Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

abacomike

graphicguy said:

@abacomike.....sorry to hear about the “event” at the tint shop on your new car. Was wondering.....since Mercedes all come with all the safety bells and whistles, I would ask the tint shop what they were doing with the car. I know with mine, if it’s anywhere near an obstacle in front, behind or either side of it, lights and beepers go off if I get too close. Was the tint shop just not paying attention to those warnings? Or, were they doing something else with the car?

Only a security cam knows for sure - and it’s his cam, not mine.

It’s possible the employee who backed the car up and damaged the front lower bumper on the parking stump had no idea what was happening.  At least Mercedes did a great job repairing the left lower bumper.

abacomike

imidazol97 said:

... Putting money down on lease defeats this advantage in a trade it for lower payments and lower total financial charges.

I never could understand all the variables in leasing vs buying for an individual. You've clarified much of that. My logic was if the leasing were to the advantage of the buyer most dealerships wouldn't push it so hard.

The only problem with putting that much money down on a lease is that I could lose that money if the car was stolen or totaled.  If it was totaled due to the fault of another driver, my attorney said I could sue the at fault party for loss of value.  If it was my fault, goodbye $24,500.

abacomike

dino001 said:

Not quite - my monthly payments on the 740i were $384 per month with 5 years remaining on the loan.  So the car was depreciating faster than the value of the payments.  By the end of the loan, the car would be six years old and would be worth $22,500 give or take, if I was lucky.

Look - I leased a car with a huge cap cost reduction to get to $600 a month + tax - something my monthly income could handle, without having to withdraw money from my bank - but will be able to deposit $8200 into my accounts.

So you did have a real estate loan on the 740 BTW, if you had taken the entire equity out, you'd be able to deposit whole 30 grand on your account and supply the difference in payments out of that. You'd have to pay extra interest (money factor) on that amount, which is not totally a chicken fee (about 25-30 bucks, if I get your numbers right). Much better use of that money might have been multiple security deposit (unlike BMW, Mercedes still has it), which would have lowered your interest and you'd get it back at the end of the lease. Admittedly, the monthly payment would have been higher. As I mentioned the biggest drawback of putting money down on the lease (as opposed a loan), is the depreciation risk in case of a total loss. Leases are automatically GAP insured, so if such a thing happened on zero down lease, the GAP insurance would have picked up any difference between the cash value paid by your car insurance and the remaining lease value, you'd only owe the deductible and kept the remainder of 30 grand in your account. If, on the other hand, the car gets totalled in your current financing structure, you'd likely see a very small fraction of that money back. The reduction is so large that I think it's unlikely you'd see nothing, but the bank would make everything to not to part with the money it already collected from you. And you'll still owe the deductible, as order of payments would be: your insurance at cash value minus deductible, your deductible, whatever remains is covered your cap reduction, fees, then whatever is left - you. None of that matters of course, if you don't have an accident. This is just a risk management exercise. I think your "annual" rollups are truly over, Mike. Whatever equity you had, you just volunteered to give away. Unless you find another magic way to break the lease without paying penalties and find some more couch money to put down, your next payments for those expensive toys will likely skyrocket to $1500-2000. Or next car you're getting is a Fusion or Focus

dino001 said:

Not quite - my monthly payments on the 740i were $384 per month with 5 years remaining on the loan.  So the car was depreciating faster than the value of the payments.  By the end of the loan, the car would be six years old and would be worth $22,500 give or take, if I was lucky.

Look - I leased a car with a huge cap cost reduction to get to $600 a month + tax - something my monthly income could handle, without having to withdraw money from my bank - but will be able to deposit $8200 into my accounts.

So you did have a real estate loan on the 740 BTW, if you had taken the entire equity out, you'd be able to deposit whole 30 grand on your account and supply the difference in payments out of that. You'd have to pay extra interest (money factor) on that amount, which is not totally a chicken fee (about 25-30 bucks, if I get your numbers right). Much better use of that money might have been multiple security deposit (unlike BMW, Mercedes still has it), which would have lowered your interest and you'd get it back at the end of the lease. Admittedly, the monthly payment would have been higher. As I mentioned the biggest drawback of putting money down on the lease (as opposed a loan), is the depreciation risk in case of a total loss. Leases are automatically GAP insured, so if such a thing happened on zero down lease, the GAP insurance would have picked up any difference between the cash value paid by your car insurance and the remaining lease value, you'd only owe the deductible and kept the remainder of 30 grand in your account. If, on the other hand, the car gets totalled in your current financing structure, you'd likely see a very small fraction of that money back. The reduction is so large that I think it's unlikely you'd see nothing, but the bank would make everything to not to part with the money it already collected from you. And you'll still owe the deductible, as order of payments would be: your insurance at cash value minus deductible, your deductible, whatever remains is covered your cap reduction, fees, then whatever is left - you. None of that matters of course, if you don't have an accident. This is just a risk management exercise. I think your "annual" rollups are truly over, Mike. Whatever equity you had, you just volunteered to give away. Unless you find another magic way to break the lease without paying penalties and find some more couch money to put down, your next payments for those expensive toys will likely skyrocket to $1500-2000. Or next car you're getting is a Fusion or Focus

I agree, Dino.  My yearly purchases are over with - which is a plus.  I need to learn to be happy with what I have.  I’m so buried in this lease that not even an undertaker could exhume a deal on a new car next year.

iluvmysephia1

Thanks for those, driver100. That one on the top has an almost perfect paint finish on it. I've decided on only the red paint. I texted my sales guy - he said to get over to Everett as soon as you can in case it sells. I said thanks. I don't think the red one will sell in a week - I really don't. That will be my baby. It'll break my heart if it does, but then I'll pick the next one in line - you know I'll be searching Pacific NW 2016 Scion iA's for sale with manual transmissions all week leading up till the end of the workweek, right?

