Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

nyccarguy

Thanks guys! My daughter is definitely a cutie. She's the baby of the family. Hard to believe she starts K in the fall.

driver100

Great picture snake.

It would cost a lot less to just go out and buy a nice car...you can get a fairly nice car for $100k, but, you don't have the fun of putting together your own car. Or, in this case, directing someone you hired to put together the car for you.

Meanwhile the guy is building up a business he has been working on for 3 years so far, it isn't profitable yet, but he is planning on selling the business one day for lots of money.

snakeweasel

driver100 said:

Great picture snake.

It would cost a lot less to just go out and buy a nice car...you can get a fairly nice car for $100k, but, you don't have the fun of putting together your own car. Or, in this case, directing someone you hired to put together the car for you.

Meanwhile the guy is building up a business he has been working on for 3 years so far, it isn't profitable yet, but he is planning on selling the business one day for lots of money.

The car in the picture was inspired by the Johnny Cash song "One Piece at a Time" which is about a guy working for GM stealing a Caddy by taking one piece of it home every day.

Now just how much fun is it being the middle man that the parts go through? This would be like getting fishing gear and hiring someone to fish for you. Now building the car yourself I can see, but hiring someone to do it for you simply escapes me.

graphicguy

Stick...Driver....good perspective on my deal. Thanks!

I guess what it boils down to, do I like the BMW enough to make a swap and write the check? Or, do I hate the CTS that much to finally get out of it?

I have varying degrees of like for the BMW, just as I have varying degrees of loath for the CTS (although none in the last few months).

The current CTS is quite a nice car. And, it gives up nothing to the other lux/sports sedans out there (except for your E400 with the sweet motor, Driver).

The good news is, I don't have to do anything.

I might pop over to the dealership later tonight and see what they think of the CTS after they drive it.

graphicguy

driver100 said:

graphicguy said:

I think we're too far apart. $4K is a pretty big delta!

Too bad, I liked the GT.

GG, it was worth a try.

$10k would be a great deal though, maybe $12k is more in the ballpark.....and may be worth it........Driver Method, $500 a year more for next 4 years!

But, only you know how badly you want to switch.

My wife had a great 1992 Saab, and on a very rainy day, in the neighborhood plaza, where they changed the cement parking blocks to go in another direction, she hit one. Her Saab had $9000 worth of repairs. It drove the same after the repairs, and she loved that car, but she wanted another car...just didn't feel right any more.

Same with the A4, when they blamed her for the clutch being worn....she wanted out....the car was tainted.

I am glad we switched the A4 for a GLK, but, I wish we had kept the Saab....the 95 Volvo wasn't very good!
Win some....Lose some!

BTW....you're not the only one who has lamented the passing of Saab. I have a colleague who loves them so much, that he still believes they'll start making them, again. He has two of them. One is a 9000 Turbo (not sure the year) and the other is one of the last GM Saabs (again, not sure the year).

driver100

GG, I think the best move is to do what you are doing. You would probably prefer the BMW, and it is worth $10k for you to do the deal, but, you are content to keep the CTS if the difference is greater.

Let them look at the CTS, don't seem like you care that much whether they take you up on the deal....they can sense that. If it doesn't work out there are more fishes in the sea.

driver100

graphicguy said:

driver100 said:

graphicguy said:

I think we're too far apart. $4K is a pretty big delta!

Too bad, I liked the GT.

GG, it was worth a try.

$10k would be a great deal though, maybe $12k is more in the ballpark.....and may be worth it........Driver Method, $500 a year more for next 4 years!

But, only you know how badly you want to switch.

My wife had a great 1992 Saab, and on a very rainy day, in the neighborhood plaza, where they changed the cement parking blocks to go in another direction, she hit one. Her Saab had $9000 worth of repairs. It drove the same after the repairs, and she loved that car, but she wanted another car...just didn't feel right any more.

Same with the A4, when they blamed her for the clutch being worn....she wanted out....the car was tainted.

I am glad we switched the A4 for a GLK, but, I wish we had kept the Saab....the 95 Volvo wasn't very good!
Win some....Lose some!

