Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

oldfarmer50

tbirdmarco said:

 Anyone doing any car looking this weekend Presidents weekend? 

I'm always looking but sadly it's just window shopping.

fordfool

driver100 said:

911 tells him to use emergency brake. Those are now called parking brakes and they won't help. Best to put car in neutral and turn off key.

Many years ago a friend was taking his driving test for the second time. He had finished the test feeling that he had done fairly well when the instructor said "Apply the hand brake." (Don't know whether that oversight was sufficient for a Fail.) But my buddy had a bigger problem; he had no clue what a "hand" brake was. Finally, in desperation, he reached down and touched the foot brake with his hand.

Had the instructor asked him to apply the "emergency" brake or the "parking" brake, he would have been okay, but he had never heard it called a hand brake, particularly since it was foot operated.

He did pass on his third go-around.

oldfarmer50

isellhondas said:

qbrozen said:

isellhondas said:

Looking for an appropriate auto sales job is not as easy as one might think. Seems like (and of course it makes sense once you think about it) many of the available positions that DON'T require previous experience are stores you really don't want to work at. For example, I came upon an internet sales role that sounded promising... until I realized where it is, which is a dealer we visited once a couple of years ago where we were presented a sales contract at full asking price PLUS a $1k "dealer prep fee." We obviously exited quickly.

I've tagged a few possibilities at this point. A VW dealer that I have been to only twice: once just browsing the lot and nobody came out to see me and the other time to turn in my TDI (turn-in was fine but a salesperson behind the front desk was quite rude when he found out I didn't need a replacement vehicle). A Chevy dealer I never even heard of, but the ad mentions sales and entry-level finance, so that's interesting. The third is with an internet aftermarket parts site. I'd imagine the pay there is quite limited.

Still not totally sold on the whole idea. Doing something new and different and that obviously incorporates something I love is exciting. But trolling for customers and dealing with difficult people goes with the territory and would get old very quick. Oh, not to mention the crazy hours.

The store you choose will be the most important thing you do. I got very lucky. You want to look for a family owned store if you can find one with a long standing good reputation. Check the Yelp reviews but remember there will always be some bad ones. Feel free to call me if you would like or email me and I can fill you full of information.
Craig

I absolutely agree. If I go to check any places out that I'm not familiar with, I would walk if I see ADM and dealer added equipment stickers on all the windows or salespeople using 4-squares, for example. Thank you for your offer, Craig. I actually was already figuring I'd bother you if I had any questions. 
My wife asked me if I knew any successful salesman who were also car guys. I explained I recall just a handful because I think it is a very rare breed, but only 1 was still active on the boards, and he retired and said the biz was getting to him in the end. 

You might do a lot of walking. Most stores will add popular add ons such as wheel locks and all season mats to the sticker. Two reasons for this. Of course a little extra profit and the second reason is that most people want these items anyway. As far as a four square, we never called the forms we used "four squares" but we used a form that had four different sections to make it easy. Price, trade, down payment etc. ALL stores have to use something like that. DO NOT go to work in a Liner-Closer store. That's where Mr. Friendly the Liner meets you with a smile and attempts to get you focused "on" a car. Then the Closer comes in nd does his best to make the sale. When my son bought his Jeep Wrangler a few years ago, they didn't know who they were messing with and they sent in FOUR separate closers. Finally I had had enough and I came clean as to my background. i finally told them. " This is what we are willing to pay...I want a YES or a NO. I do NOT want another "manager" This place was a typical car dealership part of a big group! Yes, he bought his Wrangler and he still loves it1 I think it is the most uncomfortable, underpowered, primitive POS I have ever been in but I don't have to drive it everyday! I don't get the excitement. They do have tremendous resale too. It was a Seller's Market and I knew it at the time.



Funny, the horrendous experience my in-laws had was at a Chrysler-Jeep dealer. The old 4 square and everything.

