Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

stickguy

if I buy one of these new, I am getting exactly what I want. I will check later, but from what I recall, just about everything they stock will have the $2,600 multimedia package (mostly a really expensive Navi!). which I would not mind having, but not at that price. Plus they all seem to have the $2k upgrade wheel package (18" low profile, definitely don't really need that. Yes, I am looking at the 50" tires and comfort suspension (but that could be my aching back talking!)

Car show in 2 weeks. Can't wait! I suspect my 2 favorites are going to be the C and the Lexus ES. I always find that to be an incredibly comfortable car. with great seats.

abacomike

stickguy said:

if I buy one of these new, I am getting exactly what I want. I will check later, but from what I recall, just about everything they stock will have the $2,600 multimedia package (mostly a really expensive Navi!). which I would not mind having, but not at that price. Plus they all seem to have the $2k upgrade wheel package (18" low profile, definitely don't really need that. Yes, I am looking at the 50" tires and comfort suspension (but that could be my aching back talking!) Car show in 2 weeks. Can't wait! I suspect my 2 favorites are going to be the C and the Lexus ES. I always find that to be an incredibly comfortable car. with great seats.

The ES350 is a much bigger car - more the size of the E Class.  However, they are priced right.  You can get a loaded one for much less than a Mercedes - and you get leather.

graphicguy

roadburner said:

Britain is close to becoming a police state- and after all this time I thought the [non-permissible content removed] LOST the war.
I thought that this poster was from the film 1984; wrong- it was posted in modern day England:

Wow! How soon they forget the sins of the very [non-permissible content removed] who practiced the same sort of public spying techniques upon every country they invaded. This scares me!

How about your privacy legally driving in your own personal car? How about letting my neighbor borrow my car and s/he rolls a yellow/red light? I'm guilty because the car is in my name?

RLCs are fraught with constututional issues, privacy rights issues, enforcement issues, etc.

abacomike

Things, in general, regarding gov't surveillance sure have changed, haven't they?  Interpretations by the courts, spying, observing, monitoring, etc.  Lately, I worry about almost everything! 

stickguy

well, turns out I could find one with everything I want. In nice colors. Even has the pre-wire for navi (think it just needs an SD card). Though for the life of me, can't tell if a regular moonroof is standard. Too bad no pictures in the ad.

http://www.mbofdevon.com/new/9999/Mercedes-Benz/C300/9999-Mercedes-Benz-C300-WHITE-Devon-for-sale-55SWF4KB3GU121758

Edit: Looks like I need to find a more expensive unit. Looks like if you don't pay the $1,200 or so for the pano roof, you get no moonroof. I thought a standard style was in the base price. They really sell a lot of almost 50K cars with a skin roof?

abacomike

stickguy said:

well, turns out I could find one with everything I want. In nice colors. Even has the pre-wire for navi (think it just needs an SD card). Though for the life of me, can't tell if a regular moonroof is standard. Too bad no pictures in the ad. http://www.mbofdevon.com/new/9999/Mercedes-Benz/C300/9999-Mercedes-Benz-C300-WHITE-Devon-for-sale-55SWF4KB3GU121758

It says right in the ad that one of the options is a panorama roof.  Click on vehicle specifications and then click on options.

abacomike

stickguy said:

well, turns out I could find one with everything I want. In nice colors. Even has the pre-wire for navi (think it just needs an SD card). Though for the life of me, can't tell if a regular moonroof is standard. Too bad no pictures in the ad. http://www.mbofdevon.com/new/9999/Mercedes-Benz/C300/9999-Mercedes-Benz-C300-WHITE-Devon-for-sale-55SWF4KB3GU121758

Go to MBUSA.com and see if the moonroof is standard. It might be part of a premium package.

stickguy

that seems to be a change. On the 2014, I think a normal moonroof was standard, and the pano was an upgrade. Now it looks like nothing is standard (well, sheet metal) and it is pay for pano or get no sun.

and yeah, I should pay more attention. that unit was perfect, having the pano roof!

