Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

Mr_Shiftright

GJ--that's pickup country!

breld

I've been noticing a couple current gen CX-9's on the used market lately. This Signature model has been listed for awhile now:

2016 CX-9 Signature

The pricing started out in the low $40k's (hardly better than a brand new one) and is now down to the $37,900.

Definitely on my list when I want to upgrade the 3-row SUV into something a little nicer and sleeker - I'm encouraged by the depreciation hit already on this one. Bodes well for when more start hitting the used market - I already like it in many ways more than the Highlander and Pilot; it's icing on the cake that the Mazda simply doesn't retain its value as well .

nyccarguy

Mr_Shiftright said:

OK, instead of "substandard" how about "bomb-cratered"?

Having driven lots of MINIs of different styles and years, I've gotten used to the harshness of the ride, but I have to say that one inherent quality of the cars is that if you drive them hard, they are definitely "twitchy". You hit a hard bump and you're not sure where the car is going to point.

That's better. Thank-you!

stickguy

Hopefully the new countryman, being an X1 kin, will ride better. Will know in the summer when I go test drive!

tifighter

breld said:

I've been noticing a couple current gen CX-9's on the used market lately. This Signature model has been listed for awhile now:

2016 CX-9 Signature

The pricing started out in the low $40k's (hardly better than a brand new one) and is now down to the $37,900.

Definitely on my list when I want to upgrade the 3-row SUV into something a little nicer and sleeker - I'm encouraged by the depreciation hit already on this one. Bodes well for when more start hitting the used market - I already like it in many ways more than the Highlander and Pilot; it's icing on the cake that the Mazda simply doesn't retain its value as well .

Okay gang, I'm going aggressive with Memorial Day on this one. Don't let me down, @breld

Michaell

tifighter said:

breld said:

I've been noticing a couple current gen CX-9's on the used market lately. This Signature model has been listed for awhile now:

2016 CX-9 Signature

The pricing started out in the low $40k's (hardly better than a brand new one) and is now down to the $37,900.

Definitely on my list when I want to upgrade the 3-row SUV into something a little nicer and sleeker - I'm encouraged by the depreciation hit already on this one. Bodes well for when more start hitting the used market - I already like it in many ways more than the Highlander and Pilot; it's icing on the cake that the Mazda simply doesn't retain its value as well .

Okay gang, I'm going aggressive with Memorial Day on this one. Don't let me down, @breld

Hasn't even broken in the Durango, and you're thinking he'll swap it out?

Michaell

stickguy said:

Hopefully the new countryman, being an X1 kin, will ride better. Will know in the summer when I go test drive!

True enough. Perhaps this will be the first MINI that doesn't have that MINI DNA embedded in it.

28firefighter

Technically, the Durango was already broken in since it was purchased used. But it came with a ding, so that is grounds enough to flip it!

Mr_Shiftright

Michaell said:

stickguy said:

Hopefully the new countryman, being an X1 kin, will ride better. Will know in the summer when I go test drive!

True enough. Perhaps this will be the first MINI that doesn't have that MINI DNA embedded in it.

I think it's related to wheelbase and run flats, so yeah, maybe the X1 platform will help with that.

ab348

Michaell said:

The beige in my wife's Outback is pretty well done, too. It also has black carpeting.

My 2011 Regal had a beige (technically "Cashmere") interior and the carpet and other dark pieces were "Cocoa", a dark brown. Looked nice.

Sandman6472

Love the beige interior in my Golf, just looks so much better than in black. Getting used to the run flats and car drives straight and true. Looking too get the 30K service some time in June if the current miles keep up.

The Sandman

(P.S. Craigslist came through and sold my LG G Vista smartphone the other night. Met at the AT&T store and after I figured out the anti-virus code, all was smooth sailing and left with my $100. Guy seemed to love the phone and I was happy to get 'er done. Now still have the go phone to unload but no bites yet. Might try a pawn shop and see how much they'll offer. Right now, just want it gone!!!

andres3

Anyone ever have a car they wanted to get rid of, and have them done a favor by a reckless driver that crashed into you, totaling it for you, and providing that service was secretly beneficial in your mind?

tjc78

No, but the bumper on my Grand Marquis had a tiny crack on it that always bothered me.  When the guy rear ended me I ended up with a new bumper cover with fresh paint, so I guess I lucked out in the end.  The little crack was nothing compared to what his truck did to the rest of it. 

tbirdmarco

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0GKweF5CEBA

breld

tifighter said:

breld said:

I've been noticing a couple current gen CX-9's on the used market lately. This Signature model has been listed for awhile now:

2016 CX-9 Signature

The pricing started out in the low $40k's (hardly better than a brand new one) and is now down to the $37,900.