I drove a Jeep Wrangler the other day and I agree it's very primitive. Used prices are nuts.

explorerx4

@marco.
My current truck is a cab and a half(supercab). I am looking at double cabs(super crew).
The overall truck is the same length, but a foot is taken out of the bed and added to the passenger compartment.

driver100

tbirdmarco said:

 Of the Moxie styling of those G wagons to remind me of the last generation jeep commander and liberty 

Good point Marco........there is some similarity, I think the Commander....Liberty is rounder.

fintail

My E also has this feature. I have never used it, and am pretty leery of it. I seldom have to parallel park, so it isn't a big deal, and I look at parallel parking as a skill one should take just a little pride in. I've also always assumed my car would ram the Bentley behind me and Ferrari in front of me, then drive away on its own

abacomike said:

Just got back from my appointment with my Mercedes dealer’s concierge - or what BMW calls their genius.  She is the “guru” of each model’s technology.  The reason for my appointment?  I had reached the level of technology knowledge necessary to learn how to use the parallel and the perpendicular self-parking feature on my S450

qbrozen

oldfarmer50 said:

 Anyone doing any car looking this weekend Presidents weekend? 

I'm always looking but sadly it's just window shopping.

My aunt has requested my shopping help on Monday. She has yet to answer my long list of questions to narrow down what she may be looking to buy. She merely said "used suv."

stickguy

Send her out with Marco's mom. they can have lunch and browse the lots together.

abacomike

qbrozen said:

oldfarmer50 said:

 Anyone doing any car looking this weekend Presidents weekend? 

I'm always looking but sadly it's just window shopping.

My aunt has requested my shopping help on Monday. She has yet to answer my long list of questions to narrow down what she may be looking to buy. She merely said "used suv."

She’ll know what she wants when she sees/drives it.  Unfortunately, you are the one who is going to have to suffer through this debacle.  Pray she sees what she wants quickly! 

tbirdmarco

 Stick my true they should go together Ha ha ha we both don’t know what they want sounds like ha ha Ha if you’re up to me I have in mind what she should get but not my money so try not to push too hard just to change it up next time around will see we got a couple a month maybe can convince her to do a few test drives tomorrow we shall see you be good luck with helping your aunt on Monday can’t wait to hear all about it 

tbirdmarco

 Explore for not you still have a bigger cam in a little shorter. on your next truck cool cool what color are you looking to get what color is your current truck? 

tbirdmarco

 Thank you driver 100 true I can’t see it but the liberty might be a little rounder in comparison to the commander in the G wagon 

tbirdmarco

 All former 50 I do the same I want of looking but I really won’t really buy anything else maybe another old car down the road to head to the collection Ha ha ha which is one right now crazy experience that your in-laws had with the jeep dealer there’s a jeep dealer over here near me that’s horrible I’ve had experience with them if you years ago total game players but then there’s a Nother jeep dealer that we deal with that we dealt with last year which is awesome in comparison you just never 

Michaell

abacomike said:

qbrozen said:

oldfarmer50 said:

tbirdmarco said:

 Anyone doing any car looking this weekend Presidents weekend? 

I'm always looking but sadly it's just window shopping.

My aunt has requested my shopping help on Monday. She has yet to answer my long list of questions to narrow down what she may be looking to buy. She merely said "used suv."

She’ll know what she wants when she sees/drives it.  Unfortunately, you are the one who is going to have to suffer through this debacle.  Pray she sees what she wants quickly! 

CarMax as your first stop?

driver100

Michaell said:

abacomike said:

qbrozen said:

oldfarmer50 said:

tbirdmarco said:

 Anyone doing any car looking this weekend Presidents weekend? 

I'm always looking but sadly it's just window shopping.

My aunt has requested my shopping help on Monday. She has yet to answer my long list of questions to narrow down what she may be looking to buy. She merely said "used suv."

She’ll know what she wants when she sees/drives it.  Unfortunately, you are the one who is going to have to suffer through this debacle.  Pray she sees what she wants quickly! 

CarMax as your first stop?

I can't imagine taking someone out to find a used SUV....and they have no idea what they want! Probably a Car Max or a large dealer would be a good start, have to find out size and the features the person wants. Also, the budget. It could be a fun experience, or a very frustrating day....good luck!

oldfarmer50

explorerx4 said:

@marco.
My current truck is a cab and a half(supercab). I am looking at double cabs(super crew).
The overall truck is the same length, but a foot is taken out of the bed and added to the passenger compartment.

