Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

nyccarguy

stickguy said:

but an A3 is not meant to carry 5 adults.

You are right. I thought it was just him & his wife driving up. Who else is going?

stickguy

if I follow correctly, just the 2 of them driving, but once there, they will be driving around 3 others too that are flying up. That is a long drive. But I guess if you are not in a hurry, could be nice.

I did 1,300 in 4 days last month driving to get my daughter at school with a side trip to Asheville. Wasn't that bad, plus the longest days were only 450 miles!

suydam

Minivans are expensive to rent. I know it sounds odd but a Chevy Impala or even Toyota Camry would handle better and both have a huge trunk. But you're the guywho drives many vehicles for the rental fleet.

corvette

You could just take the A3 or Golf and plan on anyone else who needs to be carted around calling a cab or an Uber.

stickguy

good point about rates (though he does get an employee discount?) The last time I priced one out, it was crazy how much more the minivan (or a large SUV) cost over a full size sedan.

nippononly

I want nothing "autonomous", ever.

Ditto. I wish they would take all the money they are putting into these needless automated systems and use it to develop steering with some actual feedback and life to it. Or just accept the 0.5 mpg penalty and go back to hydraulic power steering.

nyccarguy

I'm proud of you all. You own (have owned) some pretty cool cars recently. The ones that stick out in my mind (but not limited too) are an M235i, RS7, M4, GTI, 420 hp CTS V-Sport, Mustang GT, CLS... While going through a box in my basement (mostly old photos & cards from my wife while we were dating), I found an article I printed up written by Scott Oldham back in 2004. I searched for the article on Google, but couldn't find it. So I took a photo of it (hanging on the wall of my currently gutted, formerly finished basement).

Sandman6472

Would love to take the A3 but the wife won't hear of it. An Impala could definitely work, as it has a huge back seat and my one daughter's fiance is a big guy...luckily my girls are on the skinny side! But still think a Sportage or Rogue could work nicely as they do seat 5 nicely. Thank G-d for my employee discount on top of the gold membership. I know it's going to be an expensive weekend so what's a bit more really. I think we're giving a dinner the night before plus we'll need 3 rooms and have to feed our five. Told my son to get together with his fiance and decide what y'all want and we'll go from there.

The Sandman

nyccarguy

Buy them an ex-rental from the Hertz Prestige Collection.

kyfdx

Rent a sedan. You'll save hundreds, even with your discount. SUVs and vans are outrageous.

Michaell

kyfdx said:

Rent a sedan. You'll save hundreds, even with your discount. SUVs and vans are outrageous.

I've got a mid-sized SUV reserved for 5 days in SFO next week - less than $500 before taxes and fees.

graphicguy

mjfloyd1 said:

Thanks. Looking back, it's funny that my dad was a radiologist and didn't want me to go to medical school...Maybe things will get better but i don't see how you can get out of residency with $200k + in loans and be someone's employee. Thankfully I'm in a private group practice and I'm old. I only need 8 or so more yrs. Maybe I'll look for a job in a surgery center where someone actually cares??

Funny....I just had this same conversation with my GP yesterday. He went from private practice to a group (a large group). When I asked him "why", he said he wanted to be a Doctor and help people, and let someone else fight with insurance companies.

Interesting observation by him....he said the group he's now can really navigate the affordable care act well. If they do away with it, his feeling is they will go back to the previous system where it took more paperwork to deal with the "uninsured" than it did with those who have insurance under affordable care act. I have no skin in that game since my employer provides insurance. But, sounds like things are about to get very rocky with medical care very soon.

kyfdx

Michaell said:

kyfdx said:

Rent a sedan. You'll save hundreds, even with your discount. SUVs and vans are outrageous.

I've got a mid-sized SUV reserved for 5 days in SFO next week - less than $500 before taxes and fees.

Sedan in Phoenix for five days.. $200.

Michaell

kyfdx said:

Michaell said:

kyfdx said:

Rent a sedan. You'll save hundreds, even with your discount. SUVs and vans are outrageous.

I've got a mid-sized SUV reserved for 5 days in SFO next week - less than $500 before taxes and fees.

Sedan in Phoenix for five days.. $200.

That's about what I pay when I get a normal car. Getting the bigger vehicle as there will be four of us.

