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  • nyccarguynyccarguy Member Posts: 17,524
    After I graduated college, I went to visit a friend in Orange County, CA.  My 1st night there sleeping on his couch, I hear a banging on the window about a 1/2 hour after I went to sleep.  Being the ever so calm New Yorker, I jumped off the couch & ran straight into bed (with my friend & his girlfriend) screaming EARTHQUAKE!  

    After about 5 seconds, my friend says to me:  Bradd.  It's is a palm tree for heaven's sake!  Go back to sleep!

    2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD

  • abacomikeabacomike Member Posts: 12,388
    edited January 2016

    abacomike said:

    It's 4:00 AM and I still can't sleep.  The tornado and aftermath was very stressful to me.  It's been a very stressful 12 months with my son's brain tumor, my Dad's death, the bouts with pneumonia, the heart attack 2 months ago and now living through a tornado hit.

    I pray that my life can be peaceful for the next 12 months - enough is enough.

    I thought about that yesterday but didn't want to verbalize. Some of these tornadoes are small as to the area of damage. One went through Vandalia a year or so ago and severely damaged one building while the winds didn't do that much damage to the building on the next lot. It's the low air pressure within the funnel that sucks the air out of the building quickly and lifts roofs and moves walls along with the wind speed in the funnel's shell. Then the funnel lifts some and it's just the rushing air without the actual funnel's higher speed and pressure drop. (Travelers on I-75 should recognize the name "Vandalia" just north of Dayton. Town used to have a large AC Delco/Delphi plant making dash and door panels for many brands of vehicles.

    Yes, this tornado was only 100 feet wide. It dropped down and hit the parking lot of Broward College North Campus (across the street from my community) tossing cars and SUV's around like toys. Then it crossed Coconut Creek Parkway (E-W Street that separates the College from my community) and picked up a bus and tossed it on it's side. Then, it entered my community and took the roof off the community center and injured one of the secretaries. It then skipped over the first few buildings in my village and then hit the far back building, taking part of the roof off while pulling a couple of dozen trees up by their roots. It then crossed over the the turnpike (adjacent to the building that was damaged) and flipped over a semi and picked up a car going south and tossed it over to the shoulder of the northbound lanes (about 30 yards). I really don't know how that woman wasn't killed.

    So yes, it was a narrow tornado. I felt it as it passed over our building because my building literally shook. I see we made all the national evening newscasts. Even those small tornadoes can be dangerous.

    2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger

  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,681
    You've had an experience most of us hope we never have to have: you've been in the immediate area of a tornado.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • abacomikeabacomike Member Posts: 12,388
    nyccarguy said:

    After I graduated college, I went to visit a friend in Orange County, CA.  My 1st night there sleeping on his couch, I hear a banging on the window about a 1/2 hour after I went to sleep.  Being the ever so calm New Yorker, I jumped off the couch & ran straight into bed (with my friend & his girlfriend) screaming EARTHQUAKE!  

    After about 5 seconds, my friend says to me:  Bradd.  It's is a palm tree for heaven's sake!  Go back to sleep!

    Bradd, if you were experiencing an earthquake, believe me you would have known it. I'll never forget the Northridge, CA quake (Northridge is a suburb of LA in the San Fernando Valley). I was living in the desert (Palm Springs area, Palm Desert to be exact) at the time. I had already lived through a 7.3 quake called the "Landers Quake" and 15 minutes later, the "Big Bear Quake" (6.9), but the ground just swayed because there is very little bedrock out in the desert - mostly clay and sand, so it was like a boat on the ocean. But, when the Northridge Quake occurred (4:00 AM in the morning, IIRC), it was like a train banging into the foundation of my apartment complex. The jolt was so great I ended up on the floor of my bedroom. I ran into my son't bedroom because he had never experienced a quake before, but he was fast asleep. I woke him up, we both got some clothes on, and we then left the apartment because of the aftershock potential. There were 100's of aftershocks. Even though Big Bear and Landers were much closer to me than Northridge (85 miles away), the jolt was 10 times worse because of all the bedrock that was involved.

