Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

andres3

xwesx said:

The price of owning a Legend....

Pretty sure that Legend could handle being red-lined for 200,000 miles. $9K is a bit rich when you look at 1992 though. Would have been fun to flog it.

When did child restraint anchors become commonplace? I noticed the Legend didn't have the anchors.

corvette

andres3 said:

When did child restraint anchors become commonplace? I noticed the Legend didn't have the anchors.

Early 2000s, I think.

mjfloyd1

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/3goJ7jAR/2019-mazda-mx-5-miata-rf-club

I see @breld unloading the Supra and getting another Miata RF...

oldfarmer50

andres3 said:

The Acura Legend has July 2020 registration CA plates.

Anyone here such a CCBA they are a DMV expert? I have a feeling late fees, penalties, and more will be inflicted painfully upon a buyer who lives in California too. Or am I over-worried?

In NY you can renew online for up to a year after your registration has expired as long as it’s been inspected during that time. Unless CA is particularly vindictive I wouldn’t worry.

qbrozen

Geez. For the $$, seems like it is hard to go wrong with this.
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/share/282026017

oldfarmer50

qbrozen said:

Geez. For the $$, seems like it is hard to go wrong with this.
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/share/282026017

As long as it doesn’t have the 2.7L it could be cheap fun. Personally, I wanted one with the Mitsubishi engine so I got a 2000. Those older ones aren’t victims of Daimler’s cost cutting mania IMO. The 96’-2000 models are right at the bottom of the depreciation cycle so they are dirt cheap.

https://nh.craigslist.org/cto/d/merrimack-1997-chrysler-sebring/7189430939.html

mjfloyd1

qbrozen said:

Geez. For the $$, seems like it is hard to go wrong with this.
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/share/282026017

Hmm. It’s a Chrysler with 69000 miles and 3 owners. Let’s take bets as to when the transmission takes a dump

28firefighter

L’Shana Tova to all of my fellow posters who celebrate!

oldfarmer50

mjfloyd1 said:

qbrozen said:

Geez. For the $$, seems like it is hard to go wrong with this.
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/share/282026017

Hmm. It’s a Chrysler with 69000 miles and 3 owners. Let’s take bets as to when the transmission takes a dump

Mine has 84k and I’m the fourth owner. Shifts fine.

mjfloyd1

oldfarmer50 said:

mjfloyd1 said:

qbrozen said:

Geez. For the $$, seems like it is hard to go wrong with this.
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/share/282026017

Hmm. It’s a Chrysler with 69000 miles and 3 owners. Let’s take bets as to when the transmission takes a dump

Mine has 84k and I’m the fourth owner. Shifts fine.

I'm surprised that it hasn't shift' d its pants

stickguy

Chrysler not too bad looking. but no price?

stickguy

mjfloyd1 said:

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/3goJ7jAR/2019-mazda-mx-5-miata-rf-club

I see @breld unloading the Supra and getting another Miata RF...

mjfloyd1 said:

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/3goJ7jAR/2019-mazda-mx-5-miata-rf-club

I see @breld unloading the Supra and getting another Miata RF...

that is really nice. Distinctive color. looks good on it.

xwesx

My van had 174,000 miles on it when I bought it, and it was on the original transmission according to the prior owner. He was the second owner, and was the car's primary mechanic since new, so I tended to believe him. The van has around 240,000 miles.... same transmission.... It's all a matter of taking care of it.

qbrozen

stickguy said:

Chrysler not too bad looking. but no price?

Odd. Was under $6k when I saw it.

The Limited had the 3.5.
And, no, it doesn’t have the old Chryco 4-speed self-destructo trans. Has the 6-speed, which we have had in 2 vans now with zero issues. So I’ll happily take that bet. I’ll even give you favorable odds. Ya old guys gotta stop living in the past. Every manufacturer has made a bad transmission at some point.

mjfloyd1

No doubt that it is different buying a vehicle from a mechanic who had done regular oil and transmission fluid changes vs buying a multi owner non mechanic owned vehicle.

Were the 2000+ Sebring Mitsubishi V6 motors mated to Mitsubishi transmissions?

Transmissions have just been notoriously the Achilles heel of Chrysler products.

https://www.youcanic.com/guide/are-dodge-chrysler-transmissions-reliable#toc-1990-2010

qbrozen

IMHO, it is notorious because people harp on it. There are Honda transmissions to avoid, but nobody talks about those. There are Toyota transmissions to avoid, but let’s keep that on the DL. The first-gen XC90s with the GM transmissions made of silly putty were quickly forgotten. The Ford transmissions in the first-gen 4-cyl Mazda 626 were junk ... but that never seemed to make much of a blip in folks’ memories. I could go on. I just find it odd when one manufacturer (of any product) gets beat up more than another for the same sin. Maybe because I was never the victim of one and have an outsider’s perspective. I dunno.

mjfloyd1

I had a Honda bad transmission in an Acura MDX. They fixed it.

I think the difference is that it was the transmission with the V6 motors that had bad torque converters. It wasn’t as widespread of a problem as with the Chryslers.

