Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

benjaminh

stickguy said:

I did drive it tonight. Took daughter out to pick up something and took a quick ride. Got to goose it a little, and took a windy road. Really drives nice. Good growl, seems quick, sharp shifts. Very smooth ride but excellent steering and road holding....

Thanks for the review. Can you feel the 4-wheel steering? I could feel PAWS right away with my first test drive, which made me puzzled that most car magazine reviews said it didn't make any difference.....

tbirdmarco

Nice all on the above

ab348

Neighbor across the street has a shiny new white Mazda CX5 in his driveway today. He had been driving a current-gen Mazda 3 sedan in one of Mazda's non-colors - I think his was Mudslide Metallic, a nondescript taupe/tan-grey shade. This new one looks much better, they are a good-looking design. Will have to chat with him to see if it was a lease or a buy.

tbirdmarco

 Driving from home glad everything‘s going well with the family works going OK. Hope the pain is better for you today, that’s good your children have awesome financial ethics like that. That’s the way to be the way I am too. Got laid off on Wednesday but I’ve been looking for another job I’m going on an appointment for the time being and keep on looking at staying positive life goes on it’s just life‘s ups and downs. Going today to hang out with my brother and nieces for the weekend we’re having Christmas Christmas eve home. 

tbirdmarco

 That’s awesome on your neighbor can I am you shiny white Mazda CX five, yes chat with him when you get a chance you know we will wanna know details in here. Maybe you can get them on board to join or poop in here. Pennsylvania man, that’s awesome your way wife likes the grand Cherokee big fan of the current generation two we had to move one back in the beginning of 2017 fully loaded and liked it. 

breld

ab348 said:

28firefighter said:

I think we need to take away @stickguy’s Honcker and forum access. Too much temptation. 

Yep. Two days in and already expressing buyer's remorse. Of course, nobody saw that coming.

Nah - in my experience, the few days after a car purchase are often filled with thoughts of, "what else could I have gotten?"

Completely normal.

Well, that's assuming I'm normal.

breld

My wife told me last night how much she's enjoying the A5, now that she doesn't have the direct contrast with the Macan. So I was happy to hear that. Here's hoping we can both settle into our main rides and just indulge in the fun car for our temptations.

All in all, it was a very easy and pleasant transaction. I am so pleased our local dealer was able to pull a service loaner from their fleet in the exact color my wife wanted, and the Prestige trim may not have been an absolute must have, but it sure was desired (someone had asked here what gray it was - it's Manhattan Gray).

It was about as close to a straight swap as you could get. The trade on the Macan was a bit higher than the price of the A5, so no taxes owed, and we were even able to roll in the AudiCare plan (prepaid service through 50k miles) and come out with a lower payment in the end.

After paying for the 20k service on the Macan, I like the security of having the maintenance on the A5 paid up front for quite awhile. And the unlimited miles on the CPO warranty is good for us too.

nyccarguy

breld said:

My wife told me last night how much she's enjoying the A5, now that she doesn't have the direct contrast with the Macan. So I was happy to hear that. Here's hoping we can both settle into our main rides and just indulge in the fun car for our temptations.

All in all, it was a very easy and pleasant transaction. I am so pleased our local dealer was able to pull a service loaner from their fleet in the exact color my wife wanted, and the Prestige trim may not have been an absolute must have, but it sure was desired (someone had asked here what gray it was - it's Manhattan Gray).

It was about as close to a straight swap as you could get. The trade on the Macan was a bit higher than the price of the A5, so no taxes owed, and we were even able to roll in the AudiCare plan (prepaid service through 50k miles) and come out with a lower payment in the end.

After paying for the 20k service on the Macan, I like the security of having the maintenance on the A5 paid up front for quite awhile. And the unlimited miles on the CPO warranty is good for us too.

Paging @breld to the white courtesy phone. Please change your signature line

carnaught

@breld, is AudiCare transferable when you trade again, or is it cancellable and prorated?

breld

carnaught said:

@breld, is AudiCare transferable when you trade again, or is it cancellable and prorated?

It stays with the car, so it’s somewhat of a selling point, particularly with a private sale.  

