Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

kyfdx

Mr_Shiftright said:

If this had been a decent color I think I would have worked a deal on it right on the spot. But it's just this dirty, dark, dull gray. My feeling is that for this amount of money for a used car, I should get just what I want.

CAYMAN S

Might quick car, though. High 4s I think. Such a clever design---a mid engine car with rear hatchback storage and with a front trunk to boot (no pun intended).

Mmmmmm... I bet it's pretty all cleaned up.

Have that one checked out and ship it to me, please!

ab348

benjaminh said:

It's difficult for me to understand a world where even Acura outsells Cadillac. So Cadillac is now the #5 luxury brand in the US. Wow. Lexus and MB are in a tight race. BMW seems to be sinking. So Infiniti seems likely to pass Caddy next. Maybe even by the end of this calendar year?

It all comes down to SUVs and Caddy doesn't have a good assortment. The XT5 and the Escalade are it, and while the Escalade sells well for what it is, it is a very expensive proposition. The only Acuras I see around here are SUVs, and the other brands there all have an assortment of small and midsize SUVs too. The Cadillac product line is mismatched for the current marketplace.

tjc78

Isn't Caddy getting  a version of the 2018 Traverse/Enclave (LWB versions of Acadia/XT5)

ab348

Mr_Shiftright said:

If this had been a decent color I think I would have worked a deal on it right on the spot. But it's just this dirty, dark, dull gray. My feeling is that for this amount of money for a used car, I should get just what I want.

CAYMAN S

Might quick car, though. High 4s I think. Such a clever design---a mid engine car with rear hatchback storage and with a front trunk to boot (no pun intended).

I like the colors on this one a lot better, except for those gawdawful checkered floor mats:

http://bringatrailer.com/listing/2009-porsche-cayman/

imidazol97

kyfdx said:

Pet peeve: Sales tax holiday for "back-to-school". (Ohio)

I bought three items today, and since they were all under $75 each, no sales tax was charged.

Men's clothing. That makes no sense

These are the same legislators that can't seem to outlaw red light and radar cameras. A couple of cities just won in the supreme court (Ohio) on the basis of something called "home rule" claiming that they have a right to determine use of them. Legislature had required that every camera have a live officer present as it was operating. Many communities had used the cameras as a fund raiser instead of policing with live patrols.

imidazol97

Michaell said:

Just for grins, I headed over to the Buick site to research the new Regal. I've still got $1200 of GM dollars on account, and this might be something I could use them on. Sharp looking, but the equipment levels baffle me.

There are 5 trim levels - base, Preferred, Preferred II, Essense and GS

I have to go all the way to the Essense trim level to get heated seats, which were standard on both my $20K Elantra GT and $22K Jetta SE.

Sheesh.

I looked at Regals on the Buick website, $27990 for the 1SV, and it HAS heated seats as standard equipment, along with a whole bunch of other crap for a premium automobile.
"Heated driver and front passenger seats
Great for those cold winter months, or to take off the chill of a cool fall evening, the standard heated seats have simple activation located on the center console"


Click on the "i circle" for full information.
http://www.buick.com/sedans/regal-mid-size-luxury-sedan/build-your-own.html#/trim

rayainsw

That link goes to a 2017 ...

Mr_Shiftright

@ab348 -- never saw one with that color combo. Very interesting. Missing a pedal however.

RE: SL55 -- I don't know. It's a beautiful car, and looks brand new, with very low miles. I just can't get it out of my head that it's an old man's car....and YES...I'm not that young, but I am in my mind!

RE: Cayman -- I'm going back today to look at the color in the bright sunlight. "They" say it looks much better that way. On a dark day it looks almost black.

fintail

Here's the chart of new Regal features 5 trim levels, that's a lot. I suspect retail models will be the last 3.

tjc78

imidazol97 said:

Just for grins, I headed over to the Buick site to research the new Regal. I've still got $1200 of GM dollars on account, and this might be something I could use them on. Sharp looking, but the equipment levels baffle me. There are 5 trim levels - base, Preferred, Preferred II, Essense and GS I have to go all the way to the Essense trim level to get heated seats, which were standard on both my $20K Elantra GT and $22K Jetta SE. Sheesh.

