Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

suydam

When I was 10 I used to leave the house in the morning on my bike and not come home till evening. Nowadays I see beautiful parks with playgrounds completely empty very close to my house. And the kids play in the cul de sac between houses. Unless the parents are willing to go to the park they won't let the kids go there. I think in our day bad things still happened but people didn't know about them unless they happened right nearby.

explorerx4

@Driver100,
Here are some of the parts from your crashed E350:

https://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/6014074688.html
https://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/6014102014.html
https://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/6014122527.html
https://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/6014137517.html
https://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/6014129914.html

Mr_Shiftright

Hey, don't make fun of Civil War veterans!

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

I'm the same way. no chance they would do what I did, and have no idea where they were all day.

In summer we would be gone on our bikes from morning until "the street lights came on". We went into the woods and into the city unsupervised every day without a care. The only thing we worried about was that someone would tell on us to our parents.

Was that blissful ignorance or a different world?

Note: I see suydam said almost the same thing. Interesting.

Mr_Shiftright

Same with me. I think there were fewer crazies roaming the streets then, yes.

If I really wanted to aggravate my mother, when she said "Be careful. Don't talk to strangers. You might get kidnapped!"

And I'd reply: "I wish".

graphicguy

qbrozen said:

There is no way in hell I would let my 7-yr-old or even 11-yr-old do the things I did as a kid. I don't mind motorized equipment, but to wander miles from home unsupervised? Not a chance.

Amen.....saved grass cutting money when I was 14 and bought a well used 175cc Honda Motorcyle that I told my parents I was going to ride only on trails. Why they didn't ask me how I got the cycle to the trails, still befuddles me. Maybe they always knew, and thought it would be a good learning experience.

Did things on that motorcycle that should have caused major injury or death. Obviously I suffered neither.

I bought my first car (again with my own money) 6 months before I could get my temporary license. $50.......Mercury Comet station wagon.....the most "uncool" car you could get. Thing leaked like a sieve. Learned how to change the oil pan gasket, valve cover gasket, hoses, set the points and timing, changed plugs, wires, distributor, headlights, twilight, wiper motor, etc. Rebuilt that (tiny) carburetor.

I remember it to this day. Drove it without a license. No one bothered me, except my Dad, who said if I was in a wreck, my future was ruined. And, that he would swear I didn't have permission to use the car. Can't remember if I had to put it in his name, or if I didn't even register it (probably the latter).

Stayed away from the places cops would be, and stayed away from driving in a way that would draw attention.....kind of like my driving habits, today!

jmonroe

abacomike said:

qbrozen said:

Ok, my "dangerous" toys weren't nearly as old, but my folks had absolutely no concern for the safety of things.

I think I was about 7 or so when they got me one of these and would let me ride, unattended, miles from the house in the woods and gravel pits behind our house. Pretty sure I didn't have a helmet.




A bit later, maybe when I was 12 or so, we got 2 of these. My brother and I would, again, ride unsupervised a good 5 miles from the house to a impromptu motorcycle track. These, of course, were far far safer just in their construction, but we habitually would roll them and just beat them and ourselves mercilessly.

Your parents had no concern for the safety of things?  What about the safety of their kids - you and your brother?  They just trusted you more than my parents trusted me and my twin brother.

I sure wish I had parents like yours - I couldn't even get a bike out of my parents because they thought bikes were too dangerous.  Between you and me, I don't think they could afford to buy us bikes - when I was younger, we really didn't have much.  It wasn't until I started college that my Dad started making great money.

You think you had it tough?

My parents told me to go play in traffic. Getting out of the way of a '55 Roadmaster came in handy when trying to get away from kids trying to tackle me when I played football at all levels.

Sometimes your parents teach you things they didn't even know were lessons at the time.

jmonroe

andres3

driver100 said:

Instead of CU or JDP surveys it would be nice to have Lemon Law surveys. How many cars from which manufacturer go through the process. How many times do consumers win compared to manufacturers. What happened to the cars to bring them to kangaroo err, Lemon Law court?