I re-discovered these 2016 iA's have an automatic stop feature for 1-18mph, too. It's perfect for me when I'm sitting there waiting for the light to change and I'm checking my phone. Nice bonus feature!

isellhondas

oldfarmer50 said:

suydam said:

abacomike said:

houdini1 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

tjc78 said:

qbrozen said:

oldfarmer50 said:

ab348 said:

@oldfarmer50 , are you sitting down? Brace yourself...

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1990-mercury-grand-marquis/

That's certainly a survivor. Imagine, a 5.0 with 150 hp and 2:73 rear. Must be embarrassing to get your doors blown off by shopping carts. Considering the dried out parts that must need replacing I'd say it's at top bid right now at $1995.

Suprised it has an airbag. My 91 Oldsmobile didn't.

15k "indicated miles" does not mean it has not rolled over once or twice.

90/91 Crown Vics and Grand Marquis are typically known to have bad odometer gears as well. It may not have 115K but could certainly have more than 15k and the gears never fixed

Most Fords got a driver's airbag in 1990

I love those models (an 89 was my first car), but that Woodrose over Brown has got to be the worst color they ever put on them

The odo gears on my 95 Lincoln went at 96k but by that time they didn't make replacements.

Mike, after all you have made it through, you should have just laughed yourself to sleep over a piddling little fender scrape.

Put yourself in my place.  You finally got the car you have lusted over for many, many years.  You have 151 miles on it.  You go to a tint place and an employee not only scrapes the bottom of the left lower fender, but also pulls the bumper away from the fender 2-3 inches.  I was totally crushed!  It was like one of my children was seriously injured so that he couldn’t walk.

Yes - it’s just a car - it can be replaced - but it still hurts real bad.

The Mercedes dealer removed the bumper, replaced some brackets and a chrome piece, and then aligned the lower bumper and replaced it on the car using new clips. I can’t tell if was damaged and all the sensors, cameras and radar beams are operating normally.  The service manager said this happens frequently to cars down here in Florida where 99% of all parking is pull in to a parking stoop.  This S450 has the $6000 AMG sport package which includes lower front and side body moldings.  So extra care must be taken when pulling into a spot.  I will raise the car using the air suspension system every time I park.

I just pray the front end is adequately repaired.  When I drive up to my brother’s next week for Thanksgiving, I’ll find out.

It really sucks. I hope it’s fixed right. Even with my way cheaper cars i would be a wreck. But I’m curious — if you lusted after it for many years, why buy the BMW a year ago?

Mike I understand completely. It's like somebody abusing your baby. A new car is only perfect until the first ding. Totally emotional and irrational but there it is.

If car buying were perfectly logical we'd all be driving Honda Civics.

Although I suspect some of us would still strive for a little excitement.







Wow, I never EVER thought I would see a 35,000 Civic. I wonder how much they are marking them up over sticker?

Michaell

isellhondas said:

oldfarmer50 said:

suydam said:

abacomike said:

houdini1 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

tjc78 said:

qbrozen said:

oldfarmer50 said:

ab348 said:

@oldfarmer50 , are you sitting down? Brace yourself...

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1990-mercury-grand-marquis/

That's certainly a survivor. Imagine, a 5.0 with 150 hp and 2:73 rear. Must be embarrassing to get your doors blown off by shopping carts. Considering the dried out parts that must need replacing I'd say it's at top bid right now at $1995.

Suprised it has an airbag. My 91 Oldsmobile didn't.

15k "indicated miles" does not mean it has not rolled over once or twice.

90/91 Crown Vics and Grand Marquis are typically known to have bad odometer gears as well. It may not have 115K but could certainly have more than 15k and the gears never fixed

Most Fords got a driver's airbag in 1990

I love those models (an 89 was my first car), but that Woodrose over Brown has got to be the worst color they ever put on them

The odo gears on my 95 Lincoln went at 96k but by that time they didn't make replacements.

Mike, after all you have made it through, you should have just laughed yourself to sleep over a piddling little fender scrape.

Put yourself in my place.  You finally got the car you have lusted over for many, many years.  You have 151 miles on it.  You go to a tint place and an employee not only scrapes the bottom of the left lower fender, but also pulls the bumper away from the fender 2-3 inches.  I was totally crushed!  It was like one of my children was seriously injured so that he couldn’t walk.

Yes - it’s just a car - it can be replaced - but it still hurts real bad.

