Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

tifighter

Original sticker was $24.8. Of course we all know these don't sell at sticker. Still, seems like a fun toy for weekends and the occasional auto-x and HPDE event. Cut it loose after a year with 10k miles; seems like you wouldn't lose that much.

breld

nyccarguy said:

@breld

I like how you have the bikes hung on the wall. How'd you do that? My problem is that I'm almost out of wall space in the garage.

I used these mounts, where you mount the bike and then can tilt it against the wall for better clearance. They've held up very well. I'd definitely recommend them.

Sports Velo Hinge Wall Rack

ab348

breld said:

@kyfdx - I suppose the GTI is still on the eventual chopping block; I would've given it up on trade for the Beetle if they had come up with a stupid trade that really minimized my loss, but that didn't happen. They're still selling new at big discounts, so the fact I got $4-5k off MSRP is still the norm. I do think I'll end up in a Honda product at some point - either the Civic Si or the upcoming Accord, but the GTI certainly makes a strong case for itself each time I drive it.

I find this part interesting. It has been my experience that VWs/GTI and Hondas/Si are almost complete opposites in getting to about the same point of a performance driving experience. If you like one, you don't like the other and vice-versa. Driving dynamics, feel, and the design idiom are all quite different. You may well be the exception to that.

roadburner

tifighter said:

Original sticker was $24.8. Of course we all know these don't sell at sticker. Still, seems like a fun toy for weekends and the occasional auto-x and HPDE event. Cut it loose after a year with 10k miles; seems like you wouldn't lose that much.

I was considering an Abarth when Fiat was still in our dealer group; I hung out on a couple of Abarth forums and really didn't see any chronic or problematic issues. As usual, the dealer had a huge influence on owner satisfaction. Most of the problems I saw were issues with trim and very minor electrical glitches.

kyfdx

Mr_Shiftright said:

breld said:

stickguy said:

well, I do like this one. quite a bit. low miles, and manual trans. Price seems high to me though. By quite a bit. But what do I know?



https://www.subaruofcherryhill.com/used/Volvo/2012-Volvo-C30-Cherry+Hill+NJ-11bf77bd0a0e0a171b325feb69a3dbe0.htm?searchDepth=49:50

I like that a lot.  

I'd be tempted to sniff at that if it were in my neighborhood---a test drive at least. I've never driven one. What are they like?

Quicker than a GTI (from same year), but not quite as good on the handling side. Typically nice Volvo seating, but also Volvo interior looks (bleah). They only came with the 230 HP turbo engine. No idea what the automatic is like. I've only driven the stick.

Mr_Shiftright

tifighter said:

So I found a 16 Abarth manual hatch, no options and 2500 miles. Listed for $13k. Warranty until late 2020. Clean carfax. I mean, what am I missing here?

The nameplate on the car is what you're missing. However, it can be found on a list of manufacturers published by JD Power. Scroll down to the bottom

http://www.jdpower.com/press-releases/2017-vehicle-dependability-study

See, I did mean "bottom".

I feel your pain. I, too, gaze longingly at the Abarth. But I do not rush to where angels fear to tread.

tifighter

But a Mini is a lot better?  

I'm certainly aware of the rep. I have spent some time on the Abarth forums. As @roadburner found, the issues don't sound that bad, and three and a half years of warranty doesn't hurt on the assurance front. With 2500 miles at $13k and being less than a year old, the TCO over 12-24 months seems pretty compelling. I see a lot of 2014 and 2015 ones listed locally for the same or more. You just know it's going to be a riot at an auto cross.

Mr_Shiftright

I think it depends on your tolerance for glitches, trips to the dealer, etc. and also the Golden Rule---whatever got you into a car cheaply will come back to haunt you when you try to sell it.

I think the new Minis are a lot better than the old ones (couldn't be worse, really). But the old ones are more fun to drive.

If this is going to be a second car, and you already own a flatbed truck, then sure why not? (I was just kidding about the truck).

I should talk, with a Mini and a Triumph motorcycle---if I can survive, so can you!

CURIOUS: what did the Abarth forums have to say, in summary?