    I still prefer a good earthquake to a hurricane or tornado.

    2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger

  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,681
    I was all set to post yesterday when the tornado hit about my washer experience. When they say the washers require HE laundry soap, I said, "Yeah, sure." I used some inexpensive HE to try to get garage smells out of towels from the cars and garage use I had put in. I think I the towels that still had detergent in them that I had spun. They hadn't been rinses. Then I started to rewash and gave a good dose of the inexpensive HE stuff which has a good scent that I really like because the oil smell was still in the towels.

    Foam in washer at about half way up and far above water level, but when it spun out the foam climbed the sides. Then the washer wouldn't fill. It would do the immediate water squirt but wouldn't complete the water input after running into the soap dispenser. I was imagining adding on a new Whirlpool washer to out outstanding 10% off initial purchase at Lowes. But I was able to pour in water and get it to find it's correct sensor levels and whatever other inputs it uses for the computer control.

    When they say using normal suds soaps may cause problems with the washers, I now believe them. Note, the stuff I get from Menards (a northern regional version of Lowes/Home Depot) did say "HE." But I had noticed it made more foam when I added it to some loads of garage clothes and things.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    All this natural disaster talk reminds me that life if short. Drive what you like.
  • MichaellMichaell Moderator Posts: 263,148
    abacomike said:

    nyccarguy said:

    After I graduated college, I went to visit a friend in Orange County, CA.  My 1st night there sleeping on his couch, I hear a banging on the window about a 1/2 hour after I went to sleep.  Being the ever so calm New Yorker, I jumped off the couch & ran straight into bed (with my friend & his girlfriend) screaming EARTHQUAKE!  

    After about 5 seconds, my friend says to me:  Bradd.  It's is a palm tree for heaven's sake!  Go back to sleep!

    Bradd, if you were experiencing an earthquake, believe me you would have known it. I'll never forget the Northridge, CA quake (Northridge is a suburb of LA in the San Fernando Valley). I was living in the desert (Palm Springs area, Palm Desert to be exact) at the time. I had already lived through a 7.3 quake called the "Landers Quake" and 15 minutes later, the "Big Bear Quake" (6.9), but the ground just swayed because there is very little bedrock out in the desert - mostly clay and sand, so it was like a boat on the ocean. But, when the Northridge Quake occurred (4:00 AM in the morning, IIRC), it was like a train banging into the foundation of my apartment complex. The jolt was so great I ended up on the floor of my bedroom. I ran into my son't bedroom because he had never experienced a quake before, but he was fast asleep. I woke him up, we both got some clothes on, and we then left the apartment because of the aftershock potential. There were 100's of aftershocks. Even though Big Bear and Landers were much closer to me than Northridge (85 miles away), the jolt was 10 times worse because of all the bedrock that was involved.

    I still prefer a good earthquake to a hurricane or tornado.
    Michael, I had just moved to Colorado the year before the Northridge quake. I called my folks that morning - they live about 30-40 miles from the epicenter as the crow flies - and they described it the same way -- 'like someone had taken the foundation of the house and given it one hard shake'.

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    2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    I was driving a car during an earthquake one time. Let me tell you---dancing telephone poles get your attention.
  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,242
    edited January 2016
    nyccarguy said:

    After I graduated college, I went to visit a friend in Orange County, CA.  My 1st night there sleeping on his couch, I hear a banging on the window about a 1/2 hour after I went to sleep.  Being the ever so calm New Yorker, I jumped off the couch & ran straight into bed (with my friend & his girlfriend) screaming EARTHQUAKE!  

    After about 5 seconds, my friend says to me:  Bradd.  It's is a palm tree for heaven's sake!  Go back to sleep!

    NY isn't immune from tornados or earthquakes. There was a tornado just north of us a few years ago and one morning about 20+ years ago I awoke early one morning to doors banging and noise. I first thought it was my kids fooling around but as I felt the whole house rocking I realized it was a small earthquake.

