Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

corvette

92,000 on a 1999.5 Jetta VR6 in nearly five years. A long-term relationship! The last six months, I only put about 2,000 miles on it, as I owned it concurrently with the Altima that replaced it.

corvette

I like the perforated leather on the MDX (and most Acuras, come to think of it)...

I didn't know that Lexus made the LS400 without two-tone paint. It looks cleaner in a solid color!

akangl

I've put on a car is Zippy at 50k in 16 months. Prior to that it was a 1994 Navajo with 42k in 18 months.

Now hubby has put 151k on a truck (his 1988 F-150) in 9 1/2 years.

If I added up the mileage from all the cars I've had over the past 13 years I bet its closing in on 500k. I seem to average between 30k (low year) to 50k per year.

Only 5 speeding tickets in that time too. October 19, 1994 76 in a 65 ($44), June 20, 1995 70 in a 65 (dismissed in court), July 4, 1998 80 in a 65 (written up as 74 in a 65)($46), February 28, 2001 83 in a 65 ($82), and finally my most recent one was October 21, 2005 67 in a 55 (written up as 64 in a 55)($82). The fines have doubled since I got my first ticket back in 1994........definatly expensive to have a leadfoot.

bumpy

I put just over 100k in seven years on my '88 Sentra (which had over 190k already when I bought it), and I put about 35k on the '00 Accent in the three years I've had that. On the other hand, the '91 Isuzu picked up only 12k in five years (and most of that in the first two years I had it) and only 3k on the '92 SE-R I bought last year.

andre1969

I added up all the miles I put on cars since I got my first car in February 1987. Comes out to around 375,000 miles. Funny, I thought it would be more by now, especially after all those years of delivering pizzas. I guess the early years though, like high school and college where I attended locally, and then the few years I lived 3 1/2 miles from work before moving away (and then moving back 2 years ago) helped to cancel out those pizza delivery days.

PF_Flyer

Was out and about this morning when I came up behind an older looking Volvo 240. Nothing unusual about that, but you know those oval decals that folks have on their cars like the OBX one for the Outer Banks? Well this one had one that read:

CCBA

I have no idea what it could stand for other than they are a member of the club here...LOL

lemmer

Do you spend much on repairs & maintenance on that car?

mark156

Anony and Gee, those are excellent pic's.... The Lexus looks great, especially, with the mileage that it has. A friend of mine has a 1994 LS with just 50,000 miles and uses it as a "spider condo" too. He bought it from an Estate a few years ago with only 32,000 miles on it. He has recently bought a new 2005 Mercury Mountaineer and realized he can't stand the vehicle which now only has 2,700 miles and 8 months of ownership. I don't think he'll keep it very long.

I've got to get him to this site because he just sold a 2003 Mustang convertible that he bought with 9,000 miles and re sold it a year later with 14,000 miles for the exact same money he bought it for. He likes the "deal", the car itself is unimportant.

I sure wish I knew how to take pictures and put them on this site. I would like to show you folks my antique.

Mark

michaellno

375K in 18 years? That's about 21K per year.

I don't think I could figure out how many miles I've driven, given that I travelled about 2 weeks per month on business for approximately 15 years, mostly with rental cars.

Now, on the vehicles that I owned personally ... hmmm, let's see:

'79 Pontiac Sunbird - bought with 12K on it in the spring of '82; totalled in the summer of '85 with, I think, 65K = 53K

'77 Olds Omega - kept for only a few months between the Sunbird and graduation - maybe 2K in that time

'85 Honda Accord LX - bought with 16K, drove it until '88 and traded it in with 55K = 39K

'86 Isusu P'up and '88 Isuzu Trooper - switched back and forth between these two during my first marriage. Both bought new. Sold both within 6 weeks of one another. P'up had, I think, 40K on it; Trooper had about the same. If I'm responsible for 1/2 the mileage on each, then that's 40K.

'91 Nissan Sentra SE - bought new. Drove it for 2 1/2 years and 35K - moved to CO with this car.

'93 Honda Accord DX - leased for 66 months (don't comment!) - spent most of its time in the airport parking lot. Turned in at end of lease with 58K on it.

Then it gets tricky, as I have had many cars since the Accord where I was not the only driver.