I did catch this:
This issue is becoming increasingly problematic as the numbers of cases filed by
the legal profession increases. Generally, consumers represented by certain law
firms have no direct contact with BBB AUTO LINE and tend to fare worse in the
program than unrepresented consumers

It would be nice to have lemon law layers report to a lemon database online how many cases they file against every manufacturer every month so we can start seeing the compiled data.

It seems like certain automakers are more experienced than others at minimizing the amount of claims they end up losing at least.

qbrozen

oldfarmer50 said:

I'm the same way. no chance they would do what I did, and have no idea where they were all day.

In summer we would be gone on our bikes from morning until "the street lights came on". We went into the woods and into the city unsupervised every day without a care. The only thing we worried about was that someone would tell on us to our parents. Was that blissful ignorance or a different world? Note: I see suydam said almost the same thing. Interesting.

I think maybe a combo of both. Lower reporting of incidents and fewer incidents. The world has become an uglier place. 

abacomike

ab348 said:

Well, gave my car the "bird" as I promised and it brought up my communications screen (Bluetooth) asking me to select a phone number from my contacts.  Interesting response - at least the Luftwaffe didn't start a bombing run on my 740i or call for the Panzers or a V2 raid.  I guess I'm just lucky!

You may have already seen this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGkAv8iqM9I

Yep - it's "gesture" control of certain audio functions as well as several other functions that the driver can program into the computer.  I don't use the gesture controls and prefer knobs and buttons. But sometimes, inadvertent hand and finger gestures can occur.  I guess once you get accustomed to gesture control, it can be a good source for giving commands without taking your eyes off the road.

stickguy

there were just as many crazies. Just no cell phones to capture everything, or internet to spread stuff to the far reaches of the world.

qbrozen

stickguy said:

there were just as many crazies. Just no cell phones to capture everything, or internet to spread stuff to the far reaches of the world.

Technically, the population has grown and therefore there are more crazies. :b

fintail

When I was a kid (80s) I was allowed to be out 12 hours a day on my bike, no helmet, no worries - but was forbidden to have a scooter or dirtbike - heaven knows my brother and I tried. My mother was (and is) very against it. Also riding in the back of a pickup and climbing random things weren't seen as an issue. Funny how things change.

Michaell

fintail said:

When I was a kid (80s) I was allowed to be out 12 hours a day on my bike, no helmet, no worries - but was forbidden to have a scooter or dirtbike - heaven knows my brother and I tried. My mother was (and is) very against it. Also riding in the back of a pickup and climbing random things weren't seen as an issue. Funny how things change.

Climbing random things - we had a neighborhood full of kids when I was growing up, and a row of very tall trees at the end of the block.

One of the kids fell out of the tree at the beginning of one summer - broke his back. Spent the summer in a wheelchair, rehabilitating.

The next summer - yep, you guessed it, Same kid, same tree. This time it was his leg.

And, he was big into dirt bikes, as well.

driver100

explorerx4 said:

@Driver100,
Here are some of the parts from your crashed E350:

https://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/6014074688.html
https://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/6014102014.html
https://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/6014122527.html
https://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/6014137517.html
https://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/6014129914.html

Thanks explorer...maybe I could have rebuilt it. $1200 for 2 doors, one fender and one fuse box. It will cost way more to rebuild than it cost originally. Glad the parts are being put to good use.......

driver100

abacomike said:

ab348 said:

abacomike said:

Well, gave my car the "bird" as I promised and it brought up my communications screen (Bluetooth) asking me to select a phone number from my contacts.  Interesting response - at least the Luftwaffe didn't start a bombing run on my 740i or call for the Panzers or a V2 raid.  I guess I'm just lucky!

You may have already seen this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGkAv8iqM9I

Yep - it's "gesture" control of certain audio functions as well as several other functions that the driver can program into the computer.  I don't use the gesture controls and prefer knobs and buttons. But sometimes, inadvertent hand and finger gestures can occur.  I guess once you get accustomed to gesture control, it can be a good source for giving commands without taking your eyes off the road.