    As a change of pace I stumbled on this little gem at the place where I get gas.



    https://albany.craigslist.org/cto/5422288143.html

    Seems a guy just moved from SC and his car started acting up right next door. Sputtered in with a bad distributor. Guy already has two other cars and can't keep a third where he lives so the garage owner offered to help him sell it. The mechanic said it would cost $4-5 hundred to do the repairs and the car is otherwise ok. $1000 for a little 5 speed vert? Tempting, very tempting.

    It's a sickness, I know. :'(



    2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    You have to be mighty careful about buying cars that don't run. If it won't start and you can't drive it around a few blocks, I'd just offer the junkyard price--$300 bucks.

  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,461
    I love those capris. I would buy it for that and take my chances, if I trusted the mechanic. Offer $700 and hard to like if otherwise clean. At least it did not come from rust belt.

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,242

    You have to be mighty careful about buying cars that don't run. If it won't start and you can't drive it around a few blocks, I'd just offer the junkyard price--$300 bucks.

    I talk to the shop mechanic who diagnosed it. I had dealings with this shop a few years ago when my truck died. I was going to have it towed to my regular mechanic but these folks fixed it for $40. Earned a bit of trust right there.

    So if he says that's all wrong....well...you gamble even with a running car.

    Truth is I need another car like a hole in the head. Also don't want my wife to make me sleep in it.

    2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible

  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,461
    If I was only closer. Wonder if my son would give up his garage space to store it for me?

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Oh c'mon, you'd look like a Shriner in that thing.





    You have to be mighty careful about buying cars that don't run. If it won't start and you can't drive it around a few blocks, I'd just offer the junkyard price--$300 bucks.

    I talk to the shop mechanic who diagnosed it. I had dealings with this shop a few years ago when my truck died. I was going to have it towed to my regular mechanic but these folks fixed it for $40. Earned a bit of trust right there.

    So if he says that's all wrong....well...you gamble even with a running car.

    Truth is I need another car like a hole in the head. Also don't want my wife to make me sleep in it.

  • berriberri Member Posts: 10,165
    Was that vintage Capri based on a Mazda?
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Yep, Mazda 323
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,749
    I find it a bit suspicious. I mean, if it was worth it, why wouldn't the shop buy it, fix it, and sell it as a good running car?

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • carnaughtcarnaught Member Posts: 3,582
    Mike, glad you are okay. I'll be in S. Fl. this next week. Hope things will have calmed down.
  • abacomikeabacomike Member Posts: 12,388
    carnaught said:
    Mike, glad you are okay. I'll be in S. Fl. this next week. Hope things will have calmed down.
    It's been raining for 3 days now.  Supposed to clear and get cool tomorrow but they are forecasting more rain next week.  Whereabouts in Florida are you going?

    2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger

  • carnaughtcarnaught Member Posts: 3,582
    edited January 2016
    Sunny Isles, Aventura, Ft. Lauderdale, then Sarasota. Thanks for the weather forecast.

    If I had the time, I'd definitely get together. Maybe with next trip there, in about 6 mos.
  • abacomikeabacomike Member Posts: 12,388
    carnaught said:
    Sunny Isles, Aventura, Ft. Lauderdale, then Sarasota. Thanks for the weather forecast. If I had the time, I'd definitely get together. Maybe with next trip there, in about 6 mos.
    Beautiful shopping mall at Adventura.  I drive down there every so often.  Not far from Gulfstream Park (horse racing venue).  My parents' first condo was only a mile from Adventura.

    Sunny Isles area is where I used to go when I was on winter and spring break from college.

    Don't get down there much any more.  I live about 10-15 miles north of Ft. Lauderdale.

    Have a safe trip!

