Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

qbrozen

stickguy said:

I might go out tomorrow and check out the one I found. Because, why not? Beats working.

Here is I think the best one of these I have flagged:
http://esso-motors.ebizautos.mobi/inventory.aspx?_makef=infiniti&_model=ex35

stickguy

I like the colors. Miles are low. But read the fine print. About $1,600, at least, in extra fees. I hate that in ads.

ab348

corvette said:

ab348 said:

Sadly I must admit I have no idea what a Q5 is or who makes it.

It's a compact Audi SUV. Like the VW Tiguan, but doesn't look like a shoe.

Thanks. For some reason I thought it might be an Infiniti.

nyccarguy

Sorry for the confusion & thank-you for clarifying. Yes the Q5 (shares mechanicals & underpinnings with the Porsche Macan) is Audi's mid sized SUV that slots in between the Q3 (which is built on the Tiguan platform I think) and the Q7 (which shares a platform with the VW Toureg & Porsche Cayenne).

nyccarguy

Back to one of my original comments about how much I liked the Audi Q5's powertrain (2.0L Turbo 4 mated to an 8 speed automatic). It would be interesting to see how well it performs in a lighter, smaller vehicle like the A3. Finding one (ex loaner) with the sport seats & sport suspension might prove difficult though.

28firefighter

nyccarguy said:

Back to one of my original comments about how much I liked the Audi Q5's powertrain (2.0L Turbo 4 mated to an 8 speed automatic). It would be interesting to see how well it performs in a lighter, smaller vehicle like the A3. Finding one (ex loaner) with the sport seats & sport suspension might prove difficult though.

Sounds like a unicorn to me in a loaner fleet, but you never know...

qbrozen

stickguy said:

I like the colors. Miles are low. But read the fine print. About $1,600, at least, in extra fees. I hate that in ads.

Ah, I did not catch that. Honestly, however, it is about fair with those fees included. Auction value, if it is perfectly clean, is about $17k.

breld

@nyccarguy - thanks for sharing your Q5 experience; it's nice to hear the opinions of others. With that 2.0T loaner I had a few weeks back, I agree that the "base" setup is surprisingly quick and very pleasant to drive. Like you, I like my interior a lot - something I already appreciated in my S4 and previous A5 and didn't mind one bit maintaining essentially the same interior on the SQ5. I'm particularly fond of the Nappa leather and the "diamond-stitch" seats on mine. Those are some options that are really inflated price-wise when new, but it's nice when a used one happens to come with them.

But you're right on the tech features - given how old the platform is, they definitely need updating. Of course, that is addressed in the upcoming model following in the footsteps of the new A4. If you haven't seen it yet, here's C&D's coverage:'

2018 Audi Q5

Exactly like the A4 update, the exterior changes are subtle, but the interior gets the full overhaul.

breld

@stickguy - 2017 Civic now offers the manual/turbo option on the EX-T trim for coupes and sedans. Apple Carplay and....sunroof!

2017 Civic Updates

28firefighter

Update from VW. They were able to replicate all of it, but they're attributing it to some bolts on the subframe that came loose. That would explain the clunking, but that does not really explain the loss of power...

Any thoughts from the gurus here? I'm waiting for a call back because they want to keep it overnight to confirm.

au1994

I loved the Q5 but the better half wanted a break from a traditional SUV and something a bit bigger. Could be on the table for next time around though.

stickguy

@breld, I think that is a lie. I went to the Honda build site, and you can only get the manual on the LX and sport. EX requires CVT. Maybe it changes later, or they changed their minds!

Bradd, the 2.0 in the A3 is a beast. Really moves. But, 2016 and prior, sport seats only available on premium plus, and quite rare still. Never see it in loaner fleet.

But, for the 2017 updates, now a pretty cheap ($900) option to get sport seats and suspension on the base premium. And still cheaper than last years model, even with updated tech (including phone integration and CarPlay). I would wait until 2017s start filtering out slightly used.

stickguy

Reading that article, I think you can get the EX T stick on the sedan and coupe. Just not hatch. Odd.

Just spec'ed out an EX-T sedan. Wife prefers a 4 door anyway, so OK by me. Just over $22k sticker. Not bad at all. Heated seats, moonroof, CarPlay. All good stuff. Uses regular gas. I like!

Only question is, can I live with the manual seat? Need to try that out.