Mr_Shiftright

Here's an interesting one---well equipped:

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto/6194489167.html

stickguy

I could drive a mini, but I just could not deal with a Fiat. Plus my wife would kill me.

tifighter

Mr_Shiftright said:

Here's an interesting one---well equipped:





https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto/6194489167.html

So to compare, the one I found is 3 years newer, 17k less miles and has nearly all of the warranty for $500 less. I give up leather, the sunroof and whatever mods this guy did. 

corvette

ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: breld has bought nine cars in the previous year! 

cdnpinhead

Is it such that Breld (& co) acquire more cars in any given period than all the rest of us put together? No, but I'm guessing it's a pretty good percentage.

Very entertaining. Party on!

Mr_Shiftright

tifighter said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

Here's an interesting one---well equipped:







https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto/6194489167.html

So to compare, the one I found is 3 years newer, 17k less miles and has nearly all of the warranty for $500 less. I give up leather, the sunroof and whatever mods this guy did. 




Well yes--I would hammer on the price to be sure. But I do think that with little cars like this, you want the options. As for the miles, you can look at it two ways---low miles = problems waiting to happen/ higher miles= problems have already happened.

Mr_Shiftright

corvette said:

ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: breld has bought nine cars in the previous year! 

The Golden State Warriors of CCBA--Team Breld. (this is where you thank your family, your high school teacher, etc.)..

qbrozen

Michaell said:

I'd be tempted to sniff at that if it were in my neighborhood---a test drive at least. I've never driven one. What are they like?

Nice and comfortable when compared to other hatchbacks. I drove one back to back with an S60R, though, which was a big mistake. I could not give the C30 another look after that. If you think of the C30 more as an upscale hatch rather than a cutrate Volvo, you probably would not be disappointed.

qbrozen

breld said:

Alright - so do I even report this punch?  

What is on your garage floor? Kind of looks like swirled metal, which is pretty damned cool. Some kind of treatment on concrete?

kyfdx

I'm going to guess because it's brand new concrete, in a brand new house?

qbrozen

nyccarguy said:

@breld

I like how you have the bikes hung on the wall. How'd you do that? My problem is that I'm almost out of wall space in the garage.

I hang big heavy stuff by mounting 18" deep shelf brackets (about $8-$9 ea at home depot) on studs. In some cases, where needed, I just bent up the very end of the bracket to ensure the item doesn't slide off.

nyccarguy

@qbrozen - my garage walls are cinder block. I can't put stuff too high up or my wife complains. She's 5'4"

qbrozen

nyccarguy said:

@qbrozen - my garage walls are cinder block. I can't put stuff too high up or my wife complains. She's 5'4"

Ha. Mine is 5'3". I put stuff up there that she has no need to reach. Cinder block walls are certainly a problem. I have, however, mounted stuff on cinder block with construction adhesive (liquid nails) and that stuff does NOT want to come off... EVER. When I left our last house, I had to leave behind my pool cue rack in the basement because it would not budge.

xwesx

Another option for block walls is to install a furring wall over the block. Attached top and bottom, it renders the blocks irrelevant for hanging stuff. In most cases, 2x2 stock is plenty to do what you need, and it takes up very little space.

breld

qbrozen said:

breld said:

Alright - so do I even report this punch?  

What is on your garage floor? Kind of looks like swirled metal, which is pretty damned cool. Some kind of treatment on concrete?

We put this stuff on the floor before we moved in. We love it. It's a very durable, shiny surface - perhaps a bit too smooth, but no one has slipped on it to date (knock on wood).

Rustoleum Metallic

breld

ab348 said:

breld said:

@kyfdx - I suppose the GTI is still on the eventual chopping block; I would've given it up on trade for the Beetle if they had come up with a stupid trade that really minimized my loss, but that didn't happen. They're still selling new at big discounts, so the fact I got $4-5k off MSRP is still the norm. I do think I'll end up in a Honda product at some point - either the Civic Si or the upcoming Accord, but the GTI certainly makes a strong case for itself each time I drive it.

I find this part interesting. It has been my experience that VWs/GTI and Hondas/Si are almost complete opposites in getting to about the same point of a performance driving experience. If you like one, you don't like the other and vice-versa. Driving dynamics, feel, and the design idiom are all quite different. You may well be the exception to that.

I wouldn't disagree with the two different personalities between the Si and GTI. I used to be all about Honda/Acura in my younger years, and then found I really liked the German brands. Fortunately, my willingness to change out cars means I don't really have to commit!

