Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

tbirdmarco

 Sounds good shifty, will check out that car when you can could be your next ride if all checks out, you never know. New York car guy was going to guess extended cab on that F1 50. I prefer the one with the four doors sure up to me, but to each his own. 

tbirdmarco

 And those tacos sounds so good to me. 

nyccarguy

Having my oil changed at the dealership’s Express service.  I pulled in and was asked if I had an appointment.  I said no.  I’m here for Expresss Service, no appointment necessary.  It’s 6:20.  We close at 7:00.

Ok.  I can come back tomorrow.

No.  We’ll have you out of here in 1/2 hour.

25 minutes & $48.74 later I was on my way.

Of course I browsed the showroom.  I was shocked by the amount of new Infinitis with sticker prices well above $60K.

The only thing that caught my eye was a Blue/Black Q50 Red Sport.  CPO 2018 with 7,500 miles.  Pretty color under the bright lights.  Sport seats with adjustable bolsters & knee support.  Asking price of $44K which seems high-ish to me.  

28firefighter

People are leasing them new for that price. Or they were at least. Definitely high. 

stickguy

the QX60 is pretty much a barge, right? I assuming it is as big as an MDX?

One of the few things recently on Honcker that seemed like a good deal. Well equipped one (I think it had all the important stuff). MSRP 47K, for $424/month with about that much DAS.

tjc78

QX is the Pathfinder clone. For you, yes a barge. For us, it was a little tighter than the Enclave. Very little room behind the third row.

nyccarguy

stickguy said:

the QX60 is pretty much a barge, right? I assuming it is as big as an MDX? One of the few things recently on Honcker that seemed like a good deal. Well equipped one (I think it had all the important stuff). MSRP 47K, for $424/month with about that much DAS.

QX60 is the same size as the MDX & Highlander.  Drives “nice” as long as it doesn’t have the 21” wheels.  Again, I’m sure I’d look at one if I didn’t need the Pilot’s size and it was leasing under its weight class.  I saw one in the showroom with a $65K MSRP.

stickguy

well, I would not care about that since probably would never use it.

I thought it was on the large size. Cheaper to lease than a QX50, though that is more our size. The wife probably wouldn't complain about it being too big but hard to tell without driving one.

nyccarguy

I like the way our Pilot drives much better

stickguy

not sure it drives $150/month better though! That's for an EXL-sensing. $200 for a touring. Though the Honda actually has a lower MSRP still.

tjc78

Pilots just don’t lease well. Honda just doesn’t have to subsidize them.

stickguy

shopping leases is just such a weird thing. But I like it!

qbrozen

The QX60 has a CVT. Yuck.
But brokers are advertising ridiculous leases on them. A tick under $300/mo with only MSDs paid up front for 39/10k on $47k msrp

And that is with just VPP discount. They have a very specific conquest rebate of another $1500, if you qualify (for some reason, nothing I own qualifies), which would drop the payment another $40 or so.

28firefighter

NY/NJ/CT is the place for cheap infiniti leases. Or so it seems. 

breld

nyccarguy said:

I like the way our Pilot drives much better

Agreed.  I’ve mentioned this before, but I gave the QX60 a shot before testing out the Durango, and it was no contest.  Probably not what Infiniti wants to hear, though there must be a replacement coming out soonish for the long-in-the-tooth QX60.

stickguy

qbrozen said:

The QX60 has a CVT. Yuck.
But brokers are advertising ridiculous leases on them. A tick under $300/mo with only MSDs paid up front for 39/10k on $47k msrp

And that is with just VPP discount. They have a very specific conquest rebate of another $1500, if you qualify (for some reason, nothing I own qualifies), which would drop the payment another $40 or so.

where do you find these offers? I would take one for well below $300 and figure out what to do with it later (well, what I would do is sell the other car and give it to the wife to drive!)

28firefighter

Over on leasehackr. 

There are three main brokers. I can PM you links tomorrow - phone is being weird about private messages tonight. 

tbirdmarco

New York guy nice nice 

tjc78

I am hoping there are some good leases on the sedans next October.  

I wouldn’t pass up a Q50 at the right lease price 

nyccarguy

stickguy said:

not sure it drives $150/month better though! That's for an EXL-sensing. $200 for a touring. Though the Honda actually has a lower MSRP still.

I can tell you it IS worth the price premium to me. The other 3 row SUVs just don't have the room I want.

nyccarguy

tjc78 said:

Pilots just don’t lease well. Honda just doesn’t have to subsidize them.

They don't, especially the Touring & Elite models. When I was shopping last year, the money factor was over 5% on a lease and I purchased with 0.9%. Was it the smart thing to do financially? I don't know. My lease payment would have been $588 per month with tax included for a $0 Cap Cost Reduction 36/15K lease. I'm a little over 6 weeks to the 1 year mark and hit 15K miles last week.