Next week the sonata goes for an oil change at the local auto mall. Will head across the lot to the Honda store to see!

breld

Yeah - just the coupe and sedan, so you can get the extra features of the EX model on those body styles, or the sporty aesthetics of the Sport model hatch, but not both. At least for now. I suppose Honda is just going all in on the hatch, offering the Type R for the enthusiasts.

If you're good with the sedan or coupe, I imagine the Si model will be a nice sweet spot, offering most of the creature comfort features of the EX along with the obvious sporty nature. I'm guessing it won't break $25k.

stickguy

I would be cool with a sedan. That size hatch isn't big enough really for a large dog, or moving lots of stuff. Got the other car for that.

Don't need the si really. The EXT will be nicely sporty, plenty quick, and a bit more comfy and practical. Save on gas too.

Right now, to get a stick, this civic and the golf Wolfsburg are both great deals, with MSRP right around 22k nicely equipped. But man, my wife is not a VW fan!

Oh, another plus for Honda. Cloth seats, but heated! Which seems quite silly to me, but, what the heck.

stickguy

Stopped at lunch to check out the EX35 I found. Turns out, not arriving until tomorrow. Bummer.

corvette

Heated cloth is pretty nice in the winter. 

I finally got got my replacement Battery Tender today. Took almost three weeks. I think if this one dies, I quit trying to claim under their warranty and just get a competing product with a better reputation. 

stickguy

stickguy said:

Stopped at lunch to check out the EX35 I found. Turns out, not arriving until tomorrow. Bummer.

well, now showing on line as sold. Sometimes they do sell things before pictures even hit, but not sure how they sold it (not just showing as pending) before setting a price, or actually getting the car in.

Michaell

stickguy said:

stickguy said:

Stopped at lunch to check out the EX35 I found. Turns out, not arriving until tomorrow. Bummer.

well, now showing on line as sold. Sometimes they do sell things before pictures even hit, but not sure how they sold it (not just showing as pending) before setting a price, or actually getting the car in.

Someone came in and made an offer higher than the price the dealer was going to set?

stickguy

could have. When I stopped in, the guy that handles the inventory took my name and said they had not set a price yet (but that was not his department). So sure I could have talked to the owner, and probably gotten a number out of them, and put down a deposit. Which would have moved it to "pending sale". what seems odd is actually selling the car, before it even arrives to be seen.

could also have just been a mistake when they switched status on it.

xwesx

Y'all are far too prolific in your postings here. I gave up on trying to read them all since 9/10.

stever

Went to look at a Volt here Monday and wasn't surprised to learn that it was sold before it ever hit the lot. We were running other errands and I didn't call ahead to avoid having the dealer latch onto my number with caller ID.

It was listed for MSRP on the website (didn't look at the fine print). What's really surprising is that it's not on the dealer inventory now.

corvette

Sounds like cars are selling as quickly as houses are here!

stickguy

just the good ones, at the right price.

rayainsw

Speaking of 'good ones' [ and many recent Audi references here ]
since the RS3 has been confirmed for availability in the USofA,
I might have to consider one...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXOkMhK8WbY

28firefighter

rayainsw said:

Speaking of 'good ones' [ and many recent Audi references here ]
since the RS3 has been confirmed for availability in the USofA,
I might have to consider one...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXOkMhK8WbY

Want.

Michaell

I don't think the driver was pushing it as hard as it can go while on the track...

Willow Springs?

corvette

Got the replacement Battery Tender out of its package (this is the fourth one I've had since 2012). They included a new set of alligator clips (which I didn't need) and a new set of the battery terminal adapters for permanent mounting (which I could install on the Murano). That's a nice bonus, as my previous warranty replacements didn't come with those accessories--they expected you to reuse the old ones.

Mr_Shiftright

I get to baby sit this motorcycle in my little "barn" on my property, once it is restored over the winter, and I get riding privileges. It's a '66 Triumph TR6, (650cc twin) and it runs beautifully. We aren't going to go into the engine at all. It's a low miles bike that's been stored for many years. We already have a lot of the parts. It'll look gorgeous when we're done---I guarantee it! You'll get to see before & after pix, if you're interested.

British bikes of this era are very light, and handle like a dream. Certainly not "fast" by modern standards, but way fun.




