Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

Sandman6472

Yes, guess we could've done things on the AT&T site and in the future, will. She did change the plan yesterday one more time. We got the $80/10 gig plan that just came out on the 21st, the one I originally wanted and called about. She felt that 6 gigs wouldn't be enough for the four of us, especially since she leaves hers on all the time. I turn mine off if not using the data function but will try an experiment and keep mine on for a set period of time to see how it affects total data usage. Wifi usually takes over wherever it's available so...we'll see.
Personally, I'd like to switch to T-Mobile but sticking with AT&T for now. Hoping when my kid gets her new job, they will give her phone service so we can spin her off which would just leave three of us. Since I really want the iPhone 6s Plus sometime in February, will bide my time. Still paying off my LG G Vista with the next program. A decent mid level phone but want a 16 gig phone and also, want to have the iPhone experience. Not sure if my android is better, but want to find out.

The Sandman

stickguy

Sandy, get the 64 gig iPhone. Not much more expensive.

Once my kids graduate and get a job, the get broomed from my wallet. Own car and insurance, and get get their own phone plan (unless they want to pay share of mine!)

Michaell

stickguy said:

Sandy, get the 64 gig iPhone. Not much more expensive.

Once my kids graduate and get a job, the get broomed from my wallet. Own car and insurance, and get get their own phone plan (unless they want to pay share of mine!)

My personal iPhone is a 6s with only 16GB; for work, I got an iPhone SE with 64GB

qbrozen

JUST the module is $600 online:
http://www.myvwpart.com/p/Volkswagen_2011_GTI/Abs-control-module-control-module/48273190/1K0907375AJ.html?partner=googlebase_adwords&kwd=&origin=pla

And according to a repair article I found, the job should take 2 hrs. 

I did find ABS assemblies fhat include the pump for $1300, and maybe that is what they are replacing, but that is still a far cry from over $2k.

Michaell

qbrozen said:

JUST the module is $600 online:
http://www.myvwpart.com/p/Volkswagen_2011_GTI/Abs-control-module-control-module/48273190/1K0907375AJ.html?partner=googlebase_adwords&kwd=&origin=pla

And according to a repair article I found, the job should take 2 hrs. 

I did find ABS assemblies fhat include the pump for $1300, and maybe that is what they are replacing, but that is still a far cry from over $2k.

Ouch. The car is limping along at the moment, but I'm pretty sure they are going to dump it for something else. My sister is not into chronic car repairs, especially since the kid will likely be moving to LA from SD next year.

stickguy

If it was me, I would be dumping it. Probably trying to work out an arrangement with Carmax on it.

Man, 5/60 is crazy short time for all that to fail.

roadburner

I think that the California location skews the estimate; I've mentioned before about how Santa Monica BMW wanted $1,105 to perform services that only cost $374 at my Kentucky BMW dealer.

Michaell

roadburner said:

I think that the California location skews the estimate; I've mentioned before about how Santa Monica BMW wanted $1,105 to perform services that only cost $374 at my Kentucky BMW dealer.

I suspect that may be the case here, too.

I'll keep everyone posted on what happens.

henryn

Volkswagens tend to skew towards the BMW / Mercedes side, you don't really want to own one that is out of warranty. Unless you can do your own work, or at the very least know a good independent shop who will treat you fairly. Paying the dealer rates to get service work on a German car is ... the word "madness" comes to mind.

Mr_Shiftright

You could probably randomly pull just about any 5 year old car and find something wrong with it.

breld

Man, that's a pretty miserable experience with the GTI. Unfortunate, 'cause I'm sure he was so excited about the car when they got it - hard not to be. As much as I love our VWs, I certainly have never felt comfortable owning one too far out of warranty. My wife's '07 Jetta with the 2.0t started acting up and requiring fairly costly repairs around 60-70k miles.

I always say that there may be higher costs for upkeep on a BMW, but the return on the investment is a very durable vehicle that lasts and lasts. Not sure if that relates to VWs or not.

Makes me happy that Honda seems to be injecting a little more excitement with the new Si.

