Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

roadburner

Mr_Shiftright said:

oldfarmer50 said:

stickguy said:

I don't like using normal cruise. Adaptive cruise might put me over the edge.

I don't mind using cruise control on long trips but I have a hard time justifying all these other gizmos. Auto braking? How about responsible driving and laying off the cell phone?

I see many of these high tech systems as just more expensive repairs down the road. Also as a buyer of older cars do I have to look forward to multiple system failure lights blinking on the dash every time I drive?

Oh for the days when all I had to worry about was the engine, tranny and AC system.

We don't "drive" cars much anymore....we "guide" them. Hey, to each his own. For me, I need the discipline of no-nanny. I also ride a motorcycle and a bike so I feel I need to have that "edge" in my driving awareness at all times.

Heh..heh...can you imagine going from a modern car to an old motorcycle and expecting it to automatic brake for you?

My plan is to wait until I'm getting old enough to really notice a drop in reflexes and eyesight---then I think I'll switch to automatic transmission and all the safety devices I can pile on.

Right now, the only one that tempts me is rear-view camera for my truck.

Methinks I'm going to flip my Speed Triple for this:

roadburner

Or this:

andres3

oldfarmer50 said:

stickguy said:

I don't like using normal cruise. Adaptive cruise might put me over the edge.

I don't mind using cruise control on long trips but I have a hard time justifying all these other gizmos. Auto braking? How about responsible driving and laying off the cell phone?

I see many of these high tech systems as just more expensive repairs down the road. Also as a buyer of older cars do I have to look forward to multiple system failure lights blinking on the dash every time I drive?

Oh for the days when all I had to worry about was the engine, tranny and AC system.

I suggest post-it notes for the "warning/blinking" lights on the dash you no longer want to see. You can cut them to fit.

They need to introduce a new vehicle code violation "auto braking unnecessarily creating a traffic backup" If your computer brakes unnecessarily, it should be a $1,000 fine for the first offense, $5,000 for the second.

isellhondas

Someone once asked what was the difference between owning a timeshare and getting a common cold?

The answer was....You can get rid of the common cold!

isellhondas

Mr_Shiftright said:

I had a 504 for about two years as a second car--it was really good to drive and after squaring it away initially, it was very reliable the whole time. Parts were a pain to get, though.

I've had a couple of Peugeots. Both diesels and they were probably the most comfortable cars I have ever owned. they are quirky and it's hard (maybe impossible now) to find a shop that will work on them.

I once sold one, a wagon to a couple. They decided to stop at a restaurant for dinner on their way home.

Well, it got dark while they were in there. I got a phone call asking me how to turn on the headlights! As I recall it was about a three step procedure which involved the turn signal stalk!

abacomike

isellhondas said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

I had a 504 for about two years as a second car--it was really good to drive and after squaring it away initially, it was very reliable the whole time. Parts were a pain to get, though.

I've had a couple of Peugeots. Both diesels and they were probably the most comfortable cars I have ever owned. they are quirky and it's hard (maybe impossible now) to find a shop that will work on them.

I once sold one, a wagon to a couple. They decided to stop at a restaurant for dinner on their way home.

Well, it got dark while they were in there. I got a phone call asking me how to turn on the headlights! As I recall it was about a three step procedure which involved the turn signal stalk!

The reason that is so very funny is because a similar situation occurred when I was teaching on the West Side of Chicago back in the late 1960's. My best friend and his wife taught at the same school as I did back then. We both owned homes out in the far western suburbs and we used to take turns driving each other in to work every day. Some days I would drive my orange Vega 3-speed manual and some days they would drive their Peugeot, which also was a manual transmission.

One Friday evening after we had just finished a special assembly that our 6th grade put on for their parents in the multi-purpose room (I taught 6th grade and chaired the five 6th grade classes/teachers), my friends asked if I would drive the Peugeot back home because they were going out with friends who were picking them up at the school and were going to drive them back to their house later that same evening. I said sure and my friend handed me the keys. It was about 6:30 PM and since it was November, it was already dark out.

I got into the Peugeot and started the engine. That was as far as I could get - I had no idea how to turn on the headlights so I could drive home (it was about a 45 minute drive as we lived about 13 miles northeast of Joliet, Illinois. I sat there, like an idiot, flicking switches and trying to decipher the owner's manual he had in his trunk that was written mostly in French. Absolutely helpless - I could not figure out how to turn on those darn headlights.

