Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

tbirdmarco

@nyccarguy loved that show did watch all epasodes! still watch it from time to time ketch it early in the morning when getting ready for work. never gets old.

corvette

nyc, I did something similar in Mountain View last week. Missed a "no right on red" sign and nearly got us t-boned by traffic turning left from an intersection parallel to ours. The GF yelled at me and I slammed on the brakes and backed up out of the street.

Congrats to roadburner and carnaught on the punches!

corvette

Our trip to Northern CA was a lot of fun. The Monet exhibition at the Legion of Honor museum is really nice. We saw the Sutro Baths, Alcatraz, the Embarcadero, Grace Cathedral, the Museum of Modern Art, the cable car museum, Lombard Street, etc. Then we picked up the rental car and headed to Napa. Walked around downtown Napa and did the wine trolley the next day, which was really cool. The B&B where we stayed had complimentary wine tastings both nights. Then went to Mariposa for a couple of days and visited Yosemite. Stopped at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View on the way back to the SF area to catch our flight the next day.

The "full size" rental from Thrifty was a 2016 Malibu Limited. I was actually relatively impressed with the way it rode and drove. Handling was adequate, but the steering was vague and it was hard to point the car precisely on curvy mountain roads. The car felt underpowered, but the 6-speed auto didn't upshift early and was willing to let the engine rev quite a bit. I think part of the underpowered feeling was because the old model Malibu was a little heavier compared to the Accord and others, but had an engine with the same displacement. The A/C was very strong. My main gripe was with the equipment level of the car. I can pretty easily live without things like push-button start and a power seat (the Malibu had neither). The base model car had Bluetooth for phone and GPS only, but no Bluetooth audio streaming and no USB port. It costs nothing to offer Bluetooth audio streaming when you already have a Bluetooth chip and antenna installed in the car, for crying out loud! I had to buy a 3.5mm audio cable to plug into the Aux port to listen to podcasts. There was also no backup camera, again, inexcusable in a midsize family car in 2016. The rear window distorted the field of vision at the bottom. I really wanted to like it, but they got the car 90% right, and messed up the details.

It's weird that they only offered this body style of Malibu to retail customers from 2013 to 2015. The 2016 model is lighter and has a 1.5 liter turbo as the base engine, but the base model still has no touchscreen, no Bluetooth audio streaming, no USB port, and no backup cam. Unbelievable! Pretty sure Accord and Camry have those features standard.

carnaught

corvette said:

Congrats to roadburner and carnaught on the punches!

Like coffee? The MKC's interior colors are Espresso and Capucchino:

ab348

I believe the Malibu Limited is a rental-fleet special that cannot be bought new at retail. I think putting cars with such sparse equipment into rental fleets really damages the image of the brand and they are making a mistake doing that.

corvette

I agree completely. I have no problem with it being last year's model, but I know they offered a backup cam, touchscreen, and Bluetooth audio on some trim levels of the old model. 

fintail

Yeah, rental fleet-only cheapo models are an amazingly bad idea. It's as if whoever approves such moves doesn't grasp the idea of brand equity. Put renters in an old sparsely equipped model, and they will remember that about your brand. Impala Limited was the same thing, a 2006 (reskin of a 2000) car made up through last year.

suydam

Same with the Sonata. I was so surprised to hear how much some of you like your Sonatas, because my only experience with them was a base model rental totally devoid of even basic features.

corvette

I really like the cappuccino interior. I'm not fond of the push button shifter though. 

nyccarguy

Recorded my best mpg to date on my trip up and down the NJ Turnpike. 188.9 miles on 7.798 gallons of PUG for an average of 24.23 mpg.

stickguy

About what it is rated for. Not bad for the HP.

stickguy

I like this one. Even in bright red. Miles aren't bad. RWD and spirt package a plus. Might be a touch overpriced, but I am terrible at judging that.

http://www.royaleasing.com/detail-2006-bmw-3_series-325i-used-16347670.html

kyfdx

stickguy said:

I like this one. Even in bright red. Miles aren't bad. RWD and spirt package a plus. Might be a touch overpriced, but I am terrible at judging that.

http://www.royaleasing.com/detail-2006-bmw-3_series-325i-used-16347670.html

Really low miles... xenons and sport pack. automatic?

That has a one year only engine for the 3-series.. 215 HP straight six. (up from 184 on the previous body style). They went to the 230 HP engine, the next year, and called it a 328i.

stickguy

Yeah, automatic. I likely end up with one anyway. If that was a stick I would already be up there looking at it.

Did not even notice the xenon.

kyfdx

stickguy said:

Yeah, automatic. I likely end up with one anyway. If that was a stick I would already be up there looking at it.

Did not even notice the xenon.

