Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

andres3

28firefighter said:

henryn said:

I'm surprised no one else has addressed this. Basically, a failed O2 sensor will not put a car into "limp mode". This is "to the best of my knowledge", supplemented by a quick google search and 5 minutes of reading.

Certainly my T&C did not go into limp mode when the O2 sensor failed. And down through the years, I have helped quite a few with bad O2 sensors, and I do not recall any of them going into limp mode.

And "would not drive" does not compute. "Limp mode" is short hand for "limp home mode". The car will still drive, but you will have reduced power.

I suspect your "friend" misrepresented things.

Not really looking to argue with you - he is a friend and given the pictures from the flatbed I don’t believe he was intentionally putting on a performance. Dealer replaced the O2 sensor and all was well. 

It was bought private party. 

He should tell the sellers it died within 24 hours. They'll breathe a sigh of relief and be more confident they got more than their monies worth!

stickguy

selling something like that you just breath a sigh it is gone, regardless of what you got for it.

au1994

suydam said:

But the Tacoma would not help with your gas consumption problem.

Well the Tacoma V-6 is rated at 19/24 and it runs regular. Wonder what the real world numbers are.

andres3

If there's one thing I've learned from being an active participant and reader on a car club social media venue for Audi's, is that Audi owner's will try to find a way to skimp and save a few bucks on their $40-60K value car. This includes maintenance, and getting shoddy Chinese parts, or taking chances on suspect parts. In fact, I think the awesome reputable shop I use make a significant chunk of their revenue from re-fixing others' fixes, including other shops' fixes. Joe Schmoe mechanics often lead to rework at my shop.

I truly wonder how many Audi's have suffered at the hands of either neglect or incompetence. I remember being quoted Multi ATF fluid for my DSG transmission that requires a DSG OIL. The test drive at a Lemon Grove Used Car dealer on the '06 A3 wouldn't surprise me if the transmission had the wrong fluid instead of the right oil.

nyccarguy

I'll have to drive an X2 to see if I could hack a 24/15K deal on a loaner. Those are intriguing.

kyfdx

au1994 said:

suydam said:

But the Tacoma would not help with your gas consumption problem.

Well the Tacoma V-6 is rated at 19/24 and it runs regular. Wonder what the real world numbers are.

We've never seen over 20, at any time. (but, we have a stick)

qbrozen

nyccarguy said:

@qbrozen

Pretty much. Since I had the clutch replaced last year for a tidy sum (It is almost time for the 2nd timing belt replacement and my tires are shot), I've pretty much kept my Prelude parked. Also I have to park on the street here at work and I know one day it is going to get hit (It is inevitable, like Thanos). I could take my wife's Pilot a few days per week. Besides the miles, the Q40 sucks down 93 at a rate of less than 20 mpg. Gas is expensive in CT and I'm filling up to the tune of about $57 - $60 once a week (ish).

Ideally I'd be looking to get into a 2 year lease of something where they don't kill you if you go over the miles or let you buy the miles in advance at a significant discount. I've toyed in my head to see if it would be financially advantageous to lease 2 cars with 10K per year, but that's way more expensive than leasing a car and paying for the extra miles up front. I'm open to suggestions as always!

Part of the reason I was looking at the Tacoma is due to the fact that I could take out a 12K per year lease in order to take advantage of the high residual value, put down the MSD (which lowers the monthly payment by about $50/month), and then use the MSD to pay for the extra 16,000 miles (plus the disposition fee) I'd drive during the 2 year lease (TFS only charges $.15 per mile if you go over) when I turn it in at the end of the lease.

If I were to take a 15,000 mile per year lease on a car that charges $.25 per mile over, then I would go over my miles (and likely be out of warranty at some point during the lease). It would cost me an extra $3,750 over 3 years (plus tax) or $104.17 per month. On a 2 year/15,000 mile per year lease, I'd only go over my miles by 10,000 which would cost me the same $104.17 per month, but $2,500 total.

I know someone who has a 2015 subaru 3.6 Legacy for sale with SUPER low miles! hell, you could drive it at your current pace for the next 4 years before hitting simply "average" mileage. ;b

mb_enthusiast

What are your strategies for backing out of a used car deal? The car is cool, but I don’t need it. Really don’t, and really don’t want to spend $50k on something this 

rayainsw

I had a Pontiac with the 3.4L V6 DOHC motor
and 5 speed manual trans.
- Ray
Not much torque at low RPM, but did rev well.