At the end of the day, it is your money and your choice.

stickguy

I had 3 of the infamous Honda V6 5/6 speed trans. about 320,000 total miles. Zero issues.

stickguy

that is a really good looking deal on the Chrysler. Too bad it is in Texas!

mjfloyd1

I actually had two with bad torque converters. They replaced both. Honestly I don’t keep cars that long (depending on who you compare me to 🙃)

breld

That Miata RF is nice. Really nice, but doesn’t seem like something that needs to be on an auction site. BBS/Brembo package is a definite plus, but not exactly rare.

Having said that, yes, a 2019 or newer equipped like that could draw me back into a Miata...someday. (queue the comments about someday meaning...Tuesday).

fintail

It's to the point where I am a little scared of any MB V8. This, head bolts, fuel delivery quirks on older cars, then the wiring harness era (to be fair, not limited to V8s). Makes me want to just get a W123 or W126 diesel and hide out.

mb_enthusiast said:

I don't understand it either. I've only heard of it on Mercedes-Benz engines and trucks (perhaps Mercedes too).

stickguy

fintail said:

It's to the point where I am a little scared of any MB V8. This, head bolts, fuel delivery quirks on older cars, then the wiring harness era (to be fair, not limited to V8s). Makes me want to just get a W123 or W126 diesel and hide out.

mb_enthusiast said:

I don't understand it either. I've only heard of it on Mercedes-Benz engines and trucks (perhaps Mercedes too).

If the Car Wizard dumps all over them, I am staying away!

mb_enthusiast

Porsche can't get their story straight. The service manual clearly says that the 30k mile service is an oil and filter change plus spark plugs. I speak to two of the three dealerships, and they claim that Cayenne S 30k is a 'regular' service without spark plugs but several other items. They told me that spark plugs come at 40k despite the manual stating otherwise. So...the two less expensive dealerships were at $495 and $825 without those spark plugs. I declined to do the service at the Exchange today. They ended up only fixing two of the three broken clips because they apparently missed the other. Three months and they need to order another one. Porsche service... Initially, I considered allowing them to do an oil change, but that was $300... Ugh. I don't mind maintenance costs—par for the game. However, the lack of transparency and wildly different pricing is so different from what I've experienced with other luxury brands—Mercedes and Audi, chiefly.

fintail

It seems the 6cyl and diesel cars are safer bets. MB made some pretty good I6s for a long time.

stickguy said:

If the Car Wizard dumps all over them, I am staying away!

graphicguy

@mb_enthusiast ....so happy to hear your Dad is recovering well.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

Chrysler not too bad looking. but no price?

That’d funny, I swear I saw $5799 on that ad.?????

roadburner

breld said:

That Miata RF is nice. Really nice, but doesn’t seem like something that needs to be on an auction site. BBS/Brembo package is a definite plus, but not exactly rare.

Having said that, yes, a 2019 or newer equipped like that could draw me back into a Miata...someday. (queue the comments about someday meaning...Tuesday).

The 2020 Miata is almost quick; the Recaros and Brembos would be mandatory for me.

roadburner

Good News: My BMW dealer just traded for an M2; low miles, one owner, FSH, decent price.

Bad News: It's black on black.

My wife, bless her heart, reminded me that both the M8 GTE and M4 DTM have black racing liveries, and suggested I look at some BMW Motorsport graphics:




BMW does sell an M Performance stripe kit:



I could also go with the Laptime-Performance stripe kit- a tribute to the 2002 Turbo:



I may have to think about this...

mjfloyd1

mb_enthusiast said:

Porsche can't get their story straight. The service manual clearly says that the 30k mile service is an oil and filter change plus spark plugs. I speak to two of the three dealerships, and they claim that Cayenne S 30k is a 'regular' service without spark plugs but several other items. They told me that spark plugs come at 40k despite the manual stating otherwise. So...the two less expensive dealerships were at $495 and $825 without those spark plugs. I declined to do the service at the Exchange today. They ended up only fixing two of the three broken clips because they apparently missed the other. Three months and they need to order another one. Porsche service... Initially, I considered allowing them to do an oil change, but that was $300... Ugh. I don't mind maintenance costs—par for the game. However, the lack of transparency and wildly different pricing is so different from what I've experienced with other luxury brands—Mercedes and Audi, chiefly.

Porsche- you can pay me now or you can pay me later. Maybe they think they are "saving" you from a return trip for the spark plugs in 2k miles?

mjfloyd1

breld said:

That Miata RF is nice. Really nice, but doesn’t seem like something that needs to be on an auction site. BBS/Brembo package is a definite plus, but not exactly rare.

Having said that, yes, a 2019 or newer equipped like that could draw me back into a Miata...someday. (queue the comments about someday meaning...Tuesday).

I never should have shared that RF. - my bad

roadburner

I did a little more digging on the M2; it did receive the 1,500 mile service inspection that BMW still calls for on M cars. No hole in the roof, but also no Executive Package. It did just get four new tires at 28,000 miles.

breld

Does it go without saying that it’s a Comp model @roadburner?

roadburner

breld said:

Does it go without saying that it’s a Comp model @roadburner?

