Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

suydam

I don’t value fuel economy just for my personal benefit.
I want Smiles Per Mile AND good fuel economy. I don’t think I’m the only one.

stickguy

you aren't. definitely a big factor for me, if the other core requirements are met.

breld

roadburner said:

nyccarguy said:

Miles Per Gallon aren't Infiniti's strong suit, Smiles Per Mile are

I don't think I've ever made a purchase/selling/trading decision based on fuel economy.

I used to care more, or at least thought that I cared more. Then when I traded out the V6 Durango for the R/T, I realized the lower MPG didn't bother me relative to the additional driving enjoyment.

carnaught

Miles per gal. to me aren’t a major criterion, but contribute significantly to my smiles per mile.

andres3

nyccarguy said:

carnaught said:

Had an M35, similar to that one, nice car, but hard ride with the Sport package, and terrible gas mileage. I can just imagine the M45’s gas mileage.

Miles Per Gallon aren't Infiniti's strong suit, Smiles Per Mile are

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2018-audi-s5-sportback-in-depth-model-review-2018-audi-s5-sportback-engine-and-transmission-review-car-and-driver-page-2

However, this interesting comparo left me thinking some of Infiniti's horses are really just little ponies. LOL. Could be the transmission and weight, but still, you'd think 400 HP would be faster.

The S5 no longer gets a DSG, while the A5 does! Go - Figure!

breld

Wife and I drove this i3 over the lunch hour:

2015 i3 REX

So about 2 years old, 20k miles; so has another 2 years warranty. No tech package, but has the package with front parking sensors and rear view camera.

They just reduced the price to $19,494.

Pricing seems fair if not strong - thoughts?

qbrozen

What is it for? Replacement for which vehicle?

values vary but that is about $1500-$2k over auction value, so a good deal.

suydam

What’s the electric range? Is that what interests you about it?

breld

It’d be an addition for now - we’re simply intrigued by the idea of trying out an electric vehicle, and since we like BMWs (not that it resembles most any other BMW), seems like a relatively cheap way to try one out.

The prices just seem ridiculously low, even for such a quirky vehicle.  I would think further depreciation would be pretty limited at this point.

Thanks Q for the quick response.  

breld

suydam said:

What’s the electric range? Is that what interests you about it?

Oh, and I think the range is about 150 miles or so.  

28firefighter

I keep trying to like the i3. I just can't do it.

nyccarguy

I just read a very favorable jalopnik review on the Kia Stinger

corvette

The orange i3s remind me of my dad’s orange Element. They are both tall and have suicide doors. I’m sure the i3 is much more pleasant to drive. 

andres3

28firefighter said:

I keep trying to like the i3. I just can't do it.

There was a story about the i3 in that the LAPD bought a huge fleet of them, but they are collecting dust unused in a lot because the manly men of the LAPD can't be seen in that.

Good tax payer money boondoggle story. I

andres3

28firefighter said:

I keep trying to like the i3. I just can't do it.

There was a story about the i3 in that the LAPD bought a huge fleet of them, but they are collecting dust unused in a lot because the manly men of the LAPD can't be seen in that.

Good tax payer money boondoggle story.

suydam

28firefighter said:

I keep trying to like the i3. I just can't do it.

It is a very strange looking vehicle. The Bolt is much nicer looking. I have no idea how either one drives.

ab348

This little fella on BaT looks like it might be fun:

2011 BMW 1M

tbirdmarco

 Are and why sorry to hear about the transmission issues you’re having with your newly purchased 2015 Acura hopefully all goes well with that you’re back on the road real soon 

tbirdmarco

 Went to the local Nissan dealer after work with my mom the sales person wanted to talk numbers without showing us use the car we asked about even trying to get us in tweet when you want it sent to you Charisse it’s the best I can my mom being persistent and saying I don’t want to be sitting wanna buy and I want to buy use car so then he finally was talking numbers about the used car we wanted it was adding in bogus baloney fees which raise the price a few thousand dollars in tolls do you know about tax title and license right side no [non-permissible content removed] yes I know 

tbirdmarco

 So the search will continue as many other car dealers around another Nissan dealers my moms looking for the payment to be a little over $300 or less even the used car they were coming with put $5000 down and 309 a month I told him we don’t put crazy amount of money like that down put my mom think she should stick with leasing she doesn’t like to take care of her cars or something will go wrong I know she’d be upset so we shall see 

tbirdmarco

 And the killer was OK mentioned and comments above didn’t wanna show us the car first that’s the first I’ve had that happen but not surprised and the Steelers change ownership so many times in the past couple of years wonder why figured new owners give them a shot seem nonsense oh well their loss will win eventually into get something she likes and will be happy 

xwesx

ab348 said:

This little fella on BaT looks like it might be fun:

I dunno. Paying for it would take a lot of the (potential) fun out of it, for me!

tbirdmarco

 Have any of you guys had experiences over the years with the sales person ignores what you say and tries to push leasing instead because it’s beneficial so they say they should listen put the customer wants know what’s convenient for them but I know there’s good deals out there this one’s not good now and off the list they ever go back in the beginning he needed the woman we talk to work in the BDC department and you don’t deal with her but she just brings in perspective customers and then he used line at the end I thought she showed you 

tbirdmarco

 Car I said to him how was she supposed to choose the car if she works in the BD see department he had no answer to that and we just walked away and told him thank you for your time and that was it then the manager came outside to my moms car and said what happened and we told him he owes you want me to show you the car my mom said damn you guys should both showed us in the beginning when we stepped foot in the door and told you not sure the numbers first 

stickguy

some salespeople just move to the close without bothering to figure out what you want to do. I have done a lot of shopping in recent time, and honestly have had overall good experiences. Rare to find a real 'old school" type of sales person now. It helps to do a lot in advance via internet. used cars though, can still be a bit of a different animal.

But, make sure you know what you are looking at, and just tell them up front, and repeat if needed. Assuming they have a car you really want. if not, walk. There are plenty of cars out there.

I find new car shopping to be much simpler. even if it costs more in the end!

nyccarguy

Hey @Michaell or @kyfdx, I posted a question in the Mazda 3 lease questions board.  If you do t make the over there, I'm looking for SoCal lease rates & money factors on a 2018 Mazda 3 Touring 6MT for 36 months/12K per year.  Any lease cash or incentives?

What's a good payment on a $23,215 car with a selling price of $21,270?  

Thanks!

Michaell

nyccarguy said:

Hey @Michaell or @kyfdx, I posted a question in the Mazda 3 lease questions board.  If you do t make the over there, I'm looking for SoCal lease rates & money factors on a 2018 Mazda 3 Touring 6MT for 36 months/12K per year.  Any lease cash or incentives?

What's a good payment on a $23,215 car with a selling price of $21,270?  

Thanks!

We will get to it. Did you note whether this was for a sedan or hatch?

nyccarguy

Michaell said:

Hey @Michaell or @kyfdx, I posted a question in the Mazda 3 lease questions board.  If you do t make the over there, I'm looking for SoCal lease rates & money factors on a 2018 Mazda 3 Touring 6MT for 36 months/12K per year.  Any lease cash or incentives?

What's a good payment on a $23,215 car with a selling price of $21,270?  

Thanks!

We will get to it. Did you note whether this was for a sedan or hatch?

It's for a hatch!  Thanks!

Michaell

nyccarguy said:

Michaell said:

nyccarguy said:

Hey @Michaell or @kyfdx, I posted a question in the Mazda 3 lease questions board.  If you do t make the over there, I'm looking for SoCal lease rates & money factors on a 2018 Mazda 3 Touring 6MT for 36 months/12K per year.  Any lease cash or incentives?

What's a good payment on a $23,215 car with a selling price of $21,270?  

Thanks!

We will get to it. Did you note whether this was for a sedan or hatch?

It's for a hatch!  Thanks!

Can you add it to your post in the 3 lease thread?

breld

Alright, our new purchase is sitting in the garage, charging.  

stickguy

that didn't take long. Just an addition, right? Not replacing anything?

nyccarguy

Michaell said:

Michaell said:

Hey @Michaell or @kyfdx, I posted a question in the Mazda 3 lease questions board.  If you do t make the over there, I'm looking for SoCal lease rates & money factors on a 2018 Mazda 3 Touring 6MT for 36 months/12K per year.  Any lease cash or incentives?

What's a good payment on a $23,215 car with a selling price of $21,270?  

Thanks!

We will get to it. Did you note whether this was for a sedan or hatch?

It's for a hatch!  Thanks!

Can you add it to your post in the 3 lease thread?

Done

breld

@nyccarguy - who's the Mazda3 for? I was looking at those 2018 models on line a little bit ago - so if I understand right, the 2.5l is standard in the Touring and higher models? That's a great little car - I was seduced into trading way up for the S4, but recall my Mazda3 fondly.

nyccarguy

breld said:

@nyccarguy - who's the Mazda3 for? I was looking at those 2018 models on line a little bit ago - so if I understand right, the 2.5l is standard in the Touring and higher models? That's a great little car - I was seduced into trading way up for the S4, but recall my Mazda3 fondly.

It is for my best friend's sister in law.  She just moved to SoCal from NYC and needs a car.  She drove many of the usual suspects and is trying to keep her payment as close to $200 - $250 per month.  She drove an Impreza, Corolla, Civic, and a Mazda 3 at my suggestion.  She likes the Mazda the best.

suydam

stickguy said:

that didn't take long. Just an addition, right? Not replacing anything?

