Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

qbrozen

nyccarguy said:

Can you give me some specifics of “fairly inexpensive, mid-cycle base coupes?”

Real quick search result example here

this one is an auto, but you get the idea

And here is a C6 example

stickguy

I am getting oddly obsessed with refreshing the fleet. Maybe because I was shopping with the daughter, and looks like she will be buying her own instead of buying out mine! Also blame the wife. She should not complain about my current car if she isn't willing to live with a punch! Also because my plan to try and move is going nowhere, so if I can't flip houses, might as well flip cars.

really starting to like the idea of selling my car and leasing something nice. Though I should probably do that in reverse order. Or at least wait until the kid has her car, since until then we will be sharing once the VW goes back. I can get by with 1 car for me and the wife, but I am positive that all 3 of us can't share 1!

and I learned the hard way not to sell first if I don't have something lined up to replace it. That leads to rush decisions that don't often end well.

benjaminh

stickguy said:

.....She should not complain about my current car if she isn't willing to live with a punch! Also because my plan to try and move is going nowhere, so if I can't flip houses, might as well flip cars....

If I may ask, what kind of equity do you think you have in the Elantra?

stickguy

I am afraid to ask QB. But may get frisky and swing by Carmax one day! Probably a few grand. But I have not had it that long.

my latest scheme is sell that car, assuming I can get a little money out of it. Then try to lease a V60 on the cheap. Or an X1 loaner. Either one would work. Payment would end up being in the same neighborhood. So for the next 3 years, monthly nut is about the same, but I get to drive a much nicer car that my wife likes. Making the RDX totally redundant in the process. Giving me the option of selling that outright and moving the wife into the leased mobile if I find some other used car I would prefer having. Or get an EV/hybrid city car, since it really will never go anywhere very far from home.

a key factor in all these schemes is that I prefer taking my car whenever we travel or go places together. So if that happens to be the "good" car in the family too, the wife won't mind as much!

pensfan83

28firefighter said:

@pensfan83 did the Integra seller get back to you?

No he didn't, I'm guessing the owner is determined to get an offer that starts with at least a 7 or 8 (likely 8). He is probably going to do what you called out and that is hold on to the car until some fool unsuspecting buyer offers him the asking price.

stickguy

Could also do some work to spruce it up. Some DIY elbow grease should help.

sda

Having owned the Accord for almost 5 years, a lifetime for me, I would like something different in the driveway. As I think I've mentioned the firm I work for is closing their Charlotte office fairly soon which means I need to find another job. That search has begun. Until I get that situated I have to hang tight. Wish me luck!

nyccarguy

qbrozen said:

nyccarguy said:

Can you give me some specifics of “fairly inexpensive, mid-cycle base coupes?”

Real quick search result example here

this one is an auto, but you get the idea

And here is a C6 example

Gotcha. So now I really need to start a collection. Eventually, I'll have my Dad's '66 427 C2 Drop Top in my driveway. Since '76 & '86 were terrible cars, I should start with an '06 C5 and then add a '16 C6.

rayainsw

That 2006 C6 Corvette is the same exact color combo as my 2007.
Mine was the 6-speed automatic - not manual.
- Ray
Glad to have owned one - then - back would not take kindly
to climbing in & out now...

Mr_Shiftright

That high door sill is a pain. It's also probably why so many Corvette driver's seats are totally trashed.

qbrozen

That C6 is sharp.

I probably need a retractable hardtop in something like that. I can pull into my garage, drop the top, and climb out and back in easier.

breld

carnaught said:

With all the scheming going on here, I realized that our friend Breld has been very quiet lately. Wonder if he’s still on vacation.

Just got back this past weekend from Italy. No shortage of manual trannies there! We had a driver for a couple days, and between the two Ford passneger vans, both were sticks! I'm glad my wife already has a European wagon - we were both admiring all the luxury wagons. C-class, 5-series (including the current gen), Passats, etc. That European Passat is a sharp car - especially in wagon form. And we saw one or two Audi RS6 wagons.

breld

Unfortunately, we returned to a completely dead Land Rover Discovery (not at the airport, we left it at our work garage).

