Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

andres3

roadburner said:

28firefighter said:

My BMW dealer of choice has 10 new X2 M35i cars in stock. Most with premium and M sport seats. MSRP from 49-52k. None of them have the HK stereo. Who forgot to check the box?

Many dealers have some really clueless people in charge of ordering cars. When I ordered cars H-K was a given on all but the least expensive configurations.

Some so-called Audi dealership workers on social media claim they have no say (except in direct customer custom orders) in what they get from the factory. I'm having a hard time believing that.

oldfarmer50

ab348 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

28firefighter said:

I got my registration renewal for the i3. $845. $505 regional transit tax and $150 EV charge on top of the usual fees.

If I could get an X2 M35 for sub 400 I’d consider lease swapping the i3...

That seems rather counterproductive to slap taxes on EVs. Yeah, I know it’s to make up for the gas taxes you don’t pay but why put a disincentive into the equation? Well, I know the reason.

Coming up with a tax regime that has electric vehicles paying their share of the costs of road infrastructure that fossil fuel vehicles pay through gas taxes is a problem that govs need to solve. It would seem that with all of the electronics built into such vehicles that it would be relatively easy to have them transmit mileage numbers back to the appropriate registration authority and be billed a per-mile fee. As it is you either get arbitrary lump-sum taxes as in 28's case or a subsidy paid for by those paying gas taxes. Of course given the purchase incentives offered by different levels of gov from general revenues maybe they think it is a good thing to punish the rest of us laggards/neanderthals, just like they have done with spending for bike lanes.

That’s a different issue. Occasionally some politician comes up with a milage tracking scheme down here which so far has been shot down over privacy concerns. I certainly don’t want the government to know ANYTHING I’m up to without a warrant. Once your car is tattling on mileage it’s a short step before it’s transmitting WHERE you accrued the miles. Yes, sinister forces can track your cell phone already but you can turn it off or leave it home. Government mandates can’t be tossed out the window.

In most states where they have annual inspections I assume a report on the odometer reading could be included (maybe already is). There’s already odometer shut off devices available on the internet to thwart that rule though.

But I digress....

My point was that if society deems EVs to be a more socially acceptable alternative to ICE it seems self-defeating to tax their use even though they are getting a free ride on highway use.

corvette

andres3 said:

roadburner said:

28firefighter said:

My BMW dealer of choice has 10 new X2 M35i cars in stock. Most with premium and M sport seats. MSRP from 49-52k. None of them have the HK stereo. Who forgot to check the box?

Many dealers have some really clueless people in charge of ordering cars. When I ordered cars H-K was a given on all but the least expensive configurations.

Some so-called Audi dealership workers on social media claim they have no say (except in direct customer custom orders) in what they get from the factory. I'm having a hard time believing that.

I heard a story that, at one time, VW dealers couldn't even do custom orders, they had to "request an allocation" of the option combination the customer wanted, and hope it got built.

ab348

oldfarmer50 said:

My point was that if society deems EVs to be a more socially acceptable alternative to ICE it seems self-defeating to tax their use even though they are getting a free ride on highway use.

Not really. There is a cost associated with gov providing anything such as roads (or up here, healthcare) that needs to be recovered via taxation . That can be done either via user-pay (taxes on gas, cigarettes, whatever) or from general revenue. I prefer user-pay whenever feasible for reasons of equity. We see here that the health care system is overwhelmed because there is nothing to deter people from using it, not even a modest co-pay.

roadburner

corvette said:

I heard a story that, at one time, VW dealers couldn't even do custom orders, they had to "request an allocation" of the option combination the customer wanted, and hope it got built.

