Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

28firefighter

For @roadburner:
https://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/cto/d/puyallup-bmw-m6/6866431344.html

fintail

Interior is nut brown/espresso brown. I also like the lighter beige MB offers, but this brown is very nice with the natural finish wood, and suits the mellow character of the car.

ab348 said:

Very nice, Fin. What do they call that interior colour?

xwesx

The interior of your car is almost unbelievable, fintail. And, those rear jump seats are such a throwback. In a way, though, probably more practical than the bulky, forward-facing third row seats in many of the "three row SUVs" out there (and used about as frequently).

sda

I like medium color interiors and the nut brown/espresso is very nice. It has a rich look to it, isn't so dark to be drab and hot or too light that it is hard to keep looking nice. Mazda has an interior that is almost white in color. It will look great for a period of time until it starts to soil. I've had two cars with white interiors and was fanatical about keeping them clean. Yet, though they were clean, they still looked lightly soiled. One had a vinyl interior and the other had leather. The experience was the same.

tjc78

@fintail

What a car. Really love the interior too. Looks great with the white interior. I'm a sucker for that combo.

stickguy

I do like that interior color. Still can't warm up to the IP design though. And I always hated white, until we got the first white Jetta, then I started to really like it! I would be happy to get white on the next car, but the wife will get to pick out that color, so not expecting it.

tjc78

My wife hates white for some reason. She has already told me whatever we get for her next car is to be black. Yeah because she doesn't clean it....

fintail

I'd prefer maybe a light blue, but that color has apparently been phased out of the MB palette. White is not my absolute fave, but it is easier to maintain than a darker color. The white on this wagon is also the metallic "diamond white" which may mute light amounts of dirt as well. I can't do dark colors, just too much work, and a dirty dark colored MB looks really bad IMO. The digital gauges were a must-have option, I think the standard ones look kind of cheap, and these aren't insanely expensive compared to other features. It makes the car feel modern.

One cool feature is the "warmth and comfort" package, which has heated steering wheel, armrest/door panels, and console lid (heated seats already included). One of those things that seems silly until you use it.

ab348

I remember when I was a kid in the '60s white cars were nowhere near as common as they are now. The first one we had was our '67 Pontiac (with a red interior) and I thought it looked good in that color. Later on we got the '74 Maverick which was also white for a year or two until the rust started coming through the paint. The first one of my own was the '11 Regal Turbo which looked great in white with a cocoa/cashmere beige interior.

The cheap econobox cars tend to look utilitarian in white as do pickups and vans because of its popularity in commercial uses. And I think a white car demands the right amount of exterior trim to look good.

suydam

White car in the Midwest — no way. I had one and it never looked clean. Of course I lived in the country and we had “lightly paved” roads. OTOH in California practically everyone has a white car. I’ve really come around to them. The Volt is also white with a cognac interior and it looks really sharp.

fintail

Thinking back, the 68 Fairlane my dad bought in the 90s was white on white, amusingly optioned with a 289 3 on the tree, AM radio, and no other options - dog dish hubcaps, manual steering and brakes, blank hole for the clock, etc. But the color combo almost gave it a formal look. My mom's T-Bird was white on white, maybe not a good choice when you have little kids. Later she'd have a white Taurus with a blue interior, and currently has a white Camry with a grey interior. White on black interior seems to be big, but can be a bit stark, and a black interior can become gloomy here in the land where sun is rare 9 months a year. I think white with a pano roof can also be a good contrast.

cdnpinhead

fintail said:

I am still quite pleased with the car, it is a level of refinement and tech I haven't experienced before.

Very nice looking vehicle! Hope you continue to enjoy it as much as you are now.

au1994

I like white as Ive had 4 or maybe 5 of them. Had to take a break for a bit but definitely could get on board with it on the next car. Each car wears colors differently. Just have to see it to know.

tjc78

fintail said:

I'd prefer maybe a light blue, but that color has apparently been phased out of the MB palette. White is not my absolute fave, but it is easier to maintain than a darker color. The white on this wagon is also the metallic "diamond white" which may mute light amounts of dirt as well. I can't do dark colors, just too much work, and a dirty dark colored MB looks really bad IMO. The digital gauges were a must-have option, I think the standard ones look kind of cheap, and these aren't insanely expensive compared to other features. It makes the car feel modern.

