Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

graphicguy

I’ve always wondered what the garages for manufacturers look like at the port? What does BMW’s, Mercedes, Audi garages look like when so many cars are coming in and pieces, parts, assemblies, options are installed at their facilities?

pensfan83

You can even help with supplying a car too!

stickguy

That 440 is gorgeous. AWD on something like that doesn’t bother me. Fine with or without, and as noted, in normal driving (since I don’t race) would likely never notice it was there. I just don’t want it on an older car like that 3 series. Years back local to me I saw a RWD stick wagon, actually pretty cheap. Don’t think I was in a position to buy at the time, but should have anyway! Absolutely perfect car and I’d buy one today.

Nice Volvo also but a bit high miles, at least for the price.

stickguy

Quick look on cars.com. 130 3 series wagons within 500 miles of me. 2 manuals. 1 RWD. Actually looks pretty nice, and well maintained. But no sports seats (though they can certainly be swapped in), and way stiff on miles!

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/808390882/overview/

Though poking, this is nice.


https://jerseyshore.craigslist.org/cto/d/brick-2010-volvo-v50-t5-awd-design-wagon/7126532800.html

But this was not what I expected to find. What an oddball. Right hand drive?

https://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/d/philadelphia-1993-bmw-e30-touring-wagon/7116422147.html

andres3

Michaell said:

breld said:

This is pretty cool... https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/810820595/overview/

Oooooo .... that's just mean.

Question for the BMW cognoscenti - are these expensive to maintain with this many miles on it?

Define "expensive" to maintain. For me, maintenance is cheap as compared to constant repairs on a bad automobile, based on my experiences. For others that have never had a bad car, synthetic oil might seem outrageously expensive.

Michaell

andres3 said:

Michaell said:

breld said:

This is pretty cool... https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/810820595/overview/

Oooooo .... that's just mean.

Question for the BMW cognoscenti - are these expensive to maintain with this many miles on it?

Define "expensive" to maintain. For me, maintenance is cheap as compared to constant repairs on a bad automobile, based on my experiences. For others that have never had a bad car, synthetic oil might seem outrageously expensive.

I've been driving new or nearly new cars for quite a while. While I couldn't put a specific dollar figure on expensive, I wouldn't want a constant litany of issues that would cost both time any money to set right.

roadburner

graphicguy said:

I’ve always wondered what the garages for manufacturers look like at the port? What does BMW’s, Mercedes, Audi garages look like when so many cars are coming in and pieces, parts, assemblies, options are installed at their facilities?

When I worked at BMW we had some glitches with port installed items. Two that come to mind are a 3 Series that was supposed to get a black grill(and didn’t) and a 5 Series that was supposed to get all-weather mats and did- but the mats were for a Mini Cooper...

stickguy

I would be more annoyed by the problems, not paying for stuff, within reason. So even if overall the old car is cheaper per month, I don’t want to deal with it breaking down or constantly having to go into the shop.

fintail

I think that might be where MB slaps on the extreme margin bric a brac like illuminated stars, LED logo projectors, chrome door handle inserts, etc. (my car has the projectors, they were on the car, not my choice).

graphicguy said:

I’ve always wondered what the garages for manufacturers look like at the port? What does BMW’s, Mercedes, Audi garages look like when so many cars are coming in and pieces, parts, assemblies, options are installed at their facilities?

clm8

I have a 2006 E46 convertible. In 5 years and 20,000 miles, it has never broken down. It has required some fluid leak fixes (transmission, valve cover gasket), and some maintenance, mostly fluid changes, but no other issues. It has 83,000 miles. It has been very solid for an almost 15 year old car. Of course, it does not get driven daily.

28firefighter

If you regularly service the plugs, coils, and battery and then refresh the cooling system every 60-70k miles your odds of a breakdown are very low. You’ll have usual leaks and stuff like that, but that won’t strand you and you can budget/plan for those.

Valve cover gasket and oil filter housing gasket are super common leak points once you break 100k miles.

corvette

stickguy said:

I would be more annoyed by the problems, not paying for stuff, within reason. So even if overall the old car is cheaper per month, I don’t want to deal with it breaking down or constantly having to go into the shop.

Precisely the reason I dumped the Tahoe for something newer.

qbrozen

Which would you choose and why?

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/share/270936301

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/share/271321095

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/share/265597557

tjc78

I think I’d go for the Mercedes. It will probably be the most livable in terms of reliability. It’s comfortable and pretty much a sleeper.

