Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

corvette

On my parents' Q5, my dad used to always hit the disable button for the auto start/stop immediately after starting it. He hasn't done it the last few times I've ridden with him. I think people get used to it. It's never bothered me on the rental cars I've had which were so equipped.

They brought me back my G37 today and picked up the Q5 at the dealer after the tire was replaced. There was a black R8 convertible with temporary plates sitting in the service bay, probably ready to be delivered.

stickguy

oh yeah, forgot one cool thing the Santa Fe had. It comes with the surround view camera so you can have 360 overhead picture. Wife loved seeing where it was in the parking spot. Can also turn on the front camera whenever it is in drive. very handy for parking.

Michaell

stickguy said:

oh yeah, forgot one cool thing the Santa Fe had. It comes with the surround view camera so you can have 360 overhead picture. Wife loved seeing where it was in the parking spot. Can also turn on the front camera whenever it is in drive. very handy for parking.

The kids' Tucson also has that feature. Pretty cool.

qbrozen

mjfloyd1 said:

This place has rebuilt transfer cases and offers rebuild kits but looks like you would need to call

https://www.transfercaseking.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjw0vTtBRBREiwA3URt7lH_ZsJ6udhtBptoBrM4BcVDNFjTLI-1MnZJU6Fdv5wk_MOKAMzBAxoCHuAQAvD_BwE

I saw that place but it looked like they focus on older stuff. Couldn’t hurt to call.

qbrozen

breld said:

Q - what’s auction/trade on something like this? Cause it seems to be priced well.

2019 Jeep GC Trailhawk. 12k miles. Hemi. Pretty basic option wise, other than what comes on a Trailhawk .

https://www.echopark.com/used/Jeep/2019-Jeep-Grand+Cherokee-e03142830a0e0a6b691c1603c9133d0d.htm

They picked it up in Florida on 10/7 for $34k, so that’s quite a good price.

mjfloyd1

qbrozen said:

mjfloyd1 said:

This place has rebuilt transfer cases and offers rebuild kits but looks like you would need to call

https://www.transfercaseking.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjw0vTtBRBREiwA3URt7lH_ZsJ6udhtBptoBrM4BcVDNFjTLI-1MnZJU6Fdv5wk_MOKAMzBAxoCHuAQAvD_BwE

I saw that place but it looked like they focus on older stuff. Couldn’t hurt to call.

Looks like the 2.4 L motor has issues with timing chains and the sound is described as clicking or like an empty coffee can with marbles rolling around.

https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/4416052/Re:_Problems_with_GM_2.4_Ecote#Post4416121

qbrozen

mjfloyd1 said:

qbrozen said:

mjfloyd1 said:

This place has rebuilt transfer cases and offers rebuild kits but looks like you would need to call

https://www.transfercaseking.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjw0vTtBRBREiwA3URt7lH_ZsJ6udhtBptoBrM4BcVDNFjTLI-1MnZJU6Fdv5wk_MOKAMzBAxoCHuAQAvD_BwE

I saw that place but it looked like they focus on older stuff. Couldn’t hurt to call.

Looks like the 2.4 L motor has issues with timing chains and the sound is described as clicking or like an empty coffee can with marbles rolling around.

https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/4416052/Re:_Problems_with_GM_2.4_Ecote#Post4416121

Yup. But my engine runs great. Only when moving do I get the grinding noise.

sda

Echopark opened in Charlotte in the past year. Sonic Automotive which owns Echopark is also located in Charlotte. EP seems to have good prices and prices on extended warranties are presented up front and seem to be fairly priced but still a bit expensive. I visited EP last time I had the Accord serviced, and they had a crowd in the show room. I was going to look at a TLX V6 tech but no one was available to help and as I wasn’t buying (yet) I headed home.

breld

qbrozen said:

breld said:

Q - what’s auction/trade on something like this? Cause it seems to be priced well.

2019 Jeep GC Trailhawk. 12k miles. Hemi. Pretty basic option wise, other than what comes on a Trailhawk .

https://www.echopark.com/used/Jeep/2019-Jeep-Grand+Cherokee-e03142830a0e0a6b691c1603c9133d0d.htm

They picked it up in Florida on 10/7 for $34k, so that’s quite a good price.

Thanks Q. That certainly makes it tempting - I'd totally be a poser when it comes to the Trailhawk off-road features, and I don't need the Hemi for any towing or the like...but that probably just puts me in the same bucket as 90% of Jeep buyers.

breld

sda said:

Echopark opened in Charlotte in the past year. Sonic Automotive which owns Echopark is also located in Charlotte. EP seems to have good prices and prices on extended warranties are presented up front and seem to be fairly priced but still a bit expensive. I visited EP last time I had the Accord serviced, and they had a crowd in the show room. I was going to look at a TLX V6 tech but no one was available to help and as I wasn’t buying (yet) I headed home.