The Mercedes dealer removed the bumper, replaced some brackets and a chrome piece, and then aligned the lower bumper and replaced it on the car using new clips. I can’t tell if was damaged and all the sensors, cameras and radar beams are operating normally.  The service manager said this happens frequently to cars down here in Florida where 99% of all parking is pull in to a parking stoop.  This S450 has the $6000 AMG sport package which includes lower front and side body moldings.  So extra care must be taken when pulling into a spot.  I will raise the car using the air suspension system every time I park.

I just pray the front end is adequately repaired.  When I drive up to my brother’s next week for Thanksgiving, I’ll find out.

It really sucks. I hope it’s fixed right. Even with my way cheaper cars i would be a wreck. But I’m curious — if you lusted after it for many years, why buy the BMW a year ago?

Mike I understand completely. It's like somebody abusing your baby. A new car is only perfect until the first ding. Totally emotional and irrational but there it is.

If car buying were perfectly logical we'd all be driving Honda Civics.

Although I suspect some of us would still strive for a little excitement.







Wow, I never EVER thought I would see a 35,000 Civic. I wonder how much they are marking them up over sticker?


When they first came out, some dealers were adding $10K or more to the sticker price for the "privilege" of being the first in your city or state to have one.

iluvmysephia1

Man I'm glad I didn't head west of the Cascades to go get my car today. My molar extraction area (lower mouth) is starting to ache, which means I'm fixin' ta take another Vicodin. Next week will work for my salesman and me just fine. Now I'm thinking Thursday, November 23rd will be the day. My title/registration paperwork is firmly in the glove compartment and I'm ready ta go!

I'm not a betting man but I give percentage chances of 2% that the red Scion iA sells by next Thursday. I have been wrong before, though!

oldfarmer50

driver100 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

qbrozen said:

jmonroe said:

Yes, she didn't think a car she just bought should need $1000 worth of repairs. She was very young and didn't realize what "As Is" means. What saved her was when she did get the Carfax report the seller was caught red handed changing the odometer, while he had it in his possession. Although he said he didn't normally sell cars she brought ads that showed he had sold other cars. Another thing in her favor was she texted him that she knew about the odometer being put back and wanted him to rectify, and he completely ignored her.

A lot of people don't understand what "As Is" means. They still think they have some kind of warranty.

Did they arrest him? Or was that not in the script? ;b

What puzzles me is why didn't she research the guy before she bought? She obviously had him nailed afterwards. She proved him a thief and a perjurer under oath. I guess there's no law against lying to a TV judge.

She was a teenager. We are smarter because we have been through similar problems...or, we like cars and we know the difference between no warranty, a warranty, and "sold as is".

She made a huge mistake, probably young and trusting, but, she did her homework and she nailed the fraudster.

Well that explains it. A headstrong teenager figures they know everything. Probably listened to parental advice afterwards.

There was a case around here recently where a young woman got taken by one of the Nigerian princes who haunt CL. Lost $4k on a car that didn't exist. No one to sue so she learned an expensive lesson.

That case always stuck in my mind which is why I post the most outragous CL scam ads from time to time.

stickguy

That’s thanksgiving. So I doubt they are open!

iluvmysephia1

Better scoot that to Friday, November 24th then. I'll text the sales guy to make sure they're open on Friday.

oldfarmer50

iluvmysephia1 said:

Man I'm glad I didn't head west of the Cascades to go get my car today. My molar extraction area (lower mouth) is starting to ache, which means I'm fixin' ta take another Vicodin. Next week will work for my salesman and me just fine. Now I'm thinking Thursday, November 23rd will be the day. My title/registration paperwork is firmly in the glove compartment and I'm ready ta go!

I'm not a betting man but I give percentage chances of 2% that the red Scion iA sells by next Thursday. I have been wrong before, though!

Don't let that worry you or the salesman will see it and suddenly that unsaleable standard shift becomes a rare desirable standard shift.

jmonroe

driver100 said:

I distinctly heard you say the money was for family members Christmas gifts. :@

jmonroe

Be careful what you say, JMonroe has a really good memory. I feel sorry for his wife, if she did something wrong 27 years ago he probably still reminds her about it.

NO I WON'T.

jmonroe

jmonroe

abacomike said:

dino001 said:

abacomike said:

Not quite - my monthly payments on the 740i were $384 per month with 5 years remaining on the loan.  So the car was depreciating faster than the value of the payments.  By the end of the loan, the car would be six years old and would be worth $22,500 give or take, if I was lucky.

Look - I leased a car with a huge cap cost reduction to get to $600 a month + tax - something my monthly income could handle, without having to withdraw money from my bank - but will be able to deposit $8200 into my accounts.

So you did have a real estate loan on the 740 BTW, if you had taken the entire equity out, you'd be able to deposit whole 30 grand on your account and supply the difference in payments out of that. You'd have to pay extra interest (money factor) on that amount, which is not totally a chicken fee (about 25-30 bucks, if I get your numbers right). Much better use of that money might have been multiple security deposit (unlike BMW, Mercedes still has it), which would have lowered your interest and you'd get it back at the end of the lease. Admittedly, the monthly payment would have been higher.

