Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

Mr_Shiftright

Drivingfool said:

Can no longer get into here from my laptop. I've tried to get help from Mr. Shifty and have gotten zip help. Isn't there any person at Edmunds.com that can fix this horrible computer problem?? Seriously, I'm at that point where it's just not worth it anymore to come in here because each time they do something to their software, it just gets worse. I mean, hell, do their tech guys have any tech background at all?? I'm so frustrated right now because no one seems to give a damn about we folks that come in here. "WTF" is all I can say..."what the [non-permissible content removed]"!!!
Maybe if I write a couple of lines of curse words, I'll get some action as that's the only things these guys seem to care about!!! F_ck, f_ck, f_ck, f_ck!!!! Let's see how long this takes!!! I am so f'ing mad right now I can't type straight but hell, enough is enough already!!!!!

The Sandman/Driving Fool :@

Have you contacted the Help desk as I suggested? There are people there who can help you. This really shouldn't be a problem. They can give you specific instructions if you don't have them.

Mr_Shiftright

Drivingfool said:

Sorry for my rant last night folks, I'm just so frustrated in here and this is my favorite site bar none, the first place I go after making sure no one has tried to get into my accounts. That frustration got the better of me after I was locked out on my tablet. All I'm looking for is some help to get myself back and for the tech to work without any issues!!

The Sandman/Driving Fool

Contact the Help desk asap. Tab is at the very bottom of this page. They can figure out what the problem might be for you. ("Help & Support" link)

ab348

My new iPad was logged out of the site last night. I am guessing it is a time lapse thing that does that automatically.

Eventually I was able to log in but as always it was a big song and dance. You get the Hello Stranger page, log in there, it does not work. You go to the main Edmunds.com page, sign in there, try the forums, still no luck. Then you sign in AGAIN there with what looks like the same exact code as what you just did and finally you are in. It is really messed up.

kyfdx

ab348 said:

My new iPad was logged out of the site last night. I am guessing it is a time lapse thing that does that automatically.

Eventually I was able to log in but as always it was a big song and dance. You get the Hello Stranger page, log in there, it does not work. You go to the main Edmunds.com page, sign in there, try the forums, still no luck. Then you sign in AGAIN there with what looks like the same exact code as what you just did and finally you are in. It is really messed up.

When you get "Howdy Stranger", and click the log-in button, look really closely at the pop-up.
That is NOT the place to enter your log-in credentials.
The last line on the pop-up: Already a member? click here

Click there, and it will take you to the log-in screen.
The site works fine, it's the layout and pop-ups that are counter-intuitive.

ab348

kyfdx said:

When you get "Howdy Stranger", and click the log-in button, look really closely at the pop-up.
That is NOT the place to enter your log-in credentials.
The last line on the pop-up: Already a member? click here

Click there, and it will take you to the log-in screen.
The site works fine, it's the layout and pop-ups that are counter-intuitive.

No, I did that. That's what I meant in saying "what looks like the same code". I'm using the little "Already a member" link. It still doesn't let you into the forums. It just lets you into the main edmunds site and shows whatever you have personalized on there. You then need to go to the forums page again and try to log in there. I honestly still don't know how it actually works, just that it let me in. It is a real cluster-you-know-what.

tbirdmarco

Wow. What an mes above

tbirdmarco

It is ok sandy   Rants are alod. In hear. Glad all else is good with you and the family

tbirdmarco

Breld   Nice on looking at that car!   So the looking will  continued 

henryn

I am fairly certain that the basic problem has to do with two different pieces of software, from two different vendors. Trying to implement SSI (Single Sign-In) across multiple vendors is a nightmare. Trust me, I deal with that issue every day at work.

Here, I don’t think they are even trying to do that. You just have to deal with the issues yourself. The problem is getting to the software that drives the forums, not the main site. Starting from the main page, scroll to the bottom, look for “Automobile Forums”. And even when you are on the forums page, it looks like there are two different pieces of software driving the screen. Which software will respond, and how, depends on where you click on the page.

qbrozen

Another for @stickguy

Just received an email from Princeton Volvo with a bunch of discounted cars. Here is one I found interesting:
https://www.volvocarsprinceton.com/commercial-new/Volvo/2018-Volvo-S60-5bfaa18a0a0e0ae8145e712d5a5a868e.htm

stickguy

nice discount. but that is missing the camera too (along with BLIS). I can't believe the big safety company in 2018 still does not have a BU camera standard.

tbirdmarco

 Luckily I haven’t had too many problems when I have to re-login on my phone every month or so thank God. Hopefully Edmunds can work out the software issues and maybe just have one piece of software controlling piece forums not to. Stick guy if they could find you one with the camera and blind spot monitoring there is your next car, Ha ha ha you know will all support you in here. 

ab348

So just now I got yet another new failed sign-in experience, this time on my laptop.