28firefighter

I really ought to pay closer attention to what I pay when I'm traveling for work...I want to say on my last trip (to Indianapolis), I paid $475 for 4 days with an SUV.

andres3

Michaell said:

kyfdx said:

Rent a sedan. You'll save hundreds, even with your discount. SUVs and vans are outrageous.

I've got a mid-sized SUV reserved for 5 days in SFO next week - less than $500 before taxes and fees.

That seems very high. One trick that's worked for me at least once (I don't rent often) was to rent the cheapest SUV I could get (Using Priceline) I was able to name my price in the 30's per day and I was cool with that. When you arrive at the desk, you can slyly or coyly ask about the upgrades, like that X5! Well, at first, he said something like we have an X5 ready to go, but it'll be $50 more per day. I balked, and he said we'll today only, we're having a 50% off upgrade sale, so for $25 more per day you can have the X5; deal! Done! X5 for about $50 per day; not bad.

I've been told this trick of renting cheap and negotiating an upgrade at the counter is the way to go, assuming they have availability. Rent the Focus, then ask how much that AMG sitting in the corner would be.

suydam

It works sometimes. But you have to be prepared to get the Focus when it doesn't.

corvette

28firefighter said:

I really ought to pay closer attention to what I pay when I'm traveling for work...I want to say on my last trip (to Indianapolis), I paid $475 for 4 days with an SUV.

St. Elmo's steakhouse downtown is the best if you're ever there again. 

28firefighter

corvette said:

28firefighter said:

I really ought to pay closer attention to what I pay when I'm traveling for work...I want to say on my last trip (to Indianapolis), I paid $475 for 4 days with an SUV.

St. Elmo's steakhouse downtown is the best if you're ever there again. 

I have no doubt I'll be back. I'll check it out!

kyfdx

I get the Emerald Aisle at National, through work. There is almost always some sort of SUV, there (though, not always). Flying into Mesa in March, instead of PHX, so no telling what I will really get.

mjfloyd1

graphicguy said:

mjfloyd1 said:

Thanks. Looking back, it's funny that my dad was a radiologist and didn't want me to go to medical school...Maybe things will get better but i don't see how you can get out of residency with $200k + in loans and be someone's employee. Thankfully I'm in a private group practice and I'm old. I only need 8 or so more yrs. Maybe I'll look for a job in a surgery center where someone actually cares??

Funny....I just had this same conversation with my GP yesterday. He went from private practice to a group (a large group). When I asked him "why", he said he wanted to be a Doctor and help people, and let someone else fight with insurance companies.

Interesting observation by him....he said the group he's now can really navigate the affordable care act well. If they do away with it, his feeling is they will go back to the previous system where it took more paperwork to deal with the "uninsured" than it did with those who have insurance under affordable care act. I have no skin in that game since my employer provides insurance. But, sounds like things are about to get very rocky with medical care very soon.

Most of the affordable care act plans that I have dealt with have $12000 deductibles. Guess how much I get reimbursed in that case? In round numbers $0. (And everyone likes working for free and being able to be sued for malpractice when you don't get paid a dime.) And the $12000 deductible will bankrupt most working class families. The ACA works well for a GP for annual checkups, but not so much otherwise if your deductible is that high. It is really a catastrophic health plan with annual checkups covered, but marketed as if it were a regular health care plan. It is exactly the same as prior plans (or lack of plans), except routine checkups were covered and there is catastrophic coverage. Maybe a baby step forward, but lots of healthcare companies are backing out because they are losing money with the catastrophic coverage bills. One car accident or one belly surgery with an ICU stay... it really adds up.

Certainly the routine checkup coverage, catastrophic care benefit, child coverage till age 24 and unlimited $ benefits are a step forward but it is not what it was billed as.

mjfloyd1

28firefighter said:

corvette said:

28firefighter said:

I really ought to pay closer attention to what I pay when I'm traveling for work...I want to say on my last trip (to Indianapolis), I paid $475 for 4 days with an SUV.

St. Elmo's steakhouse downtown is the best if you're ever there again. 

I have no doubt I'll be back. I'll check it out!

Shrimp cocktail with horseradish cocktail sauce will light you up. Sinuses are cleared!

andres3

28firefighter said:

tifighter said:

When you are getting serious about the Subaru option, Joe Spitz at Carter is the guy. There probably aren't many people in the US that sell more Subies.