As I mentioned the biggest drawback of putting money down on the lease (as opposed a loan), is the depreciation risk in case of a total loss. Leases are automatically GAP insured, so if such a thing happened on zero down lease, the GAP insurance would have picked up any difference between the cash value paid by your car insurance and the remaining lease value, you'd only owe the deductible and kept the remainder of 30 grand in your account. If, on the other hand, the car gets totalled in your current financing structure, you'd likely see a very small fraction of that money back. The reduction is so large that I think it's unlikely you'd see nothing, but the bank would make everything to not to part with the money it already collected from you. And you'll still owe the deductible, as order of payments would be: your insurance at cash value minus deductible, your deductible, whatever remains is covered your cap reduction, fees, then whatever is left - you. None of that matters of course, if you don't have an accident. This is just a risk management exercise.

I think your "annual" rollups are truly over, Mike. Whatever equity you had, you just volunteered to give away. Unless you find another magic way to break the lease without paying penalties and find some more couch money to put down, your next payments for those expensive toys will likely skyrocket to $1500-2000. Or next car you're getting is a Fusion or Focus

dino001 said:

abacomike said:

Not quite - my monthly payments on the 740i were $384 per month with 5 years remaining on the loan.  So the car was depreciating faster than the value of the payments.  By the end of the loan, the car would be six years old and would be worth $22,500 give or take, if I was lucky.

Look - I leased a car with a huge cap cost reduction to get to $600 a month + tax - something my monthly income could handle, without having to withdraw money from my bank - but will be able to deposit $8200 into my accounts.

So you did have a real estate loan on the 740 BTW, if you had taken the entire equity out, you'd be able to deposit whole 30 grand on your account and supply the difference in payments out of that. You'd have to pay extra interest (money factor) on that amount, which is not totally a chicken fee (about 25-30 bucks, if I get your numbers right). Much better use of that money might have been multiple security deposit (unlike BMW, Mercedes still has it), which would have lowered your interest and you'd get it back at the end of the lease. Admittedly, the monthly payment would have been higher.

As I mentioned the biggest drawback of putting money down on the lease (as opposed a loan), is the depreciation risk in case of a total loss. Leases are automatically GAP insured, so if such a thing happened on zero down lease, the GAP insurance would have picked up any difference between the cash value paid by your car insurance and the remaining lease value, you'd only owe the deductible and kept the remainder of 30 grand in your account. If, on the other hand, the car gets totalled in your current financing structure, you'd likely see a very small fraction of that money back. The reduction is so large that I think it's unlikely you'd see nothing, but the bank would make everything to not to part with the money it already collected from you. And you'll still owe the deductible, as order of payments would be: your insurance at cash value minus deductible, your deductible, whatever remains is covered your cap reduction, fees, then whatever is left - you. None of that matters of course, if you don't have an accident. This is just a risk management exercise.

I think your "annual" rollups are truly over, Mike. Whatever equity you had, you just volunteered to give away. Unless you find another magic way to break the lease without paying penalties and find some more couch money to put down, your next payments for those expensive toys will likely skyrocket to $1500-2000. Or next car you're getting is a Fusion or Focus

I agree, Dino.  My yearly purchases are over with - which is a plus.  I need to learn to be happy with what I have.  I’m so buried in this lease that not even an undertaker could exhume a deal on a new car next year.

Maybe so but I'm pretty sure we will find out how you did it.

jmonroe

houdini1

dino001 said:

abacomike said:

Not quite - my monthly payments on the 740i were $384 per month with 5 years remaining on the loan.  So the car was depreciating faster than the value of the payments.  By the end of the loan, the car would be six years old and would be worth $22,500 give or take, if I was lucky.

Look - I leased a car with a huge cap cost reduction to get to $600 a month + tax - something my monthly income could handle, without having to withdraw money from my bank - but will be able to deposit $8200 into my accounts.

So you did have a real estate loan on the 740 BTW, if you had taken the entire equity out, you'd be able to deposit whole 30 grand on your account and supply the difference in payments out of that. You'd have to pay extra interest (money factor) on that amount, which is not totally a chicken fee (about 25-30 bucks, if I get your numbers right). Much better use of that money might have been multiple security deposit (unlike BMW, Mercedes still has it), which would have lowered your interest and you'd get it back at the end of the lease. Admittedly, the monthly payment would have been higher.

As I mentioned the biggest drawback of putting money down on the lease (as opposed a loan), is the depreciation risk in case of a total loss. Leases are automatically GAP insured, so if such a thing happened on zero down lease, the GAP insurance would have picked up any difference between the cash value paid by your car insurance and the remaining lease value, you'd only owe the deductible and kept the remainder of 30 grand in your account. If, on the other hand, the car gets totalled in your current financing structure, you'd likely see a very small fraction of that money back. The reduction is so large that I think it's unlikely you'd see nothing, but the bank would make everything to not to part with the money it already collected from you. And you'll still owe the deductible, as order of payments would be: your insurance at cash value minus deductible, your deductible, whatever remains is covered your cap reduction, fees, then whatever is left - you. None of that matters of course, if you don't have an accident. This is just a risk management exercise.

