Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

imidazol97

tjc78 said:

>Can you even get film devoloped today?  Talk about a business that just died.  

https://photo.walgreens.com/store/film-processing

tbirdmarco

No  not any mor 

tjc78

Stunned Walgreens still does it.

@henryn
I’ll have to check that out.

benjaminh

For almost all of the 1990s I had a Ford credit card. Ford killed the card around 1998, but in late 1999 I still had $4500 worth of credits that I used to help buy a 2000 Ford Focus ZTS. I got about 30% off of the price of the car, which is why Ford killed that program. I remember GM had a card too, but I thought they had also killed theirs long ago. Maybe they did? But now it's back. GM has the BuyPowerCard, which amazingly doesn't seem to have limits on what you can "earn." If you charge an average of $3000 a month on your BuyPowerCard over 7 years you'd earn about $6000 toward your next car. Since this can be combined with other offers, that Buick Sportback at my local dealer that's advertised for c.$24k could potentially be bought for 18k. I think I'm likely to stick with my Acura for the foreseeable future, but for anyone who buys GM this seems like a good deal. No annual fee. Probably all the GM people here know about this already....

https://www.buypowercard.com/buypowercard/earn/

qbrozen

We get something like $1200-$1500 cash back on our AMEX each year. I'd rather have that than points toward one particular auto maker.

corvette

I have one card that gives me 2% cash back on all purchases, one that gives 5% on gas, and another that gives 3-4% off on dining and travel. I like getting the cash back. 

henryn

benjaminh said:

If you charge an average of $3000 a month on your BuyPowerCard over 7 years you'd earn about $6000 toward your next car.

You spend $3,000 a month on a credit card? Wow! Makes me feel like a cheapskate. I have, in the past spent that much in one month on my Amex, but my average is a lot closer to $1k than $3k.

A few years back, I was buying a ZTR mower, around $3,300 for a used Kubota. The dealer wouldn't take a check on a Saturday, but they would take an Amex. I think that was my biggest month on Amex.

28firefighter

We put literally every household expense through our Amex or Sapphire Reserve card. Everything except our mortgage. I am almost embarrassed at how much our expenses have ballooned since we had a kid. 

We carry zero balances ever. Card is paid off after each statement cuts. 

roadburner

28firefighter said:

We put literally every household expense through our Amex or Sapphire Reserve card. Everything except our mortgage. I am almost embarrassed at how much our expenses have ballooned since we had a kid. 

We carry zero balances ever. Card is paid off after each statement cuts. 

Same here with our BP Visa and our Visa Rewards cards.

boomchek

fintail said:

Thinking back, I am unaware of any family pics showing the Tempo - which is a shame, as that car was in the family for ages, and seemed to be a constant background fixture in my life for years. I kind of wish I had some pics of it, along with the 93 Taurus, and my dad's old Fords. Those cars were seen as cool vintage cars even then, but did we take pics? Nope. I even had my own 50s era 35mm camrera from a relatively young age, which I still have and it works fine, but did I take pics? Nope. Hindsight. Last year, when my brother found a random old pic showing my mom's T-Bird and dad's Horizon, I was thrilled with it, and took it with me. Maybe this is why I take pics of the fintail nearly every time I drive it, and always have a full photoshoot when I pick up a different daily driver car. I want a record of it.

Thanks everyone, although my family had a lot of fun with all these cars I won't lie, I enjoyed all of them too. My son enjoyed them too and every time he sees the same make/model of a car on the road that I once had as a demo he gets excited and reminds me it's same as one we had.

