Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

snakeweasel

imidazol97 said:

- I use Equifax as my credit and account protection source.  I pay $150+ a year for their services.  I get a monthly report each month and when a company or individual views my credit report, :

Wow. They took you to the bank more than one way. But rest easy knowing that 3 days after the breach was known to Equifax 3 executives sold hundreds of thousands of dollars of shares before the knowledge became public and the share price went down. Can't have the guys responsible for the company and security not making as much money as possible, can we?

Sounds like insider trading, I hope the SEC comes down hard on them. 

carnaught

@ab348, congrats on the loaded ATS! beautiful color combination. The interior color is probably one of my top two.

imidazol97

ab348 said:

Also cross-posting from CCBA!

Was finally able to reach a satisfactory deal on a new car to replace the ATS - with another ATS. But not just any ATS, this is a 2017 ATS 3.6 Performance Premium with just about every goodie they offer. Incentives brought the price down by about 20% and I figured it was time to get the one I always wanted. Red Obsession outside, Kona Brown leather inside. It sure is pretty and man, with 335HP on tap does it ever move!





This one is a purchase, so I'm off the lease train. Now I just have to study the manuals so I can figure out how all this stuff works. So many geegaws. I do like the heads-up display though!

Beautiful, inside and out. I'm started to feel jealous of all these news cars. I've been able to sublimate any urges to buy a different car so far by living vicariously through others' buying cars, but some of these are making it tough to stay strong.

oldfarmer50

ab348 said:

Also cross-posting from CCBA!

Was finally able to reach a satisfactory deal on a new car to replace the ATS - with another ATS. But not just any ATS, this is a 2017 ATS 3.6 Performance Premium with just about every goodie they offer. Incentives brought the price down by about 20% and I figured it was time to get the one I always wanted. Red Obsession outside, Kona Brown leather inside. It sure is pretty and man, with 335HP on tap does it ever move!








This one is a purchase, so I'm off the lease train. Now I just have to study the manuals so I can figure out how all this stuff works. So many geegaws. I do like the heads-up display though!

Another red & beige, I'm sensing a pattern here. Beautiful. It's greats to be able to get it the way you want. 20% off is a great deal.

imidazol97

explorerx4 said:

You'd think Equifax would have learned from the Choicepoint debacle. Choicepoint was a spinoff of Equifax.

Who wouldn't cash that in?

At Equifax the company is trying to feed the story that these guys couldn't have had any rumors, no inklings, etc., that something had been breached: just pure as the driven snow.

snakeweasel

I have a new occupant in my garage as of today.
 

abacomike

ab348 said:

Also cross-posting from CCBA! Was finally able to reach a satisfactory deal on a new car to replace the ATS - with another ATS. But not just any ATS, this is a 2017 ATS 3.6 Performance Premium with just about every goodie they offer. Incentives brought the price down by about 20% and I figured it was time to get the one I always wanted. Red Obsession outside, Kona Brown leather inside. It sure is pretty and man, with 335HP on tap does it ever move! This one is a purchase, so I'm off the lease train. Now I just have to study the manuals so I can figure out how all this stuff works. So many geegaws. I do like the heads-up display though!

Love the color and interior!  Enjoy - great looker! 

explorerx4

@imidazol97,
I'm not justifying anything, just providing 'the real'.

driver100

ab348 said:

Also cross-posting from CCBA!

Was finally able to reach a satisfactory deal on a new car to replace the ATS - with another ATS. But not just any ATS, this is a 2017 ATS 3.6 Performance Premium with just about every goodie they offer. Incentives brought the price down by about 20% and I figured it was time to get the one I always wanted. Red Obsession outside, Kona Brown leather inside. It sure is pretty and man, with 335HP on tap does it ever move!




This one is a purchase, so I'm off the lease train. Now I just have to study the manuals so I can figure out how all this stuff works. So many geegaws. I do like the heads-up display though!

Love the car ab......really like the bright red and the NOT BLACK interior.......the brown goes well with it.

Glad you got it....it looks really special.....that is a car that really stand out.

driver100

snakeweasel said:

driver100 said:

Isn't that like saying I don't drive for the love of driving, I don't care what I drive, as long as it gets me to work and back as cheaply inexpensively as possible? 