Definitely on my list when I want to upgrade the 3-row SUV into something a little nicer and sleeker - I'm encouraged by the depreciation hit already on this one. Bodes well for when more start hitting the used market - I already like it in many ways more than the Highlander and Pilot; it's icing on the cake that the Mazda simply doesn't retain its value as well .

Okay gang, I'm going aggressive with Memorial Day on this one. Don't let me down, @breld

There's always potential!

But...I do like the Durango quite a bit - drove it around all over the place this weekend with boys' sports and parties and such. I love the size of it - obviously not as large as a Tahoe or Sequoia, but kinda has the "next size up" feel and is very spacious. The engine offers plenty of power, and the 8-speed trannie is very good - not great, but very good. The overall ride is pretty luxurious, absorbing bumps well but not feeling as floaty as our previous vans. And I REALLY like it considering the $23k price tag.

And...wife and I had a good lunch meeting with our financial advisor. Hard to juggle all the retirement goals, college planning, etc. with our track record of car purchases. I made an informal commitment to basically not increase our car debt (including as it amortizes) for the foreseeable future. Doesn't mean I can't/won't swap vehicles out, but that approach does provide some limitations. Good decision though.

breld

Michaell said:

stickguy said:

Hopefully the new countryman, being an X1 kin, will ride better. Will know in the summer when I go test drive!

True enough. Perhaps this will be the first MINI that doesn't have that MINI DNA embedded in it.

The wife's new Clubman has a much more compliant ride than her previous MINI, as well as other "previous-gen" MINIs I've driven. Definitely seems like a significant advancement in this new crop of models, and I fully expect the new Countryman to follow suit.

fintail

Funny thing you can relate to. My brother received a Neon "Expresso" via my mother co-signing for him when he was 18 or 19. It wasn't unreliable, but he ended up hating it (and the payment). One day a Sedan DeVille ran a red light, and no more Neon. He was thrilled.

andres3 said:

Anyone ever have a car they wanted to get rid of, and have them done a favor by a reckless driver that crashed into you, totaling it for you, and providing that service was secretly beneficial in your mind?

corvette

breld said:

And...wife and I had a good lunch meeting with our financial advisor. Hard to juggle all the retirement goals, college planning, etc. with our track record of car purchases.

I make my own financial advice at home.

stickguy

I don't need a financial adviser to tell me that I ain't retiring when I am young enough to enjoy it, forget about a new car, and just be glad I only have 2 more tuition payments left (and thankfully, the next one should be much smaller!).

seriously though, a good thing about getting into your 50's and finally getting the last kid out of school and (hopefully!) out on their own, is that you aren't really dealing with all this LT planning any more. just adding up what is left, and stashing as much away as you can each month, and hoping the numbers even out when you want them to.

corvette

andres3 said:

Anyone ever have a car they wanted to get rid of, and have them done a favor by a reckless driver that crashed into you, totaling it for you, and providing that service was secretly beneficial in your mind?

No, I had almost the opposite experience. Reckless driver crashed into me, it didn't total the car (despite repeated requests to total it), but was close, body shop couldn't restore it to OE condition. Settled the claims against the at-fault driver and the contractual claim against the insurance company for less than I felt they should have paid.

As a result, I have made it a point to complain to the insurance company about every issue I have with coverage, billing, their licensing, etc. I should probably stop that since I'm trying to be nicer to people.

stickguy

my worst car nightmare. getting creamed, but getting the car back after major repairs. at least if it is a lease, not a big deal.

right now, with 2 cars for me sitting at the house that I have to allocate my 50 weekly miles between, if someone took out the Hyundai to wipe the lease clean 8 months early would not actually be a problem!

fintail

Retirement for my demographic will probably average around age 70 (except for public sector, who will probably still be able to retire at 55 with a pension and bennies that represent a ROI earned by no actual investor). I've got a few more decades then, so might as well enjoy things a little. As long as income exceeds outflow, it's good, probably better than many.

stickguy

if you don't end up having kids, that will save a bundle at least. So largely depends on how far you advance up the pay scale, and how good you are about saving.

