Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

Michaell

qbrozen said:

graphicguy said:

oldfarmer50 said:

qbrozen said:

I also like the RX7 that is 30 mins from closing at $5300. Closer to me, so shipping is less. BUT, pretty useless to me in the utility area, so the wife would NOT be pleased if I were to bring that home. https://carsandbids.com/auctions/9elOlgjk/1987-mazda-rx-7-turbo-ii

Weren’t those RX-7s notorious for killing the engine seals at about 50k miles?

Yep!

Problem was that most were not properly cared for. Using synthetic oil in the Wankel is a big no-no, for example, but most owners were not aware of that. Mazda failed to properly inform buyers how to properly care of the rotary because they were afraid they'd scare them off. They require good ole dino oil to keep the seals properly lubricated, and they will use oil as a result, requiring adding oil periodically.

My sister had an RX-7 ('84 or '85, can't remember which). I know she was pretty serious about maintenance because my dad (who cosigned the loan) told her about the engine's proclivity to consume oil.

Even though it wasn't my car, I still remember her monthly payment - $262/mo.

oldfarmer50

Remember that 92’ Jaguar that was up for an estate auction a while back?



It sold for $22k. That makes all these other auctions look like give-aways.

oldfarmer50

qbrozen said:

graphicguy said:

oldfarmer50 said:

qbrozen said:

I also like the RX7 that is 30 mins from closing at $5300. Closer to me, so shipping is less. BUT, pretty useless to me in the utility area, so the wife would NOT be pleased if I were to bring that home. https://carsandbids.com/auctions/9elOlgjk/1987-mazda-rx-7-turbo-ii

Weren’t those RX-7s notorious for killing the engine seals at about 50k miles?

Yep!

Problem was that most were not properly cared for. Using synthetic oil in the Wankel is a big no-no, for example, but most owners were not aware of that. Mazda failed to properly inform buyers how to properly care of the rotary because they were afraid they'd scare them off. They require good ole dino oil to keep the seals properly lubricated, and they will use oil as a result, requiring adding oil periodically.

Was synthetic in widespread use in the 70s and 80s?

I’m trying to remember, my brother had one in the late 70s I think. I doubt he would know synthetic from salami so I’m sure he used regular oil.

Seals blew at just over 50k.

corvette

oldfarmer50 said:

I’m trying to remember, my brother had one in the late 70s I think. I doubt he would know synthetic from salami so I’m sure he used regular oil.

Seals blew at just over 50k.

They may have spec'd an unusual weight, like 20w50, on the older ones, but I can't recall.

explorerx4

@oldfarmer50,
When I saw Qbrozon's post about the Jaguar, I thought of that Green convertible.
Thanks for posting the auction results.
It is a pretty car.
If I want to see a bunch of Jaguars, I only have to go about 2 miles.
https://www.motorcarsinc.com/

suydam

Michaell said:

roadburner said:

nyccarguy said:

I'm intrigued by the Electric MINI

It has the same power train as the i3. It’s a great urban/suburban runabout.

(zipping up my flame retardant coveralls)

Yeah, but for about the same price you can get a Leaf Plus with 100 more miles of range.

Don't get me wrong - I like the concept of the e-MINI; I just don't like the execution.

I drove a Leaf Plus and really like it. But in the last few months we really don’t need a second car, and the Encore is paid for and keeps not having any problems. So no reason to switch.

qbrozen

corvette said:

oldfarmer50 said:

I’m trying to remember, my brother had one in the late 70s I think. I doubt he would know synthetic from salami so I’m sure he used regular oil.

Seals blew at just over 50k.

They may have spec'd an unusual weight, like 20w50, on the older ones, but I can't recall.

I believe it was something odd and maybe even an additive either helped or caused issues? I never memorized the issues, just knew that too many were not properly cared for and had problems. I know I’ve read of well-cared-for examples going quite far. Guess that is true of just about any car, though.

fintail

Proceeds to charity or something? That's seriously 50% above market for a pristine car.

oldfarmer50 said:

Remember that 92’ Jaguar that was up for an estate auction a while back?
It sold for $22k. That makes all these other auctions look like give-aways.

oldfarmer50

explorerx4 said:

@oldfarmer50,
When I saw Qbrozon's post about the Jaguar, I thought of that Green convertible.
Thanks for posting the auction results.
It is a pretty car.
If I want to see a bunch of Jaguars, I only have to go about 2 miles.
https://www.motorcarsinc.com/

That looks like a nice place to browse on a Sunday when they’re closed.