No, it's called matching your ride to your drive. My daily commute is just under 11 miles, has 22 stop lights (7 Are at major intersections and two of them back traffic up a considerable distance) with an average speed of 25 MPH give or take. It's a drive that only Leopode von Sacher-Masoch would love. So something like the spark would work well if all I it will be only driven in that environment. 

Now if I want to do it as cheaply as possible I would get a 49cc engine and slap it on my bicycle. 

nah, wouldn't work out too well in a Chicago winter!

It sounds like you should get a Smart Car for that drive....if it is just the cheapest way to get from A to B.

explorerx4

If you have a lot of traffic lights, stop/start is a nice feature.

imidazol97

Now there's this from the weatherunderground. They have the hurricane going farther to the west than thought earlier.
Amazing how all the computers can't forcast with certainty 24 hours in advance.

https://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/atlantic/2017/hurricane-irma?map=5day&mr=1

ab348

I might be tempted to make the drive from Jacksonville to Columbia SC.

fintail

Lovely interior on the ATS, somewhat reminds me of the "peanut butter" leather that had a brief flash of chic in the 90s. Stylish.

fintail

You should see snow forecasts in Seattle - those are often botched 8 hours in advance. Windstorm forecasts often fare the same.

imidazol97 said:

Now there's this from the weatherunderground. They have the hurricane going farther to the west than thought earlier.
Amazing how all the computers can't forcast with certainty 24 hours in advance.

fintail

Used Smart or a maintained 2002 Hyundai Accent.

My drive is about 4 miles each way, with a lucky 13 (I think) stoplights. Average speed is usually around 12-15 mph, but you can hit 50 on some stretches. I suppose an EV would be good, if you want to deal with the inherent issues for non-commuting use.

driver100 said:

It sounds like you should get a Smart Car for that drive....if it is just the cheapest way to get from A to B.

oldfarmer50

snakeweasel said:

I have a new occupant in my garage as of today.
 

Nobody crazier than a crazy old man. To paraphrase A Christmas Story: "you'll knock your eye out kid."

stickguy

wasting capacity is one reason I am not likely to spend extra on the HiPo option. In my driving, I probably won't come close to using the potential of a 320i BMW. Moving up to a 340 TT 6 is really going to be a waste of money. Around town in traffic, and cruising at highways at 75ish, really does not require 350+ HP

oldfarmer50

Has anyone used KBB's instant trade offer? Just saw a commercial where you call up and they email an offer on the spot. I guess you can then take it yo a participating dealer for a Guarenteed trade or cash buyout.

My question is, how does KBB know you're not lying about that bad tranny being just a $20 part?

stickguy

pretty sure there is fine print about validating condition or some such. So basically the dealer has an out.

driver100

stickguy said:

wasting capacity is one reason I am not likely to spend extra on the HiPo option. In my driving, I probably won't come close to using the potential of a 320i BMW. Moving up to a 340 TT 6 is really going to be a waste of money. Around town in traffic, and cruising at highways at 75ish, really does not require 350+ HP

HPs are good for getting onto a highway, for getting out of the way of big trucks that follow too close, and for just getting around a bad situation.....I find extra horses are a safety feature when used wisely.

driver100

stickguy said:

pretty sure there is fine print about validating condition or some such. So basically the dealer has an out.

Yeh, "Guaranteed trade or cash buyout. but read the fine print. If it meets or exceeds what the seller said on the phone, and the deal is off if for any reason we don't think the description given on the phone matches the car itself".

driver100

imidazol97 said:

Now there's this from the weatherunderground. They have the hurricane going farther to the west than thought earlier.
Amazing how all the computers can't forcast with certainty 24 hours in advance.

https://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/atlantic/2017/hurricane-irma?map=5day&mr=1

Yikes! That looks pretty close to Tampa. Earlier in the day the European model had it headed further West, just like in that picture........U.S. weather channel had it more East....maybe trying to scare Miamians into leaving. How can the Europeans be more accurate, they are way over there.