28firefighter

Is there a none of the above?

ML looks too much like a lifted hearse to me.

Seriously though I’d take the Cayenne if it were 08 or newer.

tjc78

The Cayenne is awesome, but I’m sure that Q wants to do something on his weekends other than wrenching on it.

ML isn’t that offensive to me. Looks good in black too.

fintail

I second the "none of the above" choice.

If I had to do it, maybe no choice, I'd pick the MB. Relatively rare as most are 6cyl.

nyccarguy

qbrozen said:

Which would you choose and why?

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/share/270936301

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/share/271321095

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/share/265597557

The Cayenne Turbo S! Because it is a Turbo S!

28firefighter

Can someone more knowledgeable than I tell me if CarMax messed up pricing this?

https://www.carmax.com/car/18416251

I did a quick look and it seems under priced by $5k-$10k...

stickguy

of those 3, I would take the Volvo for me. You would probably be happier with the Mercedes. which does look nice.

corvette

Walked a decent bit this afternoon. Cut through the overflow lot for the local Mitsubishi dealer. It looks like they dump their trade-ins there--I think the same group owns the local Kia dealership, so some of them may be from there. Here was part of the lineup, all domestic iron except for a Sportage. There was also a most-recent generation Pontiac Grand Am in a different line and there's a most-recent Galant and a ~2000-ish Accord that's been sitting there on jack stands for months. I wonder what they were traded in on.

corvette

Anyone else notice that the reviews on TTAC have been awful lately? I still enjoy their news stories and opinion pieces, but their most recent review was of a loaded 2019 Forester, and it was awful. Extremely brief and barely talked about the driving experience. I suspect a high schooler could have written it. That website is a far cry from its former self.

ronsteve

Out of that trio, I'm with stick on the Volvo. Could be talked into the Benz, but not going near the Porsche.

oldfarmer50

28firefighter said:

Can someone more knowledgeable than I tell me if CarMax messed up pricing this?

https://www.carmax.com/car/18416251

I did a quick look and it seems under priced by $5k-$10k...

Maybe the market is off by that much and they want it out of inventory. On regular cars I’m seeing some dealers discounting 20%.

roadburner

qbrozen said:

Which would you choose and why?

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/share/270936301

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/share/271321095

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/share/265597557

I'm completely over any SUV save an X3 M Competition, but if forced to choose I'd definitely go with the Porsche. The M-B and Volvo would put me to sleep in short order, plus my wife and son would think I had suffered a stroke- or worse.

qbrozen

@roadburner, you know the MB is pretty much a dead heat with the Porsche in performance, right?

@28firefighter and @fintail, is there another ... let's say sub 6-sec ... AWD 5-door for under $15k that you'd look at instead?

roadburner

qbrozen said:

@roadburner, you know the MB is pretty much a dead heat with the Porsche in performance, right?

Yes, but I won't turn 80 for another 17 years.

28firefighter

qbrozen said:

@roadburner, you know the MB is pretty much a dead heat with the Porsche in performance, right?

@28firefighter and @fintail, is there another ... let's say sub 6-sec ... AWD 5-door for under $15k that you'd look at instead?

How big of a 5-door are we talking here? I’m assuming not a GTI size hatchback.

roadburner

So my wife saw me looking at the 440i coupe, and tells me that I at least ought to drive it to see if I can tolerate AWD. Fair enough, so this morning I looked up a friend in the Buckeye Chapter of CCA who could give me a contact person at the dealer. I also had the VIN run through DealerSpeed and it came through with a spotless BMW FSH. At 10:42 am I email the contact and was told that the car sold this morning after sitting on the lot for 21 days. Oh well.

28firefighter

Something like this would strike my fancy:
http://atcm.co/S2PVDP/2032f1b9

28firefighter

roadburner said:

So my wife saw me looking at the 440i coupe, and tells me that I at least ought to drive it to see if I can tolerate AWD. Fair enough, so this morning I looked up a friend in the Buckeye Chapter of CCA who could give me a contact person at the dealer. I also had the VIN run through DealerSpeed and it came through with a spotless BMW FSH. At 10:42 am I email the contact and was told that the car sold this morning after sitting on the lot for 21 days. Oh well.