I think your "annual" rollups are truly over, Mike. Whatever equity you had, you just volunteered to give away. Unless you find another magic way to break the lease without paying penalties and find some more couch money to put down, your next payments for those expensive toys will likely skyrocket to $1500-2000. Or next car you're getting is a Fusion or Focus

...Or maybe he will just pay cash for the next one. This made sense to Mike, so I don't know why you keep beating a dead horse about someone else's finances. This is a done deal and nothing is going to change that.

jwm40517

The new Civics are far different and more expensive than my new 84 Civic that cost $5500 .

iluvmysephia1

Have any of you ever used TrueCar to buy a new car? They're telling me I can buy a new 2018 Toyota Yaris iA for only $13,921. If that is true, why buy used? That's for the manual transmission, of course.

https://www.truecar.com/dash/1510954553125-306074/market/

qbrozen

yes, i have.

Well, OK, maybe not for the ACTUAL purchase, but I have used the data to get dealers to match it.

iluvmysephia1

Wow. That's what I was considering paying for my used '16 Scion iA over in Everett. I might just go that route. It got you a much lower price? I'd get the new car Warranty. And that new car smell, too.

breld

@iluvmysephia1 - yup, like qbrozen, I've used truecar to negotiate a price and there's hardly a reason for a dealership to not match it.

So that sounds like a much better way to go for you at that price.

isellhondas

iluvmysephia1 said:

Better scoot that to Friday, November 24th then. I'll text the sales guy to make sure they're open on Friday.

Oh, they will be open! The day after Thanksgiving will be a madhouse! Go early!

Michaell

May I suggest that we call a moratorium on Mike's lease deal.

It's done, he's happy, and he's driving a car that would take any three of us together to find the money to budget for it.

abacomike

Michaell said:

May I suggest that we call a moratorium on Mike's lease deal. It's done, he's happy, and he's driving a car that would take any three of us together to find the money to budget for it.

Thank you Michaell, I was getting a bit overwhelmed with some of the posts.  

dino001

abacomike said:

I agree, Dino.  My yearly purchases are over with - which is a plus.  I need to learn to be happy with what I have.  I’m so buried in this lease that not even an undertaker could exhume a deal on a new car next year.

As it was pointed out to me, I wrote what I wrote in an overly blunt language. I did not mean to rain on your parade, but I guess, I volunteered my opinion a little too eagerly. I appreciate your gracious response, Mike. And again - apologize for my lack of sensitivity.

iluvmysephia1

Guys - TrueCar is the way ta go! Why wouldn't I use that service and buy a new 2018 Toyota Yaris iA? I'd pay $13,921 for a '18 Toyota 6-speed Yaris iA and get a new car Warranty and I might want some sort of maintenance plan, might not. 

abacomike

said:

I agree, Dino.  My yearly purchases are over with - which is a plus.  I need to learn to be happy with what I have.  I’m so buried in this lease that not even an undertaker could exhume a deal on a new car next year.

As it was pointed out to me, I wrote what I wrote in an overly blunt language. I did not mean to rain on your parade, but I guess, I volunteered my opinion a little too eagerly. I appreciate your gracious response, Mike. And again - apologize for my lack of sensitivity.

Dino, you have always been direct and blunt with your opinions - but I wouldn’t want it any other way!  

tjc78

stickguy said:

That’s thanksgiving. So I doubt they are open!

Someone in the office today called a pretty important meeting, with a lot of the top brass... on Thursday. 

I quickly called and was like .. you realized that’s Thanksgiving.  Wittingly .. he says; “what you aren’t going to be here?”   

driver100

Michaell said:

isellhondas said:

oldfarmer50 said:

suydam said:

abacomike said:

houdini1 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

tjc78 said:

qbrozen said:

oldfarmer50 said:

ab348 said:

@oldfarmer50 , are you sitting down? Brace yourself...

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1990-mercury-grand-marquis/

That's certainly a survivor. Imagine, a 5.0 with 150 hp and 2:73 rear. Must be embarrassing to get your doors blown off by shopping carts. Considering the dried out parts that must need replacing I'd say it's at top bid right now at $1995.

Suprised it has an airbag. My 91 Oldsmobile didn't.

15k "indicated miles" does not mean it has not rolled over once or twice.

90/91 Crown Vics and Grand Marquis are typically known to have bad odometer gears as well. It may not have 115K but could certainly have more than 15k and the gears never fixed

Most Fords got a driver's airbag in 1990

I love those models (an 89 was my first car), but that Woodrose over Brown has got to be the worst color they ever put on them

The odo gears on my 95 Lincoln went at 96k but by that time they didn't make replacements.

Mike, after all you have made it through, you should have just laughed yourself to sleep over a piddling little fender scrape.

Put yourself in my place.  You finally got the car you have lusted over for many, many years.  You have 151 miles on it.  You go to a tint place and an employee not only scrapes the bottom of the left lower fender, but also pulls the bumper away from the fender 2-3 inches.  I was totally crushed!  It was like one of my children was seriously injured so that he couldn’t walk.

Yes - it’s just a car - it can be replaced - but it still hurts real bad.

The Mercedes dealer removed the bumper, replaced some brackets and a chrome piece, and then aligned the lower bumper and replaced it on the car using new clips. I can’t tell if was damaged and all the sensors, cameras and radar beams are operating normally.  The service manager said this happens frequently to cars down here in Florida where 99% of all parking is pull in to a parking stoop.  This S450 has the $6000 AMG sport package which includes lower front and side body moldings.  So extra care must be taken when pulling into a spot.  I will raise the car using the air suspension system every time I park.

