Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

stickguy

I don't think that dude in Georgia is even trying to be subtle about it.

driver100

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

xwesx said:

driver100 said:

Who's insurance is paying? Why be concerned about buffing out a mark if insurance is covering it? Are the repairs going to cost more than the value of the car? It looks like a fairly costly job since it affects so many parts.

Yes, for a PT Cruiser, it wouldn't surprise me if they call this one a total. Sad, really. Of course, that doesn't mean you cannot do the buyout and fix it anyway.

Our ex employee had a 2004 I think it was Honda Civic that got hit in the rear. They wrote it off and gave him $4000 - this was about 3 years ago. He was starting up his own business and he leased a new Honda Fit with the money....it was actually a good thing as the old Civic would have started costing him big money in repairs + it didn't have air conditioning which he is really enjoying.

If they offer me $4k I’d take it in a heartbeat.

Tell them you were preserving the PT and it was going to become a Classic Car you were going to preserve

tjc78

jmonroe1 said:

tjc78 said:

@jmonroe

Here is our Enclave.. notice something ??

Hey MODS, I need a little help here. Can you impose a fine on this guy for posting a pic of that burgundy Enclave. If nothing else, a whopping dues bump is in order. :@

jmonroe

Haha have to give you a hard time!!!

explorerx4

@oldfarmer50,
Considering the hood, fender and grille still line up, I doubt it needs a radiator support.
Get an estimate from a paintless dent place on fixing the fender.
I'm sure the insurance will be based on replacing it.
On the other hand, if your wife just wants something new to drive, forget all that.

oldfarmer50

explorerx4 said:

@oldfarmer50,
Considering the hood, fender and grille still line up, I doubt it needs a radiator support.
Get an estimate from a paintless dent place on fixing the fender.
I'm sure the insurance will be based on replacing it.
On the other hand, if your wife just wants something new to drive, forget all that.

Had my mechanic look at it and something is bent into the radiator but not puncturing it. So if I wanted it restored to pre-accident condition the radiator will probably have to go.

I was looking to passing this down to son #1 for Uber duty as his Sable will age out in a year.

Wife wants something newer for me to drive her around since she can’t drive anymore. I’ll be looking for something she can get into and will ultimately also go to the kid for Uber use. To my shame he’s scared of the Mustang and that wouldn’t work for his ride share anyway. I’ve got a plethora of young nieces and nephews, not to mention coworkers who would take that off my hands.

My next grocery getter has to be something with a seat at least 25” from the ground for my wife (like the PT) and with enough leg room in back to carry Uber riders. From my varied transporter duties the Kia Soul is currently in the running.

Other suggestions welcome.

driver100

Cars with high seats and or easy enter and exit.

Mr_Shiftright

"which is especially good for transporting seniors with medical issues...."

Now that's a sexy tag line for a vehicle advert!

stickguy

soul is a pretty good option, since affordable. Small CUVs are everywhere now. Maybe a Chevy compact (their version of the mini Buick?). Imported, honda HRV maybe. Depends how big you want.

28firefighter

I’d throw the Mazda CX-3 out as well.

Hey! Maybe you can help iluv out and buy his Kia Soul so he can get his Sentra. Everyone wins. 

Michaell

In the spirit of @graphicguy I found myself with some spare time today, so I test drove a Kia Stinger.

Rather than the full on GT2, I test drove the 4-cylinder AWD, with the premium package. Sticker price, with the active safety package, was $42,900.

I'd taken a look at it at the auto show, but this was the first time I studied it. It's certainly big, and low to the ground. Very aggressive styling, both front and rear.

I'm finding many cars are set up where the B-pillar intrudes on my shoulder, when I set the seat up to be comfortable. The Kia is one of those cars, but it wasn't as bad as I've experienced in other vehicles. One nice touch was the power adjustable steering wheel. The interior was about 20 shades of black, but it looked well put together.

Given that it was a Friday afternoon in suburban Denver, traffic was pretty heavy. I was able to check out the acceleration in both Sport and comfort mode, a little bit. Certainly quick, compared to my Jetta (pretty much everything is, however).

Handling, when I was able to test it, was good. It has a RWD based AWD system, and it's noticeable.