Speaking of photos, my parents like to take pictures of everything, so we have photos of pretty much every car our family had. The only car I'm missing that I regret I never shot was my very first car, a rusty burgundy 82 Accord. But what can you do.

ab348

In Canada the GM Card went away not long after the bankruptcy. I had about $2500 in credits on mine which went into buying the 2009 Lacrosse. Then a few years ago the card reappeared, from a different bank, so I got one. When I did the home renos last year I put all of the out of pocket stuff on it, and got another $500 or so off the ATS. This card is different from before in that you get 5% back on your first $5000 of spending each year and 2% thereafter. Good card IMO.

pensfan83

corvette said:

I have one card that gives me 2% cash back on all purchases, one that gives 5% on gas, and another that gives 3-4% off on dining and travel. I like getting the cash back. 

Often times you get a better redemption value by redeeming points/miles for things other than straight cash back. We also put whatever we can on credit cards and pay them off each month.

omarman

roadburner said:

28firefighter said:

We put literally every household expense through our Amex or Sapphire Reserve card. Everything except our mortgage. I am almost embarrassed at how much our expenses have ballooned since we had a kid. 

We carry zero balances ever. Card is paid off after each statement cuts. 

Same here with our BP Visa and our Visa Rewards cards.

qbrozen

Definitely not with my AMEX. Gift cards seem to be a direct 1:1 reward dollars. Items are pretty horrible. For example, they want 78 reward dollars for an Iluv speaker I can get from Amazon for $37, and 140 reward dollars for a Fire TV cube that is $119 on amazon. Why they heck would anyone NOT take the $140 statement credit and charge the $119 from Amazon?

kyfdx

I like cash back.

But, one advantage of cards that have other perks (airline cards, hotel cards, GM cards, etc) is that you'll sometimes be able to get benefits that you wouldn't otherwise, or that you would never pay for.

I have friends with a Hilton card, and they were upgraded to a $1000 suite in Sicily, when their booked room rented for $225. They travel a lot, and it makes sense for them.

We get numerous reports in the forums about GM card holders that may have $2500-$3000 of points, but then get an additional $1500 incentive on certain models, that is unavailable to the general public.

I do need to shop around and see if I can do better than the 1.3% average back I get on my AMEX. I tend to avoid cards with fees, though, even if the math works out..

qbrozen

We used to have the standard blue cash AMEX with no fee, but we use it SO MUCH that, when they offered the fee-based card that extended the cash back, I had to take it. Just makes too much sense for us.

corvette

kyfdx, check out the Citi DoubleCash MasterCard. 

pensfan83

I can't speak for AMEX but having 2 cards with Chase, one a Sapphire Reserve, increases the value of our point redemption beyond a 1:1 ratio when redeemed through their portal.

28firefighter

That is the Sapphire Reserve perk - we only have one Chase card and that is how it is for us. I love the points redemption values through Ultimate Rewards.

fintail

A friend of mine recently impulse-bought another car. It's the guy I have mentioned who actually bought a new green MKZ last year. He's married, and they share a car - the logistics of one car with two working people finally became too much. He had mentioned he was thinking of a second car, but had no firm plans - he looked at a used Verano but it sold before he could make a move, dealer with a later model Impala LTZ wouldn't budge on price, no deals to be had around here on a new Insight, I told him a 2010 S550 would not be cheap to run, he was all over the map.

Yesterday he called me to say he bought a 2018 Fusion SE, blue over black, some kind of appearance and tech packages, MSRP 26xxx, he got it for 21K even, not sure if that is a deal or not, but he is happy with it, that's what counts. Funny thing, the car initially had a 5K ADM (what is it with that, I see it on so many mainstream cars here, but almost never on premium cars - PNW thing fishing for suckers I guess), but I guess even the dealer admitted the ADM was not the starting point.