Unfortunately not, but the price is about $10,000 less than an M2C. So I want to at least drive it.

breld

My 1990 Civic Si was red, but I’ve rarely had any thought of getting another red car since then.

This is pretty though...

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/821333586/overview/

breld

These F30 340i’s may be one of the last ways to get a manual without going M, huh? At least it seems there are examples to be had.

I the Msport would be a requirement for me with the steering wheel and short shifter, as well as the body kit for aesthetics, but this Sport model is nice...

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/823018514/overview/

oldfarmer50

roadburner said:

Good News: My BMW dealer just traded for an M2; low miles, one owner, FSH, decent price.

Bad News: It's black on black.

My wife, bless her heart, reminded me that both the M8 GTE and M4 DTM have black racing liveries, and suggested I look at some BMW Motorsport graphics:




BMW does sell an M Performance stripe kit:



I could also go with the Laptime-Performance stripe kit- a tribute to the 2002 Turbo:



I may have to think about this...

I’m sure all the kids down at the malt shop would think those graphics were cool.😬😃

breld

There are more used examples out there than I would have expected of current model A4/A5’s out there with a 6 speed manual. I believe they stopped in 2019 or 2020? And was never available on the S4/S5 (current gen).

This is a nice one...

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/813725199/overview/

28firefighter

This is for sale at my local dealer. Crazy money IMO.

https://www.bmwseattle.com/certified/BMW/2017-BMW-340i-near-seattle-wa-93620f040a0d04fe4d75bc7478fbc08f.htm

pensfan83

M2C, no hole in the roof, and Executive Package. I think that's more than you want to spend though.

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/821975529/overview/?aff=share_other

roadburner

28firefighter said:

This is for sale at my local dealer. Crazy money IMO.

https://www.bmwseattle.com/certified/BMW/2017-BMW-340i-near-seattle-wa-93620f040a0d04fe4d75bc7478fbc08f.htm

The dealer where I bought my 2er had a F30 340i xDrive with THP and most every other option; I think it was priced about $5k less. I'm sure this dealer low-balled the car for having three pedals but now promotes the "RARE!" manual.

roadburner

pensfan83 said:

M2C, no hole in the roof, and Executive Package. I think that's more than you want to spend though.

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/821975529/overview/?aff=share_other

Yes, but that's exactly the way I'd want one optioned- although my favorite colors are Hockenheim Silver and Sunset Orange...

28firefighter

roadburner said:

28firefighter said:

This is for sale at my local dealer. Crazy money IMO.

https://www.bmwseattle.com/certified/BMW/2017-BMW-340i-near-seattle-wa-93620f040a0d04fe4d75bc7478fbc08f.htm

The dealer where I bought my 2er had a F30 340i xDrive with THP and most every other option; I think it was priced about $5k less. I'm sure this dealer low-balled the car for having three pedals but now promotes the "RARE!" manual.

Looks like a lease return they bought from BMWFS.

Either way, I’m interested at $30k. Not $40.

stickguy

well, you can usually be cheap, or picky, when looking at cars. It is just really hard to be both at the same time. Especially for something that is definitely a "boutique" model. In the long run, a few extra $ to get exactly what you want, when you will keep it a long, long time, is pretty insignificant.

stickguy

Breld, both those 340s were very nice. I like both color combos, but the red one more.

stickguy

that Audi is also really nice. I am getting a serious yen to get back into a stick. Before I get too old and broken down to do it!

Sandman6472

Yes, Happy New Year to all of us who celebrate it!

breld

Both those 340s I posted are right there at low-$40k’s too - and at a one-priced dealer.

I’m sure part of it is the inflated used market we’re in right now, but as ever, there is that small niche of buyers who are targeting the diminishing manuals. And they’re shopping nationwide.

It’s one of my common searches, and it seems more often than not, they are sold pretty quickly.

Sandman6472

Looks like we'll be doing the serpentine belt and coolant flush on the Audi. The wife wants to keep it at least for another year as she's not sure what to get next. The new A3 has become super expensive and doubt she's spend that much. So, best to fix the current A3 and keep it in the stable for another year, or so.
We talked about me leasing next time and it could work. I had to explain things like the acquisition fee and the idea being that I'd only be "renting" it for a specific time period. I'd have to fix any damage that they felt was over the top plus new sneakers might be needed. But, with the low miles I'm putting on a vehicle right now, definitely worth a look. Especially if I plan on staying at Enterprise another few years. Always being under warranty is very appealing to me right now, so we'll just have to see what happens. Also discussed fixing the axle boot and possibly doing the front brakes. Not sure I want to go to much longer with the axle boot to be honest so have set a October 20th date to have it repaired or around that time.
This way, I'll keep it another year and by that time, the 2021 models will be out and I can then decide what we'll do. One thing I do know, we have to have our own vehicle as sharing just would not work. And with my hate of any vehicular drama whatsoever, a newer vehicle is a must. But it needs to be somewhat fun for me also, it has o be able to put that sh-t eating grinning on my face!

28firefighter

https://www.bmwcca.org/ads/244596

Some nap time perusing. Would be a nice comfortable daily.