Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

elias

I bought Chevy SS and Chevy Sonic about 9 months apart, so within a year, like Irish twins...
Maybe that qualifies me for chronic carbuyers anonymous.

Or, when I bought a pair of VW TDIs within a few of weeks of each other, a 2006 jetta TDI and 2006 New Beetle TDI.

(I figure that some folks here have bought two new cars on the same day.)

laurasdada

I have a black AMEX card. Of course, it was green before it went in the oven...

stickguy

sandy, could throw in a tank of good stuff. Won't hurt anything, other than your wallet for a few $. That will likely prove it is not the solution (and frankly, it is really a diagnostic tool, since it should not be changing anything).

Probably will have to follow up with them on it and push the issue. I think my son's Jetta has a little of what you describe, but it is just how it is.

sda

fintail said:

The MB dealer replaces them for free*

*might also include picking up a new car

stever said:

Just read a post by @Fintail in another discussion with this quote that fits so aptly with CCBA:

>>I didn't intend to get this car - I came in for a keyfob battery

Good reason to always buy your batteries at Walgreens and not at the dealer.

I have been guilty of going to the dealership to pick up a part or have the car serviced and drove out with a new ride! That was great fun!

Fintail and your new ride both have a blue exterior and brown interior, correct?

henryn

On the subject of 87 versus 91 octane gasoline. I participate in a Cadillac owners forum (not here on Edmunds). There was (a few years back) a major running debate over octane requirements for the Northstar engines. Cadillac has changed their minds over what they print in the owner’s manual, and it has become quite confusing.

Basically, higher octane allows for more ignition advance. More ignition advance equal more horsepower and better fuel economy (all other things being equal). If detonation (pre-combustion) is detected, the ignition advance is retarded.

One of the old time regular posters, a master technician, hooked up a computer to his OBD II port, and recorded the actual engine timing. He drove his car around a particular route, using 87 octane. He then did the same with a tankful of 93 octane. This being the real world, and not a laboratory, he was not able to exactly duplicate all conditions. There were undoubtedly differences in temperature and humidity. And most importantly, driving parameters (how far did he depress the throttle, and for how long).

At the end of the tests, he was unable to see any appreciable differences in the graphs showing ignition advance. And with that, he concluded that it really didn’t matter and you weren’t going to be able to tell the difference.

breld

Here's the downside (well, one of them) of owning more cars than you need:

• Just paid $450 for a repair on the son's caretaker's van we bought. Technically it is hers, but 1) considering we only bought it for her at the beginning of the year and 2) it was just sitting in her parking lot unused, we thought it best to pay for the repair.
  
• $450 for a side view mirror that didn't hold up to the garage door as my wife backed the Sedona - go figure.
  
• $250 deductible for cracked windshield on the X5.
  
• Mini Cooper needs at least two new tires (which are actually quite cheap on that base model) and apparently new brake pads.
  
• Got that ding taken out of the S4 recently - at least that was covered by the dent protection package I bought.
  

I think we'll definitely sell off the X5 soon. As much as I like it, it is sort of redundant in our fleet with the minivan.

Still considering "downgrading" the S4 to something like a GTI or maybe even a Golf wagon for the sake of accelerating car debt payoff. But that only works if you're happy with the replacement.

Not exactly a downgrade (at least cost-wise), but still eyeing that M-sport 328 wagon, and now another dealer has a similarly equipped 428 gran coupe (CPO) available for about the same price as the wagon. Hmmm....

breld

I know, I know - keep the S4 @breld. Sure - wait until someone is one off from the "punch" guesses at the end of the year, then all of a sudden I'll be encouraged to make the move.

stickguy

could certainly make the case to sell the s4 and the X5, and but the wagon or 4 series to replace both of them. Assuming that is enough to keep you content for a while!

graphicguy

elias said:

I bought Chevy SS and Chevy Sonic about 9 months apart, so within a year, like Irish twins...
Maybe that qualifies me for chronic carbuyers anonymous.

Or, when I bought a pair of VW TDIs within a few of weeks of each other, a 2006 jetta TDI and 2006 New Beetle TDI.

(I figure that some folks here have bought two new cars on the same day.)

Congrats.

I never bought a new car twice in the same day. But, have done it several times in the same year.

breld

stickguy said:

could certainly make the case to sell the s4 and the X5, and but the wagon or 4 series to replace both of them. Assuming that is enough to keep you content for a while!

Oh yeah - I'll definitely be going from the two cars to one, just not sure what the end result will be.  And I'm less than two months from the one year anniversary of the S4.  That's pretty darn good for me!  All the purchases this year have been for the wife or stepdaughter.  I just happened to "inherit" the X5. 

breld

I haven't even purchased two cars in a day.  But between my wife and I, we've made complimenting purchases within a week or two.  The 3-series sedan and wagon were a couple weeks apart.  The S3 and S4 were three weeks apart last year.  

