saved. Or you can keep going for another three years. Less than 200k isn't unreasonable and now the only thing you're paying is maintenance, fuel, and insurance. I'd gladly deal with having a boring but reliable sedan to commute in if I had a toy, as you already do.

Note that to keep everything on the same level, the above calculations don't factor in taxes, maintenance, etc.

[nab335]

I personally hate how the cla looks in person. Before it was released I was extremely excited about it but it looks so round chubby and unproportioned in real life imo. I wouldn't reccomend a brz for freeway driving either because I dont like how much 'effort' must be put on the pedal just to get it cruising with fast paced traffic. I saw the new audi a3s though at the LA auto show and absolutely loved them. I'd recommend that. Probably going to pick one up for my mom when they're out.