I hope to not have to work to 70, but would be surprised if the numbers end up working out to retire before 65. Though maybe a "transition" job from 60-retirement could be in the cards. we shall see.

stickguy

actually, 70 makes sense. when normal retirement was 60, life expectancy was not that far out. Now, at 70, you in theory still have a good 15 years to go.

sda

If you have a child later like we did, I was 42, then saving takes on a different perspective. Ideally I would like to retire in my early 60s, yet I will probably be funding college and perhaps even a wedding during this period. No rest for the weary!

stickguy

don't say wedding. I keep telling my daughter that boys are bad, stay away from them.

that, and if you are getting married, the Elvis chapel is the way to go!

nyccarguy

Retirement?  My Dad will be 71 in a few weeks.  Retire is a 4 letter word to him.  I do hope to not folllw in his footsteps that way.

stickguy

I have no desire to work like a dog until I am too damned old to do anything else, or die at my desk. I lead a very boring life, but there are still many other things I would rather be doing!

speaking of cars, I am strangely attracted to this one. Price does not seem too out of line. Probably dog slow, but if it had a pano roof, I could talk myself into it.

http://www.redbankvolvocars.com/used/MINI/2012-MINI-Cooper+Countryman-for-sale-Red-Bank-NJ-298a80020a0e08ba4c1a5e838b87aabe.htm

fintail

No kids, no plans for it. Still, I suspect SS won't be available until around 70 by the time I am at that age, and with no golden pension or huge inheritance, it's up for me to play the investment casino (I am sure deregulating it will make everything better). Oh well, I get to drive what I want (within reason), take vacations, not be bullied into the house game, etc. Everything has a silver lining

cdnpinhead

fintail said:

Retirement for my demographic will probably average around age 70 (except for public sector, who will probably still be able to retire at 55 with a pension and bennies that represent a ROI earned by no actual investor).

"Public sector" pensions are the elephant in the room of governments in general and California governments in particular. A house of cards doesn't even begin to describe it. I'm very much in the "hide and watch" mode.

And while we're on this uplifting topic, bear in mind that getting the kids educated and out of the house is only phase I. Phase II is dealing with elderly parents, especially if Alzheimer's is involved. Seems only one of the siblings can be bothered,.

stickguy

max out your 401k, and hope for the best.

Michaell

stickguy said:

speaking of cars, I am strangely attracted to this one. Price does not seem too out of line. Probably dog slow, but if it had a pano roof, I could talk myself into it.

http://www.redbankvolvocars.com/used/MINI/2012-MINI-Cooper+Countryman-for-sale-Red-Bank-NJ-298a80020a0e08ba4c1a5e838b87aabe.htm

Dog slow wouldn't begin to describe it. The Countryman is pretty heavy for only 121HP, even with a stick.

But, I'll give you style points for the stuff you're posting.

kyfdx

stickguy said:

max out your 401k, and hope for the best.

Good advice..

sda

nyccarguy said:

Retirement?  My Dad will be 71 in a few weeks.  Retire is a 4 letter word to him.  I do hope to not folllw in his footsteps that way.

Dad retired or tried to in 2007. The 2008 market debacle did serious damage to their retirement funds. He went back to work in 2009 and even though he is legally blind, managed to do pretty well. He retired about 4 months ago and is now 81. As luck would have it he has had some recent health issues that hasn't allowed him to enjoy life much, but he has a positive attitude and is doing better.

stickguy

I'll take style points it's better than nothing!

I definitely have shiny item syndrome. My wife might get her wish, and we try to live with one car when they Sonata goes back. Because I may never figure out exactly what I want instead.

heck, I was seriously considering a $1,500 2007 SWB Caravan last week. because, well, just because.

fintail

I increased my 401K contribution with each yearly raise, have a few other investments, and plan to keep that up indefinitely. That's about all I can do. I understand the value of savings, but don't want to live like a miser. These are the good old days, etc. I'd rather enjoy things, especially travel, while I am physically able, and after my dad passed away unexpectedly shortly before he was 70, I've had a little more "live for today" on my mind.

I have a friend who will probably end up with most of his career in public sector. I've told him he should invest a little extra just in case - in 20 years there might be issues.

My grandfather worked for the federal government - he and my grandmother grew up during the depression, and were savers. No fancy car addiction, modest vacations, were able to buy housing when house price vs income was more doable, she was able to stay at home. My grandmother is still alive and living comfortably no doubt in large part because of their savings.

stickguy

oh, I agree that you should enjoy life as you go. Within reason of course, but you shouldn't deny yourself any fun saving for a day that never comes. But I also believe you should "live below your means" to an extent.