However, I just couldn't shake the feeling that a loaded Accord 2.0t, or a Mazda 6 with the turbo, would give you almost everything the Stinger offers (save AWD and the hatch) for less money.

oldfarmer50

28firefighter said:

I’d throw the Mazda CX-3 out as well.

Hey! Maybe you can help iluv out and buy his Kia Soul so he can get his Sentra. Everyone wins. 

Are you kidding? I hear his might catch fire!

oldfarmer50

Is this hype or really rare?

https://albany.craigslist.org/cto/d/rare-2003-mercury-grand/6745332323.html

explorerx4

That list should just say any small CUV.

imidazol97

stickguy said:

Maybe a Chevy compact (their version of the mini Buick?).

That's the Traxx.

I also still see Captiva's around here. It was never sold here new, if I get the story, but I'd look at one
were it on the used car lot.

stickguy

I think the Captivas were just in rental fleets, never retail sales

stickguy

nice looking panther. and I think my son's house is in that location circle!

driver100

oldfarmer50 said:

Is this hype or really rare?

https://albany.craigslist.org/cto/d/rare-2003-mercury-grand/6745332323.html

Looks like a very nice car....even looks as good as new....which makes me suspicious.
Also, this makes me suspicious;

Aren't the numbers supposed to line up and be even?

driver100

Michaell said:

I'm finding many cars are set up where the B-pillar intrudes on my shoulder, when I set the seat up to be comfortable. The Kia is one of those cars, but it wasn't as bad as I've experienced in other vehicles. One nice touch was the power adjustable steering wheel. The interior was about 20 shades of black, but it looked well put together.
.

I know it seems like a small thing but placement of the B pillar is a big factor. When I bought my 1992 Cavalier I really wanted a 4 door model, but when I looked out the driver's side window I was looking directly at the pillar between the doors.....so I went with a 2 door model. I thought I was the only one in the world who noticed such things.

This 2 door looks just like mine;

snakeweasel

driver100 said:

Is this hype or really rare? https://albany.craigslist.org/cto/d/rare-2003-mercury-grand/6745332323.html

Looks like a very nice car....even looks as good as new....which makes me suspicious. Also, this makes me suspicious; Aren't the numbers supposed to line up and be even?

Yes the mileage is very low for a 16 year old car but I wonder what the history is. My mother in her retirement drove well under 5k miles a year, when she passed away her 10 year old car had less than 50k miles on it. We have a neighbor who has a 2000 sebring with less than 80k on the clock (only drives to and from work). So it's possible, but highly unlikely. However 16 years can be an issue due just to age so a low mileage but old car could be worn out and in need of some expensive work.

abacomike

snakeweasel said:

driver100 said:

Is this hype or really rare? https://albany.craigslist.org/cto/d/rare-2003-mercury-grand/6745332323.html

Looks like a very nice car....even looks as good as new....which makes me suspicious. Also, this makes me suspicious; Aren't the numbers supposed to line up and be even?

Yes the mileage is very low for a 16 year old car but I wonder what the history is. My mother in her retirement drove well under 5k miles a year, when she passed away her 10 year old car had less than 50k miles on it. We have a neighbor who has a 2000 sebring with less than 80k on the clock (only drives to and from work). So it's possible, but highly unlikely. However 16 years can be an issue due just to age so a low mileage but old car could be worn out and in need of some expensive work.

Sounds like my body! 

stickguy

I've decided I am like an older car with a perfect engine, but the body is rusted out and the frame about to snap in half. Had a stress test yesterday, and my heart checked out great. I just hobble around with back issues.

ab348

oldfarmer50 said:

Is this hype or really rare?

https://albany.craigslist.org/cto/d/rare-2003-mercury-grand/6745332323.html

Huh. Never heard of that option but maybe they decided to use up the leftover Marauder parts under that name. Car looks nice enough. I wouldn't worry about the odometer numbers not lining up; after all, it's a '90s Ford.

Drivingfool

The last few years, we've been getting Accord's and Civic's from our local Honda dealer. They use us drivers to bring them over to our HLE office and then we either get them over to the airport or just rent them. Honda's done a great job on both of those models and would be happy owning either one of them.

The Sandman/Driving Fool

qbrozen

driver100 said:

Is this hype or really rare? https://albany.craigslist.org/cto/d/rare-2003-mercury-grand/6745332323.html

Looks like a very nice car....even looks as good as new....which makes me suspicious. Also, this makes me suspicious; Aren't the numbers supposed to line up and be even?