As I’ve mentioned before, back in 2007 the VW salesman I dealt with acted like ordering a GTI to my specs was an incredibly difficult procedure(but note that this was the same “expert” who claimed the GTI had Brembo brakes because the calipers were painted red).
What put the lie to this excuse was the fact that there were a couple of sales guys on VW Vortex who offered to order a car and have it delivered to my dealer. I was already anticipating that my experience with my local service department would be less than stellar, so I figured that buying the car somewhere else would make things even more disappointing- which is why I eventually ended up with the MS3.

stickguy

chatted up the wife this afternoon while chilling in the pool (last few days, it gets closed Tuesday) and having a few beverages (which always makes her more receptive to my schemes). she had no issues with my car plans. Though now that she has her dream car, and knows it will be the primary travel car, I don't think she really cares what I do next. But a nice midsized sports sedan of some sorts is fine by her.

also talked about where to move (needs to be a place we are OK retiring to). She needs to discuss with her manager, but seems pretty clear now that her company will be extremely flexible with a FT WFH arrangement Plus we won't really go too far from her office. Right now, she is agreeable to southern Vermont (maybe lower Berkshires NY/Mass) or somewhere in the Albany/Saratoga region. She even seemed to like my idea about a place in Vermont convenient to skiing where we would rent it out from January-March, and go to Myrtle Beach to rent off season for the same time period.

so, will see what happens!

stickguy

oh, the car plan, at the moment a mid sized sports sedan is the plan. A Civic (Si), BMW 2 series GC, GTI or Elantra N line. something like that.

ab348

Oh dear God here we go again...

stickguy

oh come on. you know you love it!

oldfarmer50

ab348 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

My point was that if society deems EVs to be a more socially acceptable alternative to ICE it seems self-defeating to tax their use even though they are getting a free ride on highway use.

Not really. There is a cost associated with gov providing anything such as roads (or up here, healthcare) that needs to be recovered via taxation . That can be done either via user-pay (taxes on gas, cigarettes, whatever) or from general revenue. I prefer user-pay whenever feasible for reasons of equity. We see here that the health care system is overwhelmed because there is nothing to deter people from using it, not even a modest co-pay.

And I’m not one who thinks that EVs should be given a free ride but at least where I live there’s a long history of government giving tax breaks or outright grants to foster activities for the greater social good. The taxpayer is left to pick up the tab. The tax credit for buying an EV is a good example. Why encourage you to buy one with tax credits and then discourage you with a use tax.

No skin off my nose if states want to adopt a schizophrenic environmental policy.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

chatted up the wife this afternoon while chilling in the pool (last few days, it gets closed Tuesday) and having a few beverages (which always makes her more receptive to my schemes). she had no issues with my car plans. Though now that she has her dream car, and knows it will be the primary travel car, I don't think she really cares what I do next. But a nice midsized sports sedan of some sorts is fine by her.

also talked about where to move (needs to be a place we are OK retiring to). She needs to discuss with her manager, but seems pretty clear now that her company will be extremely flexible with a FT WFH arrangement Plus we won't really go too far from her office. Right now, she is agreeable to southern Vermont (maybe lower Berkshires NY/Mass) or somewhere in the Albany/Saratoga region. She even seemed to like my idea about a place in Vermont convenient to skiing where we would rent it out from January-March, and go to Myrtle Beach to rent off season for the same time period.

so, will see what happens!

Could I suggest someplace in the Mohawk Valley? Economically depressed for decades makes for some real low housing prices. Beautiful scenery too.

stickguy

you mean like Amsterdam? Or Schenectady?

xwesx

28firefighter said:

I got my registration renewal for the i3. $845. $505 regional transit tax and $150 EV charge on top of the usual fees.

If I could get an X2 M35 for sub 400 I’d consider lease swapping the i3...

Why the upcharge for the electric? Oh, I see. Taxing you all at once for road use.

28firefighter

Yep. That’s it. On one hand I get it, but on the other, not really because one would think the state would want to incentivize EV ownership.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

you mean like Amsterdam? Or Schenectady?

Heck no! Unless you like crime and high taxes. There's some nice areas just outside of those cities though. Depends on what you want, if you need to be close to a downtown then somewhere around Saratoga or Bennington would be fine. If you want wide open spaces you could go in just about any direction.

