Category: Cars

Posted on

’05 G35x vs. ’07 G35

So with the basic warranty expiring on 3/29/09, I took my ’05 G35x in to have some annoying vibration noises right next to my head.  While they tracked the noise down, I had the “pleasure” to drive ’07 G35 as a loaner.  You’d think that newer models would leave you thirsting for more and wanting you to switch/upgrade… but I was rather suprised to… find myself disappointed.  Let me share my 2 cents about what is better (and worse) about the newer ’07 model.

Pros:

  • Driver bucket seat is much more comfortable than in my ’05 model.
  • More power (306 hp vs 280 hp)
  • ’07 model has Aux input that my ’05 model soooo lacks for audio choices.

Cons:

  • Pedal sucks!  ’05 model’s gas pedal is very linear and acts as expected.  However, with ’07 model, there seems to be a sudden change once you tap it more than half in.  First half, it is rather slow.  It’s almost as if you are FORCED punch it harder
  • There seems to be bit more roll in ’07 model than in ’05
  • Exterior design is not very pleasing…
  • Overall gas efficiency is not better than ’05 model.
  • Same cheap plastic-ky cheap-feel interior

So if you asked me to PAY to upgrade to ’07 model, I’d say “No thank you” and pass on the offer…  now, if we talk about the new ’09 G37 model with 7-speed transmission and slightly better gas efficiency and even more power (328 hp), that’s a different story!  In the end, newer does not necessarily mean better…

I wish they’d be done with my ’05 G35x already… and by the way, the new “name” for the car is “colonel”.  😀

Posted on

My Resolution to buying used luxury cars (and how to find a good deal)

So as most of you know, we have ended up with an ’05 Infiniti G35x.  So far, I have been very happy with it.  From this researching and buying experience, my new resolution is that we buy slightly used cars from now on.  Slightly used luxury cars to be in fact.  However, here’s what I put in as minimum requirements.

  • Less than 4 years old
  • Less than 50,000 miles (usually luxury cars have about 4 year/50,000 mile warranty)

Here’s why… when it comes to luxury cars, they depreciate the most in their first TWO years!  It’s ridiculous when you find out that even cars like a ’05 BMW 525i can be had for $24,000!  You can see for yourself here!  InternetAutoguide.com has a decent layout of it.  The only luxury car brand that I’ve seen that held up value is Lexus.  All the rest pretty much loses easily a third to half of their value within 2 years!  How crazy is that?!  I am guessing that most who buy a luxury car don’t hold onto it for too long and upgrade after few years.  So the market is overloaded with slightly used luxury cars and hence the fall of their value.  My recommended procedure:

1. Determine the size of the car you are looking for and start researching on their used values using sites like Edmunds.com, NADA.com, and Kelly’s Blue Book.  I personally prefer Edmunds.com as their value estimate seems to be more reasonable.  Once you find out the levels of values (retail, private sale, and trade-in), try to shoot for the trade-in value of the car.

2. Next, start searching and here are some suggestions.

3. As you search for the car, sign up for a one-month unlimited account on Carfax (about $40) and be sure to do basic background check on the car using VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) number!  You want a car that wasn’t involved in an accident, totaled, salvaged, and/or was in a flooded area!  And shoot for a single-owner vehicle!

4. For cars you are looking at that is out of driving range to go and see it in person (thru sites like Autotrader or eBay), be SURE to check all the pictures and descriptions!

5. Special tip for eBay:

  • Avoid auctions with reserves on them.  They suck.
  • Always underbid at least few thousands below the trade-in value!  Yes, you read that right!  Since you weren’t be able to confirm anything, you want to figure in possible costs of fixer uppers.
  • Be sure to buy from established dealers!  Be sure to check that the seller has lots of good feedback as a seller!
  • Increase your search range (this is a nice feature on eBay and sites like cars.com and autotrader.com) once you start as local to your area as possible.

I will be sure to add more stuff if I remember anything else…

Posted on

Hyundai’s Assurance Program

I know I already spoke of Hyundai yesterday with the possible US-release of Equus, but I just had to mention/bring this up.  Hyundai has been one of the 3 car companies that have had positive sales in these tough times.  How?

It’s what Hyundai calls “Assurance Program.”  It’s rather ingenious in that it provides the buyer with an option to return the car within 1 year of the purchase date if he/she gets laid off and can’t make the payments.  Now, that’s a creative way to sell cars.

The bigger question is, how come other car makers (hint hint, GM, Ford, and Chrysler) don’t try something as creative and just ask us for more money?!!  Ah ha… yup.  That’s what I thought…

Posted on

Fighting high luxury with Hyundai?!

Courtesy of Autoblog
Courtesy of Autoblog

This new auto year of ’09, Hyundai released a car into luxury segment with its Genesis.  It starts at $33k and if you opt for V8 and other amenities, you can easily go over $40k.  Now, that’s a Hyundai you probably didn’t think of ever seeing!

