Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

kyfdx

stickguy said:

A little more expensive, but low miles, better equipped and preferred interior color.

https://www.eimports4less.com/details-2017-bmw-3_series-certified_330i_sport_line_6_speed_manual_trans_nav_cam-used-wba8b9c5xhk676557.html

I like the Sport Seats. Not a fan of that beige interior, but the black carpets and dash really help it a lot.

The car isn't really "certified", if it's at a used car dealer. Not a bad price.

roadburner

stickguy said:

A little more expensive, but low miles, better equipped and preferred interior color.

https://www.eimports4less.com/details-2017-bmw-3_series-certified_330i_sport_line_6_speed_manual_trans_nav_cam-used-wba8b9c5xhk676557.html

Weird option set- Nav and nannies but no HIDs or H-K.
Pass.

28firefighter

Definitely need a car with HID and HK. There are enough of them out there.

fintail

Cars lacking lighting package are deal breakers for me. I am surprised they are even offered, as lighting package usually isn't insanely expensive. I always wonder about cars with several other options, but lacking something I see as a necessity.

corvette

28firefighter said:

Definitely need a car with HID and HK. There are enough of them out there.

I really want HID on my future vehicles--don't care if it's a fairly basic work truck, with HID and CarPlay. I'm not sold on the upgraded sound systems--the Mustang is the only car I've had with a truly awful factory setup, and $60 worth of new speakers fixed it. The Top 40 music I listen to is already edited to sound good on crummy stereos, and even the worst radio will play a podcast.

28firefighter

The HK system is nothing to write home about. But, the base BMW audio is really awful.

corvette

Like the book says: Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

stickguy

I’d have to try the lights to decide. Our RDX has halogens I think (not Xenons) and they are perfectly fine. Same for the radio, that’s going to be personal opinion. If nothing else can upgrade speakers!

Sandman6472

Definitely need an upgraded audio system as the music is important no matter how far one drives! Never have had the other stuff so can live without it. My VW didn't come with the lighting package but if it had, would've enjoyed it. But have to have good sounding tunes or, what's the point?

kyfdx

160 miles of interstate travel today. Light traffic, 70 mph limit. Traveling about 80, had two cars pass me today, estimated speed 95-100 mph (at least). One on the outbound trip, and one on the way back. ‘08 CR-V, and about a 5 yr old Civic.

No cover from other traffic moving near the same speed. Made me wonder how anyone keeps a driver’s license, that way.

28firefighter

This is around locally:
https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/d/oak-harbor-2011-volvo-c30-design/7032667080.html

It’s certainly interesting, but needs timing belt soon, plus clutch, windshield, and speaker repaired. Seems like a dear asking price given the needs...

Michaell

28firefighter said:

This is around locally:
https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/d/oak-harbor-2011-volvo-c30-design/7032667080.html

It’s certainly interesting, but needs timing belt soon, plus clutch, windshield, and speaker repaired. Seems like a dear asking price given the needs...

Tempting, but figure what, another $1-2K to address the needs? And it's got over 90,000 miles on it already.

28firefighter

Figure $2k for the immediate timing belt. Plus any suspension and front end needs. Few hundred for the windshield and speaker.

Assume another $2k for the inevitable clutch that you know will go within a week after getting it despite “feeling great” to the PO.

It’d be more interesting if the timing belt had been done or the asking price $2000-$2500 less.

stickguy

Like shifty said, that’s just a seller exercising their 1st amendment rights. If you like it, figure out a real value accounting for needs, make an offer and see what happens. Can always walk!

stickguy

I like the C30. But would want the premium package with moonroof and power seat. And that pop up Navi is pretty useless at this point.

corvette

kyfdx said:

160 miles of interstate travel today. Light traffic, 70 mph limit. Traveling about 80, had two cars pass me today, estimated speed 95-100 mph (at least). One on the outbound trip, and one on the way back. ‘08 CR-V, and about a 5 yr old Civic.

No cover from other traffic moving near the same speed. Made me wonder how anyone keeps a driver’s license, that way.

I covered about the same amount of ground. I didn't see any enforcement out on the 25th.

stickguy

We used to do our thruway drive early Christmas morning. Very little traffic But moving fast, and no cops usually. Not like this year on the 24th

28firefighter

stickguy said:

Like shifty said, that’s just a seller exercising their 1st amendment rights. If you like it, figure out a real value accounting for needs, make an offer and see what happens. Can always walk!