One cool feature is the "warmth and comfort" package, which has heated steering wheel, armrest/door panels, and console lid (heated seats already included). One of those things that seems silly until you use it.

OMG my wife would love that warmth package... first I've heard of that. We have the heated steering wheel and seats that she uses all the time.

graphicguy

qbrozen said:

graphicguy said:

looks silly drinking it around to boot.

Drinking was definitely involved. 

I just saw that. My autocorrect spelling thingy seems to have a mind of its own sometimes

graphicguy

@fintail.....gorgeous! I can see why you pulled the trigger on it.

Enjoy!

rayainsw

" I do wish they had a/c vents for the back seat passengers"
My understanding is that there are a/c vents under the front seats -
need to check that...
- Ray
Wonder how effective those would be...

stickguy

I thought the heated wheel on my sonata was a gimmick. Until I tried it. Now I miss it! I even liked the ventilated seats the few times I used them. Not sure I needed them on the TLX, since seating surfaces are Alcantara. But I’ll try them when it gets hot.

stickguy

Speaking of tlx, finally taking a trip this weekend (still only at 1,600 miles at the 4 month mark). About 600 miles RT to NY for Easter. I really want to see at least 35 on one leg. I doubt it though. So far, MPG has been disappointing. Maybe the wider tires hurt that. I figure, if I’m going to get V6 mileage, I should have at least gotten the HP to go with it!

pensfan83

I've averaged 27-29 MPG, depending on terrain and speed, and that's with 4 people and luggage. I think mid 30's is attainable.

carnaught

@fintail, love that interior color and the digital dash is awesome.

corvette

Tahoe wouldn’t start this morning. My jumper cables won’t reach from one car to the other, when they’re parked hood to trunk (I tried). I called AAA and they sent a battery tech. He arrived on time and quickly figured out the problem. The positive battery cable was loose, which means that the guy from Autozone with the bad attitude who installed the battery didn’t tighten it enough! 

tjc78

At least it was a simple repair !!

breld

@fintail - incredible wagon! I'm a fan of white exteriors anyway, so I love the combo with the espresso interior!

pensfan83

Saw this outside of a nearby Lincoln dealer yesterday. Wonder what they traded this in for.

https://www.bensonlincolnpittsburgh.com/used/BMW/2015-BMW-M4-abdd7f040a0d0cc743eb6b7684ded7a2.htm?searchDepth=1:1

roadburner

pensfan83 said:

Saw this outside of a nearby Lincoln dealer yesterday. Wonder what they traded this in for. https://www.bensonlincolnpittsburgh.com/used/BMW/2015-BMW-M4-abdd7f040a0d0cc743eb6b7684ded7a2.htm?searchDepth=1:1

If they traded it on a new Lincoln then they didn’t need to be in an M4 to begin with. 

stickguy

Around here, it likely means they got tired of replacing shredded tires and broken wheels!

tjc78

pensfan83 said:

Saw this outside of a nearby Lincoln dealer yesterday. Wonder what they traded this in for. https://www.bensonlincolnpittsburgh.com/used/BMW/2015-BMW-M4-abdd7f040a0d0cc743eb6b7684ded7a2.htm?searchDepth=1:1

Why buy such an awesome car in that color.  To each his own... but wow.  

Probably traded it on a Navigator.  Nothing else would make sense in the Lincoln lineup for something comparable.  

stickguy

Plenty of people get the urge for some real sporty like that, and end up going overboard and regretting it. Then they dump it early.

May not have been a trade their either.

pensfan83

My guess would be a Navigator too.

fintail

Worst M4 color, and always the one around here seen never getting under 3k rpm and veering around without turn signals. It's a 4 wheeled stereotype

Prior owner of my old W210 E55 replaced it with a Lexus LS.

tjc78

stickguy said:

Plenty of people get the urge for some real sporty like that, and end up going overboard and regretting it. Then they dump it early.

May not have been a trade their either.