28firefighter

Did you already sign the paperwork and take delivery? If so there is no strategy - trade it in or sell it privately and prepare to take a bath.

nyccarguy

qbrozen said:

nyccarguy said:

@qbrozen

Pretty much. Since I had the clutch replaced last year for a tidy sum (It is almost time for the 2nd timing belt replacement and my tires are shot), I've pretty much kept my Prelude parked. Also I have to park on the street here at work and I know one day it is going to get hit (It is inevitable, like Thanos). I could take my wife's Pilot a few days per week. Besides the miles, the Q40 sucks down 93 at a rate of less than 20 mpg. Gas is expensive in CT and I'm filling up to the tune of about $57 - $60 once a week (ish).

Ideally I'd be looking to get into a 2 year lease of something where they don't kill you if you go over the miles or let you buy the miles in advance at a significant discount. I've toyed in my head to see if it would be financially advantageous to lease 2 cars with 10K per year, but that's way more expensive than leasing a car and paying for the extra miles up front. I'm open to suggestions as always!

Part of the reason I was looking at the Tacoma is due to the fact that I could take out a 12K per year lease in order to take advantage of the high residual value, put down the MSD (which lowers the monthly payment by about $50/month), and then use the MSD to pay for the extra 16,000 miles (plus the disposition fee) I'd drive during the 2 year lease (TFS only charges $.15 per mile if you go over) when I turn it in at the end of the lease.

If I were to take a 15,000 mile per year lease on a car that charges $.25 per mile over, then I would go over my miles (and likely be out of warranty at some point during the lease). It would cost me an extra $3,750 over 3 years (plus tax) or $104.17 per month. On a 2 year/15,000 mile per year lease, I'd only go over my miles by 10,000 which would cost me the same $104.17 per month, but $2,500 total.

I know someone who has a 2015 subaru 3.6 Legacy for sale with SUPER low miles! hell, you could drive it at your current pace for the next 4 years before hitting simply "average" mileage. ;b

You want to lease it to me for 24 months?

mb_enthusiast

28firefighter said:

Did you already sign the paperwork and take delivery? If so there is no strategy - trade it in or sell it privately and prepare to take a bath.

No, I took it to pre-purchase inspection.

henryn

kyfdx said:

au1994 said:

suydam said:

But the Tacoma would not help with your gas consumption problem.

Well the Tacoma V-6 is rated at 19/24 and it runs regular. Wonder what the real world numbers are.

We've never seen over 20, at any time. (but, we have a stick)

Yet another reason to buy the F150 over the Tacoma. I have seen many tanks that come in over 20 mpg.

tjc78

rayainsw said:

I had a Pontiac with the 3.4L V6 DOHC motor and 5 speed manual trans. - Ray Not much torque at low RPM, but did rev well.

My buddy had one of those in an auto.   It was pretty quick for the time.  I used to like driving it. His was all loaded up with HUD, etc 

It was the all too typical for the time hunter green.  I always liked that one better than the later generation he replaced it with. 

corvette

mb_enthusiast said:

28firefighter said:

Did you already sign the paperwork and take delivery? If so there is no strategy - trade it in or sell it privately and prepare to take a bath.

No, I took it to pre-purchase inspection.

Tell the seller you’re no longer interested. 

28firefighter

Yep - just say it isn't for you after further inspection. Take it back and say "thanks for your time."

mb_enthusiast

The pre-purchase told me not to buy it without even looking at it.

qbrozen

nyccarguy said:

qbrozen said:

nyccarguy said:

@qbrozen

Pretty much. Since I had the clutch replaced last year for a tidy sum (It is almost time for the 2nd timing belt replacement and my tires are shot), I've pretty much kept my Prelude parked. Also I have to park on the street here at work and I know one day it is going to get hit (It is inevitable, like Thanos). I could take my wife's Pilot a few days per week. Besides the miles, the Q40 sucks down 93 at a rate of less than 20 mpg. Gas is expensive in CT and I'm filling up to the tune of about $57 - $60 once a week (ish).

Ideally I'd be looking to get into a 2 year lease of something where they don't kill you if you go over the miles or let you buy the miles in advance at a significant discount. I've toyed in my head to see if it would be financially advantageous to lease 2 cars with 10K per year, but that's way more expensive than leasing a car and paying for the extra miles up front. I'm open to suggestions as always!

Part of the reason I was looking at the Tacoma is due to the fact that I could take out a 12K per year lease in order to take advantage of the high residual value, put down the MSD (which lowers the monthly payment by about $50/month), and then use the MSD to pay for the extra 16,000 miles (plus the disposition fee) I'd drive during the 2 year lease (TFS only charges $.15 per mile if you go over) when I turn it in at the end of the lease.

