Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

qbrozen

whoops. misspoke on the 4runner. $340, not $320. And it is 39/10, not 36. But, yes, all in. Base cost is ~$302/mo with first month at signing, plus $389 dealer doc fee, DMV, and tax. And there is a $500 broker fee. MSRP is $40,873. It is through US Bank.

nyccarguy

28firefighter said:

Does she qualify for Volvo first responder and is she a costco member? Might be able to get a deal on an XC60 or XC90.

Yes. & Yes. She's a Nurse and a Costco Member.

qbrozen

28firefighter said:

Does she qualify for Volvo first responder and is she a costco member? Might be able to get a deal on an XC60 or XC90.

yes, that's why he mentioned XC60 first. ;b

nyccarguy

qbrozen said:

4runner SR5 is $320/mo for June, all in, for 36/10. But I assume that is too large for this grouping of SUVs.

I think the 4Runner Deal is awesome too, but don't think she'll (a) like how it drives or (b) have an easy time getting in and out of it.

qbrozen

qbrozen said:

So here is something else I am pondering. Through some poking around, I discovered this place not far from me that imports vehicles for you. I'm really not sure of all the expenses involved, so I'd have to reach out to them. But something like this really appeals to me.

They also use an auction site, where I found this gem. I REALLY like that, especially with the larger engine. But I missed the auction. It didn't sell, so maybe it will come back up.

Ah, just occurred to me that auction was a '96, so doesn't qualify for import.

stickguy

For MIL, skip the atlas, it’s a barge. But a Tiguan could work. Much bigger than first generation, and seems nice. Something different.

stickguy

q, you really want a RHD car?

qbrozen

stickguy said:

q, you really want a RHD car?

makes no difference to me. I can drive anything.

Besides, it would be fun having a dog or small kid in the "driver's seat" and freak people out.

explorerx4

People get more freaked out with an empty left side seat.

kyfdx

All of the British shows on Netflix. My wife can never figure out who’s driving. 🙄

jmonroe1

kyfdx said:

All of the British shows on Netflix. My wife can never figure out who’s driving. 🙄

Nice to know there’s another guy that’s lives with someone like that.

jmonroe

graphicguy

Lots of companies going for that 4 door coupe look....my Stinger....

L-190"
W-74"
H-55"

oldfarmer50

qbrozen said:

So I receive an email from CarGurus pointing out this new listing to me. I mention to the wife "geez, I can't believe how these have depreciated." Her response "so get it!"

her reasoning is that it is so cheap, paying a few thou in maintenance wouldn't be so bad. uhhhh.... huh.

I’m sure the four previous owners could give you a hand fixing whatever breaks.

[Deleted User]

jmonroe1 said:

kyfdx said:

All of the British shows on Netflix. My wife can never figure out who’s driving. 🙄

Nice to know there’s another guy that’s lives with someone like that.

jmonroe

When the boys and I start talking cars, I'm always afraid my wife's eyes will roll so far back into her head that they never come back...

oldfarmer50

nyccarguy said:

One of our favorite pastimes here on CCBA is spending other people’s money. My mother in law currently drive a 2017 Ford Edge SEL. It’s got leather, hot seats, navigation, sunroof... She’s currently paying $450 per month all in 36/15K including NY (Nassau County) taxes. She asked me the other day what she should look at when her lease is up in August. Something of a comparable SUV as far as the size of the Edge goes.

I told her she should absolutely look at a Volvo XC60 as she’s a healthcare worker and a Costco member, although I think those crazy Volvo deals will be gone by August.

I think she’d like the Passport too.

What else do you guys think?

$450/mo was what I was paying for my Mustang so if she really likes Fords.............😀

oldfarmer50

qbrozen said:

So here is something else I am pondering. Through some poking around, I discovered this place not far from me that imports vehicles for you. I'm really not sure of all the expenses involved, so I'd have to reach out to them. But something like this really appeals to me.

They also use an auction site, where I found this gem. I REALLY like that, especially with the larger engine. But I missed the auction. It didn't sell, so maybe it will come back up.

Better hire a translator. That CarFax is tough to read.

qbrozen

LOVe this color. Too bad it is only a GTS.

anybody in portland? Could maybe video that for me? lol.

stickguy

GG, I thought the Stinger was longer than that. I guess the styling makes it look longer.

stickguy

The "love this color" in Jackson listing seems to have been taken down.

The Portland Porsche, nice looking, but don't really care for those wheels on it.

corvette

nyccarguy said:

qbrozen said:

4runner SR5 is $320/mo for June, all in, for 36/10. But I assume that is too large for this grouping of SUVs.

I think the 4Runner Deal is awesome too, but don't think she'll (a) like how it drives or (b) have an easy time getting in and out of it.