The mini?

28firefighter

The King of CCBA reminds us why he remains on the throne. 

nyccarguy

Way to go @breld

breld

Nope - didn't replace anything. Just was really intrigued by the i3 after seeing how much they depreciated. I don't disagree the Bolt is better looking (and probably a better overall car), but at $19k for a 2 year/20k mile old i3, it was a pretty easy decision.

Heck, you all saw I was considering adding almost that amount on top of my Durango to upgrade the family wheels, so I'm happy to have simply added a new vehicle to the fleet instead.

We did move quickly on this one, but I guess we often do. We didn't care much about the color one way or another, but we definitely wanted the range extender, and something with a decent amount of warranty left. And...we were targeting that for under $20k.

We looked at it over lunch, liked it, and then got back to the office and checked it out again online, and saw the price had been reduced. So it was a sign!

I went back this evening to take a closer look - it has some chips here and there, and the black plastic bits have plenty of surface scratches. But overall in fine shape - other than one tire (why one I don't know) was abnormally worn, and the worst thing was there appeared to have been a puncture in the driver's seat that was repaired, and not well. They agreed to replace the one worn tire and replace the seat bottom of the driver's seat - I was surprised by that offer so agreed to their reduced price with those repairs.

Easy peasy.

breld

Drove it close to 50 miles home - no doubt there's a lot of novelty to it, but it's a fun car to drive. My son thought it felt like the "Test Track" ride at Epcot Center - and I'd have to agree.

The whole "one-pedal" driving ability is pretty cool - though I'll have to make sure to not rear end someone next time I'm in the Civic.

In any case, certainly a unique and fun experience for the price.

tbirdmarco

 Congrats on the addition to the fleet broke so nothing left just added one car 

tbirdmarco

 Thank you for the feedback stick I totally agree with you 100% 

tbirdmarco

I love how this voice dictation change the name of you guys the matter how slow I try to talk

tbirdmarco

 Anyone doing any core looking today maybe will go again later or tomorrow we shall see not her thing I don’t mind it 

qbrozen

Remind me what the fleet looks like now, breld. Is it 5 cars? Durango, v60, R, mini(?), and i3?

nyccarguy

breld said:

Drove it close to 50 miles home - no doubt there's a lot of novelty to it, but it's a fun car to drive. My son thought it felt like the "Test Track" ride at Epcot Center - and I'd have to agree.

The whole "one-pedal" driving ability is pretty cool - though I'll have to make sure to not rear end someone next time I'm in the Civic.

In any case, certainly a unique and fun experience for the price.

can we petition edmunds to have your name changed to "bruceallmighty"?

breld

tbirdmarco said:

I love how this voice dictation change the name of you guys the matter how slow I try to talk

No worries Marco! I don't think any of us have any issues reading and understanding your posts!

breld

qbrozen said:

Remind me what the fleet looks like now, breld. Is it 5 cars? Durango, v60, R, mini(?), and i3?

Yup - you got it. Technically, we also have the Jetta Sport, but that's my stepdaughter's car, so I've stopped counting it.

tbirdmarco

 Cool cool bro I figured wouldn’t be a problem drives me crazy but it is what it is so technically you have six cars wow ha ha 

kyfdx

I don't know why, but I'm still stunned, every time it happens.

Sandman6472

Saw some more Ford Ecosports at the dealer yesterday. Nice little package there and even smaller than my Golf! The "SE" version seems to hit the sweet spot for me with a certain option package I liked. Only problem is, it's a FORD!! Just not Ford people as we had a really super negative experience many years ago. But interested in driving one just to see if it will go on my short list.
Drove a brand new 2017 Honda Civic yesterday with just 155 miles on it. Had a sunroof and nice alloys so definitely not a base model. Honda did a great job with the dash, infotainment system, whole vehicle actually. The CVT wasn't intrusive at all but one sits really low in this vehicle. I fell into the seat and had to use effort to get out of it. Sure, I sit on a Relax The Back cushion in my personal vehicle so ingress/egress shouldn't be much of a problem. Loved the way it drove and could live with one going forward. It was silver which I just didn't like.
Am really waiting for the next generation HR-V and see if they give it more power and knobs for the sound system. Like the EX-L model as I do want a moon roof and leather from now on. Hoping they put the 1.5 turbo from the Civic in it which would cure the lack of power issue I keep reading about. Give me those two additions and I'd definitely buy one as my next d d. I get the "cheap to keep" functionality, something deep down I really want!! As much as I like the fancy vehicles, I want easy with no drama, end of story!!

The Sandman