Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/25 for details.
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/25 for details.
Options
Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
Mine is definitely an "extra." I have it parked in the driveway with comprehensive only - it's just waiting for the buyback. I haven't touched it since I left on our trip a month ago. It kills me, too, because it is such a beautiful, comfortable car. I noticed on the way to work this morning that I am under a quarter tank on my Forester.... with 245 miles on the trip meter.
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and let us know! Post a pic of your new purchase or lease!
MODERATOR
2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I'm actually driving the Passat more than I did the Cadillac, my truck is mainly sitting these days. I have been considering what to replace it with, if and when I do sell it back. I really like the comfort on the highway, and I absolutely love how easy it is to park.
If I could buy a new Passat TDI, or a newer model with lower mileage still under warranty, I would give that very serious consideration. I suppose I could buy a new Passat 1.8T, but I am not very fond of that engine. Every time I drive one, I can't help comparing it to the 2.0T, and it comes up lacking, big time.
Maybe I will go back to a minivan, I was shopping those when this all came up. Although now I am really enamored of how easy it is to park this Passat. If you're not living in the inner city, you will not appreciate how much that matters.
ZHP on Craigslist
2024 Audi Q8 e-tron - 2017 911 C4S - 2025 BRZ - 2023 A6 Allroad - 2024 Genesis GV60 - 2019 Cayman
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and let us know! Post a pic of your new purchase or lease!
MODERATOR
2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
I'm enamored with quite a few details regarding my Passat, but I'm determined to see this buyback thing through. The feature set on the car just seems very well-considered in all respects. So far, the only thing at all that annoys me is the response time of the head unit, and even that was not overly annoying to me until it was mentioned by... someone... else first, which made me consider it more. LOL
I should have the new lug bolts in the mail this morning, then I get to see how well I did on modifying the winter wheels. I suspect I'll hit a huge snag considering how smoothly everything has (seemingly) gone thus far. The only troublesome part about it is my inability to find center caps for the MB wheels. I really don't like missing hub caps.
2021 VW Arteon SEL 4-motion, 2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech
Dealer still cannot reproduce the problem aside from the one time that they've already repaired. They're waiting to hear back from corporate, but at this point are expecting that they'll need to reproduce it before further action can be taken.
I'm at a bit of a loss as to what to do here. On one hand, I don't blame them, but on the other if I get the car back and it happens again (which it will), what am I supposed to do?
other than that, if you can pinpoint the specific conditions, and tell them, dealer would have to keep the car and replicate the scenario. But it can be frustrating as heck.
Good news (or bad news, depending on perspective), if they just give it back, odds are something more serious is going to happen with it soon enough.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
@stickguy A code would help, wish mine would throw one to guide them down the right path but so far no codes, lights, etc.
At least my dealer has acknowledged there is a problem. I still remember how Cadillac treated @graphicguy with his first CTS. "No code, no issue"
If that's the nicest ZHP on the planet (and, it probably isn't), you might pull $13K-$14K from someone that is like the guy that is selling it. (just has to have it, willing to travel, etc).
Interesting story.. sitting on a bench outside while my wife is shopping. BMW wagon goes by, with M-badging, quad exhaust and a custom rear valance, with pleasant gurgling noises coming out of the exhaust.
Lady parks the wagon, and I leer at her and with my best creepy old man voice, "Hey, that's a really nice wagon."
Turns out she is married to one of the brothers that own EAG. Naturally.
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
Car is back with me tonight and admittedly driving fine. I'm basically SOL pending it becoming more consistent or throwing a light of some kind.
Lemon law is 2 years/24k miles in WA, so I'm inclined to give it another couple weeks.
Thoughts?
You have it documented with service, right? Didn't they acknowledge the problem officially? So only question is if it has acutally been resolved? Though I get confused. Did you get it back, have it act up again, and take it back in?
anyway, try it a few weeks. If it acts up at all, document every detail, and take it right back in.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
There are lemon law expert witnesses who may be able to give more specific advice, and one used to post here on Edmunds.