So I went back inside the school and went into the office and tried to get in touch with my friends who were eating dinner out at a restaurant in Oak Park, Illinois. After about an hour of trying to get them, I called my wife who was very worried that I had not yet returned home. She told me that our friends were trying to get in touch with me because they were worried that I would not know how to drive the manual transmission that was actually a 4-speed but the gear selector was on the steering wheel stalk. They had left their phone number so I asked my wife to have them call me at the school office so they could help me out. They finally called and told me that I had to have the key in the ignition and the directional signal stalk had to be turned counter-clockwise two times to get the headlight on. The first click was parking lights, the second click was the headlights.

So I went back to the car, started up the engine, turned the directional signal stalk as instructed, and now it was time for me to figure out where in the heck "reverse" was on that gear selector. I knew 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th gears, but for the life of me, I could not get that car into reverse gear - because I didn't know how to get the reverse position. So I grabbed a couple of the kids who were still outside the school and we pushed the Peugeot back out of the parking space and into the street. The rest was a breeze.

I vowed, right then and there, never to buy or drive a Peugeot - EVER! It's amazing how those French can manufacture a car for sale in the United States, but not make adaptations for our normal ways of driving a car.

Mr_Shiftright

roadburner said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

oldfarmer50 said:

stickguy said:

I don't like using normal cruise. Adaptive cruise might put me over the edge.

I don't mind using cruise control on long trips but I have a hard time justifying all these other gizmos. Auto braking? How about responsible driving and laying off the cell phone?

I see many of these high tech systems as just more expensive repairs down the road. Also as a buyer of older cars do I have to look forward to multiple system failure lights blinking on the dash every time I drive?

Oh for the days when all I had to worry about was the engine, tranny and AC system.

We don't "drive" cars much anymore....we "guide" them. Hey, to each his own. For me, I need the discipline of no-nanny. I also ride a motorcycle and a bike so I feel I need to have that "edge" in my driving awareness at all times.

Heh..heh...can you imagine going from a modern car to an old motorcycle and expecting it to automatic brake for you?

My plan is to wait until I'm getting old enough to really notice a drop in reflexes and eyesight---then I think I'll switch to automatic transmission and all the safety devices I can pile on.

Right now, the only one that tempts me is rear-view camera for my truck.

Methinks I'm going to flip my Speed Triple for this:

For the man who wants to do everything on two wheels!

explorerx4

When I see someone with radar cruise control using me as their pace car, I usually slow down about 10 mph.

graphicguy

For @stickguy or anyone else, like me, who is an Acura fan......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSVOE07d3Dw

fintail

It'd be cool to live in an area where motorcycle riding wasn't Russian roulette, Sadly, my area is not one of those places. I want an 80s sportbike:



Although it is probably a handful, with no FI, no ABS, probably cold blooded, sensitive throttle, etc.

For BMWs, I like these too:



It'll be interesting to see how electric bike tech evolves.

andres3

Any diesel bikes?

fintail

I know there's a diesel Kawasaki made for off-road military use. Otherwise, I think all diesel bikes are custom builds.

Mr_Shiftright

584cc single cylinder---you wanna kick that baby over for me? For use by the USMC---figures. Says here it runs on diesel or jet fuel.

oldfarmer50

Mr_Shiftright said:

oldfarmer50 said:

stickguy said:

I don't like using normal cruise. Adaptive cruise might put me over the edge.

I don't mind using cruise control on long trips but I have a hard time justifying all these other gizmos. Auto braking? How about responsible driving and laying off the cell phone?

I see many of these high tech systems as just more expensive repairs down the road. Also as a buyer of older cars do I have to look forward to multiple system failure lights blinking on the dash every time I drive?

Oh for the days when all I had to worry about was the engine, tranny and AC system.

We don't "drive" cars much anymore....we "guide" them. Hey, to each his own. For me, I need the discipline of no-nanny. I also ride a motorcycle and a bike so I feel I need to have that "edge" in my driving awareness at all times.

Heh..heh...can you imagine going from a modern car to an old motorcycle and expecting it to automatic brake for you?

My plan is to wait until I'm getting old enough to really notice a drop in reflexes and eyesight---then I think I'll switch to automatic transmission and all the safety devices I can pile on.

Right now, the only one that tempts me is rear-view camera for my truck.

If I ever get to the point where I 'need' all those assists I'll roll right into a wheelchair and skip the nannies.

