Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

stickguy

stopped at the tire store today. Manager came out and did a thorough inspection. Checked the depth of every tire inside and outside. Said they were a consistent 4/32 at every point (guess I have rotated well!) so a little bit of life yet (4/32 is where they start giving the "might want replace these soon" spiel). Did mention starting to be some dry rot on the carcass between the tread rows, but they have been on the car for more than 5 years at this point, so not unexpected. Right at 41,700 miles, so doing OK.

would push it longer if it was spring, but most likely will be extra cautious and replace them in the middle of December, before our Christmas trip to upstate NY where you can run into real snow (and real cold!) which is where the old sneakers are likely to suck wind.

ab348

stickguy said:

I found the back seat to be plenty room (6' tall). Lots of leg room behind my seat setting, and my head was not hitting. Not that I need much room, but it was plenty IMO. Not at cavernous as the Sonata, but the Elantra is just over a foot shorter, and the room had to come from someplace!

I saw like 4"-6". Maybe the fronts were all the way back.

Mr_Shiftright

breld said:

kyfdx said:

Michaell said:

fordfool said:

Michaell said:

Got an email from our Subaru dealer this morning informing me I could upgrade our 2015 Outback 3.6R to a 2017 Outback 3.6R and actually lower our payment!

Sure, but how many additional payments will there be?

The way I figure it, about 30 or so.

Mentioned the email to the wife, and I couldn't even finish the sentence before she said "no".

What you really need is an accountant to do the math for you..

Unfortunately, the accountant you know best is @breld

Yup - just tell me what you want the numbers to reflect and I'll make it happen.

Man, that guy could throw a lamb chop past a wolf---he's good!

stickguy

must have been back. I know I had to move it a ways forward just to reach the pedals.

Sandman6472

The A3 needs 3 new sneakers just not sure what she's gonna do. Likes my run flats so she might just get 4 of those and call it a day. Her choice so wait to hear what she wants my friend at Tires Plus to get her.

The Sandman

Sandman6472

Dropped rental over at work today and turning it in tomorrow. My kid and her fiance met me there and drove me home. It was her birthday so we had cake to celebrate. Did very well on mileage so can not complain, will have to do the figures in a day or two. Just finishing laundry right now, brought too much as usual but, was ready for any weather and Saturday, the rain turned into cold, at least for us. Was around 44 last Sunday night on way home to hotel and windy, so felt like low 30's For us, that's damn cold but I was dressed warm enough and was o k. The women, they were bitching! But I had packed enough for all types of weather.
Guess other's liked our Firefly luggage as we ended up with five in our vehicle and I knew we had four. Turns out the bellhop guy gave us an extra one, said they looked alike to him. I finally noticed and gave back the extra piece. Could've been a real problem had we left!!

The Sandman

tbirdmarco

@stickguy wow on all of the spending! for the year hear you on all of that!

tbirdmarco

@tjc78 have to go to Keans one day soon thank you for the recommendation!

tbirdmarco

@sandman_6472 happy birthday to your daughter from all! glad trip whent whell and you all made it home safe and sound! good thing you realized with the extria lugege or would have bin problems! alwas best to pack bit extria like you did

nyccarguy

Slight hiccup at 98,875 miles in the Pilot.  Wife called me and told me the "VTM-4" light and the CEL light came in at the same time.  

ab348

Ruh-roh.

Michaell

ab348 said:

Ruh-roh.

Yeah, that's exactly what I was thinking, Scooby.

I suspect any emissions related could be pretty expensive to set right.

Let's hope I'm wrong.

qbrozen

From what I have read, the VTM-4 can come on intermittently whenever a CEL is thrown. At 100k miles, could simply be an O2 sensor.

nyccarguy

qbrozen said:

From what I have read, the VTM-4 can come on intermittently whenever a CEL is thrown. At 100k miles, could simply be an O2 sensor.

That's what I think it is.  I drove the Pilot a lot today and no VTM-4 light.  Plus I've changed the Fluid according (no pun intended) to the Pilot's maintenance minder.  It's actually calling for it for the upcoming service (B16).  I'll have The mechanic look at it later this week when I bring it in for the oil/filter change.

nyccarguy

tjc78 said:

@stickguy
I hear you the spending.  My gosh I hear you.  Ours was just topped off with night in NYC and mini shopping spree for our 5th anniversary.   House should be done this week and Until Christmas shopping starts we are *done*

For the group.. if you are ever in NYC and like steak, you must try Keens.  Wow this was our third time there and I swear it’s the best I’ve ever had.   Funny thing we were last there on our first anniversary and we were sat in the exact same table.  What a coincidence. 

Happy Anniversary!  Our 13th is today (10/23).  We will actually be spending the evening in NYC as well.  At Madison Square Garden.  Watching the Rangers take on the San Jose Sharks and our 8 year old play hockey in between the 1st & 2nd periods.

stickguy

13? Rookies! But congratulations.

graphicguy

Congrats to you both, Bradd!

