Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
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Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)
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I need to stop over and drive some volvos this week, and will swing by Toyota after that.
Actually, from pricing on Edmunds, you get a whole lot more car for the money with a Vibe. If I like the drive, I will check that out too.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I was out running errands, and swung by a local used car dealer that's closed on Sundays. They had this 2004 Dodge Intrepid on their website that I've been curious about. No pic, but the ad said it was green, an SE, and had a 3.5. Which struck me as odd because I thought the SE only came with a 2.7, and I thought green had been discontinued by 2004.
Anyway, turns out it's actually a police car! I don't know what department, though, as it's not a color scheme I recognize. It was sort of a dark greenish gray metallic, with shiny black slotted steel wheels. The interior seemed pretty nice, too. It didn't look like your typical ex police car, where there's all sorts of holes from where the cop equipment got taken out. It has 41,000 miles on it and they want $9995 for it.
On one hand, I guess it would be kinda dumb to get out of one Intrepid and into another. And after having mine for almost 9 years, sometimes I feel sort of Intrepid-ed out. But on the other hand, I have liked my Intrepid, this one has about 100,000 fewer miles on it, cop engine, brakes, suspension, tires, etc, and I feel oddly drawn to it.
I don't think I'd be tempted for $9995.
Roadburner would appreciate this: There's a black manual-transmission 2001 X5 on eBay right now, listed by a used car dealer in Nashville. No heated seats, but it has the back-up sensors.
Yeah, they weren't very popular as police cars. From what I've read, they actually did very well in testing in most respects. I've seen Michigan State Police tests that put them about as quick as a Crown Vic in 0-60 and 0-100, and a higher top speed. Supposedly though, they had a problem with the brakes actually catching on fire, if pushed hard enough!
A few years ago, I was chatting with a cop who had one, and he said he liked it a lot better than the Crown Vics they also had. This was in the next county over, which has a bunch of Intrepid copcars. My county uses mainly Impalas and the occasional Crown Vic.
I don't think I'd be tempted for $9995.
Yeah, at $9995 I'd walk, anyway. I wonder how low they'll go, though. If it sits around long enough, I'm sure they'd be willing to deal.
The mileage i slow, but $7k should be asking price, and if they'd take $5k it'd be a fun car to have, especially if you're a Mopar guy.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
In the end, I'll probably do nothing. Eventually I'll forget about this car. Or something else will come along that I like better. Heck, Fall Carlisle is coming up this weekend...maybe I'll find something up there that tempts me?
I'm really curious to see how the sellers have their cars priced this time around. I'm sure the faltering economy has to be taking its toll. I'm really curious to see if this one car in particular is up there. It was a black 1977 or 78 T-bird with a red interior and a 400 V-8. Gorgeous shape, but I think the guy wanted $7K for it. Well, it was there last October, and was there again for the spring show in April. Old coot trying to sell it hollered at us for sitting in it!
Too bad I'm working this Saturday.
Those rubber baby buggy bumpers on the back of that DeSoto wagon look just like the ones we had on the old Plymouth. You can actually see a lot of the same DNA on the two. When my dad bought that Plymouth i was trying to talk him into a DeSoto like that one but red and white instead of green and white. I was 6 at the time.
You might remember that I decided to get a Bentley for my 50th birthday (which was 5 months ago)... I want to get an '09.
Wouldn't you think that dealers of cars that are six figures (plus) would be kinda 'swooning' you to make a deal? My local dealer has been very lacksidasyical in returning emails and getting me information. I just don't understand it.
I emailed my salesperson asking why my previous email wasn't returned (2 weeks ago) and the person emailed back saying they missed it. (????) A $200,000 plus car and they missed my email? I just don't get it.
Anyway, I'm still deciding on colors, etc., and have gone from wanting the Continental Flying Spur (4 door sedan) to the Continetnal GT Convertible (more sporty). There are several Bentley dealers within 200 miles of me so my local dealer better get on the stick to keep my interest!!!
By the way, they have A LOT OF 2008's left over. The 2009's are being held at the dock until more of the 2008's are cleared out. The price that I got on an '08 was OK but not and earth-shattering discount.
M156 :surprise:
M.
Don't expect a discount either. They sell very few and have to spread the cost of all that plush infrastructure and those hefty commissions over very few sales (and some pretty costly maintenance) so they have to make every sale count.
Really? Huh. Shows ya how much I know. I thought these cars were all made to order. I mean, does someone purchasing a car this expensive really want whatever is sitting on the lot?
"well, I really wanted Blue, but I guess for $200k, I can settle for Silver."
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
I guess I should have told the whole story. My first meeting with my salesperson was in person. We had a nice 'sit-down' and discussed colors, availability, etc.
The emails started with my salesperson, not originated from me.
Also, I was recommended to this salesperson by my friend who has bought a new Corniche and a new Phantom from them. The saleperson knows that I'm a serious buyer.
M156 :surprise:
The 2009's have a few updates that I like. I was given a price on a 2008 and they were discounting. I will not pay sticker for a car like that. I did pay sticker for my CR-V that I pull behind the motorhome.
