Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

qbrozen

sandman_6472 said:

"Different" can be a two edged sword, and that's what scares me about a Mini Cooper product. Not sure I like having any drama from my d d to be honest. I just want it to start every time and not be a money pit or leave me stranded on the side of the road. Just wish one could change vehicles every year just to get the driving experience of many different makes and models. Now that would be the perfect scenario but unless one has an unending source of $, not gonna happen! Would be fun though!! Off to work but another morning of upper 30's here in South Florida. We never got above the mid fifties yesterday!! The Sandman

Some folks here do it far more often than once a year.

it does not have to be a terribly expensive proposition if you buy them right to begin with. Get a good deal and you can come out OK. Or maybe become a swap-a-lease junkie. I really want to try that one of these days.

stickguy

Swap lease does seem like a cool idea. Just not sure I really trust it. Or want to deal with the hassle.

stickguy

This weather, and what it is doing to the roads, is seriously making me rethink the idea of having a smaller, sporty car with skinny performance tires. Q might have the right idea with an F150. Or at least, a small CUV with some zip.

An X1 or an all trac type of car, with normal sidewall tires maybe. Actually subaru should come out with a 2.0t engine for the crosstrack. That would work!

Or just work on a the wife to want new wheels, and I’ll just keep the RDX for a beater!

nyccarguy

qbrozen said:

sandman_6472 said:

"Different" can be a two edged sword, and that's what scares me about a Mini Cooper product. Not sure I like having any drama from my d d to be honest. I just want it to start every time and not be a money pit or leave me stranded on the side of the road. Just wish one could change vehicles every year just to get the driving experience of many different makes and models. Now that would be the perfect scenario but unless one has an unending source of $, not gonna happen! Would be fun though!!
Off to work but another morning of upper 30's here in South Florida. We never got above the mid fifties yesterday!!

The Sandman

Some folks here do it far more often than once a year.

it does not have to be a terribly expensive proposition if you buy them right to begin with. Get a good deal and you can come out OK. Or maybe become a swap-a-lease junkie. I really want to try that one of these days.

I'd love to become a SWAP A LEASE junkie. I know a few people who have done VERY well with it. You have to be patient, but the "deals" do come along. A customer of mine leased a base Boxster with PDK a few years ago for low $500 per month. The guy put a boatload of money down and never drove it. My customer's sister took over the lease of a maserati drop top for 4 months.

qbrozen

surfing the app this morning for fun and found a couple of interesting ones of note. A CLA250 4matic for $390/mo for 16 mos with 1400 miles/mo remaining. And a couple of Chevy Volts with 1400 and 1500 miles/mo remaining for $250 or $272/mo, for 23 mos and 18 mos, respectively.

stickguy

I’m doing the same. Some interesting deals. And some terrible ones. Near me, these 2 actually look presentable.

http://www.swapalease.com/lease/details/2017-Chevrolet-Malibu.aspx?salid=1193082

http://www.swapalease.com/lease/details/2016-BMW-3-Series.aspx?salid=1201001

I’m still skeptical about costs to me. Are there any, or does the seller cover that? And I assume I need to pay DMV to register. Not sure about tax.

pensfan83

graphicguy said:

Was thinking on the lower screen in my TLX. I have the NAV controls, Apple Play, etc on the top screen. On the bottom screen, I have the music display (which I control from the steering wheel). The HVAC controls are all on automatic (including the seat heaters/ventilators), so I rarely change those.

I think it depends on what you default to as your preference of the way manufacturers set up their screen(s).

BTW, I've noticed the TLX gets warm in a hurry (less than a mile before heat is generated from the vents). And, it consistently holds cabin temp with no gaps or cold air gaps.

Couldn't say that about some cars I've owned that cost a lot more.

I definitely use the steering wheel controls more in the TLX than I did in the A4 to control the audio and phone. It's not a bad setup but after living with it a little over 3 months I do miss the scroll wheel just a bit. I usually keep the HVAC on automatic as well but I I need to turn my seat off manually because it steps down too slowly for me and I start roasting. The wife on the other hand LOVES that feature and keeps hers on auto full time. Also, I didn't realize this until our recent trip but when you exit the vehicle the seat automatically turns off and when you re-enter it turns back on....pretty cool.