When I bought my CPO A5 years ago and went in for the first service, I was told there was an Audi Care plan on it.  That was a very pleasant surprise.  

breld

nyccarguy said:

My wife told me last night how much she's enjoying the A5, now that she doesn't have the direct contrast with the Macan. So I was happy to hear that. Here's hoping we can both settle into our main rides and just indulge in the fun car for our temptations. All in all, it was a very easy and pleasant transaction. I am so pleased our local dealer was able to pull a service loaner from their fleet in the exact color my wife wanted, and the Prestige trim may not have been an absolute must have, but it sure was desired (someone had asked here what gray it was - it's Manhattan Gray). It was about as close to a straight swap as you could get. The trade on the Macan was a bit higher than the price of the A5, so no taxes owed, and we were even able to roll in the AudiCare plan (prepaid service through 50k miles) and come out with a lower payment in the end. After paying for the 20k service on the Macan, I like the security of having the maintenance on the A5 paid up front for quite awhile. And the unlimited miles on the CPO warranty is good for us too.

Paging @breld to the white courtesy phone. Please change your signature line

Got it.  

Michaell

breld said:

nyccarguy said:

breld said:

My wife told me last night how much she's enjoying the A5, now that she doesn't have the direct contrast with the Macan. So I was happy to hear that. Here's hoping we can both settle into our main rides and just indulge in the fun car for our temptations.

All in all, it was a very easy and pleasant transaction. I am so pleased our local dealer was able to pull a service loaner from their fleet in the exact color my wife wanted, and the Prestige trim may not have been an absolute must have, but it sure was desired (someone had asked here what gray it was - it's Manhattan Gray).

It was about as close to a straight swap as you could get. The trade on the Macan was a bit higher than the price of the A5, so no taxes owed, and we were even able to roll in the AudiCare plan (prepaid service through 50k miles) and come out with a lower payment in the end.

After paying for the 20k service on the Macan, I like the security of having the maintenance on the A5 paid up front for quite awhile. And the unlimited miles on the CPO warranty is good for us too.

Paging @breld to the white courtesy phone. Please change your signature line

Got it.  

It's kinda sad to see the signature line so short...

laurasdada

Happy Holidays, All! Been away from Edmunds for a bit, was in LA visiting family. Congrats to all the folks with new family members; breld I have no words except you are el jefe!

Had lunch with my son and girlfriend, while I was visiting the men's room, boy told GF to convince me to give him my XF. She said he was dead serious (the '02 Lexus RX300 that had been his steed gave up the tranny earlier this year, so he's been sans car. Poor college boy).

I likely won't do anything near term, but as he enters second semester of his sophomore college year, he may need a car for the summer. I've got a couple of thoughts (might get complicated involving the ex now living in OR), e.g. finding a decent <$9k car for him. Or, buying myself a second midlife crisis'er (there's a CPO '13 Jag XK at my dealer, currently asking $29.8. Or '17 CPO F-Type, $48.5. But, both black on black. No es bueno. HOw about a '17 CPO Porsche 911 for $71k?) and letting him use the what will be 5.5 year old XF over the summer.

But, like many, the lousy stock market of Q4 has cost me quite a bit (on paper), predominately in retirement funds. But, my taxable accounts really got whacked this past couple of weeks, so not sure any car purchase is prudent for this increasingly old dude. Not that I claim to be clairvoyant, but as I said to several folks in September, I got a bad feeling...was so tempted to flee to temporary safety, but didn't. Time is not as much my friend as it was back in '00 when last i really got wacked.

So, here's to a '19 of health, wealth, peace, joy and punches! breld, do us (even more) proud! How do you do it???

tifighter

Last week was a train wreck when it comes to the markets. I, for one, am certainly tired of all of this winning...

28firefighter

My 401k is in the holiday spirit. Red all over. 

Mr_Shiftright

Pretty soon it will be a bunch of trillionaires on one side and the rest of us eating cat food.

nyccarguy

Mr_Shiftright said:

Pretty soon it will be a bunch of trillionaires on one side and the rest of us eating cat food.

Pretty soon?

fintail

I'm not going to look, but I am guessing I am down 4.5% for 2018. Those magic beans look mighty attractive right now.

laurasdada

Mr_Shiftright said:

Pretty soon it will be a bunch of trillionaires on one side and the rest of us eating cat food.

Well, as a Costco member, I can buy my cat food in bulk!
Of course, I've benefited from the bull, but prior to Q4, I was really beginning to see light at the end of the work tunnel. But, wow, so quick and so violent a fall. Yuge, just yuge.