By the way, I like to pull up to the dealer in the CR-V, that way, the salespeople don't bother me. :P
M156
I sent out an email to Bentley headquarters once requesting a brochure. A few weeks later a nice lady with a British accent called to follow up and see ifI'd like to visit my local dealer. I had to fib and tell her I'm away on business a lot abd that I won't be available to buy a car anytime soon. This way the Bentley sale people don't waste time on me..
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
Mark, you drive the LR3 much anymore? Seems like the CRV does 85% of the same on a daily basis...
25 NX 450h+ / 24 Sienna Plat AWD / 23 Civic Type-R / 21 Boxster GTS 4.0 / 03 Montero Ltd
Thinking pretty hard about a 2009 Civic DX coupe, manual tranny, price is right, between gas savings (about $100/month over the taurus) and insurance savings (another $100+/month dropping from 3 vehicles to 2) it doesn't seem like a terrible idea.
Then I start thinking well maybe we should get a Civic will a few more bells and whistles.........lol. Hubby doesn't care, the car will get 500 miles/week put on it, he doesn't care if its a base model as long as its reliable. The Taurus isn't giving us the warm fuzzies at this point, fussy darn car! LOL Not to mention its already got nearly 35k on it and isn't going to last running 35k+/year.
I'm not sure what we are going to do at this point, but keeping the truck does seem very silly we know that much, lol.
What's gone wrong with the Taurus? I thought that the 2000 and newer models were fairly reliable.
Nowadays no a/c always hurts resale and trade in value. And you want power locks and keyless for the convenience. The Civic sedan rear door locks inside are pretty hard to reach for manual unlocking. Just a thought since I worked at Honda for a while.
My parents have a loaded 06 EX coupe and are very happy with it.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
Its not going to be a family car, that's what the Pilot is for.
The Taurus isn't a bad car, gas mileage isn't that great though. Its got some quirks that are showing themselves to be hard to nail down, one is engine surging, annoying as heck sometimes. I'm sure gas mileage is dismal since its pretty hard for that underpowered V6 to move that big car, have to think twice before pulling into traffic, lol.
I'd still say spend the extra $1-2k and get the power locks, mirrors, CD and a/c. That's pretty much basics nowadays in cars.
When I was considering my current vehicle, I almost went for the bare bones model (base Patriot, no air, no locks, no windows, only CD), and i'm so glad I didn't. I would have regretted it big time not having the basic power options and a/c. That's just my opinion.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
I asked the service guy how many miles I had driven since January, he said 1,500 miles (kinda surprised me). So, I have 22,800 on it now and will start driving it more. But, I sure love the lil' Honda... good gas mileage, comfortable, easy to park, etc. In 18 months, I have put almost 20,000 miles on it (driving) and another 18,000 (towing).
I'm driving up to San Francisco for a wedding next week and will take the LR3. I should get about 18 on the road as it gets about 12 in the city. It sure is a comfortable ride tho!! :shades:
M156
I can't get a direct link to the car, but if anyone wants to see it, the dealership's url is http://www.melvinmotors.com . Then just search for 2004 and Dodge and it comes up.
Still, while it's fun to daydream and window shop, logic is going to prevail and I'm going to let it pass.
If you are sure it led an easy life , without alot of idling or high speed chases it would be interesting to see what the would give you for yours as a trade. I'm thinking if the difference was $3k it would make me think of moving up just for the miles.
With the economic outlook sinking a little more, and a real buyers market existing...maybe Andre could offer 4K-ish for it...it's gotta be worth that.
I'm not sure what the car's story is. It has a 160 mph speedo, which regular Intrepids didn't have, but that could have been swapped in. It's also the SE (cheapest model), but has the 3.5, so that would imply copcar to me, since they usually just specify the cheapest trim level and put a big engine in. I guess it could have been a detective car or sheriff's car?
If you are sure it led an easy life , without alot of idling or high speed chases it would be interesting to see what the would give you for yours as a trade. I'm thinking if the difference was $3k it would make me think of moving up just for the miles.
I have a feeling my '00 would be practically worthless as a trade, or maybe $1000-1500 at best. It has 142,000 miles on it. A/C quit working this summer. Still blows, and the compressor still comes on, but it's leaking freon somewhere. It has one small dent on each side. Headlights are clouded up. And one of the back door locks has gone bad. It'll lock okay, but you have to unlock it manually.
So in comparison, getting into this '04 would be like getting into a new car! I dunno...maybe I should go try...tell 'em if they can make it happen if I give them my car + $3,000 for it, we have a deal. Worst thing they can do is laugh their butts off while they say no. :P
Part of me wants to see how far my 2000 will go before something really major finally goes wrong with it. But the engine/tranny still seem strong, and the electronics/electricals haven't done anything too scary yet. And I doubt if it'll even see 5,000 miles this year. So I think it could conceivably last a long time, unless I do something stupid like let it run out of oil or coolant or tranny fluid.
The uniqueness of the cop package is what's attractive about it, and they thought they have a one off car they could ask over the market for. Since they most likely had zero interest in it at the $10k price, they dropped it down to more reasonable asking price.