I drove one of those and it was like being inside your living room. Drove almost car-like. Definitely get running boards as the step in height is huge. Nothing like my old 1985 F-150. Also bring a suitcase to carry the $70k purchase price.

oldfarmer50

qbrozen said:

oldfarmer50 said:

tbirdmarco said:

 Anyone doing any car looking this weekend Presidents weekend? 

I'm always looking but sadly it's just window shopping.

My aunt has requested my shopping help on Monday. She has yet to answer my long list of questions to narrow down what she may be looking to buy. She merely said "used suv."

Be ready to quantify "cute".

explorerx4

@oldfarmer50,
I kind of feel like I'm dealing from some strength since I already have an F150. 25+ years ago, I had an 83 F150 and the new trucks are nothing like the trucks from back then.

tbirdmarco

 Driver 100 agreed with your comment above 

tbirdmarco

 Back in 2005 with Loni use 85 F1 50 V6 truck kept it for a year credit for $700 ticket was for me church him to good use my brother drove it billy six cylinder with the carburetor 

Mr_Shiftright

driver100 said:

Left or right outer front wheel bearing?

jmonroe

What difference does it make to the story...would the outer be funnier?

As I recall it was a fairly large bearing.

A turbo PT Cruiser GT might be bearable with 230 HP or so. You can also get the Flame edition or the Woody.

They are REALLY cheap out here in California, although I do see a lot of (ahem) 'mechanic's specials out there in the sub $1000 range. Seems like you can buy a very decent one for $2000--$2500.

tbirdmarco

Would be cool 

snakeweasel

roadburner said:

snakeweasel said:

Gas tends to go bad in well under a year so unless you are using a gas stabilizer I would use the gas up a lot faster.

I can count on one hand the number of times one of us has run the battery down far enough to activate the gas motor; the car is designed to start and run the engine for a ten minute "Maintenance Cycle" every 90 days or so if it has not been activated. As a matter of fact, the only reason I filled it up the second time was because the Maintenance Cycle wouldn't start because the tank was down to 50%(one gallon).

Ok that's all well and good but the fact remains that gas has a rather short shelf life and will start to go bad after 3 or 4 months unless you have a stabilizer added to it. And a stabilizer only extends the life about a year or so. I would seriously consider using a stabilizer in the gas.

imidazol97

driver100 said:

Good point Marco........there is some similarity, I think the Commander....Liberty is rounder.

Reminds me of a Hummer.

qbrozen

oldfarmer50 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

 Anyone doing any car looking this weekend Presidents weekend? 

I'm always looking but sadly it's just window shopping.

My aunt has requested my shopping help on Monday. She has yet to answer my long list of questions to narrow down what she may be looking to buy. She merely said "used suv."

Be ready to quantify "cute".

I'm wondering what is going on here. This is really cheap and good carfax. This place is typically $4k-$5k over auction and doesn't negotiate. This one is priced only about $1k over. Hmmmm...
https://www.autolenders.com/used-car-inventory/Honda-CR-V-EH605541

oldfarmer50

Mr_Shiftright said:

driver100 said:

Left or right outer front wheel bearing?

jmonroe

What difference does it make to the story...would the outer be funnier?

As I recall it was a fairly large bearing.

A turbo PT Cruiser GT might be bearable with 230 HP or so. You can also get the Flame edition or the Woody.

They are REALLY cheap out here in California, although I do see a lot of (ahem) 'mechanic's specials out there in the sub $1000 range. Seems like you can buy a very decent one for $2000--$2500.


PTs are notorious for weak wheel bearings and various bushings. I replaced the lower control arm bushings on mine around 30k miles.

oldfarmer50

qbrozen said:

oldfarmer50 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

 Anyone doing any car looking this weekend Presidents weekend? 

I'm always looking but sadly it's just window shopping.

My aunt has requested my shopping help on Monday. She has yet to answer my long list of questions to narrow down what she may be looking to buy. She merely said "used suv."

Be ready to quantify "cute".