Yep. I know someone who drove 5 series for a number of years. Then they got an M4.... now a Lexus ES and some Jaguar (older model)

Mr_Shiftright

pensfan83 said:

My guess would be a Navigator too.

Pretty nice ride, the Navigator.

pensfan83

Indeed it is. I'm sure the Aviator will be appealing as well to those that don't need the size (or price tag) of the bigger SUV.

henryn

A Navigator wouldn't be my first choice, but if someone were to give me one (hint hint), I wouldn't throw it back.

jpp75

pensfan83 said:

Indeed it is. I'm sure the Aviator will be appealing as well to those that don't need the size (or price tag) of the bigger SUV.

They had an Aviator at the Denver auto show. It was locked up, but a very good looking vehicle and from what we could see inside it shares the great interior of the Navigator.

qbrozen

As I suspected, it wasn't traded. They bought it at auction. $42.5k.

tjc78

Seems like an odd purchase for a UCM at a Lincoln dealer.

henryn

qbrozen said:

As I suspected, it wasn't traded. They bought it at auction. $42.5k.

tjc78 said:

Seems like an odd purchase for a UCM at a Lincoln dealer.

Who knows? Maybe the buyer for the dealership got an odd "itch" and ...

stickguy

a lot of these places are part of a chain, so can swap cars around as needed

28firefighter

An Acura dealer north of me has a UCM who is a BMW nut. Buys tons of off-lease BMWs from auction.

Michaell

28firefighter said:

An Acura dealer north of me has a UCM who is a BMW nut. Buys tons of off-lease BMWs from auction.

Thank goodness he doesn't have a fondness for Buicks. Not sure how well those would move at an Acura dealer.

roadburner

henryn said:

A Navigator wouldn't be my first choice, but if someone were to give me one (hint hint), I wouldn't throw it back.

I would- in under a nanosecond. Unless I could immediately flip it for something entertaining.
But if I HAD to keep it?
No bloody way.

roadburner

28firefighter said:

For @roadburner:
https://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/cto/d/puyallup-bmw-m6/6866431344.html

Stop.
Just stop.

au1994

roadburner said:

28firefighter said:

For @roadburner:
https://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/cto/d/puyallup-bmw-m6/6866431344.html

Stop.
Just stop.

Good Lord man, that’s just not fair.

A bucket list car for me

roadburner

I just wish I had held on to my 1988 M6...

tjc78

roadburner said:

henryn said:

A Navigator wouldn't be my first choice, but if someone were to give me one (hint hint), I wouldn't throw it back.

I would- in under a nanosecond. Unless I could immediately flip it for something entertaining.
But if I HAD to keep it?
No bloody way.

I’d take one to replace the Enclave. Wife keeps eyeing up the Expedition (from those “We built it big” commercials). If they leased well, I’d give one a shot. I have lots of seat time in a Tahoe and before that a Navigator. They are comfy cruisers.

Mr_Shiftright

roadburner said:

henryn said:

A Navigator wouldn't be my first choice, but if someone were to give me one (hint hint), I wouldn't throw it back.

I would- in under a nanosecond. Unless I could immediately flip it for something entertaining.
But if I HAD to keep it?
No bloody way.

Oh, I suspect you could get used to it. Would you refuse to spend some time on a luxury yacht because it wasn't an Italian cigarette boat? Of course you wouldn't.

nyccarguy

Looks like we'll be at $299/month soon enough. Be patient young Jedi.

https://www.vw.com/special-offers/type/LEASE/

stickguy

was poking around on CL for Jipster. and found these 2 oddballs by me.

this per the ad is actually in VA (by DC) but he is posting it I guess all over. annoying! But not at all what I expected to see on my local CL.

https://southjersey.craigslist.org/cto/d/fairfax-1991-rover-mini-1275cc-four/6866806053.html

and this I like. Rather better colors, and too many miles (probably too much 4 too), but I am a sucker for Acuras, and sticks! I also like it when I know exactly where the pics were taken (I pass that house all the time).

https://southjersey.craigslist.org/cto/d/voorhees-2008-acura-tsx-rare-6-speed/6866619277.html