    2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger

  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    My brother was in Sebring last night I think. With all the rain, I suspect they used the popup instead of putting the tent up (they often just use the tent for single overnight stays). Wave if you see an F-150 with TN plates pulling a popup. :)
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    berri said:

    We were under a tornado watch in Tampa Bay area

    Driver, now I thought all Canadians snowbird in Daytona Beach B)

    Only those from Quebec, other Canadians are on the Gulf side (generally) ;)

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    I have been busy....visitors who are staying for a week. Not used to people staying that long, but this has been fun.

    Just to catch up Mike, glad you came through the tornado in pretty good shape, slightly shook up I suppose - and the car made it through...otherwise it would be one of the quickest replacements in history.

    Michael, good luck with your trip. Hope it all works out the best possible.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • abacomikeabacomike Member Posts: 12,388
    driver100 said:
    We were under a tornado watch in Tampa Bay area Driver, now I thought all Canadians snowbird in Daytona Beach B)
    Only those from Quebec, other Canadians are on the Gulf side (generally) ;)
    We have several Canadians in my village - all have plates that say:

    "Je me souviens" - I remember - and all are Quebec plates.

    2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger

  • MichaellMichaell Moderator Posts: 263,148
    abacomike said:


    driver100 said:

    We were under a tornado watch in Tampa Bay area

    Driver, now I thought all Canadians snowbird in Daytona Beach B)
    Only those from Quebec, other Canadians are on the Gulf side (generally) ;)


    We have several Canadians in my village - all have plates that say:

    "Je me souviens" - I remember - and all are Quebec plates.

    Today's trivia question - what is it that they are supposed to remember?

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  • ab348ab348 Member Posts: 20,323
    Michaell said:

    abacomike said:


    We have several Canadians in my village - all have plates that say:

    "Je me souviens" - I remember - and all are Quebec plates.

    Today's trivia question - what is it that they are supposed to remember?
    IIRC, this was a controversial change when it was instituted by the separatist government a few decades ago.

    Quebec plates always used to have the slogan "La Belle Provence" - "the beautiful province". When it was changed to the current slogan it was supposed to be a reminder of the past treatment/repression of Quebec by the English who ran Canada, having to be a subject of the Queen, etc. It is the official motto of Quebec so that is the official reason it is on the plate.

    2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6

  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,242

    Oh c'mon, you'd look like a Shriner in that thing.







    You have to be mighty careful about buying cars that don't run. If it won't start and you can't drive it around a few blocks, I'd just offer the junkyard price--$300 bucks.

    I talk to the shop mechanic who diagnosed it. I had dealings with this shop a few years ago when my truck died. I was going to have it towed to my regular mechanic but these folks fixed it for $40. Earned a bit of trust right there.

    So if he says that's all wrong....well...you gamble even with a running car.

    Truth is I need another car like a hole in the head. Also don't want my wife to make me sleep in it.

    Ha ha is that Stick and me?

    2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    nyccarguy said:

    After I graduated college, I went to visit a friend in Orange County, CA.  My 1st night there sleeping on his couch, I hear a banging on the window about a 1/2 hour after I went to sleep.  Being the ever so calm New Yorker, I jumped off the couch & ran straight into bed (with my friend & his girlfriend) screaming EARTHQUAKE!  

    After about 5 seconds, my friend says to me:  Bradd.  It's is a palm tree for heaven's sake!  Go back to sleep!

    If I were in that position the first thing that would have come to mind would be that someone is trying to break in.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    I think I'd be thinking break in myself.

    Still fighting the cold but have it mostly licked.

    No keeping up in here.....
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    abacomike said:


    driver100 said:

    We were under a tornado watch in Tampa Bay area

    Driver, now I thought all Canadians snowbird in Daytona Beach B)
    Only those from Quebec, other Canadians are on the Gulf side (generally) ;)


    We have several Canadians in my village - all have plates that say:

    "Je me souviens" - I remember - and all are Quebec plates.

    I had Grade 13 French and I didn't know what ""Je me souviens" meant. For some reason Quebecers, who are mostly French like the East cost.....I guess because they are in Eastern Canada....rest of us like the West side of Florida.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    ab348 said:

    Michaell said:

    abacomike said:


    We have several Canadians in my village - all have plates that say:

    "Je me souviens" - I remember - and all are Quebec plates.