I do WANT to lease. I'm pretty sure it is the smart thing to do. As long as I'm making payments on a depreciating asset, they might as well be fixed and cheaper than if I financed. Plus I get a new car every 2 - 3 years. I just haven't found the right car/payment combination to make it work in my mind for a 20K per year lease.

For some reason, I keep hanging on to the notion that my Infiniti will be paid off in less than a year and a half and I'll be down to 1 single car payment.

tjc78

I’m leasing both cars for the foreseeable future.  I just don’t want something older and out of warranty.   I’m sure it costs us more in the long run, but it keeps us in newer cars all the time with just two trips a year to the dealer for service.  

We put less than 20k a year between two cars so it works for us. 

A good buddy of mine had a longer commute and came up with a good game plan for leasing.  He would lease two at the same time.   Then 18 months in he would switch with his wife and since she drove so much less it offset the miles he piled on in the first 18 months. 

nyccarguy

tjc78 said:

I’m leasing both cars for the foreseeable future.  I just don’t want something older and out of warranty.   I’m sure it costs us more in the long run, but it keeps us in newer cars all the time with just two trips a year to the dealer for service.  

We put less than 20k a year between two cars so it works for us. 

A good buddy of mine had a longer commute and came up with a good game plan for leasing.  He would lease two at the same time.   Then 18 months in he would switch with his wife and since she drove so much less it offset the miles he piled on in the first 18 months. 

I've thought about that, but then I'd need 2 "big cars." I like driving my 328 hp Sport Sedan on a daily basis.

corvette

breld said:

Agreed.  I’ve mentioned this before, but I gave the QX60 a shot before testing out the Durango, and it was no contest.  Probably not what Infiniti wants to hear, though there must be a replacement coming out soonish for the long-in-the-tooth QX60.

Haven't driven either, but I'm guessing there's just not enough to differentiate the powertrain, suspension tuning, etc., from the Pathfinder.

jpp75

corvette said:

breld said:

Agreed.  I’ve mentioned this before, but I gave the QX60 a shot before testing out the Durango, and it was no contest.  Probably not what Infiniti wants to hear, though there must be a replacement coming out soonish for the long-in-the-tooth QX60.

Haven't driven either, but I'm guessing there's just not enough to differentiate the powertrain, suspension tuning, etc., from the Pathfinder.

I've had a couple for a rental recently. They're unoffensive but nothing noteworthy.

Michaell

I suspect leasing will get more expensive if the Fed continues to raise interest rates.

While I still see some models with .00001 MF, they are few and far between, and MF over .00150 are becoming more common.

Lots of folks on the lease threads are finding themselves priced out of the market ("But, I was able to lease my last *fill in the blank make/model* for far less 3 years ago!")

I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to get my Jetta SE for $226/mo now, with only 1st payment out of pocket.

nyccarguy

Michaell said:

I suspect leasing will get more expensive if the Fed continues to raise interest rates.

While I still see some models with .00001 MF, they are few and far between, and MF over .00150 are becoming more common.

Lots of folks on the lease threads are finding themselves priced out of the market ("But, I was able to lease my last *fill in the blank make/model* for far less 3 years ago!")

I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to get my Jetta SE for $226/mo now, with only 1st payment out of pocket.

You do need to be somewhat flexible unless you want to pay more. That's the big "if" with leasing. It happened to us with our 2007 X3. When we returned the vehicle in 2010, the payment on the same car went from $472 per month to over $600 per month.

tjc78

Yes, absolutely.  

My wife’s car is a little less flexible.   I feel I pay a little too much for our Enclave but it’s what she likes (and we both can agree on it)

For my next I’m open to just about anything.  Upping the budget by about $125 month as by then my child care expenses will drop way down.  Really don’t want another SUV, so sedans are at the top of the list.  I also wouldn’t turn down a killer lease on an F150 crew cab.  

Man, I’m sounding like @stickguy

28firefighter

This would be a fun DD.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2001-porsche-911-turbo-41/

28firefighter

@stickguy you've got PM.

Drivingfool

The move went great, house is beautiful!!! Movers did a fantastic job and even set up her bed frames. But...there was a big hole in the front yard and people standing around!!! Not good!!!

The Sandman/Driving Fool

xwesx

Drivingfool said:

The move went great, house is beautiful!!! Movers did a fantastic job and even set up her bed frames. But...there was a big hole in the front yard and people standing around!!! Not good!!!

The Sandman/Driving Fool

Yay for sink holes. Hopefully the next one is not under the house!

henryn

"Sink hole" wasn't my first thought when he said "big hole". I was thinking a problem with the water line or the water meter or ...