Echopark has been here in CO for several years now - my impression is they've struggled a bit going up against Carmax. There are at least a couple of locations that have closed down.

More recently, they shifted to exclusively selling vehicles 4 years old or newer with clean Carfaxes. There may be a mileage limit too. Along with their no-haggle pricing, which seems to be pretty reasonable if not good, it makes for a pretty good shopping experience.

breld

By the way, I love the ability to view the original Monroney sticker for Chrysler vehicles (via Carfax or otherwise). It's extremely helpful when shopping used models.

nyccarguy

qbrozen said:

breld said:

Q - what’s auction/trade on something like this? Cause it seems to be priced well.

2019 Jeep GC Trailhawk. 12k miles. Hemi. Pretty basic option wise, other than what comes on a Trailhawk .

https://www.echopark.com/used/Jeep/2019-Jeep-Grand+Cherokee-e03142830a0e0a6b691c1603c9133d0d.htm

They picked it up in Florida on 10/7 for $34k, so that’s quite a good price.

Florida? Is it 4WD?

stickguy

it is. I Assume a trailhawk has to be, but I did go check the ad!

mjfloyd1

Teen invents device to eliminate blind spots while driving. How cool is this?

https://m.newser.com/story/282498/hate-blind-spots-while-driving-this-teen-has-a-solution.html

kyfdx

stickguy said:

it is. I Assume a trailhawk has to be, but I did go check the ad!

Yes. Trailhawk is AWD only

breld

@stickguy - since I’m looking at grand Cherokees, I was searching for comparison tests. Ran across one that put it up against the Blazer, Passport and Santa Fe, and they picked the Santa Fe the winner with the Honda 2nd and the Jeep last.

So you’re not alone in appreciating the new Santa Fe.

breld

By the way, I test drove an X5 yesterday along with the few Jeeps. This was a 2016 xdrive 35i with the M-sport package. Really sharp in white.

Halfway through the test drive, a warning light came on regarding the car temperature and the engine power was cut back.

I think it still has another year left on its factory warranty, but still not giving me the warm and fuzzy’s.

xwesx

marcogallo1986 said:

Good morning all, hope that everyone had a good week, happy Friday everybody. Anyone doing any car looking this weekend?

I was thinking about it, but I couldn't find anything with a terrible eagle boost, so I just scratched the whole trip.

xwesx

qbrozen said:

Bad news. The Chevy is still not a happy camper. Noise has continued to worsen. After the axles made no difference, I elevated all 4 tires off the ground, put her in gear, and slid under. It seems the transfer case is making a racket. I’ve read this is common and most people replace them. That is big bucks, though. I am pondering either cutting my losses now or attempting a rebuild myself. Problem is, thus far, I have been unsuccessful in finding the bearings and seals it would require. I may have to disassemble before having parts in hand so I can match up what I need. Sigh.

Ugh. That is so frustrating! Darn these complicated cars!!!!

xwesx

corvette said:

For anyone curious about the rattling copper pipes at my house - I think I figured out what the problem was. I had flushed the water heater out shortly before the problem began. I purged all of the air out of the pipes, but neglected to purge what I assume was a small air bubble on the T&P relief valve. Once I did that, the problem disappeared.

Amazingly, when I flushed the water heater, I put the drain hose in a bucket to see how much sediment would come out, and didn't see any (or any rust), even though it had been six months since I previously flushed it. I keep the temperature set fairly low (below 120 degrees), so that probably helps keep the amount of sediment down.

Finally resolved! Out of curiosity, how often do you replace the anode rod? If you have not done that, you should consider it. If sedimentation dropped off dramatically in the last six months, it could be a sign that the anode is used up.

xwesx

breld said:

Thanks Q. That certainly makes it tempting - I'd totally be a poser when it comes to the Trailhawk off-road features, and I don't need the Hemi for any towing or the like...but that probably just puts me in the same bucket as 90% of Jeep buyers.

Nah. 95%.

qbrozen

Very sparkly gear oil came out of the transfer case.


There is quite a bit of play in the output shaft. I pulled the driveshaft hoping the reduced drag would quiet it down, but no dice.


I've sent emails to a couple of places on car-part.com who have somewhat low mileage used units.

stickguy

I might be able to get those parts off. but I am sure I would never get them back on.

xwesx

qbrozen said:

Very sparkly gear oil came out of the transfer case.