BTW....you're not the only one who has lamented the passing of Saab. I have a colleague who loves them so much, that he still believes they'll start making them, again. He has two of them. One is a 9000 Turbo (not sure the year) and the other is one of the last GM Saabs (again, not sure the year).

Everyone who got in the Saab 9000 (turbo) loved it. Comfortable, large interior, great ride and handling, good power. Great design too, a hatchback with a huge cargo area. We miss our Saab.

driver100

snakeweasel said:

driver100 said:

Great picture snake.

It would cost a lot less to just go out and buy a nice car...you can get a fairly nice car for $100k, but, you don't have the fun of putting together your own car. Or, in this case, directing someone you hired to put together the car for you.

Meanwhile the guy is building up a business he has been working on for 3 years so far, it isn't profitable yet, but he is planning on selling the business one day for lots of money.

The car in the picture was inspired by the Johnny Cash song "One Piece at a Time" which is about a guy working for GM stealing a Caddy by taking one piece of it home every day.

Now just how much fun is it being the middle man that the parts go through? This would be like getting fishing gear and hiring someone to fish for you. Now building the car yourself I can see, but hiring someone to do it for you simply escapes me.

I know the song...never saw that picture.

It makes no sense for someone to build the car for him when it is his "hobby". They say if you built a car from parts it would cost 20X what the car would cost to buy. So, it makes no sense at all on any level. I think he is living in a fantasy world...wants a handbuilt car but doesn't want to spend the time and energy putting it together....it is crazy

stever

Isn't that kind of like what stock car drivers did back in the day? Rip the car down and rebuild each part to factory spec?

oldfarmer50

Just a random story on why I feel old sometimes.

The other day after shaving I reach for a towel and sent my Timex watch flying on the tile. Blew up like a bomb. Tried to put it back together but no luck so off to Wally World for a new one. Found one I liked for 30 bucks (when did they get so pricey?) and checked out.

On the way out the door I realized i couldn't set it to the correct time because I had put a new battery in the car and that screwed up the time on the car clock. So I asked a passing young guy (early 20s) for the time.

He looked at the wrist watch he was wearing with a puzzled look then pulled out his smart phone and said "8:27".

Huh?

Has the world progressed to the point where young people can't tell time from a watch any more? I know my 8th graders on the bus can't unless it's a numerical readout. They are totally confused if I tell them the time is "a quarter to 9".

Heaven help us if the power ever fails.

Oh, to keep this car related, I then walked back to my car and reset the clock.

ab348

FWIW, @oldfarmer50 , I stopped wearing a wristwatch shortly after I retired. No need for it now and I like not having that thing on my wrist. When I need to know the time I either look at the car's dash if I'm in it, or look at my iPhone.

stever

Old tech in your car eh? The new clocks all call the Navy and sync up.

Kind of surprised that the guy on the street didn't say "Siri, what time is it?".

sda

We had a nice visit from the in laws over the weekend. They have an '03 Camry XLE V6 that they bought new and they have taken great care of it. It is detailed once a year and is garage kept, about 145k. I had the chance to drive it, the first time in about 2 years. Though it is typical Camry soft, it still drives like a new car. I know my in laws would like to have a newer car, but they hesitate because they are in their 80's and this car has been such a good one. Talking to my father in law, he used to trade cars every 2 years or so because he traveled for business, he could also be a member of CCBA as he's owned about 40 cars. He says this Camry has been the best car by far. It has been trouble free and inexpensive to run. And no...it does not have a bashed in rear bumper. lol

This is a quick picture of it.

graphicguy

driver100 said:

GG, I think the best move is to do what you are doing. You would probably prefer the BMW, and it is worth $10k for you to do the deal, but, you are content to keep the CTS if the difference is greater.

Let them look at the CTS, don't seem like you care that much whether they take you up on the deal....they can sense that. If it doesn't work out there are more fishes in the sea.

Thanks, Driver. Kind of summed up exactly how I feel.