Not good for people who like to talk with their hands.

fintail

We had a large tree in our yard, it was off limits - so we'd just go to a park. We had an A-frame style shed in the backyard, also used as a playhouse. It was fairly tall, at least for a kid, and we'd climb all over that, nobody said a word.

I never had a broken bone, my worst childhood ailment was getting chicken pox at 13. It seems to be worse if you get it at an older age, it was terrible for me. A few decent bike crashes too, but no broken bones.

Michaell said:

Climbing random things - we had a neighborhood full of kids when I was growing up, and a row of very tall trees at the end of the block.

One of the kids fell out of the tree at the beginning of one summer - broke his back. Spent the summer in a wheelchair, rehabilitating.

The next summer - yep, you guessed it, Same kid, same tree. This time it was his leg.

And, he was big into dirt bikes, as well.

graphicguy

stickguy said:

there were just as many crazies. Just no cell phones to capture everything, or internet to spread stuff to the far reaches of the world.

Or, evolution has yet to thin out the not so bright ones, yet (like me).

roadburner

I got one of these in 1972- and I still have it:

sda

qbrozen said:

Ok, my "dangerous" toys weren't nearly as old, but my folks had absolutely no concern for the safety of things.

I think I was about 7 or so when they got me one of these and would let me ride, unattended, miles from the house in the woods and gravel pits behind our house. Pretty sure I didn't have a helmet.




A bit later, maybe when I was 12 or so, we got 2 of these. My brother and I would, again, ride unsupervised a good 5 miles from the house to a impromptu motorcycle track. These, of course, were far far safer just in their construction, but we habitually would roll them and just beat them and ourselves mercilessly.

I had the slightly larger Honda CT-70 in medium gold. Dad and his good friend had a Honda XL 250 and 350. We had a ball riding on the fire trails in southern Mississipi, about an hour and half drive north of New Orleans. Dad thought I did a good job keeping up with them and later bought me a Honda SL 125. Great memories of a fun and time with dad.

sda

http://www.2040-motos.com/_content/cars/images/3/109203/001.jpg
Very similar to this

iluvmysephia1

Lilac.

Ha-ha! You might be right about that, player!

abacomike - Mrs. Iluvmysephia1 and I spent pert-near 4 hours talking with our Buyer's Agent this afternoon in his introductory get-to-know-us meeting today. We are looking into buying a small house of our own here in the KC Metro. Olathe, KS, has the house I like. The Mrs. not so much.

My 2017 Chevy Spark in Kalamata is still there at the KC dealer selling for $11,100. Great deal.

I had one of those Honda Trail 70's. Parents demanded that I wore a helmet. Sold it ta start saving up for my first car, the '65 Stang. The Honda 70 was great fun!

oldfarmer50

Michaell said:

fintail said:

When I was a kid (80s) I was allowed to be out 12 hours a day on my bike, no helmet, no worries - but was forbidden to have a scooter or dirtbike - heaven knows my brother and I tried. My mother was (and is) very against it. Also riding in the back of a pickup and climbing random things weren't seen as an issue. Funny how things change.

Climbing random things - we had a neighborhood full of kids when I was growing up, and a row of very tall trees at the end of the block.

One of the kids fell out of the tree at the beginning of one summer - broke his back. Spent the summer in a wheelchair, rehabilitating.

The next summer - yep, you guessed it, Same kid, same tree. This time it was his leg.

And, he was big into dirt bikes, as well.

We had an accident prone kid in our group. Never broke his back but managed to get hit in the face with a 5 gallon pail of dirt (don't ask why we were throwing it) and held a fire cracker in his hand until it went off while the rest of us threw ours.