If I want to see a bunch of Jaguars I only have to walk across the street. My neighbor is a collector of classics. One day I drove by and there were over a dozen from antique to classic parked all over his yard. He had a Jag car club meet at his house. He even got a local dealer to park a brand new one in the driveway for comparison.

oldfarmer50

fintail said:

Proceeds to charity or something? That's seriously 50% above market for a pristine car.

oldfarmer50 said:

Remember that 92’ Jaguar that was up for an estate auction a while back?
It sold for $22k. That makes all these other auctions look like give-aways.

Yes, charity auction. They raised over $400,000.

xwesx

oldfarmer50 said:

explorerx4 said:

@oldfarmer50,
When I saw Qbrozon's post about the Jaguar, I thought of that Green convertible.
Thanks for posting the auction results.
It is a pretty car.
If I want to see a bunch of Jaguars, I only have to go about 2 miles.
https://www.motorcarsinc.com/

That looks like a nice place to browse on a Sunday when they’re closed.

If I want to see a bunch of Jaguars I only have to walk across the street. My neighbor is a collector of classics. One day I drove by and there were over a dozen from antique to classic parked all over his yard. He had a Jag car club meet at his house. He even got a local dealer to park a brand new one in the driveway for comparison.

I find the site terribly annoying with so many of the cars saying "SOLD" across the photo. Why? If you sell it, don't waste our time scrolling through!

tifighter

suydam said:

Michaell said:

roadburner said:

nyccarguy said:

I'm intrigued by the Electric MINI

It has the same power train as the i3. It’s a great urban/suburban runabout.

(zipping up my flame retardant coveralls)

Yeah, but for about the same price you can get a Leaf Plus with 100 more miles of range.

Don't get me wrong - I like the concept of the e-MINI; I just don't like the execution.

I drove a Leaf Plus and really like it. But in the last few months we really don’t need a second car, and the Encore is paid for and keeps not having any problems. So no reason to switch.

@suydam

Dear Sir-

We regret to inform you that, due to comments quoted above, we must rescind your CCBA membership, effective immediately. Should you choose to contend this decision, please submit an appeal in writing, with a copy of a recent purchase receipt to the following:

CCBA
1 Breld Drive
Edmundstown, ND 55555

We wish you well on your new journey, outside of a B2B warranty. We wonder what that's like.

Regards,
CCBA Central Command

Michaell

@tifighter - nice.

However, I'm four years removed from my last transaction. I help @breld with his transactions, do I get proxy membership?

suydam

Ha! Too true! I just hope the time will someday arrive when we can all be driving again! Until then, our cars are mostly sitting in the garage. We haven’t put more than a few hundred miles on the Encore since this whole thing started.

ronsteve

I've had maybe 15 days of working from home, but had to come into the office otherwise. However, the wife has been working from home for the duration, and her employer decided in late May that her department would go to permanent telework. So the RDX has seen a slight reduction in usage, while the Jetta has only been driven a little over 1000 miles since the pandemic started, mostly by me when I'm working nights.

So even though I didn't pull the trigger on that Volvo wagon last month, I dare say the itch to go back to a wagon persists. I never did look at that Outback, but I know there will be other Outbacks (but not a constant stream of them, as I'm thinking definitely 3.6, unless I wait and look for a new-generation XT.)

tjc78

Michaell said:

@tifighter - nice.

However, I'm four years removed from my last transaction. I help @breld with his transactions, do I get proxy membership?

IMO, yes. Nothing like a good enabler.

Michaell

tjc78 said:

Michaell said:

@tifighter - nice.

However, I'm four years removed from my last transaction. I help @breld with his transactions, do I get proxy membership?

IMO, yes. Nothing like a good enabler.

Although I'm sure @breld would say I provide more logical advice than enablement.

qbrozen

See this one yet? Nice car. Unfortunate color combo. https://carsandbids.com/auctions/rJJZxoMz/2011-saab-9-5

pensfan83

This was at the MB dealer next door to the Acura dealer. Heritage Edition.

https://www.smailmercedesbenz.com/inventory/used-2020-bmw-m4-coupe-rwd-2dr-car-wbs4y9c01lfj19812/

breld

This was in the parking lot of the hotel we were staying at in Idaho Falls this past week.

It’ll be interesting to see how the buying public responds to that Genesis grill. The rear was much nicer - should have snapped a pic of that too.

[Deleted User]

Michaell said:

tjc78 said:

Michaell said:

@tifighter - nice.

However, I'm four years removed from my last transaction. I help @breld with his transactions, do I get proxy membership?

IMO, yes. Nothing like a good enabler.

Although I'm sure @breld would say I provide more logical advice than enablement.

I'm picturing a mini @michaell in a white robe on @breld's left shoulder, mini @Michaell in red with pitchfork on his right...

stickguy

qbrozen said:

See this one yet? Nice car. Unfortunate color combo. https://carsandbids.com/auctions/rJJZxoMz/2011-saab-9-5

Yeah, love the car, hate the color combo

stickguy

Snazzy M4. A bit out of my price range though.