I call foul. I looked at Regals on the Buick website, $27990 for the 1SV, and it HAS heated seats as standard equipment, along with a whole bunch of other crap for a premium automobile. "Heated driver and front passenger seats Great for those cold winter months, or to take off the chill of a cool fall evening, the standard heated seats have simple activation located on the center console" Click on the "i circle" for full information. http://www.buick.com/sedans/regal-mid-size-luxury-sedan/build-your-own.html#/trim

Buick seems to have moved many things up a trim level with the 2018 models.  Not happy the Bose stereo is only available on the top two models of the upcoming Enclave.  It pushes one like I have up over 50k (mine stickered at 47 and change with NAV/Bose & pano roof

fintail

Shifty, that's a very fast old man's car. I'd be more worried about running costs than image - the badges on the fenders and trunklid will tell people what's what.

Regarding Caddy, for some reason, I can't stand deNysschen, seems like a one trick pony to me. Virtually copies his Infiniti naming strategy to Caddy, and kind of complains that people aren't getting it. Infiniti, while more relevant than in years past, isn't setting the world alight, either. It's going to be a tough row to hoe.

28firefighter

Mr_Shiftright said:

@ab348 -- never saw one with that color combo. Very interesting. Missing a pedal however. RE: SL55 -- I don't know. It's a beautiful car, and looks brand new, with very low miles. I just can't get it out of my head that it's an old man's car....and YES...I'm not that young, but I am in my mind! RE: Cayman -- I'm going back today to look at the color in the bright sunlight. "They" say it looks much better that way. On a dark day it looks almost black.

I don't think the SL is an old man's car. But if you have that in your head, I suspect it will be hard to shake. My guess is you might feel differently if it were some other color than silver. 

kyfdx

I like the color combo on the '09 model, but matching the carpets to the seat color is not a good look (which Porsche has been doing forever).

If I can't get black carpets, I'll have to stick with black, grey, or navy interior.

Shifty: see if you can negotiate enough off to ship that Cayman to Cincinnati. (You'll look great in that Mercedes!)

kyfdx

@Mr_Shiftright Are you going to have them slice open the oil filter?

Mr_Shiftright

Well I don't mean "old man" as in feeble old man. I guess I mean "old man" as in some prosperous, retired silver-haired fellow in his late 60s, who plays golf and pickle ball, and who had one of these on his bucket list for a long time. I suppose that's not fair--it just sticks in my head for some reason.

fintail

That's mainly who the SL sells to (when new) - affluent older men (and numerous similar demographic women). The AMG models might liven it up a bit. It's been that way for decades, maybe going back to the earlier 107s or more. However, that might make it a bit of a sleeper if driven properly - it will surprise people.

imidazol97

rayainsw said:

That link goes to a 2017 ...

Ohhh. That does make a difference. I see the Regal is a new Regal for 18. It's an Opel imported
again which is how the original Regal in this series started IIRC.

The packages look like they are going after a low price point while C&D which I found linked
trying to decide where Buick is going with the new Regal Fastback says it will target the A4.
So I took a look at the A4 and the cheapest there is $39 but it does have heated seats. Price
goes up from there.

How successful will a new Regal be competing with the A4 image? I believe CD says the
Regal is an Insignia with good handling properties.

imidazol97

fintail said:

Shifty, that's a very fast old man's car. I'd be more worried about running costs than image - the badges on the fenders and trunklid will tell people what's what.

Regarding Caddy, for some reason, I can't stand deNysschen, seems like a one trick pony to me. Virtually copies his Infiniti naming strategy to Caddy, and kind of complains that people aren't getting it.

The strategy isn't working in my opinion.

tbirdmarco

@Mr_Shiftright nice cars posted above bye all!

tbirdmarco

@tjc78 Chevorlet dealer called me little while ago they have sum traverses in! they told me as quickly as they are getting them in they are selling them!

tjc78

Marcothecarguy1986 said:

@tjc78 Chevorlet dealer called me little while ago they have sum traverses in! they told me as quickly as they are getting them in they are selling them!

Great news, as soon as my crazy schedule allows I'm going to test drive one. 

fintail

I agree. It also hasn't radically transformed Infiniti either.

imidazol97 said:

The strategy isn't working in my opinion.

ab348

Mr_Shiftright said:

I sniffed at this one today, but it's just not me...very nice car though and price is flexible. MSRP = $140K

SL 55 AMG

Nice car if you never put the top down. Otherwise it's the roast-your-buns black leather in a convertible.

