Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

andres3

stickguy said:

nice looking at least. And a good example of the frustration with carfax. It just says accident. Tells you nothing, but still hammers the value. Could have been a parking lot bump, maybe a new bumper cover, or a major reworking.

Ideally an accident under $500 wouldn't be reported in anyway. However, $667 could just be a bumper repaint on an A3.

andres3

sandman_6472 said:

Where would I find a DV specialist appraiser? I truly believe when trading, the Carfax will show the hit and the offer will go down at least a grand. Insurance should put you back where you were right before the accident I'd like to think!

The Sandman

You are not far off. My $7,000 in trade A3 (at one point in its life) was offered $6K solely for the very minor rear bumper hit it took from a motorcycle cop. It was older and had some miles on it at the time but well under 100,000 miles at the time I think, so I remember thinking DV would probably never be less than 1/7th the value unless you were well over 100K miles. This was for a VERY minor $667 dollar accident, but the DV was a "REAL" $1,000 on a $7,000 trade-in value vehicle.

In a brand new rarer higher end car, 20% is probably very real (if structural damage is noted/shown).

Michaell

@nyccarguy - can you pop over to the 2018 Pilot lease thread? Someone is trading in a 2011 Pilot with 110k on a new Pilot. Thought you might offer up advice on the trade value.

nyccarguy

Michaell said:

@nyccarguy - can you pop over to the 2018 Pilot lease thread? Someone is trading in a 2011 Pilot with 110k on a new Pilot. Thought you might offer up advice on the trade value.

Sure.  Anything to help!

Sandman6472

No more GLA250, got a 2018 RAV4. Much better mpg's and regular petrol. Had I been 10 minutes earlier, would've gotten a 2018 Camry. But, as a consolation gift, the RAV4 has a sunroof and with the morning temps being in the low 50's to high 40's, I'll take it. If the Golf was here, I'd have the roof open both ways so makes up for no new Camry.
Like the higher seating position and it's a Toyota, it works like a clock! No XM radio but has a single cd player and I have a lot of cd's I can't listen to in the Golf, so again, another win/win for me.
Will keep this rental till the end now as tired of swapping vehicles out of my Sunpass account. And now that I've done the MB thing, I can move on. Nice vehicles for sure, but just not for me!! Will attempt to put it in the garage this weekend as it's about the same size as my 2014 Tucson and that did fit. Just need to be cognizant of the outside mirrors and the Audi already there.
Got it 1/4 tank of fuel, put in about $11.00 and got up to just over 1/2 a tank. Will be interested to see how it does on the freeway as the "eco" light comes on at a certain speed and stays on. And as I recall, Toyota's are pretty frugal so another win for me. Comfy seats also, so what's not to like. Had a Corolla there also but figured the RAV was a better vehicle for me at this juncture.

The Sandman

andres3

sandman_6472 said:

No more GLA250, got a 2018 RAV4. Much better mpg's and regular petrol. Had I been 10 minutes earlier, would've gotten a 2018 Camry. But, as a consolation gift, the RAV4 has a sunroof and with the morning temps being in the low 50's to high 40's, I'll take it. If the Golf was here, I'd have the roof open both ways so makes up for no new Camry.
Like the higher seating position and it's a Toyota, it works like a clock! No XM radio but has a single cd player and I have a lot of cd's I can't listen to in the Golf, so again, another win/win for me.
Will keep this rental till the end now as tired of swapping vehicles out of my Sunpass account. And now that I've done the MB thing, I can move on. Nice vehicles for sure, but just not for me!! Will attempt to put it in the garage this weekend as it's about the same size as my 2014 Tucson and that did fit. Just need to be cognizant of the outside mirrors and the Audi already there.
Got it 1/4 tank of fuel, put in about $11.00 and got up to just over 1/2 a tank. Will be interested to see how it does on the freeway as the "eco" light comes on at a certain speed and stays on. And as I recall, Toyota's are pretty frugal so another win for me. Comfy seats also, so what's not to like. Had a Corolla there also but figured the RAV was a better vehicle for me at this juncture.