Loved climbing trees. Almost fell out of a 50 footer myself when the very tippy top I was swinging from snapped. I blame the distraction of my mother yelling at me to get down.

oldfarmer50

Delusional.

http://www.lathamfordmotors.com/wholesale-new/Ford/2015-Ford-Mustang-744ebc910a0a00654f919aa347bf6110.htm?searchDepth=2:2

Maybe they're planning on keeping it until it becomes an antique.

abacomike

jmonroe said:

qbrozen said:

Ok, my "dangerous" toys weren't nearly as old, but my folks had absolutely no concern for the safety of things. I think I was about 7 or so when they got me one of these and would let me ride, unattended, miles from the house in the woods and gravel pits behind our house. Pretty sure I didn't have a helmet. A bit later, maybe when I was 12 or so, we got 2 of these. My brother and I would, again, ride unsupervised a good 5 miles from the house to a impromptu motorcycle track. These, of course, were far far safer just in their construction, but we habitually would roll them and just beat them and ourselves mercilessly.

Your parents had no concern for the safety of things?  What about the safety of their kids - you and your brother?  They just trusted you more than my parents trusted me and my twin brother.

I sure wish I had parents like yours - I couldn't even get a bike out of my parents because they thought bikes were too dangerous.  Between you and me, I don't think they could afford to buy us bikes - when I was younger, we really didn't have much.  It wasn't until I started college that my Dad started making great money.

You think you had it tough? My parents told me to go play in traffic. Getting out of the way of a '55 Roadmaster came in handy when trying to get away from kids trying to tackle me when I played football at all levels. Sometimes your parents teach you things they didn't even know were lessons at the time. jmonroe

Never thought I had it tough, JM.  I don't think I knew any better.  Most of the kids I hung out with were in the same boat as me and my brother were.  My Dad's family was very wealthy but my Dad never took anything from his family - always wanted to make and do things on his own.

My mom's Dad was quite well off when I was a kid - her parents moved to Coral Gables (Miami's posh area) in the late 1940's and were a two-car family which was a rarity back then.  My mom's dad was president of a large manufacturing company and had contracts with the federal government during the Second World War.

So even though both my parent's families were quite well off, my folks never took anything from them - something to do with pride and independence.  It was my dad's father who paid for my college education.  I got my MA and Phd on my own due to grants and fellowships.

But I sure wish I had a bike and other great possessions when I was growing up - but it was not possible on what my Dad earned at the time.

graphicguy

Man....love seeing these classic mini/trail bikes.

RB......wished I'd kept my old Honda 175. Fun bike.

sda

http:

iluvmysephia1 said:

Lilac.

Ha-ha! You might be right about that, player!

abacomike - Mrs. Iluvmysephia1 and I spent pert-near 4 hours talking with our Buyer's Agent this afternoon in his introductory get-to-know-us meeting today. We are looking into buying a small house of our own here in the KC Metro. Olathe, KS, has the house I like. The Mrs. not so much.

My 2017 Chevy Spark in Kalamata is still there at the KC dealer selling for $11,100. Great deal.

I had one of those Honda Trail 70's. Parents demanded that I wore a helmet. Sold it ta start saving up for my first car, the '65 Stang. The Honda 70 was great fun!

I always wore a helmet. Dad' rule, no helmet no Honda and I knew he meant it!

driver100

oldfarmer50 said:

Delusional.

http://www.lathamfordmotors.com/wholesale-new/Ford/2015-Ford-Mustang-744ebc910a0a00654f919aa347bf6110.htm?searchDepth=2:2

Maybe they're planning on keeping it until it becomes an antique.

I guess the game plan is to sell it as a very rare find.
How could that happen, a 2015 demonstrator......and save $1000s, it should be $10000s!
They sure missed the boat on dumping that one.

graphicguy

Maybe the color in that Mustang....yellow.....is what kept it from selling. That said, all cars have a price they'll sell for. Apparently, that Ford dealer didn't get that memo.

bwia

2018 Toyota Camry

Yes, SUV sales are outpacing sedan sales but Toyota intends to changed that with the new 2018 Camry. The XSE model comes standard with a plethora of the usual safety features. There is an engine size for every taste and the quad tail pipes, automatic high beam, and 19" wheels are a nice touch. The interior looks very pleasing to the eye with soft-touch materials aplenty. Don't know how it drives but the suspension is stiffer than Camry's past.