I rode in my friend’s 4Runner, and it felt like a 7/8 scale Tahoe with the off road package. I loved it, but she might not. If it’s the guy on Leasehackr, I think all the trucks he posts are 4WD. She’d probably want at least an SR5 Premium trim level.

breld

I got to drive this today.

nyccarguy

Let me fix this for you:

I got to drive this home today.

breld

After driving a TTS, I’d say my primary concern with the Supra was whether it would be too firm and not as suitable for more casual day to day driving.

But that test drive was very revealing in that it behaves as you’d expect - like a refined sport coupe (by BMW).

And of course when put into sport mode (or even when it’s not) and you drive harder, it responds well and is a thrill.

Great balance. I loved it. Wife came along for the drive and fully approves.

Just need to figure out the best timing (other than waiting 2-3 years) for a good deal.

breld

By the way, this dealership has the 3k mile used example priced $6k higher than the advertised price at a local Toyota dealership for the exact same trim and options (brand new).

And they seem to be sticking to it. The line was, “but there are no other used 2020’s within 500 miles.”

Me - “huh?”

nyccarguy

Car payments both came in the mail today. 9 months down & only 15 to go with the Tacoma (I love this 24 month lease). 31 months ($16,495) to go on the Pilot.

nyccarguy

breld said:

By the way, this dealership has the 3k mile used example priced $6k higher than the advertised price at a local Toyota dealership for the exact same trim and options (brand new).

And they seem to be sticking to it. The line was, “but there are no other used 2020’s within 500 miles.”

Me - “huh?”

Well, you have to give them credit for trying.

stickguy

IMO the tint on that Supra is horrible.

Bradd, I decline to look at payments any longer. Hurts too much! But I agree, if you can get a killer term, 24 months is a fabulous idea.

benjaminh

I have about a year left on my three year lease of my 2018 TLX 2.4 Tech, and being a CCBA member I've begun to think about my options—even though it's really too early for that.

1. First choice would be to buy it out at the residual of c. $18,500. Originally I thought that was going to be below market value, but with economic troubles depressing used car values, plus the fact that an all-new TLX is due in a few months, I'll probably be lucky if the car is even worth that. I'm currently at 27,000 miles, and so will likely be over my 36k by some amount because I just like driving the car. But 18.5k is less than the price of Civic LX, and so still represents a good value to me.

2. Go radical and get a base Tesla Model 3. White is the only free exterior color and black is the only free interior color, but both are acceptable for me. Msrp is $39.2k with destination (no discounts), plus it would cost about another 1k to install a charger in the garage, plus the sales tax on a purchase that large brings the total cost to c. 42k. That model has a 250 mile range, which is certainly good enough in this age of plague, but if a vaccine hits and brings things more or less back to normal in a year or so I might not like that very much, since part of my late in life dreams involve some long car trips. My current TLX with its big 17.2 gallon tank and high highway mpg actually can go about 600 miles between fill ups on a road trip. I'd save about $900 a year in gas with a Tesla, but with a price that's 22k more than buying out the TLX it would have to be owned more than 20 years for that to pay off. Of course, in the meantime I'd be enjoying a Tesla 0-60 time of 5.3 seconds, which is 1.5 seconds faster than my TLX.

3. Lease a new 2021 TLX. Since I'd be in the market about 9 months after the car comes out perhaps deals will be available and maybe some bugs will be worked out. The new TLX really seems too big for me, but I really like the looks of it inside and out. A lot. And I think the driving dynamics are going to be excellent. But the price on the new TLX Tech model will probably about the same msrp as a base Tesla, plus it'll surely get lower mpg than what I've currently got. This seems like more of a car to test drive for fun than to really own.

4. The all-new smaller Acura sedan might be more my style, but probably won't be out by July 4th of 2021, which is the last day of my lease.

5. Mercedes A-class. I know this car is looked down on by purists, but it's the only new one I could afford. When I was a kid I wanted a Benz someday....Not so sure about the service costs and reliability.

6. BMW 3-series. Probably can't afford one of these, since an impossible-to-find base model is more expensive than a Tesla, but it's another dream car. Perhaps a low mile CPO would be something to consider? But I worry about long-term reliability. Does BMW offer low cost extended warranties like Honda and Acura?

7. If I really want to save money the real ticket wouldn't be a Telsa but a Honda Insight for $15k less. But that's really a Honda Civic hybrid, which is the whole reason I stepped up to getting an Acura in the first place. Fun-to-drive and luxury are both important to me, and I don't think an Insight will cut it on those scores.

In the end I'll probably just buy out my current car, which should be good for 200,000 miles with a two new sets of tires, one tune-up, and lots of oil changes.

stickguy

if the residual is too high, consider buying a different one CPO. might be a better overall deal considering $ and warranty.

an A class or 3 series, definitely hunt a service loaner. Can find that with less than 5K miles, current model year, for 20% off. getting it comparable to a new TLX.

