Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

nyccarguy

omarman said:

My sister in law had 2 new first gen neons. First had head gasket / catastrophic engine fail while still under the bumper to bumper warranty. Chrysler didn't do repair for her but instead traded in for another new neon at same dealer. Oy. That second one was a longer slower death. Like a thousand cuts of many smaller issues never sorted out at the dealer and generally not put together very "nicely." Remember when the new neon was all about nice?

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice...

nyccarguy

Mr_Shiftright said:

xwesx said:

Oh, the SRT-4 Neon. Those were quite the popular car for a time. I remember a guy locally who had his hopped up to run ten-second quarter-miles. The spectators loved that thing.

Back in the day, everyone thought the Neon was going to become the modern iteration of the 60s Alfa Sprint coupe---a clean, attractive, simple, fun to drive light & small car with good handling and brakes, and affordability.

But, alas, all they got was a shameful pile of junk. I mean, really, didn't Chrysler do ANY R&D on this car? Couldn't they even have paid a wino $10 to drive it around the block to see if it overheated?

About a year ago, I reconnected with a friend I knew from college on FB. He lives in CO. He told me he "raced an SCCA Touring 2 Dodge Neon SRT-4 for a few years."

I still see an SRT4 from time to time in relatively good shape. I wonder if these were built better than the standard Neon. I had some seat time in a Rental Neon once. Drove it back and forth from Columbus to Cleveland sometime back in 2000. The ride was decent, the 4cyl was horribly under powered and LOUD, the 3 speed automatic was dreadful, the interior was among the cheapest I've ever seen, but the weirdest thing was the fact that it had power windows in the front and "roll em up" cranks in the back.

kyfdx

I had a '67 BMW coupe with the opposite (that made more sense)
Roll up windows in the front, power windows in the back.

28firefighter

What are your thoughts on a CPO Volvo XC90 (say 2016) vs. leasing something new? Big issues because it was the first year of the re-design?

stickguy

I read threads on swedespeed (I still get a weekly email digest, and sadly, I really have nothing better to do!) and there are quite a few people reporting a lot of teething pains. Personally I would stay away from a first year 90. But, up to everyone to decide for themselves! It does sound like a lot of improvements were made in 17, and especially 18. But of course they will be pricier. 2017 late MY car might be sweet spot.

Mr_Shiftright

Well if you're racing you generally get to know, and correct, the weak spots. I'd be pretty sure he's got super-heavy duty head bolts on that thing.

breld

I got the same general feeling about the 2016 XC90 as referenced by @stickguy. Personally, I would go for a 2017 or newer.

28firefighter

About what I expected to hear. Just brainstorming options.

We went to Carmax this weekend and spent some time on the lot looking at SUVs. Wife eliminated the MDX and Ford Edge from contention immediately.

Her shortlist includes the Outback Touring, Ascent Touring, and Highlander SE. I'm trying to finagle an XC90 into our budget but I don't think it will happen.

stickguy

The ascent is getting rave reviews.

au1994

28firefighter said:

About what I expected to hear. Just brainstorming options.

We went to Carmax this weekend and spent some time on the lot looking at SUVs. Wife eliminated the MDX and Ford Edge from contention immediately.

Her shortlist includes the Outback Touring, Ascent Touring, and Highlander SE. I'm trying to finagle an XC90 into our budget but I don't think it will happen.

Not a bad one on the list. Any interest in the XC60? Gets the styling cues of the 90 at a lesser price and the size is more in line with the others on the list.

28firefighter

The XC60 is actually very similar in dimensions to the X1 in terms of rear seat space and cargo area. We'd like to get something a bit larger.

The Outback is what I'm calling the "budget" choice because even in it's top tier trim, it is leasing quite well right now. The Ascent would be my preference all things being equal but by my math, would come out 100-125 more a month.

au1994

The Ascent is a very nice vehicle. When we test drove one I was surprised at the amount of pick up it has and they way it handled. If we didn’t have the lake house expenses, that would have been the choice, hands down.

Interesting to note about the size similarities in the X1 and XC60.

PF_Flyer

You may have noticed some new discussions popping up on the list. We're going to revive the owners club concept, and I'd like to invite you all to participate if you feel so inclined.