The Sandman

Your Golf may have a CD player in the glove compartment.

tjc78

sandman_6472 said:

No more GLA250, got a 2018 RAV4. Much better mpg's and regular petrol. Had I been 10 minutes earlier, would've gotten a 2018 Camry. But, as a consolation gift, the RAV4 has a sunroof and with the morning temps being in the low 50's to high 40's, I'll take it. If the Golf was here, I'd have the roof open both ways so makes up for no new Camry.
Like the higher seating position and it's a Toyota, it works like a clock! No XM radio but has a single cd player and I have a lot of cd's I can't listen to in the Golf, so again, another win/win for me.
Will keep this rental till the end now as tired of swapping vehicles out of my Sunpass account. And now that I've done the MB thing, I can move on. Nice vehicles for sure, but just not for me!! Will attempt to put it in the garage this weekend as it's about the same size as my 2014 Tucson and that did fit. Just need to be cognizant of the outside mirrors and the Audi already there.
Got it 1/4 tank of fuel, put in about $11.00 and got up to just over 1/2 a tank. Will be interested to see how it does on the freeway as the "eco" light comes on at a certain speed and stays on. And as I recall, Toyota's are pretty frugal so another win for me. Comfy seats also, so what's not to like. Had a Corolla there also but figured the RAV was a better vehicle for me at this juncture.

The Sandman

My mother has a newer RAV. I just can't bring myself to like it. The front end is hideous (which is becoming a Toyota/Lexus "feature") and it's just plain boring. IMO

It has been flawless and is good on gas, so it has that going for it.

Is your garage smaller than most, or do you have things in there that limit space. Up here, most garages will hold midsize SUVs w/o any problems.

fintail

Wow, my perfect color combo - so they made one, anyway - if only it had half the miles, was much cheaper, and not in potholed rustland.

Speaking of garages, in my area they often hold $200 worth of yard sale rejects while the tens of thousands of dollars object sits outside.

corvette

I think the RAV4’s interior is awful. CR-V isn’t perfect, but much nicer. 

Mr_Shiftright

fintail said:

Wow, my perfect color combo - so they made one, anyway - if only it had half the miles, was much cheaper, and not in potholed rustland.

Speaking of garages, in my area they often hold $200 worth of yard sale rejects while the tens of thousands of dollars object sits outside.

You could deliver fresh bread in it!

Michaell

Apparently, after almost 4 years, the batteries in both of the MINI's keyfobs have decided to fail at the same time. Daughter tried to order replacement batteries on-line, but those aren't working, either.

Guess who gets to go the MINI dealer this afternoon to get this fixed?

@jpp5862 and @breld have noted that it's a shopping opportunity for me. Perhaps .... but, I'm looking forward more to the A4 I have waiting for me at LAX tomorrow.

28firefighter

fintail said:

Wow, my perfect color combo - so they made one, anyway - if only it had half the miles, was much cheaper, and not in potholed rustland.

Speaking of garages, in my area they often hold $200 worth of yard sale rejects while the tens of thousands of dollars object sits outside.

My BIL and SIL are converting their garage to a playroom and walling it off. They know better than to ask my opinion....

fintail

What a waste. Seems to happen when kids enter the fray. Might not matter when the machine sitting outside is a Highlander with a kid-customized interior

28firefighter said:

My BIL and SIL are converting their garage to a playroom and walling it off. They know better than to ask my opinion....

Mr_Shiftright

Michaell said:

Apparently, after almost 4 years, the batteries in both of the MINI's keyfobs have decided to fail at the same time. Daughter tried to order replacement batteries on-line, but those aren't working, either.

Guess who gets to go the MINI dealer this afternoon to get this fixed?

@jpp5862 and @breld have noted that it's a shopping opportunity for me. Perhaps .... but, I'm looking forward more to the A4 I have waiting for me at LAX tomorrow.

Might be the receiver in the car itself, if neither fob works.

suydam

That happened with our 2013 Honda Accord. Defective batteries. Honda replaced at no charge.

Michaell

Mr_Shiftright said:

Michaell said:

Apparently, after almost 4 years, the batteries in both of the MINI's keyfobs have decided to fail at the same time. Daughter tried to order replacement batteries on-line, but those aren't working, either.

Guess who gets to go the MINI dealer this afternoon to get this fixed?

@jpp5862 and @breld have noted that it's a shopping opportunity for me. Perhaps .... but, I'm looking forward more to the A4 I have waiting for me at LAX tomorrow.

Might be the receiver in the car itself, if neither fob works.

Well, I was just going to run them over there in the Jetta; now you've got me thinking I should take the MINI, just to be safe....

ab348

suydam said:

That happened with our 2013 Honda Accord. Defective batteries. Honda replaced at no charge.

Does the BMW Mini require genuine OE Mini key fob batteries and do they need to be registered as such with the vehicle?

Michaell

ab348 said:

That happened with our 2013 Honda Accord. Defective batteries. Honda replaced at no charge.

Does the BMW Mini require genuine OE Mini key fob batteries and do they need to be registered as such with the vehicle?