Not to be confused with this one, which is an earlier Triumph (1950 Thunderbird, for trivia buffs):

Sandman6472

Happy New Year folks!! Took off yesterday but luckily won't have to next Wednesday as I don't work that day.
Matthew is coming right for us it seems. Another 20 hour week, so off the next 2 days when Matt should hit us. Hoping we open late on Friday to but folks are already panicing down here. Long lines in supermarkets and at gas stations which is nuts because after Wilma, they were all required to put in generators so if power did go out, they'd all still be able to operate. But folks just panic and the t v stations just feed this frenzy with non stop hurricane coverage. My wife and one kid are out getting last minute food as I type this. As for me, gonna hunker down these next few days and veg. Garage door opener goes in tomorrow afternoon if they still are willing to show up. Didn't flee like I said I would...just hoping it was the right decision.
Wish us luck folks...and I wish the same to you folks on the east coast as it looks like Matt will be on your doorstep this weekend.

The Sandman

Sandman6472

Watching the Weather Channel..."if you live in S E Florida, now is the time to get ready"! And folks definitely are doing just that. They've been gone to the market over 2 hours now which just ain't normal! Sorry I didn't just flee earlier when I had the chance!!

The Pensive Sandman

ab348

The way the media hype weather these days is ridiculous.

Sandman6472

Sure is. Think I've finally decided to get the warranty. Was in the CR-H today at the Honda store and decided right then and there. Don't want the Honda, the Tiguan isn't the right vehicle right now and truth be told, I really like my Golf. So, might as well keep it for a few more years after the 3/36,000 warranty and enjoy it. Would save me a bunch of cash also since I might just treat myself to a new iPhone.

The Sandman

corvette

I think you're doing the right thing skipping the HR-V.

28firefighter

corvette said:

I think you're doing the right thing skipping the HR-V.

Agree. 

Michaell

28firefighter said:

corvette said:

I think you're doing the right thing skipping the HR-V.

Agree. 

Also agree. That Golf you have is a real nice car.

Stay dry, @sandman_6472

imidazol97

sandman_6472 said:

...the t v stations just feed this frenzy with non stop hurricane coverage.

The news media giving us slanted info? Say it's not true! LOL
It's just like up here when the "white death" (snow) might come through--they predict snow inches possible and then we get a dusting. Meanwhile, all the old folks have cleared the shelves at Kroger and blocked the parking lot cruising for a space in handicapped closest to the door. And other businesses suffer because the news folks have scared everyone into staying home.

Stay safe, Sandman.

Michaell

After 20+ years in Colorado, I've determined that the weather folks will err on the side of caution when it comes to snow. I'd rather be told to expect 10" and get 3, rather that the opposite.

kyfdx

I have friends that are supposed to fly into Savannah for a week at Hilton Head, on Saturday. Which is just about when the storm should peak in that area.

28firefighter

Final update on the car:
VW techs drove the car extensively yesterday and then again this morning and the problem has been resolved. I'll believe it when I see it.

Their theory is that when the car was upshifting or downshifting at certain times, it was causing the DSG to bang against the subframe because of the loose bolts. When the jolt occurred, they believe it caused the traction control to kick-in and pull power to prevent slippage.

This actually seems plausible - on more than one occasion I've experienced the traction control kicking in on perfectly dry, clear days under moderate acceleration.

I'm still likely to open a case with VW just to have this documented, because I've never heard of an 11 month old car that has never been in an accident needing new subframe bolts...

Mr_Shiftright

I'd certainly do a "nut and bolt" on the whole car in that case---have them put a socket on everything. I'm not sure what bolts were loose but on certain areas the results of loose bolts could be catastrophic.

28firefighter

Mr_Shiftright said:

I'd certainly do a "nut and bolt" on the whole car in that case---have them put a socket on everything. I'm not sure what bolts were loose but on certain areas the results of loose bolts could be catastrophic.

Yup. I asked them to do that AND document that it was performed and passed.

I really just want to have everything in writing in case something goes haywire down the line.

henryn

Many years back, I owned a 1993 Chevy Van, ¾ ton, custom (couch, the whole 9 yards). I paid for a transmission service (drop the pan, replace filter and fluid). This required taking off the rear cross member and engine mount. They did not bolt down the cross member when they put it back. Which made life rather interesting, until I figured out what was going on.