After all, you all have been around here almost as long as the moderators (some of you even longer) and getting your experience and expertise involved would be great. The discussions are tagged so you can get to a list of them with no other clutter, and here's a link to Owners Clubs that can be bookmarked.

If we need to add more "clubs" to fit what's in your garage, feel free to create one or give one of the mods a yell and we can get it up and rolling.

marcogallo1986

 28 firefighter, sound like nice choices will you and your wife are considering for the next S you VE, haven’t had the chance to sit in a new person just yet, but the auto show it’s a month away, or if maybe can get to a dealer prior rather do that. Delta is nice too. Have set them in one of those in recent years. I’m a big fan of the Forrester too. The Volvos I’ve never had a chance to sit indoors just yet either. But again will have to wait for the auto show. No   Volvo dealers close to me here. The Subaru dealers close so I could walk right now if I want to take a lift there and sit in in forester again, or an ascend just cause I can. 

marcogallo1986

 Never sat or ridden in a neon, but it was a poorly poorly poorly engineered car agree with everyone in here. And I can see why Angie’s three is upset with Chrysler. But they gotten a lot better since then that’s probably one of the worst cars they ever built. Which I’m sure every oral manufacture is guilty of over the years. 

tjc78

28firefighter said:

About what I expected to hear. Just brainstorming options. We went to Carmax this weekend and spent some time on the lot looking at SUVs. Wife eliminated the MDX and Ford Edge from contention immediately. Her shortlist includes the Outback Touring, Ascent Touring, and Highlander SE. I'm trying to finagle an XC90 into our budget but I don't think it will happen.

Did you check out the Acadia?  As you know the QX60 leases incredibly well too.

suydam

Finally got my Encore back after 16 days in the shop. Very happy to return the CX5 rental. Just too big for my taste (When I was shopping Mazda I loved the 3), and not as smooth driving and handling as the Encore. A fine vehicle once up to speed, but not for me.

28firefighter

I can't stomach the QX60 - old platform, old engine, old design - the only thing going for it is that in some regions it is by far the cheapest 3 row SUV on the market.

Acadia is on our list, but wife has her head set on a Subaru.

tjc78

True about the QX, no doubt but a lot of content for the money.

28firefighter

tjc78 said:

True about the QX, no doubt but a lot of content for the money.

In your neck of the woods it can't be beat. Incentives aren't the same up this way, so the value proposition just isn't there.

I had not shared this here yet, but my wife is staunchly against a luxury nameplate this go around (Volvo excepted) after a scary road rage incident she had last week.

An older gentleman driving a large vehicle did not like how she was driving and accosted her window at a stoplight - proceeded to call her a "discourteous a**h**e" who "probably didn't care how she drives because she drives a BMW" and that he had her on dash cam "not being courteous" in a residential area.

She said she was doing at most 5 over the 30 mph speed limit and could not let someone make a left from a side street into her lane because it would have blocked opposing traffic.

stickguy

so many strange people in the world these days. maybe there always were, but they seem less inhibited from acting out now. Or maybe the internet and cell phones just make it more obvious.

Mr_Shiftright

I remember a study where a major university sent out a small army of trained psychologists to randomly interact with people on the street of a major city (using some survey guise to start conversations) and they figured out that about 15% of the strangers they engaged had serious cognitive dysfunction or signs of mental illness. Of course, they weren't all driving.

nyccarguy

28firefighter said:

True about the QX, no doubt but a lot of content for the money.

In your neck of the woods it can't be beat. Incentives aren't the same up this way, so the value proposition just isn't there. I had not shared this here yet, but my wife is staunchly against a luxury nameplate this go around (Volvo excepted) after a scary road rage incident she had last week. An older gentleman driving a large vehicle did not like how she was driving and accosted her window at a stoplight - proceeded to call her a "discourteous a**h**e" who "probably didn't care how she drives because she drives a BMW" and that he had her on dash cam "not being courteous" in a residential area. She said she was doing at most 5 over the 30 mph speed limit and could not let someone make a left from a side street into her lane because it would have blocked opposing traffic.

