(no subject)

[shipperx]

Impressed by the Brit's stalwart demeanor. You're great, guys. Having read some of the quotes of online Brit LJers and I think my favorite Briticism has been:


To quote an old Londoner who lived through the blitz and got caught up in the Canary Wharf explosion: "I've been blown up by a better class of bastard than this!" muskrat_john

You guys rock.

---

On a far, far more frivolous front, apparently I lost track of my car lease at some point. I had thought that my lease was going to be up in August. However, Volkswagen called up last week saying I needed to have my car inspected. I called today to schedule the inspection and they told me that I was cutting the inspection terribly close because I have to turn my car back in on the 28th of THIS month! Whoops! I guess I better run out and car shop NOW! I haven't negotiated any deal. Haven't even started.

On the bright side GM extended their sale until August 1st so I can take advantage of that and cash in the $3500 of points that I've acrued on my GM MasterCard.

Took time this afternoon on Autoweb.com and Edmunds.com to send out notices to local GM dealers about the cars I'm interested in and requesting a quote. So far two have responded with quotes (but it's difficult comparing them because the lower quote said that it didn't include tax or title, and the other quote said that was the "Drive it off the lot" price. Researching on Edmunds, it looks like both quotes need to go down about $1000 yet. And the alternate SUV (I'm pricing two different models) hasn't responded at all yet (Saturn only has one dealership in town). Also the second quote was for white, and I'm requesting silver. I like the white... but I want Silver. And leather seats (heated would be nice but those seem to be more rare in the GM models. I totally got spoiled by the heated seats in my Volkwagen and I want them again... but not enough to make me absolutely INSIST that they go out and find one if that's the only factor in question).

The two cars I'm considering:


They're both pretty equal on safety ratings, price, and gas mileage so it's really a matter of who gives me the better deal.

Comments

[nutmeg3.livejournal.com]

I loooooove my Vue. Just sayin'.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

I really like the VUE too. The catch will probably be that the VUE, though it is produced by GM for some reason won't allow me to use my GM points (though they are giving the GM discount. It's really bizarre how they decide what will or will not apply to Saturns). Whereas the Equinox is built on the SAME frame as the VUE (since it's also a GM car) and is essentially the same car with a slightly different exterior, but because it's a Chevy, I get an extra $3500 off of it on top of the current discount and rebates which, ultimately, will PROBABLY make the Equinox slightly cheaper than the VUE even though it has a higher sticker price.

At this point it's really down to who gives me the better deal. But if everything was equal money-wise, I'd unquestioningly go with the VUE.

[nutmeg3.livejournal.com]

How irritating about the credit card. I wonder why they do that? I'm sure you'll love whichever one you get, though, so in the end you really can't lose. It's just a bummer you can't use the points to get exactly what you want.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've never quite figured out why Saturn is that way. It's GM owned (and like I said, even the GM discount is usable on it) but they've never allowed the GM points to be used on it. I asked the Saturn dealer and he said that it had actually been tried once but they didn't end up continuing it, so it just isn't available.

Actually the card I have is no longer available. Newer cards cap how many points you can use on any vehicle (the cap for the Equinox is $1000) But because I have the original card they issued on the original terms I have unlimited cash in so I can use my entire $3500 in points which ultimately will almost certainly make the Equinox cheaper than the VUE. I'm still pricing up the view.

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

So what are the two cars? I'm not sure just from the pictures which models they are...

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

One is the Saturn Vue the other is the Chevy Equinox.

Actually, the truth is they're pretty much the same car with slight aesthetic differences. Both are built by GM, both are built on the same frame and sport almost eerily similar interiors. They just sort of changed a few things here and there on the exteriors and added 6" to the Equinox.

The primary difference for me (because I actually like some of the stylistic differences in the VUE's favor) is because the VUE is a Saturn, GM won't accept my GM Mastercard points. (Which I find bizarre because Saturn is currently giving the GM sale discount but you still aren't allowed to use acrued credit card points), whereas the Equinox allows me to use my points, and since they've been piling up for over 4 years now I havet $3500 in points that can be used as a down payment on the Equinox. For that reason though the Equinox LISTS as just over a $100 more than the VUE, I'll probably be able to get it for less. So odds are in favor of the Equinox... but I'm giving Saturn a chance to try to beat that price. :)

if I were buying a car

[klytaimnestra.livejournal.com]

the car I REALLY want is the "Smartcar". Safe, phenomenal mileage, and all anyone needs for city driving really. I'm waiting until they come out with a four-seater, so I can fit my kids into it. But if I were single, it's all I'd ask for. They're not expensive, either.

Re: if I were buying a car

[(Anonymous)]

Very cute.

Unfortunately, something that small wouldn't work for me. If I was married and it was just a commute car (and I wasn't commuting on something as heavily trafficked by 18 wheelers as HWY 280) then it would be great. But I need to be able to carry adults in the back seat for clients (and for my parents as I'm the one who drives to all the ball games) and I need it to carry other materials. Part of the reason I want a bigger car now is that my current car is quite small and it's handicapped me in certain things I've wanted to do and I've grown tempermental about being unable to see around larger cars (or unable to find my car in parking lots because it's hidden by larger cars).

It would be a really cute second car for short commutes, but, unfortunately it would take something larger for my needs.

I am hoping that more companies move toward making hybrids of their cars. If I could get a hybrid of the cars that I'm looking at for a reasonable price, I would. I really think that's something car companies really need to begin to explore. There's no reason why they couldn't be more widely available.