Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

Michaell

28firefighter said:

I happen to think it's a great car for the $$, even with the markup - really nicely optioned too with M, Nav, etc.

I really don't want to talk about it - it was offered to me at wholesale value, plus 50% of the tax credit @breld got by trading it in.

Of course, after I passed, my wife asked about it. I showed her a picture of it and her response was "I don't hate that".



Of course, if I ever get back into the market, I know at least one car the wife will approve of - even if it has to be AWD and an automatic.

28firefighter

Wow! That is a bargain. But, timing is everything and keeping the spouses happy is of supreme importance. My Dad continuously refers to several vehicles he bought without proper consultation as having been Beelzebub cars that were hated from day one...

breld

28firefighter said:

I happen to think it's a great car for the $$, even with the markup - really nicely optioned too with M, Nav, etc.

Even with the summer season, it may sit for awhile and get discounted.

It is a sweet and pretty unique ride for the money. Msport, premium, tech, lighting, driver assistance. And the white over brown is distinct.

Thing is, there are only a few folks in these parts who recognize what it offers, and one already bought it once, and another considered it and had to pass. 😀

Michaell

28firefighter said:

Wow! That is a bargain. But, timing is everything and keeping the spouses happy is of supreme importance. My Dad continuously refers to several vehicles he bought without proper consultation as having been Beelzebub cars that were hated from day one...

S'ok. I'm happy for @breld, and someone will get a nice 2-series at that price.

I was pricing winter tires over the weekend, in the off chance I could win over approval from the wife.

nyccarguy

fintail said:

Nice color combo, Targas are underappreciated IMO, I always liked them anyway.

Looking at that car reminds me that Porsches of that era have 3 different CHMSL treatments - low on the rear windshield for Targa, high on the rear windshield for normal 911, on a mount above the rear vent for cabrio.

The official color combination is Stone Grey Metallic with Linen Leather, Red Carpets & piping.

28firefighter

breld said:

28firefighter said:

I happen to think it's a great car for the $$, even with the markup - really nicely optioned too with M, Nav, etc.

Even with the summer season, it may sit for awhile and get discounted.

It is a sweet and pretty unique ride for the money. Msport, premium, tech, lighting, driver assistance. And the white over brown is distinct.

Thing is, there are only a few folks in these parts who recognize what it offers, and one already bought it once, and another considered it and had to pass. 😀

Funny you say that. I've read a couple articles (I think including Jalopnik) as well as enthusiast forums that think the 228i/230i with MT and M Package are going to be pretty sought after enthusiast cars.

breld

There’s a newer lower mile example here in CO that’s been listed since the time I bought mine. It has Dinan upgrades but has a ding on its carfax. They want $21k.

nyccarguy

qbrozen said:

nyccarguy said:

A customer of mine just acquired this 1988 911 Targa with 150K on the odometer.

Hey, they have a Cayenne in the garage. Do they want to part with it now? lol.

It’s funny you should ask, but he is looking to part with his Cayenne. It is a Diesel with 167K miles on it. I know you are looking for a Turbo.

breld

28firefighter said:

breld said:

28firefighter said:

I happen to think it's a great car for the $$, even with the markup - really nicely optioned too with M, Nav, etc.

Even with the summer season, it may sit for awhile and get discounted.

It is a sweet and pretty unique ride for the money. Msport, premium, tech, lighting, driver assistance. And the white over brown is distinct.

Thing is, there are only a few folks in these parts who recognize what it offers, and one already bought it once, and another considered it and had to pass. 😀

Funny you say that. I've read a couple articles (I think including Jalopnik) as well as enthusiast forums that think the 228i/230i with MT and M Package are going to be pretty sought after enthusiast cars.

If we had bought the house last year with a 4th garage space, I may have just kept the 228i. Then again, it probably would have already had a Mini in it for Mrs. Breld.

xwesx

qbrozen said:

28firefighter said:

Doug DeMuro has started his own car auction website like BaT - Cars and Bids. Found this one for Q: https://carsandbids.com/auctions/30pZYNY2/2009-mercedes-benz-ml63-amg

Interesting. Thanks, I’ll keep an eye on it.