OldFarmer....I still weara wristwatch. These days, it's mostly an Apple Watch because I track the number of miles I (attempt) to walk each day. Plus, it alerts me to work emails and some other features I like.

But, on weekends, I bring out my "good watch(es)"....all mechanical or automatics, made in Switzerland. They're jewelry more than anything. Plus, like my cars, I appreciate a finely tuned mechanical device.

graphicguy

sda said:

We had a nice visit from the in laws over the weekend. They have an '03 Camry XLE V6 that they bought new and they have taken great care of it. It is detailed once a year and is garage kept, about 145k. I had the chance to drive it, the first time in about 2 years. Though it is typical Camry soft, it still drives like a new car. I know my in laws would like to have a newer car, but they hesitate because they are in their 80's and this car has been such a good one. Talking to my father in law, he used to trade cars every 2 years or so because he traveled for business, he could also be a member of CCBA as he's owned about 40 cars. He says this Camry has been the best car by far. It has been trouble free and inexpensive to run. And no...it does not have a bashed in rear bumper. lol

This is a quick picture of it.

SDA...one of my golf buddies just traded a Camry XLE V6 of the same vintage, color, almost identical to the one you posted. He traded it in on a new Avalon. Toyota does a good job of "holding onto their own". Not a lot of people stray from them once they "hook" them.

fezo

My daughter has an 04 Camry that still drives like it's new. 200K+ on it.

Her older sister has an 07 Camry with 177K on it same thing.

Not my cup of tea but they love them. I wouldn't think twice about hopping in one and driving it across the country.

Meanwhile, my wife and I went away for a few days to celebrate 31 years. Down to Lewes, DE which is a great town to poke around and has the added benefit of being at the other end of the Cape May ferry so two nice 75 minute or so boat rides. Took the Miata. Couldn't have been better.

graphicguy

fezo said:

My daughter has an 04 Camry that still drives like it's new. 200K+ on it.

Her older sister has an 07 Camry with 177K on it same thing.

Not my cup of tea but they love them. I wouldn't think twice about hopping in one and driving it across the country.

Meanwhile, my wife and I went away for a few days to celebrate 31 years. Down to Lewes, DE which is a great town to poke around and has the added benefit of being at the other end of the Cape May ferry so two nice 75 minute or so boat rides. Took the Miata. Couldn't have been better.

Fezo...congrats to you and the Mrs!

bwia

oldfarmer50 said:

Just a random story on why I feel old sometimes.

The other day after shaving I reach for a towel and sent my Timex watch flying on the tile. Blew up like a bomb. Tried to put it back together but no luck so off to Wally World for a new one. Found one I liked for 30 bucks (when did they get so pricey?) and checked out.

On the way out the door I realized i couldn't set it to the correct time because I had put a new battery in the car and that screwed up the time on the car clock. So I asked a passing young guy (early 20s) for the time.

He looked at the wrist watch he was wearing with a puzzled look then pulled out his smart phone and said "8:27".

Huh?

Has the world progressed to the point where young people can't tell time from a watch any more? I know my 8th graders on the bus can't unless it's a numerical readout. They are totally confused if I tell them the time is "a quarter to 9".

Heaven help us if the power ever fails.

Oh, to keep this car related, I then walked back to my car and reset the clock.

Does your Timex look just like the Shinola? http://www.shinola.com/shop/watches/mens-watches.html

imidazol97

One of the shopping channels spends a lot of time selling Invicta watches. How good are those?

henryn

And why, prey tell, are you spending a lot of time watching the shopping channels?

Sorry, couldn't resist.

oldfarmer50

stever said:

Old tech in your car eh? The new clocks all call the Navy and sync up.

Kind of surprised that the guy on the street didn't say "Siri, what time is it?".

I think my car is older than the kid I asked.

oldfarmer50

graphicguy said:

driver100 said:

GG, I think the best move is to do what you are doing. You would probably prefer the BMW, and it is worth $10k for you to do the deal, but, you are content to keep the CTS if the difference is greater.

Let them look at the CTS, don't seem like you care that much whether they take you up on the deal....they can sense that. If it doesn't work out there are more fishes in the sea.