We definitely feed off each other.  

corvette

Buying one car in one day is pretty mentally draining, even at Carmax or another low-pressure facility. Can't imagine trying to do two.

kyfdx

I saw an Acura RLX today... you know, the other one. (there are only two, right?).

iluvmysephia1

Umm...buying one car every 5 years is more my speed.

stickguy

I saw either an RLX or RL on the road the other day. just can't remember which one.

I saw an RLX in the Acura showroom. does that count?

corvette

kyfdx said:

I saw an Acura RLX today... you know, the other one. (there are only two, right?).

If I had one of those, I think I'd probably look for some convincing looking Legend badges.

henryn

Looks like my 2006 Cadillac DTS may be sold. I will know for sure tomorrow evening. If it is gone, I may have a second new vehicle purchase over the span of 9 months. Or not.

graphicguy

kyfdx said:

I saw an Acura RLX today... you know, the other one. (there are only two, right?).

Acura can't quite figure out what the RLX is, or what they want it to be, and then slap a big price on it. What's the point?

kyfdx

CCBA? I've only had 3 daily drivers in the last 14 years, and one of those was a 24 month lease.

On the other hand, I bought/leased three cars within two months, back in 2011.

Michaell

kyfdx said:

On the other hand, I bought/leased three cars within two months, back in 2011.

Yeah, cuz one was rejected by the wife! :laughing:

kyfdx

Michaell said:

kyfdx said:

On the other hand, I bought/leased three cars within two months, back in 2011.

Yeah, cuz one was rejected by the wife! :laughing:

I know.. who wouldn't want a $55K MSRP vehicle for $335/month? (well, my wife for one)

Michaell

kyfdx said:

Michaell said:

kyfdx said:

On the other hand, I bought/leased three cars within two months, back in 2011.

Yeah, cuz one was rejected by the wife! :laughing:

I know.. who wouldn't want a $55K MSRP vehicle for $335/month? (well, my wife for one)

I still think that's one of the best lease deals I've seen on these boards. Luckily you were able to get out of it with little pain.

laurasdada

I remember seeing the Acura RLX at the New England Auto Show a few years ago. Just shook my head in sadness. Didn't need a crystal ball to recognize an inglorious future for this appliance-appearing monolith. Dear Acura: Look back to the '04 version TL. Repeat.

henryn

henryn said:

Looks like my 2006 Cadillac DTS may be sold. I will know for sure tomorrow evening. If it is gone, I may have a second new vehicle purchase over the span of 9 months. Or not.

Interesting story developing here. As many of you already know, I reside in Houston, TX. And I have been trying to sell my 2006 Cadillac DTS with 40,000 miles for a while now. That effort was sidelined for a few weeks after someone ran over me, doing minor damage to the right front.

The car is back, fixed, looks good. So I reposted my ads on Craigslist and cars.com around the end of last week. Over the weekend, I heard from a guy over in New Orleans. He has a brother who lives here in Houston, and he arranged for his brother to come by and look at the car. After his brother checked it out, he offered $8,000, and I stuck to my already lowered asking price of $8,500.

Monday, I hear from someone who lives in San Antonio. He wants to have his friend who lives in Houston come over to check out the car. Possibly this coming weekend, if he can get his present car sold. Houston is a very big town, why I’m only getting interest from people hundreds of miles away is a mystery to me.

Yesterday afternoon, Wednesday, I get another call from the guy in New Orleans. He practically pleads with me to take his offer of $8,000, and I finally agree to “split the difference”. He immediately makes plans to come over today to pick up the car, says he will meet me after work. Around lunch time I get a text message, he is in Lake Charles (about half way), and is on a bus coming to Houston, will arrive around 3:30, and can I pick him up at the bus station.

Well, sure, when I get off work at 5, not at 3:30. If this pans out, it will make for one of the more interesting “car sales story”, at least from my experiences.

ab348

I wonder if he is expecting you to pick him up in the Caddy and do the deal at the bus station? Watch out for rubber cheques.

Michaell

Let's hope he shows up with 82 $100 bills.

stickguy

and a $50

stickguy

I love when people show up with cash. When I sold my integra, I think the guy had to break open his piggy bank (maybe tip jar, I think he was a musician) plus a trip to the ATM nearby. they had to count out all the cash on the trunk of my car. fives, tens, twenties. Good think it was not that expensive of a car, because it was a pretty big wad of case.

same thing with the volvo, but that I think was 20s and 50s.

at least they weren't all new!

Michaell

stickguy said:

and a $50

Well, yeah .. or two $20's and a $10

Good news and bad news on the car front. Good news is that I've been interviewing with a software company and they seem to be very interested in me for a position quite similar to what I did at IBM. So much so that they want me to fly to HQ in the Bay Area next week for interviews by the senior managers, executives and HR.

The bad news is that this, too, is a work from home position (did I just say that?). Given the amount of work in this new role, I may have to curtail my delivery work for the time being .. perhaps just a couple shifts a week.