I reached out yesterday regarding a 2012 ML550 I posted a little while ago. I don’t have high hopes because they have it listed for $2500 less than they paid for it 3 mos ago. And I already got a carvana bid for $3k more than their asking price. Very strange.

I like it. Not a great color combo, but forgivable on that machine. Needs a trailer hitch! I like the sound of the engine... surprisingly similar to my Q7's TDI.

Speaking of diesel, a friend has a couple of old "square body" Chevy's in his yard. I inquired about them... both 85, both 6.2L diesel. One is a Blazer while the other is a crew-cab one-ton. He said he would let them go as a pair for $2,500....

xwesx

qbrozen said:

Alright, it is "would you rather" time. Assuming you could pay $8k for either of these, which one would you rather have?

2008 Cayenne S

2008 ML550

The MB wins in a straight line, and I gotta be honest that I prefer the looks of it to the bloated Porsche. But there is still the nagging detail in my head that I have never owned a Porsche and now might be my chance. Yes, I was looking for a Turbo, but today's theme is "cheaper."

I would have no choice between these two: The ML. The body style of that generation Cayenne was unfortunate, anyway, but the "color scheme" on this particular example is just so.... blah. I am not sure whether the car's performance could overcome the inevitable depression the sea of grey would produce. Not a chance.... definitely the ML.

xwesx

qbrozen said:

good god. I'm just going to start calling these results BaT-s#!t crazy. This turbo is already bid over fair retail, and the buyer still needs to pay the 5% buyer fee, fetch the vehicle, and fix the moonroof!

That's funny.... I saw that last week and was going to share it here, but then I thought, "No, wait.... it's on BaT; why bother?"

xwesx

28firefighter said:

Wow! That is a bargain. But, timing is everything and keeping the spouses happy is of supreme importance. My Dad continuously refers to several vehicles he bought without proper consultation as having been Beelzebub cars that were hated from day one...

I am at the point where I don't care one bit what my spouse thinks of my cars, as she generally disapproves of everything of mine for one reason or another. I believe there is a time-honored gesture for what I think about that....

ab348

nyccarguy said:

A customer of mine just acquired this 1988 911 Targa with 150K on the odometer.

150k miles? How many engine rebuilds has it had?

qbrozen

nyccarguy said:

qbrozen said:

nyccarguy said:

A customer of mine just acquired this 1988 911 Targa with 150K on the odometer.

Hey, they have a Cayenne in the garage. Do they want to part with it now? lol.

It’s funny you should ask, but he is looking to part with his Cayenne. It is a Diesel with 167K miles on it. I know you are looking for a Turbo.

good god! As Terry used to say, he needs to find a girlfriend who lives closer.

corvette

qbrozen said:

nyccarguy said:

qbrozen said:

nyccarguy said:

A customer of mine just acquired this 1988 911 Targa with 150K on the odometer.

Hey, they have a Cayenne in the garage. Do they want to part with it now? lol.

It’s funny you should ask, but he is looking to part with his Cayenne. It is a Diesel with 167K miles on it. I know you are looking for a Turbo.

good god! As Terry used to say, he needs to find a girlfriend who lives closer.

No! This is your opportunity to untap its Turbo potential. Buy it and put in a chip and other performance mods, or better yet, an engine swap!

nyccarguy

qbrozen said:

nyccarguy said:

qbrozen said:

nyccarguy said:

A customer of mine just acquired this 1988 911 Targa with 150K on the odometer.

Hey, they have a Cayenne in the garage. Do they want to part with it now? lol.

It’s funny you should ask, but he is looking to part with his Cayenne. It is a Diesel with 167K miles on it. I know you are looking for a Turbo.

good god! As Terry used to say, he needs to find a girlfriend who lives closer.

It’s his 2nd Cayenne (the 1st was an ‘06 V6 that he drove until about 190K). He bought it a year old as a CPO. Drives from his house in Northern Westchester to his office in The Bronx (near my store) or his other office in Manhattan. One of his sons plays travel baseball. He leases his wife’s GLS with 30,000 miles per year including maintenance and extended warranty.

corvette

My office closed early this afternoon and I took the opportunity to hand wash the Tundra and put a coat of sealant on it. You really need scaffolding to get the roof and the center of the windshield and hood on that thing, but I did the best I could. I thought I could get away without a clay bar treatment, since it is new paint, but there were a lot of bug guts that didn't come off. A clay bar and a second coat of sealant are probably in order. I think it turned out pretty good, though. Hopefully, the sealant will prevent road grime from adhering as badly.

stickguy

well, if that Breld mobile really was what, $13K friends and family pricing, I am really bummed I was not actually in the market!

they screwed up the pictures thou

oldfarmer50

28firefighter said:

This is going to be the most PNW statement ever, but the Outback is parked outside for a bit while I work on stuff in the garage and it actually looks even better/more at home in the pouring rain. The Meguiars hybrid ceramic wax undoubtedly helps that, too...

