Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

jpp75

Mr_Shiftright said:

I'm hoping the ride is better than the Mini. Remember I have one of the old supercharged ones, and they were notorious for a hard ride--and now we have 150K miles on the old suspension, to boot.

I've lined up a C30 for a test ride--it's an automatic, white in color, which are two strikes, so I doubt I'll be buying it.

I'm going to drive the stickshift S40 at the same lot, so I'll let you know what I think.

I think you'll find the ride better. Also make sure the S40 is the same T5. I was behind one this morning and it was a 2.4i which I'm not sure is the same engine?

Look forward to hearing your thoughts.

stickguy

my S40 had the NA 2.4l engine. We called it the putt-putt mobile. The turbo makes all the difference. But the dash and interior was pretty much identical to your C30.

Drivingfool

We had a 2005 Mazda 3s with the 2.5 engine and the Volvo twins were identical underneath, the S40 and C30. Vehicle drove nicely and had more than enough power when needed. Hell, she had it for almost 11 years and traded at 157K with a non functioning a/c. But it was fun to push it's envelope but think she's enjoying the A3 so much more.
Dinner conversation Sunday was when am I going to buy a new vehicle, which totally threw me off guard! Since they fixed the Golf so nicely and I got the D V claim done, it's staying in the garage as have no clue what will put that silly grin upon my face? Wish they still made the Golf SEL as I'd go for that. Need to try out a GTI and see what all the fuss is about. Drove a newer Trax yesterday and though nice, the Encore does the whole package better. But just afraid it won't live up to my Golf though the size is just about perfect! Pass the Audi store in the afternoons and they have a beautiful Q3 in a dark red color which is just stunning...the dark blue is nice also. But a new unit is a bit too pricey so a CPO unit might work. Not sure I'd be happy with any domestic to be honest.
Drive so many kinds at work but am happiest in the Golf's drivers seat...so what does that say? But good mpg's are a must. Today, the light came on so finally filled the tank, $2.65/gallon. This is something I never ever do but was down this weekend mostly, so it sat in the garage and missed out brush with Gordon. But again, still not sure which maker to go with going forward and want to stay within $22K and my vehicle. A clean CPO could work but would really have to blow my socks off, put that stupid grin on my face! Figure I'd wait till I retire and gift myself but not sure either to buy or lease.

The Driving Fool

corvette

tjc78 said:

What year Tahoe?  I find it absurd that our 2013 LTZ at work doesn’t have BT.  It’s extremely loaded (power running boards, Bose, Cooled seats and rear seat entertainment) but if it has BT I can’t find it.  It has a very similar interface to our Enclave so I’m pretty familiar with it.  

2009, it has Bluetooth for phone but not for audio streaming. A 2013 should have it for phone calls and audio streaming both. I think the configuration should be on the nav screen, if it has nav, or otherwise on the radio menu.

Drivingfool

Loving my new iPhone 8 Plus and in the process of getting a wireless charger on OfferUp but meeting is presenting an issue but for $20 bucks, I can wait. OfferUp is a great site to find tech stuff for a fraction of the original cost. The dozen transaction I've done have been perfect with no issues to speak of. Negotiating on a couple of newer cases also as I like to switch them up every few days. Have a screen protector just in case it has any run-ins with something scratchable. Nice phone though and got a good cash price to buy it. With Apple's assistance, got it up and running and even got my iTunes synched. If you knew me, you'd know how sweet this was doing without running to my kids. Now, just got to clean out the old 6s Plus and put it up for sale or go to a pawn shop...it needs to go. With that cash in hand, it'll show how well I did on OfferUp. Luckily the young lady was very patient doing the logistics to meet up. Once she put the sim card in, I was up and running and now, works perfectly. Probably could've gone another year with the old, but this deal kinda fell into my lap and just hard to refuse. Still, no one knows as it's in my same old case...just don't want to hear any noise about it!!
Playing phone tag with a guy selling me a charging pad but will get 'er done in the next couple of days. Definitely worth the few bucks I'm spending on my tech/accessories as I switch out my few cases on a rotating basis. Love Apple though Android was just fine, just that Apple is synched with all my devices and not dealing with multiple companies to get upgrades on the current operating systems.