Thanks @tifighter!  I'm already working with someone down in Ballard because I hadn't heard of that site before today, but I spent the better part of 2 hours going through the options and accessories today. There isn't a better resource out there for Subarus. The good news is, I have a deal someone else made with Carter in the last month so it should be pretty easy negotiating. 

Just trying to get my hands on a Subaru ambassador coupon to sweeten the deal. 

Subaru has a very good national website to go over all of the different options/colors, and accessories for their different car models. A bit clunky when you want to change models or trim lines, but not as bad as BMW's. BMW has an odd default where if you add an added cost package, it doesn't go away just because you take away the color that required it in the first place.

The X1 can sticker for well under $35K if you avoid all the fluff! I think my wife could live with a bare bones X1, all she wanted (OK, needed) was a metallic paint, and the brushed aluminum interior trim (doesn't like wood/fake wood trim). Says it reminds her of the Griswald's station wagon.

On the Outback she wanted the wheel fenders to be lined with cladding like the rest of the car, didn't like that Subaru clads the whole underside except over the wheels, that's about $465. The 3.6 Limited already comes with a good amount standard, pretty much the cladding and rear bumper protection trim on top for the cargo entry area is all she'd want to add. About $36.5K sticker ... ouch.

On the other hand, I test drove the 3.6 R-Line Limited Outback, and that thing is a rocket. It rides very comfortably and composed, even over big pavement imperfections. Great low-end torque (no turbo; never would know it though!). It's big and heavy, but fast. Interior is a cut above anything else Subaru makes, including the Forester. Main negatives were the penalty in mediocre gas mileage, and the high price for a Subaru. I liked the handling. It rode more like a wagon than an SUV, better feel than the Forester IMO. It's longer and wider, but not as tall as the Forester, but I was told exact same ground clearance, so go figure!

andres3

corvette said:

As requested, here's the 2016 list:

2016 Punch List (total 45):
01/02/16 jpp5682 2016 VW Touareg Luxury w/Driver Assist (lease)
01/09/16 breld 2012 BMW X5 35d 30k
01/21/16 breld 2016 VW Jetta Sport (lease)
01/30/16 roadburner 2015 BMW M235i CPO xxk
03/03/16 au1994 2013 Mercedes E350 cabriolet 34k
03/07/16 breld 2012 MINI Cooper 20k
03/xx/16 nippononly 2016 Toyota Camry Hybrid
04/03/16 corvette 2012 Nissan Murano SL 53k
05/02/16 andres3 2016 Audi TTS
05/03/16 carnaught 2017 Audi A4 Premium Plus
05/17/16 graphicguy’s son 2016 VW GTI Track Pack
05/28/16 sb55 2014 BMW 535d X-drive
05/30/16 eriknorcal 2012 VW GTI DSG 52k
06/17/16 elias 2016 Chevrolet Sonic LT 1.4T
06/19/16 fintail 2016 Mercedes E250 Bluetec 4matic (lease)
06/27/16 tifighter 2016 Kia Soul EV (lease)
07/04/16 au1994 2013 BMW 335i convertible 23k
07/09/16 breld 2013 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI 26k
07/13/16 mjfloyd1 2016 Audi RS7
07/19/16 qbrozen 2014 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI 27k
07/19/16 kyfdx 2013 Audi A3 TDI Premium 97k
07/22/16 benjaminh 2016 Honda Accord EX
07/22/16 graphicguy 1998 Ford Mustang Cobra 28k
07/22/16 henryn 2013 VW Passat TDI SE 65k
07/25/16 breld 2015 Audi SQ5 7k
07/30/16 xwesx 2013 VW Passat TDI SEL Premium 43k
08/08/16 28firefighter 2013 Audi A3 TDI Premium Plus 47k
08/11/16 js06gv 2016 Kia Optima SX Technology (lease)
08/13/16 mjfloyd1 2013 VW Passat TDI SE 20k
08/15/16 greg128 2016 Chevrolet Malibu Premier (lease)
08/20/16 michaell 2016 VW Jetta SE (lease)
08/29/16 corvette 2013 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI 75k
09/05/16 andres3 2016 Kia Optima LX turbo 1.6 (lease)
09/14/16 carnaught 2016 Mercedes C300
09/20/16 akangl 2016 Ford Fusion SE
10/27/16 roadburner 2016 BMW i3 REX (lease assumption)
11/09/16 tjc78 2917 Hyundai Elantra SE tech package (lease)
11/20/16 stevedebi 2017 Subaru Outback
11/25/16 breld 2015 BMW 428xi CPO 12k
12/05/16 qbrozen 2012 Infiniti EX35 Journey AWD 23k
12/05/16 suydam 2017 Chevrolet Volt Premier
12/15/16 nipponly 2014 Mini Cooper 2-door 19k
12/15/16 abacomike 2017 BMW 740i
12/22/16 breld 2017 MINI Clubman S All4
12/28/16 laurasdada’s GF 2016 BMW 328xi CPO 7k