Pilot CEL light......I’d go with Q...maybe an O2 sensor. Could be a number of simple things....maybe even just a fuel filter

roadburner

See if Autozone or Advance Auto can pull the code.

fintail

Ranger or Sharks, geez, can they both lose? At least it's not the Flyers

nyccarguy

roadburner said:

See if Autozone or Advance Auto can pull the code.

No need. My mechanic has a code reader. I'm going to bring the truck in tomorrow for him to change the oil & fix whatever is lighting up the dashboard.

28firefighter

Wife and I just celebrated our 5th anniversary on 10/20. And by celebrate, I mean takeout sushi because Sam is sick with his umpteenth illness obtained from his childcare facility.

kyfdx

28firefighter said:

Wife and I just celebrated our 5th anniversary on 10/20. And by celebrate, I mean takeout sushi because Sam is sick with his umpteenth illness obtained from his childcare facility.

Building up that immunity for later..

suydam

kyfdx said:

28firefighter said:

Wife and I just celebrated our 5th anniversary on 10/20. And by celebrate, I mean takeout sushi because Sam is sick with his umpteenth illness obtained from his childcare facility.

Building up that immunity for later..

Thinking the same thing. But in the here and now it sucks.

rayainsw

I was away all last week & out of 'Internet' range...
[ Maine - with Daughter ]
Congrats on the Punch !
Glad the wedding trip went well.
Rented a Ford Fusion Hybrid - just for the experience ...
- Ray
Catching up ...

28firefighter

We are taking him in this afternoon because we need to know if its Hand, Foot and Mouth or Chickenpox. The current presentation could go either way.

ab348

nyccarguy said:

No need. My mechanic has a code reader. I'm going to bring the truck in tomorrow for him to change the oil & fix whatever is lighting up the dashboard.

Truck? You need to update your signature line since I don't see a truck listed.

rayainsw

For anyone here who might care:
I decided [ when offered ] to spend an additional $3/day to rent a 2017 Ford Fusion Hybrid.
Just for the experience.
[ And I am glad that I did. ]
I drove it all over South Maine – over 300 miles in 6 days.
I suppose that there must be an appeal here for some, but the better MPG
[ mid 40s in driving that I would likely see high 20s to 30 in my BMW ]
would not nearly outweigh the powertrain’s down sides – for me.
I was particularly interested in this hybrid, as I have previously rented Fusions –
And found them reasonable for my typical vacation use –
And figured that my previous experience with very similar vehicles would allow me
to focus on the drivetrain differences.
So – CVT: even more annoying than I expected – just personal preference, of course,
but combined with the loud and coarse engine, I found it very annoying.
The engine itself is a 4 cylinder and [ with no turbo ] really seemed to strain at even
modest throttle openings. Not refined.
The transitions, from running full electric, on the battery, to using the engine was
not well managed – and combined with the engine, something I could not get used to.
The brake feel was decidedly odd. Took me a few days to acclimate.
It certainly is odd [ but not in a bad way ] to drive at parking lot speeds with so
little noise.
And 44 [ or so ] MPG in a wide range of driving conditions, might make this all a
reasonable trade-off, for some. EPA says 43 / 41 for a 2018.
I suppose I may come off as a snob here, driving a $50K BMW – but I am really trying
only to compare this hybrid with other Fusions I have driven . . .
- Ray
YMMV

suydam

I’ve driven a Camry hybrid and found it not much different than the regular Camry. Wonder what’s up with the Fusion that it’s so different?

roadburner

rayainsw said:

For anyone here who might care:
I decided [ when offered ] to spend an additional $3/day to rent a 2017 Ford Fusion Hybrid.
Just for the experience.
[ And I am glad that I did. ]
I drove it all over South Maine – over 300 miles in 6 days.
I suppose that there must be an appeal here for some, but the better MPG
[ mid 40s in driving that I would likely see high 20s to 30 in my BMW ]
would not nearly outweigh the powertrain’s down sides – for me.
I was particularly interested in this hybrid, as I have previously rented Fusions –
And found them reasonable for my typical vacation use –
And figured that my previous experience with very similar vehicles would allow me
to focus on the drivetrain differences.
So – CVT: even more annoying than I expected – just personal preference, of course,
but combined with the loud and coarse engine, I found it very annoying.
The engine itself is a 4 cylinder and [ with no turbo ] really seemed to strain at even
modest throttle openings. Not refined.
The transitions, from running full electric, on the battery, to using the engine was
not well managed – and combined with the engine, something I could not get used to.
The brake feel was decidedly odd. Took me a few days to acclimate.
It certainly is odd [ but not in a bad way ] to drive at parking lot speeds with so
little noise.
And 44 [ or so ] MPG in a wide range of driving conditions, might make this all a
reasonable trade-off, for some. EPA says 43 / 41 for a 2018.
I suppose I may come off as a snob here, driving a $50K BMW – but I am really trying
only to compare this hybrid with other Fusions I have driven . . .
- Ray
YMMV

Methinks you would find the 330e much more to your liking- although it would feel a bit sluggish compared to your car.