    Today's trivia question - what is it that they are supposed to remember?
    IIRC, this was a controversial change when it was instituted by the separatist government a few decades ago.

    Quebec plates always used to have the slogan "La Belle Provence" - "the beautiful province". When it was changed to the current slogan it was supposed to be a reminder of the past treatment/repression of Quebec by the English who ran Canada, having to be a subject of the Queen, etc. It is the official motto of Quebec so that is the official reason it is on the plate.
    Thanks ab, I had no idea. Tell them to get over it. They get so much in transfer payments from the rest of Canada they should be very thankful...instead of dwelling on what happened 100s of years ago.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • dino001dino001 Member Posts: 6,191
    driver100 said:


    Thanks ab, I had no idea. Tell them to get over it. They get so much in transfer payments from the rest of Canada they should be very thankful...instead of dwelling on what happened 100s of years ago.

    The thing with transfer payments, it's never enough, always too little, and something else "they" owe you.

    2018 430i Gran Coupe

  • roadburnerroadburner Member Posts: 18,357
    I looked at the Capri when new- utter cr*p.

    Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
    Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
    Son's: 2018 330i xDrive

  • suydamsuydam Member Posts: 5,076
    Oh one of the worst cars ever. But I got it at the end of its life -- basically a car that ran. Sometimes. It didn't have either A/C or hear working. I drove it for a year until it died and by then we could afford something better. I have no idea what it might have been like as a new car though.
    '24 Kia Sportage PHEV
    '24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
  • roadburnerroadburner Member Posts: 18,357
    Heat didn't work when they were new...

    Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
    Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
    Son's: 2018 330i xDrive

  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,461
    Its a convertible toy. If the top needs to go up or the heat go on, I'll use the real car!

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • nyccarguynyccarguy Member Posts: 17,524
    I don't know if it was in here or over in CCBA where a few of you talked about sometimes end of lease values being worth more than the stated residual and using that toward your advantage.

    I often wonder about that. Even though Ieasing is almost cost prohibitive for me due to the excessive miles I drive. I also think that unless the lease deal is UNREAL (like the current 2015 Q50s, not looking but just sayin') that as long as you can afford the payments that it is worth it to buy.

    Take the December 2015 deals on 2015 Acura TLX SH AWD Technology Pkg Cars. On a 36 month/15K per year lease:

    .0016 money factor = .384%
    50% residual value
    $3000 Lease cash

    You've got an Acura with an MSRP a little north of $42K
    A selling price of close to $5K off sticker
    a Residual value of 50% ($21K & change) plus almost zero interest

    Have you guys seen how much used or CPO Acuras go for? In 2018 that car is going to be worth what? $25K wholesale? Even with the 20K per year I drive.

    so back to financing vs. leasing. leasing gives you a cheaper payment because you are financing less money over more time. In the case of leasing the Acura, you are financing 50% of the car in 36 months. If you bought the car, you would have paid off 50% of the car 6 months earlier and you wouldn't be under water if you wanted to get out of it. After 3 years of financing, you've only got 2 years left to pay it off instead of another 3 years worth of lease payments.

    2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD

  • iluvmysephia1iluvmysephia1 Member Posts: 7,709
    edited January 2016
    Whew - abacomike, man, you got the tornado over in Florida? I'm the one in Kansas! Wife and I are still settling in to the new (ta us) house here in south Dodge City - got the DirecTV hooked up around lunchtime Thursday. I work Mon.-Wed. nights so Thursday's are days to sleep as long as I can during the day. The installer from DirecTV was set to come between 12:00 noon and 4:00 PM. The phone rings about 10:30AM - somebody cancelled, so he was ready to do ours. Alrighty then - we now have TV. I canceled the Showtime/Starz movie package as the Mrs. and I have a few places in town we just rent DVD's from. 'Bone Tomahawk' with Kurt Russell is entertaining but sickening, too. It's about savage canibals in the wild west time period. We are in Dodge City, KS, after all. I don't think Dodge has a history of cannibalism, it's just so wild, wild west is what I meant by that.