I like it, do you?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sbR9ONLmGc

graphicguy

INterior looks a whole lot like the 2017 Avalon I test drove, which was quite well done!

fintail

In terms of styling volume per dollar, Camry might be beating the Civic. Quad pipes LOL why.

carnaught

bwia@, thanks for posting. I've always liked red interiors...nice.

stickguy

I saw it at philly auto show, and liked it from afar as it was up on a platform. But 19" wheels on a Camry is just silly.

qbrozen

bwia said:

2018 Toyota Camry

Yes, SUV sales are outpacing sedan sales but Toyota intends to changed that with the new 2018 Camry. The XSE model comes standard with a plethora of the usual safety features. There is an engine size for every taste and the quad tail pipes, automatic high beam, and 19" wheels are a nice touch. The interior looks very pleasing to the eye with soft-touch materials aplenty. Don't know how it drives but the suspension is stiffer than Camry's past.

I like it, do you?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sbR9ONLmGc

I'm lost as to why they think any features on a car will make people say "oh, yeah, this has all the features I can find on dozens of other cars, but THIS one convinces me I don't need a higher seating position nor AWD nor a rear hatch!"

jmonroe

qbrozen said:

bwia said:

2018 Toyota Camry

Yes, SUV sales are outpacing sedan sales but Toyota intends to changed that with the new 2018 Camry. The XSE model comes standard with a plethora of the usual safety features. There is an engine size for every taste and the quad tail pipes, automatic high beam, and 19" wheels are a nice touch. The interior looks very pleasing to the eye with soft-touch materials aplenty. Don't know how it drives but the suspension is stiffer than Camry's past.

I like it, do you?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sbR9ONLmGc

I'm lost as to why they think any features on a car will make people say "oh, yeah, this has all the features I can find on dozens of other cars, but THIS one convinces me I don't need a higher seating position nor AWD nor a rear hatch!"

For the most part I agree with you but when Toyota or Honda does it a lot of people will listen.

When other manufactures do it...well, that's just marketing talk.

jmonroe

graphicguy

OK peanut gallery....gonna throw out some other scenarios given my CTS Lemon seems to be moving along at a snail's pace.

This is all hypothetical, and would be done to change the groundwork a bit. Let me be clear, I'm still waiting for Cadillac to get an arbitrator who they're happy with so BBB can move this along with. I have it on an insider's authority that's what's going on (I have my sources......i.e. The recently seperated Cadillac service person who stays in touch with dealership friends).

Let's say I tell them to take whatever dollars they owe me (thinking it will be somewhere in the low $40K range once they finish their little "wait him out" game) for the sake of resolution, I buy another GM product (NO MORE CADILLACS).

Follow along with this hypothetical, I'm not a Buick fan, although I know many of you like them. I have had good luck with Chevies....so what can I get for $40K+? Colorado? Might be able to use a pickup. A Volt? I know some really like those, too. Plus, that one would net me a $7,500 tax credit.

Thoughts?

Michaell

graphicguy said:

OK peanut gallery....gonna throw out some other scenarios given my CTS Lemon seems to be moving along at a snail's pace.

This is all hypothetical, and would be done to change the groundwork a bit. Let me be clear, I'm still waiting for Cadillac to get an arbitrator who they're happy with so BBB can move this along with. I have it on an insider's authority that's what's going on (I have my sources......i.e. The recently seperated Cadillac service person who stays in touch with dealership friends).

Let's say I tell them to take whatever dollars they owe me (thinking it will be somewhere in the low $40K range once they finish their little "wait him out" game) for the sake of resolution, I buy another GM product (NO MORE CADILLACS).

Follow along with this hypothetical, I'm not a Buick fan, although I know many of you like them. I have had good luck with Chevies....so what can I get for $40K+? Colorado? Might be able to use a pickup. A Volt? I know some really like those, too. Plus, that one would net me a $7,500 tax credit.