My brother lives in Williamstown MA Which is a quaint college town. Very New England but expensive. He commutes to work in Albany. The Schoharie Valley is also nice. Lots of state workers commute from there.

qbrozen

My idea of moving for retirement involves NOT dealing with snow!

breld

Quick take on the other two SUV test drives from yesterday...

The MDX has held up a lot better than I expected, given it’s been out since 2014. When I’ve read reviews claiming it’s on the sporty side for SUVs, I’ve dismissed the notion, but it really is pretty nimble and drives “small.” I drove an A-spec and a Sport Hybrid. The normal V6 is pleasing and has enough oomph once you get going, but it’s a bit sluggish at start. The Hybrid resolves that and has a really nice linear acceleration from the get go.

Interior is of course outdated, but the features are pretty much all there, and CarPlay pretty much modernizes the infotainment for my purposes.

I’d go with the Sport Hybrid. But along with a host of other reasons, I’ll wait for the new MDX to be revealed before doing anything.

breld

And...test drove a Palisade.

It really impresses and deserves the accolades it has received (along with the Telluride).

Super quiet and refined with what I think is a beautiful interior layout. Very comfortable seats.

The V6 isn’t setting any records, but it and the transmission are smooth and provide more than adequate acceleration...felt better than the MDX I’d say.

Great overall package - it’s on the list.

stickguy

oldfarmer50 said:

stickguy said:

you mean like Amsterdam? Or Schenectady?

Heck no! Unless you like crime and high taxes. There's some nice areas just outside of those cities though. Depends on what you want, if you need to be close to a downtown then somewhere around Saratoga or Bennington would be fine. If you want wide open spaces you could go in just about any direction.

My brother lives in Williamstown MA Which is a quaint college town. Very New England but expensive. He commutes to work in Albany. The Schoharie Valley is also nice. Lots of state workers commute from there.

I draw the line at the boonies. Don't have to be right in town, but at least close to one, and in a nice area. Saratoga would be ideal, but it is pricey. Bennington or Manchester, we want to go up next month and explore a bit. So one of those areas, or someplace in NY between Burnt Hills and Balston spa area are all in the mix.

near Albany is OK but where you are or maybe Colonie or Niskayuna.

stickguy

qbrozen said:

My idea of moving for retirement involves NOT dealing with snow!

well, my idea of retirement doesn't involve snow either. I seem to be losing that battle. I did tell the wife that if we went up to VT and were near ski areas, at some point we would be renting it out for ski season and renting a place in Myrtle beach for their off season. She didn't say no!

Michaell

qbrozen said:

My idea of moving for retirement involves NOT dealing with snow!

Plus 1

oldfarmer50

qbrozen said:

My idea of moving for retirement involves NOT dealing with snow!

Me too but Stickguy has in-laws in the frigid north so he has no choice. He’ll be driving a rusty dog sled in a few years.

qbrozen

ALL of our immediate family is here in NJ. So it is unlikely we’d ever move, unfortunately.

stickguy

I have no family here, so the only thing tying us down to the area is our daughter happens to be working in DE now, but that is not guaranteed to last forever. If she moves for any reason we are really free to go.

As OF noted, my wife is from up that way and a lot of her family is still in the area (and our son just bought his house right up there too) so it makes sense to be reasonably close.

stickguy

oldfarmer50 said:

qbrozen said:

My idea of moving for retirement involves NOT dealing with snow!

Me too but Stickguy has in-laws in the frigid north so he has no choice. He’ll be driving a rusty dog sled in a few years.

My lab can barely walk at this point. I doubt he can handle pulling a sled!

I did tell the wife if I am moving to snow country, I want a spare garage or barn, a tractor, and a PU truck.

nyccarguy

At least this S4 driver remembered to fold in The mirrors

nyccarguy

roadburner said:

My next car will almost certainly be a sedan or coupe. I’m glad we have a CUV but I’m really glad it’s my wife’s vehicle.

I really love the look of the current crop of ///M4 Coupes.

ab348

breld said:

And...test drove a Palisade.