Mr_Shiftright

qbrozen said:

surfing the app this morning for fun and found a couple of interesting ones of note. A CLA250 4matic for $390/mo for 16 mos with 1400 miles/mo remaining. And a couple of Chevy Volts with 1400 and 1500 miles/mo remaining for $250 or $272/mo, for 23 mos and 18 mos, respectively.

Wouldn't you have to be careful on a swap lease to check the car over very carefully, since you'll be responsible for abnormal wear and tear, or the wrong tires, etc. ?

tjc78

From what I understand, yes you assume liability for the condition of the car.

I've looked dozens of times, just never went into the process

qbrozen

Mr_Shiftright said:

qbrozen said:

surfing the app this morning for fun and found a couple of interesting ones of note. A CLA250 4matic for $390/mo for 16 mos with 1400 miles/mo remaining. And a couple of Chevy Volts with 1400 and 1500 miles/mo remaining for $250 or $272/mo, for 23 mos and 18 mos, respectively.

Wouldn't you have to be careful on a swap lease to check the car over very carefully, since you'll be responsible for abnormal wear and tear, or the wrong tires, etc. ?

I hope you would do that on any car you get, lease or not.

xwesx

jeffb0101 said:

I had a Q3 rental this summer. I didn’t mind it, but hated the infotainment in it. It also lacked a USB port, which was a huge source of irritation as I was in it quite a bit. 

I always pictured a snow blower as resembling a leaf blower. I guess you can tell I’m from the South!

Ya, funny enough I was a bit annoyed by that as well. This one has some sort of new-fangled dongle port thing that looks like maybe it is proprietary? Owner manual says that you can get an "accessory" that will allow connection via USB. Great. So, even though I just came out of my Q7, I couldn't listen to my book because I had left the SD card in the other vehicle. I had another copy of the book on a flash drive, but nope... can't read that in a VAG product.

I "borrowed" the card out of my son's camera and put a copy of the book on that, so I'm all prepared for the drive down now! I just have to remember to pull the card out of the Q3 before I give them the key....

@sandman_6472 I filled up last night with a calculated 24.49 mpg. That's after a solid highway run of about 320 miles followed by fifty miles of around-town running. Fifteen gallons and nearly $50 later.... Boo!!!!!! Handling is great, though.

xwesx

roadburner said:

My wife would snap that puppy up in a minute if it was within 100 miles of us...

Don't let that hold her back! Road trips are fun!

kyfdx

This member needs advice:
https://forums.edmunds.com/discussion/49871/general/x/local-limited-travel-which-new-sedan-suv-to-buy#latest

kyfdx

This member trying to set her husband straight. Needs opinions:
https://forums.edmunds.com/discussion/49875/general/x/reliable-car-for-heavy-highway-mileage#latest

stickguy

xwesx said:

roadburner said:

My wife would snap that puppy up in a minute if it was within 100 miles of us...

Don't let that hold her back! Road trips are fun!

Only 1,200 miles. That’s a day trip to the dentist for you, right?

graphicguy

nyccarguy said:

qbrozen said:

sandman_6472 said:

"Different" can be a two edged sword, and that's what scares me about a Mini Cooper product. Not sure I like having any drama from my d d to be honest. I just want it to start every time and not be a money pit or leave me stranded on the side of the road. Just wish one could change vehicles every year just to get the driving experience of many different makes and models. Now that would be the perfect scenario but unless one has an unending source of $, not gonna happen! Would be fun though!!
Off to work but another morning of upper 30's here in South Florida. We never got above the mid fifties yesterday!!

The Sandman

Some folks here do it far more often than once a year.

it does not have to be a terribly expensive proposition if you buy them right to begin with. Get a good deal and you can come out OK. Or maybe become a swap-a-lease junkie. I really want to try that one of these days.

I'd love to become a SWAP A LEASE junkie. I know a few people who have done VERY well with it. You have to be patient, but the "deals" do come along. A customer of mine leased a base Boxster with PDK a few years ago for low $500 per month. The guy put a boatload of money down and never drove it. My customer's sister took over the lease of a maserati drop top for 4 months.

Swap-a-lease (SAL) is based here in Cincinnati. I don’t lease, so don’t have personal experience. From the people I know that have tried to work with them, it sounds like it isn’t cheap to get out of your lease as SAL charges hundreds for the service. And, their sales people hound you once you contact them.