Over the week, something apparently drained the battery - couldn't even unlock the doors without using the manual key. I tried jumping it with no success, so my wife ended up hanging out half the day yesterday while Land Rover Roadside Assistance (along with AAA) got the car running (I had to get to a kids baseball game in another town!). The first guy couldn't get enough charge to the battery to start it, so he had us request a "wheel lift and dolly" truck to tow it out of the parking garage. Despite my very specific instructions and description of the garage and clearance height, AAA proceeded to send out another flatbed truck not once, but twice - each time, the driver being surprised the car was inside a garage.

The last driver had a stronger battery charger and was actually able to get the car going, so my wife simply drove it home.

So...I'm bringing the SUV in to the Land Rover dealer this week - just hoping they can diagnose what drained the battery so as to avoid such a failure in the future.

Any ideas? I'm pretty good about making sure no lights are left on - and I checked everything last night again and didn't note anything unusual being left on.

qbrozen

You have obviously owned it too long

breld

Obvious answer - why didn't I think of that?

corvette

Most newer cars have battery saver technology that will shut off lights in the event they are left on or if even if a door is left open. Maybe one of the electronic modules is drawing more than it should be or not going into sleep mode. 

xwesx

stickguy said:

part of not being my cup of tea. and why I have trouble with cheap used cars. Don't have to go too many years back before the tech is incredibly antiquated.

The same can be said for new cars, too!

xwesx

stickguy said:

I am getting oddly obsessed with refreshing the fleet. Maybe because I was shopping with the daughter, and looks like she will be buying her own instead of buying out mine! Also blame the wife. She should not complain about my current car if she isn't willing to live with a punch! Also because my plan to try and move is going nowhere, so if I can't flip houses, might as well flip cars.

really starting to like the idea of selling my car and leasing something nice. Though I should probably do that in reverse order. Or at least wait until the kid has her car, since until then we will be sharing once the VW goes back. I can get by with 1 car for me and the wife, but I am positive that all 3 of us can't share 1!

and I learned the hard way not to sell first if I don't have something lined up to replace it. That leads to rush decisions that don't often end well.

Maybe sweeten the pot for the daughter.... buy out half of the remaining loan and let her take over the rest. How could she go wrong with that?!

xwesx

breld said:

Any ideas? I'm pretty good about making sure no lights are left on - and I checked everything last night again and didn't note anything unusual being left on.

How much have you driven it since purchase? If it has only seen a few short trips, it may be that the battery just wasn't well-charged before the long rest. There's a lot of electronic gadgetry on newer cars that puts strain on their batteries all the time. If it was weak to start, then a week is plenty long enough to take it below the point of no return.

stickguy

a land rover with electronics gremlins? Unheard of. Should be an easy fix though, right?

stickguy

xwesx said:

stickguy said:

I am getting oddly obsessed with refreshing the fleet. Maybe because I was shopping with the daughter, and looks like she will be buying her own instead of buying out mine! Also blame the wife. She should not complain about my current car if she isn't willing to live with a punch! Also because my plan to try and move is going nowhere, so if I can't flip houses, might as well flip cars.

really starting to like the idea of selling my car and leasing something nice. Though I should probably do that in reverse order. Or at least wait until the kid has her car, since until then we will be sharing once the VW goes back. I can get by with 1 car for me and the wife, but I am positive that all 3 of us can't share 1!

and I learned the hard way not to sell first if I don't have something lined up to replace it. That leads to rush decisions that don't often end well.

Maybe sweeten the pot for the daughter.... buy out half of the remaining loan and let her take over the rest. How could she go wrong with that?!

see, that is where I come out behind. If I am doing that, I might as well just trade it in. As long as she is leasing, I can just help out a bit on the front end of that.

The real benefit to getting her into the elantra was not financial. It was keeping the wife off my back for making an early move!

Did get an email today that the new RDX will be available Friday. Will definitely be taking a look this weekend!

pensfan83

I dig the new RDX, especially in the A-Spec trim. Looking at one in person will have to wait until July when the car goes in for an oil change and state inspection.

stickguy

by coincidence, I need to take our RDX in this week. and likely will be doing it Friday. It's fate!

cdnpinhead

stickguy said:

a land rover with electronics gremlins? Unheard of. Should be an easy fix though, right?

. . . and so it begins.

Good luck breld.