Mr_Shiftright

Here's an interesting conversion done on a desirable classic:

http://fantasyjunction.com/cars/2168-Mercedes-Benz-280SE 3.5 Cabriolet Conve-3.5 Liter 8-Cylinder?utm_source=280+SE+3.5+Cab+Conversion&utm_campaign=280+SE+3.5+Cab+Conversion&utm_medium=email

tjc78

@fintail
How is he going to be happy with a Fusion when he is used to it's much nicer Cousin the MKZ? I would have headed in a different direction.

fintail

I had a similar line of thought. He seems to think it is funny, he was telling me about the parts he already discovered shared by both cars. It has android auto and fancy-ish wheels, that seems to please him enough. It was about at the top of his budget, has one of those odd extended dealer warranties, and he got a low rate on it, that's all that mattered. This is an appliance more than a splurge like the MKZ. I suspect he will be the primary driver, too, as the other half loves the Lincoln.

tjc78 said:

@fintail
How is he going to be happy with a Fusion when he is used to it's much nicer Cousin the MKZ? I would have headed in a different direction.

nyccarguy

I’ve just landed in a Chicago.  Im here for work until early Wednesday afternoon.

stickguy

Long way to deliver plumbing supplies!

I assume a conference?

tbirdmarco

 Have a safe work trip to York car guy safe travels. We use Chase credit cards here, and we think that’s not paid with a card is the house mortgage. So your friend and that up buying a fusion wow, so now he has that in his wife drives the upscale winking version. Whatever makes them happy that’s all that matters. Have a good week all hope that everyone had a good weekend. Still working at the same current old job thank God,  and still doing job hunting two and just enjoying life. 

corvette

I will say this, I use Quicken, and even then, it's much harder to keep track of your monthly spending when juggling multiple cards.

The PenFed Visa gets used for gas. Typically a very small bill unless I'm on a trip.
The Uber Visa for dining out and travel.
The Citi Doublecash gets used for everything else.

Drivingfool

I was in a focus group way back in early 1992 for a Shell credit card when they were thinking about turning theirs into a Master Card. Well, they did and I got one of the first ones in the U S back in 1993 which we still use as our joint card but lately, just mine. My wife has a business card and I have a no fee American Express plus a Discover card. We do charge most things and like to get the cash back. This month was the first time I ever missed a payment date, and that was by 1 day with my Chase Visa card(they went from MC to Visa a few years ago). Well, paid the bill in full like we normally do but they charged me a $25 late fee. I called up yesterday, explained the situation, a senior moment and my first one ever with any credit card, so the nice lady said no problem, I'm a great customer with a great record of always paying the card off each month and tonite, I saw the reversal of the late fee online. Was really embarrassed by this faux pas as I usually pay the other cards off a couple times a month but since I use this Chase card the most, I just forgot the date. Luckily I, we, have a excellent credit score and I did learn a valuable lesson here.

The Sandman/Driving Fool

Drivingfool

Doing the walk through Wednesday at 2 pm and she closes on the 13th. Sending the wife for that since she's the numbers person and is the right person to go. Movers come on the 14th and we're gone for the week as we'll both come back the day before Thanksgiving. Taking a week off to help her and get the internet/cable put in and just be there for any furniture delivery or work that will need to be done from her punch list after she closes. We've bought new twice already and there's always a longish punch list of things that need to be addressed after move-in. Some large but most will be smallish things but things that will need to be addressed. And don't want them to take advantage of a single woman as she's still my baby no matter how old. I know her boyfriend who broke off their engagement isn't feeling so good right now since they picked all the finishes together. And the lady he left her for, well, she did the same thing to him just a couple of months ago. Sometimes what goes around really does come around! I do feel bad for him though but he made his bed so to speak and now must live with it. Wasn't so sure she was going to keep the house but the thought of losing the $10K helped her decide to keep it. And it's already appreciated since she signed the papers.
And a good chance that we'll, or I'll will be putting down a deposit on a smaller house a few miles away. Not sure I want to take on a mortgage right now after being without one since 1995, but just might have to for the short term. I do know I want to leave South Florida within a year or two and I just might have to take some action to get my wife to join me. And if not, can always do it alone if we both decide to end things, still a real possibility to be honest. I do know I want these next few years to change a lot of things and to be out of South Florida. And even moving to the mountains of North Carolina is also one of our, my plans. A lot of different plans are on the drawing table right now!!

