Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
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Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)
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I lusted after 2002s for many years. My first car, back in 1970, was a 1967 BMW 1600. It was a fun car, but I just knew that more power would be a good thing. More recently, I found myself scanning Craigslist, looking for a nice 318ti. You have one, right?
I finally found a really nice one; late model (1998), low miles, 5-spd, cloth seats (which I prefer), sport pkg, deep blue, beautiful and from a good neighborhood. The price was a little high, but for such a nice, unmolested example of an increasingly rare model, I thought it was a bargain.
I just couldn't do it. I'm just too practical and two cars at that time would have been one to many... and I couldn't give up my Tacoma. I tried once, and I went into pickup-withdrawl... shakes, sweats, voices in my head... all from the mere thought of going pickup-less.
I know, I don't belong on this thread. I'll leave now.
James :P
Well, the Bentley dance has started..... the most beautiful Bentley convertible has arrived and we will start negotiations probably on Friday. The list is $233K.
First, I'm not paying list. It they can't negotiate, I'll order at a different dealer in a different state. We'll see. My experience has been that it's been very difficult buying a car in California. I've always bought them elsewhere at a better price.
Maybe we'll workout something this time. :confuse:
M156
The funny thing is that if you keep it a year and drive it 12k miles it will be worth about the same in trade in. So keep it a year, you may just be having buyers remorse and it will grow on you.
Today I take that money and pay down the loan on my Pilot, refinance it at 4.75% a big change from what the interest rate is on it. We are refinancing the Civic as well, another big drop in interest rate.
In the past month I have paid off $35k in debt............
But I'm curious, why were you going to buy another big truck when you just sold one?
Mark156
Well we still have our travel trailer, we will eventually need to get something to tow it or its just a really expensive garden gnome.
Why did we sell the dually? We did not need a truck that big, plus we were making payments on something that wasn't being driven much, it seemed silly to keep it.
At least now we are making payments on something that is driven all the time (the Civic).
When it comes to buying a truck I'll pay cash and then not feel bad about it sitting most of the time. That however can wait until next summer, don't need it that bad right now...........have to learn this need vs want thing, lol.
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too many CCB'ers to keep tabs on what everyone is looking at. ;P
The lease is the convertible bimmer? is that right?
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Stick around; we'll turn you to the Dark Side sooner or later...
I still love my ti; It's been dead nuts reliable over the 13 years and 113000 miles I've owned it. It's needed less than $500 of non-scheduled maintenance. I doubt that I'll ever sell it.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Today, we are targeting an '08 X3.. The wife swears she needs an SUV. Funny how you have to pass an eye test to get a driver's license, but still can't see how high the gas prices are.. BMWFS just improved the lease program, mid-month.. Which hopefully means they are looking to move them..
I don't have high hopes, though... My dealer, which is pretty great in every respect, is one of those relationship dealers.. :surprise: You know.. "We hope you love Bimmers as much as we do!!"
Not that I mind the free Starbucks and pastries... free BMW loaners, etc, etc.. But, I buy on price... :shades:
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The color is a dark blue. I'll report back on my first drive this weekend...
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
I know all that would bug me! :shades: PS I bought gas for my leaf blower today, $2.79 for regular. Of course it could be $5 before your lease is up, or not (?)
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Now, I'm making room in the garage for my new 2009 Bentley Continental GTC (convertible), Mulliner package, leather interior with contrasting stitching, special order metallic paint, Naim radio.... beautiful car. The process should be completed by Tuesday.
I'll post a pic when I can.
M156 (doing my best to help the economy) :surprise:
That's nice of you Mark. And you're doing your best to keep this CCBA board active.
Now if you can hook up the Bentley GTC behind your motorhome and drag it across the country, wouldn't that be something? :P
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
True story,.... I saw a motorhome pulling a helicopter... the blades were folded up. It was a sight to see.
Mark156
M156
The new ride has a W-12... 11 city, 17 hwy. 0-60 in 4.8 sec., 552 hp.
M156
I'm guessing we'll be about $30-$40 month apart... He took a trip up to his finance manager and said a new one would be about $200 more per month... which leads me to believe we won't strike a deal. I've worked the numbers and even $100 more per month for a new one is a stretch.
Today, taking the wife up to take a test drive. We'll see what she thinks. I noticed their ad in the paper today knocks about $4K off the (insanely high) asking prices of their '06 CPO models. That puts them pretty close to market pricing... so, that may be a possibility. They have one that is Sapphire Black (metallic) with TerraCotta leather... It's stunning!
I've got till the end of the month for the special programs they are running right now.... and my lease isn't up until almost the end of November, so no real hurry.. The new lease program is about $50/mo. better than the one back in August...
regards,
kyfdx
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No doubt your plan for when you turn 51.....