    Another one I'm watching is 'Martian' starring Matt Damon. He gets flicked on the surface of Mars several hundred feet from NASA's Mars station in a Marsstorm and the rest of the crew thinks he's dead. They just leave him - he was laying on the surface not moving. Come on! Any medical worker knows that that doesn't mean anything! The movie is about how he picks up the pieces - grows food and tries to contact NASA to get him back to earth. Still watching it - not too bad for adventure. And for all of you Jesse Stone fans there's a brand new Jesse Stone DVD out. Came out Tuesday, we bought it and I still need to watch. Mrs.iluvmysephia1 says it doesn't disappoint. The only Tom Selleck movies or TV series that I like, except 'Quigley Down Under' - that's a good movie.

    Anyhow - today we have some errands in and around town and need to hit the apartment and pack some more stuff into the '11 Kia Soul and bring it to the new place in town. Then clean up very, very well. We want some of our deposit back, yes. Pretty soon we're hoping for things to settle down and they're starting to now. It's not like we never move. Or anything.

    abacomike, man, I'll pray for your safety if you'd like. Man, you've been through hell the past year. Take good care and I'll chat with y'all later.

    2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    nyccarguy said:

    I don't know if it was in here or over in CCBA where a few of you talked about sometimes end of lease values being worth more than the stated residual and using that toward your advantage.

    I often wonder about that. Even though Ieasing is almost cost prohibitive for me due to the excessive miles I drive. I also think that unless the lease deal is UNREAL (like the current 2015 Q50s, not looking but just sayin') that as long as you can afford the payments that it is worth it to buy.

    Take the December 2015 deals on 2015 Acura TLX SH AWD Technology Pkg Cars. On a 36 month/15K per year lease:

    .0016 money factor = .384%
    50% residual value
    $3000 Lease cash

    You've got an Acura with an MSRP a little north of $42K
    A selling price of close to $5K off sticker
    a Residual value of 50% ($21K & change) plus almost zero interest

    Have you guys seen how much used or CPO Acuras go for? In 2018 that car is going to be worth what? $25K wholesale? Even with the 20K per year I drive.

    so back to financing vs. leasing. leasing gives you a cheaper payment because you are financing less money over more time. In the case of leasing the Acura, you are financing 50% of the car in 36 months. If you bought the car, you would have paid off 50% of the car 6 months earlier and you wouldn't be under water if you wanted to get out of it. After 3 years of financing, you've only got 2 years left to pay it off instead of another 3 years worth of lease payments.

    My view is that if you are the type who wants a new car more often and you don't drive a whole lot then leasing is the way to go. As you said the monthly payments are lower and you change out cars every few years.

    However keeping a car for the long term tends to be less expensive. Within the year me and the wife will be car payment free with the very real prospect that we can stay that way for at least 5 more years (currently having only one car payment as my car has been paid off for over a year). We plan on making car payments to ourselves to get a nice fund for car replacements.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    One thing NYC....just wondering. Have you ever heard of returning a leased car - at the end of the lease - and the dealer allowing you more than the car is worth?

    I suppose you could buy it back and trade it in, or sell privately, but by the time you take care of taxes and advertising it may not be worth it.

    I am sure some cars are worth more than they calculated in the original agreement...but, the lease involves the manufacturer and the customer....I suppose the dealer could buy the car from the manufacturer and then give consumer the difference.

    Interesting theory though....some leased cars come back in OK shape, others are probably worth more than the average amount calculated. Especially say, someone leases a big SUV when gas is high, buy back is calculated to be very low, gas prices nose dive, big SUVs are in demand! Interesting..........

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    edited January 2016

    However keeping a car for the long term tends to be less expensive. Within the year me and the wife will be car payment free.

    Folks over in Chronic Car Buyers are counting up the number of cars they've owned. Someone asked (okay, me) how long anyone has gone without a car payment. No one cared to answer, which is sort of the point of that discussion.