I just pray the front end is adequately repaired.  When I drive up to my brother’s next week for Thanksgiving, I’ll find out.

It really sucks. I hope it’s fixed right. Even with my way cheaper cars i would be a wreck. But I’m curious — if you lusted after it for many years, why buy the BMW a year ago?

Mike I understand completely. It's like somebody abusing your baby. A new car is only perfect until the first ding. Totally emotional and irrational but there it is.

If car buying were perfectly logical we'd all be driving Honda Civics.

Although I suspect some of us would still strive for a little excitement.

Wow, I never EVER thought I would see a 35,000 Civic. I wonder how much they are marking them up over sticker?


When they first came out, some dealers were adding $10K or more to the sticker price for the "privilege" of being the first in your city or state to have one.


I wouldn't buy one if they gave me a $10000 discount under sticker.

For about $35k it is something a little unique and wild and crazy, if you are into wild and crazy.

explorerx4

@dino001,
Your numbers analysis is just what we want you to post.
We're not a bunch of snowflakes.

suydam

iluvmysephia1 said:

Wow. That's what I was considering paying for my used '16 Scion iA over in Everett. I might just go that route. It got you a much lower price? I'd get the new car Warranty. And that new car smell, too.

Which one is a better vehicle?

oldfarmer50

driver100 said:

Michaell said:

isellhondas said:

oldfarmer50 said:

suydam said:

abacomike said:

houdini1 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

tjc78 said:

qbrozen said:

oldfarmer50 said:

ab348 said:

@oldfarmer50 , are you sitting down? Brace yourself...

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1990-mercury-grand-marquis/

That's certainly a survivor. Imagine, a 5.0 with 150 hp and 2:73 rear. Must be embarrassing to get your doors blown off by shopping carts. Considering the dried out parts that must need replacing I'd say it's at top bid right now at $1995.

Suprised it has an airbag. My 91 Oldsmobile didn't.

15k "indicated miles" does not mean it has not rolled over once or twice.

90/91 Crown Vics and Grand Marquis are typically known to have bad odometer gears as well. It may not have 115K but could certainly have more than 15k and the gears never fixed

Most Fords got a driver's airbag in 1990

I love those models (an 89 was my first car), but that Woodrose over Brown has got to be the worst color they ever put on them

The odo gears on my 95 Lincoln went at 96k but by that time they didn't make replacements.

Mike, after all you have made it through, you should have just laughed yourself to sleep over a piddling little fender scrape.

Put yourself in my place.  You finally got the car you have lusted over for many, many years.  You have 151 miles on it.  You go to a tint place and an employee not only scrapes the bottom of the left lower fender, but also pulls the bumper away from the fender 2-3 inches.  I was totally crushed!  It was like one of my children was seriously injured so that he couldn’t walk.

Yes - it’s just a car - it can be replaced - but it still hurts real bad.

The Mercedes dealer removed the bumper, replaced some brackets and a chrome piece, and then aligned the lower bumper and replaced it on the car using new clips. I can’t tell if was damaged and all the sensors, cameras and radar beams are operating normally.  The service manager said this happens frequently to cars down here in Florida where 99% of all parking is pull in to a parking stoop.  This S450 has the $6000 AMG sport package which includes lower front and side body moldings.  So extra care must be taken when pulling into a spot.  I will raise the car using the air suspension system every time I park.

I just pray the front end is adequately repaired.  When I drive up to my brother’s next week for Thanksgiving, I’ll find out.

It really sucks. I hope it’s fixed right. Even with my way cheaper cars i would be a wreck. But I’m curious — if you lusted after it for many years, why buy the BMW a year ago?

Mike I understand completely. It's like somebody abusing your baby. A new car is only perfect until the first ding. Totally emotional and irrational but there it is.

If car buying were perfectly logical we'd all be driving Honda Civics.

Although I suspect some of us would still strive for a little excitement.

Wow, I never EVER thought I would see a 35,000 Civic. I wonder how much they are marking them up over sticker?

When they first came out, some dealers were adding $10K or more to the sticker price for the "privilege" of being the first in your city or state to have one.


I wouldn't buy one if they gave me a $10000 discount under sticker.

For about $35k it is something a little unique and wild and crazy, if you are into wild and crazy.

But for that price (not to mention the ADM) you could buy a Mustang GT. that's like when I had a wild idea about buying a Fiat convertible until I realized what i would be getting for $25k.

dino001

driver100 said:

I wouldn't buy one if they gave me a $10000 discount under sticker.

For about $35k it is something a little unique and wild and crazy, if you are into wild and crazy.

How about 50 grand, Driver? My local Brandon dealer thinks that the right price for Civic R with a few accessories. But he’s been thinking it for last month or so and no buyers.

stickguy

iluvmysephia1 said:

Have any of you ever used TrueCar to buy a new car? They're telling me I can buy a new 2018 Toyota Yaris iA for only $13,921. If that is true, why buy used? That's for the manual transmission, of course.

https://www.truecar.com/dash/1510954553125-306074/market/

yes, I just did for my elantra. Put the request through, got better prices than I already had, and took the deal. Clean and simple. So submit the request, and get the ticket back.