Thoughts?

Hmm, interesting hypothetical.

Colorado with the diesel? That's be unique. Or, the GMC Canyon - same thing, different badge.

But, you may also be able to get a massive deal on a Silverado or Sierra. Hugely competitive market for full-size trucks.

Volt is a nice car. @suydam has one and really seems to like it. Bolt if you're comfortable with all EV - though, you may want to test drive one.

If you didn't have the Cobra I'd suggest a Camaro as something fun to go along with the Infiniti.

If the Cobra is the weekend toy and the Q50 the daily driver, what role would the GM car play in your stable?

Mr_Shiftright

roadburner said:

I got one of these in 1972- and I still have it:

You should have gotten the 6 cylinder

driver100

About that Camry! They are going to be selling 2018s soon and I don't even have my 2017. What is that all about?

It sure didn't look like my father's Camry....a 91 I believe. Looks great and the interior was really nice....red works on that car.

28firefighter

So the only thing I would caution about buying an EV and claiming the tax credit is that apparently it is a flag for IRS Audit.

The sample size is small, but 3 people I've known who bought vs. leased an EV (and claimed the credit) were audited.

driver100

GG, I like Michaell's question:
"
If the Cobra is the weekend toy and the Q50 the daily driver, what role would the GM car play in your stable?"

I tend to think you would be selling your soul to the enemy. I don't know if that has a satisfactory conclusion because you don't want a truck or even an SUV, you want a car. You've gone this long, you have a car, I'd wait them out. But, if you do want to take a vehicle play it safe, a good truck is always salable. And, you should get more than $40k worth of car for your trouble.

btw Car sales are generally down while truck and SUV sales are up, but Buick is down substantially;


Buick 2017YTD 29,248 /2016YTD 36,080 / % CHG -18.9%

They are reliable and well made, but do you want a car that will be hard to sell?


I think you should be asking the AG's office what you are supposed to do when they keep stalling......their Lemon Law is a Lemon itself........set up to fail for the consumer. The deck is stacked against you in every way.

stickguy

GG, hold out for cash. But in you scenario, get a loaded Silverado, then flip it

abacomike

graphicguy said:

OK peanut gallery....gonna throw out some other scenarios given my CTS Lemon seems to be moving along at a snail's pace.

This is all hypothetical, and would be done to change the groundwork a bit. Let me be clear, I'm still waiting for Cadillac to get an arbitrator who they're happy with so BBB can move this along with. I have it on an insider's authority that's what's going on (I have my sources......i.e. The recently seperated Cadillac service person who stays in touch with dealership friends).

Let's say I tell them to take whatever dollars they owe me (thinking it will be somewhere in the low $40K range once they finish their little "wait him out" game) for the sake of resolution, I buy another GM product (NO MORE CADILLACS).

Follow along with this hypothetical, I'm not a Buick fan, although I know many of you like them. I have had good luck with Chevies....so what can I get for $40K+? Colorado? Might be able to use a pickup. A Volt? I know some really like those, too. Plus, that one would net me a $7,500 tax credit.

Thoughts?

Thoughts? I have plenty of "thoughts" about your idea, but none of them are publishable on this forum site - trust me on this!

GG - driver is correct on one point - you've waited this long for your "day in court" so let things play out. You have the weekend fun wheels and you have a brand new G50. Now you want a truck?

As for the $40,000 you think they owe you, why settle for $40,000 worth of product when it costs GM only $30,000 to produce and market the product?

If you don't want the money, take a brand new Cadillac from them and "donate" the car to Shriner's Hospital for Children, or St. Jude's, or your local church. Let's say the car is worth $60,000-$70,000 assuming you twist their arms and end up with a new CT6 for all the aggravation and delays they put you through. Further, let's assume you are in the 28% or higher tax bracket. So 28% of the value of the donation would be money in your pocket, or approximately $20,000 or more, if you are in a higher bracket. Not bad for a nice tax write-off.