The Driving Fool

corvette

Need your help, friends. Drove the smoky quartz G37X this afternoon. It also drove great. Super clean interior, and it has gorgeous wood trim, so nothing to deal with as far as the discolored aluminum trim most of these seem to be afflicted with. So here are the choices:

2011 G37X with nav and parking sensors, quartz / charcoal, 68k, asking $14,000 plus $598 doc fee. Tires are half worn. Edmunds pegs it at $12,478 in clean condition, however, it has an accident with "very minor damage" on the CarFax. The front bumper might have been repainted, but if it was, it was a very good match. So I'm not comfortable offering $12,478 due to the reported accident.

2011 G37, silver / charcoal, 51k, asking $13,870 plus (I think) $350 doc fee. Tires look new. Edmunds says $12,742 in clean condition. Front bumper has been repainted, looks like they did a decent job, but the CarFax is clean.

I'm torn, the silver is not my favorite color combo, but I feel like that dealer has a better chance of getting to a price I'm comfortable with paying on that vehicle. I think I'd want to be around $11,000 on the quartz one, and I don't think they'll come close. Any thoughts?

stickguy

offer 11K. mention the carfax, see what they saw, and be prepared to walk. worst case they say thanks, but no thanks, and you leave.

up to you to decide what your max is on it. 12K?

tjc78

corvette said:

What year Tahoe?  I find it absurd that our 2013 LTZ at work doesn’t have BT.  It’s extremely loaded (power running boards, Bose, Cooled seats and rear seat entertainment) but if it has BT I can’t find it.  It has a very similar interface to our Enclave so I’m pretty familiar with it.  

2009, it has Bluetooth for phone but not for audio streaming. A 2013 should have it for phone calls and audio streaming both. I think the configuration should be on the nav screen, if it has nav, or otherwise on the radio menu.

Ahh.. just looked it up.  It’s paired with a voice command through the steering wheel.  My last three GMs were all done through the NAV screen. 

ab348

I dunno, @corvette - to me, both of those seem kind of spendy for a car soon to be 8 model years old.

corvette

@ab348, you're talking to someone who bought an old Tahoe with over 100k miles a year ago. A fancy Nissan doesn't scare me.

Silver one is gone (but that dealer group also has a similar new arrival). The quartz one does have some additional equipment which bumps the TMV up a little. I'm gonna make them an offer on the quartz one and see where it goes.

stickguy

the new car plan in my house might be getting some real legs. The wife just accepted a new job today. Turns out that the total $ increase will end you being 20%+. which was a nice surprise.

but, it involves more commuting. Former office was 6 miles RT, usually 3 days a week (though since mid-August, she has been FT WFH). New place is probably 26 miles RT. Could be 5 days/week to start, but pretty soon should be 4 max, hopefully 3 usually. So, more miles to apportion out. Will likely split them between the 2 cars, which means she will be much more interested in replacing the Elantra if she is going to be spending a lot of time driving it!

Might actually be able to swing a lightly used CPO Volvo or Acura now, and actually have a use for it.

I need to get my butt in gear and try and find a better job too, so I don't get left behind! Plus more income is always nice.

stickguy

oh, I also am ramping up the idea of selling the current house and downsizing. Just have to refocus where to look (we took the daughter out last weekend and scoped out a few areas). Should be fun!

breld

I’ll vouch for how great @jpp5862’s Volvo is.  He had @michaell and I sample it a bit just after he took delivery - I can’t get over how eager that engine is!  And the manual is slick.  

Can’t think of much else you can pick up for $10k (or less) that will deliver so much fun.  

suydam

You know, I hit a deer once in my beautiful Mazda6 wagon. It crumpled the hood, which was replaced and painted beautifully to match. I later sold it to a friend (explained what had happened). She drove it for many years after without incident. If it was that kind of minor accident, and repaired well, it should be fine. I’d go with the one you really like (maybe try to get some more off the price?)

tbirdmarco

 Not bad on what Haggerty quoted you, I’m paying 250 a year for my 61 Thunderbird, forget how many miles year I said report on it probably not even 1000 the way we’ve been going since more than anything don’t like it but have to wait on reliable people to drive it unfortunately, for up to me would be driving it every day almost just cause I can. Ha ha ha 

tbirdmarco

 Send man did you end up changing your username? Got an iPhone 8 plus myself about three weeks ago loving it. 

tbirdmarco

 Corvette, I would’ve said go with the silver one but since it’s sold try for this gray one, which ever one you do like. Or what’s the new arrival one that the dealer that had the silver one that sold? Good luck with it all. You ended up selling the mustang right? 

corvette

Yeah, I sold the Mustang for what about what I paid for it a year ago. That was quite a bargain!

breld

This is just cool. I actually had one sort of like it years ago.

https://denver.craigslist.org/cto/d/toyota-4runner-157k-miles/6690429124.html

If it’s legit, it’ll be sold tomorrow.