Sandman6472

Luckily, the Golf started right up two weeks ago when my son flew in and used it and on Sunday when I took a short drive. They replaced it under warranty about a year ago so by next summer, or before, just gonna swap it out with a new Interstate unit. Absolutely hate to be charged for a battery test and then told yes, you need a new one. Especially down here in South Florida with all the heat we get, replace one every few years but usually do it about 2.5 years in. Hate getting stuck so just bite the bullet and replace it.
The wife’s on her 3rd battery in the A3 so the next one’s gonna be on her dime. The G old has really sat more or less for a month in the garage as even now when I think I’m well enough to drive, just staying home and relaxing.
Just heard my oldest might be moving home earlier than expected. Think the engagement is off as those things happen. Just have to read the contract on their new house to see how she can get out of it. Not sure what’s up but will find out when they think I should know. Worst comes to worse, we just take over the house, sell ours and move into it. Can probably get get close to $390K for ours and that one is costing $243K, so we’d have some extra to put into the bank. Not sure I want to be in Orlando but might not be so bad. Anyways, with young love, this could turn around by tomorrow. I know we broke up once before our wedding as things got too crazy but after deciding on those few issues, things went back to normal. Maybe this will be the same and if not, we’re ready to do what needs doing to get her deposit back and move on. Sometimes in life, things aren’t meant to be and better to find out now than after!!

The Sandman

(Never a dull moment and would just like some quiet time going forward. This has been some May for us!!)

stickguy

I always thought it was not a great idea to buy a house together in advance of a planned wedding. For this very reason. Could of course just buy solo, but if the contract is written with both of them, could be messy. And Sandy, it really needs to be their problem to solve. Buying it yourself if it is not exactly what and where you want to be, just seems like a real reach!

Doesn't she have a job there now too? Not sure how she will be returning home unless quitting that too.

All I can say, there seems to never be a dull moment in Fla.

Mr_Shiftright

A brother needs help spending his money:

https://forums.edmunds.com/discussion/51348/general/x/new-car-advice#latest

xwesx

stickguy said:

see, that is where I come out behind. If I am doing that, I might as well just trade it in. As long as she is leasing, I can just help out a bit on the front end of that.

The real benefit to getting her into the elantra was not financial. It was keeping the wife off my back for making an early move!

Did get an email today that the new RDX will be available Friday. Will definitely be taking a look this weekend!

True enough; you do come out behind financially. However, the benefit goes to the daughter instead of a dealer! That's where you come out ahead!

It sounds to me like your wife is the main catalyst behind stirring your "early move" motives, so perhaps this is the best option for opening that door without adding frustration (financial or otherwise).

28firefighter

Mr_Shiftright said:

A brother needs help spending his money:

https://forums.edmunds.com/discussion/51348/general/x/new-car-advice#latest

Advice given.

xwesx

Mr_Shiftright said:

A brother needs help spending his money:

https://forums.edmunds.com/discussion/51348/general/x/new-car-advice#latest

Help someone spend their money?! Our specialty!

Muahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

ab348

breld said:

Any ideas? I'm pretty good about making sure no lights are left on - and I checked everything last night again and didn't note anything unusual being left on.

Well, it IS a Land Rover, so...

Can't say you weren't warned. Hopefully just a bad cell.

stickguy

scheduled the pre-lease end inspection on the Jetta today. Getting close now! Make the last payment the end of this week too.

xwesx

Congrats!

tifighter

xwesx said:

Congrats!

Now that will be stuck in my head for the rest of the day...

tbirdmarco

 Stick guy awesome glad your daughters lease is coming to an end you think you might have a new or do you ask in the driveway this weekend and treating the old one since you’re gone on Friday for an oil change ha ha 

tbirdmarco

 Bring the wife with you stick 

tbirdmarco

 Send man sorry to hear about the mess with your daughter and not working out with the guy she was with I am a single honest guy here not just saying that ha ha 

tbirdmarco

 Hope your remover nothing major with it 

xwesx

tifighter said:

xwesx said:

Congrats!

Now that will be stuck in my head for the rest of the day...

Thanks, tifighter! I feel less lonely now that I am not the only one!

tjc78

stickguy said:

scheduled the pre-lease end inspection on the Jetta today. Getting close now! Make the last payment the end of this week too.