I agree that the new TLX is too big (I already think mine is bigger than I really prefer). the new compact does sound interesting. Might be out in time for you, but maybe not with deals to be had.

if you want a hybrid, how about an Accord hybrid? something different.

but, as always, my advice is to figure out what you really want (the car, not the deal) first, then see how you can make the $s work.

oldfarmer50

breld said:

By the way, this dealership has the 3k mile used example priced $6k higher than the advertised price at a local Toyota dealership for the exact same trim and options (brand new).

And they seem to be sticking to it. The line was, “but there are no other used 2020’s within 500 miles.”

Me - “huh?”

I was watching a father-son YouTube series called Your Auto Advocate. The father was in the car business for decades. He said that sometimes dealers think that their cars are like fine wine, better with age. Some celebrate several birthdays

stickguy

oh, I go back and forth about keeping the TLX but my residual is higher (I think about $21,500) and I really can't see doing it. But, a CPO tech car, that could be interesting. If I want to stay in a larger sedan. Right now I don't think so, but with me, everything is subject to change.

I picked tech since they run a little cheaper, and no need to deal with the 19" wheels and low profile tires.

I do agree that it is a great car to go with if you want to make it a long term relationship for 150k+ miles.

benjaminh

stickguy said:

....if you want a hybrid, how about an Accord hybrid? something different....

Thanks for your thoughts. You're up against this several months after I am iirc.

Not sure if I do want a hybrid. I did drive an Accord Hybrid EXL just before I got the Acura, and I think the TLX is much nicer! Plus the Accord is maybe a bit too big for my tastes. And the styling of the current Accord just isn't my favorite.

roadburner

breld said:

By the way, this dealership has the 3k mile used example priced $6k higher than the advertised price at a local Toyota dealership for the exact same trim and options (brand new).

And they seem to be sticking to it. The line was, “but there are no other used 2020’s within 500 miles.”

Me - “huh?”

Oxmoor(ons) in Louisville was doing that with a used MS3 back in 2007.

stickguy

good news for me, now that the wife has her dream car to take her well into retirement (hopefully we can still do that someday), my car is definitely going to be the spare wheels, and not what we take travelling, when going out together, etc. So basically she will rarely need to be in it, so won't care much what it is. So that is when I can get away with something like the Elantra sport, even though she did not like it. so a Civic Si, some sort of convertible, a PU, all can be on the table. New, used, really used, leased are all on the table. As is getting nothing!

28firefighter

qbrozen said:

LOVe this color. Too bad it is only a GTS.

anybody in portland? Could maybe video that for me? lol.

Normally I’d take any excuse to go to Portland. But alas, not these days.

benjaminh

PS I looked up the exact sales of the TLX for calendar year 2019, which came to 26,548. And so getting to sales of 40,000 TLXs by 2022, which is Acura's goal, seems ambitious in this market. But the car does seem like it might be a homerun and grab some people who might otherwise get a BMW, Audi, or Lexus.

stickguy

hopefully a brand new design and a hipo type S model gets them there.

corvette

Rumor is the 4Runner gets redesigned for 2022. With the current model, it looks like you are stuck with halogen headlights on every trim level, and only a five speed automatic.

graphicguy

@breld ...so, Supra thoughts?

Michaell

graphicguy said:

@breld ...so, Supra thoughts?

We are formulating a plan...

stickguy

Michaell said:

graphicguy said:

@breld ...so, Supra thoughts?

We are formulating a plan...

does it involve a rollback and a slim jim?

Michaell

stickguy said:

Michaell said:

graphicguy said:

@breld ...so, Supra thoughts?

We are formulating a plan...

does it involve a rollback and a slim jim?

It's code name is Clarice...

Michaell

Michaell said:

stickguy said:

Michaell said:

graphicguy said:

@breld ...so, Supra thoughts?

We are formulating a plan...

does it involve a rollback and a slim jim?

It's code name is Clarice...

And I learned @breld owns a leather jacket and has the song "Low Rider" on his iPhone.

breld

nyccarguy said:

Let me fix this for you:

I got to drive this home today.

I tried. 😀

breld

graphicguy said:

@breld ...so, Supra thoughts?

Well, like I said, the performance of the Supra was as expected, which is to say incredibly fun. What I was particularly impressed with was how well mannered it was in casual driving. My wife and I both took note of how it handled bumps and imperfections on the road and thought it was every bit as compliant as most any other car we’ve owned with sporting pretensions.

Sitting inside of it, for obvious reasons, it felt like a modern German vehicle. But then you step out of it and the exterior styling is so striking in its Japanese influence. Sort of like the Civic Type R but not nearly as juvenile.