How many years back does your list data go?

andres3

sandman_6472 said:

At first didn't want push button start but after driving so many vehicles at work that have it, really wish I had it! A shame that VW didn't put all the extras in the 2015 model that they added for 2016. Did complain about this but it fell on deaf ears at VW. Why come out with a brand new modl but wait a year to put the latest tech into it? Makes zero sense to me and feel that all consumers who purchased a 2015 have been short changed! Since I like the car so much, plan on keeping it longer than I thought I would but now very sorry I didn't lease because I'd turn in my current vehicle at lease end and either get a Tiguan or another Golf.

The Sandman

The '15 Sportwagen Golf TDI's all had push button start, I think you just had to move up the trim line selections in order to get the things you wanted, like push-button start. You get what you pay for.

As to turning in your Golf for another, you can still do that with your purchase. If anything, Leases create more restrictions, not less.

fintail

I kind of tried that in ATL in November. Had a Hertz 300 waiting for me. Asked about upgrades - Q50 25/day, GLA 45/day, XT5 75/day. I can't imagine what they wanted for the C63 on display. Q50 was an absolute base model that had been abused, I saved my money and was content in the 300 I was getting as a points redemption reward.

andres3 said:

I've been told this trick of renting cheap and negotiating an upgrade at the counter is the way to go, assuming they have availability. Rent the Focus, then ask how much that AMG sitting in the corner would be.

corvette

I think the punch list goes back to 2012. 

Michaell

I rent through my company and generally I get a smallish sedan, since it's just me.

Hoping I start to travel a bit more and earn some benefits through Hertz.

@kyfdx - Mesa? There is commercial service there? Huh....

kyfdx

Michaell said:

I rent through my company and generally I get a smallish sedan, since it's just me.

Hoping I start to travel a bit more and earn some benefits through Hertz.

@kyfdx - Mesa? There is commercial service there? Huh....

Allegiant. Non-stop from CVG. $120 p/p, R/T

Michaell

kyfdx said:

Michaell said:

I rent through my company and generally I get a smallish sedan, since it's just me.

Hoping I start to travel a bit more and earn some benefits through Hertz.

@kyfdx - Mesa? There is commercial service there? Huh....

Allegiant. Non-stop from CVG. $120 p/p, R/T

Be curious what the various fees will do to that price.

kyfdx

Michaell said:

kyfdx said:

Michaell said:

I rent through my company and generally I get a smallish sedan, since it's just me.

Hoping I start to travel a bit more and earn some benefits through Hertz.

@kyfdx - Mesa? There is commercial service there? Huh....

Allegiant. Non-stop from CVG. $120 p/p, R/T

Be curious what the various fees will do to that price.

$50 for a checked bag, R/T. For four days, that's enough. So, $290 total for two of us, including all fees/one bag.

We've flow Allegiant a few times. They have a decent number of flights out of CVG, but there are definitely trade-offs. One plus? All non-stop.

breld

With all the talk of snow tires and whether you really need them or not, I'd agree you don't "need" them here in the Denver area, but I sure do like the increased confidence with them. As @michaell mentioned, it's only a handful of days during the season when they come in handy, but for me, it would only take one incident on one of those days to make me wish I sprung for the extra traction.

I gave in and put some snows on my 428 a few weeks ago, and just made an appointment to do the same on the wife's new MINI this afternoon. Boy, going with run-flats sure limits your choices, and increases the price dramatically.

Michaell

kyfdx said:

Michaell said:

kyfdx said:

Michaell said:

I rent through my company and generally I get a smallish sedan, since it's just me.