Too bad I am not shopping now. with money to pay.

so I need someone to buy that now, baby it, and in about 1.5 years, trade it in on an E class after only putting 12K on it!

abacomike

stickguy said:

that seems to be a change. On the 2014, I think a normal moonroof was standard, and the pano was an upgrade. Now it looks like nothing is standard (well, sheet metal) and it is pay for pano or get no sun. and yeah, I should pay more attention. that unit was perfect, having the pano roof! Too bad I am not shopping now. with money to pay. so I need someone to buy that now, baby it, and in about 1.5 years, trade it in on an E class after only putting 12K on it!

Now your mind is playing with unrealistic scenarios - like my mind did during Powerball Fever!  Let's see, do I take the yearly payouts or the cash?  How much can I give to the kids and grandkids without paying gift taxes?  Where do I build my 50 million dollar mansion and how many garage spaces will I need for all my new cars?  

graphicguy

OldFarmer....congratz to you and Mrs OF. What a wonderful milestone!

oldfarmer50

graphicguy said:

OldFarmer....congratz to you and Mrs OF. What a wonderful milestone!

Thanks.

Was just watching a Mecum auction show and there was a 2014 Corvette that went for $50k. Since those things go for about $70k new I was wondering if that was a good price. These auctions never mention the milage so it's hard to tell.

I still say the C7 is the best looking I've ever seen.

While I'm on the subject I really can't figure what drives prices in these auctions. Do people chase fads? Saw a beat up pick up go for $25k but a nice restored 29' coupe draw only $13. Are old pick ups rare or are people buying the latest trend?

driver100

Imagine...being stuck on a highway for almost 20 hours!

abacomike

driver100 said:

Imagine...being stuck on a highway for almost 20 hours!

Could be much worse - think about being caught in a horrible marriage for 20 years!  

suydam

He worst thing about getting stuck on the Pa turnpike is that there is nothing -- and I mean NOTHING -- for miles and miles at a time. It's like being marooned on Mars.

graphicguy

oldfarmer50 said:

graphicguy said:

OldFarmer....congratz to you and Mrs OF. What a wonderful milestone!

Thanks.

Was just watching a Mecum auction show and there was a 2014 Corvette that went for $50k. Since those things go for about $70k new I was wondering if that was a good price. These auctions never mention the milage so it's hard to tell.

I still say the C7 is the best looking I've ever seen.

While I'm on the subject I really can't figure what drives prices in these auctions. Do people chase fads? Saw a beat up pick up go for $25k but a nice restored 29' coupe draw only $13. Are old pick ups rare or are people buying the latest trend?

Old pickups do,seem to be popular if you consider what you see on the auction and rehab programs.

Not enough details on the Mecum auctions to really know what the condition of the vehicles are. They rarely show any close shots of the interiors. ½ of the they have to push on stage. And, the announcers seem to be more interested in bantering among and about themselves, than giving useable info about the cars seen on stage.

abacomike

@graphicguy:

I thought they push all the cars in and out of the auction because of the emissions and fumes from the engines.  I don't think they want to exfixiate their potential buyers.  I could be wrong, but I see guys pushing the cars all the time.  Yes? 

coldinohio

tyguy: is that an '14 A4?; similar to mine if so; sports seats are great; summer tires- not so much.. good luck..

[Deleted User]

coldinohio said:

tyguy: is that an '14 A4?; similar to mine if so; sports seats are great; summer tires- not so much.. good luck..

Thanks!  It's a 2013 with 27,000 miles, and was purchased in April, so still 15 months of warranty. Totally clean history with service records.  It was purchased from, then serviced, and finally traded in at the same dealership that's offering it for sale now. Pricing is all set, so I just need to complete final inspections and hand over a check.

[Deleted User]

suydam said:

He worst thing about getting stuck on the Pa turnpike is that there is nothing -- and I mean NOTHING -- for miles and miles at a time. It's like being marooned on Mars.