I don't recall seeing many that DO line up

stickguy

they always move through the space as they change. See if you can get a picture at exactly 55,555 when they should all be centered!

qbrozen

ab348 said:

Is this hype or really rare? https://albany.craigslist.org/cto/d/rare-2003-mercury-grand/6745332323.html

Huh. Never heard of that option but maybe they decided to use up the leftover Marauder parts under that name. Car looks nice enough. I wouldn't worry about the odometer numbers not lining up; after all, it's a '90s Ford.

According to the reading I just did, these started pre-Marauder. Maybe rare, but that doesn't mean valuable. Still a slow beast of a thing that grabs zero attention. Nice enough to spend time in, but not engaging in any way.

Michaell

driver100 said:

Michaell said:

I'm finding many cars are set up where the B-pillar intrudes on my shoulder, when I set the seat up to be comfortable. The Kia is one of those cars, but it wasn't as bad as I've experienced in other vehicles. One nice touch was the power adjustable steering wheel. The interior was about 20 shades of black, but it looked well put together.
.

I know it seems like a small thing but placement of the B pillar is a big factor. When I bought my 1992 Cavalier I really wanted a 4 door model, but when I looked out the driver's side window I was looking directly at the pillar between the doors.....so I went with a 2 door model. I thought I was the only one in the world who noticed such things.

This 2 door looks just like mine;

There are three cars that just don't work for me because of this issue:

Infiniti G37
MB C-class
Lexus GS

I'm just fine in my Jetta, however.

abacomike

stickguy said:

I've decided I am like an older car with a perfect engine, but the body is rusted out and the frame about to snap in half. Had a stress test yesterday, and my heart checked out great. I just hobble around with back issues.

Going through back issues myself the last 2 weeks.  Been going to physical therapy which helps for a few hours.  Have to lose weight - that will cure lots of my ailments.

sda

Spare time, what's that? lol. Wife took the Accord to FL to have down time and visit her sister. As much as I like the Pilot I much prefer driving the Accord. Not sure what/when my next purchase will be. I have the itch bad. However, both cars are paid for, a wonderful situation, and my SIL says she is going to give my daughter her clean '06 TL. SIL currently looking to buy a new RDX by year end.

abacomike

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear S450,
Happy Birthday to you!

Yep - the 2018 S450 turned 1-year old today. My wishes for another 2-years of total enjoyment and satisfaction. 

oldfarmer50

snakeweasel said:

driver100 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Is this hype or really rare?

https://albany.craigslist.org/cto/d/rare-2003-mercury-grand/6745332323.html

Looks like a very nice car....even looks as good as new....which makes me suspicious.
Also, this makes me suspicious;

Aren't the numbers supposed to line up and be even?

Yes the mileage is very low for a 16 year old car but I wonder what the history is. My mother in her retirement drove well under 5k miles a year, when she passed away her 10 year old car had less than 50k miles on it. We have a neighbor who has a 2000 sebring with less than 80k on the clock (only drives to and from work). So it's possible, but highly unlikely. However 16 years can be an issue due just to age so a low mileage but old car could be worn out and in need of some expensive work.

I have a 2000 Sebring with just over 80k miles and my son’s Sable was almost 12 years old with 49k miles when we bought it. My Lincoln Mark VIII was 18 years old with 67k miles. The crumpled PT is almost 10 years old with 44k miles. So it can happen without any scams going on.

On old used cars it’s always a roll of the dice as to what will break down but a careful check before buying can prevent you buying existing problems.

berri

sda - I prefer a car as well, BUT when I drive it around surrounded by all the trucks and crossovers, I feel like a clown on a mini-scooter in the circus sometimes

tjc78

Yes Grand Marquis LSE is the rarest option package available for 2002+ 

Mercury clone of the Crown Vic LX Sport.  Essentially cop car suspension (P71) with higher rate air springs in the rear, higher rear end ratio, and 5 passenger seating with floor shifter.  They are usually fully equipped too. 

Nice car ... I wouldn’t turn it down if I wanted another Panther.  

graphicguy

Michaell said:

In the spirit of @graphicguy I found myself with some spare time today, so I test drove a Kia Stinger.