This will be good in keeping the miles down on the E-GT, but I suspect I'll have a similar budget when I go shopping later this year - or sooner, if I get my way

One step at a time, as they say.

xwesx

Good luck, Michael! You'll land squarely on your feet.

Henry, that's quite the developing story! It sounds a bit similar to one or two of my private sales. People. Sheesh.

stickguy

Michael, sounds like a good deal if it goes through. Good luck with it.

you can get a lot in your price range at least, if you plan to lease again.

I should probably fine a 2nd job too at this point. Just not sure what. Uber or food delivery, just does not seem like something I want to deal with. So not sure what else there is!

sda

xwesx said:

Good luck, Michael! You'll land squarely on your feet.

Henry, that's quite the developing story! It sounds a bit similar to one or two of my private sales. People. Sheesh.

That is encouraging news. All the best.

henryn

I picked him up at the bus station, let him drive the car to take me home. 82 one hundred dollar bills, two twenties, and a ten.

When I sold the Passat about 2 years back, the guy paid me $8k in cash. Depositing that at the credit union was a lot of fun. I had to fill out paperwork, and have my picture taken. Made me feel like somebody really important, you know, a drug dealer or terrorist!

Maybe this time I'll just bury it in a coffee can in the back yard. If it was good enough for my Grandma ...

kyfdx

henryn said:

I picked him up at the bus station, let him drive the car to take me home. 82 one hundred dollar bills, two twenties, and a ten.

When I sold the Passat about 2 years back, the guy paid me $8k in cash. Depositing that at the credit union was a lot of fun. I had to fill out paperwork, and have my picture taken. Made me feel like somebody really important, you know, a drug dealer or terrorist!

Maybe this time I'll just bury it in a coffee can in the back yard. If it was good enough for my Grandma ...

Congrats on the deal!

My grandmother had CDs that paid 9%-15% interest..

cdnpinhead

I thought the limit for that kind of nonsense was $10K, not 8. Oh well, live and learn.

stickguy

brave, travelling on the bus with that much cash!

ah, the cash deposit rules. I know it used to be 10K and you had to do federal paperwork. I used to be treasurer for the school marching band support group, and we did an annual "battle of the bands" fundraiser, that generated lots of cash that I had to count and deposit. The one year, I had to travel early the next day, so made up the deposit, and sent my wife to the bank with it. Well, it was about $10,500, so they practically stripped searched her. She was not pleased with me.

nyccarguy

cdnpinhead said:

I thought the limit for that kind of nonsense was $10K, not 8. Oh well, live and learn.

It is $10K, but as you know big brother is ALWAYS watching

Mr_Shiftright

I think it is at the discretion of the teller. Obviously we're dealing with a suspicious looking character here.

slorenzen

I had a WAD of cash that got moldy, sitting in a safe at home. I took it to our bank and turned it in, to have them just add it to my personal account, and it was no problem.

28K.

Smelled REAL bad...

corvette

I think it's required if it's $10,000 or more, but the bank has discretion to make the same report if it's less than $10,000. When I was in a law firm, our escrow bank hated dealing with it--it's surprising how many people bring wads of cash to real estate closings.

breld

Congrats on the sale - always nice when things work out well like that!

fintail

Several years ago I sold off some silver coins for a not insignificant amount, teller didn't bat an eye when I deposited the money.

New car is off getting the dashcam moved over, I have a loaner. 16 C300, no sunroof, no nav, but it is 4matic with push button start. Doesn't feel any faster than the diesel, smaller size makes the pillars seem more intrusive. Nice seats though, love the thigh support extension.

stickguy

anyone want a really bright C6 (this is a 6, right?) with hardly any miles on it?

http://www.royaleasing.com/detail-2007-chevrolet-corvette-2dr_coupe-used-15186394.html

kyfdx

stickguy said:

anyone want a really bright C6 (this is a 6, right?) with hardly any miles on it?

http://www.royaleasing.com/detail-2007-chevrolet-corvette-2dr_coupe-used-15186394.html

Yes, that's a C6

Chrome wheels and an automatic?

nyccarguy

I always liked the C6.

stickguy

Sadly I think they all have chromes and a slush box. Apparently what the 80 YO men that buy these prefer.

I would also like the top to go down.

Michaell

stickguy said:

Sadly I think they all have chromes and a slush box. Apparently what the 80 YO men that buy these prefer.

I would also like the top to go down.

My optometrist - who is in his late 60's or early 70's - owns a C5.

But, he takes his out to the track.

kyfdx

stickguy said:

Sadly I think they all have chromes and a slush box. Apparently what the 80 YO men that buy these prefer.

I would also like the top to go down.

My friend had a Z06 model with a stick (and no chrome wheels). Unfortunately his son flipped it.

Bright screaming yellow.

stickguy

I imagine you gotta real try hard to flip one of those

Mr_Shiftright

28,000 isn't that insignificant. Corvettes tend to age in dog miles.