Sounds great!  After driving around Miami I could use a little solitude.

graphicguy

abacomike said:

@graphicguy:

I thought they push all the cars in and out of the auction because of the emissions and fumes from the engines.  I don't think they want to exfixiate their potential buyers.  I could be wrong, but I see guys pushing the cars all the time.  Yes? 

Mike....I don't know. Usually, there's open garaged doors on both ends of the auctions for ventilation. Also, some they drive in, some they push in (assume they don't run). I could be wrong.

driver100

tyguy said:

suydam said:

He worst thing about getting stuck on the Pa turnpike is that there is nothing -- and I mean NOTHING -- for miles and miles at a time. It's like being marooned on Mars.

Sounds great!  After driving around Miami I could use a little solitude.

I don't know about solitude....not great if you have bashful kidneys.

driver100

abacomike said:

driver100 said:

Imagine...being stuck on a highway for almost 20 hours!

Could be much worse - think about being caught in a horrible marriage for 20 years!  

You're right.......I think I would choose the traffic jam.

abacomike

graphicguy said:

@graphicguy:

I thought they push all the cars in and out of the auction because of the emissions and fumes from the engines.  I don't think they want to exfixiate their potential buyers.  I could be wrong, but I see guys pushing the cars all the time.  Yes? 

Mike....I don't know. Usually, there's open garaged doors on both ends of the auctions for ventilation. Also, some they drive in, some they push in (assume they don't run). I could be wrong.

@graphicguy said:

"I could be wrong, but I see guys pushing the cars all the time.  Yes?  "

That's my line, GG! 

abacomike

Just started watching the new "X-Files" series on FOX.  Special effects are unreal. If you were a fan years ago, I think you'll like this.  Same stars, too.

imidazol97

Stressful day today after a stressful day Sunday. Waiting for Lowes to deliver and get the refrigerator, stove, and microwave into the house. Dishwasher requires two weeks to get here. Put food back in and put household things back into place.

Then it's off to a car dealer across town to drive and negotiate a sale on a slightly used car for Imid Jr to drive instead of the 08 Cobalt. I'll take the Cobalt. Anxious to see how they will handle my leSabre trade in. I'd rather buy with no trade. A neighbor had wanted the leSabre if I bought new, but it probably needs more things done at 210 K miles than he would want to do to resell it and still be able to profit. But neighbor dealings can leave bad feelings, too.

New TV. New appliances for the kitchen. New (almost) car for Imid Jr. This conspicuous consumption is hard work.

abacomike

@imidazol97:

Good luck with the new appliances and don't forget your boxing gloves in case you need them at the car dealer! 

[Deleted User]

Flying to Philly this morning. Wish me luck. Denver security lines are brutal after the Broncos embarrassed the Patriots (yes, that was a dig). :-)

imidazol97

abacomike said:

@imidazol97:

Good luck with the new appliances and don't forget your boxing gloves in case you need them at the car dealer! 

I'm going to ask if they have an AARP or AAA discount on their slightly used Cruze. LOL.

We want this car otherwise we have one similarly equipped model at another dealer that has their cars overpriced. That dealer appears to try to sell mop and glo and who knows what else in add on items. Then it's off to Columbus dealers to pick up one if this fails.

The fact that new style Cruzes are being shown in magazines and car shows and the '16 Limiteds are being produced lowers the value of the ones currently for sale that are '15s less than a year old.

abacomike

tyguy said:

Flying to Philly this morning. Wish me luck. Denver security lines are brutal after the Broncos embarrassed the Patriots (yes, that was a dig). :-)

Denver's defense was awesome.  They were on Brady like bees to honey - he had very few opportunities to put the ball into a receiver's hands.  Quite frankly, I expected New England to win, but Denver's pass rush was overwhelming.

[Deleted User]

Totally agreed, Mike.  I thought New England would crush Denver.  Defense took it to them.  Broncos offense sure didn't help at the end.

stickguy

Good luck with philly. Airport was mostly closed yesterday too, but at least pretty well cleaned up now. Betting in will be a lot easier than getting out!