If I were to take a 15,000 mile per year lease on a car that charges $.25 per mile over, then I would go over my miles (and likely be out of warranty at some point during the lease). It would cost me an extra $3,750 over 3 years (plus tax) or $104.17 per month. On a 2 year/15,000 mile per year lease, I'd only go over my miles by 10,000 which would cost me the same $104.17 per month, but $2,500 total.

I know someone who has a 2015 subaru 3.6 Legacy for sale with SUPER low miles! hell, you could drive it at your current pace for the next 4 years before hitting simply "average" mileage. ;b

You want to lease it to me for 24 months?

Sure!

But the numbers are not favorable. 24mos and 20k miles/yr gives me only 57.5% RV. Even with my bargain $400 acq fee, I get a pre-tax sign-and-drive monthly payment of $423.47 with a .00165 MF. Darn close to a 48-mo finance.

Michaell

Sigh. Probably won't be sold here.

xwesx

mb_enthusiast said:

The pre-purchase told me not to buy it without even looking at it.

Ouch. That's reason enough.

nyccarguy

mb_enthusiast said:

What are your strategies for backing out of a used car deal? The car is cool, but I don’t need it. Really don’t, and really don’t want to spend $50k on something this 

Do tell. Inquiring minds want to know.

mb_enthusiast

Michaell said:

Sigh. Probably won't be sold here.

Love it. I'm a young one who loves wagons. If I could have only one car, it would be the Mercedes-AMG E63 S wagon. If I got one, it would probably be all I could afford, though. I'm not sure my doggie would do too well in a wagon either.

xwesx said:

mb_enthusiast said:

The pre-purchase told me not to buy it without even looking at it.

Ouch. That's reason enough.

nyccarguy said:

mb_enthusiast said:

What are your strategies for backing out of a used car deal? The car is cool, but I don’t need it. Really don’t, and really don’t want to spend $50k on something this 

Do tell. Inquiring minds want to know.

My very trusted Mercedes-Benz/Euro mechanic thinks the dealer I brought it from is bad news. They're a used luxury dealership. Used luxury dealers are a prolific species in my area—and I've only seen one with good reviews—and this one wasn't it.

It was a 2013 Cayenne GTS with less than 40k miles. It looked suspiciously worn on the interior. Although, I looked at one at a Porsche dealership from 2016 that looked much the same and had about 20k more miles. Do Porsche interiors wear well?

This one was covered in Alcantara, and there were some stains, especially on the driver's door. Less than 40k miles and two owners, the last owner having it repossessed seems shady to me. I've test driven a car that clearly had the miles rolled back. This one raised suspicions too, given the two owners, nearly seven years of age, and registration in two different states 1400 miles apart.

The car drove beautifully and felt so powerful. It still felt big, but it was very confident. My test drive was solo, and I think I get a better feel for cars when given that opportunity. I wasn't impressed when test driving new Cayenne Ss and a Macan S—especially not for $108k and $81k respectively. Porsches lack such basic features for their high price tags. It's unbelievable to me. It's the only German marque available in the U.S. that I haven't owned.

stickguy

they are big and heavy. And IMO someone that is going to let it get repossessed is also not spending the large sums required for routine and preventive maintenance.

mb_enthusiast

stickguy said:

they are big and heavy. And IMO someone that is going to let it get repossessed is also not spending the large sums required for routine and preventive maintenance.

Agreed. Also, having connections to financial services and a family background in subprime lending, I know that a lot of people let cars get repossessed when they cannot afford or are unwilling to pay for the repairs and maintenance required. I think many people would be amazed at how common that is.

At the same time, my Phaeton had been repossessed and was in pretty good shape and only had 84k miles by the time I sold it last year.

mb_enthusiast

This is a good car.

xwesx

Damn, that's pretty. Makes me scratch my head when you're posting about having affairs.

nyccarguy

@mb_enthusiast

That’s your Q8?  Wow!  That’s gorgeous!  Love the color!

breld

As much as we’re all apt to encourage and enable you to purchase another car...that Q8 is awesome.  No harm in just sticking with that for awhile.  Maybe find a cheap “toy” to scratch the buying itch.

And love those wheels!  

mb_enthusiast

@xwesx and @nyccarguy, Yes, she is a good girl. She does not have a name, and she only has 864 miles yet.

