Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

Michaell

tifighter said:

breld said:

Michaell said:

tifighter said:

Michaell said:

tifighter said:

Hey Denver peeps-
I'm going to be downtown next week for a tradeshow. Any favorite spots to eat or drink that I shouldn't miss? Staying at the Westin.

Take the light rail south to 10th and Osage and hit up the Buckhorn Exchange. Colorado liquor license #1, and lots of different game meats to choose from.

Or, we could try to arrange a meet up with all of us. What days are you in town?

Sounds like a good stop. I'm there Saturday night to Weds afternoon. Haven't been to Denver in awhile; looks like you poor guys are roasting right now!

Supposed to break on Monday. 92 right now, and I've committed to mowing the yard tonight.

I'd be available for a meet up, when you have the time. Lots of great places to have dinner in or around downtown. @jpp5862 lives pretty close, as well. @breld and I are further away.

Just a few blocks south of the Westin is Larimer Square, which has plenty of choices for food. Vesta Dipping Grill is a fun and appetizing place for dinner. As @michaell said, we're always up for meeting up if the schedule allows - @jpp5862 lives downtown, I'm a short light-rail stop away, and @michaell...well, he needs to put some miles on that Jetta anyway.

My days are pretty booked up, which is too bad as I'd love to see the legendary Denver chapter in action at a car lot. But I could probably do a drinks or happy hour or dinner kind of thing one night on Su/M/Tu.

Most dealers are open until 9, but they are closed on Sundays.

I think I'd be available on Tuesday pm, less certain about Monday or sunday

xwesx

henryn said:

Hah! So you want to talk “truck stories”? Okay, here’s one for you.

The winter of 1967-1968, at the ripe old age of 17, I drove a 1958 Chevy one ton pole truck from Livingston, TX, into Salisaw, Oklahoma. The kicker? No brakes. I had the standard transmission, and an emergency brake, that’s all. 383 miles, lots of fun. After a few hours sleep, I made the return journey in a nearly new ¾ ton Ford 4 wheel drive. Truly the lap of luxury.

Oh, yeah, on the return trip, it sleeted and snowed on me. Being an East Texas boy, I had never driven in icy conditions, but I learned. As Clint Eastwood famously said, “Adapt, Improvise, Overcome”.

Hahaha! That's a great truck story! Man, that '58 must have been quite the ride. At least you didn't have to drive it home. With the weather and brakes, it might have been more than a little thrilling!

My last trip to Alaska in my '69 Econoline, I took the last 1,200 miles or so with essentially no brakes. Manual transmission would have come in real handy on that trip. The master cylinder died on it just outside of Prince George, BC, and I had to pump the brakes about 4-5 times in order to get maybe 1-2 seconds of stopping power before repeating the process. It was a bit horrifying at first, but I quickly grew accustomed to it. The only legitimately scary part of the trip after that was trying to navigate the Sheep Mountain area on the Glenn Highway between Glennallen and Palmer, AK. Nearly there, and just about pitched off the cliff a time or two. LOL

qbrozen

good grief. I see an offer for a Q50 3.0T Luxe AWD that comes out to about $310/mo with just first month DAS for 39mo/12k. $42k MSRP (after VPP discount, which I get through wife's work). That's crazy cheap and so so tempting. Hell, even if I rolled my remaining lease into it, I'd be $349/mo. Of course, I don't actually want the same car for 39 mos. haha.

nyccarguy

tjc78 said:

nyccarguy said:

tommister2 said:

Nice! We sold our 2012 Pilot a month or so ago. The kids are older (2 of the 3 drive now) so we haven’t rushed to replace it. May get another pilot or similar soon. A Coworker at work has a new one and loves it. Guessing you are happy with the new one too?

Very happy.  The ride is glass smooth.  We love the Honda Sensing Adaptive Cruise Control.  It’s a great road trip vehicle.  We are leaving for a week on Cape Cod on saturday AM.

Isn’t it great when you have a vehicle you are really happy with?

We head to vacation on the 28th for a week in Diamond Beach. Can’t wait... long overdue!

Enjoy your trip.  

Yes it is.  It also makes you realize there are diminishing returns when it comes to our CCBA habits.

stickguy

qbrozen said:

good grief. I see an offer for a Q50 3.0T Luxe AWD that comes out to about $310/mo with just first month DAS for 39mo/12k. $42k MSRP (after VPP discount, which I get through wife's work). That's crazy cheap and so so tempting. Hell, even if I rolled my remaining lease into it, I'd be $349/mo. Of course, I don't actually want the same car for 39 mos. haha.

geeze. If I wasn't leaving for vacation in the AM I might be asking for the dealer contact! what is DAS? So how much due at inception? Would work for me.

kyfdx

stickguy said:

qbrozen said:

good grief. I see an offer for a Q50 3.0T Luxe AWD that comes out to about $310/mo with just first month DAS for 39mo/12k. $42k MSRP (after VPP discount, which I get through wife's work). That's crazy cheap and so so tempting. Hell, even if I rolled my remaining lease into it, I'd be $349/mo. Of course, I don't actually want the same car for 39 mos. haha.

geeze. If I wasn't leaving for vacation in the AM I might be asking for the dealer contact! what is DAS? So how much due at inception? Would work for me.