Well, the shock may not be over yet.  Pending on how well the Genesis goes, Hyundai may opt to add another luxury fighter: Equus.  While Genesis is geared to fight against the likes of BMW 5 series  and Benz E series along with Lexus’ ES and GS series, it is no match against the likes of any of their flagships like Lexus LS series, BMW 7 series and Benz S-class sedans.  Equus is geared to fight against the likes of those cars!  That’s a lot to live for…

Currently, Equus is only released in South Korea at “measley” price of close to $100k!  😮  Yikes.  Granted that cars cost a lot more in Korea, even at half of that, I am unsure how well it would be received.  I guess only time will tell…  It’s definitely a gutsy move though… Stay tuned.

Posted on

Things that Make Me Go Mad: Driving Drunk

1 Local Cy-Fair girl dies from a drunk driver who hits the school bus and her

2 Houston judge’s daughter sues driver she ran into while driving drunk

What the hell is the world coming to?!!  If there are more things that make me madder than stupid politicians and hungry rich execs, it’s the stupid drunk drivers!  Link one shows about how a drunk driver sideswipes a school bus and then hits a girl and then speeds off!  He had to be pursued for miles before being caught!

And then there’s Elizabeth Shelton, whose father is a juvenile judge(?!), who got into an accident last year and ran into a pickup truck in front of her which ended up KILLING her boyfriend!  Now, she’s SUING the driver that was in the front?!  This is some crazy and stupid things I have seen and heard but it’s just un-freakin’-believable!

If we continue to let DWI/DUI-convicts to go around so carelessly, I shall feel obligated to move elsewhere (like Japan) where such thing will pretty much ruin your life for good!  If you are drunk, WALK home or take a cab!!  I hope that guy gets life in prison, and that girl gets COUNTER-SUED!  And what is her father, the “venerable” judge, even thinking?!!  😡

Posted on

Car Accident Update

I need to vent… so here I am again.

I got the call from State Farm that our beloved ’99 Lincoln is officially considered totaled.  🙁  While I have been wanting to do that, the sudden reality hit harder than expected.  After all, it’s never an equal trade when you try to find its replacement.  And on top of that, the Admiral went out completing its duty to the end protecting its owner even though it meant taking itself out.  Sniff…

So here’s where it gets somewhat worse…  They valued it at roughly $4600 retail through NADA.com prices.  When they re-add on taxes and other stuff, it was at $5100.  But it still came back to $4600 because of our $500 deductible.  State Farm rep told me that I can get the deductible back from the other party’s insurance so I call them (also ambulance cost was over $500!) only to find out … that it was never filed!

So I had to spend half hour talking to the other insurance company giving them all the info!  Erg… Now I have to wait till next Monday before they assign an adjuster.  What a pain.  To make things more irritating, now that the car is considered totaled, they will cut the car rental short!  😡  I have to probably get the other party’s insurance to pay for the rental to be extended.  So much hassle…

Posted on

Soojin’s Accident Yesterday

So as many of you know by now, Soojin was in an accident on the way to BSF leaders’ meeting. Usually, JJ would be riding with her but since it was a holiday week for Anna, Soojin asked her co-worker to watch them in the morning. Thus we are so thankful that neither of the kids were in the car.

Though I do not know the entire details, here are what is known about the accident. Soojin was on Pineloch left lane and a landscaping truck was on the right and there was a contact that made her veer off the road into the median and hit the big lamp post. The car was totaled in my opinion. The entire front was gone along with radiator, the wheels, and both of the airbags that went off. The other vehicle and 3 people were fine. I only saw a dent on the side of the drivers door. They didn’t seem to speak English or worse, didn’t have insurance and thus didn’t say anything. I felt bad for them but at the same time mad.

Soojin was bleeding badly in the eye but turned out to be due to a small gash between the eyes. My current hero(ine) is a woman named Ginger. She is the good Samaritan who saw Soojin crash and pulled over to help her get out of the car and stayed with her until I got there. Ginger is now my current favorite name of the decade!

Soojin complained of large pain in the right abdominal side and was rushed to ER. I had asked Pastor Shawn to pray for Soojin but he ended up coming out to the hospital (after I gave him the wrong hospital name! – Southwest Memorial Hermann when it should’ve been Southeast). Her CAT scan came back negative for internal damages, so we are thankful for that as well.

And Younhe with her two kids came by to see Soojin at home. This does not include all the family and friends that prayed for Soojin and gave all the kind words. So I wanted to thank everyone who took part in caring for Soojin in this difficult times.

Please pray for the car that the insurance would file it as totaled and not try to have it fixed, and that the amount for the car would be favorable. After that, we will have to shop for a replacement car. That Lincoln Continental was named as “admiral” since it felt like a boat. It served faithfully to the end protecting the driver to its end. 🙁 Now that I have to say goodbye to it, it’s a bit saddening having developed “?” (jung that means emotional bond) for it.

I don’t know why the accident happened nor will I likely find out, but since God was with her, we are trying not to question it, and just being thankful for all that came out of it… 1) no kids were involved and 2) Soojin didn’t incur any serious damage. “God is good all the time. All the time, God is good.”