[Deleted User]

Still in security.  Ugh.  I can't run to my gate like in the old days.

Michaell

tyguy said:

Still in security.  Ugh.  I can't run to my gate like in the old days.

So glad I don't travel for business any more. I fly from DIA to LAX on 2/4 and I'm not looking forward to it.

abacomike

 Well, I'm at the doctor's and will soon be taking my stress test.  They gave me an IV - probably a dye for the imaging.  Then they inject another chemical to open my cardiac arteries and then they do more imaging.  Takes about 2-3 hours.  Not very happy about this! 

graphicguy

Hopefully things clear up by Wendesday. Off to Austin, TX until end of week. Drive to Dallas for a conference next week. Come home mid next week, then off to San Francisco for meetings.

One of the guys who works for me had to go to D.C. for meetings last Friday. Was supposed to fly in, have meeting in the a.m.. Fly out Friday evening. He's still there. He called over the weekend and asked what he should do. I told him if he had a hotel room for the weekend to sit tight until he can safely fly out back to his home in Detroit...maybe today, hopefully no later than tomorrow.

[Deleted User]

Lots of standby passengers hoping to catch a flight after missing their original one. Not fun.  The airport is packed.  Hopefully they'll catch up in a few days.

ab348

abacomike said:

Just started watching the new "X-Files" series on FOX.  Special effects are unreal. If you were a fan years ago, I think you'll like this.  Same stars, too.

I watched most of it. The CGI effects I could give a flying fig about, and the only reason I ever watched it before was for Gillian Anderson. I suspect I won't be watching any more of it after the plot premise of the first episode. The entire world is a conspiracy? I have little time for conspiracy theories anyway and now the kiddies on the internet will be buying into this nonsense. No thanks.

driver100

imidazol97 said:

Waiting for Lowes to deliver and get the refrigerator, stove, and microwave into the house. Dishwasher requires two weeks to get here.

Then it's off to a car dealer across town to drive and negotiate a sale on a slightly used car for Imid Jr to drive instead of the 08 Cobalt.

New TV. New appliances for the kitchen. New (almost) car for Imid Jr. This conspicuous consumption is hard work.

Good luck getting everything accomplished and hanks for helping to keep the country's economy running....single handed

oldfarmer50

driver100 said:

Imagine...being stuck on a highway for almost 20 hours!

On the way home from our honeymoon we were stranded in a rest stop on I-90 for about that long.

oldfarmer50

graphicguy said:

abacomike said:

@graphicguy:

I thought they push all the cars in and out of the auction because of the emissions and fumes from the engines.  I don't think they want to exfixiate their potential buyers.  I could be wrong, but I see guys pushing the cars all the time.  Yes? 

Mike....I don't know. Usually, there's open garaged doors on both ends of the auctions for ventilation. Also, some they drive in, some they push in (assume they don't run). I could be wrong.

On one episode of Fast&Loud they had to turn the motor off due to fire regulations.

Mr_Shiftright

Usually, like at Barrett Jackson auctions, the cars are driven up to the podium and then after the sale (real or imaginary), they are pushed off and they let gravity do the work for a little while. One has to be very careful about pushing some of the exotic cars, as they are often aluminum, and some of those older ones are pretty soft. You can dent the trunk of a classic Ferrari easily if you aren't careful.

Modern Corvettes depreciate heavily so I'd expect a $70K msrp to be $50K or less in a couple of years.

And yes, there are definitely "fads" that come and go in the old car biz. You will often see certain kinds of cars "plateau" after a while, become consistently stagnant in value, and some even start going down again.

Old pickups are the current darlings of the car collector world, because they are somewhat rare, but easy to restore and still affordable, with a lot of curb appeal. A prettied-up '54 Chevy pickup is going to be much more admired than a '54 passenger car.