28firefighter

breld said:

This is just cool. I actually had one sort of like it years ago. https://denver.craigslist.org/cto/d/toyota-4runner-157k-miles/6690429124.html If it’s legit, it’ll be sold tomorrow.

Agree. That’s crazy cheap for that car. On BaT with records it’d fetch double that easily. 

qbrozen

corvette said:

Need your help, friends. Drove the smoky quartz G37X this afternoon. It also drove great. Super clean interior, and it has gorgeous wood trim, so nothing to deal with as far as the discolored aluminum trim most of these seem to be afflicted with. So here are the choices: 2011 G37X with nav and parking sensors, quartz / charcoal, 68k, asking $14,000 plus $598 doc fee. Tires are half worn. Edmunds pegs it at $12,478 in clean condition, however, it has an accident with "very minor damage" on the CarFax. The front bumper might have been repainted, but if it was, it was a very good match. So I'm not comfortable offering $12,478 due to the reported accident. 2011 G37, silver / charcoal, 51k, asking $13,870 plus (I think) $350 doc fee. Tires look new. Edmunds says $12,742 in clean condition. Front bumper has been repainted, looks like they did a decent job, but the CarFax is clean. I'm torn, the silver is not my favorite color combo, but I feel like that dealer has a better chance of getting to a price I'm comfortable with paying on that vehicle. I think I'd want to be around $11,000 on the quartz one, and I don't think they'll come close. Any thoughts?

quartz one would be about $10k auction clean. Let's say we are really generous and ding it only 10% for the carfax. Then add profit. That would be about $11.5k. Minus the tires. So I think your $11k is a good number. I certainly would not go higher. 

corvette

breld said:

I’m going to take a look at it tomorrow.

Fixed that for you. 

tbirdmarco

 Corvette, that’s awesome on the selling of the mustang, I’m pretty much getting what you paid for it or year ago, but not today I’m looking at the infinity will check back later keep us updated. 

breld

corvette said:

breld said:

I’m going to take a look at it tomorrow.

Fixed that for you. 

I'm not gonna lie - there is appeal, but...no way.

Actually, if my 15 year old son was closer to his 16th birthday, it'd be a consideration.

Mr_Shiftright

I like the simple gadget-free dash layout. It looks quite old-fashioned by modern standards, but that suits me just fine.

stickguy

A PU deal on Honcker. Ram express, $40k sticker, $245/mo with $252 DAS. 36 months.

tbirdmarco

B.B. I’ve posted  above stick  guy 

corvette

qbrozen said:

corvette said:

Need your help, friends. Drove the smoky quartz G37X this afternoon. It also drove great. Super clean interior, and it has gorgeous wood trim, so nothing to deal with as far as the discolored aluminum trim most of these seem to be afflicted with. So here are the choices: 2011 G37X with nav and parking sensors, quartz / charcoal, 68k, asking $14,000 plus $598 doc fee. Tires are half worn. Edmunds pegs it at $12,478 in clean condition, however, it has an accident with "very minor damage" on the CarFax. The front bumper might have been repainted, but if it was, it was a very good match. So I'm not comfortable offering $12,478 due to the reported accident. 2011 G37, silver / charcoal, 51k, asking $13,870 plus (I think) $350 doc fee. Tires look new. Edmunds says $12,742 in clean condition. Front bumper has been repainted, looks like they did a decent job, but the CarFax is clean. I'm torn, the silver is not my favorite color combo, but I feel like that dealer has a better chance of getting to a price I'm comfortable with paying on that vehicle. I think I'd want to be around $11,000 on the quartz one, and I don't think they'll come close. Any thoughts?

quartz one would be about $10k auction clean. Let's say we are really generous and ding it only 10% for the carfax. Then add profit. That would be about $11.5k. Minus the tires. So I think your $11k is a good number. I certainly would not go higher. 

I wish I had seen this earlier. The quartz one is out. Salesman refused to present my first offer to his manager. My second, best, and final offer was way over $11k and the GSM called to try to figure out why I was deducting their $595 doc fee from my offer price. Much wailing and gnashing of teeth ensued and when he wouldn’t flat out accept or reject it I told him I was no longer interested in the car. Games are for children (unless we’re talking about video games).

