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Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

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  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,895
    They sell more $100K Teslas in the US than Fiats.

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  • ab348ab348 Member Posts: 20,292
    qbrozen said:


    I think you have greatly overcomplicated stick's thinking. I believe he has 1 option on the table only ...something with 4 wheels and a propulsion system.

    Agreed. I think a far shorter list would be one of all those vehicles NOT on stick's list. It could well be a blank page. ;)

    2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6

  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,740
    I really thought the 500x would do well, but I was wrong. The only thing that keeps me away from one is the awful 9-spd trans.

    '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

  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,123
    edited July 2017
    kyfdx said:


    Pretty good seats

    Been to Wrigley, Fenway, Candlestick, AT&T Park, Miller Park, "The Jake", Busch Stadium, and Comiskey. Still love Great American Ballpark. Great place to watch a baseball game. Too bad we're in the midst of a rebuild and not very good right now.

    Brutal day for heat index, plus the team isn't very good (still love watching Votto and some of the younger up and comers). Team isn't going anywhere, and it was an afternoon game. Still, I thought the crowd would be better. Great seats!

    Fact is, the entire division isn't very good. The Cubbies will rise to the top, eventually. But, the Reds, Cards, and Brewers are mediocre or worse.
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,123
    stickguy said:

    here's something different. Checks lots of boxes. small, top goes down (sorta), stick. Low price and low miles. Love the colors. Just not quite sure what my wife would do to me if I showed up at home with it.

    http://www.eimports4less.com/detail-2012-fiat-500-certified_500c_pop_convertible-used-16630358.html



    Only with an extended warranty. I bet those are expensive on this car, though.
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • benjaminhbenjaminh Member Posts: 6,557
    Yes, Fiat like Mini seems known for poor reliability and expensive parts/repairs.
    2018 Acura TLX 2.4 Tech 4WS (mine), 2024 Subaru Outback (wife's), 2018 Honda CR-V EX (offspring)
  • MichaellMichaell Moderator Posts: 262,457

    kyfdx said:


    Pretty good seats

    Been to Wrigley, Fenway, Candlestick, AT&T Park, Miller Park, "The Jake", Busch Stadium, and Comiskey. Still love Great American Ballpark. Great place to watch a baseball game. Too bad we're in the midst of a rebuild and not very good right now.
    Let's see, I've been to ...

    Dodger Stadium
    Coors Field
    Mile High (before Coors Field opened)
    Riverfront
    Sky Dome in Toronto

    Gee, I really thought the list would be longer.

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  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,123
    Michaell said:

    kyfdx said:


    Pretty good seats

    Been to Wrigley, Fenway, Candlestick, AT&T Park, Miller Park, "The Jake", Busch Stadium, and Comiskey. Still love Great American Ballpark. Great place to watch a baseball game. Too bad we're in the midst of a rebuild and not very good right now.
    Let's see, I've been to ...

    Dodger Stadium
    Coors Field
    Mile High (before Coors Field opened)
    Riverfront
    Sky Dome in Toronto

    Gee, I really thought the list would be longer.

    Know what? I forgot Riverfront Stadium....home to the 1981 Freezer Bowl Championship Game (Bengals) and arguably one of the best baseball teams of all time, the '75-'76 Big Red Machine!

    I went there many times.
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • MichaellMichaell Moderator Posts: 262,457

    Michaell said:

    kyfdx said:


    Pretty good seats

    Been to Wrigley, Fenway, Candlestick, AT&T Park, Miller Park, "The Jake", Busch Stadium, and Comiskey. Still love Great American Ballpark. Great place to watch a baseball game. Too bad we're in the midst of a rebuild and not very good right now.
    Let's see, I've been to ...

    Dodger Stadium
    Coors Field
    Mile High (before Coors Field opened)
    Riverfront
    Sky Dome in Toronto

    Gee, I really thought the list would be longer.

    Know what? I forgot Riverfront Stadium....home to the 1981 Freezer Bowl Championship Game (Bengals) and arguably one of the best baseball teams of all time, the '75-'76 Big Red Machine!

    I went there many times.
    The one time I went, I got tickets behind home plate.

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  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,381
    Daughter and I cooked up a potential new plan. I can lease something nicer that she likes, but couldn't afford for a first car. She gets something really cheap. Then down the line, she can buy out my low miles cream puff off lease. Assuming the residual makes sense, and can get the timing to align!

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • benjaminhbenjaminh Member Posts: 6,557
    stickguy said:

    Daughter and I cooked up a potential new plan. I can lease something nicer that she likes, but couldn't afford for a first car. She gets something really cheap. Then down the line, she can buy out my low miles cream puff off lease. Assuming the residual makes sense, and can get the timing to align!