Funny thing, up here as in most places I suppose, you see a lot of 2005-up Mustang convertibles running around topless in the summertime. I am still waiting to see one without a black interior. It's nuts.

On a brighter note, this week while driving I encountered two lovely-looking women of a certain age riding around in their convertibles topless (the cars, not the women, though one can dream...). The first was a stylish blonde in a red 370Z roadster, the second a sharp-looking brunette (apparently named Deena according to her vanity plate) in a white 3-series ragtop, both with beige or tan leather inside. The Z-car lady had a lead foot too.

Michaell

fintail said:

Here's the chart of new Regal features 5 trim levels, that's a lot. I suspect retail models will be the last 3.

That's the link I was reviewing - except for the sedan. Not that I expect there to be any difference between the two body styles.

imidazol97

Because of the negativity of the C&D article about the Regal Fastback 2018, I still believe GM
would have been better off to have kept Pontiac and axed Buick if only later to form a lower
line of Cadillacs. A performance-oriented Regal vehicle would fit the image most people of an
age able to buy same have of Pontiac rather than the image of Buick from their earlier years.


The MSM in auto mags still will add negative comments about any attempt by GM to move closer
to where they should be. The interesting part of this is the Insignia is based on the E2XX
chassis now serving the current Malibu.
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/the-2018-buick-regal-is-a-car-worth-waiting-for-feature

Mr_Shiftright

Also very important is the distance the fan penetrates into the shroud. Sometimes people will put on an aftermarket blade and make this mistake.

fintail

Is there any non-MSM auto media? Thank heavens Huffpo and Breitbart don't have car sections

Nice looking car, quite Euro, but the DLO fail (black plastic triangle) in the C-pillar irks me.

No way Buick is getting axed with China, however.

imidazol97 said:

Because of the negativity of the C&D article about the Regal Fastback 2018, I still believe GM
would have been better off to have kept Pontiac and axed Buick if only later to form a lower
line of Cadillacs. A performance-oriented Regal vehicle would fit the image most people of an
age able to buy same have of Pontiac rather than the image of Buick from their earlier years.


The MSM in auto mags still will add negative comments about any attempt by GM to move closer
to where they should be. The interesting part of this is the Insignia is based on the E2XX
chassis now serving the current Malibu.
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/the-2018-buick-regal-is-a-car-worth-waiting-for-feature

tifighter

Mr_Shiftright said:

Well I don't mean "old man" as in feeble old man. I guess I mean "old man" as in some prosperous, retired silver-haired fellow in his late 60s, who plays golf and pickle ball, and who had one of these on his bucket list for a long time. I suppose that's not fair--it just sticks in my head for some reason.

Wait, I play pickleball. Where is this car again?

tbirdmarco

@tjc78 nice nice sounds good to me want to hear your report on one when you get the chance to drive one!

tbirdmarco

@ab348 yes good to dream!

xwesx

tifighter said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

Well I don't mean "old man" as in feeble old man. I guess I mean "old man" as in some prosperous, retired silver-haired fellow in his late 60s, who plays golf and pickle ball, and who had one of these on his bucket list for a long time. I suppose that's not fair--it just sticks in my head for some reason.

Wait, I play pickleball. Where is this car again?

LOL Same here! I guess all I need to do now is retire and hit my late 60s, and I'd be the spittin' image. I surely expect retirement will be the first of those to come to pass....

ab348

Everyone knows those pickleball types are the worst.

stickguy

Michaell said:

stickguy said:

I may try for a "lease of the century" deal on a 3 series New Years weekend. Just to finally cross a BMW off my bucket list.

I don't think there will be many 2017's left by that time, IMO. What's left will the stuff nobody else wanted - odd colors, strange equipment levels, RWD only in NJ...

Perfect! I love RWD. And odd colors. I was figuring it needed to be a service loaner. But maybe on NYE they will be desperate.

stickguy

Actually snow could become more of an issue. Was discussing with wife moving up to Saratoga instead of Delaware. May not happen but if it does, snow country.