The other possibility is that they give you a check - which at this point is quite doubtful. Some of that might be taxable depending upon the specifics of the settlement - who knows - I'm no accountant, that's for sure. One thing is certain, if you want money, you are going to have to get yourself a lawyer to represent you objectively. If you take the car, you won't need a lawyer.

But those are my thoughts - and I made sure they were "clean, healthy thoughts" so I could publish them here on the forum.

Remember, GG, I'm on your side, but sometimes you sure come up with some strange "thoughts"!

ab348

The front and rear ends of the Camry seem rather anime-ish and overwrought. But I do like the interior and especially the RED inside. I could see myself in one if the suspension is improved. That is the main reason to prefer a sedan over a higher CUV/SUV these days, the driving dynamics.

abacomike

Now, for my opinion of the new Camry. Quite frankly, not bad considering it's a Toyota Camry. The front end is a bit "overdone" for my taste - much like the front ends on the Lexus - but at least Toyota has decided that it was time for them to come up with a nice "design" for one of their cars. Side and rear design has some really nice lines. Interior is high tech and very flowing.

I wouldn't mind owning one - I "did like" the red interior - but my tastes have been changing as I get older and sicker. After all, I have what some people would call and "orange" or "pumpkin" interior in my new BMW 740i - I would never have dreamed of selecting an interior like that 10-20 years ago - but I want to remind you that I'm "old and crotchety" lately which accounts for my approving of red and orange interiors in cars. Sort of like, "...I don't care what other people think about the interior of my car - I like it!..."

But when you consider the fact that the car probably sells for around $28,000 nicely loaded with all the goodies, it's really not a bad looking car for the money!

graphicguy

I'm just thinking aloud regarding moving this along. I was reviewing my car insurance policy yesterday and realized I'm paying insurance on a car that I haven't driven in 3 months. I've driven the Cobra more than that, and it's winter.

Truthfully, I don't want to deal with Cadillac in any way, shape or form. I want to be done with that company in the worst possible way, and I'm trying to figure out the quickest way to do that. I mean, it's not like I've rushed this along.

graphicguy

As far as a "purpose" for this exercise and where another vehicle might fit? Well, there have been times when I could have used a truck. Nor enough that it would warrant buying a truck, though.

I get the sneaky suspicion that with our new "energy" secretary, we will be seeing gas prices on the rise in pretty short order, so the Volt could offset that. That said, it's not like the Q50 is a pig. On a green motor, twin turbo, all city, I recorded 23 MPG on the first tank. And, I pretty much kept the turbos on the boil.

Both of these scenarios are a reach, however!

abacomike

@driver100:

Driver, your comment about the 2018's coming out soon is a little off center. Most 2018's won't be out in dealership showrooms and on dealership lots until late August or September. As for your 2017 E400, I definitely agree that by the time you get your car, it will be only a few months before 2018's are out. Because of the long delay in getting your car through inspection, I would have insisted on a 2018. Use the "driver accounting approach" in assessing what's most advantageous to you in terms of value.

The 2017 will drop in value 20% once it drives off the lot in Canada. If you took a new 2018 in September or October, the car would still drop 20% when you drove it off the lot, but it won't drop another 15% until the following September or October whereby the 2017 will drop another 15% in 3 or 4 more months. Did I evaluate "values" sufficiently to pass the driver's approach to getting the most value?

abacomike

graphicguy said:

I'm just thinking aloud regarding moving this along. I was reviewing my car insurance policy yesterday and realized I'm paying insurance on a car that I haven't driven in 3 months. I've driven the Cobra more than that, and it's winter.

Truthfully, I don't want to deal with Cadillac in any way, shape or form. I want to be done with that company in the worst possible way, and I'm trying to figure out the quickest way to do that. I mean, it's not like I've rushed this along.

You are correct about insurance you paid for a car you haven't driven - but you've had a loaner CT6 all this time and your own insurance covers that car if you are involved in an accident. So actually, you haven't lost anything regarding insurance value.