Going to look at another candidate tonight. I need to hire one of you to find and negotiate my deals for me. 

corvette

Just venting... that was so frustrating. Either tell me you can do the deal, or not, don’t ask me the reasons why I made the offer I did. I’ve had several negative experiences at the Sam Swope dealerships (now owned by AMSI), and this was no exception, so I guess some things never change. 

cdnpinhead

Out-the-door price negotiation seems to work best for me. I could give a rip less how they get to it -- the car can be $500 with a $26K doc fee for all I care. Just make sure you know the tax rate and what the registration will cost for the car. It's not too hard to figure out an OTD price -- take it or leave it. If there's a trade, then that's a whole 'nother world.

henryn

I think (stress think) that the point here was that @corvette made a bottom line offer and the sales manager asked how he arrived at that offer. I'm guessing that's the case, because I have had that trick pulled on me before. If you engage in that game, they will pull you down in the weeds and argue you to death. Always remember, they are being paid to be there at the dealership and play games, you aren't. It is just a waste of your time.

These days, when I make an offer and the salesman goes off to "confer with my manager", I make a point of pointing to my watch and telling him that he has 10 minutes to get back to me, no more.

thebean

On the rare occasions when I buy a car, when the SM asks me how I got to my number, I tell him "That's what the car is worth to me. Do you want to take my offer or not?". They rarely have anything to counter that. But, a lot of the time, they don't take the deal, so I move on.

breld

I do find myself over explaining at times on how I came up with an offer for a car purchase. I'm compelled to demonstrate that I actually gave it thought instead of just pulling some numbers out of the air.

But...as has been said above, it's funny when a sales manager asks how you came up with the number. It's their business - either they can do it or they can't. I suppose they may believe they can poke holes in your approach to justify a higher price - and once in awhile they do have a point.

corvette

Tonight's candidate was a no go. It hadn't been detailed yet (which is fine), but the front bumper and driver's fender had been repainted badly, and the driver's seat bolster was squished--I haven't seen any Gs that looked that badly. I looked everything over and told the salesman I didn't think I was interested. He did offer to search for something I might like better, so I took him up on the offer. We'll see.

I had outlined it very clearly for the salesman, so there was no reason for the manager to make me reiterate it: I offered more than the average *selling* price for a similar car in the area, less their bogus doc fee. As soon as I started trying to get a few hundred off for their bogus fee, it was like a war zone. And the salesman not-so-helpfully started pulled up other dealers' *asking* prices for similar vehicles.

I know each franchise is independently run, but I think I am done with that dealer group unless they have something I have to have and I just decide I'm willing to pay the moon.

venture

cdnpinhead said:

Out-the-door price negotiation seems to work best for me. I could give a rip less how they get to it -- the car can be $500 with a $26K doc fee for all I care. Just make sure you know the tax rate and what the registration will cost for the car. It's not too hard to figure out an OTD price -- take it or leave it. If there's a trade, then that's a whole 'nother world.

Agree completely with your method. It's not as fun, but it certainly is effective.

I've even done it with a trade a few times and left it to them to decide if they can do it or not.

carnaught

@corvette, that doc. fee is outrageous and higher than any I’ve ever paid, including new and pricey cars. I make a rule to ask the doc. fee before making a final offer, and I always take the amount into consideration. Also, I agree on making my final offer equal to the OTD price for me.

corvette

I was honest with the GSM and said I had test driven a competitor Tuesday night, did not purchase it because I liked their car better, and now the competitor car has been sold and I regretted not buying it. 

nyccarguy

@corvette - it is a very frustrating process.  The good thing is that you WILL find a nicer car.  It’s just a matter of when.  They leased these G37s like there was no tomorrow.  36 months, 24 months, They even had 18 month leases at some point.  It is a fairly common vehicle.  Good luck my friend!

stickguy

I find used car shopping to be much more of a hassle. tons of searching, trying to rush to see a car. half the time they are tarted up rats, and when they are good they get snapped up before you can get there. And usually overpriced.