'98 Ford Expedition - leased new; traded in before lease end with 38K. I'll claim half of the miles (19K)

'99 VW New Beetle - leased new; bought at end of lease. Traded in with 70K, but the last 15K were done by step son. Again, I'll take credit for half of the 55K (27K)

'02 Ford Explorer - leased new; traded in before lease end with 33K - my half would be 17K

'03 Saturn L300 - bought new; I put 39K on it in 2 years before it became my step-daughter's daily driver - now has 44K

'03 Ford Focus - bought new; I started to use it as my daily driver with 12K on it. Now has 34K. So, 22K of it is mine.

So, roughly 351K in 23 years - just over 15K per year.

Again, if I add it all the rental car miles I drove, that would probably add on, hmmm ...

Figure I travelled about 20 weeks per year for 15 years (350 weeks). Some weeks I would only put on a couple hundred miles; other weeks, I would drive several hundred miles to visit family and friends that were over and above the back and forth I would do. Figure an average of 400 miles per week. So, that's another 140K that I've driven.

That puts me close to a half million miles (351K + 140K)

Sheesh - that sounds like a lot when you total it all up.

Should there be a Chronic Car Drivers Anonymous?

akangl

I added it up and I've put roughly 425k on my vehicles since I started driving in 1992. Seems like I'm averaging about 33k/year, not too bad I guess.

Course I didn't add in any miles put on hubby's vehicles, if I did that it will push it over the 500k mark easily, probably more like 600k.

guss

I think I am at about 500,000 miles.I started driving(legally) in 1978, so that's 18,500 per year.

Looking at it that way I probably spent $35k on gas alone.

gee35coupe

The paint IS two-tone. It's a pearl white over pearl silver.

I haven't driven it much since I bought it so the maintenance has been minimal. A new set of Michelins and a few oil changes is about it. It does need a tune up now. I'm gonna have the plug/wires/caps changed. The engine runs like a sewing machine though.

stickguy

Looks like my local dealer has a blue Legacy 2.5i SE 5 speed in the December allocation, tagged with my name. Still waiting for the VIN and invoice to surface, so not sure yet what the numbers will look like, but it gives me something to look forward to.

Of course, the big danger with tagging a future allocation car is that by the time it arrives, 3 or 4 other cars will catch my eye!

Really need to find a 5 speed someplace to try out to make sure I like that aspect. it would be dissapointing to have it there looking nice, but not like the test drive.

corvette

The paint IS two-tone.

I could blame the computer screen, but it's probably time to get my eyes checked anyway!

corvette

I'm surprised they don't have a five-speed in stock--Subarus seem to have an above-average take rate for manuals.

andre1969

uh-oh...I just got word that this beauty, which Grbeck and I saw in October at Carlisle, is still up for grabs. And marked down to something like $1800. Somebody please, PLEASE talk me out of it!

Normally I can talk myself out of things like this, but this one was in REALLY good shape, both inside and out, and had the nice, big, rumbly Olds 403. :shades: On the down side, I'm not that crazy about the color, and this was a fairly basic model, not a Limited. But is has the 403! Maybe I should just hold out for one of the more opulent dreambarges that I lust after, like a '75-76 Electra. But did I mention this one has the 403? :P

guss

My best friend in high school had one of these(well his parents did)

That was one nice car. His mom was the one that picked the family cars. Always something Buick and always something large.She is driving a Park Avenue now down in Florida.

The Electra was fast even with eight High Schoolers in it.

gsemike

Does it mean anything that it's photographed in a junk yard?

gsemike

I like to drive but don't do it nearly as much as most of you do. My last car was a 99 Civic that was turned in at lease end with 34k after 46 months. The low mileage made me feel like I really wasted my money on a lease. With my current car, an 03 Altima, I've covered 32k in 33 months. I've done a little more driving for work.

I just moved out to Long Island so I guess I'll get back up to 12k a year, but my drive to the train is only 3/4 of a mile. We picked up a 1993 LeSabre for a beater car. It runs decent for 115k but it feels weird to be driving an old barge like that. No that it's getting cold, I never realized how much I could miss a temperature guage! That car needs to be warmed up alot more than the Alt.

andre1969

Mike, that pic was actually taken on top of the hill at Carlisle. I guess it does look kinda like a junkyard in that pic, though! There was another '77 Electra there as well, also around $2000. While it doesn't look bad in this pic, it didn't look nearly as nice in person, and the interior was a bit ratted out. Shame, because I really like the color on this one. This one was a Limited, with the nice, over-stuffed interior.