So the plan? I envision getting one within the next 2-3 months - trying to be patient (not my virtue as you all know) and wait for the right timing for deeper discounts on new or increased availability of used examples (that are priced like used examples).

stickguy

well then.

Hello, Clarice...

nyccarguy

breld said:

graphicguy said:

@breld ...so, Supra thoughts?

Well, like I said, the performance of the Supra was as expected, which is to say incredibly fun. What I was particularly impressed with was how well mannered it was in casual driving. My wife and I both took note of how it handled bumps and imperfections on the road and thought it was every bit as compliant as most any other car we’ve owned with sporting pretensions.

Sitting inside of it, for obvious reasons, it felt like a modern German vehicle. But then you step out of it and the exterior styling is so striking in its Japanese influence. Sort of like the Civic Type R but not nearly as juvenile.

So the plan? I envision getting one within the next 2-3 months - trying to be patient (not my virtue as you all know) and wait for the right timing for deeper discounts on new or increased availability of used examples (that are priced like used examples).

You drove a 2020 or a 2021?

stickguy

I was hoping he would hang on another year and change until I needed a car. I liked that 2 series. I guess I can put in dibs on whatever replaces the car that replace the car that replaced the car that replaced the Supra. Hope it is something nice!

nyccarguy

corvette said:

Rumor is the 4Runner gets redesigned for 2022. With the current model, it looks like you are stuck with halogen headlights on every trim level, and only a five speed automatic.

I’ve got halogens on my Tacoma now and am happy with them. The halogen projectors on my Pilot are another story. They stink.

I will have to give it an extensive test drive as I’ve spoken to a few people who say the power is adequate at best. I think it is an older engine paired with the 5AT.

tifighter

benjaminh said:

I have about a year left on my three year lease of my 2018 TLX 2.4 Tech, and being a CCBA member I've begun to think about my options—even though it's really too early for that.

1. First choice would be to buy it out at the residual of c. $18,500. Originally I thought that was going to be below market value, but with economic troubles depressing used car values, plus the fact that an all-new TLX is due in a few months, I'll probably be lucky if the car is even worth that. I'm currently at 27,000 miles, and so will likely be over my 36k by some amount because I just like driving the car. But 18.5k is less than the price of Civic LX, and so still represents a good value to me.

2. Go radical and get a base Tesla Model 3. White is the only free exterior color and black is the only free interior color, but both are acceptable for me. Msrp is $39.2k with destination (no discounts), plus it would cost about another 1k to install a charger in the garage, plus the sales tax on a purchase that large brings the total cost to c. 42k. That model has a 250 mile range, which is certainly good enough in this age of plague, but if a vaccine hits and brings things more or less back to normal in a year or so I might not like that very much, since part of my late in life dreams involve some long car trips. My current TLX with its big 17.2 gallon tank and high highway mpg actually can go about 600 miles between fill ups on a road trip. I'd save about $900 a year in gas with a Tesla, but with a price that's 22k more than buying out the TLX it would have to be owned more than 20 years for that to pay off. Of course, in the meantime I'd be enjoying a Tesla 0-60 time of 5.3 seconds, which is 1.5 seconds faster than my TLX.

3. Lease a new 2021 TLX. Since I'd be in the market about 9 months after the car comes out perhaps deals will be available and maybe some bugs will be worked out. The new TLX really seems too big for me, but I really like the looks of it inside and out. A lot. And I think the driving dynamics are going to be excellent. But the price on the new TLX Tech model will probably about the same msrp as a base Tesla, plus it'll surely get lower mpg than what I've currently got. This seems like more of a car to test drive for fun than to really own.

4. The all-new smaller Acura sedan might be more my style, but probably won't be out by July 4th of 2021, which is the last day of my lease.

5. Mercedes A-class. I know this car is looked down on by purists, but it's the only new one I could afford. When I was a kid I wanted a Benz someday....Not so sure about the service costs and reliability.

6. BMW 3-series. Probably can't afford one of these, since an impossible-to-find base model is more expensive than a Tesla, but it's another dream car. Perhaps a low mile CPO would be something to consider? But I worry about long-term reliability. Does BMW offer low cost extended warranties like Honda and Acura?

7. If I really want to save money the real ticket wouldn't be a Telsa but a Honda Insight for $15k less. But that's really a Honda Civic hybrid, which is the whole reason I stepped up to getting an Acura in the first place. Fun-to-drive and luxury are both important to me, and I don't think an Insight will cut it on those scores.

In the end I'll probably just buy out my current car, which should be good for 200,000 miles with a two new sets of tires, one tune-up, and lots of oil changes.

Have you driven any of these yet? That will narrow your list for you.