Hhmmm, this could work

"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel)
06/26/2019 at 11:40 • Filed to: Necessary car shopping without E90M3

I know I said I was looking at an SE but this XSE listed at the sster dealership to the one I have been working with is pretty tempting.

I have been looking at the SE since I don’t feel the XSE justifies a $4-5k premium over the SE. This one is listed for $22.7k, only a $2k premium over what I was quoted for an SE. The extras on the XSE justify a $2k premium to me. Right color and options too. If I had it moved from White River to Burlington I could probably get it down to $22k out the door which would be nice.

Is too bad apartment hunting means I don’t have the available funds to make a suitable down payment to get to the monthly I want right now.

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DISCUSSION (17)

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
06/26/2019 at 11:44

In case of Kinja:

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=518710999&zip=05401&referrer=%2Fcars-for-sale%2Fsearchresults.xhtml%3Fzip%3D05401%26listingTypes%3DNEW%26sortBy%3Drelevance%26vehicleStyleCodes%3DHATCH%26incremental%3Dall%26firstRecord%3D0%26marketExtension%3Don%26modelCodeList%3DCOROL%26makeCodeList%3DTOYOTA%26searchRadius%3D200%26transmissionCodes%3DMAN&listingTypes=NEW&numRecords=25&vehicleStyleCodes=HATCH&firstRecord=0&modelCodeList=COROL&makeCodeList=TOYOTA&searchRadius=200&makeCode1=TOYOTA&modelCode1=COROL&clickType=listing

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
06/26/2019 at 11:48

From what I gather, it’s a very good little car.

412GTI > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
06/26/2019 at 11:50

I think the instrument cluster looks so much better in the XSE

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
06/26/2019 at 11:51

Its way better than a Corolla has any right to be. I expected it to be OK but not live up to the hype when I test drove it. It totally meets the hype.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > 412GTI
06/26/2019 at 11:52

I will agree though I found the tachometer a bit small and hard to read at a glance in the XSE I drove. I am coming from a Mini though.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
06/26/2019 at 11:52

Seems like I’d love it just as much as I loved my old Mazda 3s hatch.

412GTI > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
06/26/2019 at 11:57

Yeah I could see that. It reminds me of the Grand Cherokee cluster.

E90M3 > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
06/26/2019 at 12:16

Is too bad apartment hunting means I don’t have the available funds to make a suitable down payment to get to the monthly I want right now.

They make you put down a large deposit or something?

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > E90M3
06/26/2019 at 12:19

Everyone up here requires first month plus a security deposit equal to 1 months payment at the time of signing the lease. With everything up here costing $1.1-1.5k a month that’s $2-3k I have to keep available until I sign a lease.

E90M3 > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
06/26/2019 at 12:22

In my five years of living in an apartment, I haven’t had to put down more than $100. Not sure if it’s due to location, or credit score, or what. I mean, I’ve had to pay first month’s rent, but other than ~$100 security deposit, I haven’t had to put any extra down.

I was lucky and had the first 9 months of my rent paid for by my first company, so I was able to save up a very sizable down payment on the first car I bought.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > E90M3
06/26/2019 at 12:25

Thats just what I have seen so far. It might end up being different when I get to signing paperwork in which case it's just 1 less paycheck until I can comfortably make a down payment.

E90M3 > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
06/26/2019 at 12:28

That’s fair enough, is the Mini going to last until then?

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > E90M3
06/26/2019 at 12:30

Hopefully. I've picked up the habit of running 1st out to about 5k so I can go straight to 3rd and not put more chunks of 2nd into the trans fluid. I think I can do another 2 months or so on the current trans but I'm not confident of getting much past that.

E90M3 > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
06/26/2019 at 12:32

Gotcha. Are you going to try and trade it in? You think you’d get anything for it?

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > E90M3
06/26/2019 at 12:34

Not going to bother trading it, they won't give me anything for it. Current plan is to let my mechanic pick whatever he wants off it in exchange for putting a 6 speed in it and then my dad and I are going to take it LeMons racing.

79 horsepower monster > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
06/26/2019 at 15:30

I know this may be completely useless information to you, and I have no idea exactly what you are looking for, but I thought it might be prudent to point out that you can get a brand new Buick Tourx with AWD, 250ish-hp, 300ish lb-ft of torque, and much more space for the same price, if you are willing to forgo some options (that are in my opinion, not worth it anyway).

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > 79 horsepower monster
06/26/2019 at 16:59

Stick is a must have which immediately knocks the TourX out of contention. I'm looking to get something similar in feel to my current Mini but better built, more reliable, and with a warranty.