Mr_Shiftright

I think catfood has come a long way in the last decade. Of course, I would only eat the pricey stuff.

stickguy

I have a fallback. Give the wife the new car. Then go shopping!

corvette

I was at roughly "age in bonds," but now might be a good opportunity to move towards a more aggressive glide path. My plan was always to stop reducing the stock allocation well before retirement hold steady once I reached 60% stocks / 40% bonds, but now that I have a rough timeline in place, I think I could be closer to 80/20 now and gradually shift to 60/40 by the time I'm actually ready to retire.

ronsteve

I'm Ron, and I'm a CCB. I was pretty much sober for 11 years, having only test-driven when we specifically looked for a new ride for my wife, and we ended up with her Jetta in 2013. My 2006 Volvo wagon really started showing its age this year, and I feel like I fell off the wagon. (Pun intended?)

I looked, I test-drove to narrow the field. I waited. Then the electrical gremlins got too serious, at which time I test drove again, and then bought.

I thought I was making a good choice with the RDX, but now I have to admit I am second-guessing. I don't see acting on it within the next year or two, but after that I could see a lot of question marks. Sometimes I have Outback envy, at which point I have to goose that J35 just to remind myself that most of my Outback options wouldn't have given me that kind of power. And then I see that the new Passport is coming on the scene before too long.

Whatever happens, I'm not sure the original 8-10 year plan will hold up. If it does, come 2023 we will probably have both the RDX and the Jetta sitting at 110-120K. Place your bets on me now...

benjaminh

stickguy said:

I have a fallback. Give the wife the new car. Then go shopping!

But your wife only wants one payment at a time iirc.

So, you're not sure you like your new TLX? What specifically bothers you about it? Or do you just like the shopping part of getting a new car more than the ownership part?

graphicguy

tifighter said:

Last week was a train wreck when it comes to the markets. I, for one, am certainly tired of all of this winning...

I’m in the same boat. This is the first year I actually lost money with my investments in a decade. Jumping out of the markets Monday as I fear it’s going to get much worse. No one I know is winning.....ANYTHING! There’s just too much volatility and I feel a recession is right around the corner.

So there’s no confusion, I’m talking about investments.

qbrozen

Y'all made me check. I have also lost in my 401k for the first time EVER. 

stickguy

I just don’t check.

stickguy

I have not really had a chance to use the new car yet, and we are away for the holiday so it is sitting home in the garage. We just need time to bond I guess. It’s much different so will take some getting used to.

And of course, there were many other options passed over, so a bit of “what if”.

Hopefully once we get home and take it out on some drives will fall in love.

tbirdmarco

Love all above agree with you all!

tbirdmarco

stick guy you did not get to take the new  car on an road trip next time.Type your comment

carnaught

A blessed and joyeous Christmas to all of our group who celebrate!

ronsteve

I've got a lot of problems with you people, and now you're gonna hear about it! Happy Festivus for the rest of us! 

28firefighter

ronsteve said:

I've got a lot of problems with you people, and now you're gonna hear about it! Happy Festivus for the rest of us! 

It’s a festivus miracle!

au1994

I looked at one account statement the other day and decided not to look at the others

kyfdx

graphicguy said:

tifighter said:

Last week was a train wreck when it comes to the markets. I, for one, am certainly tired of all of this winning...

I’m in the same boat. This is the first year I actually lost money with my investments in a decade. Jumping out of the markets Monday as I fear it’s going to get much worse. No one I know is winning.....ANYTHING! There’s just too much volatility and I feel a recession is right around the corner.

So there’s no confusion, I’m talking about investments.

If you jump out, how do you know when to jump back in? If you have a foolproof plan, forward it to me.

qbrozen said:

Y'all made me check. I have also lost in my 401k for the first time EVER. 

Young whippersnapper

stickguy said:

I just don’t check.

Actually, a pretty good plan.

au1994 said:

I looked at one account statement the other day and decided not to look at the others

Another good one, though I admit, I do check.

Michaell

You made me look … I'm down 8.5% year to date.

5 or 10 years ago, I wouldn't have minded so much. But now, with only 10-15 years to go before I hopefully retire, I'm not so happy about it.