That's nicely equipped, other than the color combo (but, you like beige, right?).

stickguy

oh, I prefer beige (or at least light gray) interior. Really don't want black. It would be the bright red that I would have to come to grips with.

corvette

I like it! I had one of those with a stick shift. I think it's underrated at 215 hp. 

stickguy

I almost bought a 2001 525i with a stick. All 184 HP I guess. I found it to be way quicker than you would expect. Especially in the mid range. 40-70 happened real quick.

kyfdx

My wife had an '03 325i with slushbox.. Seemed way quicker than 184 HP. I would guess that '06 would blow it away. BMW horses are bigger...

stickguy

I drive a sonata now. Pretty sure I would find it adequately fast.

roadburner

Car and Driver tested an E90 325i six speed manual back in November of 2006. They clocked a 0-60 time of 6.1 seconds and a 1/4 mile ET of 14.6- so it would keep up with a Focus ST, if not a GTI. IIRC, the E90 328i was maybe a couple of tenths quicker to 60.

pensfan83

If I stay with an Audi I'd love to get another manual but it took months until one of the local dealers received one and none of them have picked up any manuals once Audi made them available 

breld

Yeah, I imagine the take rate on a manual A4 is pretty much non-existent, but I absolutely applaud them for offering it. I'm actually quite shocked that they do on the new model. Funny that it's not yet available on the S4/S5, but I assume it will be.

breld

By the way, we did buy that Mini Cooper hardtop for my wife yesterday.

I convinced her that it didn't have to be either/or with her Clubman, and that she can - GASP! - have two cars at the same time.

So she's all happy with having her Ice Blue manual MINI again.

breld

I'm traveling in Texas right now - Austin today and tomorrow and then Houston for Thursday.

Chose to go with National for the rental car so I could have some flexibility in choosing the car. Ended up picking a Fiat 500x - pretty fun.

pensfan83

breld said:

Yeah, I imagine the take rate on a manual A4 is pretty much non-existent, but I absolutely applaud them for offering it. I'm actually quite shocked that they do on the new model. Funny that it's not yet available on the S4/S5, but I assume it will be.

I believe it's around 5%-7%, or so I read in one of the releases announcing the return of the manual. The dealer received mine as a dealer trade and was surprised/eager to have a buyer for it and as a result negotiations were uncomplicated. I have to take the car in for a recall in a few weeks, I may ask if they anticipate getting an allotment of 6 speeds.

Oh and congrats on the new car!

Michaell

breld said:

By the way, we did buy that Mini Cooper hardtop for my wife yesterday.

I convinced her that it didn't have to be either/or with her Clubman, and that she can - GASP! - have two cars at the same time.

So she's all happy with having her Ice Blue manual MINI again.

Congrats to Krystal on the new (to her) MINI. Which car will we see you in on Friday? I'm the only constant in the group, what with @jpp5862 always driving a different rental and you always driving something new.

tbirdmarco

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NJiqSJIvY24

tbirdmarco

@breld condrads to your wife Kristel. on the new to her car.

corvette

Congrats, breld! How many miles on that MINI?

breld is keeping the punch list hot with four punches since January 1, and eight in the trailing 12 month period!

venture

mjfloyd1 said:

Riding in the 63 split window coupe this afternoon with my wife. I comment that the fuel gauge shows 3/4 tank. Cough, cough, sputter, dies. Thankfully my neighbor was coming that way and could bring 5 gallons of gas. Exciting day! Wife less than impressed. I fill the car up (and the neighbor's 5 gallon can) and the car now reads 1/2 tank. Interesting

I was at a AA baseball game 2 days ago and they had a parade of Corvettes before the game. They were all newer styles, but the last one in line was a white '63 coupe. I thought of you.

I used to have a white '65 coupe - until a guy in a Buick pulled out in front of me. The gas gauge didn't work so I went poking around under the dash. I found 2 wires the same color so I twisted them together and the gauge worked. For some odd reason then the radio was full of static. I disconnected the wire and learned to watch the miles.

ab348

venture said:

I used to have a white '65 coupe - until a guy in a Buick pulled out in front of me. The gas gauge didn't work so I went poking around under the dash. I found 2 wires the same color so I twisted them together and the gauge worked. For some odd reason then the radio was full of static. I disconnected the wire and learned to watch the miles.

Because of the fiberglass body, Corvettes back then needed metal shielding around the distributor to block the electrical pulses from interfering with the radio. Usually chrome-plated pieces IIRC. Maybe yours didn't have that.

breld

Michaell said:

By the way, we did buy that Mini Cooper hardtop for my wife yesterday.

I convinced her that it didn't have to be either/or with her Clubman, and that she can - GASP! - have two cars at the same time.

So she's all happy with having her Ice Blue manual MINI again.

Congrats to Krystal on the new (to her) MINI. Which car will we see you in on Friday? I'm the only constant in the group, what with @jpp5862 always driving a different rental and you always driving something new.

I imagine I'll be in the GTI, unless Krystal joins us.  Then she may insist on driving her "new" Mini.

breld

corvette said:

Congrats, breld! How many miles on that MINI?

breld is keeping the punch list hot with four punches since January 1, and eight in the trailing 12 month period!

Thanks (and thanks to everyone else too)!  