Rather than the full on GT2, I test drove the 4-cylinder AWD, with the premium package. Sticker price, with the active safety package, was $42,900.

I'd taken a look at it at the auto show, but this was the first time I studied it. It's certainly big, and low to the ground. Very aggressive styling, both front and rear.

I'm finding many cars are set up where the B-pillar intrudes on my shoulder, when I set the seat up to be comfortable. The Kia is one of those cars, but it wasn't as bad as I've experienced in other vehicles. One nice touch was the power adjustable steering wheel. The interior was about 20 shades of black, but it looked well put together.

Given that it was a Friday afternoon in suburban Denver, traffic was pretty heavy. I was able to check out the acceleration in both Sport and comfort mode, a little bit. Certainly quick, compared to my Jetta (pretty much everything is, however).

Handling, when I was able to test it, was good. It has a RWD based AWD system, and it's noticeable.

However, I just couldn't shake the feeling that a loaded Accord 2.0t, or a Mazda 6 with the turbo, would give you almost everything the Stinger offers (save AWD and the hatch) for less money.

Thanks, Michaell.....all good points. I’ve not driven the 2.0T Stinger. And, I do want to have some seat time in an Accord Sport as well as the Mazda.

I doubt the deals I saw on the ‘18 Stinger GT (with the TT V6) will reappear. At $40K, I thought it was a very compelling buy.

Not today, as I’m sure they’re busy. But, maybe next week I’ll drop on over to the local Honda store and see if I can get to drive an Accord Sport.

Mr_Shiftright

oldfarmer50 said:

Is this hype or really rare?

https://albany.craigslist.org/cto/d/rare-2003-mercury-grand/6745332323.html

It is rare, but for the wrong reasons---nobody wanted one, so they stopped making them. Basically an LS with HD rear suspension, dual exhaust and a tighter rear end ratio.

As we say in the classic car biz about value: "It has to be rare, AND...someone has to care".

snakeweasel

Mr_Shiftright said:

Is this hype or really rare? https://albany.craigslist.org/cto/d/rare-2003-mercury-grand/6745332323.html

It is rare, but for the wrong reasons---nobody wanted one, so they stopped making them. Basically an LS with HD rear suspension, dual exhaust and a tighter rear end ratio. As we say in the classic car biz about value: "It has to be rare, AND...someone has to care".

It's basic economics, supply and demand, if demand exceeds supply the price goes up, if supply exceeds demand price goes down. Prices adjust until supply and demand are equal.

snakeweasel

Well it's the first sunny and clear weekend day that we have had in a long time so I am out raking leaves. To bad it's only 20 degrees out, where is that global warming we were promised? Anyway while I was taking some leaves I saw a $5 bill among the leaves. I guess money really does grow on trees.

Well off to find that tree.

driver100

Michaell said:

driver100 said:

Michaell said:

I'm finding many cars are set up where the B-pillar intrudes on my shoulder, when I set the seat up to be comfortable. The Kia is one of those cars, but it wasn't as bad as I've experienced in other vehicles. One nice touch was the power adjustable steering wheel. The interior was about 20 shades of black, but it looked well put together.
.

I know it seems like a small thing but placement of the B pillar is a big factor. When I bought my 1992 Cavalier I really wanted a 4 door model, but when I looked out the driver's side window I was looking directly at the pillar between the doors.....so I went with a 2 door model. I thought I was the only one in the world who noticed such things.

This 2 door looks just like mine;

There are three cars that just don't work for me because of this issue:

Infiniti G37
MB C-class
Lexus GS

I'm just fine in my Jetta, however.

I haven't had the problem in any of our MB C Classes including this one....but, I do keep the seat forward more than usual so I can be at attentive as possible.....some people like to put the seat way back;

driver100

snakeweasel said:

Well it's the first sunny and clear weekend day that we have had in a long time so I am out raking leaves. To bad it's only 20 degrees out, where is that global warming we were promised? Anyway while I was taking some leaves I saw a $5 bill among the leaves. I guess money really does grow on trees.

Well off to find that tree.