And just for comparison, here's a 1976 Electra that was at Spring Carlisle. I REALLY love this style and color (although the light metallic blue is nicer), but the seller wanted $4500 for this particular example, and it was a bit rough around the edges.

jjtj

OK Andre, you wanted to be talked out of it.. here goes - I can get into some of the slightly older 70's cars, say pre 1977 (for the most part), but that body style you're considering, I never cared for. To me, it doesn't really have any "style" to it.. Although the 2-door version is pretty nice. Now the older Buick you have pictured, is a different story. That shows the excess of the time.

OTOH, anything in decent shape for ~$1800 can't be too much of a gamble..

gsemike

Maybe you'd like the beater LeSabre I just picked up even though it's a front driver. I don't particularly care for it but if it's free, it's me.

It's a white 4 door. It's got no rust and just minor dings. Put two hubcaps on it and repaint the roof which has peeled and it would actually be in very good shape for the age. It has a medium blue interior with no tears and the headliner is like new which I think is unusual but that problem could have been straightened out by 93. Besides the front arm rest which flops all the way to the back seat, the interior is good but the ergonomics is not what I'm used to. It's got column shift and the HVAC is a series of small chrome buttons. It's got Dynaride whatever that is and the power antena still works.

Hopefully it lasts until the Alt is paid for.

woodyww

Thinking of selling my 6 y.o. bmw 5-series wagon (Touring) with only 24K miles(!) & buying a used MDX, or used or new current-gen 4Runner. Reasons: well.....anything I can think of. The bmw has been a great car, superb road car, almost no problems. Altho the CPO warranty has run out, & today the remote locks started acting flakey, altho it could be that both keys need new batteries(?). And in black, no SPP, the E-39 can look a bit boring IMO. Oh, & I'm sick of having to deal with snow tire changeovers on a RWD car; as usual my snows aren't on yet at Thanksgiving. (At least on AWD or FWD cars, even if snows are optimal, you can sort of get by without if need be).

Problem is, the bmw might only be worth $18K now, even if I sold it privately. And I know no SUV will give me the same handling, or gas mileage, altho AWD & ground clearance would be a big plus in Mass. winters. And, just paying an extra $10K over what I could get for my car would be a fairly big deal for me, altho do-able.

I've also considered mini-utes like the Forester or CRV, but I'm in a Toyota or Acura mood right now, & something more "hunky" would probably do it for me more. Any advice? Keep the car? Sell it? Move to Arizona? TIA!

gee35coupe

Blue 03 G35 Coupe 60k loaded for $19k. But it's an auto. Hmmmmm.

durability05

We got an extra car, its a 2005 Ford Focus that is 12 months old. It only cost us less than $13,000 out the door, and maintenance is more like $39 every 6 months, cuz it only travels 10,000 a year. We plant to sell it at 57 months old, that way we can say there still is 50K left on the power train warranty,(or 90 days) The car is fun to drive and fearless & generic in the parking lot. I got a 2004 Jeep that I plan to drive 15 years (150K) and a 2004 Pilot we plan for 8 years (90K). Hopefully after the Focus I can join chronic buyers again temporarily

woodyww

The miles are super-high, & sounds like you don't want an auto.....+ no warranty? "Just say no" is my 2cents.

corvette

The E46 keys (at least on the newer ones) didn't have replaceable batteries in the keyfob, they charged inductively as you drove the car. I thought the E39 used the same key?

woodyww

From searching the E39 board (on another site) it looks like you're right. Apparently the keys can go bad after a few years, & cost well over $100 each. Or--one guy was saying it could be the antenna (for the receiving of signal from the key)?? Or the general module? Whatever it is, it failed exactly 2 weeks after the CPO warranty ran out. At least there's a really good ind. bmw repair shop a mile from my house.

gee35coupe

The Auto is the deal breaker. But I have no problem buying a Honda/Toyota/Nissan out of warranty...If it's a good deal.

Our MDX and my LS400 are perfect examples.

woodyww

Yeah, I generally agree. But I think if you really shop (you seem like a "heavy shopper"), sometimes you can find a low mileage one for not much more than a high mileage example.....also, would you really give up the LS400 for a G35?

*But I have no problem buying a Honda/Toyota/Nissan out of warranty...If it's a good deal.*

mark156

Just got back from the San Francisco International Auto Show...wow, it was great! The new 2007 full size GM SUV's (Yukon, Tahoe) look really nice with completely re-done interiors. The new Escalade wasn't there but I can see they are all similar from the GM website.