Michaell

dad23 said:

Michaell said:

tjc78 said:

Michaell said:

@tifighter - nice.

However, I'm four years removed from my last transaction. I help @breld with his transactions, do I get proxy membership?

IMO, yes. Nothing like a good enabler.

Although I'm sure @breld would say I provide more logical advice than enablement.

I'm picturing a mini @michaell in a white robe on @breld's left shoulder, mini @Michaell in red with pitchfork on his right...

Nah, @jpp75 carries the pitchfork...

Although we are all good with spending other people's money. @breld will randomly text me links to nice cars he thinks I should pick up...

28firefighter

I don't dislike the genesis grille any more than I dislike the the new BMW oversize grille design.

stickguy

It’s much better than some BMW and any Lexus. I would be fine with it.

graphicguy

oldfarmer50 said:

qbrozen said:

graphicguy said:

oldfarmer50 said:

qbrozen said:

I also like the RX7 that is 30 mins from closing at $5300. Closer to me, so shipping is less. BUT, pretty useless to me in the utility area, so the wife would NOT be pleased if I were to bring that home. https://carsandbids.com/auctions/9elOlgjk/1987-mazda-rx-7-turbo-ii

Weren’t those RX-7s notorious for killing the engine seals at about 50k miles?

Yep!

Problem was that most were not properly cared for. Using synthetic oil in the Wankel is a big no-no, for example, but most owners were not aware of that. Mazda failed to properly inform buyers how to properly care of the rotary because they were afraid they'd scare them off. They require good ole dino oil to keep the seals properly lubricated, and they will use oil as a result, requiring adding oil periodically.

Was synthetic in widespread use in the 70s and 80s?

I’m trying to remember, my brother had one in the late 70s I think. I doubt he would know synthetic from salami so I’m sure he used regular oil.

Seals blew at just over 50k.

Not sure about synth availability back then. But, as @qbrozen points out, they were designed to burn oil. And, the oil in the rotary chamber kept the seals lubricated. Compared to a "normal" piston engine of the time, Rotary engines were NOT forgiving at all. Piston engine...get a quart or two low, and you can probably go for a while before you do any damage. You do that in a Rotary? You're looking at a rebuild.

It was IMPERATIVE to check the oil at EVERY fill up. I actually carried a case of oil in the hatch of my long departed RX8. It was 50-50 whether it was a quart low at every fill up.

ab348

Sounds like an old beater a friend of my brother had for a short time. He joked that when he pulled into a service station he would tell the attendant to check the gas and fill the oil. :laughing:

Michaell

stickguy said:

It’s much better than some BMW and any Lexus. I would be fine with it.

@breld texted me that picture over the weekend, and it spawned a healthy discussion about the Genesis brand.

If Hyundai doesn't suck it up and encourage mandate their dealers to develop Genesis specific showrooms, I suspect the brand may not make it, no matter how good the product is.

Folks dropping $40-80K on a premium brand have different expectations about the dealer experience than someone shopping in the $20-40K price bracket. Co-mingling Elantras with the G70/80/90 and the new GV80 doesn't meet those expectations, IMO.

I'm not suggesting that Genesis model their dealers after Lexus, but there has to be a premium feel to the dealers, when you are cross shopping the GV80 with the X5, Q7 or GLE/GLS.

stickguy

Car Wizard picked up a TJC mobile!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fci4JnKPFKU

graphicguy

stickguy said:

qbrozen said:

See this one yet? Nice car. Unfortunate color combo. https://carsandbids.com/auctions/rJJZxoMz/2011-saab-9-5

Yeah, love the car, hate the color combo

I don't even see how they can call this a SAAB. It's a GM something. What it's not is a SAAB.

qbrozen

graphicguy said:

stickguy said:

qbrozen said:

See this one yet? Nice car. Unfortunate color combo. https://carsandbids.com/auctions/rJJZxoMz/2011-saab-9-5

Yeah, love the car, hate the color combo

I don't even see how they can call this a SAAB. It's a GM something. What it's not is a SAAB.

Well, the platform was Opel, and it was first used by the Opel Vectra and Saab 9-3, and didn't show up as a Chevy until 2 years later. And the 9-5 was built in Sweden. So it wasn't as GM as some other bastardizations, such as the 9-7X.

pensfan83

Looks like the RDX is going to be coming off the shopping list. I've now reached out to 3 separate dealers in 3 different geographic areas and while the numbers vary across the offers the payment is around the same. My wife agrees that while it's a very nice car, there's no need to go over budget. Worst case, we turn the car in and daily the BMW for a bit until we decide what to do.

