Brick may not have been the right word. The pedals just feel really stiff at first, then loosen as you press them. This drives me up a wall. I have to push harder than I want to, but I feel that it's often too hard and it's slamming on the brakes for flooring the accelerator. It probably takes getting used to, but I know my dad hates it too. Perhaps my issue with it is that it's TOO responsive.
I've sold a car privately, a car through car max, and a car through a trade-in. Granted, my sample size is small - 1 of each, though I've gotten quotes on various cars at CarMax.... since you can. In my experience, the trade-in was the best route. I did get more money on the private sale route, but it wasn't so much more. I had to meet a ton of interested buyers. And I sold to a savvy buyer, who rightfully required an inspection, which brought the price down a bit - again, still higher than I would have otherwise got, but it was a multi-month ordeal. CarMax was painless and easy.... However, on my last car, the dealer quoted me $2k more than CarMax... effectively 10%, and was just as quick and easy - heck, more so. Add in the tax savings, and it was a no-brainer.
You want a good looking fully loaded sports sedan? Get a Dodge Charger... 2011 - 2012 models have been completely redesigned. Everything is top class now. You can get a much nicer car with a lot more than anything listed in this thread for under 40K
My 2004 TL is about to hit 200,000 miles and I'm still looking for something new. I'll probably be in something new by the middle of next year. Some things to consider : Check out the upcoming Cadillac ATS unless you're ANTI-GM. It should be a available before the end of summer. The 2012 TL is an awesome value. People were getting great deals on it as recently as a month ago. Keep in mind the next-gen TL should be out next year. The next G will be out in1-2 years as well. I'm not a big fan of Audi reliability, so I wouldn't touch one. YMMV. By the time you option a BMW out, you may have sticker shock. A new ES will be out by fall. A new IS may be out by the end of the year as well. I may actually get the new RDX because I wouldn't mind a little extra cargo room and usefulness, but I'm keeping my eye out for the ATS and hoping GM doesn't nickle and dime buyers with the option packages.
GM is doing their part to nickle and dime on the new Caddy's. I'm in the market for the CTS-V Coupe, and after adding the "what should be standard" options into the car, that added another 8K onto the sticker, not including 3k for upgraded seats that actually feel comfortable. I'm kinda scared to go back to an American vehicle, but it is one of Motor Trends top 10 picks of the year, plus it has 556 hp to the crank, stock. Oh what I will do to that with extra mods!
Hmmm... maybe I'll wait on buying an IS then, and get a new 2012 one when the 2013's come out. It'll probably be a lot cheaper.
i am going to go drive the TL, G37 and IS this weekend. If i was going to lease i would have went with the bmw or c class.
Most people love the look of the Charger but I can see how it might be intimidating for some. Nothing wrong with Dodge by the way. I don't understand what the deal is with wanting to get these expensive foreign cars when you can get much better vehicles at lower prices. I had a VW and an Audi before and I am never buying those cars again. My wife had a VW Passat and her radiator went out right after the warranty expired. The dealer was charging over 1K to fix it. The radiator itself was only about $100 but the stupid Germans engineered this awesome car so that the whole front end had to be taken off in order to get to the radiator. I had electrical issues with my VW and Audi...people warned me but I didn't listen... Then I got a Charger in 08 and never had to take it in for any repairs other than oil change. I bet that the features of any new Dodge R/T will top any of the foreign sedans and will cost half as much.
It'll be interesting to see how they position the next CTS. I think it'll be moving more upscale/larger. There's going to be too much overlap with the upcoming ATS, otherwise, I think. The entry-luxury/luxury segment is going to get shaken up a bit this year and next.
Everybody has what they're looking for in a car. Some people favor reliability, others favor MPG, others performance, and still others looks. Dodge has a reputation much like Kia had in the past of building crap cars in terms of reliability. They also have the image of "redneck" 70's designs and vehicles. It doesn't help when you bring out commercials with a couple of backwoods drivers asking "THAT THANG GOT A HEMI?!" lol. The design of the new Challengers and Chargers are great to some while others just think "Dukes of Hazzard" everytime they see it. I think they look alright, to be honest. I'm not saying Dodge is bad or good - I honestly don't know. I just do know they haven't kicked years of unreliable cars built by itself, Chrysler, and Jeep for me to feel safe buying one. Hell, if reliability wasn't an issue, I'd probably go buy a loaded Jeep Grand Cherokee right now. But the issues they've had in the past scare the hell out of me.