I think the poor economy and tightened lending has killed off most of the highly-subsidized, screaming-deal leases.
For 2008 X3s, a 3yr/45K lease has an MF of .00125 and a residual of 62%.. Those are really strong lease numbers.
There are some good lease deals still around, but most of it is due to year-end incentives.. They can either throw cash at them, or give a cheap lease program... Pay now or pay later..
regards,
kyfdx
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Did I mention I offer car-sitting services for luxury automobiles, when their owners are away on holidays?
I'll take your car for a drive to give it it's daily required excercise, wash it, feed it, pamper it. Just so it doesn't get lonely or out of shape :P
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
M156
Drove to the bank to take care of paperwork.........on the way I started thinking, what has my Pilot done wrong to deserve being traded in?? The answer.........nothing, its been a great car, yeah the seats suck in some ways, but I've learned to deal with it. So, I refinanced my Pilot.........what the heck is wrong with me???? :sick:
Me, I troll the new car lots ceaselessly despite ordering myself not to, but the truth is there is nothing out there that really catches my fancy. Subaru has made some notable improvements to the Imprezas - rear discs for all, and the premium now has a moonroof - but I dunno...they look nice, they are fun to drive, but they still get the same old lousy mileage they did when I bought my last one almost 12 years ago.
I like the Fit, but it's too similar to my Matrix to bother making the switch. I sort of had my eye on Tacomas again - for '09 there are some significant upgrades, including standard 6 airbags and stability control to go along with the standard ABS they already had, and the basic extended cab is a pretty good deal, or I could go 4-cylinder PreRunner for not much more money. Of course they have the same fuel economy as that Impreza I am ignoring on that very basis....
This is also the last year of the current Mazda3, and they seem to have some OK deals, or at least the dealer I visited today had some good specials posted in windows. That MazdaSpeed3 is a heck of a deal for only $23K sticker.
But nothing moves me to make a deal. What is wrong with me? I think I need something really different to come out. I am still keeping the CRZ release in mind, as well as the new jointly-developed Toyota/Subaru RWD sport coupe, both a good two years away yet...
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Its not that bad, probably the only thing (well, that and where the sunroof controls are) that bugs me. The Pilot won't be going anywhere anytime soon, hope to keep it at least another year or longer..........hubby keeps saying its under warranty for 120k miles and I darn well better keep it that long, lol.
Truthfully its probably the only car I've ever owned that I can't find much fault with, its reliable, nice to drive, great in the snow, and an all around pleasant car. My back is touchy about any seats, I've only had a handful of cars over the years that don't bother me and they were usually unreliable (the Titan comes to mind).
I'm in no hurry to dump the Pilot, it turned 30k miles the other day and has yet to have any issues. That to me means more than a super comfy seat, lol. The Titan had amazing seats, but the problem was I spent way too much time in the seats at the dealership service dept!!!
Don't start taking bets yet, I think the Pilot will be around for a while. I need to put a truck in the yard by this time next year, gotta pull the TT and horses around with something. (I keep hearing my Pilot say "oh no, not me, I'm not pulling a thing, might break a nail or something")
As to seats, I am the same way. Some cars just do not work for me. And from reading the forums, Hondas seem to be a real love/hate. My Accord is actually good now, but it took a while to get used to it.
Our Odyssey is actually very comfy for me, but others wanted to sue Honda because it hurt them so bad! But, I sat in a new style Accord, and hated them. Same with the Civic. I originally went to get one of them, and the seats were terrible for me, and I ended up with an Accord.
If that really is your only issue, there were some psoters that took the car to a professional shop and had the seat foam reworked to improve the lumbar area and reshape it. You can also have the lumbar support bar taken out, since that seems to be the real problem area.
Or of course, some creative use of faom cushions and an exacto knife and custom make yourself a back support?
In any case, now that winter is settling in up there, the other attributes will probably take precedence!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
My problem know is I have added a ~90/daily RT commute, so some of the cars I would have found in the past that were fun or interesting are out, as being to rough/thirsty/miled up/generally unsuited to long stop/go commutes. Reliability is more important when you don't work within walking distance of the house!
That, and I recently got a dog that I woul like to be able to transport. And an 85 pound lab doesn't fit all that well in the back seat of a sedan!
I also want something with enough luxury and creature comforts (and safety) to coddle my aging bones, and also to serve as a viable family transport mobile when we don't need the sheer volume of the minivan.
And finally, I don't really want/need/like an SUV, unless it is a real poser (like a FWD Highlander, which is a glorified SW), although they have other limitations, like fun to drive, etc.
So not much left. At this point, I am trolling around for the right Volvo wagon. Probably a V70 for the extra room/comfort. But of course, for every 10 XC70s, there is 1 FWD normal V70. And it has to be a turbo model, since slow cars just don't stay around long.