That’s terrible!  I’m glad the guy didn’t assault your wife in anyway.  It’s a scary world we live in.

xwesx

28firefighter said:

I had not shared this here yet, but my wife is staunchly against a luxury nameplate this go around

My wife feels the same way. I've never paid much attention to that sort of stuff, but she dislikes my Q7 just for that reason. She feels more anonymous in her Forester.

28firefighter

And around here a Subaru blends in as part of the landscape...

xwesx

28firefighter said:

And around here a Subaru blends in as part of the landscape...

Yes it does! Even more so in Alaska. I wouldn't be surprised if the brand is 1-in-3 vehicles (not including pickups, which are about half of all vehicles).

henryn

Not very many Subaru's around these parts. I don't recall ever once riding in one, never mind driving one.

stickguy

I have owned 2, and am still a big Sube fan. Really liked the OB I test drove last December. That was 2nd choice I think. the wife would have liked it too.

oddly both of mine were FWD models.

Sandman6472

The Golf was so dirty that it got a car wash earlier tonight. Looks brand new all cleaned up.

henryn

The tree pollen is going crazy around here. You can see it on any vehicle left outside for more than a few minutes. And my sinuses are killing me (yet another clue).

stickguy

I hate pollen season. My wife parks outside at work, under trees, so I know that the RDX is going to be coming home green no matter how often I wash it.

nyccarguy

xwesx said:

I had not shared this here yet, but my wife is staunchly against a luxury nameplate this go around

My wife feels the same way. I've never paid much attention to that sort of stuff, but she dislikes my Q7 just for that reason. She feels more anonymous in her Forester.

Since 1990, my Mom’s daily driver has pretty much been German iron (except for the Dodge Stealth R/T she leased from 1995 - 1998).  She used to work at a Jewish school teaching english, science, & math.  Most (if not all) of the cars in the parking lot were Minivans with dented right, read 1/4 panels.  She had (at the time), a Black/Black MB CLK 320 (‘98).  One AM while locking up her car, someone commented to her “I don’t know how you can drive that Black, German, Death Machine around everywhere.”

qbrozen

In NJ, my grey 3-series is about as common as a taxi in NYC.

nyccarguy

Speaking of Mom’s car.  I have been saying that I want a Porsche of some kind ever since I can remember.  My fav poster car as a kid was the 928.  I loved the 944 Turbo and had a chance to drive an ‘89 when I was 18.  Boosters, Caymans, 911s, Panameras, Macans are all beautiful.  However, I don’t know if I have the stomach for the maintenance costs.  

I spoke to the Porsche dealer this AM to see what service was required as my Mom made an appointment for next week as she approaches 70K miles on her 2016 V6 Cayenne.  Oil & Filter change, Cabin Filter, Air Filter, Brake Fluid Flush, Fluid Top off, check & tighten everything.  $1,350.  I know, ouch.  They do come and pick up the car (the dealer is a solid 45 minutes - 1hour away) & drop off a loaner (either a macan or cayenne).

I got an email coupon from the Porsche Dealer for an oil change/fluid top off, as well as a full interior/exterior detail for $499.  So I asked the service advisor if that can be included into the service somehow.  So she broke the 10K service down, removed the oil change & fluid too off to add the Oil Change/Detail.  It came out to $50 more.  So for $50, she’s getting a full interior/exterior detail.

venture

xwesx said:

28firefighter said:

I had not shared this here yet, but my wife is staunchly against a luxury nameplate this go around

My wife feels the same way. I've never paid much attention to that sort of stuff, but she dislikes my Q7 just for that reason. She feels more anonymous in her Forester.

My wife feels the same way. She hated my BMW. I had it for a little over 3 years and she never drove it.

venture

nyccarguy said:

Speaking of Mom’s car.  I have been saying that I want a Porsche of some kind ever since I can remember.  My fav poster car as a kid was the 928.  I loved the 944 Turbo and had a chance to drive an ‘89 when I was 18.  Boosters, Caymans, 911s, Panameras, Macans are all beautiful.  However, I don’t know if I have the stomach for the maintenance costs.  

I spoke to the Porsche dealer this AM to see what service was required as my Mom made an appointment for next week as she approaches 70K miles on her 2016 V6 Cayenne.  Oil & Filter change, Cabin Filter, Air Filter, Brake Fluid Flush, Fluid Top off, check & tighten everything.  $1,350.  I know, ouch.  They do come and pick up the car (the dealer is a solid 45 minutes - 1hour away) & drop off a loaner (either a macan or cayenne).