I'm wondering what is going on here. This is really cheap and good carfax. This place is typically $4k-$5k over auction and doesn't negotiate. This one is priced only about $1k over. Hmmmm...
https://www.autolenders.com/used-car-inventory/Honda-CR-V-EH605541



Here's one similar price and milage:



https://sarasota.craigslist.org/cto/d/2014-honda-suv-lx-model/6496584041.html

explorerx4

My first choice truck just went on sale at my preferred dealer.
Put in an email inquiry about availability.
Keeping fingers crossed.

stickguy

well, it is an LX so stripped. who the heck would pay $19K for that 4 YO one, when for $24K at most can buy a brand new one (which is a much better car)?

but, if she likes it, and the deal is that good, should be buying instead of asking! Also, I checked listings, and AL by me has a bunch too, prices all over the place. one thing with them, longer it is there, more they cut price (at defined birthdays).

poking around, my local guy has a 2015 EX for less, just a lot more miles.

http://www.royaleasing.com/detail-2015-honda-cr~v-awd_5dr_ex-used-17230739.html

Do you like Escapes? More features on this one. I just had strippo models.

http://www.royaleasing.com/detail-2014-ford-escape-4wd_4dr_titanium-used-17338814.html

Certified one in Burlington. same money. only a few more miles. plus warranty.

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/712097184/overview/

slightly higher price for certified at Burns (much nicer dealer too IMO) but a 2015 (more miles though).

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/722847791/overview/

oldfarmer50

explorerx4 said:

My first choice truck just went on sale at my preferred dealer.
Put in an email inquiry about availability.
Keeping fingers crossed.

Spring is here, everybody's getting hot pants!

Speaking of hot pants, as soon as the salt is off the road I'm putting a little more aggressive exhaust on my Ford. This is one I'm considering because I like the sound and it's got a lower price than Borla or Ford Racing.

https://www.americanmuscle.com/pypes-catback-hbox-1516gt.html

Anyone have an opinion on this particular brand?

stickguy

never heard of it. Interesting reading the few comments at that link. Even though maker keeps touting "no drone!", all three reviewers call out highway drone, and 2 said they had to take system off it was so bad.

put a bypass cut-out switch in if you want loud!

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

never heard of it. Interesting reading the few comments at that link. Even though maker keeps touting "no drone!", all three reviewers call out highway drone, and 2 said they had to take system off it was so bad.

put a bypass cut-out switch in if you want loud!

Ok, scratch that one. I like your idea, maybe I'll go old school and go at the muffler with an ice pick like we did as kids.

jmonroe

oldfarmer50 said:

stickguy said:

never heard of it. Interesting reading the few comments at that link. Even though maker keeps touting "no drone!", all three reviewers call out highway drone, and 2 said they had to take system off it was so bad.

put a bypass cut-out switch in if you want loud!

Ok, scratch that one. I like your idea, maybe I'll go old school and go at the muffler with an ice pick like we did as kids.

I gather you had your own car. If I did that to my Dads car, I wouldn't be writing this post and he wouldn't have needed an ice pick to do it. Although that would have been the more humane way to get it done. That guy had the biggest and strongest hands I ever saw.

jmonroe

tbirdmarco

 True palmers also on the one with the lovely boxy styling and a wrangler to 

roadburner

oldfarmer50 said:

explorerx4 said:

My first choice truck just went on sale at my preferred dealer.
Put in an email inquiry about availability.
Keeping fingers crossed.

Spring is here, everybody's getting hot pants!

Speaking of hot pants, as soon as the salt is off the road I'm putting a little more aggressive exhaust on my Ford. This is one I'm considering because I like the sound and it's got a lower price than Borla or Ford Racing.

https://www.americanmuscle.com/pypes-catback-hbox-1516gt.html

Anyone have an opinion on this particular brand?

I still think that I'd with one of the Ford Racing catbacks.

tbirdmarco

 You have your work cut out for you help your aunt tomorrow start looking for a new used SUVE for her keep us all updated 

tbirdmarco

 Old former 50 I never heard of that exhaust brand saw something in the listing about hicks Ville which is the next town over from me a few months ago I had the shop or my car is put on the full custom flow master exhaust on my 61 Thunderbird to see exhaust that was on it was old and corroded in the mufflers then I got or square in the stock system was round mufflers 

tbirdmarco

 Sounds sick no drone prefer Flow Master or Borla mufflers 

tbirdmarco

 In the coming weeks I’ll post a video of how it sounds if I could figure out how to copy and paste it from my Facebook account I could put it on here if New York car guy reads this do you know of a way I can copy and paste this additional way more let me because I could easily do that if there was a way and post the video later on and set of waiting a few weeks to have the car back home to do it waiting on getting a new gas tank currently for it and we’re good to go 

explorerx4

@oldfarmer50.
Lots of mea culpa's in that exhaust review. If you want an exhaust that's always loud, I'd go with Flowmasters.
No highway review.