Michaell

henryn said:

Volkswagens tend to skew towards the BMW / Mercedes side, you don't really want to own one that is out of warranty. Unless you can do your own work, or at the very least know a good independent shop who will treat you fairly. Paying the dealer rates to get service work on a German car is ... the word "madness" comes to mind.

I've suggested to my sis that they try to find a reputable VW indie shop.

breld

The garage at the new house is finally coming together and getting organized. We've run through our budget so quickly that I'm putting off the nice garage cabinets that I had in mind until next year. Having given up that third car bay in the move, I've been very pleased with the size of this garage - it is a very roomy 2-car space, being long enough to be able to easily park the van and have plenty of room all around.

I also included a couple pics of the finished product on the dog kennel. Very happy to have that done.

au1994

Looks great and what can you say about the Bassets? I love that face and can hear the melodious hound bark from here!

tjc78

@breld I love that garage! If we ever move (doubtful as we want to invest in a shore property), that is an absolute requirement to me.

Those VW repairs make me cringe, I don't think I could own one out of warranty.

stickguy

We missed the boat on the shore house 20 years ago. Should have done that, and gotten a small place up here. Oh well.

When we finally move, 2 car minimum (with extra off streaking parking not blocking the doors) is minimum requirement. I really want some extra bays though, either 3 attached or a stand alone spare garage. The house, who cares about that?

Going down south, would help make this dream affordable!

ab348

I've been thinking about having my old garage torn down and a newer, bigger & better one built. The existing is your typical 1960s single garage: concrete floor that now has some nice cracks, no insulation, unheated, one electrical circuit. I am limited in the size I can build to about 600 sq ft by zoning. Don't know if I would want one that big but probably close to it. Would need it insulated, wired, and heated or at least ready to be heated. Up here I understand new garages need footings with a 4-foot frost wall. Would be nice to use the space up above at least in part for storage. No idea what something like that costs.

stickguy

600 would get you a tight 3 car. Typical of what comes on new construction down here. Or a nice 2.5, with room for storage and a work bench, and space around the cars

graphicguy

breld....love them "dogies"....garage ain't too bad, either.

Mr_Shiftright

Somebody remind me please....who among us once owned a Mazda RX-8?

stickguy

Graphicguy

mjfloyd1

qbrozen said:

Pretty sure they aren't going to replace or even refurbish wheels just to CPO a unit. That would add significant cost and they'd have a hard time selling it at the resulting inflated price.

It would only be about $200 to refurb the curb rash. I think it would be worth it but I guess it's a regional thing?

corvette

Nice looking dog kennel and dogs, breld!

My beagle would climb over the garage railing in about five seconds. When I first got her, I didn't trust her alone in the house. Went to mow the yard and put her in the spare bathroom and put a baby gate on the door. As soon as I pulled the mower out of the garage, I saw her in the living room staring out the window at me. The baby gate got returned to Target.

Michaell

corvette said:

Nice looking dog kennel and dogs, breld!

My beagle would climb over the garage railing in about five seconds. When I first got her, I didn't trust her alone in the house. Went to mow the yard and put her in the spare bathroom and put a baby gate on the door. As soon as I pulled the mower out of the garage, I saw her in the living room staring out the window at me. The baby gate got returned to Target.

Oops. Of course, beagles are pretty smart, I've heard.

stickguy

Michael, has the wife come around on the Jetta yet? Did she get a ride in it?

Michaell

stickguy said:

Michael, has the wife come around on the Jetta yet? Did she get a ride in it?

The three of us took it to breakfast on Sunday morning. She likes it well enough. It helped that I had the girls' favorite XM station programmed on page one of the presets.

We've got a weekend getaway planned at our favorite B&B next month; if the weather is OK, we'll take the Jetta then, too.

Today, I got to see the SQ5 that @breld bought last month. Hadn't realized it was the bright blue color. Very sharp, and a nice exhaust burble when he pulled into the parking lot.

Is it wrong for me, after only 4 days of ownership, to be thinking about the next car already?

I've declared to the wife that the next car will be more luxurious, or sporty, or both, from what I've been driving. Depending on how my VW experience goes, I can see leasing a GTI, a GLI or an A3 2.0T Quattro.