Alas, clean used V70 2.5T wagons with just FWD are rare as hens teeth, at least ones at a good price.
Good thing winter is coming. NE dealers, besides having too many cars as is, tend to load up on AWD units this time of year, so eventually the perfect orphan FWD unit will cheap sell at the auction for me!
Or I go out some day and impulsively buy something totally impractical. DOne that before too!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
My wife has the bug and both of those are on her short list. If you didn't already have the Matrix, which one would win the coin toss? (She wants a manual, btw).
The Mazda3 was on her list but she crossed it off when she saw the three star side crash test results.
It's been 5 years since we picked up the used Outback from a friend and 10 years since we've visited a dealer showroom. Yikes!
We moved about a month ago, we are leasing a beautiful house in the southern part (read: WARMER) of the state. Winter here is nothing compared to what we had, lol. Downside is hubby has one heck of a commute, but with his schedule is only a once a week thing and the Civic isn't too hard on the wallet to drive 500 miles/week.
I never realized how nice a garage was until the other morning when it snowed a bit and I was able to pull a warm, dry, snow free car out of the garage, lol.
I can go a lifetime without ever seeing 50 below zero again!
As for the Pilot's seats, its not that big of a deal for what little driving I do anymore, its only a major issue if I have to drive over a couple hours. Its not enough of a problem for me to want to give up my Pilot, I knew if I traded it for an Odyssey I'd regret it the next morning. Kinda like going to the bar and waking up the next morning.............well, you know the rest, lol.
You're saying Toyota actually put 6 airbags standard on every Tacoma? You don't have to buy the double-cab, it's not a scarce option that you have to go crazy trying to find one, etc? Amazing.
Have you test-driven a Mini yet? 1-series? They may not fit with your plan at all, but Heck, as long as you're out there test-driving everything.......would at least be fun!
You should have lived in Boston/Cambridge in the early 70's (2 of the best bar towns in history, at least then)........aahhhhh, the good old days........I even remember some of it....... :P
But on the flip side, a lot of the stuff about the Honda is better, in unsurprising ways: the shifter, the controls, the connection to the road, the overall balance of ride and handling, the seats (that one is subjective though), the stereo. And of course, the Fit is less money to buy new, although there's no factory moonroof, something I always go for when it's available.
And woody: yes, every Tacoma now has 6 airbags and stability control (and ABS, but that's not new), even the $15K base model short cab. Wonders really do never cease, eh?! ;-)
Personally, I think it's curious that all that safety gear is standard now, but A/C still isn't. You have to buy the $1200 "enhancement package" to get A/C, and a sliding rear window and different-style steel rims come with it.
1-series: no interest at all. Mini, well I love 'em, almost bought a base Cooper when they first came out, but the dealer is soooo faaaar awaaaay. One of these days I will get around to test driving the new Cooper, though. :-)
If I ever got interested in those, I guess I would have to resign myself to paying full sticker? I don't know how one goes about negotiating the purchase price on a car one has to order to get.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Not to mention its bigger, heavier, and uglier than yours. Be happy you got one before the redesign, I say.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Ugh, the Taco was on my short list last spring before I leased the Pilot...the lack of side airbags on the extended cab was THE deal breaker. Sort of kills me to hear they have them now as there have been sometimes I would have liked to have a truck. Like when I need to tow my helicopter...
25 NX 450h+ / 24 Sienna Plat AWD / 23 Civic Type-R / 21 Boxster GTS 4.0 / 03 Montero Ltd
I sometimes take my sister and brother-in-law and their two kids (both still in car seats) places in the Matrix. It's a bit tight, but manageable for an hour's ride. It would be impossible in the Fit. Seeing as that's something I need to do at least once or twice a month, I guess I would still go with the Matrix, but I would be wishing all the time that Honda made a Civic 5-door......
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
I like it. It's the "longer, lower, wider" of the millennial-era vehicles...
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Packed all sorts of rope, etc., because I was certain we'd have to leave it sticking out of the trunk...
But, moved the front seat all the way forward, folded down the 60% side (right side) of the rear seat, and it slid right in with an inch to spare! No hatchback needed!
Of course, my son had to ride in the seat behind mine... he couldn't even come close to getting in the front seat, with it moved all the way forward.
I guess my point is.. You might be surprised what would fit in a FIT!!
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Sometimes even it is a stretch:
25 NX 450h+ / 24 Sienna Plat AWD / 23 Civic Type-R / 21 Boxster GTS 4.0 / 03 Montero Ltd
Yeah, I was having some Taco cravings a couple of years ago. At that time, side & head airbags were also pretty scarce on 4runners; don't know if they have changed that as well.......
25 NX 450h+ / 24 Sienna Plat AWD / 23 Civic Type-R / 21 Boxster GTS 4.0 / 03 Montero Ltd