Even at this price, the vehicle will appeal to a very small number of buyers, either law enforcement afficionados, security types, or ex cops, or Mopar guys like Andre.
Your mainstream family will not even look at it because of the no console feature , and "ugly black wheels" (ugly to them, I like it), and because it's an "ex cop car"
Mention ex police car, and most buyers will think there were drunks puking on the back seat, or junkies bleeding into the fabric, which most likely is not the case with this one.
Which means, there might be a great deal awaiting you Andre. I have a feeling that they paid no more than $3-$4k for it. You might have a deal waiting there. And if you buy it, I'd leave it as is.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
That's how my '89 Gran Fury was. It had been a sheriff's car, used by the city of Richmond, VA. It was silver, and unmarked. The interior was a step above your typical police car, with cloth seats, carpet on the lower door panels, power windows/locks/mirrors, and a nice sound system. The only thing that really tipped off the fact that it had been a police car were the big 15x7 copcar wheels and the 125 mph speedo that had "certified" printed on it, and an extra dome light in the ceiling. Oh, and when you punched it, that 318-4bbl could get it moving pretty quick!
It had 73,000 miles on it when I bought it, and was immaculate inside. It had been repainted though, and within two years after buying it, that silver had faded pretty badly.
Do tell! :-)
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
You could always buy the 2004 as a "spare" and keep your current Intrepid, to see how long the 2000 will go. BTW, I think there is a product available that will help remove clouding or hazing of plastic headlight lenses, but I don't remember the name. Might be a cheap way to spruce up the old Intrepid.
Dude! Is it leaking all those things? I say the time has come to see you in the driver's seat of a brand new shiny '09 Altima. Help me treat my CCBS by living vicariously through you! ;-)
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Hey, I like that rationale. :P Although at the rate I'm driving, then the "new" one would probably rot into the ground!
BTW, I think there is a product available that will help remove clouding or hazing of plastic headlight lenses, but I don't remember the name. Might be a cheap way to spruce up the old Intrepid.
Yeah, there's a couple of products out there, and even toothpaste will work to a degree. About a year ago, I tried the toothpaste trick, and it seemed to work, but they're cloudy again.
Well, before I drove up to Carlisle this past weekend I checked the fluids, and, I did have to put in a quart of oil and just a little antifreeze. Transmission's holding just fine, though. I don't know where, exactly, the oil is going. It's not leaking out on the ground, but it's not blowing blue smoke, either.
I am feeling the itch to buy something though...economy be damned! :shades:
Since it was the end of the model year, the dealer gave me the choice of either a stereo or A/C. I, foolishly, took the stereo - not realizing that the summers in Denver are a bit warmer than those found on the California coast.
And, the stereo they dropped in only included the front 2 speakers!
Of course, at the time, I was traveling a couple of weeks a month, so the Accord spent a lot of time in airport parking lots.
I'm also guessing that Jolie went with the Civic DX.
Unrelated note: The L300 got new front pads and rotors last week. Only got 30K of use out of the old ones. Since the L was paid off last November, I've averaged about $120/mo in maintenance and repairs. I'll keep tracking it - at what point does it make sense to look at a new (used) car?
I don't know if there's really a dollar amount with me, but more a factor of if the car starts leaving me stranded on a regular basis. I've been tracking my Intrepid, and since the last payment (11/24/04), it's been averaging about $85 per month. It's only left me stranded once in that time, back in May. And even then, it started the next day and made it to the mechanic, who replaced the camshaft and crankshaft sensors. That was about $525, but I also haven't had to put any money into the car since then.
I think if the car got to the point that I had to start taking it back to the mechanic once a month, even for minor things, I'd look into replacing it, because at that point it just becomes too much of a hassle.
I owned one stripper Toyota with A/C but no radio (or anything else)--huge drag. And another stripper Toyota with FM radio but no A/C (or anything else)--huge drag. And a stripper Chevy P/U with only A/C & AM radio.
Some people want that--others drive around for years cursing why they didn't just pay the extra $1000-$1500 to get a normally equipped car.......
Healing Hazy Headlamps
The L has never left me stranded anywhere in the 6 years I've owned it. There have been a couple of occasions when I first got it where it wouldn't start on an incline when the tank was almost empty - something about the fuel pickup sensor in the tank - but that hasn't happened to me in a few years.
I have been getting an intermittent warning light on the dash - it's only happened a handful of times in the past six months. When it goes on, the transmission starts to shift very harshly. Researching on the 'net, I found that the transmission behavior is a preventive measure, and the light might be a bad solenoid. The dealer says it would cost a couple of hundred bucks to fix.
andre, did you ever think about how much you could get for the 'Trep if you sold it privately 2-3 years ago? The L has about 75K on it, and it's at that point where I could still get - maybe - $5-7K in trade. However, I really don't want another car payment for a few more years.
I did a nationwide search on cars.com for 2003 L with between 70-80K on the clock. The prices ranged from about $5K to $12K -- seems to be a bit of a spread.