Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

stickguy

Drove my car yesterday after a week of mostly driving the Jetta because it was parked in the way, and I hate moving cars around. I like it much better (the Elantra). Just drives nicer and seems like a better car. Though I did sit in a 2019 Jetta yesterday. A vast improvement over the 2015. And a lot bigger! Better seats too.

stickguy

Saw an article yesterday that apple was finally giving in and adding waze and google maps to CarPlay when ios12 rolls out. That is going to be nice to have, though so far, apple maps has been fine for me. I just prefer google.

28firefighter

In heavy traffic areas, Waze will be a time and (personal) life saver.

benjaminh

28firefighter said:

In heavy traffic areas, Waze will be a time and (personal) life saver.

What does Waze have that's beyond the google map system in AndroidAuto?

28firefighter

In theory, nothing @benjaminh. In practice, I've found that Google's traffic and routing technology does not take into account all of the additional detail contained in the Waze app. Further, I find Waze does a better job of providing alternative routes and associated ETAs.

corvette

I’m a big Waze fan. I use it even when I know exactly where I’m going, in case there’s a traffic issue to be avoided. The prompts about road hazards aren’t always accurate, but I find the additional heads up to be helpful. 

Mr_Shiftright

benjaminh said:

28firefighter said:

In heavy traffic areas, Waze will be a time and (personal) life saver.

What does Waze have that's beyond the google map system in AndroidAuto?

It seems to be quite good at traffic re-routing. This weekend, we had a big crash on I-80 and I first got an alert about the crash, and a 20 minute delay that was added to my ETA. About a minute later, I got a notice of an alternate route which would restore my original ETA, so I took that and sure enough, I completely avoided the traffic mess.

Of course, sometimes there is no alternative route, but in this case, Waze performed beautifully.

I also like the police alerts.

28firefighter

The police reports are annoying - lots of false positives up this way.

Mr_Shiftright

I've found they are correct about....um.....60%?? But in any event it's a reminder to me to look around more carefully, and notice if traffic in front of me is slowing down. The "car stopped on the side of the road" alert is quite accurate, however. I guess that's because cop cars don't stand still!

nyccarguy

Count me in as a WAZE fan too. There are A LOT of highways in NYC that get you to pretty much the same place. WAZE for the most part always re-routes me properly. It has saved me numerous times.

kyfdx

Man, it eats a lot of data, though.

Michaell

I took the MINI into the body shop yesterday. Enterprise set me up in a black on black Nissan Maxima with 17,000 miles. I still like it for what it is - a comfy cruiser with a lot of HP. Seats are comfortable as well.

roadburner

The Maxima and the 370Z are the only Nissan cars that haven't been comprehensively worked over with a big ugly stick...

qbrozen

I think the current Maxima is pretty hideous, personally. Mostly due to the C pillar.

stickguy

does have a really nice interior and comfy seats.

qbrozen

So this month marks 1 year left with the F150 AND 2 years of payments remaining on the T&C. 

Due to my reduced driving schedule since January, I am just now approaching 12k on the truck, leaving me 18k to use in the next year. The van sits at right about 50k. Not too bad. It will be going on vacation with us in a few weeks down to VA, so that will add a bit that week. 

Anyway, given the timing, maybe I'll pick up a 12-mo lease transfer of a cheap vehicle from 6/2019 to 6/2020 and then reassess once the van is paid off. Just the most recent random thought, of course.

28firefighter

I really like the interior on the new Jetta.

https://www.dickhannahvw.com/inventory/new-2019-volkswagen-jetta-sel-premium-fwd-4d-sedan-3vwg57bu2km007537

Give me the 2.0T from the GTI and I've found my next car.

roadburner

I hate to admit it, but I'm being tempted by the Alfa Stelvio TI...

28firefighter

roadburner said:

I hate to admit it, but I'm being tempted by the Alfa Stelvio TI...

They're really nice and fairly competitive on low-mileage leases. Certainly not something I would buy.

corvette

kyfdx said:

Man, it eats a lot of data, though.

I haven’t had that issue. And I only get 2GB of data on my Mint plan. 

28firefighter

Never had an issue. Granted we have unlimited 4G with T-Mobile, so I've never paid attention.

Mr_Shiftright

corvette said:

kyfdx said:

Man, it eats a lot of data, though.

I haven’t had that issue. And I only get 2GB of data on my Mint plan. 

Me neither, and I use it quite a bit.

nyccarguy

roadburner said:

I hate to admit it, but I'm being tempted by the Alfa Stelvio TI...

I've seen a few nice lookin ones around town. They sure are sexy.

stickguy

The new Jetta interior is really well done. Very nice.

Waze, not sure how much data it really uses (apps like that are not normally as bad as video streaming), but I do recall hearing it absolutely ate up the battery.

28firefighter

Yes, Waze kills the battery. But if you're plugged in via USB for CarPlay, it should not matter.

qbrozen

Only a half hour to go and at $6k. Wish it was closer. Or maybe I don't.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1998-honda-prelude-3/

28firefighter

Watching the end of BaT auctions is killing my productivity.