Thanks, Driver. Kind of summed up exactly how I feel.

OldFarmer....I still weara wristwatch. These days, it's mostly an Apple Watch because I track the number of miles I (attempt) to walk each day. Plus, it alerts me to work emails and some other features I like.

But, on weekends, I bring out my "good watch(es)"....all mechanical or automatics, made in Switzerland. They're jewelry more than anything. Plus, like my cars, I appreciate a finely tuned mechanical device.

Must say something about our personalities...you like fine tuned mechanical devices while I'm content with cheap beaters.

ab348

imidazol97 said:

One of the shopping channels spends a lot of time selling Invicta watches. How good are those?

Are they a Buick product?

oldfarmer50

bwia said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Just a random story on why I feel old sometimes.

The other day after shaving I reach for a towel and sent my Timex watch flying on the tile. Blew up like a bomb. Tried to put it back together but no luck so off to Wally World for a new one. Found one I liked for 30 bucks (when did they get so pricey?) and checked out.

On the way out the door I realized i couldn't set it to the correct time because I had put a new battery in the car and that screwed up the time on the car clock. So I asked a passing young guy (early 20s) for the time.

He looked at the wrist watch he was wearing with a puzzled look then pulled out his smart phone and said "8:27".

Huh?

Has the world progressed to the point where young people can't tell time from a watch any more? I know my 8th graders on the bus can't unless it's a numerical readout. They are totally confused if I tell them the time is "a quarter to 9".

Heaven help us if the power ever fails.

Oh, to keep this car related, I then walked back to my car and reset that e clock.

Does your Timex look just like the Shinola? http://www.shinola.com/shop/watches/mens-watches.html

Interesting. The store had a selection of watches that looked just like those. They were $7.88. I decided that was too cheap even for me.

fezo

I have a bunch of wristwatches but I don't think any of them cost more than $40. Mostly Timex.

Just had the Miata in for the first thing that wasn't maintenance related. The clutch pedal started clicking and the cruise control stopped working. Turned out to be the same thing causing both. All is well.

imidazol97

ab348 said:

imidazol97 said:

One of the shopping channels spends a lot of time selling Invicta watches. How good are those?

Are they a Buick product?

Evine network peddles them like they're Hondas and toyotas! LOL. Almost everytime in the
evening if I"m running through channels I find Invicta watches being peddle as if they're the
best thing since Chevrolet.!

My last watch was a Timex and I lost the receipt so I couldn't trade it in when it quit working.
For 15 years I've used a phone for my watch.

graphicguy

oldfarmer50 said:

graphicguy said:

driver100 said:

GG, I think the best move is to do what you are doing. You would probably prefer the BMW, and it is worth $10k for you to do the deal, but, you are content to keep the CTS if the difference is greater.

Let them look at the CTS, don't seem like you care that much whether they take you up on the deal....they can sense that. If it doesn't work out there are more fishes in the sea.

Thanks, Driver. Kind of summed up exactly how I feel.

OldFarmer....I still weara wristwatch. These days, it's mostly an Apple Watch because I track the number of miles I (attempt) to walk each day. Plus, it alerts me to work emails and some other features I like.

But, on weekends, I bring out my "good watch(es)"....all mechanical or automatics, made in Switzerland. They're jewelry more than anything. Plus, like my cars, I appreciate a finely tuned mechanical device.

Must say something about our personalities...you like fine tuned mechanical devices while I'm content with cheap beaters.

Now...now! I would say you are a purveyor of finely patina'd electro-mechanical transportation and time management devices.

graphicguy

I see those Invicta watches everywhere...dept stores, discount stores, Costco, Sam's Club, TV sales channels. I have never owned one. Don't know if they're any good. But, they are everywhere.

fezo

Shinola watches? Wouldn't know them from....

Michaell

graphicguy said:

I see those Invicta watches everywhere...dept stores, discount stores, Costco, Sam's Club, TV sales channels. I have never owned one. Don't know if they're any good. But, they are everywhere.

I've got one on my wrist as I type this at the airport. 