Looks like the Land Rover LR3 is still at the top of my list out of the Volvo XC90 and the Jeep Commander. The third seat is really roomy in the LR3 in comparison to the others. In about another week, I'll be able to test drive my choices and hopefully will come to a conclusion.

Happy Motoring! Mark

durability05

When to the local Ford dealer today to check out the ergonomics of the mustang convertible. The reviews of its low seat height and long hood are overblown. This car is actually perfect for my middle age. I am so tempted in trading in my Jeep Wrangler, but for a change I want to buy a car with no upside down problem. This chronic buyers urge is only satisfied with a quick in and out trip to the dealer, can't stay too long or else I'll trade in.
However I am dead set in getting a convertible in 3 years, this time I'm sure a mustang, not a beetle.

habitat1

I am so tempted in trading in my Jeep Wrangler, but for a change I want to buy a car with no upside down problem.

Two ways I have avoided that my entire life. (1) Pay cash. (2) Stay away from Ford, GM and Chrysler.

I see you have a Honda Pilot. My Honda S2000 was the best sub $75k car I've ever owned for driving enjoyment, fit and finish, zero problems and 3 year resale value. Consider it (or it's equivalent in 2008) before you throw money at a Mustang. Just a friendly suggestion.

anonymousposts

It depends on the car. I know when we first saw this MDX we did a lot of shopping and lower mileage versions were a $5000-$8000 premium for the same year with similar options. Sure we could've paid more and gotten one with 10,000-20,000 less miles but at the rate we drive we would've been out of warranty in less than a year anyways. We are fairly confident in Acura/Honda reliability although there are exceptions with any make/model you may choose.

woodyww

Yeah, saving $5000-$8000 means a lot. And I see your logic as you're buying a reliable make anyway. I've been "on-line shopping" for a current-gen 4Runner--the asking prices are just all over the map. You'd probably have to get one with 50K more miles than another to save $5K. Could be worth it with a Toyota? I dunno, I'm thinking, for myself, one with 10-20K miles, & even Certified, gotta love that 7 year (I think) CPO warranty. Not sure why I'm suddenly leaning to a 4Runner vs. an MDX--well, they're less expensive used, & maybe I want to more fully satisfy my "truck gene".

*It depends on the car*

durability05

I plan on keeping the Pilot EXL until 2011, I will take a chance on its fragile automatic transmission, hopefully it is not like the old Odyssey which ate up transmissions like a Dodge Caravan. The wrangler is an original American iron, everytime I am on the freeway the only old vehicles I see are Jeeps, Toyotas and Fords (Fords are however mostly found on the road dead, no kidding, at least they still found their way to the freeway. This is my observation on Southern CA. freeways, I did not find any Honda's more than 15 years old on the freeway?

nippononly

I have one! For some reason, and in a major departure from my usual pattern, I managed 5 1/2 years and 115K miles in my '97 Sube Outback Sport, before the itch just got too strong. And I had more than one car the entire time I had it too, so it wasn't just because it was suddenly my only mode of transport. I have looked back over the years since, and more than once have wished I could have it back. It was a local buyer, and I still see her sometimes, years later. It is a lot dirtier now, but seems to be going just fine.

So anyway, in a torrent (no pun intended) of dozens and dozens of vehicles over the years, I did manage to get over that 100K threshold exactly ONCE! :-P

gee: LOVE that pic of the Lexus! Wow, does it look good for its age. Are those Lexus rims or aftermarket?

qbrozen

$18k? Really? I don't think I've ever seen a 5-series with those miles for that kind of money. I'm guessing its a 525 with few options? automatic?

Heck, if I found a 530 manual trans with those miles at that price, I might even be tempted to cross to what I've considered the dark side (bimmers).

Then again... 6 years old is 6 years old.

Anyway ... would the car be that bad with a GOOD set of all-seasons that are rated very well in the snow?

woodyww

It's a 2000 528i wagon (Touring), auto, Premium, lthr, S/R, CD changer, 24K miles. A year ago Terry quoted me $19K as trade-in, & a few months ago I saw one similar to mine, super low miles, go for $19--something on e-bay. It does seem kind of ridiculous that such a nice low-mileage car should go for so little. It's probably such a good buy that I shouldn't sell it. Supposedly the E39 5-series are pretty reliable (esp. with the I-6), & IMO a lot more reliable than other current gen. German makes. (Knock wood)

I have a new set of Dunlop WinterSport M3'sin the garage, just need to have them installed. The car is quite decent with good snows & the traction control; I had a set of Michelin snows that were pretty good but sold them to get the Dunlops.