I don’t think I have the gall to offer someone THAT much less.

pensfan83

63 degrees, both vehicles got a well needed bath today. Have a nice bruise from walking right into the ball mount though, ugh.

ab348

20 degrees F here with a north wind means not only are zero cars being washed, but I'm not going out period. Although it is sunny.

pensfan83

This was yesterday. No white Christmas here...

kyfdx

pensfan83 said:

This was yesterday. No white Christmas here...

65 F in Cincinnati

67 F in Lexington, KY

fintail

Low 30s and cold fog when I left this morning - gotta love heated seats, heated armrests, and heated steering wheel.

Michaell

fintail said:

Low 30s and cold fog when I left this morning - gotta love heated seats, heated armrests, and heated steering wheel.

Heated armrest?

Now that's fancy.

fintail

Both front door armrests and the center console lid/armrest.

I still feel like the car is a little too posh for me

Michaell said:

Heated armrest?

Now that's fancy.

Sandman6472

Upper 70's here and finally got out today. Canceled the oil change for tomorrow and now, need a good wash/wax as the sprinklers here came on and got one side of the Golf, drivers side and roof as I'm backed in the driveway. Comes on here Thursday/Saturday like at home but forgot to ask. Would've pulled into the garage if I had known. Car does need to be cleaned anyways so...tomorrow after the oil change/rotation I guess. She has a decent one near here luckily.
Her water looks to be hard water so a good buffing might be in order to really get it out though my paint is in really good shape. A guy at work commented on how shiny it is.

qbrozen

Very rare and very cool.
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/share/258305277

28firefighter

That pinstripe though. The humanity.

stickguy

I could be happy with that Caddy. Love wagons.

corvette

Great color combo on that Caddy. I'd probably pay my body guy to remove the pinstripe.

kyfdx

I like that a lot.. seems like a high price for a 9 year old Caddy

qbrozen

I've removed far worse off far older vehicles without issue nor visible residual.

As for price, it is one of those cars that is damned near impossible to judge. Closest comp I have is from August for one with 11k more miles that fetched $10.6k at auction. Few more months have gone by, but the lower miles more than offset that. I'd venture a guess at $11k. So $13.5k-$14k is fairly reasonable.

stickguy

Might be reasonable market wise, but I wouldn’t pay that much. At 10k, I’d be in if it checked out. Not that I really trust a 9/YO caddy.

qbrozen

I trust it just as much as a Subaru or Volvo, which are pretty much the only 2 competitors. Or you could look for a 535xi wagon, but I definitely don't trust that one, personally.

I like this one quite a bit, but 92k miles is very much pushing my comfort level. I'm all too familiar with Volvo needs at about the 100k mark.

pensfan83

200 feet from that dealer. It's over there somewhere 👀

Michaell

Fix or replace? New member could use your sage advice....

https://forums.edmunds.com/discussion/59770/audi/q5/repair-engine-or-buy-lease-new-car#latest

Sandman6472

I have a pin stripe but it looks good, white over my blue. Tasteful.
Sat in some new Jeep Compasses last week at the dealer. Like 'em except their mpg's are a bit sucky. Had a red over black cloth demo with 3430 on the clock asking $21.5 Also had a gray over two-tone cloth seat, white/black, looked very nice, a new 2020 but wanted almost $28K as I recall. I'd go for the demo if I were in the market to be honest. Just caught my eye to be honest.

Sandman6472

Off for an oil change/rotation soon and then will get the car cleaned. Hate when the sprinklers get on my car, drives me nuts!!!

jmonroe

pensfan83 said:

200 feet from that dealer. It's over there somewhere 👀

I'm not quite that close but I could meet you there in about 35 minutes and the two of us can surely beat that dealer like a baby seal to get a knock-out deal for Mr. q. That's the least we can do for a poster buddy that has helped more than a few of us in here over the years. You in?

jmonroe

corvette

The radio in the Tahoe started making popping noises on the way back from lunch today, like it did when the main fuse was acting up. I turned the truck off and on again in the parking lot, and the radio powered up and acted normal but there was no sound from the speakers and no warning chime. We'll see whether it's reset itself when I leave today. I should probably scan for codes with my scan tool.

Edit: went outside and everything worked fine when I started it.

Sandman6472

Corvette, nice pic! Is that a Fitbit on your wrist? Got a similar Fitbit but must be doing something wrong as it doesn't charge easily. Having some issues though do try to make sure it lines up properly in the back.