    It's none of my business, I know, but won't getting something "really cheap" for your daughter sacrifice both safety and reliability? Is there a way to get something that's "good" for both of you?
    2018 Acura TLX 2.4 Tech 4WS (mine), 2024 Subaru Outback (wife's), 2018 Honda CR-V EX (offspring)
  • suydamsuydam Member Posts: 5,072
    benjaminh said:

    stickguy said:

    Daughter and I cooked up a potential new plan. I can lease something nicer that she likes, but couldn't afford for a first car. She gets something really cheap. Then down the line, she can buy out my low miles cream puff off lease. Assuming the residual makes sense, and can get the timing to align!

    It's none of my business, I know, but won't getting something "really cheap" for your daughter sacrifice both safety and reliability? Is there a way to get something that's "good" for both of you?
    Not these days. There are a lot of great used cars out there with safety features galore.
    '24 Kia Sportage PHEV
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  • andres3andres3 Member Posts: 13,934
    suydam said:

    benjaminh said:

    stickguy said:

    Daughter and I cooked up a potential new plan. I can lease something nicer that she likes, but couldn't afford for a first car. She gets something really cheap. Then down the line, she can buy out my low miles cream puff off lease. Assuming the residual makes sense, and can get the timing to align!

    It's none of my business, I know, but won't getting something "really cheap" for your daughter sacrifice both safety and reliability? Is there a way to get something that's "good" for both of you?
    Not these days. There are a lot of great used cars out there with safety features galore.
    Yes, one of my father's criticisms from his perception of Korean car's on my Kia was that it probably wasn't a safe car. While I'd take my S4 in a head on collision 100 out of 100 times over the lightweight Optima, the car did score 5 stars across the board in every testing agency's rating method for safety.
    '18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
  • benjaminhbenjaminh Member Posts: 6,557
    It depends on what's meant by "really cheap." A c. 5 year old Optima, Sonata, Fusion, Camry etc., is a pretty safe car—although most of these even five years ago scored poorly on the iihs "small offset" crash test. But a 5 year old Optima probably costs maybe 10k or so? I wouldn't call that expensive, but probably not "really cheap." Really cheap to me these days would maybe be a used car that's only $3-5k. My guess is that most cars in that range aren't so hot in terms of being safe and reliable.
    2018 Acura TLX 2.4 Tech 4WS (mine), 2024 Subaru Outback (wife's), 2018 Honda CR-V EX (offspring)
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,689
    benjaminh said:

    It depends on what's meant by "really cheap." A c. 5 year old Optima, Sonata, Fusion, Camry etc., is a pretty safe car—although most of these even five years ago scored poorly on the iihs "small offset" crash test. But a 5 year old Optima probably costs maybe 10k or so? I wouldn't call that expensive, but probably not "really cheap." Really cheap to me these days would maybe be a used car that's only $3-5k. My guess is that most cars in that range aren't so hot in terms of being safe and reliable.

    I managed to find one that fit that bill (cheap AND "safe" AND reliable), but I did have to sacrifice a bit on the aesthetics!
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,381
    well, key here is that it will be her car, on her dime. And (chip off the old block!) when it involves her wallet cracking open, she suddenly becomes much more frugal!

    in this case, cheap likely means a basic car on a lease. elantra, Jetta, something that comes in around that $200/month price. Or a few year old car that could be financed in the same range (say, a 2015 model for $12,000 financed over 4 years). Not cheap like a 1991 Aries pouring out blue smoke.

    Though while I agree that really cheap might add some reliability risk, not so much safety. Like that 150K mile 2009 Sonata I posted. Might not trust it to break, but it is certainly still modern enough to be safe.

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,381
    anyway, what the Princess will want is something like a TLX. What she wants to pay for is more like a Civic LX. Though if next spring the dealer is desperate to get rid of an ILX, she would be happy to make one of them work!

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,381
    the BMW dealer decided to troll me today. Sent out an email with some zero down lease deals on exec demo/CPO 17s, and some tasty blue with beige or oyster leather 330xis. Very pretty.

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • 28firefighter28firefighter Member Posts: 9,832
    stickguy said:
    the BMW dealer decided to troll me today. Sent out an email with some zero down lease deals on exec demo/CPO 17s, and some tasty blue with beige or oyster leather 330xis. Very pretty.
    What were the monthly payments?  Since security deposits disappeared and they started adjusting the residual differently, they haven't been as attractive. 
    2025 Jetta GLI Autobahn, 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xE
  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,895
    Yeah.. local Land Rover dealer put an ad in with the Sunday paper (yes, I still get the paper) about all their Discovery Sport and Evoque loaner/demos. Naturally, the wife spotted it.. :(

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  • ab348ab348 Member Posts: 20,292
    Michaell said:


    Let's see, I've been to ...