I was getting frisky with the Mustang today and the unfettered sheer fun of it would only be spoiled by the various assists.

I don't even bother looking at the rear view camera any more.

imidazol97

graphicguy said:

,,, I told him I'm not in the market, but he said to come anyway to look and test drive them.

Ohhh, oh.

fintail

I wonder if those diesel Kawasakis are electric start. Sounds difficult even for Marines. If I had a kickstart bike, it would have to be something seriously old or cool, like a WW2 era or prewar German bike.

For the grinding traffic and hills around here, the fintail is analog enough for me anymore. I don't have yearning for a manual in normal traffic, and as parking spots get smaller, cameras are nice peace of mind.

sda

The Accord will be paid for in about a year. My wife has been ribbing me I better make it happen. As I think I shared before our plan is to give the Accord to my wife's parents and for them to give us their '03 Camry for our daughter to drive. As my commute and total driving miles is now running around 1k/mo, leasing could be attractive, the '18 TLX may find its way to my stewardship.

oldfarmer50

OK, rip this one apart for me so I don't get right on a plane to Tampa.

https://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/ctd/6125143505.html

Michaell

@oldfarmer50 - sorry, can't come up with one good reason not to jump on a plane.

Other than the fact that it'll likely be gone by the time you get there.

Salvage title?

stickguy

1,500 miles per year? Can't be good for it! but looks nice. I might buy that one, if it sounded good and drove OK, and no funny smells. Cheap enough. I kinda liked that generation too.

qbrozen

oldfarmer50 said:

OK, rip this one apart for me so I don't get right on a plane to Tampa.

https://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/ctd/6125143505.html

Rip it apart? Ok, here goes: It is a Sebring.

qbrozen

BTW, they paid $900 for it on 4/19. Wholesale pricing my butt.

oldfarmer50

qbrozen said:

BTW, they paid $900 for it on 4/19. Wholesale pricing my butt.

What? A used car dealer being less than honest? Oh my. Wonder if they got it so cheap because it was pulled out of the Gulf or because the old lady previous owner got bamboozled. Probably a condo car which sat for most of the year, hence the low milage like driver100's VW.

Definite CarFax purchase before airline ticket.

As to being a Sebring I don't see that as a negative. I owned a 97' Cirrus, the 4 door equivalent so I know it's weak spots, all of which are manageable. It has a smooth Mitsubishi 6 engine and I like the styling.

Would I like similar vintage BMW? Sure but I'd worry about expensive repairs not to mention higher purchase price. A woman at work bought a beautiful 96' 3 series convertible for about $7500 and before she got it home the dash lights started flashing. The top gave her trouble too.

ab348

Those have become so uncommon up here that I couldn't ID it as a Sebring right away.

Given it is 20 years old I guess I should be a bit more forgiving, but it looks to me like it may have had a tough life the last few years. The dealer doesn't appear to have done much reconditioning to it either. The wheels and underhood shots look rather "as bought" and it's too bad the plastic wood trim piece on the drivers door was broken in half.

I wonder how well it drives..

imidazol97

https://geo3.ggpht.com/cbk?panoid=inrW5iQQezDtMkhWXTAVsg&output=thumbnail&cb_client=search.TACTILE.gps&thumb=2&w=408&h=200&yaw=92.767914&pitch=0&thumbfov=100

imidazol97

This appears to be the location of the "dealership" based on maps.

bwia

oldfarmer50 said:

OK, rip this one apart for me so I don't get right on a plane to Tampa.

https://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/ctd/6125143505.html

Just in case, I would not buy a one-way plane ticket. But frankly, from the pics I find no fault with the Sebring. Would make a nice fathers' day gift.

abacomike

bwia said:

OK, rip this one apart for me so I don't get right on a plane to Tampa.

https://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/ctd/6125143505.html

Just in case, I would not buy a one-way plane ticket. But frankly, from the pics I find no fault with the Sebring. Would make a nice fathers' day gift.

I'll settle for a nice pair of bedroom slippers from the kids.  That's something I need! 

qbrozen

The Sebring was garbage when new, IMHO. I'm speaking of build and materials quality, not necessarily looks or reliability. I consider driving one a punishment.

carnaught

qbrozen said:

The Sebring was garbage when new, IMHO. I'm speaking of build and materials quality, not necessarily looks or reliability. I consider driving one a punishment.