Though, I have to say, I'm a bit miffed at Audi. Heated seats are standard with my lowly Jetta SE, but they're a $500 option on the A3 Premium. And, any color other than red, white or black costs an extra $475. $35K, minimally optioned.

stickguy

I have been pricing out online a bunch of cars lately (just to pass the time!). And it is silly that for the more expensive ones (Audi, Volvo, BMW) real colors cost extra. $550 for Volvo, and $700 or so from BMW. On $40K cars.

and on the BMW, stuff that should be standard on anything (and mostly is, even on a Fit) cost big bucks. $900 for a back up camera. $1,950 for Navi. $500 for power seats.

Michaell

stickguy said:

I have been pricing out online a bunch of cars lately (just to pass the time!). And it is silly that for the more expensive ones (Audi, Volvo, BMW) real colors cost extra. $550 for Volvo, and $700 or so from BMW. On $40K cars.

and on the BMW, stuff that should be standard on anything (and mostly is, even on a Fit) cost big bucks. $900 for a back up camera. $1,950 for Navi. $500 for power seats.

Less than $28K MSRP for a GLI with 6-speed and the same accessories I have on my car. I'm pretty sure it would lease under $300/mo, with the right discounts and incentives.

That nickel-and-diming stuff on the luxury brands sure makes me not want to go there.

Would love a 228xi coupe, but it's close to $40K equipped the way I want it.

stickguy

that is what my son is fixated on (the 228). I'm still trying to guide him to something more reasonable, or at least a CPO to know 10K off or more.

might have to put the next GLI on the list. Especially if I want a stick, and a lease!

breld

Thanks for the kind words and compliments on the garage and dogs!

We used to have a terrier that was an absolute escape artist - every time I thought I had the previous dog kennel secure, she'd find a way out. She has since gone to the farm - literally. A kind couple who lived on a farm were looking for a terrier and adopted her.

Fortunately, the basset hounds are not built to be escape artists, and aren't the smartest dogs out there anyway.

stickguy

a good thing about our lab (I still miss him!). He wasn't going to run away from his food supply (me).

breld

A lot of those ridiculously expensive options on the luxury makes don't necessarily hold their value on the used market, so it's nice to find a gem equipped the way you like it, and not be hit with the original cost of those upgrades.

henryn

I have a yellow lab, and a smaller mixed breed, at least partly Boston Terrier. If the opportunity presents, the Boston Terrier mix is out for an adventure. The yellow lab, she knows where dinner is going to be served.

au1994

I had a Yellow Lab for 14 years and agree, he wouldn't stray far from his food source. Great dog and the gold standard for those who follow him.

Re: options on the luxury brands. Completely agree. The combo of options is maddening...backup cam and lighting package but no heated seats...what??

I believe jet black and alpine white are the only two non metallic up charged colors on BMW now.

@michaell, you are not crazy. I think most of us are thinking about the next punch as we drive off the lot with the current one!

kyfdx

It's easy on a BMW.. just click all the boxes.

Personally, I think a 228 for about $40K is not that bad of a deal. It's the same engine you'll find in a $58K 5-series. A loaded GTI is $35K.

graphicguy

Mr_Shiftright said:

Somebody remind me please....who among us once owned a Mazda RX-8?

That be me!

nyccarguy

kyfdx said:

It's easy on a BMW.. just click all the boxes.

Personally, I think a 228 for about $40K is not that bad of a deal. It's the same engine you'll find in a $58K 5-series. A loaded GTI is $35K.

I agree the 2er is a sharp car for the money. Especially if you can find the right CPO 2er like @roadburner.

au1994

nyccarguy said:

kyfdx said:

It's easy on a BMW.. just click all the boxes.

Personally, I think a 228 for about $40K is not that bad of a deal. It's the same engine you'll find in a $58K 5-series. A loaded GTI is $35K.

I agree the 2er is a sharp car for the money. Especially if you can find the right CPO 2er like @roadburner.

The 2 series is a good buy for the money. The 3 is not any more. The screamer lease deals are on the 320i which is decontented and tuned down. There are some good 5 series deals out there but it is a cruiser now and not the true sports sedan it used to be. Not necessarily a knock, the car has just changed its target market.