ab348

stickguy said:

wasting capacity is one reason I am not likely to spend extra on the HiPo option. In my driving, I probably won't come close to using the potential of a 320i BMW. Moving up to a 340 TT 6 is really going to be a waste of money. Around town in traffic, and cruising at highways at 75ish, really does not require 350+ HP

Oh, but it's so much fun!!! C'mon, live a little...

stickguy

driver100 said:

stickguy said:

wasting capacity is one reason I am not likely to spend extra on the HiPo option. In my driving, I probably won't come close to using the potential of a 320i BMW. Moving up to a 340 TT 6 is really going to be a waste of money. Around town in traffic, and cruising at highways at 75ish, really does not require 350+ HP

HPs are good for getting onto a highway, for getting out of the way of big trucks that follow too close, and for just getting around a bad situation.....I find extra horses are a safety feature when used wisely.

most normal cars have plenty of that already. I would not be likely to ever need even more realistically.

explorerx4

There are lot's of guys my age that have bought their first motorcycles.
Not for me.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Dirty+Harry+Man's+Got+to+Know+His+Limitations&&view=detail&mid=0659E770EB7CA34B4B480659E770EB7CA34B4B48&FORM=VRDGAR

jmonroe

ab348 said:

stickguy said:

wasting capacity is one reason I am not likely to spend extra on the HiPo option. In my driving, I probably won't come close to using the potential of a 320i BMW. Moving up to a 340 TT 6 is really going to be a waste of money. Around town in traffic, and cruising at highways at 75ish, really does not require 350+ HP

Oh, but it's so much fun!!! C'mon, live a little...

Congrats on the new car and you're right about the HP thingy. I consider all those horses like a bank account that I can tap anytime I want to. I don't do it all that often but it sure is nice when I want to.

I'm pretty spoiled now, even my anemic '09 Genny V8 had 370 HP. Now I'm really spoiled with the '15 Genny V8 that has 420 HP.

Like I said it's nice to know you have them for when you want them especially when merging onto an interstate.

FWIW, I saw your post when we were out to dinner tonight and I showed it to Mrs. j. She likes Redish cars and I told her just give me the word and you'll have one in no time. That didn't work, so now I'm really perplexed as to what it will take to pry her 2012 Subie from her mitts.

Just let us know how you like it.

jmonroe

Mr_Shiftright

snakeweasel said:

I have a new occupant in my garage as of today.
 

My Man! Why use 4 when 2 will do?

jmonroe

snakeweasel said:

I have a new occupant in my garage as of today.
 

I guess that's a nice bike but I'm not a bike rider.

Just curious, if I ever decide to go with a bike at this late stage of my life, do they have any that you can get with the training wheel package and extra knee protection and extra wrist protection and extra...?

Good luck with it.

jmonroe

stickguy

I considered getting a bike back when I was young. At this point, I would never feel comfortable enough to try it. Heck, half the time, I feel nervous in a car with all the idiots on the roads these days!

JM, sure you can get a 3 wheeler. And buy as many pads as you desire.

carnaught

oldfarmer50 said:

Has anyone used KBB's instant trade offer? Just saw a commercial where you call up and they email an offer on the spot. I guess you can then take it yo a participating dealer for a Guarenteed trade or cash buyout.

My question is, how does KBB know you're not lying about that bad tranny being just a $20 part?

@oldfarmer50, in my experience KBB offers have been lower than Carmax, which to me have been low themselves. Also, their "guarantee" has some caveats.

suydam

snakeweasel said:

abacomike said:

I checked to see if my credit and social security info with bank info was compromised by the Equifax hacking breach.  My info "was" compromised.  Now I need to find out what I should do re: safeguarding my credit cards, bank info, etc. 

We checked ours and they said ours wasn't compromised so we dodged this one but might take them up on the offer of the credit monitoring. 

And you're going to trust the folks who got hacked, sat on this info and delayed public disclosure? Might as well accept it's all a crap shoot.

andres3

explorerx4 said:

The stop/start in my Fusion is much smoother than my friend's BMW.

I don't like the idea of start-stop when you come to a stop, and I haven't liked the implementation of it in cars I've driven that have the feature. It just seems noticeable and annoying.