DAS = Due At Signing

kyfdx

If I knew I could flip the lease within 3 months, I would constantly do this..

28firefighter

Can't transfer Infiniti leases without remaining on the lease. Someone over on leasehackr did it and the transferee died after a year - Infiniti is holding the original lessor liable for payments, insurance, etc.

kyfdx

28firefighter said:

Can't transfer Infiniti leases without remaining on the lease. Someone over on leasehackr did it and the transferee died after a year - Infiniti is holding the original lessor liable for payments, insurance, etc.

Ouch.. Yeah, I wouldn't trade out of a lease that didn't absolve me of responsibility.

nyccarguy

28firefighter said:

Can't transfer Infiniti leases without remaining on the lease. Someone over on leasehackr did it and the transferee died after a year - Infiniti is holding the original lessor liable for payments, insurance, etc.

Ouch!

nyccarguy

qbrozen said:

good grief. I see an offer for a Q50 3.0T Luxe AWD that comes out to about $310/mo with just first month DAS for 39mo/12k. $42k MSRP (after VPP discount, which I get through wife's work). That's crazy cheap and so so tempting. Hell, even if I rolled my remaining lease into it, I'd be $349/mo. Of course, I don't actually want the same car for 39 mos. haha.

That’s insanely cheap.  Even at 15 or 18K per year that still comes out to less than $400 per month.

stickguy

So $310, plus I assume tax and DMV. SO in Jersey, maybe $1,500 to get out the door? If so, I would grab one, no problem.

qbrozen

I already added in all of that. $310 is all inclusive.

$350 without VPP

28firefighter

Did you factor in that particular broker's $400 fee?

qbrozen

28firefighter said:

Did you factor in that particular broker's $400 fee?

Looks like he added $250 into the purchase price. I could be wrong. 

28firefighter

qbrozen said:

Looks like he added $250 into the purchase price. I could be wrong. 

You should confirm, if seriously interested - he typically does not and it is charged outside the transaction. Still a really good deal, just want to make sure it is considered as part of TCO.

stickguy

oh. a broker, not something from a dealer? I doubt I would ever be going down that path. But, never say never.

suydam

Looking to help a friend. She wants to lease a Chevy Equinox in Southern California, not sure which trim level she’s looking at. What’s a reasonable price, monthly payment, and money factor and residual? I see the last two on the Equinox lease deals board but not a monthly payment. Probably 36/12 or 10. Any deals going on now?

28firefighter

stickguy said:

oh. a broker, not something from a dealer? I doubt I would ever be going down that path. But, never say never.

The folks who post on Leasehackr are generally very very good and the savings more than offsets whatever their fee is. I've run the numbers myself a couple of times and even the best deals I've hacked, they can do better usually.

stickguy

My son's friend (he was the one looking at the used Jag and E class I posted about) was test driving a Guilietta today. No feedback yet, but was told that there was only 1 guy in the dealership, so the guy got to take it out by himself. He did test drive the 2014 E350, and was not interested in it. Not exciting enough. Basically felt like a nice, but staid, "old man car"

28firefighter

He'll like the Giulia. It really is a great drive - and a perfect car to lease because many dealers are heavily discounting and lease rates and incentives for 24 months are in a sweet spot.

Sandman6472

Got the check from the lawyers office today. Very happy to be done with it!!
Drove a 2018 Buick Encore from West Palm Beach down to our office today and was surprised at how it drove when I needed to get up to speed. Hit the accelerator and nothing for a good second, just nothing, then it gradually picked up speed. My Golf when in "S" mode goes so much quicker, no hesitation at all, so was very surprised about that momentary lack of power. For the couple of folks in here that own Encore's, is this normal and is there a turbo under the hood? Since I like the vehicle, not sure I could live with this issue. The vehicle was an 2018 unit with just over 17K on the clock.
A very weird sensation to say the least!

