Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

fintail

These shots make it hard for me to believe Volvo is running in the black. Bang for the buck there.

roadburner

Volvo is definitely building some outstanding cars. However, their continued pandering to the Safety [non-permissible content removed] would keep me from purchasing one.

qbrozen

roadburner said:

Volvo is definitely building some outstanding cars. However, their continued pandering to the Safety [non-permissible content removed] would keep me from purchasing one.

they INVENTED the safety [non-permissible content removed]. ;b

tjc78

abacomike said:

@tjc78

Just saw the pics - beautiful combo of exterior and interior colors. Enjoy!

Thanks!

tjc78

roadburner said:

Volvo is definitely building some outstanding cars. However, their continued pandering to the Safety [non-permissible content removed] would keep me from purchasing one.

I don’t think you’d be happy with an S60. Much too soft and FWD biased AWD.

stickguy

Heck, I was trying to find a FWD version, skipping the AWD hit to the budget!

tjc78

I really wanted the T6 which comes with AWD.

It’s impressive over 300 HP and zero torque steer.

nyccarguy

28firefighter said:

Great write ups!

Thanks! The best part is that he likes each car for what it is. He’s smitten with the BMW & lives the Tesla, but doesn’t drink the Elon Flavored Kool Aid.

au1994

@tjc78 - Love the Volvo. Congrats and that is an excellent color combo. I just want to take a nap in those seats!

au1994

28firefighter said:

I should give one of these a test drive.

Enjoying your test drive reports and search. Any interest in a Civic Si? A friend has a silver 4 door and its a really nice package. Handles well, scoots along with the 205hp motor and is delivering 40 on they highway. Not sure if its going to be big enough in the back for car seats though.

tjc78

au1994 said:

@tjc78 - Love the Volvo. Congrats and that is an excellent color combo. I just want to take a nap in those seats!

Thanks ! This morning I finally got to drive it by myself.

It can certainly move if you want to push it. I see no buyer’s remorse with this one.

28firefighter

au1994 said:

28firefighter said:

I should give one of these a test drive.

Enjoying your test drive reports and search. Any interest in a Civic Si? A friend has a silver 4 door and its a really nice package. Handles well, scoots along with the 205hp motor and is delivering 40 on they highway. Not sure if its going to be big enough in the back for car seats though.

Funny you bring it up, a family member suggested it to me last night. It is probably a closer competitor to the GLI than the Accord in terms of size, but doesn't keep up performance wise. I have the Honda sales guy I worked with keeping an eye out, but Civic Si sedan inventory is really tight up here.

If I can get my hands on one to try out, I will and will report back.

xwesx

nyccarguy said:

Cabin is airy and light. AC does an incredible job at cooling the canine down on a very hot day.

LOL


Carry dogs in your cars a lot, do you?

stickguy

It is important. Dogs can die in a hot car in minutes.

xwesx

Speaking of Tesla, I saw a Model 3 in Fairbanks yesterday. Even had Alaska plates on it! First one I've seen 'in the wild' this far north. It wasn't anything to look at: Just a bland black with oversized wheels. But, there it sat, plain as day.

marcogallo1986

@zwest. Nice people are getting them in your neck of the woods now to was only a matter of time. I agree with you and stick guy, yes dogs could die in a car in a matter of minutes. And a hot postcard that is ha ha Ha. Let me correct that now before I post it. @TJC you are welcomme!

marcogallo1986

@ New York car guy, nice write up on the two new cars your friends got in the past year or color combos on both sounds lovely what of my favorites.

marcogallo1986

@TJC Love how you have the white interior color even though might get dirty quick preferred over black.

marcogallo1986

@TJC Beautiful color combination.

marcogallo1986

@ stick guy, yes I agree best to see it in person even if I could see well I would still want to go see it in person pictures don’t do any good Ha ha ha. Yes get the wife out as soon as you can just start looking on Sundays when everything is closed over there.

Michaell

It's done.

For the first time since I was 18, I no longer have a car that is "mine".

Now I'm officially sharing the Outback with the spouse.

The turn in event was pretty benign. The VW dealer directed me to the sister Audi store for the paperwork and handoff. The "Trade in Appraisals" desk was separate from the showroom and is likely used for all brands for this dealer ownership group (VW, Audi, Volvo and Mazda). Guy took my keys, confirmed the mileage (16,695 was the final number) and signed a paper indicating I've turned the car in. They removed and gave me the plates, and I was on my way. Maybe 10 minutes, total.