And gee, I seem to recall someone suggesting that the new version was a better deal at only of a few thousand dollars more...

stickguy

ILuv, I think you can skip the maintenance/warranty plan on one of these.

suydam, I believe it is the same car, just called a a Toyota now instead of a Scion.

jmonroe

iluvmysephia1 said:

Have any of you ever used TrueCar to buy a new car? They're telling me I can buy a new 2018 Toyota Yaris iA for only $13,921. If that is true, why buy used? That's for the manual transmission, of course.

https://www.truecar.com/dash/1510954553125-306074/market/

Hey 'iluv', let me throw a wrench into your car search.

Why not see what True Car can do for you with your previous love, the Impreza. It is vastly superior for Winter driving with or without snow tires so there is a savings there too. Plus you'll be able to go see your sister more often without worrying about wintery roads, another thing to consider. Bet you never thought of that stuff, huh?

Don't settle for a wannabe. I can tell you gobs about how that turns out.

jmonroe

driver100

explorerx4 said:

@dino001,
Your numbers analysis is just what we want you to post.
We're not a bunch of snowflakes.

+1
I like and appreciate the analysis.
But, a car is an emotional purchase, so it doesn't always make sense dollars and cents wise...in fact, it almost never makes sense unless you are an extremely practical person and don't really care about cars.

driver100

Don't settle for a wannabe. I can tell you gobs about how that turns out.

jmonroe

We aren't calling it a wannabe anymore....it is a fake car!

fordfool

graphicguy said:

But, I know what my son makes, and am confident his friends are all in the ballpark of his salary (all of them in IT). They aren’t anywhere near the salaries I would consider comfortable with a four figure car payment.

They are leasing Audis and BMWs in that 4 figure range. That said, they are living in crappy apartments in shaky neighborhoods, too.

Audis and BMWs probably parked on the street in "shaky neighborhoods."
Not the greatest of ideas. Street parking also jacks up the comprehensive premium.

explorerx4

@driver100.
I think of myself as a fairly practical person and I care enough about cars to own the same one for over 26 years.

dino001

explorerx4 said:

@driver100.
I think of myself as a fairly practical person and I care enough about cars to own the same one for over 26 years.

I think it’s perfectly ok to be emotional (right brain) on what car one wants to buy, when and how often. Left brain should contribute, but it could take the back seat. Hovewer, it’s better to let the left brain figure out what is the best scheme to finance that decision and keep the right brain out of it as much as possible.

stickguy

well, some of us only have half a brain according to their wives...

actually, getting what you want, and being impractical, and getting an emotional attachment does not always mean spending a fortune or blowing a budget. Making giving up a bit of expected reliability, or some measure of practicality, sure. But you can have "fun" or get a smile on your face and stay within budget.

jmonroe

driver100 said:

Don't settle for a wannabe. I can tell you gobs about how that turns out.

jmonroe

We aren't calling it a wannabe anymore....it is a fake car!

It's a "wannabe"...got it? :@ :@

jmonroe

roadburner

This weekend marks 22 years since I took delivery of my Club Sport. Time flies...

stickguy

the new small Genny model coming out in the spring (3 series fighter?) could be a strong wannbe here!

iluvmysephia1

2017 Toyota Yaris iA 6-speed manual Stealth

MSRP: $16,835
2017 Toyota Yaris iA
Manual
VIN: 3MYDLBYV6HY196131
Guaranteed
Savings off MSRP
$2,266 Total Before Tax
$14,719

Hey, guys, I've got my first offer. It's on a Stealth (black) 2017 Toyota Yaris iA. I am now a TrueCar member so I get the discounts given members. Plus Toyota is giving $2,000 cash back on 2017 iA's. I like this deal and I love this car. My salesman e-mailed me the above quote(about 8:00PM)just before he left the office. I told him to text me only and he said fine. Some of you might remember that the Stealthy black was the color of the iA I was going to Denver to buy that the dealer told me "just sold 1/2-hour before you got here." To their credit they were trying to call me - I had my phone laying there on the lower console of the '11 Kia Soul and didn't pick it up.

This TrueCar is the bomb, man. If they can handle my trade fairly we could have a deal soon. I have to go to work tomorrow night so this deal will have to wait until Wednesday as I work Sat. - Mon. nights and have to sleep on Tuesday during the day. On Wednesday I have to go to the doctor in Wenatchee early (9:45). Heck, I could drive to the Tri after the doctor I spose, so Wednesday will work. 2 hours 12 minutes yes, I could do that! I can't beat that price of $14,719. That's for a brand new stick shift 2017 Toyota Yaris iA.

For comparison sake, this is what I paid for my first new car in the spring of 1994, it was a brilliant blue 1994 Ford Escort SW. Automatic transmission, though. Yukko!