The Sandman/Driving Fool

stickguy

I love the Asheville, NC area. But that is pretty far from family. Sounds like you would be happier staying closer to your girls. Orlando is a nice area, and avoids the coastal issues you don't like.

roadburner

nyccarguy said:

I’ve just landed in a Chicago.  Im here for work until early Wednesday afternoon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qQ17UnJk_Y

henryn

Drivingfool said:

I was in a focus group way back in early 1992 for a Shell credit card when they were thinking about turning theirs into a Master Card. Well, they did and I got one of the first ones in the U S back in 1993 which we still use as our joint card but lately, just mine. My wife has a business card and I have a no fee American Express plus a Discover card. We do charge most things and like to get the cash back. This month was the first time I ever missed a payment date, and that was by 1 day with my Chase Visa card(they went from MC to Visa a few years ago). Well, paid the bill in full like we normally do but they charged me a $25 late fee. I called up yesterday, explained the situation, a senior moment and my first one ever with any credit card, so the nice lady said no problem, I'm a great customer with a great record of always paying the card off each month and tonite, I saw the reversal of the late fee online. Was really embarrassed by this faux pas as I usually pay the other cards off a couple times a month but since I use this Chase card the most, I just forgot the date. Luckily I, we, have a excellent credit score and I did learn a valuable lesson here.

The Sandman/Driving Fool

I put in 30 years with Chevron before I retired the first time. I had a Chevron credit card with “EMP” stamped on it, and got 5% off anything I charged on that card. Not that I used it a lot, but still a nice touch. About 5 years ago, I managed to miss the due date and was a few days late. They charged me a $25 late charge on a $27 bill. I called up and complained. No dice. I mentioned the “EMP” on my card. TS, they didn’t care, they were NOT Chevron. Huh???

A few minutes with Google and I found that Chevron had outsourced their credit card operations to GE Credit, who has one of the worst reputations in the known world. I cut that card up in about 1,000 pieces and mailed it back to them.

corvette

I signed up for a SallieMae cash back card a few years back. Set up autopay to automatically pay the entire balance every month from my checking account. Apparently, the autopay wasn't immediately effective? They dinged me with a late payment fee and interest charges. Once I confirmed they would not report the late payment to the credit bureaus because it was under 30 days, I didn't dicker with their fees. I paid it off completely and closed the account. I would have used it a lot had it not been for their autopay shenanigans.

Almost forgot, I have an Amazon card, too. All of my current cards automatically pay the full balance from my checking account.

tbirdmarco

Cool  corvette   

graphicguy

Use my Platinum AMEX for business expenses. My company gave me their green AMEX, but they don't offer points. I get at least one free vacation from my own AMEX per year by using the points I've accrued.

While it's rare for an establishment NOT to accept AMEX, I have a Visa Reserve for all the others, which also pays points.

They both have a steep annual fee, but those are tax deductible.

I use my Costco Visa for...well....Costco.

Drivingfool

I hate for anyone to "automatically" go into any of my, our accounts as it makes me feel uneasy shall we say. And this was the first time I blanked out about a due date to be honest. Didn't mention it to the other half as she really wants to take over all financial control like she had it all those years. I'd get spending cash every Friday night and she'd pay all the bills so I hardly ever looked. After my 2005 accident, I started to ask questions which looking back cause many issues as she was content to control everything. And then I inherited some funds from my grandmother and my dad's trust and decided then that I need to manage this new influx of cash/securities so it makes some income for me. After that, never looked back and now control as much as she'll let me. I just feel that I need to be "involved" shall we say as I have no idea how much her folks left her though I see lots of different envelopes addressed to her and some trust in her folks name. Won't discuss it so best I handle what little I received. Made the kids "pod" and now have the oldest as a designated check writer and able to make deposits and withdrawls. Of course, I know she won't unless I can't go myself as she's quite independent and wants to do all this on her own. I've just let her know that "I've got her back here" and if necessary, she can use it if she runs a bit short one month.
We've raised all three to live below their means like we've always done and it's definitely paid off from their actions. I'm proud that they did listen to some of our advice here and just don't want her to stress out about affording this whole thing. Now she'll build equity and have a nice house to boot!
GG, from what my wife's been telling me, there will be many changes in the new tax laws so not sure how it'll effect those c c's with an annual fee. None of ours has any as I won't use one that does...just a quirk of mine.