It’s nice to see your hard work in the water beading up on the hood.

stickguy

Corvette, what to come over and do our RDX next? It is disgusting. got back from our trip up to NY. after parking under trees for few days, and being slaughtered by bugs, I don't even want to go near it. I hope the fresh paint is putting up a good fight, because the sap and bugs are big. Was not planning to clay it this soon, but probably will have to. Might be time to invest in a foam cannon!

good news though, better MPG on the way back down. and the bottom of the NY thruway, it was sitting at about 26, and even with a few stops and some local traffic, it ended up a couple tenths off that. So, pretty much what the old one got, and right about the sticker rating (I think it is 26). hopefully on runs that are flatter (that is a very hilly drive) and more breaking in I can get a few more MPG out of it. But considering we just broke 1,000 miles shortly before arriving home (RT was about 600 miles of that), and today was its 3 month anniversary, it probably does not matter that much!

for those interested in them, it is a fabulous travel car. Comfy, quiet, composed, good handling, HVAC is good, great tunes, super nice seats. Holds lots of stuff. sneaky fast (wants to settle right in at 75 with just a low hum of the engine, and if you don't really watch it, will blow right past 80 and feel just fine doing it).

I even took advantage of the "trunk" (there are 2 huge storage bins below the rear floor that must be a good 3-4 cubes total, maybe more). Nice little bonus, especially if you have something you want to keep out of site. And a good place to store your empty growlers!

the touchpad, really not a big deal once you get used to it (same as idrive, etc.) Still getting the hang of some of the functions (more so the wife) but part of the problem there is we just have not used it enough to get the hang of it, and remember for the next time!

so, if you are looking for something in this type, definitely should compare to the Euros in the class. And buy what feels right!

oldfarmer50

nyccarguy said:

A customer of mine just acquired this 1988 911 Targa with 150K on the odometer.

With that many miles I’d be afraid to drive it.

stickguy

well, possible that it has been rebuilt, but even if not, those cars were very durable and can go well over that. As long as they were taken care of correctly. Probably the only "exotic" that actually likes to be driven more.

oldfarmer50

28firefighter said:

In case anyone is curious about my Mom's car, the piston ring repair did not appear on carfax - it just shows as vehicle serviced along with oil change, fluids etc.

That’s scary but good for mom.

oldfarmer50

xwesx said:

qbrozen said:

28firefighter said:

Doug DeMuro has started his own car auction website like BaT - Cars and Bids. Found this one for Q: https://carsandbids.com/auctions/30pZYNY2/2009-mercedes-benz-ml63-amg

Interesting. Thanks, I’ll keep an eye on it.

I reached out yesterday regarding a 2012 ML550 I posted a little while ago. I don’t have high hopes because they have it listed for $2500 less than they paid for it 3 mos ago. And I already got a carvana bid for $3k more than their asking price. Very strange.

I like it. Not a great color combo, but forgivable on that machine. Needs a trailer hitch! I like the sound of the engine... surprisingly similar to my Q7's TDI.

Speaking of diesel, a friend has a couple of old "square body" Chevy's in his yard. I inquired about them... both 85, both 6.2L diesel. One is a Blazer while the other is a crew-cab one-ton. He said he would let them go as a pair for $2,500....

If they run and aren’t rusted to death that’s a terrific bargain.

fintail

Yeah that's no miles for an old 911, they tend to be maintained and are pretty durable. Wouldn't scare me at all.