6 series is way over priced, I think and the 7 has never and will never be under consideration for me.

We got a great deal on the X6 due in part to its polarizing design. Not really sure how the other SUVs stack up in terms of bang for the buck compared to the competition. I do find the X3,4 and 5 attractive though.

People say BMW has lost its way and while true to a point, they still sell a lot of cars. They are in business to make money and the current line-up reflects that. IIRC a stick is no longer offered in the 5, its hens teeth in the 3 and they will make a SUV or CUV off of any platform and it sells.

stickguy

kyfdx said:

It's easy on a BMW.. just click all the boxes.

Personally, I think a 228 for about $40K is not that bad of a deal. It's the same engine you'll find in a $58K 5-series. A loaded GTI is $35K.

Well, 40k is a real stripper. Base lights, no sports pack, manual seats, etc. I thin a metallic no option car X drive is already 37k with destination. So add leather or nav, and you are banging on 40. Heck, I went cheap, and just adding what I considered minimum required stuff, it was an easy $44k+

nyccarguy

The 2 is a good buy for the money at a BMW dealership. If you are shopping coupes, $40K MSRP can buy you a 426 hp Mustang GT or a 375 hp Dodge Challenger R/T Road & Track Pkg. Both are different animals compared to the 2, but aren't slouches by any means. I don't know if there is even ANY cross shopping among the 2, 5.0, & R/T. The V8 powered Mustangs seem to hold their value quite well on the used market as do the Challengers. Challengers even have decent lease residuals & lots of incentive/trunk money. I saw a base Challenger R/T with the only option listed as the 8 speed automatic on a dealer's website. Less incentives & discounts, that's a $30K car.

stickguy

The 2 and mustang I can see. Not the whale of a challenger.

nyccarguy

stickguy said:

The 2 and mustang I can see. Not the whale of a challenger.

It's bigger for sure and not as fast, but a solid highway cruiser, styled like nothing else on the road, V8 powered

Michaell

I just priced out a 2-series on the BMW website. Tried to spec it the same as my new Jetta, in terms of features.

I forgot, for 2017 it's the 230xi. $35K base.

I can live with white, just to save the money on any metallic paint color.
Black sensatec interior - OK by me.

Cold weather package (heated seats) - $700
Driver assistance package (rear camera) - $950
Premium package (keyless access, power seats, satellite radio) - $2950

You want Apple CarPlay? Sorry, not available as a stand alone option - gotta take the whole nav system option, at $1950. Pass.

Total? $40,745.

Figure 7% discount, then add on $925 for the acquisition fee. $38,818.

That's a lease payment of close to $600 with tax, using this months lease numbers.

Just checked local inventory - an even dozen 2-series in stock. About a third are convertibles, and there's actually a couple of RWD (!) models on the lot. Nothing equipped the way I would prefer.

stickguy

I meant can't see cross shopping it to a 2 series. Though I would never consider it!

qbrozen

mjfloyd1 said:

It would only be about $200 to refurb the curb rash. I think it would be worth it but I guess it's a regional thing?

Must be regional because you can't get anything done for $200 around here. Dismount all the tires, grind and polish the 4 lips, remount and balance the tires ... I'd say $600 on the low side. And that's, of course, assuming all are still repairable in that manner.

ab348

Maybe this discussion should be renamed to Chronic BMW Shoppers Anonymous?

qbrozen

ab348 said:

Maybe this discussion should be renamed to Chronic BMW Shoppers Anonymous?

Didn't someone just accuse us of being VW heavy like last week? ;b

stickguy

I was just building 2017 WRXs. Have a new distraction. Need to go test fit one of these!

Michaell

OK, I just built a 2016 A3 the way I could live with - $36,850 MSRP and a $450/mo lease payment.

Better.

But, a GLI would lease out at just a tick over $300/mo - I can give up AWD for $150/mo savings. And, I can get a stick in the GLI.

stickguy

I'm trying to push my son to consider the GLI he really wanted last time, since it would be much more financially prudent. Or a WRX. Need to let him get the looking out of his system, and sit down to scratch out numbers. Unless he gives up and leases again!