The Sandman

Sandman6472

Just love these apps that let one deposit a check from their easy chair. The Wells Fargo app worked like a charm and the funds are already in my savings account. But, as quickly as it comes in...it goes out! Tomorrow, I'll transfer some funds into my checking account to pay a couple of my surgery bills that my insurance already paid their part. Just need to make sure they in fact did pay their part and I can do mine. I have pages and pages of "explanation of benefits" to go through so I can sync the totals. Then, I'll write the checks and that'll be done. Have no clue when all the bills will come through yet and of course, got another "explanation of benefits" for another doctor today in the mail.
The weird part is I don't really remember all the doctors I saw in the hospital as I was pretty out of it in the beginning and before and after each procedure. During those sixteen days I was there, I saw a lot of people and only remember the names of a couple to be honest. I have a habit of after meeting someone and shaking their hands, I say their name back to them to kind of get my memory to remember it but in this case, I met so many folks and couldn't always do my procedure so, most names are a mystery to me. Besides all the pain I went through, this lack of memory for a large chunk of it is a bit disturbing. I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer on my best days, but this lack of memory is very disturbing I must say!!
But am glad the check for the diminished value of my 2015 VW Golf did come in today! See, I somehow did make this post car related in a very distant way!!

The Sandman

rny421

Mark me down for a punch!

Any guesses what it is? I’ll post pics later. 

breld

Congrats!

I'm gonna guess a Volvo of some kind. Since you were eying the RX350, I'm gonna go with an XC60.

Or...maybe you decided to make it an all Acura family and traded the Volvo and Sky for a brand spankin' new RDX.

qbrozen

28firefighter said:

Looks like he added $250 into the purchase price. I could be wrong. 

You should confirm, if seriously interested - he typically does not and it is charged outside the transaction. Still a really good deal, just want to make sure it is considered as part of TCO.

Like you said, it really wouldn't impact the deal all that much. I just can't do it. I have to sit tight for at least another 6 mos.

pensfan83

The Infiniti leases are very nice but the lone Audi representative there has some pretty stellar deals (for Audi) and it kills me I'm on the wrong coast.

qbrozen

"For Audi" being the key phrase. 

rny421

breld said:

Congrats!

I'm gonna guess a Volvo of some kind. Since you were eying the RX350, I'm gonna go with an XC60.

Or...maybe you decided to make it an all Acura family and traded the Volvo and Sky for a brand spankin' new RDX.

I'll give you a hint - It's something that you have had in your fleet within the last 18 months. Not that it narrows it down that much hahahaha.

Also, of course it's black on black

pensfan83

qbrozen said:

"For Audi" being the key phrase. 

Yeah I'll agree they aren't anything special in the land of hacked leases but for Audi it's far better than I could get around here.

nyccarguy

rny421 said:

Congrats! I'm gonna guess a Volvo of some kind. Since you were eying the RX350, I'm gonna go with an XC60. Or...maybe you decided to make it an all Acura family and traded the Volvo and Sky for a brand spankin' new RDX.

I'll give you a hint - It's something that you have had in your fleet within the last 18 months. Not that it narrows it down that much hahahaha. Also, of course it's black on black

You got a Civic Type R?  VW Beetle Drop Top?  GTI?

xwesx

nyccarguy said:

You got a Civic Type R?  VW Beetle Drop Top?  GTI?

All those dealer horror stories, and you still weren't deterred from getting a new Discovery?! Brave man!

qbrozen

We're supposed to remember everything Breld has had in the past 18 mos?

How about a Durango?

nyccarguy

qbrozen said:

We're supposed to remember everything Breld has had in the past 18 mos?

How about a Durango?

Ill bet you even @breld can’t list whatever he’s owned in the last 18 months without looking at a spreadsheet

xwesx

nyccarguy said:

Ill bet you even @breld can’t list whatever he’s owned in the last 18 months without looking at a spreadsheet

That's the beauty of the spreadsheet.... he doesn't have to remember them all!

rny421

@nyccarguy - hahaha, very true about the spreadsheet.

It might be more like the last 6 months, I couldn't remember when he got rid of it (nor can he I bet )

Ok, ok, I'll divulge - 2017 Mercedes GLC300 4matic. 15k miles, black on black. Pano sunroof, LED headlights, Nav, backup camera, illuminated star (ugh).

So far we really like it - a few things to get used to: The COMAND system and the drive selector come to mind.

The one thing that seems odd is that I can feel a lot of little bumps on the highway. It's not a wheel balance issue, it's more like every little pavement imperfection seemed to come into the cabin, and felt in the drivers seat/floor on the highway. The car is in Comfort Mode. I did find that the tires were a little overinflated, and that seems to have made it a little better. I'm hoping it's the runflat tires - is that plausible? I've never had them before. The tires are standard 18" and have a lot of sidewall to them.

ab348

Runflats do not give the most comfortable ride so that may be the reason. 

kyfdx

We have runflats on an SUV, and you really can't tell the difference. They are way better than they were ten years ago.

That said, the 19" on the current model definitely don't ride as well as the 17" on the last model. (X3)

graphicguy

@rny421 Big Congrats on the new GLC. Very nice vehicle. Pics please.