From a driving perspective, this new Si is more in line with the competitors, what with the turbocharged engine.

qbrozen

breld said:

We put this stuff on the floor before we moved in. We love it. It's a very durable, shiny surface - perhaps a bit too smooth, but no one has slipped on it to date (knock on wood).

Rustoleum Metallic

Looks good! But, ouch, I'd be looking at $1k to get enough for mine. Whenever I think about it, I wind up looking at those snap together tiles. Cost is not much different (~$2/sq ft for the paint kits vs $2.25-$2.50 for tile). And with the tile, I could feasibly just make "landing pads" in each of my bays and cut down on the square footage I need to cover considerably.

breld

Yeah - and we probably used almost twice as much as was recommended for our garage. We may have laid it on thick, but seems like that's the way to do it. So, it could get quite expensive for a large garage.

But I will tell you, it has a rich look and feel to it. And very easy to clean up.

kyfdx

That's what puts me off the tiles. Seems like you would trap a lot of dirt. You know, because I sweep out my garage, every day.

Michaell

Milestone reached!

Sandman6472

Drove some interesting iron today. 2017 Caddy ATS and X5, SRX replacement, and liked them both. One major con wash the dash on each, overly complicated at first glance and one really needs some time to figure the whole mess out. Definitely something that would make me not want to buy either though they both drove nicely with a decent interior and o k acceleration.
The one vehicle that actually blew me away was the 2017 Infiniti Q50 with the 3.0 engine. In one word...OUTSTANDING! The acceleration was one of the most incredible feelings I've ever had, I mean the power up the power band seemed endless and the shifts were crisp and almost unnoticeable. I was down the highway with a whoosh that sounded and felt like something I've never experienced yet! Honestly, words can not really describe how bat [non-permissible content removed] crazy it was! I only drove it for about 25 minutes but I just didn't want to give the keys back! The interior was a step above the normal Nissan stuff and could be updated a bit but overall, it was a place I could get used to, fast! The exterior looks a bit frumpy if you will, it just needs some sleeker body panels to give with it's outstanding ride. A bit thirsty but hey, for that much fun, I'd gladly make that trade off.
I can see why folks love these things and Infiniti just needs to tweak it a bit to have a real winner here!

The Sandman

Sandman6472

Sure wish our garage was that wide but we do manage to fit the Golf and A3 side by side. Only works if we both have the X's on the wall at the same spot so I don't crash into the a/c air handler and my wife doesn't drive up over the lip in the front of the garage. In the front, there's a 3 ft. wide lip because the original model had the laundry room in a closet in the garage. Since we bought the house as a spec house with just the outside walls up, we were able to reconfigure the room and have access inside the family room via a pocket door. No going out into the garage and through another door to do the wash...it was just too crazy. Guess others on the block liked our change because a few did the exact same thing.
I do have two coats of concrete paint on the garage floor but needs to be redone as it's stained badly after 30 years. Put polyurethane on the first coat but was super slippery when it got wet so I had to repaint the floor again to make everyone happy! But I'd sure love a garage as wide as yours!

The Sandman

(P.S. Hard to believe we've been in the same house 30 years last weekend! My son wasn't born yet and instead of the completion date being 30 days away, it was 3 months away. Man, was that crazy! And this October, he's getting married!)

stickguy

I should break 20K by the time my car goes back in 4 months. Just over 18K now.

My BIL put racedeck tiles down in his main garage (oversized 3 bays, this is the one that has the Jag XF-R, X5, and Cobra kit car). Looks nice. Fair amount of work, but easy to do. Nice thing with the tiles is that you can do patterns if you want to get fancy.

xwesx

sandman_6472 said:

(P.S. Hard to believe we've been in the same house 30 years last weekend! My son wasn't born yet and instead of the completion date being 30 days away, it was 3 months away. Man, was that crazy! And this October, he's getting married!)

Now THAT is a milestone!

carnaught

Just caught up on posts here. To the Grand Poobah (@breld), congrats on the new beetle 'vert. Really like the interior. Enjoy!

ab348

In another couple of months I will have been in this place for 20 years. Amazing how time flies.

tbirdmarco

@breld congrads on an nother punch. so the clubman is going! wish had the money or nead for one would snap that clubman up!

tbirdmarco

@breld O clubman is gon already! red that posting after rote the one above! keep up the grate work! witch car is going next darango GTI lol lol

breld

@carnaught and @Marcothecarguy1986 - 

Thanks!  Durango should be a keeper.  GTI is trade bait, but that could mean a week or months.  Maybe...even into next year?!!?  