I got an email coupon from the Porsche Dealer for an oil change/fluid top off, as well as a full interior/exterior detail for $499.  So I asked the service advisor if that can be included into the service somehow.  So she broke the 10K service down, removed the oil change & fluid too off to add the Oil Change/Detail.  It came out to $50 more.  So for $50, she’s getting a full interior/exterior detail.

Hey. They have to pay for those free donuts somehow.

qbrozen

@28firefighter
Saw your LH post about dumping the X1. What larger SUV deals are you looking at?

coldinohio

nyccarguy said:

Speaking of Mom’s car.  I have been saying that I want a Porsche of some kind ever since I can remember.  My fav poster car as a kid was the 928.  I loved the 944 Turbo and had a chance to drive an ‘89 when I was 18.  Boosters, Caymans, 911s, Panameras, Macans are all beautiful.  However, I don’t know if I have the stomach for the maintenance costs.  

I spoke to the Porsche dealer this AM to see what service was required as my Mom made an appointment for next week as she approaches 70K miles on her 2016 V6 Cayenne.  Oil & Filter change, Cabin Filter, Air Filter, Brake Fluid Flush, Fluid Top off, check & tighten everything.  $1,350.  I know, ouch.  They do come and pick up the car (the dealer is a solid 45 minutes - 1hour away) & drop off a loaner (either a macan or cayenne).

I got an email coupon from the Porsche Dealer for an oil change/fluid top off, as well as a full interior/exterior detail for $499.  So I asked the service advisor if that can be included into the service somehow.  So she broke the 10K service down, removed the oil change & fluid too off to add the Oil Change/Detail.  It came out to $50 more.  So for $50, she’s getting a full interior/exterior detail.

having finally taken the Porsche plunge (Macan V6 CPO)-- much different driving than audi, MB, acura- my most recent rides... dealership experience better too

sda

We have friends that will not buy a german car for that reason. They were loyal to Chrysler products, generally 300, LHS, no Caravans. When Daimler bought Chrysler they bought other makes.

kyfdx

coldinohio said:

nyccarguy said:

Speaking of Mom’s car.  I have been saying that I want a Porsche of some kind ever since I can remember.  My fav poster car as a kid was the 928.  I loved the 944 Turbo and had a chance to drive an ‘89 when I was 18.  Boosters, Caymans, 911s, Panameras, Macans are all beautiful.  However, I don’t know if I have the stomach for the maintenance costs.  

I spoke to the Porsche dealer this AM to see what service was required as my Mom made an appointment for next week as she approaches 70K miles on her 2016 V6 Cayenne.  Oil & Filter change, Cabin Filter, Air Filter, Brake Fluid Flush, Fluid Top off, check & tighten everything.  $1,350.  I know, ouch.  They do come and pick up the car (the dealer is a solid 45 minutes - 1hour away) & drop off a loaner (either a macan or cayenne).

I got an email coupon from the Porsche Dealer for an oil change/fluid top off, as well as a full interior/exterior detail for $499.  So I asked the service advisor if that can be included into the service somehow.  So she broke the 10K service down, removed the oil change & fluid too off to add the Oil Change/Detail.  It came out to $50 more.  So for $50, she’s getting a full interior/exterior detail.

having finally taken the Porsche plunge (Macan V6 CPO)-- much different driving than audi, MB, acura- my most recent rides... dealership experience better too

Tell us all about it! That is my wife's dream car.

breld

kyfdx said:

coldinohio said:

nyccarguy said:

Speaking of Mom’s car.  I have been saying that I want a Porsche of some kind ever since I can remember.  My fav poster car as a kid was the 928.  I loved the 944 Turbo and had a chance to drive an ‘89 when I was 18.  Boosters, Caymans, 911s, Panameras, Macans are all beautiful.  However, I don’t know if I have the stomach for the maintenance costs.  