One last salvo is a dealer on LH based in North NJ. If that doesn't pan out then I think we'll step back and look at something else.

fintail

Flamboyance and overstyling seem to charm the masses these days, we're in a new late 50s in terms of styling. It'll sell no problem.

breld said:

This was in the parking lot of the hotel we were staying at in Idaho Falls this past week.

It’ll be interesting to see how the buying public responds to that Genesis grill. The rear was much nicer - should have snapped a pic of that too.

roadburner

Michaell said:

stickguy said:

It’s much better than some BMW and any Lexus. I would be fine with it.

@breld texted me that picture over the weekend, and it spawned a healthy discussion about the Genesis brand.

If Hyundai doesn't suck it up and encourage mandate their dealers to develop Genesis specific showrooms, I suspect the brand may not make it, no matter how good the product is.

Folks dropping $40-80K on a premium brand have different expectations about the dealer experience than someone shopping in the $20-40K price bracket. Co-mingling Elantras with the G70/80/90 and the new GV80 doesn't meet those expectations, IMO.

I'm not suggesting that Genesis model their dealers after Lexus, but there has to be a premium feel to the dealers, when you are cross shopping the GV80 with the X5, Q7 or GLE/GLS.

Agreed; the Louisville Genesis dealer also shares the showroom with Hyundai- no premium feel at all.
Even worse is Kia’s situation- trying to sell an A4/C Class/3 Series competitor out of a showroom filled with payment buyers and a “What can I do to put ya in a car today?” sales staff. VW couldn’t pull it off with the Phaeton, and it won’t work with the Stinger either.

oldfarmer50

Not quite the $15k I predicted.

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/3oVLk0g9/1999-mitsubishi-eclipse-gsx

Qbrozen is still high bid on that 91’ Jag.

sda

ab348 said:

Sounds like an old beater a friend of my brother had for a short time. He joked that when he pulled into a service station he would tell the attendant to check the gas and fill the oil. :laughing:

That was my 71 Vega GT! 1qt every 100 miles or so. A friend followed me home one day and I noticed he had his wipers and headlights on. He later remarked he had to as he was being fogged out. lol

xwesx

stickguy said:

It’s much better than some BMW and any Lexus. I would be fine with it.

The maw is not big enough to eat larger than maybe 50# children. I would go with the Lexus... those can swallow anyone under 110# without difficulty.

xwesx

My '96 Outback got to that point, or nearly so. Once I had to start adding more than a quart of oil per fill (about 225 miles), I got serious about fixing the engine. I pulled it and replaced most of the seals and gaskets on the engine, including the main seals, and had no more oil leak issues. However, within about 20,000 miles, I started having head gasket issues.... Oh, if only I knew then what I know now! Out came the engine again for another overhaul, followed by another 25,000 miles or so of trouble-free driving before we lost it.

That poor car had a tough life.

For reference:
Oil leaks started at about 85,000 miles
I fixed the leaks at 150,000 miles.
Head gasket symptoms began at ~170,000 miles.
I replaced the head gaskets at 195,000 miles.
Car destroyed at 220,000 miles.

stickguy

That was a big “while you are in there anyway” miss on your part.

andres3

rayainsw said:

I have been 'on the road' for most of the past week.
Duluth, GA to Wells, ME
overall trip miles: 1,198 miles
I do not know if I can actually catch up - [ 300+ posts ]
but wanted to check in!
Cheers, all.
- Ray
M340i proven to be an excellent road trip car !

I wouldn't mind taking your M340i on a road trip.

nyccarguy

Everybody OK

This tree fell across the road onto my next door neighbor’s property.

stickguy

we had one medium size tree break in half (so the top half is hanging down at the break point, but still connected). At the back corner of the yard (might actually be on the neighbors side of the line, but it is behind the fence line). Good thing, it missed their swingset and fence. And all went into their lot.

actually happy about it. we wanted the tree down, because it hung out over (and was crushing) a nice ornamental he had planted in the back corner. Now, that is free to grow to the sky, and we did not have to pay for it!

roadburner

nyccarguy said:

Everybody OK

This tree fell across the road onto my next door neighbor’s property.

Welcome to my world- definitely not fun.

nyccarguy

This is my customer’s 2011 Mini Cooper S Clubman. These are tough little cars for sure.

Michaell

nyccarguy said:

This is my customer’s 2011 Mini Cooper S Clubman. These are tough little cars for sure.

Same color as my daughters Countryman

28firefighter

Has @roadburner bought an M3 yet?

oldfarmer50

Oh the humanity!

corvette

The giant tree in my back yard lost a large limb Friday night. It barely missed hitting the electric line. I'm going to see about having it cut down.

oldfarmer50

Michaell said:

nyccarguy said:

This is my customer’s 2011 Mini Cooper S Clubman. These are tough little cars for sure.

Same color as my daughters Countryman

That’ll be on Craigslist tonight. “Slight cosmetic damage”.