Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

pensfan83

Sirius wants me to renew as well...

breld

I have to say I'm kinda impressed with this - the Boxster I drove yesterday was at a non-Porsche dealership (Autonation). After the test drive, I told the salesman that it was just too small and I didn't fit comfortably in it.

Today, he sends me an e-mail with a picture of a nice A5 cabrio that they could get their hands on if I was interested.

Now, we all know the A5 cabrio isn't a direct competitor for the cars I've been targeting, but I thought it was nice that he heard what I said and actually gave some thought to it.

corvette

kyfdx said:

Sirius/XM subscription promo ran out on my wife's car. Didn't realize it until I saw $22 charge on the credit card. 20 minutes on the phone... back to $7.27/mo. for another year.

I did that on the G37 a month or two back - was prepared to cancel it entirely, since I seldom drive it. Got the same deal you did, I think. I try to keep these expiring promotions on my calendar. Also got my AT&T fiber service (with an expiring promotion) bumped from 300 megabits to gigabit for the same price, removed the data cap, and gave me HBO Max for the same price for the next 12 months.

breld said:

I was just able to transfer my Sirius service subscription (and promo plan pricing) from the 228i to the Supra all on-line without having to pick up the phone.

That makes me happy.

If you call and tell them you sold or traded your old car, and cancel it, then take the X months of free service they offer on the new car, that should pretty much see you through your typical ownership period.

roadburner

breld said:

I have to say I'm kinda impressed with this - the Boxster I drove yesterday was at a non-Porsche dealership (Autonation). After the test drive, I told the salesman that it was just too small and I didn't fit comfortably in it.

Today, he sends me an e-mail with a picture of a nice A5 cabrio that they could get their hands on if I was interested.

Now, we all know the A5 cabrio isn't a direct competitor for the cars I've been targeting, but I thought it was nice that he heard what I said and actually gave some thought to it.

In the late '70s I stopped at a dealer that I heard had a used 240Z. Turns out it had sold and the salesman asked me what other cars I was interested in. I said something like a TR6 or Alfa Spider.
You know what he said? "We have a nice Pinto!"

28firefighter

breld said:

I have to say I'm kinda impressed with this - the Boxster I drove yesterday was at a non-Porsche dealership (Autonation). After the test drive, I told the salesman that it was just too small and I didn't fit comfortably in it.

Today, he sends me an e-mail with a picture of a nice A5 cabrio that they could get their hands on if I was interested.

Now, we all know the A5 cabrio isn't a direct competitor for the cars I've been targeting, but I thought it was nice that he heard what I said and actually gave some thought to it.

I would send him that feedback - both that you liked the follow-up AND that it wasn't a direct competitor. That kind of thoughtfulness really does not happen very often anymore.

My Dad has bought 15 cars from his Audi/Porsche salesman (who has been all up and down the ranks of the dealer up to GM and dealer principal) over the years - since I was 8 years old. One reason my Dad continues to work with him (aside from the fact they're close friends now) is that he always knew exactly what kinds of cars my Dad liked - when he got one he thought my Dad would like in inventory, he'd just drop it off at our house and let my Dad drive it for a day or two. And my Dad bought virtually every time. Sales folks like that really don't exist anymore.

cdnpinhead

roadburner said:

In the late '70s I stopped at a dealer that I heard had a used 240Z. Turns out it had sold and the salesman asked me what other cars I was interested in. I said something like a TR6 or Alfa Spider.

When I bought my '73 240Z the only other car I was interested in was the TR6. I really enjoyed my MGB, so having another roadster appealed. However, in Edmonton, not so much, and I was very pleased with the 240 -- had a few electrical issues, and that was about it, in 224K miles over a little under 12 years.

andres3

fintail said:

Congrats on the Supra, definitely like the silver more than yellow - less conspicuous is good.

Not sure a Supra can be very inconspicuous. If a cop gets on the radio, not too many Supra's to choose from on the freeway.

qbrozen

man, there is so much I love about this. But that upholstery? Oh my. What would it run to replace that, I wonder.

breld

Some interior pics, as requested.

breld

Few random thoughts regarding the interior...

• The carbon fiber trim is quite nice and tastefully not overdone.
  
• The seats are just fine. Nothing more and nothing less.
  
• The steering wheel is sort of lame. Particularly compared to the M-sport wheel I had previously.
  
• Wireless Apple CarPlay is pretty awesome.
  
• The hatch is obviously not huge, but will be more than adequate for grocery trips and throwing a fold up chair and other things to watch the boys’ baseball.
  
• Heads up display is nice to have.
  
• I don’t know what it is, but I feel right at home with the controls coming from the BMW 228i 😀.
  