Sandman6472

Went to the bank a bit ago and folks are lined up for miles at the gas stations. Luckily the bank was pretty empty as was the local grocery store. A couple stations had "no gas" signs posted but I did see a small convoy of petrol trucks on the way. Have 3/4 tankfuls in each of the 3 vehicles and not sure if the oldest will show up tonight or not as she's up in West Palm Beach. That should be plenty as I don't see us going anywhere the next few days until it's over. Had a full tank before I left for work yesterday but used about 1.3 gallons just going and coming but again, should be fine. After Wilma, petrol stations and supermarkets were required to get generators so they could come back online sooner, so hopefully they all complied. We had discussed getting a home generator after Wilma but didn't follow through, now wish I had. They sell some that can light the whole house, and then some, which are buried underground. All one must do is maintain them and make sure they have enough fuel to keep them running. Woulda, coulda, shoulda as they say!
Good luck to us all and those also up the east coast!

The Sandman

(Have all the phones charging now and the portable chargers are ready to go, just in case we do lose power for a short while.)

Michaell

Interesting update on the Jetta ....

In Colorado, your registration and plates are managed at the county level - the dealer sends the paperwork to the motor vehicles department at the county, the county sends the owner a postcard with the information, and the owner has to go in and pay the registration and taxes to get the plates. This normally takes a month or so; the temp tags I get are good for 60 days.

That 60 day window ends in a couple of weeks, and I haven't yet gotten the notification from the county. I called them yesterday and they told me the paperwork was returned to the dealer at the end of September as the tax information that was submitted was wrong. I can extend the temp tags if necessary, but hoping it doesn't come to that.

xwesx

I get the feeling all these folks are incompetent when it comes to plates. I should have known, after all the rigamarole that I went through with my financing institution, to insist on processing the title/plates paperwork myself. But, they were very hesitant to let me do it, so I decided not to push the issue. I still haven't seen my plates, and my temp expired a week ago. Not that I really care (I would drive it anyway if I was driving it at all), but it is still really frustrating to have more than six weeks pass without plates when the actual process takes about fifteen minutes (including the wait time at the DMV for a [non-permissible content removed] like me).

I did get an email about a week and a half ago from the financier saying that they mailed the plates to me at my physical address, but they were returned as undeliverable (I had already told the rep at the office when we were doing the paperwork that they must be sent to mailing address). She asked if they should send to my mailing address instead (.....duh?). I sent a courteous "yes" back, as well as then following up with blasting them for their inefficiency.

Michaell

xwesx said:

I get the feeling all these folks are incompetent when it comes to plates. I should have known, after all the rigamarole that I went through with my financing institution, to insist on processing the title/plates paperwork myself. But, they were very hesitant to let me do it, so I decided not to push the issue. I still haven't seen my plates, and my temp expired a week ago. Not that I really care (I would drive it anyway if I was driving it at all), but it is still really frustrating to have more than six weeks pass without plates when the actual process takes about fifteen minutes (including the wait time at the DMV for a [non-permissible content removed] like me).

I did get an email about a week and a half ago from the financier saying that they mailed the plates to me at my physical address, but they were returned as undeliverable (I had already told the rep at the office when we were doing the paperwork that they must be sent to mailing address). She asked if they should send to my mailing address instead (.....duh?). I sent a courteous "yes" back, as well as then following up with blasting them for their inefficiency.

This is the first time is 20+ years that I've had this kind of problem with the registration on a new car. Apparently, the dealer goofed up on the taxes owned. The town I moved to apparently collects their share of the sales tax for my lease up front - all the other entities (state, county, transit district) collect them each month with the lease payment. But, it's not like I'm the only person in my town who leases a new car.

breld

I've had that experience a couple times now where my temps were expiring. The worst one was with a mom 'n pop shop when we bought the used Beetle for my stepdaughter. They just couldn't get the paperwork right - in one instance when I went back to their dealership to get things straight, they handed me some document with the wrong car on it.

@Michaell - you bought it at McDonald, right? I've actually had really good experience with them on registering, receiving the notice quicker than expected for the 3 cars I've purchased with them.

28firefighter

Must be a trend - took me nearly 5.5 weeks (of the 6 weeks I had on the temp tag) to get my plates for the TDI. In WA when you buy from a dealer, the handle the registration with the state and the plates get mailed to the dealer. From there you can either go back and they'll put them on or they'll just mail them to you.

First the dealer misplaced the copy of my drivers license, so they couldn't submit the paperwork. Then when the plates came in, they misaddressed the envelope with the plates and it was sent back to them.

rayainsw

Sounds like these dealers need to raise their 'Doc Fees'....
[ So maybe they can hire more competent people to handle this. ]
- Ray
Just kidding!