Quite anticlimactic.

stickguy

that sounds exactly like the 2 lease turn ins I have done. Much less exciting than trading in for a new one!

Michaell

stickguy said:

that sounds exactly like the 2 lease turn ins I have done. Much less exciting than trading in for a new one!

I'm trying to remember the last lease turn in I did. Probably 20 years ago with the Accord I got when I first moved to CO.

stickguy

was bored today at my desk, so wrote out a "short" list of the options for the next car (either new, or slightly used loaner or CPO). All small-mid sized CUV types (with a random wagon in there).

Short in "" since I came up with 11 options. And I am sure if I thought more I could make it longer, but I ran out of lines on the paper. A few probably wouldn't fly with the wife, but I do like to keep a couple of more "budget friendly" options. She does admit that she is now a brand snob, so going to a mainstream brand from an Acura would be a tough sell! And there are a couple of domestics I like that I know she never will consider.

as of this moment, I would be looking at:

RDX
2020 Outback
X3
V60
XC60
RAV 4 hybrid
Murano SV
Tuarag
Q5
NX300
Passport

tjc78

Nothing wrong with any of those choices, but aren’t you in few different size classes?

pensfan83

@tjc78 I love the car, the color combo really works. Enjoy it!

28firefighter

I'd take the Murano off the list - I don't see any planet under which she'd be happy with that next to any of the others on that list.

tifighter

Meanwhile, at Volvo corporate-

Sven: Turns out people are cross-shopping the Honda Passport to the V60.

Olaf: [spits Lingonberry juice all over office]

28firefighter

tifighter said:

Meanwhile, at Volvo corporate-

Sven: Turns out people are cross-shopping the Honda Passport to the V60.

Olaf: [spits Lingonberry juice all over office]

Now THAT'S funny.

tjc78

What’s even funnier is that Sven and Olaf are two major characters in a big (huge) kids movie.

Frozen for those of you without young ones.

corvette

I would nix the RAV4 Hybrid. I don’t see a huge benefit over the standard RAV. Acceleration will be disappointing compared to anything else on that list, other than perhaps a 4-cyl Outback.

Michaell

tifighter said:

Meanwhile, at Volvo corporate-

Sven: Turns out people are cross-shopping the Honda Passport to the V60.

Olaf: [spits Lingonberry juice all over office]

I actually know someone who's doing just that for their next vehicle.

Actually, it's the V90, but still...

pensfan83

The Tacoma contract was fleshed out and it resulted in several hundred dollars back to me, no complaints.

After taking care of the truck we decided to make a day of it and head up to Ohiopyle since we were over halfway there. Made an impromptu stop in Walmart for swim suits, towels, and other essentials and enjoyed a hot, but fun day up there.

Michaell

pensfan83 said:

The Tacoma contract was fleshed out and it resulted in several hundred dollars back to me, no complaints.

After taking care of the truck we decided to make a day of it and head up to Ohiopyle since we were over halfway there. Made an impromptu stop in Walmart for swim suits, towels, and other essentials and enjoyed a hot, but fun day up there.

Time to change your signature!

xwesx

pensfan83 said:

The Tacoma contract was fleshed out and it resulted in several hundred dollars back to me, no complaints.

After taking care of the truck we decided to make a day of it and head up to Ohiopyle since we were over halfway there. Made an impromptu stop in Walmart for swim suits, towels, and other essentials and enjoyed a hot, but fun day up there.

Jealous here. Congrats on getting it sorted, and on being able to make a great day of it!

stickguy

A Passport to a V60 makes sense. Heck, last time I was cross-shopping a Civic Si and Ram pickup!

There is a little bit of a spread in size, but they are still (to me) roughly the same class. smaller to larger mid-size, 2 row CUVs. I think the Outback is the longest at 191", and Rav/NX shortest at 180". Other criteria is pretty well loaded with goodies. Gotta have power passenger seat, memory drivers seat, moonroof, carplay, high end stereo, BLIS, adaptive cruise, at a minimum. Would also like the other goodies I have now like auto wipers, ventilated seats, LED headlights. Beyond that, needs to drive respectable, be comfy on the highway, and fast enough to be entertaining.

The RAV, I know that is a non starter, but I at least pretend to have some more budget friendly options! The Murano, that was more of a curiosity option (that and a screaming deal on Honcker!). But I suspect one look at it and the wife will Ixnay it.