The lastest car to have it was the Audi A4 loaner '17 model. Even in the Audi, I found it undesirable, and gas mileage didn't seem any better. Sometimes you only have to stop for a short few seconds, and that makes it a gas waster rather than a gas saver under those conditions.

andres3

Michaell said:

There is very little originality in car design, these days. The Regal was designed in Europe, so it makes sense that some elements were, ahem, 'borrowed' from other makes.

This isn't really new - we can look at Japanese mid-sized sedans from the 90's and see a lot of similarities between them.

I do believe the gap is closing between "mainstream" brands and "premium" brands. Honda, in particular, has made it hard for folks to trade up to the TLX from the Accord. The only big differences is that the TLX still has a V6 (the 2018 Accord does not), and the TLX can be had with AWD. Are those two features worth $7-10K? I suspect that for a lot of car shopping folks - those that are still looking at sedans, that is - the answer is a resounding "no".

Those spoiled buy luxurious interiors are not likely to be happy in the older Accords. However, a TLX would still be satisfying for people used to a certain higher standard. Is a better interior worth $7-$10K? Depends on every person's value system, and how cheap the cheaper car's interior is, and how nice the luxury interior is.

Acura has a longer warranty too, and probably a free loaner program. There are no free lunches. The lower priced cars had to cost cut something to get there.

andres3

ab348 said:

imidazol97 said:

I expect facts that a science, math, engineering person can gather from articles like this. But the Regal article didn't meet that goal well and contained lots of opinion comments.

I find that it's not just C&D when it comes to Buick articles. It seems to be a requirement for every Buick article to begin with a discussion of the old-man image, the kind of cars they used to make, the age demographic, etc etc. It seems endemic. I do wish auto writers would come up with a new angle.

Even Buick's commercials like to remind people of those old images though.

oldfarmer50

driver100 said:

stickguy said:

wasting capacity is one reason I am not likely to spend extra on the HiPo option. In my driving, I probably won't come close to using the potential of a 320i BMW. Moving up to a 340 TT 6 is really going to be a waste of money. Around town in traffic, and cruising at highways at 75ish, really does not require 350+ HP

HPs are good for getting onto a highway, for getting out of the way of big trucks that follow too close, and for just getting around a bad situation.....I find extra horses are a safety feature when used wisely.

today's technology gives you hp without the severe milage penalty of the good old days.
Mike getting 37mpg in his souped up BMW or me getting 30+ in the Mustang are figures unheard of years ago. If you do mainly highway driving it's a heck of a lot more fun.

For stop and go get a back up hybrid.

venture

andres3 said:

Michaell said:

There is very little originality in car design, these days. The Regal was designed in Europe, so it makes sense that some elements were, ahem, 'borrowed' from other makes.

This isn't really new - we can look at Japanese mid-sized sedans from the 90's and see a lot of similarities between them.

I do believe the gap is closing between "mainstream" brands and "premium" brands. Honda, in particular, has made it hard for folks to trade up to the TLX from the Accord. The only big differences is that the TLX still has a V6 (the 2018 Accord does not), and the TLX can be had with AWD. Are those two features worth $7-10K? I suspect that for a lot of car shopping folks - those that are still looking at sedans, that is - the answer is a resounding "no".

Those spoiled buy luxurious interiors are not likely to be happy in the older Accords. However, a TLX would still be satisfying for people used to a certain higher standard. Is a better interior worth $7-$10K? Depends on every person's value system, and how cheap the cheaper car's interior is, and how nice the luxury interior is.

Acura has a longer warranty too, and probably a free loaner program. There are no free lunches. The lower priced cars had to cost cut something to get there.

I never quite got it as far as "luxurious interiors" are concerned. If the seats are comfortable and fit me I'm good. After all, you are sitting there looking out the windshield and that's the same in any car.

I guess if you are concerned what your neighbor thinks about your car it's OK to spend thousands of dollars more.

oldfarmer50

jmonroe said:

snakeweasel said:

I have a new occupant in my garage as of today.
 

I guess that's a nice bike but I'm not a bike rider.

Just curious, if I ever decide to go with a bike at this late stage of my life, do they have any that you can get with the training wheel package and extra knee protection and extra wrist protection and extra...?