stickguy

OF, I was watching an episode of one of the car shows (the Kindigit one), and they did some tweaks to a newer Challenger Hemi. Including an exhaust bypass. I believe it was just an electric valve put into the pipes right behind the cats (or the H pipe), with IIRC short pipes out by the doors. Anyway, you hit the switch and went from factory to Wow in a second. It sounded mean for sure. Probably cheaper than a whole new system.

tbirdmarco

Stick yes it problam  is 

tbirdmarco

Payed. 450 for mine 

tbirdmarco

Did you all know that Spike TV we change their name to weeks ago to another network they have automotive Shaws on Sunday mornings from 9 to 11

roadburner

stickguy said:

OF, I was watching an episode of one of the car shows (the Kindigit one), and they did some tweaks to a newer Challenger Hemi. Including an exhaust bypass. I believe it was just an electric valve put into the pipes right behind the cats (or the H pipe), with IIRC short pipes out by the doors. Anyway, you hit the switch and went from factory to Wow in a second. It sounded mean for sure. Probably cheaper than a whole new system.

The 2012-2013 Boss 302 had side outlets that bypassed the mufflers. You could either remove the factory installed baffles and enjoy the wondrous sounds or fit an electric bypass. I was so disgusted when I checked out a clean 2013 and found that the idiot original owner had installed an aftermarket system(and a one piece driveshaft).

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

OF, I was watching an episode of one of the car shows (the Kindigit one), and they did some tweaks to a newer Challenger Hemi. Including an exhaust bypass. I believe it was just an electric valve put into the pipes right behind the cats (or the H pipe), with IIRC short pipes out by the doors. Anyway, you hit the switch and went from factory to Wow in a second. It sounded mean for sure. Probably cheaper than a whole new system.

Ford has an adjustable exhaust for the 18' Mustang.

http://autoweek.com/article/car-life/2018-ford-mustang-heres-how-it-sounds

Older models require a new system. I'm looking for a little more rumble without cabin drone. I'll probably go with one of the similar Ford Racing by Borla systems or a Borla proprietary unit.

explorerx4

@oldfarmer50,
That young lady reminds my of my oldest daughter.
She can talk about something and stay on topic forever.

isellhondas

And, yes, the business did

snakeweasel said:

roadburner said:

snakeweasel said:

Gas tends to go bad in well under a year so unless you are using a gas stabilizer I would use the gas up a lot faster.

I can count on one hand the number of times one of us has run the battery down far enough to activate the gas motor; the car is designed to start and run the engine for a ten minute "Maintenance Cycle" every 90 days or so if it has not been activated. As a matter of fact, the only reason I filled it up the second time was because the Maintenance Cycle wouldn't start because the tank was down to 50%(one gallon).

Ok that's all well and good but the fact remains that gas has a rather short shelf life and will start to go bad after 3 or 4 months unless you have a stabilizer added to it. And a stabilizer only extends the life about a year or so. I would seriously consider using a stabilizer in the gas.

The smell of bad gas is something you won't forget. Just acrid and nasty!

tbirdmarco

 Yes of course cost a bit more compared to what I sounds like a good system for your car all former 50 

Mr_Shiftright

oldfarmer50 said:

explorerx4 said:

My first choice truck just went on sale at my preferred dealer.
Put in an email inquiry about availability.
Keeping fingers crossed.

Spring is here, everybody's getting hot pants!

Speaking of hot pants, as soon as the salt is off the road I'm putting a little more aggressive exhaust on my Ford. This is one I'm considering because I like the sound and it's got a lower price than Borla or Ford Racing.

https://www.americanmuscle.com/pypes-catback-hbox-1516gt.html

Anyone have an opinion on this particular brand?

Most Mustang/Z-28 forums and the like seem to think they are okay. Some people mentioned having to tweak them here and there to get them to fit. Certainly you could spend more on other brands. Everyone seems to agree to avoid an X pipe and to go with an H pipe arrangement. Also there were comments that this setup was a bit loud.