On a more on-topic note, I got an email offer for a $50 VISA gift card if I test drove a Hyundai before the end of the year. I had some free time late yesterday, so I snuck over to the local dealer to test drive something … anything.

As you all know, the lease on my Jetta is up next August, and I've spent the better part of the entire lease term contemplating what I might do next. So, with @breld and @jpp5862 encouraging me, I've taken a lot of test drives, trying to figure out what I like.

Last night it was a Hyundai Kona Limited AWD. Sticker price was $28K, and it was pretty well loaded with BLIS, lane keep, rear cross traffic alert and all the standard bells and whistles. This one had the 1.6T engine that @stickguy had in the recently departed Elantra Sport, but in the Kona it's only tuned for 175HP and 195 torques. I don't know if it had the fancy DCT transmission - I suspect not, but didn't think to look too closely at the window sticker to know for sure.

The dealer was pretty busy last night, so they let me take it out on my own. I was able to sit it in while waiting for my license to be returned to me and the dealer plates to be handed over. First impressions of the inside are - well, I had an Elantra GT as a rental in Houston last week, and the Kona was pretty much a duplicate, ergonomically. There were a few more buttons available - to turn on or off the safety nannies, a button to lock in the AWD system, and one to switch driving mode from "normal" to "sport". The dash and infotainment set up were identical.

Power seats were a nice touch, and I found I had plenty of room behind the wheel, once I got them adjusted. Push button to start (our rental actually forced us to use the key - horror!), and off I went.

Driving impressions were somewhat disappointing. The engine just sounded more coarse than the 1.4T I have in my Jetta. And, because of the extra weight of the AWD system, the additional ponies under the hood didn't translate into more get up and go. It was nice, and all - and, putting the drivetrain into "sport" mode helped things a bit - but I was just underwhelmed by the whole thing.

It's nice for what it is - and, I'd be more likely to get this than a Crosstrek - but I think I'd like something a bit more "mature" for my next DD.

Hoping to get out this week and test drive both a Sonata with the 2.0T (either Limited or Sport), as well as the Mazda 6 with the 2.5T, back to back.

I got back into the Jetta to drive home, and really appreciated the extra money VW invested into refining the whole car. And, I couldn't stop thinking how much CPO TLX I could get for that same $28K sticker price.

Mr_Shiftright

I've been squeezing my investment portfolio open like a poker hand.

henryn

I am ignoring my 401k. It's Christmas, and I don't want to be depressed. I'll look after the first of the year.

fintail

If the fintail ends up needing engine work, and an expensive hobby rears up out of the past and reclaims me, I might sell off some of an employer-based stock holding I've accumulated - the money might actually be better being used.

ab348

Shrewd financial sharpie that I am, I got out of my mutual funds back in March when the markets made me nervous and they took a dive not long after. I parked it in the money market until the middle of November when I decided to get back in, with a balanced ETF, so fairly conservative. Naturally the markets began tanking a couple of weeks later. They always do this when I get back in, so maybe this downturn is my fault. Sorry.

While I am not happy about things, knowing that the markets are almost always irrational makes me realize there is little I can do about it and it might go back up the minute I get out. Anyway, I don't need the money right now (though my advisor told me I should start spending it, which goes against my nature) and so I am not going to get out at this point. The worst thing about this downturn is the timing, in that our pension fund assesses its funding status at year-end - if it is 100% funded we get a partial cost of living increase, and while it was fully funded all year, this may take it below that threshold, which would mean no $40/month windfall for me..

carnaught

@ab348 ”...my advisor told me I should start spending it...”

What this would mean to me: oh boy, time for an additional car, or replacement car punch?...yippie.....!

tjc78

Michaell said:

You made me look … I'm down 8.5% year to date.

5 or 10 years ago, I wouldn't have minded so much. But now, with only 10-15 years to go before I hopefully retire, I'm not so happy about it.

On a more on-topic note, I got an email offer for a $50 VISA gift card if I test drove a Hyundai before the end of the year. I had some free time late yesterday, so I snuck over to the local dealer to test drive something … anything.

As you all know, the lease on my Jetta is up next August, and I've spent the better part of the entire lease term contemplating what I might do next. So, with @breld and @jpp5862 encouraging me, I've taken a lot of test drives, trying to figure out what I like.