Drivingfool

Apparently the guy overseeing the project saw yellow water in the toilet and more when it flushed, same in both. Turns out some worker punched a hole in the sewer line so it was coming back into the house. Not good!!
They called us while we were out eating that we need to come home! No water in the house last night. They gave us two options, one was to use the unoccupied house next door to shower and use the toilets. The second was they'd put us up in a hotel for the night. By this time, we were both a bit tired so my daughter said, put us in a hotel. I totally agreed but was her call. They put us in the Gaylord Palms Hotel and Convention Center outside of Disney and said have dinner and breakfast on us and added an extra $500 on the tab! Needless to say, we were very appreciative as a Hampton Inn would've worked also. Had dinner and breakfast in the room which was pretty cool. But it was all a bit too much for my body and woke up at around 6:30 with a major chronic pain episode and it was a bad one. Luckily, my kid got me some food and meds to take the edge off and she drove the Golf home so I could rest.
And as of 5 minutes ago, we have water!!! The fridge and washer/dryer just came also so we're all set.
Management also decided to pay for the installation of the 5 fans I'm gifting her and also install her Ring security device her sister got for her. So, they are bending over backwards to make things right. Kudos to Pulte builders for their excellent service!!

The Sandman/Driving Fool


(P.S. I'm ready to move here! Her home is beautiful and think we'd like it near here also!)

xwesx

Drivingfool said:

(P.S. I'm ready to move here! Her home is beautiful and think we'd like it near here also!)

Well, Sandy, you are one fortunate man. Every challenge you face pales in comparison.

tbirdmarco

Hear you T J. c  you have an point there 

tbirdmarco

Wow sandy! Glad they did step up  and do what  they did to make itt  rite at your daughters. Place. Hope you are feal. Better  

tbirdmarco

T J C. Sounds like an grate  idea  for the next carType your comment

stickguy

tjc78 said:

Yes, absolutely.  

My wife’s car is a little less flexible.   I feel I pay a little too much for our Enclave but it’s what she likes (and we both can agree on it)

For my next I’m open to just about anything.  Upping the budget by about $125 month as by then my child care expenses will drop way down.  Really don’t want another SUV, so sedans are at the top of the list.  I also wouldn’t turn down a killer lease on an F150 crew cab.  

Man, I’m sounding like @stickguy

well, my kids are out of the house, so I needed a hobby...

stickguy

I probably should have leased mine. I actually was negotiating on a 2017 leftover but they wouldn't come down enough. Then the whole scheme of flipping it to my daughter, and if not, keeping 10 years. Neither of which is panning out. Oops.

so, I think for a number of reasons (including current financial obligations, commutes, and what cashflow will be 3 years from now) a lease makes a ton of sense. Especially for something nice that the wife will beat up in stop and go commuting.

One good thing for us is we don't need a ton of room. So a "big mid size" is fine for us. I don't care if room is tight behind the 3rd row, since we would probably never use it. As long as the room is good with the 3rd row folded.

A QX60 might be too big though. Would have to check it out to decide.

I kinda like the Mazda CX9 too. That seems like it would drive "smaller".

stickguy

we actually are good for splitting time with each car. Hers is getting miles commuting, mine sits in the garage doing nothing. Just that the wife doesn't want to drive it.

stickguy

this sounds nice. probably going to be the perfect size. Just, of course, expensive.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/honda-passport-confirmed-2019

tjc78

My wife absolutely hates the Elantra, so she will drive it only if she has to.

I’m not sure why, it’s not bad for what it is.

stickguy

hate is too strong a word for mine. She will drive it if need be, it's just not what she likes.

corvette

The Honda Edge! One thing I noticed when I was considering the Edge, before I bought the Murano, is that it seemed like you could buy a comparably equipped used Explorer for about the same as an Edge, although the Explorer had a higher MSRP when new.

suydam

Ford Edge?

stickguy

I really like the Edge. My wife, well, a Ford is a tough sell to her. Though I am sure she would be happy riding in mine.

The Explorer is just way too big and bargey for us.

nyccarguy

This evening’s commute was quite eventful.  Snow started falling late in the afternoon.  I stayed at work until 8:25 PM & didn’t get home until 10:45 PM.  My snow tires are still on the rack in my garage.  The Infiniti did quite well.  Here’s a Blurry pic of I-95 North after 10:00 at night.  I was amazed at how many people were still on the road.

28firefighter

Took my Dad 3 hours to get from South Jersey to their house in Delaware county today. Normally an hour drive.  Insanity. 

Sounds like it is snow tire time. 

benjaminh

stickguy said:

we actually are good for splitting time with each car. Hers is getting miles commuting, mine sits in the garage doing nothing. Just that the wife doesn't want to drive it.

Is the TLX still a possibility? Do you need two SUVs? The Elantra Sport was always your car and not hers, and so does it really matter if she doesn't want to drive it? Sounds like you really want to get rid of the Hyundai. Since you're now thinking of leasing, what kind of lease payment are you aiming for? c. $400?