    Dodger Stadium
    Coors Field
    Mile High (before Coors Field opened)
    Riverfront
    Sky Dome in Toronto

    Gee, I really thought the list would be longer.

    I've been to:

    Jarry Park
    Fenway
    Tiger Stadium
    Comiskey Park
    Riverfront Stadium

    Missed out on both Milwaukee and Seattle when I was in town but both teams were on the road. For some reason never went to a Jays game despite several trips to Toronto.

    2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6

  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,895
    Jarry Park. Going to be hard to beat that

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  • pensfan83pensfan83 Member Posts: 2,767
    Ballparks I've visited:

    Minute Maid Park
    Ballpark at Arlington (brutally hot day, don't recommend going to any day games in summer in Texas)
    Progressive/Jacobs Field
    PNC Park
    Citizens Bank Park or Citizens Bank Bandbox as I call it.
    Tropicana Field
    Turner Field
    Miller Park

    Ballparks I would like to visit:
    Great American
    Fenway
    Wrigley
    Busch
    AT&T Park
    Dodger Stadium
    1997 Honda Prelude Base - 2022 Acura MDX Type S Advance - 2021 Honda Passport Sport - 2006 BMW 330Ci ZHP
  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,895
    edited July 2017
    I've been to:

    Riverfront Stadium
    Municipal Stadium (for a football game, though)
    Great American Ball Park
    Wrigley Field
    Jacobs Field
    PNC Park
    Busch Stadium (the old one.. final season)
    Petco Park

    In another couple months, I'll add Safeco Field.

    I had plans for Veterans Stadium in 2001, and Yankee Stadium in 2013, while in town each time, but regretfully didn't attend.

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  • pensfan83pensfan83 Member Posts: 2,767
    I should add Three Rivers Stadium to my list of past parks. I would have loved to get to old Yankee Stadium but unfortunately it didn't work out. My parents, along with another family, split a full season of 4 seats for close to 15 years. After 2003 when the Pirates were perpetually in the cellar and the novelty of the new ballpark wore off they were dropped. Last year we picked up a 20 game plan and went to all but 3 games I think. We didn't do that this year with traveling league on the schedule.

    When my son is a year or two older I would love to plan a West Coast ballpark trip, coinciding with the Pirates if possible.
    1997 Honda Prelude Base - 2022 Acura MDX Type S Advance - 2021 Honda Passport Sport - 2006 BMW 330Ci ZHP
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,381
    BMW prices? A modestly equipped X1 for $389, and a few 330Xis for $399-$419. Looked like zero down, but 1st and fees (I assume acquisition fee in there), tax/tags, and 10K miles/year for 36 months. Cars had miles in the 4,500 range.

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • MichaellMichaell Moderator Posts: 262,457
    stickguy said:

    BMW prices? A modestly equipped X1 for $389, and a few 330Xis for $399-$419. Looked like zero down, but 1st and fees (I assume acquisition fee in there), tax/tags, and 10K miles/year for 36 months. Cars had miles in the 4,500 range.

    You don't want to lease a loaner with over 5000 miles.

    In addition to the .25/mile deduct on the residual, anything over 5K on the clock also has a 4% lower residual.

    $400-450/mo on a 3-series is a pretty good price. Under $400 on the X1 is good, too.

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  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,381
    I don't care what the residual is. I'm not buying it at the end. Just what the payment is.

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • corvettecorvette Member Posts: 11,296


    I mean, seriously, what kind of redneck thug redneckthug tints their windows this dark? :p
  • ab348ab348 Member Posts: 20,292
    @corvette - That's not yours, is it?

    2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6

  • corvettecorvette Member Posts: 11,296
    edited July 2017
    ab348 said:
    @corvette - That's not yours, is it?
    Maybe.   :)

    I may have also used a filter on the photo to make them look darker. 
  • benjaminhbenjaminh Member Posts: 6,557
    edited July 2017
    stickguy said:

    well, key here is that it will be her car, on her dime. And (chip off the old block!) when it involves her wallet cracking open, she suddenly becomes much more frugal!

    in this case, cheap likely means a basic car on a lease. elantra, Jetta, something that comes in around that $200/month price. Or a few year old car that could be financed in the same range (say, a 2015 model for $12,000 financed over 4 years). Not cheap like a 1991 Aries pouring out blue smoke.

    Though while I agree that really cheap might add some reliability risk, not so much safety. Like that 150K mile 2009 Sonata I posted. Might not trust it to break, but it is certainly still modern enough to be safe.

    You can lease a new 2017 Civic now for $169 a month....


    2017 Civic Sedan CVT LX Featured Special Lease
    $169
    Per month for 36 months.
    $1,999 total due at signing.
    Includes down payment with no security deposit. Excludes taxes, title and either dealer fees or documentary service fee. For well-qualified lessees.