Currently 20s era cars are on a downturn, as are 46-54 domestics. The once hot "micro-car" market is stagnant as well.

These days only the "cream of the crop" cars seem to increase in value---the rest just floats around more or less the same for years.

graphicguy

oldfarmer50 said:

graphicguy said:

abacomike said:

@graphicguy:

I thought they push all the cars in and out of the auction because of the emissions and fumes from the engines.  I don't think they want to exfixiate their potential buyers.  I could be wrong, but I see guys pushing the cars all the time.  Yes? 

Mike....I don't know. Usually, there's open garaged doors on both ends of the auctions for ventilation. Also, some they drive in, some they push in (assume they don't run). I could be wrong.

On one episode of Fast&Loud they had to turn the motor off due to fire regulations.

Vaguely remember that, OF. What were they trying to sell at auction? I remember Rawlings saying you always get more money at auction of you can drive the car on the podium vs pushing it.

Mr_Shiftright

I used to work the auctions down there, years ago. You'd be surprised how many 6-figure cars are brought to auction with no gas in them!

houdini1

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

Imagine...being stuck on a highway for almost 20 hours!

On the way home from our honeymoon we were stranded in a rest stop on I-90 for about that long.

That would have been your dream, say about 40 years ago ! We have our 49th coming up in August.

driver100

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

Imagine...being stuck on a highway for almost 20 hours!

On the way home from our honeymoon we were stranded in a rest stop on I-90 for about that long.

Being stranded on a honeymoon at a rest stop isn't so bad. When I was working I got stranded in a snowstorm at a Hojo's Motel for 2 nights...and they had a restaurant. This does not compare to being on a highway for almost a day with little food or bathroom facilities.

But, if you brought a swim suit you could try the latest rage......... snow swimming.

stever

All this anniversary talk reminds me of the guy who told me he'd been happily married for seven years. A couple of questions later, it turned out he and his wife had gotten hitched 28 years ago.

Only going on 32 years here.

Meanwhile, in the "everything you think you know about buying cars is wrong" department:

Edmunds.com Advises Car Shoppers on Ways to Win Over Salespeople at the Dealership

tjc78

During a snow storm I was once stuck on the Schuylkill Expressway for about 6 hours while two tractor trailers dug their way out. It wasn't pretty, we were all helping them. I think I used a half a tank of gas that day going 70 miles round trip.

driver100

stever said:

All this anniversary talk reminds me of the guy who told me he'd been happily married for seven years. A couple of questions later, it turned out he and his wife had gotten hitched 28 years ago.

Only going on 32 years here.

Meanwhile, in the "everything you think you know about buying cars is wrong" department:

Edmunds.com Advises Car Shoppers on Ways to Win Over Salespeople at the Dealership

I agree it is best to go in and be as up front as possible. Salesmen appreciate a no-nonsense customer who has potential, and doesn't play games.

This point though is one I would not use:
4) "If you sell me the car for 'X,' I will buy it right now."

When I was considering buying a 2000 Jeep Cherokee I saw an ad from a rival dealer offering a 2000 fully equipped for $29000 (Cdn). I took the ad to my friendly salesman and asked if he could match that price because I thought it was a really good price. He checked it and said he could do better than the ad. I may have a price in mind, but, I want to hear the salesman's price first.

Also, I would rather the salesman give me a price first, just to see how honest they are. When I was getting a price on the Passat I knew what the Edmunds price was and that is the price I would pay. The salesperson told me the Passat was a fast seller and they were going for full MSRP of $27k. This sent my radar sensors going. I told her I wasn't going to mess around, $23k or I look elsewhere.

driver100

stever said:
All this anniversary talk reminds me of the guy who told me he'd been happily married for seven years. A couple of questions later, it turned out he and his wife had gotten hitched 28 years ago.

Rodney Dangerfield: My wife and I were happy for twenty years. Then we met.

Mr_Shiftright

"A man doesn't know true happiness until he is married, but by then it's too late" (anonymous).