I spoke to the Porsche dealer this AM to see what service was required as my Mom made an appointment for next week as she approaches 70K miles on her 2016 V6 Cayenne.  Oil & Filter change, Cabin Filter, Air Filter, Brake Fluid Flush, Fluid Top off, check & tighten everything.  $1,350.  I know, ouch.  They do come and pick up the car (the dealer is a solid 45 minutes - 1hour away) & drop off a loaner (either a macan or cayenne).

I got an email coupon from the Porsche Dealer for an oil change/fluid top off, as well as a full interior/exterior detail for $499.  So I asked the service advisor if that can be included into the service somehow.  So she broke the 10K service down, removed the oil change & fluid too off to add the Oil Change/Detail.  It came out to $50 more.  So for $50, she’s getting a full interior/exterior detail.

having finally taken the Porsche plunge (Macan V6 CPO)-- much different driving than audi, MB, acura- my most recent rides... dealership experience better too

Tell us all about it! That is my wife's dream car.

My wife's too.

Michaell

When my wife worked for the school district, she wouldn't entertain the idea of a luxury brand. Now that she will be her own boss, I'm hoping that attitude changes. She does like the MB GLC...

28firefighter

Hey @qbrozen - Subaru Ascent is currently at the top of the list. Also the Outback if she wants to swing a little smaller this go around but still get much more space than the X1. Highlander is also high on the list as a budget choice.

I could make a move now or wait. Dealers up here are going deep on the Ascent because of the lack of Forester and Crosstrek inventory, so there are deals to be had.

stickguy

Rub your badge in our face Michael. That’s a lotta posts!

nyccarguy

28firefighter said:

Hey @qbrozen - Subaru Ascent is currently at the top of the list. Also the Outback if she wants to swing a little smaller this go around but still get much more space than the X1. Highlander is also high on the list as a budget choice.

I could make a move now or wait. Dealers up here are going deep on the Ascent because of the lack of Forester and Crosstrek inventory, so there are deals to be had.

I'm curiously waiting to see how this pans out.

I've told this story before. We run a small, plumbing supply business in a very bad neighborhood (it's much better than when I was a kid). In 2004 my Dad leased an '04 X5, then another X5 in 2007. Every now and then, he'd leave work early or come in late, certain customers would comment: "no wonder copper prices are so expensive. We're paying for your Bimmer." When the 2007 X5 went back, he bought (and has driven since) a Tahoe. Now they say: "Nice truck!"

28firefighter

The plan all along has been to not get another BMW - but a confluence of events has me seeing if we could flip it early.

qbrozen

Remind me: what is the restriction from BMW on transfers? Is it when less than 6 mos remaining?

Michaell

stickguy said:

Rub your badge in our face Michael. That’s a lotta posts!

I didn't change the badge - my co-moderators did.

28firefighter

qbrozen said:

Remind me: what is the restriction from BMW on transfers? Is it when less than 6 mos remaining?

Cannot transfer within the last 6 months.

au1994

breld said:

kyfdx said:

coldinohio said:

nyccarguy said:

Speaking of Mom’s car.  I have been saying that I want a Porsche of some kind ever since I can remember.  My fav poster car as a kid was the 928.  I loved the 944 Turbo and had a chance to drive an ‘89 when I was 18.  Boosters, Caymans, 911s, Panameras, Macans are all beautiful.  However, I don’t know if I have the stomach for the maintenance costs.  

I spoke to the Porsche dealer this AM to see what service was required as my Mom made an appointment for next week as she approaches 70K miles on her 2016 V6 Cayenne.  Oil & Filter change, Cabin Filter, Air Filter, Brake Fluid Flush, Fluid Top off, check & tighten everything.  $1,350.  I know, ouch.  They do come and pick up the car (the dealer is a solid 45 minutes - 1hour away) & drop off a loaner (either a macan or cayenne).

I got an email coupon from the Porsche Dealer for an oil change/fluid top off, as well as a full interior/exterior detail for $499.  So I asked the service advisor if that can be included into the service somehow.  So she broke the 10K service down, removed the oil change & fluid too off to add the Oil Change/Detail.  It came out to $50 more.  So for $50, she’s getting a full interior/exterior detail.

having finally taken the Porsche plunge (Macan V6 CPO)-- much different driving than audi, MB, acura- my most recent rides... dealership experience better too

Tell us all about it! That is my wife's dream car.

My wife's too.

Wait...