Hoping I start to travel a bit more and earn some benefits through Hertz.

@kyfdx - Mesa? There is commercial service there? Huh....

Allegiant. Non-stop from CVG. $120 p/p, R/T

Be curious what the various fees will do to that price.

$50 for a checked bag, R/T. For four days, that's enough. So, $290 total for two of us, including all fees/one bag.

We've flow Allegiant a few times. They have a decent number of flights out of CVG, but there are definitely trade-offs. One plus? All non-stop.

I understand the non-stop mandate ... when I was looking at flights for my trip to the Bay Area next week, I can't believe how many 1- and 2-stop itineraries were suggested to me by our travel partner:

Denver - Phoenix - SFO
Denver - Las Vegas - SFO
Denver - Phoenix - LAX - SFO (!)

All of which were less expensive than the direct flight I ended up booking.

One of the few advantages to living in Denver is that many destinations have a direct flight.

thebean

roadburner said:

After nearly one year of ownership I have yet to open the sunroof on the 2er.

After 2 years of ownership, I have not opened the sunroof on my Accord EX.  Not my cup of tea.

kyfdx

We are getting Southwest, starting in June. (moving their Dayton ops here). Won't be many non-stops at first, but hopefully soon.

mjfloyd1

Photo evidence of Accord Touring.

New snow shoes on RS7. Have 3 inches of snow so far. I'll try them out soon.

kyfdx

Very nice!

(the Accord, too)

nyccarguy

Very nice RS7, Accord Touring, & I am so envious of your garage!

mjfloyd1

Thanks. I conveniently didn't show the parts of the garage that are cluttered.

28firefighter

Love the garage. The cars are pretty cool too!

Michaell

kyfdx said:

We are getting Southwest, starting in June. (moving their Dayton ops here). Won't be many non-stops at first, but hopefully soon.

They are quite the disruptive force. They showed up here in Denver a few years back and really made the market competitive. Was primarily United and Frontier strongholds, before.

suydam

I like the styling on the Accord. Nice!

imidazol97

kyfdx said:

We are getting Southwest, starting in June. (moving their Dayton ops here). Won't be many non-stops at first, but hopefully soon.

We're losing and Cincy is gaining. I heard there were 3 nonstops to Baltimore on SW at first. Hmmmm. I think the Dayton forte was nonstop to Orlando for mousers.

breld

That Accord really is sharp!  Course, the RS7 isn't bad either.  

kyfdx

imidazol97 said:

kyfdx said:

We are getting Southwest, starting in June. (moving their Dayton ops here). Won't be many non-stops at first, but hopefully soon.

We're losing and Cincy is gaining. I heard there were 3 nonstops to Baltimore on SW at first. Hmmmm. I think the Dayton forte was nonstop to Orlando for mousers.

5 daily flights to Midway, as well.
Indy has non-stops to PHX, LA, Vegas, Denver. Hopefully, that will come our way, as well. Figure Florida flights before long, then NOLA and Texas.

suydam

At the charging station this morning I saw a Hyundai Sonata PHEV. I didn't know they made a plugin version. According to the Edmunds review, it gets around 27 miles on a charge or about half the Volt's. It is a large midsizer though and it's good to see that the option is available on a popular vehicle.

mjfloyd1

I looked at the Accord hybrid but honestly wasn't sure about the CVT. I drove the cvt 4 cylinder but was underwhelmed. Didn't drive the hybrid though. Honda 6 speed AT have not been without fault though

mjfloyd1

breld said:

That Accord really is sharp!  Course, the RS7 isn't bad either.  

I honestly like the sedan S6 shape better than the RS7 shape. RS6 is only an "avant" that we can't get here. I'm not a fan of the Audi DSG personally, so here I am.

mjfloyd1

breld said:

That Accord really is sharp!  Course, the RS7 isn't bad either.  

I paid just under 31k for the touring Accord. It's a screaming bargain considering all of the technology that it has.

andres3

mjfloyd1 said:

breld said:

That Accord really is sharp!  Course, the RS7 isn't bad either.  

I honestly like the sedan S6 shape better than the RS7 shape. RS6 is only an "avant" that we can't get here. I'm not a fan of the Audi DSG personally, so here I am.

What don't you like about the DSG? Have you worked it out in S-mode?