It really impresses and deserves the accolades it has received (along with the Telluride).

Super quiet and refined with what I think is a beautiful interior layout. Very comfortable seats.

The V6 isn’t setting any records, but it and the transmission are smooth and provide more than adequate acceleration...felt better than the MDX I’d say.

Great overall package - it’s on the list.

I think both of the H/K big SUVs are good vehicles, but I much prefer the look of the Kia, inside and out. The Palisade looks too much like ever other Hyundai SUV.

breld

ab348 said:

breld said:

And...test drove a Palisade.

It really impresses and deserves the accolades it has received (along with the Telluride).

Super quiet and refined with what I think is a beautiful interior layout. Very comfortable seats.

The V6 isn’t setting any records, but it and the transmission are smooth and provide more than adequate acceleration...felt better than the MDX I’d say.

Great overall package - it’s on the list.

I think both of the H/K big SUVs are good vehicles, but I much prefer the look of the Kia, inside and out. The Palisade looks too much like ever other Hyundai SUV.

I tend to agree with you. Though I do prefer the Hyundai interior over the Kia’s, so that makes me lean that way.

breld

Then of course there’s this option...

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/806040721/overview/

I’m a sucker for that blue-gray color (hence my attraction to that LR Discovery too).

I actually saw a Cayenne just like this one in my neighborhood the other day and I was so struck by it. Then I see this one come up used locally. It’s fate, no?

sda

nyccarguy said:

At least this S4 driver remembered to fold in The mirrors

That would make for a very bad surprise.

tjc78

qbrozen said:

ALL of our immediate family is here in NJ. So it is unlikely we’d ever move, unfortunately.

This. My mom is having anxiety about moving 20 minutes south with us, let alone another state.

tjc78

nyccarguy said:

At least this S4 driver remembered to fold in The mirrors

Probably like my Volvo and automatic!

Shame, but probably happens every 15 minutes in NYC.

ab348

breld said:

I tend to agree with you. Though I do prefer the Hyundai interior over the Kia’s, so that makes me lean that way.

Just don't get the stinky-interior version:

https://www.cars.com/articles/csi-car-smell-investigation-2020-hyundai-palisade-edition-425864/

stickguy

love the blue on the Cayenne. But hate the black interior. would look great with a 2 tone tan or brown interior (even dove gray). Probably a nice car to drive, but just a tad pricey.

coldinohio

love the biscay bay blue color-- even more striking in person

good luck

breld said:

Then of course there’s this option...

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/806040721/overview/

I’m a sucker for that blue-gray color (hence my attraction to that LR Discovery too).

I actually saw a Cayenne just like this one in my neighborhood the other day and I was so struck by it. Then I see this one come up used locally. It’s fate, no?

stickguy

My daughter suggested that I get a GTI when the time comes. I must have raised her right! My son would like that too. Especially if he still has the set of winter wheels and tires in his garage that fit the GTI.

I love the plaid seats on this one, and the color. Too bad it is missing the moonroof, otherwise has every feature I require. That would be a tough sell for me (easier to talk into it on a lease of course!)

https://www.cherryhillvw.com/new/Volkswagen/2020-Volkswagen-Golf+GTI-553bbb960a0e0ae86cefb77bf3597121.htm

though the GLI does seem like a good deal too. Autobahn model a lot cheaper than on a GTI. Not sure if there is really much difference in the driving experience in the kind of driving I do.

https://www.cherryhillvw.com/new/Volkswagen/2020-Volkswagen-Jetta+GLI-99b177630a0e0ae7046986b05c340147.htm

I am curious to see the new GTI when it finally arrives (next year at this point I assume?)

sb55

stickguy said:

oldfarmer50 said:

qbrozen said:

My idea of moving for retirement involves NOT dealing with snow!

Me too but Stickguy has in-laws in the frigid north so he has no choice. He’ll be driving a rusty dog sled in a few years.