The MINI has 44k miles on it.  It's virtually a clone of the one she traded for the clubman, other than this one being an "S" model - the corresponding power increase is welcome.  

She already has an appointment on Friday to
get the windows tinted and a couple dings taken out. 

nyccarguy

@breld - congrats!

28firefighter

I disappear for part of a day and @breld buys a car!

Congrats!

venture

ab348 said:

venture said:

I used to have a white '65 coupe - until a guy in a Buick pulled out in front of me. The gas gauge didn't work so I went poking around under the dash. I found 2 wires the same color so I twisted them together and the gauge worked. For some odd reason then the radio was full of static. I disconnected the wire and learned to watch the miles.

Because of the fiberglass body, Corvettes back then needed metal shielding around the distributor to block the electrical pulses from interfering with the radio. Usually chrome-plated pieces IIRC. Maybe yours didn't have that.

It had the shielding. The radio worked fine when I disconnected my "find". I never did discover the real problem, but I didn't spend much time on it either. I was young and even dumber than I am now.

graphicguy

breld...congrats on the punch. That's one way to make your wife happy!

nyccarguy

@roadburner

I have a business associate interested in 2014 X5s like this one: http://cpo.bmwusa.com/certified/BMW/2014-BMW-X5+xDrive35i-28091cd90a0e0adf16a64d1f86c7296d.htm?geoZip=06902

Any issues to look out for? This was the 1st year of the current body style, right?

He's currently driving a 2007 E60 530Xi Sport. He wants an X5 of this vintage and WILL NOT buy a BMW without the Sport Seats (I don't blame him). Thanks for your help!

stickguy

I don't like them. To bulky and cumbersome to me. Feels like driving a Tahoe.

stickguy

Going to start looking at cars this week with the princess. We are so excited! And my wife is just as excited to not be getting dragged along on the visits.

Michaell

My nephew pulled the trigger on the Jetta last night. He and my sis are happy to be rid of the GTI - it needed about $3K worth of work done.

And, I'm sure it'll be less expensive to insure, too.

28firefighter

stickguy said:

I don't like them. To bulky and cumbersome to me. Feels like driving a Tahoe.

I think I have to agree here. I'm all-in the German SUVs up to the mid-size range - BMW X3, Audi Q5. Once you start getting bigger - a la X5 and Q7, I feel like the best solution is to get a truck from the American folks.

Coincidentally, my SIL and future-BIL are looking for a larger SUV to replace her 2007 Honda CR-V with something a bit nicer, newer and capable of towing their boat a couple of times a year. They looked at the Q7 and X5 and were less than impressed with them, especially at the price points. They're taking a look at the Ford Explorer Sport, Chevy Tahoe, and Honda Pilot this weekend.

28firefighter

Michaell said:

My nephew pulled the trigger on the Jetta last night. He and my sis are happy to be rid of the GTI - it needed about $3K worth of work done.

And, I'm sure it'll be less expensive to insure, too.

What was the final sale price, if you know?

Michaell

28firefighter said:

Michaell said:

My nephew pulled the trigger on the Jetta last night. He and my sis are happy to be rid of the GTI - it needed about $3K worth of work done.

And, I'm sure it'll be less expensive to insure, too.

What was the final sale price, if you know?

I didn't ask. Sis told me they 'got a good deal', on both the selling price and the trade value of the GTI. Nephew is comfortable with the payments.

stickguy

Maybe an RDX to replace the CRV?

qbrozen

28firefighter said:

I disappear for part of a day and @breld buys a car!

Congrats!

Isn't that expected by now? Seriously, if you miss any time here, the first question upon returning should be "so what did breld buy?"

28firefighter

stickguy said:

Maybe an RDX to replace the CRV?

The towing capacity of the RDX is only about 1500 pounds. They need towing capacity north of 4000.

Mr_Shiftright

qbrozen said:

28firefighter said:

I disappear for part of a day and @breld buys a car!

Congrats!

Isn't that expected by now? Seriously, if you miss any time here, the first question upon returning should be "so what did breld buy?"

He's like the Golden State Warriors. He's dominant on this court.

roadburner

nyccarguy said:

@roadburner

I have a business associate interested in 2014 X5s like this one: http://cpo.bmwusa.com/certified/BMW/2014-BMW-X5+xDrive35i-28091cd90a0e0adf16a64d1f86c7296d.htm?geoZip=06902

Any issues to look out for? This was the 1st year of the current body style, right?

He's currently driving a 2007 E60 530Xi Sport. He wants an X5 of this vintage and WILL NOT buy a BMW without the Sport Seats (I don't blame him). Thanks for your help!

2014 was the first year for the F15 X5 in North America; it seems to be a pretty solid truck. I always say that if I had the money and space I'd like to have an X5 M Sport just to take on long trips, as it's a nice high speed cruiser. That said, I really think that the X3/4 is the sweet spot of BMW's truck lineup. I really, REALLY like the X4 M40i; it is a four star hoot to drive.