    My last one was in 1982 and even then I got personal loan for $1,000 that I paid off within a year (the car price was around $6k iirc). It was that Tercel in my avatar pic.

  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,461
    Yes, you can trade in a lease and have equity.

    I'm also looking forward to being payment free someday. We were for a while. Becoming tuition free and kicking the last kid out of the (financial) nest needs to happen first!

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • suydamsuydam Member Posts: 5,076
    We mostly paid cash for ours until the 2000s. And we pay them off before the end of the loan. 
    '24 Kia Sportage PHEV
    '24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
  • sdasda Member Posts: 7,598
    edited January 2016
    With the exception of a few short periods between 95-98 I have had a car payment since I graduated college in 83. My fault because of my passion for cars. Wife would drive the wheels off a car if I let her. She has been very understanding with my 'hobby'. I have had both the Pilot and Accord for more than 2 years.. a long time for me. Time to find that next punch!
    stever said:

    However keeping a car for the long term tends to be less expensive. Within the year me and the wife will be car payment free.

    Folks over in Chronic Car Buyers are counting up the number of cars they've owned. Someone asked (okay, me) how long anyone has gone without a car payment. No one cared to answer, which is sort of the point of that discussion.

    My last one was in 1982 and even then I got personal loan for $1,000 that I paid off within a year (the car price was around $6k iirc). It was that Tercel in my avatar pic.

    2021 VW Arteon SEL 4-motion, 2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech

  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,242
    driver100 said:

    One thing NYC....just wondering. Have you ever heard of returning a leased car - at the end of the lease - and the dealer allowing you more than the car is worth?

    I suppose you could buy it back and trade it in, or sell privately, but by the time you take care of taxes and advertising it may not be worth it.

    I am sure some cars are worth more than they calculated in the original agreement...but, the lease involves the manufacturer and the customer....I suppose the dealer could buy the car from the manufacturer and then give consumer the difference.

    Interesting theory though....some leased cars come back in OK shape, others are probably worth more than the average amount calculated. Especially say, someone leases a big SUV when gas is high, buy back is calculated to be very low, gas prices nose dive, big SUVs are in demand! Interesting..........

    By that logic now should be the time to lease a super fuel sipper. In three years if gas goes back up it should be worth more than the buyout.

    Along those same lines would compact and fuel efficient USED cars be going for bargain rates these days?

    2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible

  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    edited January 2016
    I'm not complaining @sda, you have to spend your money on something and no hobby is cheap. Have had house payments since '75 (and some rentals in there) and have yet to pay off a mortgage.

    This should be a great time to buy a Prius.
  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,242

    I looked at the Capri when new- utter cr*p.

    Compared with the Miata which they were supose to compete, I guess they were but a comparable Miata now would be twice the price or more.

    Funny since they were both Mazdas.

    2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Somehow the word "Mazda", when translated into Australian, came out sounding like "Yugo".

    That's a lot of money for a geranium planter, O.F.
  • roadburnerroadburner Member Posts: 18,357
    edited January 2016
    stever said:

    However keeping a car for the long term tends to be less expensive. Within the year me and the wife will be car payment free.

    Folks over in Chronic Car Buyers are counting up the number of cars they've owned. Someone asked (okay, me) how long anyone has gone without a car payment. No one cared to answer, which is sort of the point of that discussion.

    My last one was in 1982 and even then I got personal loan for $1,000 that I paid off within a year (the car price was around $6k iirc). It was that Tercel in my avatar pic.

    I missed that; we didn't have a car payment from 2007 to 2012, when we bought the E90 That Nobody Loves. Got a 0.9% 24 month loan from BMWFS and finished paying it off in 2014. One reason I hate to buy a new(er) car- my only consumer debt I have are a couple of short-term 0.0% loans from Best Buy and Lenscrafters- both of which will be paid off by August.

    Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
    Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
    Son's: 2018 330i xDrive

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