But, if you could find a deal, might be worth the effort.

qbrozen

It is never cheap, but it is far less expensive than breaking the lease. And, yes, they harass you endlessly if you just dip your toe in for information. But, as a buyer, it could be a good service.

Alternatively, there is Lease SwApp. I emailed them feedback this morning that their app is awful and it is obvious they exist just to get their fees from the sellers and don't care past that. There is no way for a shopper to sort/filter by location, price, and/or miles remaining.

breld

I had lunch with @michaell and @jpp5862 this afternoon and mentioned this ad I saw on our craigslist.

Used Type R

I just have to laugh at it - so you don't see what the "fuss" is about the car, but yet you are asking $10k over MSRP for a used example.

rny421

Hey everyone,
So there has been a change recently, where I need to decide if I want to buy my Edge from my employer, or get a different vehicle. My previous post had me thinking about luxury SUVs, but circumstances have changed, and the budget will be much lower. I looked up the value of my Edge (2011, Limited, 101k miles, AWD, Leather, Nav, Sunroof) and KBB and Edmunds value it at $8k - $9k, which seems high to me.

My guess is that whether I keep the Edge, or buy something else, I will only have the vehicle for 1-2 years.

Here are my must haves/wants if I buy a different vehicle:
Must-haves: Leather, sunroof, heated seats, backup camera
Nice-to-haves: Push-button start, xenons, good resale value
Budget: ~$16k

Current List

• Chevy Cruze
  
• Honda Civic
  
• Ford Fusion (side note: You can get these for a really good deal. I might potentially look at the hybrid, and energi model)
  
• VW Jetta
  
• Buick Verano
  
• Toyota Corolla
  
• Toyota Prius (not entirely sure about this one...)
  
• Mazda3
  
• Acura TSX
  
• Acura ILX
  

So, the question is - Do I buy my Edge, or get something new (used)? I like the Edge a lot, but even $8k seems like a lot to me for a vehicle with 100k miles. What do you guys think?

qbrozen

Trade value on the edge is $8500, so, if you buy it for that kind of money, it would be a great deal. The value proposition is a different story. I would have to agree that spending that much on a 100k-mile Ford SUV would not be at the top of my to-do list. Seems like you don't care for an SUV anyway, based on your list, so it would definitely be a smarter financial move to buy any of those smaller sedans. Although, in the interest of resale, I'd probably disregard the Buick, Fusion, Cruze, and Jetta. Mazda3 would probably be the best value followed by maybe the TSX.

stickguy

my nephew just got a slightly used Jetta at a VW dealer. a 2017 SE, with 8k miles. paid somewhere in the mid-upper 14s for it. Has pretty much everything you wanted. and will certainly give you great MPG. resale? well, when you are starting that low for a nearly new car, you aren't going to lose too much!

tbirdmarco

@breld so was an typo it is an auto your old Minny got it!

tbirdmarco

@sandman_6472 yes that is an nice job you have would love to work at an job like that you and every one in hear are all trewilly blessed!

tbirdmarco

so today we ended up going to auto zone had an batory for my brothers 2013 Altima! whent home we put it in car still would crank but not start than whent to CVS got new batorys for the keyless remotes good to go!

tbirdmarco

@sandman_6472 yes that is an nice job you have would love to work at an job like that you and every one in hear are all trewilly blessed!

tbirdmarco

@rny421 that is quite the list of cars your interested in! would look at one of those and sell the Edge evan tho nice!

tbirdmarco

@breld funy add on that type R on Craigs list!

rny421

qbrozen said:

Seems like you don't care for an SUV anyway, based on your list, so it would definitely be a smarter financial move to buy any of those smaller sedans. Although, in the interest of resale, I'd probably disregard the Buick, Fusion, Cruze, and Jetta. Mazda3 would probably be the best value followed by maybe the TSX.

I do really like the Edge. I enjoy how solid it feels, how quiet it is, all of the features, and that it's pretty quick. Also, it has been fairly reliable. If I were to purchase a different car, and still get all of the luxuries that I have come to enjoy, while staying within my budget, these sedans are the only ones I like that seem to fit the bill.

I agree with your assessment that the Verano, Fusion, Cruze, and Jetta would be worse for resale. But, as @stickguy mentioned, you can get really good deals on relatively new, loaded Jettas.