Sounds like you are doing it right. Worst case, you have to work a few extra years if a target of say 65 isn't feasible. There is a rule of thumb which I can't remember, but something like for every 1 extra year you work, it will finance 3-4 extra years of retirement (considering at that point, you will probably be living as cheap as possible!)

also largely depends on what you want to do at the time. Live simply, or buy 2 new cars every year!

corvette

My income has never been that impressive, especially considering how much education I've had. But, I had college money that I ended up not needing due to getting a scholarship, which I invested, and several other breaks along the way. I've aggressively contributed to my 401k, IRA, and HSA over the years. Ran the numbers a week or two ago on the possibility of eventually taking an (even lower) salary for the rest of my career to move closer to my better half, and my retirement age only changed by a couple of years.

Obviously, I still have to keep the car buying compulsion somewhat in check, though... I'm thinking a car every couple of years instead of 2-3 times a year!

stickguy

car buying is just another form of discretionary income spending. I have relatives that will a bomber into the ground, accepting a few strandings a year, but will spend lots of money on a few big trips a year. I'm more the other way around (or somewhere in the middle I guess!).

fintail

I've known people in my age/education/employment demographic who are putting away almost nothing, or putting it all into a mortgage, it could be worse. I can't imagine retiring anyway, I don't want to just sit around, and the things I would want to do are expensive or physically tiresome. If I am lucky enough to make it that long, I think I would want a part time job of some kind (if everything isn't robots and automation by then ) even if I don't work full time into my 70s.

My mom is about 70, and she works part time - she lives in a small town, doesn't have a lot to do, it keeps her active, gives her social interaction, and a little extra money. My dad and grandpa also worked after retirement, to get out of the house and have something to do. I think something to keep a person active is important.

stickguy

part time work is perfect way to feed a car buying habit!

rayainsw

I will be 68 this summer. I am still working - full time.
My Mom just passed - she was 95.
I am hoping [ fingers crossed ] to move to something like 3/4 time,
here at the same company I have been with for over 13 years.
- Ray
Still hoping to feed the CCBA habit - semi-regularly, for a while ...

stickguy

we should all pull a Mike when we get old enough/ready to retire from the "rat race" job, and go work at a car dealer!

fintail

A car dealer might be a perfect place, should the model still be alive in well in a few decades. Even if in a "guru" position like roadburner. If brand loyalists still exist, they might like dealing with the older anorak guy who drives a fintail

28firefighter

I think I could get into a job like @roadburner at some point; I don't know that I'd want to do sales directly.

corvette

I don't think I'd be good at sales, but have never really had much experience at it. I do know a handful of people who don't seem like sales types who excel at it. 

stickguy

Heck, being a lot boy or doing dealer swaps sounds like fun.

Dealers aren't going anywhere. Virtual buying at best will be a niche business. Most people still have trades, or financing situations. Plus test drives and service. And of coy res, instant gratification! At best there will be a multi channel customer interface (which largely exists today).

sda

Does anyone know of someone that has bought a car thru Carvana? Delivery to your door and all. CarMax is following Carvana by offering home delivery..free enterprise at work.

corvette

That is interesting. I like the CarMax experience, but their prices tend to be high. 

breld

Yeah, wife and I are certainly blessed in both having good jobs at a good company, and having a pretty flexible schedule at that. Not a day goes by that I don't feel fortunate to be in such a situation. We both max out our 401k's, then also invest additional amounts over that into retirement; we're pretty aggressive with our mortgage (15 year), and we (so far) are able to fund my stepdaughter's college, and the younger two kids have a decent college savings plan going. So after all that, I kinda figure if we're still able to fund the car habit, then it's all good.

But...we are targeting to at least have the choice of retiring when I'm 60 (16 years away) and assuming you want to have a reasonable % of your current income at that time, it's shocking how much savings you need.

Plus, having the perpetual car payments is getting a little old. For obvious reasons, I wouldn't target having NO payments, but we would like to get to a point where it's at least staggered - let's say one reasonable car payment at a time. Right now, I don't have a clear title on any of our cars.

On another note, like others have mentioned, I've always pictured myself having some sort of job at a dealership in retirement - @roadburner's deal seems like a great one.