Oh, no. That's bad. LOL

Good luck on the replacement. With as many Equinox/Terrain as there are out there, it shouldn't be too much drama to get a decent used unit. What were the miles on this one again?

Just looking at that gear oil from afar, I'm going to take an educated guess that it had never been replaced. As such, neglect killed it. You should probably approach any other (non-engine oil) fluids in the car the same way and give it a good going through. It is just criminal to kill expensive mechanical parts like differentials, transmissions, and transfer cases by ignoring their lubrication needs!

stickguy

Breld, thanks. I need to look for that. But A Jeep is wasted on us. We will never take it offroad.

breld

stickguy said:

Breld, thanks. I need to look for that. But A Jeep is wasted on us. We will never take it offroad.

Here it is. It's a bit of an odd assortment of vehicles, but interesting in any case.

The Jeep is definitely outdated, but they've done a good job updating it enough and keeping it competitive. So from a purely objective perspective and based on what buyers need their SUV to do, it's not surprising the Jeep is last - but not unlike the Wrangler, there's a lot of character and image going on with the Grand Cherokee sales.

But nevertheless, very interesting that the Santa Fe garners the first place finish.

kyfdx

stickguy said:

I might be able to get those parts off. but I am sure I would never get them back on.

The only way I could get them off would be to drive over a 24" curb.

28firefighter

I gave my wife a morning off yesterday and took Sam out. We hit CarMax and then went to the park.

While we were walking home from the park, a Wrangler JK drove by. Stopped Sam in his tracks - he told me that for our fun car he wants me to get a stick shift jeep with no ceiling.

fintail

I remember when I was a little kid, I was fascinated by (floor shift) manuals. A family friend had a new Corolla at the time (the angular 1980 style, I remember the car), and the shifting was very interesting to me, maybe because the first cars I was exposed to were automatics until shortly after that when my dad got a Horizon, which was also a manual. Funny thing, as when I started driving, I didn't have any special interest in shifting for myself.

corvette

xwesx said:

Finally resolved! Out of curiosity, how often do you replace the anode rod? If you have not done that, you should consider it. If sedimentation dropped off dramatically in the last six months, it could be a sign that the anode is used up.

Never. I tried to get it loose to inspect it, using a breaker bar, and the water heater was shifting and pulling on the soldered copper pipes, so I was leery of breaking it in the process, and stopped. It's in an unfinished basement and there's a drain nearby, so if/when it starts leaking, the potential for disaster is fairly limited. It's probably getting replaced with a Rheem Marathon (fiberglass tank) when the time comes.

Previous owners of the house had it installed with the hot and cold pipes reversed. I figured that out pretty quickly when I discovered I could only take a quick five minute shower, with the thermostat set at 150. I have no clue how they lived with that condition for years.

qbrozen

xwesx said:

qbrozen said:

Very sparkly gear oil came out of the transfer case.

Oh, no. That's bad. LOL

Good luck on the replacement. With as many Equinox/Terrain as there are out there, it shouldn't be too much drama to get a decent used unit. What were the miles on this one again?

Just looking at that gear oil from afar, I'm going to take an educated guess that it had never been replaced. As such, neglect killed it. You should probably approach any other (non-engine oil) fluids in the car the same way and give it a good going through. It is just criminal to kill expensive mechanical parts like differentials, transmissions, and transfer cases by ignoring their lubrication needs!

121k.

Fluid color is very good, which you can’t tell within my black receptacle. I was attempting to pull the rear bearing but it wasn’t happening while in the vehicle. I got the yoke off with the puller laying on the floor in my pic. After an hour or so trying to remove the next layer, I bolted the yoke back on to stop the fluid coming out and drove it out of my garage for the time being.

xwesx

qbrozen said:

121k.

Fluid color is very good, which you can’t tell within my black receptacle. I was attempting to pull the rear bearing but it wasn’t happening while in the vehicle. I got the yoke off with the puller laying on the floor in my pic. After an hour or so trying to remove the next layer, I bolted the yoke back on to stop the fluid coming out and drove it out of my garage for the time being.

Too long if original. The next time you have it up, maybe pull the upper plug on the rear differential and dip a finger in there to see how the rear fluid looks. If you replace the fluid, significant buildup on the magnetic (lower) plug is a dead giveaway that its never been touched. In all the years of used vehicles I bought, only one (1998 DGC) had ever had any of those fluids replaced.