My lab can barely walk at this point. I doubt he can handle pulling a sled!

I did tell the wife if I am moving to snow country, I want a spare garage or barn, a tractor, and a PU truck.

Check out the Islands. A lot less snow compared to other parts of Vermont.

stickguy

what exactly are the islands?

I figured that southern part like Bennington won't be much different than Albany weather. But I have been wrong before.

ab348

stickguy said:

what exactly are the islands?

I think @sb55 lives on one. Though IIRC he goes south for the winter, so I would take what he says with a grain of salt.

stickguy

oh, I know where he is. I just assume there is another set of them someplace, further south, that for some reason would get different weather.

I do know enough to stay as close to sea level as possible! Leave the mountains for the snow lovers.

xwesx

stickguy said:

I have no family here, so the only thing tying us down to the area is our daughter happens to be working in DE now, but that is not guaranteed to last forever. If she moves for any reason we are really free to go.

As OF noted, my wife is from up that way and a lot of her family is still in the area (and our son just bought his house right up there too) so it makes sense to be reasonably close.

I don't get the proximity to family thing. My family is all spread out (and has been for the duration of my lifetime), so I think of family as something that exists, but isn't an immediate "I need to visit with extreme regularity" subset of the population.

I suspect that if I was near family, I probably wouldn't see them much more frequently than I do now. At least, that's generally the report I get from those that are closer to one another.

stickguy

we see them on a regular basis. Holidays mostly, vacation together in the summer, stuff like that. would see them more if we were not 4 hours away, but not an every day thing.

qbrozen

breld said:

Then of course there’s this option...

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/806040721/overview/

I’m a sucker for that blue-gray color (hence my attraction to that LR Discovery too).

I actually saw a Cayenne just like this one in my neighborhood the other day and I was so struck by it. Then I see this one come up used locally. It’s fate, no?

What's this for? To swap for the wife's Benz? Not sure you have anything in your fleet right now I'd give up for a base model Cayenne.

oldfarmer50

sda said:

nyccarguy said:

At least this S4 driver remembered to fold in The mirrors

That would make for a very bad surprise.

Today at work one of the guys parked his Dodge GC under a big tree. It was windy and part of the tree broke loose. Took out the passenger’s front fender, bumper, hood, windshield and put a big dent in the roof at the top edge of the windshield which I’m sure buckled the roof structure. I’m guessing $5k in damage if it can be fixed at all.

The only trouble is he says the van only books for $1500.

The company already gave him a free rental and will probably write him a check for more than it’s worth.

breld

qbrozen said:

breld said:

Then of course there’s this option...

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/806040721/overview/

I’m a sucker for that blue-gray color (hence my attraction to that LR Discovery too).

I actually saw a Cayenne just like this one in my neighborhood the other day and I was so struck by it. Then I see this one come up used locally. It’s fate, no?

What's this for? To swap for the wife's Benz? Not sure you have anything in your fleet right now I'd give up for a base model Cayenne.

It’d be an answer to consolidate the Volvo and GLC and go back to 3 cars (for the 3 car garage).

Another obvious path to that is simply to sell one or the other, but what’s the fun of that?

The V90 and GLC are certainly nice, but what makes you say they wouldn’t be worth swapping for a base Cayenne? Now that it has the turbo 6 in it, it certainly seemed appealing.

roadburner

I'd flip the GLC- you probably won't want another M-B for a few decades or so.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

what exactly are the islands?

I figured that southern part like Bennington won't be much different than Albany weather. But I have been wrong before.

These are the Champlain islands:



I think that because they are in the middle of a large body of water they tend to stay snow free longer than places surrounded by mountains.

On the other hand, the view north from Bennington right after a snow storm has to be seen to be believed.



Everywhere in VT is a fun drive.

stickguy

thanks. If we go to VT it would almost certainly be the lower part (Bennington/Manchester) so roughly even with Albany or Saratoga.

explorerx4

I lived on that thumb that juts out facing north to the right and a little below the red balloon for semester in college.