 I’m going to say yes. My daughter ordered some batteries of the same model online and they didn’t work. 

stickguy

sounds to me like an issue with the receiver on the car, if both fobs died at the same time, and new batteries didn't help.

Mr_Shiftright

That's what I was thinking, too. Another possibility, but a "remote" one (haha) is that both fobs have lost their programming due to battery fiddling.

I actually ran my Mini fob through the washing machine a few months ago, and it still works, if that's any encouragement.

Say, can't auto parts stores like Autozone check key fobs? I thought they had a little sensor/tester. It just tells you if it is transmitting.

tjc78

My 2012 LaCrosse’s fob survived a trip through the washer.   I was quite surprised.  

Michaell

 Thanks for all the feedback. I am on my way home from the mini dealer, having spent $15 for two new batteries. 

corvette

28firefighter said:

Wow, my perfect color combo - so they made one, anyway - if only it had half the miles, was much cheaper, and not in potholed rustland. Speaking of garages, in my area they often hold $200 worth of yard sale rejects while the tens of thousands of dollars object sits outside.

My BIL and SIL are converting their garage to a playroom and walling it off. They know better than to ask my opinion....

Garage conversions may be practical but can reduce the value of a house. 

stickguy

heck, if I could figure out a way to get it past the wife, I would convert the dining room into extra garage space.

we use the DR 3 days of the year to eat in. Use the garage every day.

do the math!

Sandman6472

No, our garage is a normal 2 car garage, just feel safer parking it outside. Drives nice actually and am past the weird looks already.
Collision place called, estimate at $5200 and climbing. They have some issues they must get with the appraiser about. Would think there's a break even point where it's not worth throwing any more dollars at it, best to just total it and sell the vehicle for its parts. He said the three week time frame might not happen because of these new issues. So, we shall see next week where we stand. To total or not total, the big question!!

The Sandman

tbirdmarco

 Personally would just total it if they’re gonna keep finding more and more issues and estimate keeps on growing Sandy 

tbirdmarco

 Where is that old truck posted above located is it a truck from the 50s looks like to me at least all school truck my brother has these selling in upstate New York 

stickguy

out of Sandy's hands. Up to the bean counters now. Though once you get into unibody tweaks, even something minor looking may be unfixable safely. That is what might end up derail the fixing process.

fintail

Garage conversion would really devalue for me, as I would have to either un-convert it, or build a new garage. Lack of garage is a dealbreaker unless there is land to build one and the price is right.

kyfdx

Three weeks? lol

tjc78

kyfdx said:

Three weeks? lol

No way that @sandman_6472 Golf is done that fast. I’m thinking based on the initial estimate that it’s really close to a total.

stickguy

well, if it is fixable, could be done that fast. Being fixable once they see all the gory details is the mystery.

andres3

Michaell said:

Apparently, after almost 4 years, the batteries in both of the MINI's keyfobs have decided to fail at the same time. Daughter tried to order replacement batteries on-line, but those aren't working, either.

Guess who gets to go the MINI dealer this afternoon to get this fixed?

@jpp5862 and @breld have noted that it's a shopping opportunity for me. Perhaps .... but, I'm looking forward more to the A4 I have waiting for me at LAX tomorrow.

CR just rated the A4 the best luxury sedan in it's size class, and for good reason. I imagine Audi's sales success are only going to go up, although it might be the 4-door coupe sportbacks like the new A5/S5.

andres3

ab348 said:

suydam said:

That happened with our 2013 Honda Accord. Defective batteries. Honda replaced at no charge.

Does the BMW Mini require genuine OE Mini key fob batteries and do they need to be registered as such with the vehicle?

The indicator lights will show a "wagging finger" if you use non-OEM batteries.

andres3

Mr_Shiftright said:

That's what I was thinking, too. Another possibility, but a "remote" one (haha) is that both fobs have lost their programming due to battery fiddling.

I actually ran my Mini fob through the washing machine a few months ago, and it still works, if that's any encouragement.

Say, can't auto parts stores like Autozone check key fobs? I thought they had a little sensor/tester. It just tells you if it is transmitting.