Clicking on my bookmark to come here, instead of the usual useless "Howdy stranger" page that doesn't work, I got a different log-in page, but one that looked like it was coming out of the Vanilla software based on the design of it, asking me for my ID and password. I entered it, and it came back with a "wrong password" message.

Knowing that seemed like business as usual, I clicked on the "Sign Up" link from the main Edmunds site at the top of the page and got a tiny little box in the top left of the screen containing the main site signup/sign in page that did not allow itself to be expanded. So I scrolled down to the bottom, clicked the "sign in" item, and entered the correct info there. The box went white, the wheel spun for a long time, and nothing happened.

Eventually I gave up on that, opened a new window in my browser, and this time went straight to the main Edmunds page, clicked the sign up link at the top, signed in there, and eventually got in here. At least I think so. My mind kind of goes blank after seeing all these different sign-in pages after a while.

It just keeps getting better and better.

benjaminh

stickguy said:

I floated the idea of doing just that. The wife gets hung up on not wanting a 2nd payment, and seems to like her car. Though now that she is commuting, she would like to have some sort of integrated navigation capability (her phone for some reason will not play google maps through the speakers) and the BLIS since she has a nasty stretch of highway as part of the commute. I am sure she would enjoy a new one (or something else nice).

at least the commute is not horribly long. just a lot of stuck in traffic. About 27 miles RT per day.

I have thought about selling the RDX, paying off my car, and leasing something for her to beat up on the commute. But that gets complicated. Much easier if I cut her out of the loop, and let her drive the old one as long as she wants. Just can't try to take the back road detours since she gets lost!

Complicated? We thrive on a challenge around here....

There's merit to the plan you offer above. If you sell the 2013 RDX you could, as you say, pay off the Elantra Sport and then lease her a new RDX with the loyalty incentive (or maybe something else? Does she need an suv?), and so you'd still have just one payment.

But the question is whether you can live with the Elantra Sport long term, because otherwise this plan might not make much sense. The Elantra Sport has lots of advantages, but when you come down to it do you really want better seats and a better stereo for your car? Hesitate to say it, but since you don't drive that much anyway is it possible to live with ok seats and an ok stereo? In four months I've driven my TLX over 6000 miles, and it has seemed worth it to me to have something that's a big jump above an Accord in most ways.

28firefighter

This looks really nice. Will need a timing belt due to time within 2 years. Based on the license plate numbering, seller has only had the car for a year or so. 

https://seattle.craigslist.org/est/cto/d/porsche-944-turbo-1986/6746042320.html

Mr_Shiftright

Great car, good price if accurately described. Very competent automobile in autocross, if you know how to drive it.

tbirdmarco

Agreed.   With what Benjamin is sing about stick guy. 

28firefighter

Holy moly. Shifty approved pending a PPI?  Go figure! 

nyccarguy

28firefighter said:

This looks really nice. Will need a timing belt due to time within 2 years. Based on the license plate numbering, seller has only had the car for a year or so. 

https://seattle.craigslist.org/est/cto/d/porsche-944-turbo-1986/6746042320.html

Wow!  That’s a gorgeous 944 Turbo!

pensfan83

Sunny day+clean car

28firefighter

Looks great, @pensfan83!!

Mr_Shiftright

28firefighter said:

Holy moly. Shifty approved pending a PPI?  Go figure! 

944 isn't really a scary car--what you see (or hear) is what you get. No internal hand grenades that I can think of--of course, you'd want to see the service records for timing belt and water pump (the two biggest possible expenses). These are fairly sturdy cars.

I guess my attitude is that the 944 isn't DOOMED like some cars---you know, those cars when it's not a matter of IF, but WHEN.

Besides, the 944 Turbo is a wicked little sleeper in the right hands.

benjaminh

Mr_Shiftright said:

....my attitude is that the 944 isn't DOOMED like some cars....

Like an RX-8?

Mr_Shiftright

Well yeah, with some cars you just have to count on disaster, and factor it into your purchase price and the level of scrutiny you must apply.

The trick with the "doomed" cars is to buy one right after the previous owner dealt with it.