I will have to do some test driving. Hopefully that will help guide me in my decision to see if I actually can live with, and enjoy, some of the cars that look good to me "on paper" currently.

Where I'm struggling is the fact that if $8,500 for the Edge is a fair deal, it doesn't scream value to me. Whereas $15k for a 2 year old loaded Jetta does. Am I wrong to think the value of the Edge will continue to plummet within another year and 15k miles. Not to mention, the risk of higher miles, and more problems?

Although, I am talking to someone with a Land Rover that is out of warranty, so you have a bigger appetite for risk than I

stickguy

$ wise, in depreciation, the Edge will probably be one of the better options. There just is not a lot of room for it to drop. the wild card, of course, is if expensive problems develop.

and actually, only wanting whatever you get to be around for a year of slightly more, might tilt the scales toward the Edge. Different story if you want something for 3-5 years.

xwesx

stickguy said:

xwesx said:

roadburner said:

My wife would snap that puppy up in a minute if it was within 100 miles of us...

Don't let that hold her back! Road trips are fun!

Only 1,200 miles. That’s a day trip to the dentist for you, right?

Hahah! Not quite, but it is turning out to be how many miles it takes for me to have the Q7 at the dealership for service!

I received an update phone call from the service department today saying they still haven't received my "overnight" part that they supposedly ordered on Tuesday. All I can think is that perhaps there are delays due to weather in the eastern US? Anyhow, updated timeline is now Monday, but I'm still not holding my breath.

I do want to get rid of this Q3 as soon as possible. I guess, in the end, it is miles saved on the Q7.

xwesx

rny421 said:

So, the question is - Do I buy my Edge, or get something new (used)? I like the Edge a lot, but even $8k seems like a lot to me for a vehicle with 100k miles. What do you guys think?

I agree with other notes about the SUV vs. other options. The one major edge here is the known history. That might be good or bad, but basically it is a known entity that changes nothing tomorrow if you buy it. As others noted, you might be able to get one or more of the others in your budget still in warranty; initial out of pocket is still higher, though.

If you plan on short ownership and it has been well-maintained by both you and the employer, then it might be the best value proposition (including further depreciation).

rny421

@stickguy @xwesx - Good points about the Edge regarding depreciation. I might just be trying to convince myself that buying something else is the better option

I just worry about something catastrophic happening, such that it's not even worth replacing, and then the value of the vehicle essentially becomes $0. Hopefully the chances of that are slim though. This is my first vehicle that I have kept over 100k - I traded in my 2004 VUE right before it rolled over 100,000.

The proposition of buying the Edge is, of course, assuming my employer will:

1. Sell it to me (It doesn't appear they have plans for it since it has 100k+)
   
2. Sell it to me at a fair price (who knows..)
   

I think I should probably still test drive a few vehicles just to play it safe, right!???

Michaell

@rny421 - we never discourage anyone here from taking test drives, if only to rule things out.

benjaminh

stickguy said:

$ wise, in depreciation, the Edge will probably be one of the better options. There just is not a lot of room for it to drop. the wild card, of course, is if expensive problems develop.

and actually, only wanting whatever you get to be around for a year of slightly more, might tilt the scales toward the Edge. Different story if you want something for 3-5 years.

Hey, just wanted to ask how your Elantra Sport is working out. What kind of mpg are you getting?

tbirdmarco

@rny421 yes go for those testdrives the weekand is apon us if you can start this weekend if not when you can soon!

tbirdmarco

@benjaminh have not seen you on hear in quite sum time how has everything bin going?

tbirdmarco

@rny421 yes go for those testdrives the weekand is apon us if you can start this weekend if not when you can soon!

tbirdmarco

@sandman_6472 glad to hear you like the current jen camary! was in my co workers new RAVE4 last week was nice but did not blow me away! at all still want to sit in new camory hoping they did an better job with that one!

stickguy

benjaminh said:

stickguy said:

$ wise, in depreciation, the Edge will probably be one of the better options. There just is not a lot of room for it to drop. the wild card, of course, is if expensive problems develop.

and actually, only wanting whatever you get to be around for a year of slightly more, might tilt the scales toward the Edge. Different story if you want something for 3-5 years.

Hey, just wanted to ask how your Elantra Sport is working out. What kind of mpg are you getting?