In my case, an affidavit from the dealer documenting the problem and the number of service visits was helpful. But, that dealer had been terminated as a result of GM's bankruptcy, and was at that point vindictive towards GM, so your mileage may vary.
I also would need to buy a GoPro.
Yeah....not sure how much of a deep dive dealerships are willing to do on warranty work, given there is only a set amount the manufacturer will pay them to find the problem, and then the fix.
It confounds me that dealerships state they have the "manufacturer looking into it" when problems arise. What can the factory do? They don't have the car. How much can they possibly diagnose being remote?
FF.....hope you get some answers and they fix your car. It's a real PITA and frustrating when you get in a scenario like this.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
I assume these days, with all the diagnostics and video capability, that an engineer back at HQ can do a lot. They can see all the data coming out of the computers, and watch on video what is happening. Pretty much everything short of putting hands on it, so still need a tech to follow those directions.
Hopefully the real reason is that they have a lot more knowledge and resources to figure out what to try in the first place.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
H3: 18.5
Terrain: 16.2
XC60: 16.1
The Q5 3.0T trails by a bit in 4th place at 15.0 due to high cost of ownership and low reliability. The H3 is going to be tough to upset. Seems weird, but its true. Comfort, high reliability, and low cost of ownership help bolster it enough to overcome the lack of fun. If either of the Infinitis can score a perfect 5 in comfort, and meet or exceed my expectation of fun, they can just barely topple the H3.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
This is very cool in its own right, but who's paying $10k for it?
Vintage Prelude
I mean, if (and it's a big IF) you can find a nice example of a Prelude like @nyccarguy's, I'm pretty sure you could get it for $10k.
2024 Audi Q8 e-tron - 2017 911 C4S - 2025 BRZ - 2023 A6 Allroad - 2024 Genesis GV60 - 2019 Cayman
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Most of us are in the "there's no replacement for displacement" frame of mind when it comes to Mustangs, Camaros, & Challengers. I just read an article about Ford releasing a Performance Pack for 2.3L Turbo 4cyl Mustangs that give them a total of 335hp & 390 lb/ft of torque. $699 & it's fully warrantied by Ford. Might be worth a test drive at least.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
Now I have Preludes on my mind - this seems nice, though from what I understand a buyer may actually shy away from the Type SH for repairs/maintenance reasons.
2001 Prelude
2024 Audi Q8 e-tron - 2017 911 C4S - 2025 BRZ - 2023 A6 Allroad - 2024 Genesis GV60 - 2019 Cayman
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
Very technical.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I was looking for a set of "winter" rims for the Passat back in August, and I came a cross a set of old 16" stock alloys that came off a 1997 MB E320. They had the same bolt pattern (5x112) as my car and, as an added bonus, they also had a set of studded tires (lightly used) mounted on them, so I thought I would give them a shot. When I arrived at the place, I noted immediately that the aluminum on the rim was very thick at the mounting holes compared to the appearance of mine, which concerned me, but I went ahead and tried one on. I quickly found out that they allowed a 12mm bolt (mine are 14mm), so the bolts wouldn't fit, but otherwise seemed workable.
The lady who owned them said she was moving south in a week and needed them gone, so, if I was willing to use them, I could just have them. I protested that I had not brought cash with me due to the short notice of the visit, but she didn't want payment, she just wanted me to take them. So, I did.
In order to fit them, I ended up drilling out the mounting holes (which were about 22mm deep) to 9/16" using an old low-speed drill I fondly call "The Arm Breaker." This involved alignment and boring by hand, which was a very delicate process! I also installed some downsizing hub-centric rings to get good alignment on them at the VW 56.7mm size, and had to buy a new set of 14mmx1.5 lug bolts with 40mm shanks (stock is 25mm) to deal with the depth of the aluminum. All told, though, I spent about $110 on parts and tools to do the work, and had no alignment issues when installing them.
Now, it should be an easy (safer) task to drive the car to Anchorage in the middle of winter for the buyback.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S