• I like this version of BMW’s iDrive and infotainment. Having a split screen of CarPlay and other info (weather, radio, navigation, etc.) is nice. I heard it’s not the most current version, but it’s at least a step ahead of what I had in the 2014 228i.
  

breld

A couple things I find amusing (but not surprising) under the hood...

andres3

One of the complaints for the Supra on that low Edmunds user review was for "too much power" for everyday use. That doesn't' make sense to me, you can always push the "GO" pedal a little bit less.

In fact, I like cars that get this complaint; to me that's a good review. I remember somebody at Honda said some people found the 240 HP in the Accord Coupe to be "too much" as well back in 2002 in the new '03 model.

breld

I asked @michaell and @jpp75 this question and the response was that I’d probably annoy BMW and Toyota fanboys simultaneously.

I’m half tempted to throw my BMW license plate frame on the Supra.

fintail

But will many cops know it isn't a Z4 or a Miata or a Veloster or? I bet a lot of them aren't car enthusiasts.

At the same time, you might get pulled over just so they can check out the car, as they still seem pretty rare.

andres3 said:

Not sure a Supra can be very inconspicuous. If a cop gets on the radio, not too many Supra's to choose from on the freeway.

breld

qbrozen said:

man, there is so much I love about this. But that upholstery? Oh my. What would it run to replace that, I wonder.

I don’t know - the upholstery sort of adds character to me.

fintail

I like how that interior even seems to have BMW design language - angles and proportions are BMW to my eyes. It's a Magna Steyr build, right?

A BMW badge might really rile up some people.

breld

andres3 said:

One of the complaints for the Supra on that low Edmunds user review was for "too much power" for everyday use. That doesn't' make sense to me, you can always push the "GO" pedal a little bit less.

In fact, I like cars that get this complaint; to me that's a good review. I remember somebody at Honda said some people found the 240 HP in the Accord Coupe to be "too much" as well back in 2002 in the new '03 model.

I fully admit that I don’t drive in a way that tests the limits of these cars, so it’s actually in the forefront of my mind when test driving as to how engaging a car is when driving “normally.”

So I’d disagree with the “too much power” comment. On the way home yesterday, I was driving very conservatively out of respect for the break-in period, and I still thought it was rewarding.

In contrast (and I’ve said this before), each time I’ve tried a WRX I felt like while it was thrilling to speed around in it, it was somewhat a chore to drive in normal conditions.

kyfdx

Console, shifter, display and audio are pure BMW. They don't even try to disguise it.

Just now realized it isn't a manual transmission.

mjfloyd1

andres3 said:

One of the complaints for the Supra on that low Edmunds user review was for "too much power" for everyday use. That doesn't' make sense to me, you can always push the "GO" pedal a little bit less.

In fact, I like cars that get this complaint; to me that's a good review. I remember somebody at Honda said some people found the 240 HP in the Accord Coupe to be "too much" as well back in 2002 in the new '03 model.

They probably had it tuned and the tune caused them to get a speeding ticket 😂

andres3

mjfloyd1 said:

andres3 said:

One of the complaints for the Supra on that low Edmunds user review was for "too much power" for everyday use. That doesn't' make sense to me, you can always push the "GO" pedal a little bit less.

In fact, I like cars that get this complaint; to me that's a good review. I remember somebody at Honda said some people found the 240 HP in the Accord Coupe to be "too much" as well back in 2002 in the new '03 model.

They probably had it tuned and the tune caused them to get a speeding ticket 😂

It probably was a "Karen" that complained about a speeding ticket to Escondido Audi dealership when the loaner S4 "caused" her to get cited because it has too much power. She ruined it for everyone, as I haven't seen an "S" in the loaner lineup since.

28firefighter

Thankfully BMW doesn't seem to have concerns about handing out fast cars as loaners. I'm hoping for an M240, M340, or M235 GC this weekend when the i3 goes in for its "vehicle check."

corvette

@andres3 - I think I’ve shared here before. Our CEO’s old decrepit A8 needed very expensive suspension repairs. The dealer had given her an S5 as a loaner, and she ended up negotiating to buy the loaner. So, “I like the loaner, is it for sale?” is definitely a thing.

breld

fintail said:

I like how that interior even seems to have BMW design language - angles and proportions are BMW to my eyes. It's a Magna Steyr build, right?

A BMW badge might really rile up some people.