Plus some of them are rattle traps, a real pet peave of mine.

qbrozen

carnaught said:

The Sebring was garbage when new, IMHO. I'm speaking of build and materials quality, not necessarily looks or reliability. I consider driving one a punishment.

Plus ALL of them are rattle traps, a real pet peave of mine.

Fixed that for ya.

driver100

oldfarmer50 said:

OK, rip this one apart for me so I don't get right on a plane to Tampa.

https://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/ctd/6125143505.html

It looks good OF..............too good to be true.
I am suspicious of that nice paint job, looks like it is there to hide something.
Dealer did not pay much for it and spent money on cosmetics.
I have drive,not that vintage of Sebring and they are not the best handling cars in the world.
That picture of the dealers lot would make me leery....does not look like a Certified type dealer.

I am in Victoria B C using a tablet....what a pain.

stickguy

not much markup, or room to have spent on it. $900 hammer, plus a few hundred for fees and transport, a few bucks for basic maintenance and a detail, and you are in for what, $1,300? So asking $2,500 is minimal to account for expenses and profit.

oldfarmer50

bwia said:

oldfarmer50 said:

OK, rip this one apart for me so I don't get right on a plane to Tampa.

https://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/ctd/6125143505.html

Just in case, I would not buy a one-way plane ticket. But frankly, from the pics I find no fault with the Sebring. Would make a nice fathers' day gift.

And today is my birthday so my wife probably wouldn't shoot me.

oldfarmer50

driver100 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

OK, rip this one apart for me so I don't get right on a plane to Tampa.

https://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/ctd/6125143505.html

It looks good OF..............too good to be true.
I am suspicious of that nice paint job, looks like it is there to hide something.
Dealer did not pay much for it and spent money on cosmetics.
I have drive,not that vintage of Sebring and they are not the best handling cars in the world.
That picture of the dealers lot would make me leery....does not look like a Certified type dealer.

I am in Victoria B C using a tablet....what a pain.

There are car lots like that all up and down 66th st. from Tampa all the way down to St. Petersburg. You must have a lot of them on your side of the bay too. Who would certify a 21 yo car anyway? At that price you pay your money and take your chances.

I have no illusions of the quality of 90s era Chryslers. My fantasies are modest. Would like a cheap little toy to take out on the nice weather days of summer. It wouldn't have to handle like a sports car or have world class build quality. Just go where I point it.

If I did buy a Florida vert this would be the time of year to go down there.

roadburner

oldfarmer50 said:

OK, rip this one apart for me so I don't get right on a plane to Tampa.

https://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/ctd/6125143505.html

As the Brits would say, "It's a dog's breakfast."

tjc78

Sebring convertibles are terrible drivers.   Cowl shake galore.  My sister in law had one and I drove it several times.  

abacomike

oldfarmer50 said:

OK, rip this one apart for me so I don't get right on a plane to Tampa.

https://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/ctd/6125143505.html

Just in case, I would not buy a one-way plane ticket. But frankly, from the pics I find no fault with the Sebring. Would make a nice fathers' day gift.

And today is my birthday so my wife probably wouldn't shoot me.

Happy Birthday olfarmer!  May your wishes be many and fully granted!  

oldfarmer50

Speaking of old BMWs, this is what you get for a few thousand more than a Sebring.

https://fortmyers.craigslist.org/chl/cto/6108809366.html

Mr_Shiftright

oldfarmer50 said:

OK, rip this one apart for me so I don't get right on a plane to Tampa.

https://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/ctd/6125143505.html

Would "incredible piece of troublesome junk" work?

Mr_Shiftright

Mr_Shiftright said:

oldfarmer50 said:

OK, rip this one apart for me so I don't get right on a plane to Tampa.

https://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/ctd/6125143505.html

Would "incredible piece of troublesome junk" work?

If it were free, I'd consider recommending it to you.

ab348

oldfarmer50 said:

And today is my birthday so my wife probably wouldn't shoot me.

Happy birthday, @oldfarmer50 !

driver100

oldfarmer50 said:

Speaking of old BMWs, this is what you get for a few thousand more than a Sebring.

https://fortmyers.craigslist.org/chl/cto/6108809366.html

When I hear oil light stays on, airbag light stays on, it makes me wonder why he does not get those things fixed before selling it. Probably he has had a lot of little things go and he is tired of getting them fixed.

For Florida cars.....estate sales may be the best bet. I do see lots of little car lots in Florida and some of the cars on them seem interesting, then I think they look so nice and innocent, but what really lurks under the hood.