Michaell

qbrozen said:

I think the current Maxima is pretty hideous, personally. Mostly due to the C pillar.

I first thought it was an Altima, until I got in and saw Maxima on the floor mats. The darker colors mask the floating C pillar.

28firefighter

qbrozen said:

Only a half hour to go and at $6k. Wish it was closer. Or maybe I don't.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1998-honda-prelude-3/

That escalated quickly....at $9k now.

stickguy

looks like ended at $6,100? Interesting at that price.

28firefighter

stickguy said:

looks like ended at $6,100? Interesting at that price.

No - it ended at $9000. BaT seems to have been having an issue with end of auction if you aren't watching it when it lands at 0:00.

stickguy

Ah. OK. it did say no time left but last bid shown (and in the comments) was $6,100.

I wouldn't have been interested in going $9K on that one.

qbrozen

Ouch. No. There are better choices for $9k.

nyccarguy

qbrozen said:

Ouch. No. There are better choices for $9k.

Another Prelude that puts mine to shame Condition - wise.

stickguy

saw something I really liked today in a parking lot. A BMW 328 GT. In dark blue, with the brown interior. Gorgeous. And I am a sucker for 5 door hatches like that.

qbrozen

stickguy said:

saw something I really liked today in a parking lot. A BMW 328 GT. In dark blue, with the brown interior. Gorgeous. And I am a sucker for 5 door hatches like that.

But don't you like hatches that actually LOOK good?? ;b

stickguy

well, it is a big rumpish, but not too bad. The 4 series is a little better styled.

Michaell

The MINI sustained $1100 in damage (!), so I get to keep the Maxima until next Tuesday.

And the Jetta gets to live in the garage!

stickguy

my wife gave me grief last night when she got home from work, and I had the Jetta stashed in her side of the garage. I needed my car out, and it was easier to just tuck it there instead of putting it in the road. Won't matter if her car sits out for a few days this time of year.

Sandman6472

Trust me Stick, I get hell whenever I park on the wrong side of the garage! And either the A3 stays outside for an evening or I have to move it. Hopefully the next place will have a regular 2 car garage or if a condo, covered parking. Well yes, the three of us finally had a conversation the other night about, "the future"! Seems like my oldest is going to go for the house on her own, she can handle the mortgage...it's just the food and regular living that could be an issue, lol! No, seriously, she's going ahead with the house at this point. Gotta give her credit but hey, the forfeiting $10K to the builder if they broke the contract had a little something to do with it. Keep telling her that we've got her back here and if this is what she wants to do, go for it. So, they're still talking it over. Turns out the kid in Miami wants to transfer up there to a sister hospital so she'd share the house, not sure but they're working on it.
But turns out the wife wants a condo somewhere between Ft. Myers and Sarasota, a condo and not a house. I'd be very happy to dump the house and just pay a reasonable HOA fee...key word being reasonable! So, we'll see where this leads. With home prices rising in our area, our neighbor just sold our identical house but with a pool for $435K, we should be in a very good position to do o k. Sure, our house needs some work, well, SOME WORK, but whoever buys if is going to gut it anyways and redo most of it anyhow. Been her 31 years and the first owner, needs a new kitchen and most of the master bath. We did the kids bath, I picked all the finishes, and it looks good, but yes, this is a gut house. Even the new neighbors are doing some work and the old owners did a bunch when they bought it. But they've had like 4 owners and 7 renters in these past many years that we've been here and out of the twelve houses on the street, only 3 of us are original owners.

The Sandman

Sandman6472

Finally went over to the Hyundai store yesterday to meet the internet guy who keeps calling me, wanting to drive the Limited & GT and get my gift coupon. I knew things weren't going well when I get there and he's gone for the day, hell, it was only 4:15 in the afternoon! I get some slub salesguy and I tell him what I'm looking for. Just starting my search and want tosee the Elantra Limited, The GT with the 1.6T engine with the Tech package on both. All this time, the skies opened up and expecting Noah to pull up any minute. I knew right then that this wasn't going to go well at all!
Of course, the elevator was broken, so we had to walk upstairs. I said fine though a little voice inside told me to come back another day. So we go upstairs, felt like I was holding this guy back from something more important to be honest. And I was the only customer in the showroom but o k. I find the Limited I saw online and it has the Tech Package with the Infinity audio. We also find a couple GT's not in the computer but no Tech package, no 1.6T engine but nice. Then he walks me over to a Sport and says really, this is the vehicle you want! It was a red one, color did nothing for me. Nest to it was a blue one, not as nice as mine but not that bad. No keys but it's open. I like it, nice seats and think it has the stuff I want. The color just ain't working for me. We go back to the Limited but again, no keys.
Now, we've been up their about 25 minutes walking around. I'm hurting, hot and sweating. This guy really has no clue. He's not pushing a test drive and the rain is letting up. I suggest we go downstairs as I need to put a fork in this because, well...we're done!!