28firefighter

This is a dream config. White, stick, heated cloth seats, xenons, sport pack.

https://www.miniramsey.com/certified/MINI/2017-MINI-Clubman-598469840a0e0adf45cbab02a1365798.htm

stickguy

that is kind of cool. but I can't believe a car that loaded and pricey still did not have a BU camera on it in 2017.

should have let me know sooner if you wanted it. I drove home today right through Ramsey!

corvette

stickguy said:

that is kind of cool. but I can't believe a car that loaded and pricey still did not have a BU camera on it in 2017.

I think the accelerated proliferation of technology has really shed light on these sorts of issues. Most new cars now come with CarPlay and Android Auto. If memory serves, all or nearly all Toyotas now have frontal collision prevention and radar cruise. It appears Toyota is adding LED headlights and BLIS as standard as they redesign models.

What's left for high-end brands to offer? Nicer leather and better soft-touch plastics? Better driving dynamics? More refined powertrains and additional sound deadening? They could, of course, try to offer even more technology, but that is fraught with peril, as often, the bleeding-edge stuff doesn't work well enough for primetime.

tifighter

stickguy said:

well, if that Breld mobile really was what, $13K friends and family pricing, I am really bummed I was not actually in the market!

they screwed up the pictures thou

Yeah, forget BaT. I'm sure someone here on CCBA auctions would have grabbed that puppy...

corvette

tifighter said:

stickguy said:

well, if that Breld mobile really was what, $13K friends and family pricing, I am really bummed I was not actually in the market!

they screwed up the pictures thou

Yeah, forget BaT. I'm sure someone here on CCBA auctions would have grabbed that puppy...

I'd have been interested if it were a sedan. I actually saw a 2010 G37X for sale locally with the same color scheme as mine, plus it has nav, which gets you Bluetooth audio streaming (mine only has a USB aux port). It also had 30,000 miles more than mine, but had lots of service records on the Carfax. Given the feature differences (AWD + nav) but the higher mileage and age difference (mine's two years newer), I'd have only been interested if I thought I could do an even trade. It looked like the dealer had it priced way over retail, so no chance of that.

nyccarguy

@breld definitely knows how to pick ‘em. I’ve been seeing GTIs out and about lately. I’ve been going over some scenarios in my head on how I can get my hands on one for the stable when the lease is up on the Tacoma in the next 15 months. There always seem to be lots of leftovers every model year. I know they don’t lease well. It would really have to be priced right for me to consider a CPO model. Maybe I could buy one with a DSG for my wife and take her Pilot. I’ve been getting good use out of my truck for work. Just this afternoon I loaded up the bed front to back and made 3 stops on my way home. My Dad texted me that we sold out of Joint Compound, so I swung by Home Depot and picked up 12 buckets which I’ll bring in tomorrow.

Could I fit everything in the Pilot (or a 4 Runner) with the seats folded down and a flat piece of plywood? Most likely. Would it be as easy as it is standing up to load and unload my Tacoma? Not likely.

corvette

@nyccarguy to me, a GTI would be very close in spirit to the Prelude. Even the five door has very small dimensions, by modern standards. I know when I bought the GLI, the equivalent GTI was priced a couple grand higher, and all you got feature-wise on the hatchback was real leather vs. fake leather on the GLI, which wasn't enough to sway me.

roadburner

stickguy said:

that is kind of cool. but I can't believe a car that loaded and pricey still did not have a BU camera on it in 2017.

should have let me know sooner if you wanted it. I drove home today right through Ramsey!

A rear camera on a Mini is like Parking Assist for an i3; if you need either you probably should be taking public transit.

stickguy

I do like those. would be a fine choice for me when the time comes. If it was now, I could also get a killer deal on a set of mounted snows, since my son had them on his A3, and they are now stacked up in his garage, taking up space! He should keep them, in case he goes back to VW/Audi when his lease is up.

speaking of that, we have discussed that a couple of times (especially considering he is now paying to support a house!) one thing he mentioned was getting a more impractical sporty car, and a cheap PU or other trucky style to go with it. I suggested doing it the opposite way, and getting something like a Tacoma on one of the killer deals, and spending less on an older toy since it won't get used as much, even if new.

stickguy

roadburner said:

stickguy said:

that is kind of cool. but I can't believe a car that loaded and pricey still did not have a BU camera on it in 2017.

should have let me know sooner if you wanted it. I drove home today right through Ramsey!