Daughter got it for me on my last birthday. 

Stylish st and it's never had a problem keeping the correct time. 

jmonroe

oldfarmer50 said:

graphicguy said:

driver100 said:

GG, I think the best move is to do what you are doing. You would probably prefer the BMW, and it is worth $10k for you to do the deal, but, you are content to keep the CTS if the difference is greater.

Let them look at the CTS, don't seem like you care that much whether they take you up on the deal....they can sense that. If it doesn't work out there are more fishes in the sea.

Thanks, Driver. Kind of summed up exactly how I feel.

OldFarmer....I still weara wristwatch. These days, it's mostly an Apple Watch because I track the number of miles I (attempt) to walk each day. Plus, it alerts me to work emails and some other features I like.

But, on weekends, I bring out my "good watch(es)"....all mechanical or automatics, made in Switzerland. They're jewelry more than anything. Plus, like my cars, I appreciate a finely tuned mechanical device.

Must say something about our personalities...you like fine tuned mechanical devices while I'm content with cheap beaters.

Until I saw that these beaters were turbo's http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/kitchenaid-stainless-steel-turbo-beaters/1011440320?skuId=11440320&mcid=PS_googlepla_nonbrand_kitchenelectrics_&adpos=1o4&creative=43742642989&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&product_id=11440320&gclid=CNHUwuOeyc0CFc5Zhgod4QEDRQ I didn't get the connection to cars. But, they are in your price range.

jmonroe

imidazol97

Michaell said:

I've got one on my wrist as I type this at the airport. 

Daughter got it for me on my last birthday. 

Stylish st and it's never had a problem keeping the correct time. 

From small amounts of TV time on Evine channel, it looks like they have an Invicta model
for all sorts of style and use needs. Interesting marketing.

explorerx4

I haven't worn a watch in almost 40 years, although I still have a few.
Verizon time is the only one that counts.

jmonroe

snakeweasel said:

driver100 said:

Great picture snake.

It would cost a lot less to just go out and buy a nice car...you can get a fairly nice car for $100k, but, you don't have the fun of putting together your own car. Or, in this case, directing someone you hired to put together the car for you.

Meanwhile the guy is building up a business he has been working on for 3 years so far, it isn't profitable yet, but he is planning on selling the business one day for lots of money.

The car in the picture was inspired by the Johnny Cash song "One Piece at a Time" which is about a guy working for GM stealing a Caddy by taking one piece of it home every day.

Now just how much fun is it being the middle man that the parts go through? This would be like getting fishing gear and hiring someone to fish for you. Now building the car yourself I can see, but hiring someone to do it for you simply escapes me.

'snake', given that this is a car site your analogy is kinda fishy. A more fitting one would be someone who buys a BMW M Series but hires a guy to take it to the track and then let him know how it performs.

jmonroe

driver100

OF, young people today don't have watches since they all have cell phones. Me, I feel naked going out in public without a watch, especially since I only use my cell phone once a month to let my wife know I am coming home late from tennis or pickleball.

Imid, is the Invicta the cheaper model and the Roadmaster the upscale model?

stever

explorerx4 said:

I haven't worn a watch in almost 40 years.

Me too also - somewhere I have a self winding Timex that works. Found it on the beach in Carmel in my 20s. Glasses I tolerate, but I don't wear a wedding band either. I'd never fit the Corvette stereotype for my age group.

fordfool

fezo said:

I have a bunch of wristwatches but I don't think any of them cost more than $40. Mostly Timex.

That's about the most you can spend for a watch. More than that and it's jewelry.

snakeweasel

imidazol97 said:

One of the shopping channels spends a lot of time selling Invicta watches. How good are those?

They tell time just like any other watch.

roadburner

My wife gave me a Heuer Black Coral Professional Divers watch for a wedding present; on our 30th anniversary she insisted that I buy the Tag Heuer Formula 1 McLaren Special Edition. I always liked the Tag Heuer watches because of the motorsport connection and the Formula 1 McLaren watch is very cool...

fezo

fordfool said:

fezo said:

I have a bunch of wristwatches but I don't think any of them cost more than $40. Mostly Timex.