Figures. Probably went to an enthusiast for what it’s worth.

fintail

A late run E500 (211) E500 wagon might just slip in under that mark. I think the last one was MY 2006. Roll of the dice there though, the ML is probably a safer bet. The 211 AMG wagons still haven't depreciated to that level and likely won't, and weren't AWD anyway.

I just don't have a SUV itch (other than maybe a non-AMG G-Wagen in specific colors/trim), but I understand why some need/want/like them.

qbrozen said:

@28firefighter and @fintail, is there another ... let's say sub 6-sec ... AWD 5-door for under $15k that you'd look at instead?

tifighter

28firefighter said:

Can someone more knowledgeable than I tell me if CarMax messed up pricing this?

https://www.carmax.com/car/18416251

I did a quick look and it seems under priced by $5k-$10k...

Seems okay for a GTS. PDK, meh. But honestly I'd rather have this, even though it's a base car-

718 Cayman.

Yeah it's a base car, yeah it's the 4 cyl. But spec'd just right, low miles, no issues. Don't think I didn't give this one a think earlier in the week...

qbrozen

I'd certainly take a wagon. Just can't seem to find one that ticks the right boxes.

I can't do another BMW, @28firefighter. I've seen 550i GTs that hit the pricepoint, but ... well, we know how that looks. Spotted a 335 GT, too. But the wife has a BMW SUV right now, and my last experience with an out-of-warranty bimmer is still a fresh enough wound.

My 4-door GTI was big enough. I came across one Q5 3.0T... but when I dug deeper, I found out it was really a 2.0T.

28firefighter

qbrozen said:

I'd certainly take a wagon. Just can't seem to find one that ticks the right boxes.

I can't do another BMW, @28firefighter. I've seen 550i GTs that hit the pricepoint, but ... well, we know how that looks. Spotted a 335 GT, too. But the wife has a BMW SUV right now, and my last experience with an out-of-warranty bimmer is still a fresh enough wound.

But you’re looking at a well out of warranty Porsche Turbo. And Volvo. And Mercedes. I get being concerned but I can’t imagine these are bastions of reliability either...

That said, you have to love it. Hmmmm.

28firefighter

tifighter said:

28firefighter said:

Can someone more knowledgeable than I tell me if CarMax messed up pricing this?

https://www.carmax.com/car/18416251

I did a quick look and it seems under priced by $5k-$10k...

Seems okay for a GTS. PDK, meh. But honestly I'd rather have this, even though it's a base car-

718 Cayman.

Yeah it's a base car, yeah it's the 4 cyl. But spec'd just right, low miles, no issues. Don't think I didn't give this one a think earlier in the week...

Lots to like with that. Kind of a different price point from what you got.

qbrozen

28firefighter said:

qbrozen said:

I'd certainly take a wagon. Just can't seem to find one that ticks the right boxes.

I can't do another BMW, @28firefighter. I've seen 550i GTs that hit the pricepoint, but ... well, we know how that looks. Spotted a 335 GT, too. But the wife has a BMW SUV right now, and my last experience with an out-of-warranty bimmer is still a fresh enough wound.

But you’re looking at a well out of warranty Porsche Turbo. And Volvo. And Mercedes. I get being concerned but I can’t imagine these are bastions of reliability either...

That said, you have to love it. Hmmmm.

I’ve read the Porsche and MB are quite reliable.

Ok, I found another Q5. But talk about reliability? Dare I?
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/share/264063343

28firefighter

I’d do that. Find one with the B&O stereo.

28firefighter

http://atcm.co/S2PVDP/1fec25eb

tifighter

28firefighter said:

tifighter said:

28firefighter said:

Can someone more knowledgeable than I tell me if CarMax messed up pricing this?

https://www.carmax.com/car/18416251

I did a quick look and it seems under priced by $5k-$10k...

Seems okay for a GTS. PDK, meh. But honestly I'd rather have this, even though it's a base car-

718 Cayman.

Yeah it's a base car, yeah it's the 4 cyl. But spec'd just right, low miles, no issues. Don't think I didn't give this one a think earlier in the week...

Lots to like with that. Kind of a different price point from what you got.

Right. I couldn't afford NOT to buy the Z4
#CCBA

oldfarmer50

tifighter said:

28firefighter said:

Can someone more knowledgeable than I tell me if CarMax messed up pricing this?

https://www.carmax.com/car/18416251

I did a quick look and it seems under priced by $5k-$10k...