Good luck with it.

jmonroe

My thoughts exactly. I was surprised a few years ago to find out you could get them with auto transmissions but that still didn't overcome my fears of falling off.

iluvmysephia1

Troy Gentry, of the country singing duo Montgomery Gentry, has been killed in a helicopter accident. Awful news. Remember him in those Montgomery Gentry videos of a few years back?

driver100

stickguy said:

driver100 said:

stickguy said:

wasting capacity is one reason I am not likely to spend extra on the HiPo option. In my driving, I probably won't come close to using the potential of a 320i BMW. Moving up to a 340 TT 6 is really going to be a waste of money. Around town in traffic, and cruising at highways at 75ish, really does not require 350+ HP

HPs are good for getting onto a highway, for getting out of the way of big trucks that follow too close, and for just getting around a bad situation.....I find extra horses are a safety feature when used wisely.

most normal cars have plenty of that already. I would not be likely to ever need even more realistically.

I can't ever have enough........the more the better. I think about 600 would be perfect!

How about a Spark....98 HP, 0 to 60 in 11 seconds?


btw....Motor Trend says;
. The Mitsubishi also can be generously optioned like the Spark, so, why are we confident in saying the Spark is a better car? During our First Test of a 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage, we said, “Taking a curvy on-ramp with as much speed as I could muster from the Mirage’s three-cylinder, I was met with ample body roll and tire squeal, along with the distinct feeling that what I was doing wasn’t safe.”

FULL REVIEW SPARK

driver100

venture said:

andres3 said:

Michaell said:

There is very little originality in car design, these days. The Regal was designed in Europe, so it makes sense that some elements were, ahem, 'borrowed' from other makes.

This isn't really new - we can look at Japanese mid-sized sedans from the 90's and see a lot of similarities between them.

I do believe the gap is closing between "mainstream" brands and "premium" brands. Honda, in particular, has made it hard for folks to trade up to the TLX from the Accord. The only big differences is that the TLX still has a V6 (the 2018 Accord does not), and the TLX can be had with AWD. Are those two features worth $7-10K? I suspect that for a lot of car shopping folks - those that are still looking at sedans, that is - the answer is a resounding "no".

Those spoiled buy luxurious interiors are not likely to be happy in the older Accords. However, a TLX would still be satisfying for people used to a certain higher standard. Is a better interior worth $7-$10K? Depends on every person's value system, and how cheap the cheaper car's interior is, and how nice the luxury interior is.

Acura has a longer warranty too, and probably a free loaner program. There are no free lunches. The lower priced cars had to cost cut something to get there.

I never quite got it as far as "luxurious interiors" are concerned. If the seats are comfortable and fit me I'm good. After all, you are sitting there looking out the windshield and that's the same in any car.

I guess if you are concerned what your neighbor thinks about your car it's OK to spend thousands of dollars more.

Usually when you spend $1000s more..........the seats will not just look luxurious, they will be made better and will feel a lot better on a long drive. That is one place the extra money actually gets used. If you drive 500 or 600 miles in a day, you will feel the difference.

explorerx4

The stop/start in the Fusion works well. Don't knock it unless you have tried it.
I've found it also reduces stress sitting at a light, knowing you are not needlessly running the engine.

snakeweasel

Mr_Shiftright said:

I have a new occupant in my garage as of today.
 

My Man! Why use 4 when 2 will do?

or how about 1?

snakeweasel

andres3 said:

The stop/start in my Fusion is )much smoother than my friend's BMW.

I don't like the idea of start-stop when you come to a stop, and I haven't liked the implementation of it in cars I've driven that have the feature. It just seems noticeable and annoying. The lastest car to have it was the Audi A4 loaner '17 model. Even in the Audi, I found it undesirable, and gas mileage didn't seem any better. Sometimes you only have to stop for a short few seconds, and that makes it a gas waster rather than a gas saver under those conditions.

On my lunch time walks i will sometimes hear an engine of a car at a light start up at a light just before they start moving an I often wonder how much gas does it really save and how much time does it delay the start of the car. 

snakeweasel

venture said:
 I guess if you are concerned what your neighbor thinks about your car it's OK to spend thousands of dollars more.