That's about the most you can spend for a watch. More than that and it's jewelry.

Exactly so.

You can't sell a watch that doesn't keep very good time anymore. I've checked the Timex I wear most days and it doesn't vary more than a second in a month. I have an odd combination of things. I'm not terribly good about doing things on time but I always want any clock or watch to give me the exact time.

snakeweasel

fezo said:

fordfool said:

fezo said:

I have a bunch of wristwatches but I don't think any of them cost more than $40. Mostly Timex.

That's about the most you can spend for a watch. More than that and it's jewelry.

Exactly so.

You can't sell a watch that doesn't keep very good time anymore. I've checked the Timex I wear most days and it doesn't vary more than a second in a month. I have an odd combination of things. I'm not terribly good about doing things on time but I always want any clock or watch to give me the exact time.

Quartz watches typically keep very good time while mechanical watches can vary greatly. The reason for this is that mechanical watches have many moving parts that must be precisely balanced in order to work accurately. If it's not balanced right the watch will likely run either fast or slow. The problem is that for the watch to keep accurate time it has to be in the position that the watch is balance for and most watches are balance for either 5 or 7 positions. If it's not in one of those positions the watch will not keep good time. During the course of the day your arm, and therefor your watch, would not be in one of those positions for a considerable time.

Since a quartz watch is not affected by position it does not have the issues mentioned above and will keep more accurate time.

Michaell

Since we are talking about watches, my mom sent me a couple of my dads old Seiko watches. I don't know very much about them, other then they don't seem to have a battery.

imidazol97

driver100 said:

Imid, is the Invicta the cheaper model and the Roadmaster the upscale model?

Nice catch for a play on the names. I love puns especially double and triple puns.

ab348

Michaell said:

Since we are talking about watches, my mom sent me a couple of my dads old Seiko watches. I don't know very much about them, other then they don't seem to have a battery.

They may be like mine. I bought a Seiko mechanical self-winding watch around the year 2000 or so. Nice-looking watch, but it always kept lousy time. If you didn't wear it every day of course, it would eventually stop too. But the main issue was its accuracy, it would lose time even if you wore it every day. I could have taken it back to where I bought it because they had a watchmaster there who worked on watches when he wasn't selling them, but I never did and now the place is gone.

imidazol97

driver100 said:

OF, young people today don't have watches since they all have cell phones.

My son wears watches despite his reliance on his Android. However, his watches are worn at certain times: not during his regular workday. He buys interesting watches that have something eye-catching about them, which is why watches catch my eye on shopping channels, with the Invictas being peddled by Evine shopping channel and rarely on one of the two main ones. I doubt Imid Jr. has paid more than $40 discount at Kohls when he saw a watch he wanted. So the Invictas look really pricey.

Just as a matter of explanation, I do not sit and watch shopping channels which I think was suggested. LOL. TV is off if I'm around or on [nonpermissible content deleted] news. But I like to watch the shopping channels peddle the computers, laptops, and all-in-ones. I also watch some of the notepads to see what features they have.

sda

I purchased on E-bay two Invicta watches. They were both around $60. Seem to be of reasonable quality and keep accurate time. I wonder if anyone ever buys them at their suggested retail price. One came with a tag of $395, and the other $595. lol

nyccarguy

High end watches do hold their value and appreciate as well

graphicguy

nyccarguy said:

High end watches do hold their value and appreciate as well

They do, indeed! Most of those are swiss made, mechanical/automatics. Some American and German made watches will hold their value, too.

However, there are a ton of Chinese made knockoffs which really are little more than disposable watches.

Seiko, Citizen, Orient are all Japanese watches of good quality.

oldfarmer50

imidazol97 said:

driver100 said:

Imid, is the Invicta the cheaper model and the Roadmaster the upscale model?

Nice catch for a play on the names. I love puns especially double and triple puns.

That Buick in the top picture is really cool looking. What year and model?

stickguy

I don't fit in here. I am much more interested in the 2 volvos behind the roadmaster, than in any old barge!