Seems okay for a GTS. PDK, meh. But honestly I'd rather have this, even though it's a base car-

718 Cayman.

Yeah it's a base car, yeah it's the 4 cyl. But spec'd just right, low miles, no issues. Don't think I didn't give this one a think earlier in the week...

That’s a big price drop off of original sticker. Like the color.

oldfarmer50

qbrozen said:

28firefighter said:

qbrozen said:

I'd certainly take a wagon. Just can't seem to find one that ticks the right boxes.

I can't do another BMW, @28firefighter. I've seen 550i GTs that hit the pricepoint, but ... well, we know how that looks. Spotted a 335 GT, too. But the wife has a BMW SUV right now, and my last experience with an out-of-warranty bimmer is still a fresh enough wound.

But you’re looking at a well out of warranty Porsche Turbo. And Volvo. And Mercedes. I get being concerned but I can’t imagine these are bastions of reliability either...

That said, you have to love it. Hmmmm.

I’ve read the Porsche and MB are quite reliable.

Ok, I found another Q5. But talk about reliability? Dare I?
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/share/264063343

I guess it’s true that those luxury brands depreciate fast. I’ve seen same year Chevy Malibus for almost the same price. Looking at the price drop history, it might be Covid 19 discounting though.

mjfloyd1

I can’t remember who is looking at Stingers but this one is two miles from my house so maybe a couple hours from Cincinnati. It says GT2 RWD

https://www.royalontheeastside.com/used/Kia/2018-Kia-Stinger-e958bb390a0e0a6b32d029a12d645f9d.htm

graphicguy

corvette said:

Anyone else notice that the reviews on TTAC have been awful lately? I still enjoy their news stories and opinion pieces, but their most recent review was of a loaded 2019 Forester, and it was awful. Extremely brief and barely talked about the driving experience. I suspect a high schooler could have written it. That website is a far cry from its former self.

Quit reading TTAC a few years ago. Seems like they always were into the story and/or review that would stir up the most controversy, not really about the (de)merits of the vehicles.

Sounds like they haven’t changed.

stickguy

both Audis look nice. but I'm too risk averse to go with an older TT Audi.

how about this? Too slow?

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/806999113/overview/

ronsteve

stickguy said:

Quick look on cars.com. 130 3 series wagons within 500 miles of me. 2 manuals. 1 RWD. Actually looks pretty nice, and well maintained. But no sports seats (though they can certainly be swapped in), and way stiff on miles!

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/808390882/overview/

Though poking, this is nice.


https://jerseyshore.craigslist.org/cto/d/brick-2010-volvo-v50-t5-awd-design-wagon/7126532800.html

But this was not what I expected to find. What an oddball. Right hand drive?

https://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/d/philadelphia-1993-bmw-e30-touring-wagon/7116422147.html

I do like that V50! Except for the miles. The T5 is hard to find, even as an automatic.

ronsteve

stickguy said:

both Audis look nice. but I'm too risk averse to go with an older TT Audi.

how about this? Too slow?

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/806999113/overview/

I know some people like the black interior, but that is the more offputting factor for me!

ab348

A lot of car review sites produce bad reviews. TTAC is one - in their case the website has been run on a shoestring forever by its owners and they have had a huge amount of staff turnover. I think most of their writers are freelancers who are willing to work at the lowest possible wage scale. I ignore most of their reviews but still visit the site because they do a good job of reporting industry news. CNET has a Roadshow car site that produces reviews that often irritate me. They have terrible double standards. Two cars with virtually identical interiors can get either praised ("inexpensive materials but built with care") or panned ("too many inexpensive materials and hard plastics"). Drives me bonkers.

Edmunds reviews also have biases sometimes - I am reminded of a comparison a few months ago between the new Chevy Blazer and Honda Passport where the Passport was clearly the reviewers favored brand despite objectively being inferior in many areas. But they also have one of my favorite reviewers at the moment, Elana Schorr, who is excellent.

tjc78

@qbrozen

I thought a JGC SRT8 would be a good fit for you then looked at the prices... wow they hold their value.

qbrozen

@28firefighter, love that color combo, but 20k more miles than the one I found. I'm not sure what a b&o stereo adds. I don't listen to music nearly as loud as I used to. I used to care about the stereo but have lately found not so much.

@stickguy, yes the Caddy is too slow. Even a T5 volvo is quicker.

@tjc78, YES! Isn't that shocking? SRT8s are more expensive than any of the luxo brands. Crazy.