It might take $10K difference, roughly, if I sold the bmw privately, to get say an '04 MDX touring with low miles (& probably have to buy it privately to get a good price on one).

Is it worth it? I dunno. The MDX has a 4 yr. warranty (I think), so I'd get maybe 2 yrs. warranty with an '04. I could also try to rationalize it with the resale value of Acuras, the AWD, the extra ground clearance & visibility with an SUV.

Then again, I know I'm just jones-ing for a new automotive "fix". And I'm partly just bored with the way the E39 wagons look in black, & sick of black cars in general. If you want a 530i stick, make sure to get one with the Sport Package--mine doesn't have it, & that's always bugged me. And try to get one with Xenons--it costs a ton to retro-fit them......

cheers, woody

michaellno

Just found out that my ex just sold her Hyundai Santa Fe and bought a new 300C (yep, the one with the Hemi). Was talking with my 16 year old son last night - he is now totally jonesing for his permit so that he can drive this beast.

Dark blue with satellite radio is all I got out of him.

He also tells me that he's got himself a new girlfriend ... check that, a new rich girlfriend. Not sure that I totally believe him, but he tells me she has two cars - one a BMW and the other a 2005 Mustang. As they live in CA I'm not sure that I'll ever be able to verify what he tells me, but it sounds like he wants to stick around with this one.

andre1969

sounds like a pretty sweet ride! I think it's also pretty cool that Chrysler has made that much of a turnaround. I mean, when's the last time a 16 year old actually had a lusting to drive a full-sized Chrysler product!

Does that rich girlfriend have a fat trust fund to live off of? If so, once she's legal send her my way! :P

michaellno

Don't know much about her, other than she lives in Montecito (rich suburb of Santa Barbara) and her parents are divorced. Oh, and she's a year older than Alex.

For a time a few years ago, my son was into hip-hop and rap, so I'm sure the "gangsta" appeal of the 300C is what he likes. That, plus the 340HP engine! He commented on the 18" wheels - I suggested that his mom go with some 22" wheels to really sharpen up the looks.

He's very much into the "Fast 'n' Furious" mode of mods and would like nothing more than to acquire a Honda Civic to pimp out.

woodyww

I think I'm just gonna shoot myself: your 16 year old son has not only a new rich girlfriend, but one who has a BMW and a 2005 Mustang......

corvette

***new rich girlfriend***

I need to find one of those!

michaellno

And, to top it off, he sent me pictures of her via email today.

Omigod - rich, good taste in cars, and good-looking as well!

Remember, I'm not so sure I believe the part about her having two cars ... I suspect that she has access to the BMW and the Mustang, but that only one of them is hers.

Between the girlfriend and mom's new 300C, I think the kid is chomping at the bit for his permit/license. However, methinks the grades he's getting in school might preclude that from happening....

guss

dreams of marrying a girl that owned her own bar.

I think in my new fantacy she owns a European car dealership. Oh what the fun I could have.

woodyww

I met a woman a few years ago who had just purchased a New bmw 540i w/6 speed manual (!), & picked it up in Germany (Euro delivery). What are the chances of that? But the main attraction for me was the car, frankly. Turns out she was also a "gun nut"*, a' la Charleton Heston, & had 70, or 700 guns, I forget which. It was only when she told me she'd have to shoot me if it turned out that I was anti-gun (I think she was joking, but I wasn't sure) that I cooled off on the situation. Now, if she'd had a 911 Turbo, I might have risked getting shot.......

*(no offense to responsible gun owners intended)

corvette

dreams of marrying a girl that owned her own bar.

Perfect place to apply some of my useless knowledge:

Sabine Schmitz owns a pub in Nürburg (night job) and drives one of the Ring Taxis during the day.

If you ever see a video of her on the 'ring, you will notice that she passes some really fast cars and *motorcycles*, whether she's in a fast car or not.

As far as marrying her, she is divorced, but the discussion on another board mentioned that she is currently seeing the chef at her pub.

fintail

I think she was on 'Top Gear'

corvette

I think she was on 'Top Gear'

I've seen the pair of episodes where she embarassed Clarkson by beating his time in a diesel Jag X-type, and the follow-up where she comes very close to making good on her claim of "Let me tell you something--I do that lap time in a van!" Funny stuff.