All FOB''s should have an LED indicator to show it is transmitting and that the battery isn't dead.

andres3

$5,200 doesn't sound like much though. Pretty minor cost repair if you ask me. Surprised it's not more.

corvette

kyfdx said:

Three weeks? lol

Pretty much. I'd have to look back at my calendar. I think my GLI was right at two months for the initial repair at VW of Clarksville, and probably another month for multiple re-repairs to fix the stuff they missed the first time. Of course, the insurance companies will blame you for entrusting it to a body shop that takes so long, but they're all that way. And they cut a lot of corners to get it out the first time in two months!

andres3

corvette said:

kyfdx said:

Three weeks? lol

Pretty much. I'd have to look back at my calendar. I think my GLI was right at two months for the initial repair at VW of Clarksville, and probably another month for multiple re-repairs to fix the stuff they missed the first time. Of course, the insurance companies will blame you for entrusting it to a body shop that takes so long, but they're all that way. And they cut a lot of corners to get it out the first time in two months!

That's my argument. Most of the body shops all behave the same, so for the Insurance company to just shrug and say "you picked it!" is just deplorable, not to use a political word.

Mr_Shiftright

kyfdx said:

Three weeks? lol

They mean weeks on the planet Mercury.

fintail

Someone here will get it:



Just thought of another car if I don't re-up a lease. Final run 2013 S350 Bluetec. Quite rare, and depreciation is putting them near mainstream prices now.

28firefighter

@pensfan83 when is the lease up on your wife’s car again and what are you looking to replace it with?

I may have a line on a unicorn deal in your general vicinity. 

ronsteve

If only I was ready to jump in the market yet, maybe the "Volvo For Life" strategy wouldn't be completely outlandish.... maybe I should make some time to play the "will it fit?" game anyway. https://www.volvooflouisville.com/used/Volvo/2015-Volvo-V60-59973ccb0a0e0aea0064758b059f9c02.htm

tjc78

fintail said:

Someone here will get it: Just thought of another car if I don't re-up a lease. Final run 2013 S350 Bluetec. Quite rare, and depreciation is putting them near mainstream prices now.

They test the missles here or what? 
 
Great movie and I was thinking the same thing.   

Mr_Shiftright

What It's Going to be Like for You when you Order your new FERRARI

I found this quite interesting--especially how they handle things in the showroom. For all that $$$ you spend, you certainly get the full floor show and the excruciating torture of anticipation.

It's all very Italian.

roadburner

I generally multiply the time for repair estimate by 2 to 3 times; haven't been disappointed yet...

tifighter

Just ordered a new wheel/tire set for the Volvo. Sparco Terras with Conti A/T tires sized -1 on the rim but a little bigger overall. Should fit well. I haven't seen this done on a Volvo yet, just the odd Subaru. We use the car for hiking and mountain biking on the weekends, so having a stronger tire with more sidewall and less propensity to hold rocks should be good. Plus, if it looks sorta cool, that would be okay too.

I guess this means I intend to keep the car longer. I don't even recognize myself anymore.

28firefighter

tifighter said:

Just ordered a new wheel/tire set for the Volvo. Sparco Terras with Conti A/T tires sized -1 on the rim but a little bigger overall. Should fit well. I haven't seen this done on a Volvo yet, just the odd Subaru. We use the car for hiking and mountain biking on the weekends, so having a stronger tire with more sidewall and less propensity to hold rocks should be good. Plus, if it looks sorta cool, that would be okay too.

I guess this means I intend to keep the car longer. I don't even recognize myself anymore.

You mean, using a Cross Country for it's intended purpose? Are you crazy?

laurasdada

Mr_Shiftright said:

Michaell said:

Apparently, after almost 4 years, the batteries in both of the MINI's keyfobs have decided to fail at the same time. Daughter tried to order replacement batteries on-line, but those aren't working, either.

Guess who gets to go the MINI dealer this afternoon to get this fixed?

@jpp5862 and @breld have noted that it's a shopping opportunity for me. Perhaps .... but, I'm looking forward more to the A4 I have waiting for me at LAX tomorrow.

Might be the receiver in the car itself, if neither fob works.

That was the issue with my XF last year, has to replace the Keyless Vehicle Module. Car was dead in my work garage, needed a dolly tow to dealer. But, since replacing the KVM, no problems. Knock wood dash.

tifighter

28firefighter said:

You mean, using a Cross Country for it's intended purpose? Are you crazy?

One of the first things I bought for the car was an aluminum skid plate underneath the oil pan. The factory one was some sort of fabric/felt thing that inspired zero confidence. The car has gotten it's feet dirty more than most, I'd guess.

Michaell

tifighter said:

You mean, using a Cross Country for it's intended purpose? Are you crazy?

One of the first things I bought for the car was an aluminum skid plate underneath the oil pan. The factory one was some sort of fabric/felt thing that inspired zero confidence. The car has gotten it's feet dirty more than most, I'd guess.

Never figured you for a 1%-er ... taking your car off road, that is.