The worst runflats I had were on my ‘11 335i coupe. Now, that tech was 7 years old, now. But, the run flats I have on my TLX are worlds better than the ones on the BMW.

I think with an SUV suspension, that probably accentuates the ride, too.

Still, very nice vehicle.

28firefighter

My car for the day today in Philly? 1992 Porsche 968. Still getting used to the high clutch engagement but the shifter is like butter compared to the Saab which is like shifting through mud...

fintail

My Bluetec has runflats and I do not love them - heavy, hard, and loud. If I keep the car, one of the first things I'll do is replace them with conventional tires. I'll roll the dice with a fix-it kit.

rny421 said:

have made it a little better. I'm hoping it's the runflat tires - is that plausible? I've never had them before. The tires are standard 18" and have a lot of sidewall to them.

fintail

My sister just made a major purchase. 6 years ago she was a fresh divorcee with an 8 year old Focus she bought new, and miled up to around 180K. As she had a 2 year old daughter, she was a little concerned about long term reliability, so she replaced it with a new leftover 2012 Sonic, quite a few options, trunkback. The car hasn't given her any problems since purchase.

Now she is remarried, has a blended family with 2 additional kids and a big goofy Irish Wolfhound, and her husband has a Subaru Tribeca he is somehow attached to. They picked up a full option 2014 Suburban LTZ in the low 30s - she was aghast at a new one costing 70K, and really wanted something with both 3 rows and additional space. Of course, she had no interest in even walking near a minivan. I think she got something near 4K for the Sonic, which only had 55K miles on it.

roadburner

Several dealers had displays at the Keeneland Concours today, so I was able to sit in a Giulia Quadrifoglio and a Stelvio TI Sport. I could easily getting a Stelvio like that for a DD.

28firefighter

Did much test driving today with my Dad, but the highlight was a Stelvio Ti. After talking turkey with them it looks like one may be entering his fleet to help keep mileage off the Cayenne Turbo. 

1k at signing and high 300s including tax. 24/12. 

roadburner

The Ti Sport I sat in had heavily bolstered seats, much like BMW sport seats. It was a comfortable seating position.

tbirdmarco

Congrads to your  dad

breld

Wife and I took the afternoon off yesterday to look at some potential replacements, now or later, for the Polestar. Drove a Golf R and an SQ5. Obviously they are quite different vehicles, but both appeal to her almost equally for different reasons.

Long story short, she's not ready to be "done" with the Polestar yet, which is a good decision.

Having said that, a Golf R may be in our future for a fun car. Man, that was a blast to drive - a little different character than our departed Type R, but just as exhilarating, and with a much more, um, discreet aesthetic.

henryn

I was doing yard work this afternoon, yes, 100 degrees, what can I say. I would work for 20 to 30 minutes, and then come in and cool off for a few minutes. While cooling off, I was looking at Craigslist and spotted this:

https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/d/2002-ford-ranger-ext-cab-xlt/6649599379.html


A friend of mine is looking for something just like that, and the location is only 10 minutes from my house, so I texted the guy, and then went over to look at it. Oh, boy. The kid is only 18 but he’s off to a good start at becoming a used car salesman.

“No Issues Always Maintenanced Super Clean inside & Out”

Hmmm… the tail gate latch is broken, you can’t lower the tail gate. Both rear doors won’t open (the cables are broken). The oil looks like it has never been changed – I ask, the kid tells me he changes the oil every 4000 miles, and it’s “probably due”. I ask for the key, and start it up. I can feel it missing sitting there, and I mention that: “There seems to be an engine miss.” Kid says it probably needs plugs, he has put 60k miles on it since he got it from his grandfather, and hasn’t changed them. I thought but didn’t say “nor changed the oil”.

And oh, yeah, the “Cold AC”. Kinda sorta vaguely cool. Oh boy. I guess I should have expected a piece of junk for $2,800. Teach me to believe in unicorns.

And a funny thing -- after further reflection, a 2002 model with an engine miss SHOULD have had a check engine light on. And it didn't. Hmmm...

xwesx

28firefighter said:

My car for the day today in Philly? 1992 Porsche 968. Still getting used to the high clutch engagement but the shifter is like butter compared to the Saab which is like shifting through mud...

Try a Subaru,; you'll probably feel a lot better about the Saab!

tifighter

breld said:

Wife and I took the afternoon off yesterday to look at some potential replacements, now or later, for the Polestar. Drove a Golf R and an SQ5. Obviously they are quite different vehicles, but both appeal to her almost equally for different reasons. Long story short, she's not ready to be "done" with the Polestar yet, which is a good decision. Having said that, a Golf R may be in our future for a fun car. Man, that was a blast to drive - a little different character than our departed Type R, but just as exhilarating, and with a much more, um, discreet aesthetic.

A SQ5, you say?