Sandman6472

On the way to Tires Plus, Golf hit 62K so pulled over and looked at my receipts to see just what's up. The car is set saying to change the oil in 800 miles but, seems like I took it to VW in September at 58,029, so just about 4K on the clock. I've been doing every other oil change at the dealer. Decided it was a bit too early to swap out the oil right now, usually like to go to 7.5K as 10K is just too long for me. And now, I no longer do a 30 minute or more commute each way so it never quite gets warmed up and I'm either home or at the office.
Will wait till I get home and see what coupons the VW store has. Also, want to get the brakes checked as I might need to change out the front pads or possibly the rears. Last time checked, told me things were fine. But now that I'm over 62K, want to make totally sure and if close, would rather just get 'em done. Luckily, after this trip, won't be driving too far in the near future.

corvette

Sandman6472 said:

Corvette, nice pic! Is that a Fitbit on your wrist?

Thanks! Yes, it is - a Fitbit Inspire. I have a love/hate relationship with them. They are inexpensive and more than pay for themselves through getting Amazon gift cards from my health insurance wellness program, but I don't think I've ever had one last longer than two years.

The last one died on me days before I was to leave on vacation, where I would get a bunch of steps in. I hustled to Target and found the Inspire on sale. Used my credit card with the generous warranty benefits instead of the 5% off Target Red Card because there's a decent chance I'll need the warranty if history is any guide.

qbrozen

jmonroe said:

pensfan83 said:

200 feet from that dealer. It's over there somewhere 👀

I'm not quite that close but I could meet you there in about 35 minutes and the two of us can surely beat that dealer like a baby seal to get a knock-out deal for Mr. q. That's the least we can do for a poster buddy that has helped more than a few of us in here over the years. You in?

jmonroe

LOL. Thanks very much.
Hell, if I could get that for $10k, I'd suffer sleeping on the couch for a week after my wife finds out.

jmonroe

qbrozen said:

jmonroe said:

pensfan83 said:

200 feet from that dealer. It's over there somewhere 👀

I'm not quite that close but I could meet you there in about 35 minutes and the two of us can surely beat that dealer like a baby seal to get a knock-out deal for Mr. q. That's the least we can do for a poster buddy that has helped more than a few of us in here over the years. You in?

jmonroe

LOL. Thanks very much.
Hell, if I could get that for $10k, I'd suffer sleeping on the couch for a week after my wife finds out.

10K, well that could be pushing it a bit but there will be two of us working on him. Maybe @pensfan83 can head over there now and start in on him. He should have him softened up enough that by the time I get there I can finish him off. As for sleeping on the couch, we'll let you take care of that. I doubt either of us could help you with that. This is a car place ya know, marriage counselling ain't our expertise.

jmonroe

pensfan83

jmonroe said:

qbrozen said:

jmonroe said:

pensfan83 said:

200 feet from that dealer. It's over there somewhere 👀

I'm not quite that close but I could meet you there in about 35 minutes and the two of us can surely beat that dealer like a baby seal to get a knock-out deal for Mr. q. That's the least we can do for a poster buddy that has helped more than a few of us in here over the years. You in?

jmonroe

LOL. Thanks very much.
Hell, if I could get that for $10k, I'd suffer sleeping on the couch for a week after my wife finds out.

10K, well that could be pushing it a bit but there will be two of us working on him. Maybe @pensfan83 can head over there now and start in on him. He should have him softened up enough that by the time I get there I can finish him off. As for sleeping on the couch, we'll let you take care of that. I doubt either of us could help you with that. This is a car place ya know, marriage counselling ain't our expertise.

jmonroe

Haha....I live 10 minutes from that dealer. Count me in. I need the practice since I'll be doing it for myself in 8 months.

kyfdx

corvette said:

Sandman6472 said:

Corvette, nice pic! Is that a Fitbit on your wrist?

Thanks! Yes, it is - a Fitbit Inspire. I have a love/hate relationship with them. They are inexpensive and more than pay for themselves through getting Amazon gift cards from my health insurance wellness program, but I don't think I've ever had one last longer than two years.

The last one died on me days before I was to leave on vacation, where I would get a bunch of steps in. I hustled to Target and found the Inspire on sale. Used my credit card with the generous warranty benefits instead of the 5% off Target Red Card because there's a decent chance I'll need the warranty if history is any guide.

My wife had similar issues with Fitbit, and finally gave up on them. I will say, they were very responsive to problems, and sent her at least three new units, over a couple of years.

She has an Apple Watch, now

pensfan83

Just saw @qbrozen's signature. What better way to ring in a new decade than with a new car? I even thought of a campaign slogan for you

"50 in '20"

stickguy

Hey, I offered $10k First! Color matches my Acura but I have no need for another car and no way I’m swapping my wife’s RDX for it, if she’s going to be driving it.

qbrozen

FINE. I’ll go $10.5, but want new floor mats and a full tank of gas.