Michaell

iluvmysephia1 said:

2017 Toyota Yaris iA 6-speed manual Stealth

MSRP: $16,835
2017 Toyota Yaris iA
Manual
VIN: 3MYDLBYV6HY196131
Guaranteed
Savings off MSRP
$2,266 Total Before Tax
$14,719

Hey, guys, I've got my first offer. It's on a Stealth (black) 2017 Toyota Yaris iA. I am now a TrueCar member so I get the discounts given members. Plus Toyota is giving $2,000 cash back on 2017 iA's. I like this deal and I love this car. My salesman e-mailed me the above quote(about 8:00PM)just before he left the office. I told him to text me only and he said fine. Some of you might remember that the Stealthy black was the color of the iA I was going to Denver to buy that the dealer told me "just sold 1/2-hour before you got here." To their credit they were trying to call me - I had my phone laying there on the lower console of the '11 Kia Soul and didn't pick it up.

This TrueCar is the bomb, man. If they can handle my trade fairly we could have a deal soon. I have to go to work tomorrow night so this deal will have to wait until Wednesday as I work Sat. - Mon. nights and have to sleep on Tuesday during the day. On Wednesday I have to go to the doctor in Wenatchee early (9:45). Heck, I could drive to the Tri after the doctor I spose, so Wednesday will work. 2 hours 12 minutes yes, I could do that! I can't beat that price of $14,719. That's for a brand new stick shift 2017 Toyota Yaris iA.

For comparison sake, this is what I paid for my first new car in the spring of 1994, it was a brilliant blue 1994 Ford Escort SW. Automatic transmission, though. Yukko!

Best of luck, iluv.

For what it's worth, $14,500 in 1994 is about $23,800 today, factoring in inflation.

iluvmysephia1

Michaell, that means I'm getting that much better of a deal on my '17 Toyota Yaris iA than on my '94 Ford Escort SW. Because I actually paid $23,800 in 1994 for my wagon.

Or, looking at it differently, I am not paying $23,800 for my 2017 Toyota Yaris iA, I'm only paying $14,719.

oldfarmer50

driver100 said:

Don't settle for a wannabe. I can tell you gobs about how that turns out.

jmonroe

We aren't calling it a wannabe anymore....it is a fake car!

I thought it was a throw away.

oldfarmer50

roadburner said:

This weekend marks 22 years since I took delivery of my Club Sport. Time flies...

That style still looks good.

qbrozen

iluvmysephia1 said:

2017 Toyota Yaris iA 6-speed manual Stealth MSRP: $16,835 2017 Toyota Yaris iA Manual VIN: 3MYDLBYV6HY196131 Guaranteed Savings off MSRP $2,266 Total Before Tax $14,719 Hey, guys, I've got my first offer. It's on a Stealth (black) 2017 Toyota Yaris iA. I am now a TrueCar member so I get the discounts given members. Plus Toyota is giving $2,000 cash back on 2017 iA's. I like this deal and I love this car. My salesman e-mailed me the above quote(about 8:00PM)just before he left the office. I told him to text me only and he said fine. Some of you might remember that the Stealthy black was the color of the iA I was going to Denver to buy that the dealer told me "just sold 1/2-hour before you got here." To their credit they were trying to call me - I had my phone laying there on the lower console of the '11 Kia Soul and didn't pick it up. This TrueCar is the bomb, man. If they can handle my trade fairly we could have a deal soon. I have to go to work tomorrow night so this deal will have to wait until Wednesday as I work Sat. - Mon. nights and have to sleep on Tuesday during the day. On Wednesday I have to go to the doctor in Wenatchee early (9:45). Heck, I could drive to the Tri after the doctor I spose, so Wednesday will work. 2 hours 12 minutes yes, I could do that! I can't beat that price of $14,719. That's for a brand new stick shift 2017 Toyota Yaris iA. For comparison sake, this is what I paid for my first new car in the spring of 1994, it was a brilliant blue 1994 Ford Escort SW. Automatic transmission, though. Yukko!

So Toyota has $2k cash back and his total discount is $2266? Only $266 discount on his part?

iluvmysephia1

And gee, I seem to recall someone suggesting that the new version was a better deal at only of a few thousand dollars more...

stick - that's cool that breld and you have used TrueCar. It would definitely make more sense to use TrueCar and buy a new 2017 Toyota Yaris iA. I'd get the Warranty on it, which is something I was not feeling good about if I drove to Everett and bought the 2016 Scion iA. Plus, as driver pointed out, with this now being a new car loan I should get a lower interest rate.

After sleeping hard on this for the past 5 hours ( )I still want to look in to it. Our debt-to-income ratio is quite stealthy and this car purchase will not affect a home purchase in 5 or 6 months. That is something I just googled and figured out. I guess mortgage lenders don't figure your current rent in to your debt-to-income ratio. So we just have the small Soul monthly payment and a really small credit card balance to divide in to my gross income. Our DIR is really small. So I answered this question myself - the Yaris iA purchase won't affect our home search at all in the coming months. My car payment will go up but I already figured that in to my calculations. So this is a go. I'll talk to the car salesman by text today and tell him the day I'm coming over, which is Wednesday mid-afternoon. I will ask about getting one in the Pulse (red) color, however, that won't stop me from getting the black one if they can't find one in Pulse.

I remember wanting the Stealth (black) iA in the rootin' - shootin' Dodge City days and could easily see myself obsessing over the black paint job.