I think the global warming is down here in Florida....mid 80s every day for the last 3 weeks.

suydam

Climate change means weather gets more extreme — in either direction. But you know that.

driver100

All I know is this is a common way to see if the old style roll over odometers have been tampered with;

Auto manufacturers combated this problem by creating safeguards in the odometer. On some, if the numbers were tampered with, it would be nearly impossible to make the numbers line up straight again, making it clear the odometer was rolled back.

I wonder what the guy would say if you asked him to sign a document that the mileage was true and correct. I bet his answer would be...it is, to the best of my knowledge, leaving him an out. I think the numbers should line up....even if it is a Ford.

driver100

by the way our C250 had 12000 miles after 3 and 1/2 years, so low miles per year is definitely possible, and the Passat had 11000 miles after 4 years. I think the numbers should like up, they used to say to put a match book under the numbers to see....but, how many people carry matches with them anymore?

abacomike

driver100 said:

Well it's the first sunny and clear weekend day that we have had in a long time so I am out raking leaves. To bad it's only 20 degrees out, where is that global warming we were promised? Anyway while I was taking some leaves I saw a $5 bill among the leaves. I guess money really does grow on trees.

Well off to find that tree.

I think the global warming is down here in Florida....mid 80s every day for the last 3 weeks.

89 degrees down here in South Florida.  Usually by November, we get cold fronts which keep us in the 70’s, but not this year.

ab348

It's in the '40s in New Orleans today, so the cold air is not far away.

snakeweasel

suydam said:

Climate change means weather gets more extreme — in either direction. But you know that.

Actually climate change has been going on for 4.5 billion years and will continue on until the sun explodes. 

carnaught

Mid 70’s to 82 degrees here, and sunny....perfect. Wish it would last.

Mr_Shiftright

snakeweasel said:

suydam said:

Climate change means weather gets more extreme — in either direction. But you know that.

Actually climate change has been going on for 4.5 billion years and will continue on until the sun explodes. 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

True enough. Nature doesn't care what we "think". It just adjusts to correct things.

oldfarmer50

driver100 said:

All I know is this is a common way to see if the old style roll over odometers have been tampered with;

Auto manufacturers combated this problem by creating safeguards in the odometer. On some, if the numbers were tampered with, it would be nearly impossible to make the numbers line up straight again, making it clear the odometer was rolled back.

I wonder what the guy would say if you asked him to sign a document that the mileage was true and correct. I bet his answer would be...it is, to the best of my knowledge, leaving him an out. I think the numbers should line up....even if it is a Ford.

Or you could just get a CarFax.

If I remember, most non digital odometers have some variation in the line up of the numbers. In the old days odometers were supposed to have a seal between numbers and if tampered with a white line would be visible between them. Also, replacement odos had a red tenths number as opposed to white on the OEM.

Personally I think it’s easier to tamper with a digital odometer if you know what you’re doing.
I know some people say “well the real mileage is stored in the computer” but would you know how to access that data? I wouldn’t.

How about the experts, is it possible to rollback a digital odometer and how would you detect such a thing?

henryn

The way they used to roll back speedometers, in the analog days, was to run the clock backwards. I have seen it done. And yes, it took a while. Going back further, before speedometers were sealed units, there were people who did this for a living. They traveled around to used car lots and set the odometers to whatever number you wanted. I had a friend from high school who worked at that for a while.

Now as to the new digital odometers, I have no direct knowledge, but I can make some guesses. The number has to be stored in NVRAM. (non-volatile Random Access Memory) There are basically two types of computer memory, ROM and RAM. ROM is “Read Only Memory”, and requires special equipment to write. RAM (Random Access Memory) is the kind of memory that you write to, over and over again, countless times. And within the RAM category, you have two sub-categories, volatile and non-volatile. Volatile memory resets to zero every time the power is turned off. The main memory in your computer or tablet or cell phone is volatile memory. Non-volatile memory retains the values even when the computer is powered off.

The odometer readings, along with the trip settings, has to be in NVRAM. The computer has to be able to write to that area, constantly, when the car is moving. Which means that it could be monkeyed with. How hard would it be? Can’t say, never tried. But if you knew what you were doing, and you wanted to bad enough, you could do it.

explorerx4

One time I had the digital odometer go out. Brought it to the dealer. For some reason that I can't remember I had a pretty good idea of the actual mileage when it went out. They asked me to estimate the number of miles I had driven since it went out and that's the what it displayed when I picked it up.