The Sandman/Driving Fool

stickguy

She’s probably loaded.

henryn

Well, he's been hinting at a possible divorce, so ... He better hope she isn't reading his posts here, or she may already be talking to a lawyer.

fintail

It's easy to live below your means with parental help

I too don't like automatic checking account deduction. My autopay accounts go to credit cards, so I can get the rewards, and cut risk.

henryn

fintail said:

It's easy to live below your means with parental help

Wouldn't that actually be, "easy to live ABOVE your means with parental help" ??

fintail

Could be. The way I was viewing it, you can pretend to be spending less, while having others actually buy you stuff. Example, I know few people here in my age demographic who own a detached house and didn't get family help.

henryn said:

Wouldn't that actually be, "easy to live ABOVE your means with parental help" ??

Drivingfool

"Loaded"? Wouldn't go that far but really have no clue to be honest. We've had the "D discussion" a couple times in the last few years but after such a long time, one tries to make some sense of the chaos. But she's finally getting it that I do intend to stop working in 2019 and that I do intend on moving to Central Florida so please, start getting used to the idea. Funny, as she's closest with our pharmacist daughter while me and the oldest girl click. But, still want to be somewhat near her eventually and the pharmacist daughter is also planning on transferring up to Orlando also once she meets the time requirement to get her full 401K matching funds. Like us, early 2020 hopefully.
Mid October, I've been in South Florida 49 years and my wife, 48 years. We lived west of Ft. Lauderdale and her family in Miami Beach. So, both been here a long while and a change wouldn't hurt. And with her Turbo Tax gig, she can work anywhere there's internet capability. And especially if both girls meet husbands, a very big possibility, would like to be close. Like I've said before, we don't intrude and besides a few texts during the day, we don't intrude on their daily lives as we have our own to.
But, walk through is tomorrow at noon. Closing a week from next Tuesday and movers come the next day, a Wednesday, and we're off. Will stay there until the day before Thanksgiving when we'll come back. That Friday, I'll resume my work schedule and will go back up when asked...I'd never just show up unannounced. If wanted, I'll go as the wife works weekends for Turbo Tax and already said I should go so the house will be quiet for her to work. So, we'll see how this all plays out!!

The Sandman/Driving Fool

graphicguy

Drivingfool said:

I hate for anyone to "automatically" go into any of my, our accounts as it makes me feel uneasy shall we say. And this was the first time I blanked out about a due date to be honest. Didn't mention it to the other half as she really wants to take over all financial control like she had it all those years. I'd get spending cash every Friday night and she'd pay all the bills so I hardly ever looked. After my 2005 accident, I started to ask questions which looking back cause many issues as she was content to control everything. And then I inherited some funds from my grandmother and my dad's trust and decided then that I need to manage this new influx of cash/securities so it makes some income for me. After that, never looked back and now control as much as she'll let me. I just feel that I need to be "involved" shall we say as I have no idea how much her folks left her though I see lots of different envelopes addressed to her and some trust in her folks name. Won't discuss it so best I handle what little I received. Made the kids "pod" and now have the oldest as a designated check writer and able to make deposits and withdrawls. Of course, I know she won't unless I can't go myself as she's quite independent and wants to do all this on her own. I've just let her know that "I've got her back here" and if necessary, she can use it if she runs a bit short one month.
We've raised all three to live below their means like we've always done and it's definitely paid off from their actions. I'm proud that they did listen to some of our advice here and just don't want her to stress out about affording this whole thing. Now she'll build equity and have a nice house to boot!
GG, from what my wife's been telling me, there will be many changes in the new tax laws so not sure how it'll effect those c c's with an annual fee. None of ours has any as I won't use one that does...just a quirk of mine.