New cars might be pricier, but at least they smell new (and no prior owner surprises), and are pretty simple to shop for. especially if you are in a time crunch, or are really busy and can't devote to looking.

stickguy

though as noted, G37s are pretty easy. very few options, so the cars are pretty much the same.

corvette

Thanks for the encouragement, guys! The Gs seem to be becoming less common, and some are on their second or third owner by now, which sometimes suggests they are in rougher condition. I haven’t given up yet! 

tbirdmarco

 Hang in there Corvette, you’ll find the right G for you. 

nyccarguy

@corvette

http://www.infinitiofmanhasset.com/VehicleDetails/certified-2015-INFINITI-Q40-RWD-Manhasset-NY/3260490443

You’re welcome.  Here’s a RWD (which really doesn’t mean much to you at this point) Q40 with 38K miles at a dealership on Long Island (its flat for the most part, but EVERYONE needs AWD).  It even has the stone interior.  Looks to be in better shape than my car was when I picked it up with 7,500 miles on it.  It has been on car gurus for over 70 days.  It’s proudly priced, but it doesn’t hurt to send an email to the SM and have it shipped to you.

stickguy

nice car. RWD is fine by me. though I expect the appropriate discount for risking my life with one! Though the no name tires are a turn off. would have to deduct for swapping those out.

corvette

nyccarguy said:

@corvette

http://www.infinitiofmanhasset.com/VehicleDetails/certified-2015-INFINITI-Q40-RWD-Manhasset-NY/3260490443

You’re welcome.  Here’s a RWD (which really doesn’t mean much to you at this point) Q40 with 38K miles at a dealership on Long Island (its flat for the most part, but EVERYONE needs AWD).  It even has the stone interior.  Looks to be in better shape than my car was when I picked it up with 7,500 miles on it.  It has been on car gurus for over 70 days.  It’s proudly priced, but it doesn’t hurt to send an email to the SM and have it shipped to you.

Thanks, looks super clean. It has a sunroof and nav and it's $1,000 below Edmunds dealer retail, so I don't think it's that bad on price. I do like your line of thinking insofar as buying a RWD car at a discount in an area where more people demand AWD.

I wonder if the Presa brand tires compare favorably to the Ditchfinders that roadburner is so fond of.

corvette

You guys will love this one. Same dealer group as the one that jerked me around this morning. Accident / damage reported on CarFax three times (qbrozen, if we're being generous, do we deduct 10% for each incident?). Also a 2015 and has more miles but priced the same as the clean Long Island one Bradd posted above, and I don't even know if it has any options.

This one at Carvana looks decent and decently priced. Unfortunately it's already reserved.

roadburner

corvette said:

I was honest with the GSM and said I had test driven a competitor Tuesday night, did not purchase it because I liked their car better, and now the competitor car has been sold and I regretted not buying it. 

AMSI has really doubled down on their doc fees, to the point I'm not sure that I could get a good deal.

corvette

roadburner said:

corvette said:

I was honest with the GSM and said I had test driven a competitor Tuesday night, did not purchase it because I liked their car better, and now the competitor car has been sold and I regretted not buying it. 

AMSI has really doubled down on their doc fees, to the point I'm not sure that I could get a good deal.

I think it's a deceptive consumer practice--many consumers will only look at the sales price without considering that one dealer has an exorbitant doc fee but another doesn't. I guess it's my fault if AMSI raises it again. At one point, I suggested to the GSM that they could charge a $5,000 doc fee and it wouldn't affect what I was willing to pay out of pocket for the car. They really have a cartel (get it? CAR-tel?) here in the Louisville area.

tjc78

corvette said:

@corvette

http://www.infinitiofmanhasset.com/VehicleDetails/certified-2015-INFINITI-Q40-RWD-Manhasset-NY/3260490443

You’re welcome.  Here’s a RWD (which really doesn’t mean much to you at this point) Q40 with 38K miles at a dealership on Long Island (its flat for the most part, but EVERYONE needs AWD).  It even has the stone interior.  Looks to be in better shape than my car was when I picked it up with 7,500 miles on it.  It has been on car gurus for over 70 days.  It’s proudly priced, but it doesn’t hurt to send an email to the SM and have it shipped to you.

Thanks, looks super clean. It has a sunroof and nav and it's $1,000 below Edmunds dealer retail, so I don't think it's that bad on price. I do like your line of thinking insofar as buying a RWD car at a discount in an area where more people demand AWD. I wonder if the Presa brand tires compare favorably to the Ditchfinders that roadburner is so fond of.

My Step Dad always called crappy tires “Maypops”.  “May pop at any time”. Goofy but it always made me laugh. 

qbrozen

@corvette

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/share/214775975

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/share/215813887

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/share/213556042