Love the Q7, @breld. My dealer has two loaded Q7s, one of them has the rims. Both are hugging the $90k price point, and they've been sitting forever. Someone should try to scoop them up.

graphicguy

Put this in the other thread, too.....


https://youtu.be/M6RTHn-71z0

I would have thought this would be $10K more than $58K. Wondering how it’s equipped. But, given you could probably negotiate it down to less than $55K, that’s quite appealing.

nyccarguy

@henryn lives in the hood & I work in the hood.  Here’s what one of the resident Independent Pharmaceutical Sales People drives:

stickguy

Nice looking. But I’m still fine with the same package in a 330

stickguy

And only beat the g70 by 1 Doug point. And the genesis is way cheaper.

fintail

Expect jerky unsignaled movements, leaving every red light at 4K rpm, and general lack of self-awareness from any M4 in that color.

kyfdx

fintail said:

Expect jerky unsignaled movements, leaving every red light at 4K rpm, and general lack of self-awareness from any M4 in that color.

That's just the DCT transmission at work..

stickguy

Paid cash for it at least.

corvette

That spoiler - ugh! 

pensfan83

I think I posted a link a month or 2 ago of an M4 in that color that the nearby Lincoln dealer had in stock. As of Sunday when I drove by it was still there.

henryn

nyccarguy said:

@henryn lives in the hood & I work in the hood.  Here’s what one of the resident Independent Pharmaceutical Sales People drives:

For whatever reason, Challengers are the primary choice here amongst the Sales People.

Camrys, 4 door, dark color, are the car of choice for the gangs. If you see one, duck.

xwesx

henryn said:

For whatever reason, Challengers are the primary choice here amongst the Sales People.

Well, sure... that seems like an obvious choice.

Sandman6472

Got a tech question here. How does one clean out all one's info on a MacBook Pro no longer used? There must be a way to wipe it clean so it can be used as a trade in for a new device.
Thanks in advance for any quick way to do this.

stickguy

varies by OS, but in settings someplace there should be an option for reset to factory specifications and erase the data. You will know if doing it right because it asks about 5 times "are you REALLY sure you want to do this??"

Sandman6472

Thanks, will give it a try. This new smaller MacBook Air is really great and so much faster. Weighs only a few ounces compared to my old Mac Pro, so happy we got home early enough on Memorial Day to go purchase it. I picked it up at the store as with so many folks stealing boxes by the front door, wasn't about to take a chance.
But it's such a pleasure to play on this new computer. Am a ral happy guy now!

henryn

https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/d/huntsville-1969-pontiac-gto/6911361098.html



This seems to be entirely too cheap, I suspect something seriously wrong here. $22.9 for a 69 GTO Judge, with a frame off restoration? I think not.

kyfdx

Needs advice:

https://forums.edmunds.com/discussion/56511/honda/accord/repair-or-sell-as-is#latest

kyfdx

I don't know values... but, the automatic probably knocks off $20K

qbrozen

So Carvana will not be getting dad’s Legacy. They wrote to me stating I need to transfer the title into my name first. I responded that I already visited the DMV and was instructed NOT to do that because I can sign it myself and hand over my estate surrogate letter. 2 days go by and they finally write back this afternoon “you are correct, but we still want you to transfer the title into your name first.” I promptly replied “then it looks like you won’t be getting the car.”

Michaell

qbrozen said:

So Carvana will not be getting dad’s Legacy. They wrote to me stating I need to transfer the title into my name first. I responded that I already visited the DMV and was instructed NOT to do that because I can sign it myself and hand over my estate surrogate letter. 2 days go by and they finally write back this afternoon “you are correct, but we still want you to transfer the title into your name first.” I promptly replied “then it looks like you won’t be getting the car.”

Do you think you would have the same problem with vroom?

mb_enthusiast

Sandman6472 said:

Thanks, will give it a try. This new smaller MacBook Air is really great and so much faster. Weighs only a few ounces compared to my old Mac Pro, so happy we got home early enough on Memorial Day to go purchase it. I picked it up at the store as with so many folks stealing boxes by the front door, wasn't about to take a chance.
But it's such a pleasure to play on this new computer. Am a ral happy guy now!

What year did you get rid of?

qbrozen

Michaell said:

So Carvana will not be getting dad’s Legacy. They wrote to me stating I need to transfer the title into my name first. I responded that I already visited the DMV and was instructed NOT to do that because I can sign it myself and hand over my estate surrogate letter. 2 days go by and they finally write back this afternoon “you are correct, but we still want you to transfer the title into your name first.” I promptly replied “then it looks like you won’t be getting the car.”

Do you think you would have the same problem with vroom?

Unknown. But since Vroom takes so long to process, I could not even try until I return from vacation.