Not a fun job, but you're fighting the good fight! I'm cringing as I remember the wheel bearing on my Q7, and I didn't even need to get under the vehicle for that one! Replacing the transmission fluid might have been a reasonable approximation, considering what a nightmare that job was!

marcogallo1986

@qB sorry to hear the phantom noise is getting worse and louder and to hear that it’s potentially the transfer case. Yes if you can get the parts and rebuild it yourself since you have the knowledge to do it go that way or just potentially sell it with a used unit in there that’s hopefully noise free.

marcogallo1986

@breld oh man, so a punch is not happening this week then looking continues.

marcogallo1986

@ New York car guy, wow took quite some time for them to relist your G 35. We’re glad it’s finally listed. how was your sons bar mitzvah this past weekend?

roadburner

28firefighter said:

I gave my wife a morning off yesterday and took Sam out. We hit CarMax and then went to the park.

While we were walking home from the park, a Wrangler JK drove by. Stopped Sam in his tracks - he told me that for our fun car he wants me to get a stick shift jeep with no ceiling.

When my son was a toddler he could ID Jeeps, Mustangs and “Daddy cars”(BMWs). He even had a Power Wheels Wrangler that he literally drove about a mile every day. He was really excited when I bought my Wrangler, but what he thought was especially cool was the hand cranked windows.

stickguy

When my son was little he used to go peek into cars at the car show and announce if they had a stick shift. Tended to impress the owners.

roadburner

stickguy said:

When my son was little he used to go peek into cars at the car show and announce if they had a stick shift. Tended to impress the owners.

That reminds me of another story. BMW dealers used to have a kiosk where you could build the BMW you wanted to order. When my son was 4 or 5 he liked to use the kiosk and build cars order. In 1998 BMW had one of the kiosks at the BMW CCA Oktoberfest. My kid would sit at the kiosk and someone would say “Build a red M3” and he would have one on the screen in no time.

28firefighter

Now that is awesome! I used to do the same when I was younger. Before I could read, I would flip through car and driver looking for all the manual transmission cars.

Come to think of it, maybe I should get a C&D subscription again just for Sam to be able to flip through it. He is obsessed with "reading" so maybe he'd like it...

andres3

corvette said:

andres3 said:

I got Discount to take responsibility for sending 3 4S's tires back to Michelin. Grudgingly accepted that the 4th tire had 5/32nds on the inside tread, stubborn rubber. 3 out of 4 is better than 2, and certainly better than zero at Costco.

Nice! I've never seriously attempted to claim a tire mileage warranty, but glad it worked out for you. The Coopers on the G37 will probably lose traction due to age before the tread wears down, and the Yokohamas on the Tahoe were installed by the previous owner, so I have no idea on the time or mileage on them.

It's not as easy as you'd think, but Discount is the most user-customer friendly about it. They plug in the measurements, original and final mileage, age, and out pops up a credit discount as long as you are buying same branded tires. I didn't even buy the tires from them, so that's cool that the calculator doesn't care.

On an AWD car, tire manufacturers need to specify a bit of flexibility. They are incentivizing someone to drive on potentially dangerously overworn tires in order to not get "cheated" out of the other tires not being "worn" enough. With a 2WD car I wouldn't think twice about doing 2 at a time.

tjc78

So if you all recall I was working on a replacement car for Mom. Mid sized CUVs aren't leasing well right now as I went through a bunch looking for "deals"

She has told me she wants another RAV4 like she has in white. So.. I just contacted the Toyota salesperson who has sold her and our family countless cars now.

By my math with a discount that Toyota's typically go for I can't get her into a similar 2019 with the same payment she has.

I told the salesperson that she knows what she is paying now and to match it on the new one and she will sign right away. Today is the last day of the program so maybe that coincides with the fiscal sales month as well.

Let's see what happens. If she can't do it, I'll cast the nets and see what is the best deal I can get. This is a case of wanting a certain car rather than hacking a lease getting the most car for the least money.

Mom's lease was on an MSRP 31ish and change. Payment is $316 / $316 OOP. New one they had closest was $32,500

kyfdx

Got a winter beater
133K miles
Stick
$3400

Any guesses?

28firefighter

Plenty - but can you give us a couple more hints? AWD or FWD? American, European, Japanese, etc?

kyfdx

28firefighter said:

Plenty - but can you give us a couple more hints? AWD or FWD? American, European, Japanese, etc?

Japanese

kyfdx

FWD

28firefighter

I’ll guess an early 2000s Camry.

Edit: that can’t be right. They didn’t come in a Manual. I’ll say an EP3 Civic Si.

kyfdx

28firefighter said:

I’ll guess an early 2000s Camry.

Hatchback

kyfdx

Not too many Camry stickshifts

28firefighter

I revised my guess after my brain fart.

kyfdx

28firefighter said:

I revised my guess after my brain fart.

I like that guess. One of my favorites, but trying to stay away from the cool cars. Not cost efficient