I forgot to add the Santa Fe Turbo, so throw that on instead.

fintail

Funny how some things are regional . There must be a dozen 3s in my office parking garage alone. It'd be interesting to see how one fares in a Fairbanks winter.

xwesx said:

Speaking of Tesla, I saw a Model 3 in Fairbanks yesterday. Even had Alaska plates on it! First one I've seen 'in the wild' this far north. It wasn't anything to look at: Just a bland black with oversized wheels. But, there it sat, plain as day.

stickguy

I see a fair amount of them around here (suburban Philly area).

stickguy

here's one for Roadburner. barely broken in.

not sure what a NISMO adds to this.

https://www.eimports4less.com/details-2019-nissan-370z_coupe-certified_370z_sport_manual_transmission_xenon_camera-used-jn1az4eh0km420582.html

stickguy

this must be a rare duck. Oddly equipped with some expensive options but skimped on other basic stuff. But probably a fun drive. Too bad no pics of the Coral interior.

https://www.eimports4less.com/details-2017-bmw-3_series-certified_330i_m_sport_package_6_speed_manual_trans-used-wba8b9c51hk676527.html

suydam

stickguy said:

was bored today at my desk, so wrote out a "short" list of the options for the next car (either new, or slightly used loaner or CPO). All small-mid sized CUV types (with a random wagon in there).

Short in "" since I came up with 11 options. And I am sure if I thought more I could make it longer, but I ran out of lines on the paper. A few probably wouldn't fly with the wife, but I do like to keep a couple of more "budget friendly" options. She does admit that she is now a brand snob, so going to a mainstream brand from an Acura would be a tough sell! And there are a couple of domestics I like that I know she never will consider.

as of this moment, I would be looking at:

RDX
2020 Outback
X3
V60
XC60
RAV 4 hybrid
Murano SV
Tuarag
Q5
NX300
Passport

What would her list look like?

stickguy

Her list?

1) something with no payment
2) If passing on #1, and RDX, with an X3 of the Volvo if the $ worked OK.
3) the Sube if the interior is really as nice as a new Volvo.

suydam

Well, that’s a lot simpler, isn’t it!

benjaminh

stickguy said:

...as of this moment, I would be looking at:
RDX
2020 Outback
X3
V60
XC60
RAV 4 hybrid
Murano SV
Tuarag
Q5
NX300
Passport

If you get a Costco quote on a new Q5 I'd be interested in the numbers.

Would you consider the VW Golf Sportwagen?

The interior of the RDX really wowed me when I was at the Acura dealer.

The new Honda Passport seems good, but would that be a bit large for you? But I really like the rear visibility in that car. The back windows look functional rather than small.

The V60 looks good. I like it in this video where at c.8 minutes he goes under the car to look at some of the mechanical parts in some detail.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Y56oBYyAfY

au1994

stickguy said:

was bored today at my desk, so wrote out a "short" list of the options for the next car (either new, or slightly used loaner or CPO). All small-mid sized CUV types (with a random wagon in there).

Short in "" since I came up with 11 options. And I am sure if I thought more I could make it longer, but I ran out of lines on the paper. A few probably wouldn't fly with the wife, but I do like to keep a couple of more "budget friendly" options. She does admit that she is now a brand snob, so going to a mainstream brand from an Acura would be a tough sell! And there are a couple of domestics I like that I know she never will consider.

as of this moment, I would be looking at:

RDX
2020 Outback
X3
V60
XC60
RAV 4 hybrid
Murano SV
Tuarag
Q5
NX300
Passport

Great list! In addition to the Santa Fe, a CR-V Touring is a really nice ride and surprisingly roomy as a more budget friendly option. Staying away from the domestics, I'd say you've got the market pretty well covered.

marcogallo1986

@ stick dry, that’s quite the list they are I have the wife start looking at soon going to go each weekend and look at a few. Lol

stickguy

Not sure if passport will feel too large, but that’s probably the closest in concept to her current RDX, with the same basic drivetrain.

We looked at CRV last year. She just didn’t like it. Mostly the CVT.

She also doesn’t like VW much to start with. Tiguan might fly but the Golf will just be too small. Q5 might turn her head, though we aren’t Costco members so can’t help there.

marcogallo1986

@pensman. Glad all was sorted out with the contract. For your new truck and you are good to go. How was your day trip

pensfan83

Only getting a look at the Passport from the outside we like it. Looks like a smaller, slightly sportier version of the Pilot. Give the incentives available on Volvo with the Costco membership you may want to sign up if only for the perks they sometimes throw out if a Volvo is on your list.

tjc78

Tiguan might fly but the Golf will just be too small

Did the Tiguan get bigger? I saw one yesterday and it seemed much larger than I remembered.