Michaell

Next year?

oh, puh-leez

qbrozen

kyfdx said:

That's what puts me off the tiles. Seems like you would trap a lot of dirt. You know, because I sweep out my garage, every day.

I have thought about that, too. Not even so much the dirt as the liquids for me.

Maybe I will go this route. Seems to be one of the cheapest options and the reviews are surprisingly good. Per what I found on another site, this stuff is 55mil, which is pretty darned thick.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/G-Floor-Ribbed-Universal-Flooring-7-5-x-17-Premium-Grade-Thickness-Slate-Grey/16829831

graphicguy

@breld.....cool 'vert. And yes, you are a first ballot CCBA Hall of Famer!!!!!!!!!!!!

breld

"I'd like to thank all the wonderful folks here on this forum. Without their encouragement and support, I could never have achieved these goals."

breld

Actually, the way we're switching out cars, I'm not sure if there would be a trophy or a dunce cap.

houdini1

Breld, have you ever considered opening a small used car lot ? You would have access to wholesale prices, wife could help run it, dealer plates, etc. Turn your hobby into a profitable business.

ab348

houdini1 said:

Breld, have you ever considered opening a small used car lot ? You would have access to wholesale prices, wife could help run it, dealer plates, etc. Turn your hobby into a profitable business.

Yeah, cut out the middleman!

Not sure what his neighbors might think though.

houdini1

pensfan83 said:

nyccarguy said:

I picked up our Pilot from the dealer yesterday. My trusted independent mechanic found the front suspension rear lower control arm bushings were cracked and leaking. Going on some information I read from a fellow poster @sda who has a Pilot very similar to mine, I rummaged through my "Pilot Folder" of repairs and receipts. I found a letter from Honda that I got about 2 years ago that extends the warranty on these "compliance bushings" for 7 years/100,000 miles. The dealer completed the repair in 1 day. Honda paid for an alignment as well. I received 701.14 worth or work at no charge on a vehicle that is over 6 years old and has close to 95,000 miles on the odometer. The 3 year/36,000 mile BtoB warranty expired over 4 years ago. It is nice to see a manufacturer stand behind its product. The Pilot literally drives like a vehicle that has maybe 15,000 miles on it. Fluids, Brakes, & Tires. I'm looking forward to pushing it well past the 100K mile mark. As with my Prelude (158K miles), the AC in the Pilot still blows ICE COLD, the cooling system hasn't even hiccuped. It just goes.

Everything I have always read or heard about Honda/Acura dealers is spot on with your experience. They seem to really do right by the customer and take great pride in the quality products they produce. The styling and driving dynamics of some cars in their lineup might be up for debate but it seems overall reliability and customer experience are second to none.

Isellhondas, who posts here regularly was at the same dealership for several years, and you can tell that he was a very good and thoughtful salesman.

Mr_Shiftright

Michaell said:

Milestone reached!

Apply now for your VW long distance badge!

Mr_Shiftright

breld said:

Actually, the way we're switching out cars, I'm not sure if there would be a trophy or a dunce cap.

Well we could make you a trophy OF a dunce cap. Best of both worlds.

I was an utterly manic version of you when I was younger. Sometimes I would buy 4-5 cars a month---used of course. I'd tinker with 'em, drive them a week or two, and unload them. Not for profit, just for the hell of it.

suydam

@breid, Maybe, for whatever reason, you've never found that car that you love to be in every day and is just right for you.

Mr_Shiftright

@suydam, that's not so easy for the discerning car lover. The most avid car collectors are rarely content with just one.

kyfdx

qbrozen said:

kyfdx said:

That's what puts me off the tiles. Seems like you would trap a lot of dirt. You know, because I sweep out my garage, every day.

I have thought about that, too. Not even so much the dirt as the liquids for me.

Maybe I will go this route. Seems to be one of the cheapest options and the reviews are surprisingly good. Per what I found on another site, this stuff is 55mil, which is pretty darned thick.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/G-Floor-Ribbed-Universal-Flooring-7-5-x-17-Premium-Grade-Thickness-Slate-Grey/16829831


So, that comes on a roll?

I like this stuff... no idea how expensive (probably a lot)

http://racedeck.com/#sthash.BsL7r49V.dpbs