The Sandman

nyccarguy

sandman_6472 said:

Finally went over to the Hyundai store yesterday to meet the internet guy who keeps calling me, wanting to drive the Limited & GT and get my gift coupon. I knew things weren't going well when I get there and he's gone for the day, hell, it was only 4:15 in the afternoon! I get some slub salesguy and I tell him what I'm looking for. Just starting my search and want tosee the Elantra Limited, The GT with the 1.6T engine with the Tech package on both. All this time, the skies opened up and expecting Noah to pull up any minute. I knew right then that this wasn't going to go well at all!
Of course, the elevator was broken, so we had to walk upstairs. I said fine though a little voice inside told me to come back another day. So we go upstairs, felt like I was holding this guy back from something more important to be honest. And I was the only customer in the showroom but o k. I find the Limited I saw online and it has the Tech Package with the Infinity audio. We also find a couple GT's not in the computer but no Tech package, no 1.6T engine but nice. Then he walks me over to a Sport and says really, this is the vehicle you want! It was a red one, color did nothing for me. Nest to it was a blue one, not as nice as mine but not that bad. No keys but it's open. I like it, nice seats and think it has the stuff I want. The color just ain't working for me. We go back to the Limited but again, no keys.
Now, we've been up their about 25 minutes walking around. I'm hurting, hot and sweating. This guy really has no clue. He's not pushing a test drive and the rain is letting up. I suggest we go downstairs as I need to put a fork in this because, well...we're done!!

The Sandman

The rain was perhaps a sign from above that you shouldn't be looking at Hyundais.

Sandman6472

Follow him back to his desk and realize this appointment is going nowhere. Mention to him that I've got to pick up my $40 gift card and he goes into stupid mode. By this point, I tell him well since we're not going to drive at least the Limited model, I'll come back next week and see the other guy. Shows zero emotion and I get up to go and I say to him, "can you at least give me your card?" He does and I leave.
Needless to say, wasn't the best experience I've ever had. Guy had zero interest in showing me any of the 2, now 3 vehicles I'm interested in. Once the rain had stopped, surprised he didn't get the Limited's keys and at least let me drive it. It was a beige over beige vehicle, a combo I could live with to be honest. But, he let me walk which I'm still perplexed about. I came to them interested in a couple of models and he made no effort to get me into any of the one's he had. And the Limited's ain't cheap either. The Sport was open and I gotta say...I liked it. So Stick, how does it drive? I liked all 3 of them and just ain't sure if I want to give up a hatch for another sedan. We've already got a sedan in the house which she's keeping as it's got new sneakers and a new battery in it. At around 38K, with warranty still left, she's keeping it for awhile.
As for me, just not sure. Parked next to an Infiniti XQ30 at dinner last night, charcoal over gray and was smitten. Got home and got online and found that our local Toyota store right next door to the Infiniti store has some pre-owned XQ30's in decent colors with low miles in the mid to low $20's!!! 24 city/33 highway. City ain't great but highway is very doable and the majority of my miles are on the highway. A great looking vehicle which makes me forget about any Hyundai.
But, I've already got my Golf, very similar and, I STILL LIKE IT!!! Heck, since the accident, I don't love it but thinking exactly what the family is going to say. Why are you even looking at any vehicle right now!!!

The Sandman

stickguy

It drives nice. Quick too. But I think you would be much happier with the hatch. Only drawback to the sedan for me is lacking the power seat the loaded GT has. I really wish I had that.

Mr_Shiftright

Another brother needs help spending money on a 3rd car. You can help, or you can turn the page:

https://forums.edmunds.com/discussion/51430/general/x/cheap-lease#latest

thebean

Mr_Shiftright said:

Another brother needs help spending money on a 3rd car. You can help, or you can turn the page:

https://forums.edmunds.com/discussion/51430/general/x/cheap-lease#latest

Page turned.

28firefighter

Lease transfer completed. Paperwork being FedEx'd to the new owner and the title agency, and he's picking it up tomorrow.

laurasdada

Acura was represented, along with Jag (no swag!), BMW (M hat if you test drove either M5 or X3), Lincoln (nice hats if you gave 'em your email address), Karma (free bottled water) and Tesla (contest for an electric kiddie Tesla), at the Greenwich Concourse. Acura had three NSX, one red, two blue. I spoke to a woman who worked for Acura (not a "rep" company) in CA a bit about the NSX. I asked if they were still being discounted ~$50k, she said no, ~$30k. But, if I was interested, perhaps we could play let's make a deal.

She noted that there were only ~20 new 2017 NSX left, that the dealers kinda messed up the intro of the car. The dealers ordered much of the 800 '17s pretty much loaded, msrp of ~$200k. Buyers balked, at a six figure price point, buyers want to buy the options they want, not what the dealer ordered. Hence the slow sell. She noted that 2018 would only be built to order.

So, breld, there you go! Time to shop before the '17s are gone...

corvette

28firefighter said:

Lease transfer completed. Paperwork being FedEx'd to the new owner and the title agency, and he's picking it up tomorrow.

Nice! I was almost ready to make a backup offer if that fell through. 

stickguy

glad it worked out. Sounds like a lot of effort and hassle. Not sure I would be willing to deal with it.