Happy B Day.

abacomike

I finally have fidgeted and played with my Apple Car Play in my 740i long enough so that my opinion regarding Car Play is not completely negative.

I am now able to ask Siri if I have any unread mail or text messages and if I do, Siri asks me if he should read the mail to me. If I say yes, Siri reads the title of the mail or text and the entire message or email content through the 740i audio system. I also have asked Siri how the weather is and if it is going to rain today. He quickly responds to my requests. I also asked Siri if there is any traffic ahead of me, and once again Siri complies. If I want to send an email or a text, I can do that by asking Siri. Siri then asks if I want him to read the draft and if I say yes, he reads it to me. He asks me if he should send the email or text.

So, this is all done hands free by just speaking "HEY, SIRI". From what I understand, the same things can be accomplished when I am not in the car - something I was never aware of - and I've had Apple Phones for 7 years now. So I have come to the conclusion that I am a complete novice when it comes to the Car Play technology as well as the iPhone 7+'s technology - in other words, I am a dunce!!!

isellhondas

Not an oil light on that BMW but a Check engine light which is much less threatening.

After having owned four elderly BMWS I have to say that they don't age well and I agree with Driver. It sounds like it may have a lot of deferred maintenance. BMW's are not forgiving in that respect.

The Chrysler looks like something that Pot Lot picked up at auction. I think that if it were worth more they would ask more especially this time of the year. Too bad it's so far away from you!

Michaell

abacomike said:

I finally have fidgeted and played with my Apple Car Play in my 740i long enough so that my opinion regarding Car Play is not completely negative.

I am now able to ask Siri if I have any unread mail or text messages and if I do, Siri asks me if he should read the mail to me. If I say yes, Siri reads the title of the mail or text and the entire message or email content through the 740i audio system. I also have asked Siri how the weather is and if it is going to rain today. He quickly responds to my requests. I also asked Siri if there is any traffic ahead of me, and once again Siri complies. If I want to send an email or a text, I can do that by asking Siri. Siri then asks if I want him to read the draft and if I say yes, he reads it to me. He asks me if he should send the email or text.

So, this is all done hands free by just speaking "HEY, SIRI". From what I understand, the same things can be accomplished when I am not in the car - something I was never aware of - and I've had Apple Phones for 7 years now. So I have come to the conclusion that I am a complete novice when it comes to the Car Play technology as well as the iPhone 7+'s technology - in other words, I am a dunce!!!

He?

C'mon, Mike - I configured Siri on my phone to speak in a female Australian accent. Makes me smile every time I initiate it.

driver100

Maybe Mike's Sri has a cold

roadburner

oldfarmer50 said:

Speaking of old BMWs, this is what you get for a few thousand more than a Sebring.

https://fortmyers.craigslist.org/chl/cto/6108809366.html

The Z3 is very similar to the ti(hatchback). The M44 1.9 engine is very reliable with no real cooling system issues. The 5 speed and rear diff are also robust. The manual top may need a rear window but that's it. If it passed a competent PPI I'd buy it in a heartbeat- if I liked convertibles...

ab348

I just discovered this - apparently CUE, Cadillac's in-vehicle infortainment system, is dead going forward. Replaced by something they are not giving a name to.

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2017/05/cadillac-s-all-new-infotainment-system-has-no-name.html

Mr_Shiftright

driver100 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Speaking of old BMWs, this is what you get for a few thousand more than a Sebring.

https://fortmyers.craigslist.org/chl/cto/6108809366.html

When I hear oil light stays on, airbag light stays on, it makes me wonder why he does not get those things fixed before selling it. Probably he has had a lot of little things go and he is tired of getting them fixed.

For Florida cars.....estate sales may be the best bet. I do see lots of little car lots in Florida and some of the cars on them seem interesting, then I think they look so nice and innocent, but what really lurks under the hood.

Happy B Day.

Kerrect...it's a potential money hazard with those problems. A scanner does not tell you the part that is defective. This is BS.

Translation: "I got some codes, I don't know what they means and quite frankly, I don't want to know"

Also this is the 4 cylinder model, so it's ....well...less than thrilling to drive. He's asking a bit too much without fixing those issues I think. I'd put it at about $2500 the way it is, presuming it drives well and doesn't show any of the usual Z3 issues structurally. That gives you $1750 to play with, and the car's fair market is about $4250 in a "good" driver's quality condition.