zeitgeist57 Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 With the Passat quickly ticking over 160k miles since we bought it brand new, I am not looking forward to financing another DD, but it might come to that sooner than later. I would keep the Passat as a winter beater, so over the last couple of years since selling my Corvette I've been looking at more sporting RWD options for DD use. With a small family, I still need to have seating for 4, with LATCH for a baby seat. I will only drive a manual, and the price of purchase needs to be as low as I can go because I'm cheap. Given the parameters I need to meet, and after EXTENSIVE searching/test-drives I've narrowed down the final two cars to the Mazda RX-8 and Cadillac CTS-V. I submit to you below some snippets from an Excel spreadsheet I used, plus numbers from a 2013 Passat TDI 6-speed manual as a very efficient DD comparison... I sampled numbers from cars listed on AutoTrader: RX8 - $12,500...232hp...18MPG average CTS-V - $18,500...400hp...20MPG average Passat - $25,000...150hp...35MPG average The RX8 and CTS-V have approx 40k-75k miles on them. The Passat would be newer, less than 30k miles. Assuming $4.00/gal for premium gas (RX8 and CTS-V) as well as $4.30/gal for diesel (Passat), this is what the fuel cost would be over 100k miles: RX8 - $22,222 CTS-V - $20,000 Passat - $12,285 Without counting other maintenance items, just the fuel + purchase price for all vehicles stacks up: RX8 - $34,722 CTS-V - $38,500 Passat - $37,285 Given the much lower used car purchase price for a 2005-2007 RX-8...it narrowly comes away with a lower cost-per-mile to drive relative to the CTS-V or Passat. Unfortuantely for the RX-8, there are other costs I'm not taking into account that come into play: higher oil burn rate than both piston-driven cars, possible reliability problems. The Passat is calculated over a 100k mile useful life, but we all know that a diesel Passat SHOULD go a good 200k+ miles before another car is needed. Lastly, the CTS-V is just plain pimpity. It's the unquantifiable observations that may win out in the end. This was a fun and simple (through Excel) exercise I did to try and quantify real options for the future. I hope some of you practice a similar exercise before making a car purchase! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Jones Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stangsn95gt Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Isn't 18mpg a little optimistic for the RX8, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Karacho1647545492 Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 I've never seen an RX8 that wasn't beat to shit by years of buyer's remorse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ICEMAN1647545504 Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 THIS IS STARTA!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wagner Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 1. Buy CTS-V 2. Become pimp 3. Get road head in CTS-V 4. Become ballin ass mother fucker 5. Profit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not Brian Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 http://www.camelcitydispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/mad-scientist-movie1.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitgeist57 Posted March 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 1. Buy CTS-V 2. Become pimp 3. Get road head in CTS-V 4. Become ballin ass mother fucker 5. Profit Time Clay spent on his spreadsheet, and posting on CR = 30min (on conf call) Time Wags spent on his response = 10 seconds. Game, set, match. ADVANTAGE = WAGS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramsey Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 no to rx-8. just no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 1. Buy CTS-V 2. Become pimp 3. Get road head in CTS-V 4. Become ballin ass mother fucker 5. Profit yeah idk how to say it any better, cts-v. dew it and stop over thinking the whole process. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 I'd you could average better on both the CTS V and the Passat, MPG wise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draco-REX Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 You appear to have forgotten to factor in the smiles. But really, for a family-friendly and fun car, I think the CTS-V is the only choice from those three. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
POS VETT Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Not again ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 (edited) Get the CTS-V. Edited March 5, 2013 by Aaron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Bastard Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 LOL at the RX8 getting 18mpg with 232hp and the caddy having 400hp and getting 20mpg. In the long run, the Passat would be the cheapest choice (given that you could go way longer before needing to buy a new car), but you said you wanted something a little more fun (assuming based on you wanting something rwd) I would go with the Caddy. I would bet you would replace a couple motors in the RX8 compaired to the service life of the Caddy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimTaylor751647545500 Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Jones Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 We'll all be dead before clay buys V. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimTaylor751647545500 Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Clay. Test drove Unlimited on Saturday. Diesel Cherokee coming soon and diesel wrangler to arrive ~2016 (says Crown Jeep/Frank) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rustlestiltskin Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 http://25.media.tumblr.com/4566dfc715b79da1f31fd84a723ecffb/tumblr_mhnyr45pK51r4zr2vo2_r1_500.gif Inb4 Clay just keeps getting his Passat fixed and these threads just pop up for funzies every month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Get the passat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rustlestiltskin Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Get the passat. http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view2/1191763/laughing-puppets-o.gif Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GilbWs6 Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Just wait. The new Mazda Passat-V Premium Diesel is coming out in 2067. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87GT Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 RX8 = Throw away car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rustlestiltskin Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 RX8 = Throw away car Vehicles: CLAPPED OUT 1990's infiniti & 1980's fiero Total value of the 2 vehicles combined: less then a used 10 yr old pit bike with 1 wheel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Jones Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Vehicles: CLAPPED OUT 1990's infiniti & 1980's fiero Total value of the 2 vehicles combined: less then a used 10 yr old pit bike with 1 wheel VEHICLES: POVERTY TAHOE & OLD DIESEL BEATER TRUCK. TOTAL VALUE OF 2 VEHICLES = 1 SET OF WHEELS/TIRES FOR A PROPER VEHICLE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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