That reminds me of a car commercial from many years back that had a short lost of what a car won't do (like make you better looking) and went on to say that "if it improves your status with your neighbors then you live among snobs".

snakeweasel

oldfarmer50 said:

My thoughts exactly. I was surprised a few years ago to find out you could get them with auto transmissions but that still didn't overcome my fears of falling off.

Other than a Can Am, which I am not sure what it's "automated" transmission is, bikes have either manuals (Just like shifting a car but upside down and backwards), CVT's (mostly scooters but a couple of motorcycles) and DCT's. 

Mine happens to have the Dual Clutch and I really like it. The shift is so seamless you can't even feel it, the only way you know it shifted is a barely noticeable click and the gear indicator on the instrument panel changing. 

snakeweasel

driver100 said:

 How about a Spark....98 HP, 0 to 60 in 11 seconds? 

The thing is in my daily drive I can go weeks without hitting 60 MPH, maybe months. I rarely drive it on roads with speed limits above 45 MPH. As I said it's getting relegated to commuting to and from work and erands around town.

Also no one is saying that the Spark is the better car. 

venture

driver100 said:

venture said:

andres3 said:

Michaell said:

There is very little originality in car design, these days. The Regal was designed in Europe, so it makes sense that some elements were, ahem, 'borrowed' from other makes.

This isn't really new - we can look at Japanese mid-sized sedans from the 90's and see a lot of similarities between them.

I do believe the gap is closing between "mainstream" brands and "premium" brands. Honda, in particular, has made it hard for folks to trade up to the TLX from the Accord. The only big differences is that the TLX still has a V6 (the 2018 Accord does not), and the TLX can be had with AWD. Are those two features worth $7-10K? I suspect that for a lot of car shopping folks - those that are still looking at sedans, that is - the answer is a resounding "no".

Those spoiled buy luxurious interiors are not likely to be happy in the older Accords. However, a TLX would still be satisfying for people used to a certain higher standard. Is a better interior worth $7-$10K? Depends on every person's value system, and how cheap the cheaper car's interior is, and how nice the luxury interior is.

Acura has a longer warranty too, and probably a free loaner program. There are no free lunches. The lower priced cars had to cost cut something to get there.

I never quite got it as far as "luxurious interiors" are concerned. If the seats are comfortable and fit me I'm good. After all, you are sitting there looking out the windshield and that's the same in any car.

I guess if you are concerned what your neighbor thinks about your car it's OK to spend thousands of dollars more.

Usually when you spend $1000s more..........the seats will not just look luxurious, they will be made better and will feel a lot better on a long drive. That is one place the extra money actually gets used. If you drive 500 or 600 miles in a day, you will feel the difference.

I've driven over 800 miles all at once quite a few times, in quite a few cars. As long as the seats were comfortable and they fit, there was no problem.

Like I said. I don't get it. Most people, evidently, do.

sda

ab348 said:

Also cross-posting from CCBA!

Was finally able to reach a satisfactory deal on a new car to replace the ATS - with another ATS. But not just any ATS, this is a 2017 ATS 3.6 Performance Premium with just about every goodie they offer. Incentives brought the price down by about 20% and I figured it was time to get the one I always wanted. Red Obsession outside, Kona Brown leather inside. It sure is pretty and man, with 335HP on tap does it ever move!








This one is a purchase, so I'm off the lease train. Now I just have to study the manuals so I can figure out how all this stuff works. So many geegaws. I do like the heads-up display though!

Sweet! I bet the 3.6 changes the character of the car. Love the color combo. Enjoy!

ab348

I don't think anyone should publicly denigrate other people's vehicle choices. Yes, there are vehicles I encounter on the roads that make me wonder what the owner was thinking when they bought them. But everyone is different, with different priorities and circumstances, and that is their decision. Many people live by the dictum that they only want a car to get them from A to B. They have other priorities and doing what I just did in getting the new ATS would never be something they would consider. I was that way earlier in life to some extent. Now I am in a different situation and am lucky that I can do what I just did. But while I may comment on certain vehicles I do not like in a general sense, I won't be critical here if someone buys one for their own reasons. I will just not comment on it.