28firefighter

The 330e is basically the only plug-in hybrid out there that interests me. Even then, I suspect I'd still prefer a 328d.

tbirdmarco

@nyccarguy did you bring the wifes pilet to the shop what was the out come happens!

tbirdmarco

@nyccarguy happy 13th to you and the wife and to others in hear who have had an anaversory with in the past week!

tbirdmarco

@28firefighter o man hope Sam gets bettor real soon. My neeses used to be the same thing when they wher real little boath of them now one will be 6 and the other one 3 so things seamed to have comed down when it comes to them getting sick

tbirdmarco

@rayainsw nice rite up on the 2017 Fuzion Hibrede! agree with all you said! but my mom loved it! she is not an car person! think she wants to get one when the leese on her Maxima is up this cumming up year! so we shal see she is all over the place maby she also might want an SUV should tell her to joyen us all on these bords!

Michaell

Does anybody own an affected vehicle?

stickguy

wes has one, right?

corvette

kyfdx said:

When I registered the TDI, last year, she pulled out a plate that started with 666. My son was with me, and said, "Don't do it", but I did.

LOL, that's like hotels not having a 13th floor. I'm not superstitious, but enough people are that it seems like they would just skip the number as a practical matter.

benjaminh

stickguy said:

wes has one, right?

Was your new Elantra Sport made in Alabama or Korea?

nyccarguy

Pilot is in the shop now. Waiting for a call from the mechanic to tell me what the magical fault codes mean. In addition to the romantic (not cheap either, but thank g-d I found street parking) evening my wife and I spent with 18,000 other people at Madison Square Garden, it looks like I will be buying her a new garage door motor as an anniversary gift.

au1994

nyccarguy said:

Pilot is in the shop now. Waiting for a call from the mechanic to tell me what the magical fault codes mean. In addition to the romantic (not cheap either, but thank g-d I found street parking) evening my wife and I spent with 18,000 other people at Madison Square Garden, it looks like I will be buying her a new garage door motor as an anniversary gift.

Nothing says love like a home appliance!

Mr_Shiftright

Well make sure it's the best motor money can buy Anniversary gifts that break in two weeks are very bad ju-ju.

ab348

When I was up in the boonies visiting my buddy's mega-garage on Saturday I made note of his garage door openers. Naturally he went premium on those like with everything else. They were Lift-Masters that mounted on the wall adjacent to the door spring/cable shaft and acted directly on that. No long bar extending towards the mechanism mounted on the ceiling and no chain or belt - there was a separate light mounted on the ceiling above where the motor usually would be that was activated by the motor wirelessly. Said they also had a deadbolt that automatically acted on the lower part of the door when in the closed position. Never saw anything like those before, he said about $500 a pop.

nyccarguy

Pilot Update:

Not too bad so far. My Mechanic's code reader says the VPS Sensor has failed & needs to be replaced. This is the sensor that is used to activate and deactivate the cylinder deactivation (VCM). He says the VTM-4 light is reading an error code from the ABS/Traction Control computer. The Software needs to be updated.

So far I'm on the hook for an Oil & Filter Change, Tire Rotation, and this VPS sensor ($40 OEM part + $150 diagnose & install).

jpp75

Michaell said:

Does anybody own an affected vehicle?

Hmmmm, wonder if this means they'll start selling the leftover stock soon? I could be enticed to swap out my Touareg for a TDI.

28firefighter

My Dad has a 2014 Touareg TDI Executive that he's been waiting on a fix.

xwesx

Michaell said:

Does anybody own an affected vehicle?

Well, those arsewipes. They just lost me ten grand.

stickguy

I think all the sports are made in Korea. The one I am waiting for is if I'm remembering the right window sticker.

Sandman6472

We got a Genie belt driven garage door opener last year and it's super quiet, can no longer hear the garage door opening. Works o k and was tired of the chain drive units that Sears made. Hopefully this will be the last unit I buy for this house.
Saw an ad for a 4/2.5 home in Port St. Lucie Florida for $250,000 brand new construction. Just south of Ft. Pierce which is a very nice area. Right now, Realtor.comm and Zillow.com both say this house is worth around $380,000 so told the wife we could get brand new again and put $100K in the bank! A win/win I'd say and if the oldest moves to Orlando like they're talking about, would be about halfway from both girls. All talk now but would love to get something new again as we've been here over 30 years and it needs some things changed out. Would rather sell and let someone else do what they want plus, all young kids in here now and ours are grown. Past time for us to go but the wife won't leave the girls. I want a more temperate place with different seasons but she doesn't like the cold, something I could live with since I'd be retired. Will turn 63 next week and have said I want to retire at 64, then go off and see America.
Plan to go to the local social security office soon and see what my options are in collecting. Might just do it early but 66 is the year for folks born in1954 I've been told. Not waiting till 70 because who knows if I'll make it to that age? Long life is in my genes but mostly for the women, not the men. Might as well get something for whatever time G-d gives me!

The Sandman

stickguy

PSL I hear is quiet, but boring. At least you can watch the Mets in ST though. And if downsizing to an empty nest, and wanting to travel, why a bigger house? Just curious!

tbirdmarco

@nyccarguy glad Pilet is fixed and was not an big big thing rong with it! nice garage dor moter! what ever keeps the wife happy! have to do what you have to do!