I had to look up Magna Steyr, so I learned something new today. And yes, the Supra is indeed built there.

explorerx4

Our family would rather drive than fly, if possible.
20 years ago, I got an Expedition as a loaner when my 97 Explorer was at the dealer for something.
Liked it so much, I ordered one and as our first 3 row suv, the kids loved each having their own row.
It was worth its' weight in gold when when got hit by an out of control driver on the interstate.
Despite having the left front wheel and suspension torn off, one of my kids woke up and said 'Did something just happen?'. The other one slept through the whole thing.

breld

kyfdx said:

Console, shifter, display and audio are pure BMW. They don't even try to disguise it.

Just now realized it isn't a manual transmission.

Nope. No manual offered yet on the Supra.

If it was available, I probably would have opted for it, but I’m not exactly disappointed to have been “forced” into the auto. It’s darn quick (shifting).

tjc78

explorerx4 said:

Our family would rather drive than fly, if possible.
20 years ago, I got an Expedition as a loaner when my 97 Explorer was at the dealer for something.
Liked it so much, I ordered one and as our first 3 row suv, the kids loved each having their own row.
It was worth its' weight in gold when when got hit by an out of control driver on the interstate.
Despite having the left front wheel and suspension torn off, one of my kids woke up and said 'Did something just happen?'. The other one slept through the whole thing.

We had a Navigator at the office years ago. It was originally driven by the owner’s wife and was handed down as a pool car for whoever needed it.

The owner needed to move some stuff at one of his houses and took it up to Vermont. Woman ran a stop sign and he hit her at a full 50 MPH. That truck was unrecognizable, yet he walked away without a scratch. He said the cops told him if he hit her on the driver’s side she probably would have died.

roadburner

breld said:

fintail said:

I like how that interior even seems to have BMW design language - angles and proportions are BMW to my eyes. It's a Magna Steyr build, right?

A BMW badge might really rile up some people.

I had to look up Magna Steyr, so I learned something new today. And yes, the Supra is indeed built there.

That’s where the E83 X3 was built.

roadburner

breld said:

kyfdx said:

Console, shifter, display and audio are pure BMW. They don't even try to disguise it.

Just now realized it isn't a manual transmission.

Nope. No manual offered yet on the Supra.

If it was available, I probably would have opted for it, but I’m not exactly disappointed to have been “forced” into the auto. It’s darn quick (shifting).

The ZF 8HP is just a brilliant autobox. In my M235i it performed so well on the track I never touched the shift paddles.

mjfloyd1

Purple haze. This makes that yellow Supra look tame.

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inventorylisting/mySavedListings.action#listing=272244021

oldfarmer50

breld said:

Some interior pics, as requested.

Those seats are incredible.

oldfarmer50

mjfloyd1 said:

Purple haze. This makes that yellow Supra look tame.

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inventorylisting/mySavedListings.action#listing=272244021

OMG!😳

Michaell

oldfarmer50 said:

mjfloyd1 said:

Purple haze. This makes that yellow Supra look tame.

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inventorylisting/mySavedListings.action#listing=272244021

OMG!😳

I notice they don't even mention the exterior color on that.

breld

Interior Pics

roadburner said:

breld said:

kyfdx said:

Console, shifter, display and audio are pure BMW. They don't even try to disguise it.

Just now realized it isn't a manual transmission.

Nope. No manual offered yet on the Supra.

If it was available, I probably would have opted for it, but I’m not exactly disappointed to have been “forced” into the auto. It’s darn quick (shifting).

The ZF 8HP is just a brilliant autobox. In my M235i it performed so well on the track I never touched the shift paddles.

Wow! That’s saying something.

breld

Michaell said:

oldfarmer50 said:

mjfloyd1 said:

Purple haze. This makes that yellow Supra look tame.

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inventorylisting/mySavedListings.action#listing=272244021

OMG!😳

I notice they don't even mention the exterior color on that.

I’ve gotta imagine that’s a wrap and not an actual paint job.

mjfloyd1

andres3 said:

mjfloyd1 said:

andres3 said:

One of the complaints for the Supra on that low Edmunds user review was for "too much power" for everyday use. That doesn't' make sense to me, you can always push the "GO" pedal a little bit less.

In fact, I like cars that get this complaint; to me that's a good review. I remember somebody at Honda said some people found the 240 HP in the Accord Coupe to be "too much" as well back in 2002 in the new '03 model.

They probably had it tuned and the tune caused them to get a speeding ticket 😂

It probably was a "Karen" that complained about a speeding ticket to Escondido Audi dealership when the loaner S4 "caused" her to get cited because it has too much power. She ruined it for everyone, as I haven't seen an "S" in the loaner lineup since.

Who in their right mind would make a complaint that a vehicle caused them to get a speeding ticket?😂

mjfloyd1

breld said:

Michaell said:

oldfarmer50 said:

mjfloyd1 said:

Purple haze. This makes that yellow Supra look tame.