    With the $500 "college grad" rebate and Honda's 0.9 financing you could buy this same car for c. $270 a month with 2000 down and the typical discount of c. 2k that's pretty easy to get these days.

    I'm sure a new VW Jetta or Elantra would be less expensive.
    2018 Acura TLX 2.4 Tech 4WS (mine), 2024 Subaru Outback (wife's), 2018 Honda CR-V EX (offspring)
  • ab348ab348 Member Posts: 20,292
    Got yet another glossy mailer today from Cadillac congratulating me on my purchase of a new ATS. Man, I'd love to know how the dealer managed to get this through.

    Since I got my deposit back I don't really care but there seem to be some pretty big holes in their reporting of sales numbers.

    2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6

  • Sandman6472Sandman6472 Member Posts: 7,218
    Drove a newish MB C300 and was pleasantly surprised by how well it drove. Acceleration was outstanding and never felt a shift, all pretty seemless. Liked it better than the CLA 250 I drove yesterday, was more airy and not so closed in for one thing. I can see why MB sells a lot of these because I really couldn't find any fault with it. Unfortunately, brand new would be totally out of my league so used would be the best way to get into one. Ditto with a BMW 320i or 328i, just too pricey new for my pocketbook but used would definitely work.
    The more I read about Mini's unreliability, the less I want to pursue one but hoping this new generation Countryman will be much better in this respect. It's size is dead on perfect for me, well for as long as we stay in our current home. Looks to be fun to toss around on the highway to. But again, price could be a factor here. The LR Evoque was also outstanding to drive but again, super expensive to buy and probably to maintain. But not sure I want to settle next time around either!

    The Sandman :)B)

    2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2025 VW GTI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)

  • MichaellMichaell Moderator Posts: 262,457
    My buddy's Lemons car...


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  • tbirdmarcotbirdmarco Member Posts: 3,838
    @benjaminh yes fiat is doomed they did try to make an cumback totle fail!
  • tbirdmarcotbirdmarco Member Posts: 3,838
    @ab348 wow yes sum big holes in sails reporting that is for shore!
  • tbirdmarcotbirdmarco Member Posts: 3,838
    @Michaell nice car your buddy has!
  • tbirdmarcotbirdmarco Member Posts: 3,838
    @corvette wow that is so dark evan I could see that in that nice nice clos up pick is that your truck?
  • tbirdmarcotbirdmarco Member Posts: 3,838
    @sandman_6472 would not settle! but the cars that intrest you are nice! just bit mor complex and higher caust to mantane! but get what you like! only live once!
  • corvettecorvette Member Posts: 11,296

    @corvette wow that is so dark evan I could see that in that nice nice clos up pick is that your truck?

    Yeah, it is. I just told them to make the fronts match the factory tint on the rear. They made me pay in cash since it's tinted beyond the legal limits here. From the inside, the front windows actually look darker than the rears, but they look identical from the outside. First car I've ever paid to have tinted.
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,740
    Michaell said:
    My buddy's Lemons car...


    What year and model? Seems a waste. :(

    '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

  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,381
    this was a 3 series I liked. My daughter said to get it, and she would be happy to buy it from me in a few years.

    https://www.bmwofturnersville.com/detail-2017-bmw-3_series-330i_xdrive-used-15972373.html

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • corvettecorvette Member Posts: 11,296
    Gorgeous color combo! But $45k is out of my price range! :'(
  • 28firefighter28firefighter Member Posts: 9,832
    stickguy said:
    this was a 3 series I liked. My daughter said to get it, and she would be happy to buy it from me in a few years. https://www.bmwofturnersville.com/detail-2017-bmw-3_series-330i_xdrive-used-15972373.html
    Pretty car!
    2025 Jetta GLI Autobahn, 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xE
  • MichaellMichaell Moderator Posts: 262,457
    qbrozen said:


    Michaell said:

    My buddy's Lemons car...



    What year and model? Seems a waste. :(

    '87 535is, I'm told

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  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,740
    Michaell said:
    Michaell said:
    My buddy's Lemons car...


    What year and model? Seems a waste. :(
    '87 535is, I'm told
    Ugh. DEFINITELY a waste!

    '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

  • corvettecorvette Member Posts: 11,296
    edited July 2017
    Is it bad that I'm already looking for a "weekend" car to buy after I sell the Murano? I was thinking something like a (used) hardtop Vette or 370z. The SLK55 AMG interests me, also, but I'm scared of owning another European car in the age range I would be looking at. It doesn't have to be practical at all since I have the Tahoe as my daily, so no need for a back seat like a Mustang, Camaro, or Challenger would have. Any thoughts? I'd like to keep the budget between $10k-$20k.
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