28firefighter

I’m also just attracted to the 944/968 line more than anything else. But finding one “right” or close to it is tricky. The 968 is appealing because of the powerful NA engine which is appealing over a turbo, plus, things like airbags, and ABS. 

nyccarguy

Beautiful @pensfan83

graphicguy

pensfan83 said:

Sunny day+clean car

Gorgeous!

ab348

28firefighter said:

This looks really nice. Will need a timing belt due to time within 2 years. Based on the license plate numbering, seller has only had the car for a year or so. 

https://seattle.craigslist.org/est/cto/d/porsche-944-turbo-1986/6746042320.html

Looks real good. Too bad the ad lacks any engine compartment/undercarriage shots.

kyfdx

28firefighter said:

I’m also just attracted to the 944/968 line more than anything else. But finding one “right” or close to it is tricky. The 968 is appealing because of the powerful NA engine which is appealing over a turbo, plus, things like airbags, and ABS. 

Here you go.. $10K, and local to me..

It's almost unmolested..

https://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/d/1987-porsche-951-turbo-wb/6733297642.html

28firefighter

ab348 said:

This looks really nice. Will need a timing belt due to time within 2 years. Based on the license plate numbering, seller has only had the car for a year or so. 

https://seattle.craigslist.org/est/cto/d/porsche-944-turbo-1986/6746042320.html

Looks real good. Too bad the ad lacks any engine compartment/undercarriage shots.

If I were going to seriously buy, I’d drive the half hour to check it out and get a PPI done. 

stickguy

I love the 944. sadly, toy is not in the budget right now!

daughter was home so was out and about with her and the wife today. Princess is my car shopping partner in crime, so of course was pushing for new wheels. She came up up with the idea for Mom to get something new all on her own. My wife is funny. Besides the (justifiable) not wanting a 2nd payment, she has it in her head that the next car is supposed to be mine. And if I trade in the newer one, it won't count as her turn!

The RDX decided to help out by throwing a warning p on the dash after lunch. Tighten gas cap message. I did take it off and retighten next time I parked, and after a few cycles, it went away. I had gotten gas yesterday so was likely just not on tight.

so I think the simple plan, is the way to go. I will find something that will serve as our everyday (going place together) and travel car, swap my car for it, and let her drive it to work. The RDX can stay as my spare car, dog runner, etc.

A new RDX would be nice, just pricey. CRV could be perfect, but not until sure they resolved the oil issue. An X1 costs more than an RDX. or just go with a sedan as planned.

boomchek

Wow that's a nice clean Prelude. Looks like a keeper!

Drivingfool

That's the first time I saw your suggestion about doing that!!! Must be having another senior moment!!!

ab348

kyfdx said:

Here you go.. $10K, and local to me..

It's almost unmolested..

https://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/d/1987-porsche-951-turbo-wb/6733297642.html

I like the interior on that one, but the outside is a little too boy-racerish for me, and the "actual mileage unknown" line in the ad would concern me.

stickguy

not much original on that one. The body kit doesn't work for me.

breld

nyccarguy said:

Beautiful @pensfan83

Well, of course you think so @nyccarguy.

But yes, @pensfan83, the Prelude looks excellent!

graphicguy

kyfdx said:

28firefighter said:

I’m also just attracted to the 944/968 line more than anything else. But finding one “right” or close to it is tricky. The 968 is appealing because of the powerful NA engine which is appealing over a turbo, plus, things like airbags, and ABS. 

Here you go.. $10K, and local to me..

It's almost unmolested..

https://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/d/1987-porsche-951-turbo-wb/6733297642.html

You need to jump on that.

kyfdx

graphicguy said:

kyfdx said:

28firefighter said:

I’m also just attracted to the 944/968 line more than anything else. But finding one “right” or close to it is tricky. The 968 is appealing because of the powerful NA engine which is appealing over a turbo, plus, things like airbags, and ABS. 

Here you go.. $10K, and local to me..

It's almost unmolested..

https://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/d/1987-porsche-951-turbo-wb/6733297642.html

You need to jump on that.

He's been running that ad for over a year...

I will say, the car sounds great.. Makes the hair stand up on your neck..

graphicguy

kyfdx said:

graphicguy said:

kyfdx said:

28firefighter said:

I’m also just attracted to the 944/968 line more than anything else. But finding one “right” or close to it is tricky. The 968 is appealing because of the powerful NA engine which is appealing over a turbo, plus, things like airbags, and ABS. 

Here you go.. $10K, and local to me..

It's almost unmolested..

https://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/d/1987-porsche-951-turbo-wb/6733297642.html

You need to jump on that.

He's been running that ad for over a year...