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inventorylisting/mySavedListings.action#listing=272244021

OMG!😳

I notice they don't even mention the exterior color on that.

I’ve gotta imagine that’s a wrap and not an actual paint job.

No. It is an individual color at a very high price. Merlin purple IIRC

corvette

mjfloyd1 said:

breld said:

Michaell said:

oldfarmer50 said:

mjfloyd1 said:

Purple haze. This makes that yellow Supra look tame.

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inventorylisting/mySavedListings.action#listing=272244021

OMG!😳

I notice they don't even mention the exterior color on that.

I’ve gotta imagine that’s a wrap and not an actual paint job.

No. It is an individual color at a very high price. Merlin purple IIRC

Dealer is certainly proud of it - $3-4k over a fair price, per the listing, on a previous-generation model.

cdnpinhead

mjfloyd1 said:

Who in their right mind would make a complaint that a vehicle caused them to get a speeding ticket?😂

Your question answers itself.

qbrozen

breld said:

Some interior pics, as requested.

You could definitely tell people those last 2 pics are from a bimmer and there'd be no argument. Well, OK, until you notice the 'yota badge in the carplay screen. lol.

Personally, I'd be tempted to swap out the steering wheel.

mjfloyd1

qbrozen said:

breld said:

Some interior pics, as requested.

You could definitely tell people those last 2 pics are from a bimmer and there'd be no argument. Well, OK, until you notice the 'yota badge in the carplay screen. lol.

Personally, I'd be tempted to swap out the steering wheel.

I’d wait at least 6 months...

qbrozen

mjfloyd1 said:

I’d wait at least 6 months...

Fair point. Breld won't have it in 6 mos.

Michaell

Elderly driver wants a new car...

https://forums.edmunds.com/discussion/26558/general/x/should-you-lease-or-buy-your-car#latest

roadburner

A four cylinder manual Z4 is offered in Europe; I doubt Toyota will follow suit.

benjaminh

Upcoming Tesla Roadster 0-60 is less than 2 seconds....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PRi4B1APj0

ab348

What could possibly go wrong?

andres3

28firefighter said:

Thankfully BMW doesn't seem to have concerns about handing out fast cars as loaners. I'm hoping for an M240, M340, or M235 GC this weekend when the i3 goes in for its "vehicle check."

It really does help to sell when the loaner fleet is an awesome group of cars. A3's and Q3's might make sense from a cost standpoint, but S3's and SQ5's would get more attention and sales. The A7 was great! At least they have 2 of those in the fleet, but one of them was a TDI, so not sure that counts.

andres3

28firefighter said:

Thankfully BMW doesn't seem to have concerns about handing out fast cars as loaners. I'm hoping for an M240, M340, or M235 GC this weekend when the i3 goes in for its "vehicle check."

Are they a dealership that honestly makes an effort to strive for all 10's on the customer service surveys? Escondido Audi makes an honest effort to get 10's across the board, so it doesn't surprise me they caved when someone complained.

A dealership with lousy Service bay service could blow off complaints, since they don't have a high score to preserve/protect anyway.

andres3

breld said:

Interior Pics

roadburner said:

breld said:

kyfdx said:

Console, shifter, display and audio are pure BMW. They don't even try to disguise it.

Just now realized it isn't a manual transmission.

Nope. No manual offered yet on the Supra.

If it was available, I probably would have opted for it, but I’m not exactly disappointed to have been “forced” into the auto. It’s darn quick (shifting).

The ZF 8HP is just a brilliant autobox. In my M235i it performed so well on the track I never touched the shift paddles.

Wow! That’s saying something.

I'm the same with DSG's in S-Mode. I don't touch the paddles at the track... yet. I'd have to retrain my brain, but I don't see why I'd make the effort unless I found it fun.

Usually chasing down a Porsche or some other similarly fast car (sometimes all it takes is a similarly or slightly lesser skilled driver) takes precedence over "experimental fun" at the track.

Sandman6472

Checked the garage floor this morning on my way to the supermarket, oil on the floor again but, not as dark. Still is a sticky residue of something on the floor. Called my guy and taking it in, again, tomorrow at 8 am. He's a VW man himself, and think he's getting a bit pissed off like I am with this ongoing issue. I know it's a relatively small issue but I don't want/like any kind of issues on my vehicles...period! Luckily, am still at home on furlough so have the time to go. But might mean them needing the vehicle all day which again, not an issue, just annoying.
So, we'll see what tomorrow brings...and go from there.

qbrozen

benjaminh said:

Upcoming Tesla Roadster 0-60 is less than 2 seconds....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PRi4B1APj0

Hmmm... we’ll see. There is a limit to adhesion. Maybe a theoretical 2 secs only.