The Sandman/Driving Fool

Thanks, Sandy! If the CC fees change with the tax code, I'll readjust....maybe drop one or the other, maybe both. Maybe drop to a Visa Preferred or AMEX Gold, which have much lower fees.

Never fun when it comes to doing the money goals between two people. I was pretty conservative until my son graduated from college. And, since it's now just me I'm supporting, I've loosened the reins on my spending, as I can see how my financial future will play out after all these years of planning.

Of course, the old saying still is true...."Man plans and God laughs"!

benjaminh

So far we don't seem to have any problems with our 2018 CR-V with the 1.5 turbo. But I'll definitely go in for the fix, whatever that might be (perhaps a software update?), when it becomes available....

https://www.consumerreports.org/car-repair-maintenance/honda-cr-v-affected-by-engine-trouble/

“Honda has been investigating the situation and developing a remedy, which we hope to make available through authorized Honda dealers by mid-November 2018,” company spokesman Chris Martin said. The repair will be covered by the warranty, Martin said, and will also be applied to 2019 model-year CR-Vs before the 2019s go on sale.

tbirdmarco

 Benjamin yes people definitely have fix, and it’s not all that are affected I think we are also some 2017‘s two, wasn’t sure if Horn uses the same engine right, that’s not affected at all. Stuff happens sometimes but you have a nice see are we there. Hope all is going well with you and your family Benjamin and everyone else in here too as well, all’s well here on my end. Working enjoying life to the full list.  Don’t think I mentioned it in here Friday went to the DMV with my dad, missing the most important part of the registration that I have from the prior owner, that he was supposed to sign over only sold the car to me, just have the window sticker which wasn’t good enough. My brother said he shouldn’t of given me a problem that we are key is in upstate New York about him register his old truck that way, so might have to register at upstate when I go for Thanksgiving. I told him to contact the prior owner you know it’s three  even though it’s three years later and talk with him for me, since I actually never dealt with the owner personally he did everything for me I just wired him the money at the time my brother. Anyway so that’s what’s been going on have to fight, I will win. Also still doing some job hunting and stuff too. 

Drivingfool

I tried to tell my oldest girl to make sure both of you are on the same page financially before you marry or buy real estate together. Unfortunately, she found out too late that her fiance at the time was a spender with student loans piling up and spending big bucks on ordering in meals and buying "stuff" on Amazon.com. She decided to keep the new house under construction as she wasn't ready to walk away from the $10K they had put down. Not sure if the builder would've played nice and refunded all the deposit money as she still wanted it and continues to want it. Going up in the morning to do the walk through and closing and the move will be in the middle of the month.
She's a very determined young woman and says even though she's stressed a bit, she moving ahead with it. But as her dad and biggest fan, I've got her back if any problems do arise, whatever she needs be it my time or some extra cash thrown her way. We won't let her lose the house as we plan to relocate up to Central Florida before the end of 2020, if not sooner. My only regret is that he should've been more honest about his finances before they even thought about purchasing any real estate but guess that happens sometimes. Before we got married, we both knew that we needed to live below our means and that while all our needs would be taken care of, many of our wants would just have to wait until our finances improved. A vital discussion all couples need to have before they marry, be it straight or gay...the same rules apply!

The Sandman/Driving Fool

tbirdmarco

 Driving for a carry E sand man, agree with what you’re saying about all good things to talk about before getting married. 

28firefighter

@Mr_Shiftright https://rennlist.com/forums/market/1105896

corvette

Oh, joy. The G37 appears to have a broken drain plug on the front passenger side of the sunroof. It's a plastic part that allows the sunroof to drain through the firewall, and it looks like it's a bear to reach. Explains the musty smell and wet carpet I was getting when it rained. :@

stickguy

old cars are fun!