I will say, the car sounds great.. Makes the hair stand up on your neck..

Hmmm....is he on your side of the river or on my side? May go take a look!

kyfdx

graphicguy said:

kyfdx said:

graphicguy said:

kyfdx said:

28firefighter said:

I’m also just attracted to the 944/968 line more than anything else. But finding one “right” or close to it is tricky. The 968 is appealing because of the powerful NA engine which is appealing over a turbo, plus, things like airbags, and ABS. 

Here you go.. $10K, and local to me..

It's almost unmolested..

https://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/d/1987-porsche-951-turbo-wb/6733297642.html

You need to jump on that.

He's been running that ad for over a year...

I will say, the car sounds great.. Makes the hair stand up on your neck..

Hmmm....is he on your side of the river or on my side? May go take a look!

My side

28firefighter

So, @breld, are you going to go for that M3? Sounds like it isn't exactly a flip.

breld

Bidding on the M3 vert just closed.  

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2004-bmw-m3-convertible-16/

So the owner buys it recently for $23,500, the car doesn’t have any needs so doesn’t have to put anything into it....gets a high bid for $22,750 and reserve not met?  

In the comments, the seller responds to claims that he’s trying to quickly flip the car by saying he just has too many cars and decided he needed to get rid of one...not trying to make a profit.

Uh huh.  

28firefighter

On one hand, you have to think the public airing of the price he paid for it hurt because that probably established a theoretical maximum in the eyes of most, if not all, prospective bidders. On the other, I think he probably overpaid in the first place and between the work he put into it and the fancy pictures, he's overextended.

I wouldn't be surprised if his reserve was $23,500.

corvette

“I just want what I have in it” is right up there with “I just want what I owe on it,” in my book. 

benjaminh

stickguy said:

....
so I think the simple plan, is the way to go. I will find something that will serve as our everyday (going place together) and travel car, swap my car for it, and let her drive it to work. The RDX can stay as my spare car, dog runner, etc.....

I'm mostly a believer in advances in automotive technology. I must admit it never crossed my mind that I wouldn't need a gas cap. But now that both our cars are capless, I wouldn't want to go back. I only got my first "smart" phone about six years ago, and so I was way behind the curve there. But until three years ago it seemed like an impossible idea that a phone would could integrated with an app that would make built-in navigation—which I loved—obsolete. But now I use AndroidAuto in whatever car I drive every day. This is a long-winded way to say what you already know better than I do—your Elantra Sport is pretty much up-to-date in terms of technology, while a 2013 RDX is already behind the times. It seems puzzling to me to get rid of a car that has CarPlay, blis, 9+ years of warranty, etc. while keeping a vehicle that lacks the newer tech and is almost out of warranty. Just my 2 cents. Please ignore.

breld

28firefighter said:

So, @breld, are you going to go for that M3? Sounds like it isn't exactly a flip.

I had it tagged and had some level of interest. The color and low miles were very appealing, but I've had a couple E46 convertibles now...I'd really like a coupe (or a sedan would be fine if I went with a ZHP).

Actually, there's another E46 on BaT that's interesting - a 60k mile '02 330i with sport and manual. So, not a ZHP, but looks to be a very nicely maintained vehicle. Would be entertaining, but I would think you need to snag it at the right price, 'cause it isn't going to demand the same attention as a ZHP.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2002-bmw-330i-7/

I think I'd actually try to find some OEM 330i sport wheels to replace the ZHP ones. They're nice wheels, but if it's not a ZHP, I don't think I'd want to try to make it look like one.

breld

@pensfan83 - the owner of the white Prelude here in Denver is starting to come down a bit. What had you offered him before? $7,000?

The red one you ended up with looks to be in better condition, I'd say. So well done.

https://denver.craigslist.org/cto/d/1999-honda-prelude-type-sh/6713459020.html

breld

Well, look what just came up on the Denver craigslist...

https://denver.craigslist.org/cto/d/2005-bmw-330-ci-zhp/6745911254.html

tbirdmarco

 Well, go for a car posted above you know you want it sounds nice. Like all posted above, stick guy that’s sounds like a good plan do you have going, and the wife would definitely go for it. But I know plans are subject to change like for all of us in here. 

tbirdmarco

 Stick guy,

The daughters home, you guys have to do a bunch of test drives with the wife. So many choices out there that’s for sure. Dealing with an hour with him down what you like and what are you doing, as you know. Good plan do you have going better like mention in the comment I posted above this one. I hope that everyone had a good weekend. Have a good upcoming week or, will be in here later or tomorrow at some point.