Last night it was a Hyundai Kona Limited AWD. Sticker price was $28K, and it was pretty well loaded with BLIS, lane keep, rear cross traffic alert and all the standard bells and whistles. This one had the 1.6T engine that @stickguy had in the recently departed Elantra Sport, but in the Kona it's only tuned for 175HP and 195 torques. I don't know if it had the fancy DCT transmission - I suspect not, but didn't think to look too closely at the window sticker to know for sure.

The dealer was pretty busy last night, so they let me take it out on my own. I was able to sit it in while waiting for my license to be returned to me and the dealer plates to be handed over. First impressions of the inside are - well, I had an Elantra GT as a rental in Houston last week, and the Kona was pretty much a duplicate, ergonomically. There were a few more buttons available - to turn on or off the safety nannies, a button to lock in the AWD system, and one to switch driving mode from "normal" to "sport". The dash and infotainment set up were identical.

Power seats were a nice touch, and I found I had plenty of room behind the wheel, once I got them adjusted. Push button to start (our rental actually forced us to use the key - horror!), and off I went.

Driving impressions were somewhat disappointing. The engine just sounded more coarse than the 1.4T I have in my Jetta. And, because of the extra weight of the AWD system, the additional ponies under the hood didn't translate into more get up and go. It was nice, and all - and, putting the drivetrain into "sport" mode helped things a bit - but I was just underwhelmed by the whole thing.

It's nice for what it is - and, I'd be more likely to get this than a Crosstrek - but I think I'd like something a bit more "mature" for my next DD.

Hoping to get out this week and test drive both a Sonata with the 2.0T (either Limited or Sport), as well as the Mazda 6 with the 2.5T, back to back.

I got back into the Jetta to drive home, and really appreciated the extra money VW invested into refining the whole car. And, I couldn't stop thinking how much CPO TLX I could get for that same $28K sticker price.

I don’t think you can get the Sonata Sport with 2.0 T. Not sure what that’s all about.

corvette

graphicguy said:

I’m in the same boat. This is the first year I actually lost money with my investments in a decade. Jumping out of the markets Monday as I fear it’s going to get much worse. No one I know is winning.....ANYTHING! There’s just too much volatility and I feel a recession is right around the corner.

As kyfdx said, I'd think long and hard about that. People who try to time the market often end up locking in their losses and never recovering. When, if ever, would you get back in?

I do check, not always by choice, but I have everything set up to download through Quicken, and if I do a download, it fetches current prices for my holdings unless I specifically tell it not to.

kyfdx

If you are still accumulating 401K assets, then you are buying cheap, every time it goes down. That's the beauty of 401K investments. It's the ultimate example of dollar cost averaging.

And, if you are planning your retirement to 95 (and you should), then you need a hefty exposure to stocks, even in retirement, so you can keep that nest egg growing.

It does get harder to stay the course, once you begin the distribution phase. But, it's still the smart way to go.

stickguy

Kona =1.6t comes with the 7 speed dsg trans. One of the best parts of the car. And the sonata sport can be had with the 2.0t. If they had been around last year I likely would have gotten that instead of the Elantra.

Michaell

stickguy said:

Kona =1.6t comes with the 7 speed dsg trans. One of the best parts of the car. And the sonata sport can be had with the 2.0t. If they had been around last year I likely would have gotten that instead of the Elantra.

Thanks for the update. I wouldn't have known that it was a DSG based on how it drove.

breld

Like many have said regarding investments, I just don’t look. History strongly indicates that we’re overdue for a downward correction. Just keep on investing - now is not the time to stop.

On another note, I did get the winter wheel set on the A5 yesterday. I’m very pleased with the look, especially as they were an inexpensive wheel. I didn’t have time to identify proper fitting Audi center caps - that would complete the look.

coldinohio

nice A5 sprtback

roadburner

I'm down 10%; it is what it is...

graphicguy

My sister and I jointly own a condo in Hilton Head. We talked over Thanksgiving about jumping on a couple others there that just came up for sale. We rent them out to the “golf crowd”. It’s been a good investment for both of us.

The stocks I’ve lost on will go to finance the condos.

I think this down turn is going to last a while. Too much downward pressure in Bluechips. Automotive stocks.....well, we’ve seen the contraction there with tariffs. Too much volatility in D.C. to settle the markets. If I were younger, I might be willing to ride it out. Now? I want something tangible.