I really need to research which states tax pensions if I am planning to stay longer term. NY taxes everything so my guess, it's a lousy place to retire too!

tjc78

Ny may be as bad as NJ.... go warmer and less taxes! 

stickguy

It's her family all being up here (I am upstate NY this weekend, and went to the track in Saratoga yesterday) that is driving it.

tbirdmarco

@tjc78 yes Ny is just bad as NJ that is for shore in my epenion!

tbirdmarco

@stickguy nice nice nice up there my brother is not far from whair you are! but personally would I live up there no way nice and all but personally rather go down south but you have to do what the wife wants! or would not be an good outcum for you! lol lol lol

breld

Got back from our Alaska cruise this past Friday evening, and just this morning got around to catching up on all the posts. I won't even try to respond to all the fun discussions that went on, but I thoroughly enjoyed going through several pages of posts. Kind of like binge watching your favorite TV show!

The cruise was great fun - a little bit of family drama the first day and a half with some hurt feelings, but that subsided quickly with some massaging of egos, mostly orchestrated by my lovely wife.

The only time spent in Seattle was in a shuttle to and from the airport, so no chance to catch up with the contingent up there unfortunately.

After having done mostly Caribbean cruises, this Alaska one was stunning. Not being much of a beach person, I thoroughly enjoyed the scenery as well as the variation along the way. After a couple of 50-60 degree days in Juneau and Skagway, it was 88 in Victoria, BC. It's sort of like a typical week in Denver!

breld

A few pics

breld

Wife and I went driving around yesterday afternoon - tooling around in her convertible.  

Stopped at a Honda dealership and took another spin in an Si coupe - a black one, which subdues some of the design details.  I like it about the same as the GTI, even though it doesn't quite have the same kick in acceleration.  At about $24k, and standard with a sunroof, auto climate, Honda's lanewatch, Apple carplay, I do think it's a great value.  If I hadn't just acquired the GTI, and if the Type R wasn't imported to the US, I'd likely get one.  

Given my frequency of switching cars out anyway, I am considering doing just that while waiting for the Type R market to settle, but I do think that would spoil the fun of getting into the Type R, since much of the experience would be similar.  

And I don't disagree with @qbrozen on the outrageous styling of the Type R, from the spoiler to the tailpipes, but I still want one.  

28firefighter

Looks like a great trip, @breld!

Sit tight and wait for your Type R. Don't do an interim swap. You'll be disappointed. 

tbirdmarco

@breld welcome! back! glad you all had an nice vacation to Alaskia have not heard back from any of the Honda dealers I contected as of yet will try to give an call this week and see maby they forgot about me lol lol. nice that you got to go around yesterday to an few dealers to look around with the wife! what other dealers did you go to besides the Honda dealer! yesterday!

Mr_Shiftright

ab348 said:

Everyone knows those pickleball types are the worst.

Between the hard knock of the ball on the racket and the moans and groans from people bending over, pickleball is a LOUD sport!

thebean

@breld, great pictures of the Alaskan landscape. Thanks for posting them.

Sandman6472

Still working out plans on our Chicago trip. Pharmacist daughter won't know how many days they will give her off until next month and wife's possible gig with Turbo Tax will let her know in that same time frame. Wife still scared to fly so not sure what to do here. Might end up driving after all if that will be easier for her. At least I can sleep if I don't feel well. Son's fiance did tell my oldest not to rent a vehicle as with her vehicle and car sharing services, we'll be just fine. Staying in Lincoln Park area so she said we can walk to everything we need which is great for me as I need things close.
All I know is it's getting near crunch time and decisions/reservations must be made!

The Sandman

suydam

She does know that driving is always more dangerous than flying?

qbrozen

breld said:

A few pics

I'm quite jealous. AN Alaska cruise has always been at the top of my list. But then I discovered I hate cruises. Still want to get up there and see the scenery somehow.

roadburner

qbrozen said:

breld said:

A few pics

I'm quite jealous. AN Alaska cruise has always been at the top of my list. But then I discovered I hate cruises. Still want to get up there and see the scenery somehow.

Agreed; my wife and I went on one cruise and that was more than enough.

Michaell

roadburner said:

qbrozen said:

breld said:

A few pics

I'm quite jealous. AN Alaska cruise has always been at the top of my list. But then I discovered I hate cruises. Still want to get up there and see the scenery somehow.

Agreed; my wife and I went on one cruise and that was more than enough.


Q - many years ago, I had to travel to Anchorage for business; my wife tagged along with me.

We took a day cruise to check out the glaciers. Was billed as a "guaranteed no sea-sickness" boat. Which it was. Nice way to see the sights without committing to a multi-day cruise.

At the time, we had to take the train from Portage to Whittier to catch the boat; now, there is a road that runs directly to the town.