A rear camera on a Mini is like Parking Assist for an i3; if you need either you probably should be taking public transit.

nonsense. the clubman has a small, high rear window and a line in the middle. there is no possible way it does not have a blindspot. it is much safer having a complete view.

28firefighter

The park assist on the i3 makes me crazy. Way too sensitive - starts beeping solid with like 2 feet to go.

breld

corvette said:

@nyccarguy to me, a GTI would be very close in spirit to the Prelude. Even the five door has very small dimensions, by modern standards. I know when I bought the GLI, the equivalent GTI was priced a couple grand higher, and all you got feature-wise on the hatchback was real leather vs. fake leather on the GLI, which wasn't enough to sway me.

I’m sure you’d love a GTI - hard not to. But I don’t know if there’s much of any current vehicle that captures the spirit of your Prelude, at least in the sense of a high-revving n/a engine. Maybe a BRZ/86? I actually thought of testing out one of those, but just never got around to it, and now since it’s about to be updated, I figured it wouldn’t capture my attention for long.

breld

By the way, figuring I’d be trading that 228i in, I did manage to get my 15 year old out in it on Sunday for one initial lesson in driving a manual. My other kids who already are driving show little interest in learning, but this one, our youngest, seems to have a genuine interest in cars and driving. He did well - I assume within a year or two we’ll have another manual in the fleet to continue his lessons.

breld

@corvette - the Tundra looks great! I love that color combo.

My friend who goes back and forth between a Tundra and something economical just got a new truck. I went with him to look at Silverados as he was very interested in those, but I met him for dinner and he surprised me with a new truck...his 3rd Tundra.

breld

stickguy said:

well, if that Breld mobile really was what, $13K friends and family pricing, I am really bummed I was not actually in the market!

they screwed up the pictures thou

Too bad - I’m quite sure you would have really liked it and I would have loved to have passed it on to you.

fintail

I can live without beeps, but cameras sure make tight parking easier in these days of blindspots, high beltlines, and thick pillars.

benjaminh

breld said:

....I don’t know if there’s much of any current vehicle that captures the spirit of your Prelude, at least in the sense of a high-revving n/a engine....

Although it's obviously bigger than a Prelude @nyccarguy the current TLX has a bit of the Prelude spirit with its high-revving naturally aspirated engine and Prelude-like 4-wheel steering. Just a thought. I got it in part because I wanted a Prelude back in the day.

nyccarguy

corvette said:

@nyccarguy to me, a GTI would be very close in spirit to the Prelude. Even the five door has very small dimensions, by modern standards. I know when I bought the GLI, the equivalent GTI was priced a couple grand higher, and all you got feature-wise on the hatchback was real leather vs. fake leather on the GLI, which wasn't enough to sway me.

I'm sure I'll take a look at the GLI as well.

breld

I assume the backseat in the prelude is not used (or more to the point, not usable)?

So @nyccarguy, the Miata RF you’ve been admiring could certainly fit the bill.

Or just wait until I get one again and then unload it.

stickguy

fintail said:

I can live without beeps, but cameras sure make tight parking easier in these days of blindspots, high beltlines, and thick pillars.

agreed. The sensors are IMO pretty useless. Mostly squawk for no reason, and are not accurate enough. I suppose good if there is something you missed (like a low pole), but only if you are not desensitized from too many false alarms! But the camera does what they do, and more.

stickguy

I saw a silver/gray RF yesterday. Sharp. But I still think that if I was getting a convertible sports car, it would be a traditional soft top

explorerx4

My backup sensors/cross traffic alert works just fine, especially now that is shows which side the obstacle/traffic is on.

kyfdx

oldfarmer50 said:

nyccarguy said:

A customer of mine just acquired this 1988 911 Targa with 150K on the odometer.

With that many miles I’d be afraid to drive it.

That isn't a lot of miles for a 911. Especially, one that is 32 years old.

They are pretty sturdy, even if they are maintenance intensive.

kyfdx

corvette said:

@nyccarguy to me, a GTI would be very close in spirit to the Prelude. Even the five door has very small dimensions, by modern standards. I know when I bought the GLI, the equivalent GTI was priced a couple grand higher, and all you got feature-wise on the hatchback was real leather vs. fake leather on the GLI, which wasn't enough to sway me.

The GTI is pretty tiny from an exterior viewpoint.