It is good. Have not been driving it much since Christmas (being away, then weather). My daughter used it for a few days and really liked it. Overall, I would say getting about 30 MPG on regular, and on shorter trip legs mid 30s. At some point, I hope to take an actual longer highway trip with it to see what it can do.

But it is quick, handles great, and can't complain about that mileage around town, especially since it runs on RUG.

breld

I wish my stepdaughter and wife were more open to the Hyundai brand, 'cause I'd love to have the Elantra Sport on the short list when the Jetta lease is up at the end of the year. Just seems to offer so much for the price, especially if I could find a slightly used one.

To be fair, they did let me go down that road for one of the cars a few years ago - I picked the Veloster over an Elantra GT. The lack of power and plethora of blind spots in that Veloster resulted in a quick trade. But we did get that brand new Veloster for about $16k, and traded it in at hardly any loss.

breld

I'm surprised to see one of these on the used market so quickly. They sure are nice.

2018 S5 Sportback

stickguy

breld said:

I wish my stepdaughter and wife were more open to the Hyundai brand, 'cause I'd love to have the Elantra Sport on the short list when the Jetta lease is up at the end of the year. Just seems to offer so much for the price, especially if I could find a slightly used one.

To be fair, they did let me go down that road for one of the cars a few years ago - I picked the Veloster over an Elantra GT. The lack of power and plethora of blind spots in that Veloster resulted in a quick trade. But we did get that brand new Veloster for about $16k, and traded it in at hardly any loss.

I know where you can get a super clean 2018 Sport. Only about 900 miles on it too!

corvette

breld said:

I'm surprised to see one of these on the used market so quickly. They sure are nice.

2018 S5 Sportback

They put a lot of miles on it for it to be a 2018! Fire engine red would not be my first color choice. You going to check it out today?

stickguy

nice audi. Would look better with a different color interior, but I like the paint color. And those miles were in 7 months, so still steep.

roadburner

kyfdx said:

This member trying to set her husband straight. Needs opinions:
https://forums.edmunds.com/discussion/49875/general/x/reliable-car-for-heavy-highway-mileage#latest

If I was talking to him I'd suggest trading in his wife...

roadburner

rny421 said:

Hey everyone,
So there has been a change recently, where I need to decide if I want to buy my Edge from my employer, or get a different vehicle. My previous post had me thinking about luxury SUVs, but circumstances have changed, and the budget will be much lower. I looked up the value of my Edge (2011, Limited, 101k miles, AWD, Leather, Nav, Sunroof) and KBB and Edmunds value it at $8k - $9k, which seems high to me.

My guess is that whether I keep the Edge, or buy something else, I will only have the vehicle for 1-2 years.

Here are my must haves/wants if I buy a different vehicle:
Must-haves: Leather, sunroof, heated seats, backup camera
Nice-to-haves: Push-button start, xenons, good resale value
Budget: ~$16k

Current List

• Chevy Cruze
  
• Honda Civic
  
• Ford Fusion (side note: You can get these for a really good deal. I might potentially look at the hybrid, and energi model)
  
• VW Jetta
  
• Buick Verano
  
• Toyota Corolla
  
• Toyota Prius (not entirely sure about this one...)
  
• Mazda3
  
• Acura TSX
  
• Acura ILX
  

So, the question is - Do I buy my Edge, or get something new (used)? I like the Edge a lot, but even $8k seems like a lot to me for a vehicle with 100k miles. What do you guys think?

Miled-up Edge or new Mazda or Acura?
Not even a slightly tough call....

rny421

@roadburner - They would be used vehicles, as my self-imposed budget is ~$16k, and I want all of the features.

roadburner

rny421 said:

@roadburner - They would be used vehicles, as my self-imposed budget is ~$16k, and I want all of the features.

I'd still take the Mazda or Acura over the Edge.

Mr_Shiftright

breld said:

I had lunch with @michaell and @jpp5862 this afternoon and mentioned this ad I saw on our craigslist.

Used Type R

I just have to laugh at it - so you don't see what the "fuss" is about the car, but yet you are asking $10k over MSRP for a used example.

And the seller has such a nice attitude--I'm sure he'll be swamped with calls

Mr_Shiftright

breld said:

I'm surprised to see one of these on the used market so quickly. They sure are nice.

2018 S5 Sportback

Obviously one of those people who buys and sells cars often.....oops.....