Hopefully no problems! I’m mad at myself, I scratched a door panel in my Elantra. I hope I don’t get charged for it. First time I’ve ever damaged anything on one of my cars. I also still have to get the wife dent in the Enclave fixed too... great year!

stickguy

it is pretty clean. A couple small gouges at the bottom of the lip on the front but I don't expect any charges.

carnaught

xwesx said:

stickguy said:

see, that is where I come out behind. If I am doing that, I might as well just trade it in. As long as she is leasing, I can just help out a bit on the front end of that.

The real benefit to getting her into the elantra was not financial. It was keeping the wife off my back for making an early move!

Did get an email today that the new RDX will be available Friday. Will definitely be taking a look this weekend!

True enough; you do come out behind financially. However, the benefit goes to the daughter instead of a dealer! That's where you come out ahead!

It sounds to me like your wife is the main catalyst behind stirring your "early move" motives, so perhaps this is the best option for opening that door without adding frustration (financial or otherwise).

Heck, a falling leaf is enough of a catalyst to stir a CCBA member’s motive to get another car.

corvette

carnaught said:

Heck, a falling leaf is enough of a catalyst to stir a CCBA member’s motive to get another car.

qb has me looking at Corvettes again. That C6 was sparsely equipped, though. No radio controls on the steering wheel. I think at least the early C6s didn't have standard side airbags, which I consider to be essential safety equipment.

Sandman6472

I think things will work out...somehow. I could see me living there to be honest. Looked at the floor plan again on my tablet and it's everything I want in a new build, really. Got mt 2 beds and a garage, even number house. Just not sure what our options are yet. Suggested she write a letter to the builder and be honest/upfront about the current situation. A couple of times I've done this and both times, got my full refund with no questions asked. Have found that being honest is the best policy as people do have compassion most of the time.
And if that don't work, we could just keep it and flip it once it's complete. Sell ours here and move up there and bank over $140K as ours being almost 31, lots of stuff that needs tweaking, most just small stuff, but I'd love to sell and go.
So, in the next few days we'll see what happens. And if they lose their deposit, he needs to man up and pay his share as he's the one that wants out, not her. Think folks who said get married first have it right, as there was always the possibility of this but we never thought about it. Well, the wife did and she did voice her concerns and I never dreamed he'd bale after he asked me to marry her at our sons wedding reception, I thought he was sincere!!
I just want her happy and it's just me wanting to swoop in and rescue our kids but guess dad can't always do that anymore. I just want my kids to be happy and spare them from the nastiness of life. Guess it's because my folks weren't there for me, I want to be a better parent than they were. But this is something I might have to just let the two of them figure out!

The Sandman

Sandman6472

Met our new neighbors today, a young couple who want kids. They're on the right street, that's for sure. Just made me want to move that much more. New construction is great, we've done it twice already and being the first owner is always nice. And I love the finishes they already picked out, everything I'd do myself!!
Put away the walker this afternoon and using the cane again. I seem to be o k but still taking it slow. Hopefully I'll get the o k to go back on the 11th, need it in writing though. Sure the new doctor won't give me a hassle as I'm still giving myself about 10 more days to rest up and get stronger. Mentally, am ready to go back as tired of watching t v and reading newspapers/magazines. Need to get back with my regular routine and move on. Just want to put this incident behind me already!!

The Sandman

stickguy

new build probably makes it easier. at least if units are selling. especially if prices have gone up since they locked in. But, no guarantee you can take it over if your names not on the contract. But, better to ask and see if they can just back out.

qbrozen

corvette said:

Heck, a falling leaf is enough of a catalyst to stir a CCBA member’s motive to get another car.

qb has me looking at Corvettes again. That C6 was sparsely equipped, though. No radio controls on the steering wheel. I think at least the early C6s didn't have standard side airbags, which I consider to be essential safety equipment.

When it comes to cars like that, non-performance-related equipment means zip to me. Well, OK, air con is a must.

tbirdmarco

 Send man I hope you’ll works out one way or another for your daughter yes honesty is the best policy agreed 

tbirdmarco

 Send man glad you’re coming along nicely 

tbirdmarco

 Man if it wasn’t for the visual impairment being considered legally blind here I think I’d be really looking at stuff weekly that’s the only thing why I don’t once in a while but can’t buy it anyway ha ha well I can just need someone to drive it for me