Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

oldfarmer50

qbrozen said:

Sigh. So pretty.
https://carsandbids.com/auctions/3O8Vjd6R/1999-ferrari-360-modena

That is beautiful. Much more so than the Magnum PI version of the 70s. I can’t imagine how hard it would be to maintain it. Are parts still available?

oldfarmer50

tifighter said:

Was someone looking for a convertible?
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1995-jaguar-xjs-53/

6 owners in 44k miles? Much have been in the shop a lot.

au1994

tifighter said:

Was someone looking for a convertible?
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1995-jaguar-xjs-53/

Unique color to say the least. Power train doesn’t bother me.

These are like the crazy but hot girl you always wanted to date. When you finally get that date, hold on, you never know how its gonna go...

corvette

stickguy said:

Too bad about the terrible transmission. And ditto on yucky color combo.

Back in the 1990s before Porsche tried to be all things to all people, the local dealer shared space with Mazda. I remember going there with my dad to look at the 911s, and the only thing they kept in stock were a handful of silver over black or silver over grey ones with almost no options. I'm guessing most customers ordered what they wanted. But, those demo models had to get sold to somebody eventually!

qbrozen

nyccarguy said:

qbrozen said:

Sigh. So pretty.
https://carsandbids.com/auctions/3O8Vjd6R/1999-ferrari-360-modena

Besides the fact that it is an automatic, what's with that god-awful color combination? Red? Yellow? Black? I've even seen once in a dark grey with a red interior that was striking.

Well, F1 auto-manual trans. And I love the color.

xwesx

Interior is meh, but I do love the exterior color!

ab348

nyccarguy said:

qbrozen said:

Sigh. So pretty.
https://carsandbids.com/auctions/3O8Vjd6R/1999-ferrari-360-modena

Besides the fact that it is an automatic, what's with that god-awful color combination? Red? Yellow? Black? I've even seen once in a dark grey with a red interior that was striking.

I'm seeing a silver-grey Ferrari with a black interior. Are you referring to something else?

explorerx4

I'm with nyccarguy, looks to bland for a Ferrari.

qbrozen

It is blue. So, yes, I’m seeing something else. Lol

qbrozen

PLEASE let this get out of financial reach!
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1994-alfa-romeo-164-12/

nyccarguy

qbrozen said:

PLEASE let this get out of financial reach!
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1994-alfa-romeo-164-12/

Gorgeous car! So simple, but so well done. I LOVE those seats, and of course the color combo . Do BAT auctions have a reserve?

au1994

Double the cylinders and a better color combo

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1986-jaguar-xjsc-6/

ab348

qbrozen said:

It is blue. So, yes, I’m seeing something else. Lol

I'm still looking for the red/yellow/black car.

qbrozen

nyccarguy said:

qbrozen said:

PLEASE let this get out of financial reach!
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1994-alfa-romeo-164-12/

Gorgeous car! So simple, but so well done. I LOVE those seats, and of course the color combo . Do BAT auctions have a reserve?

They can, yes. Usually states No Reserve otherwise.

tjc78

Live the Alfa. I bet that engine sounds sweet to rev up.

corvette

tjc78 said:

Live the Alfa. I bet that engine sounds sweet to rev up.

Probably almost like angels revving their angelmobiles.

Sandman6472

The Golf has been behaving and am very happy I fixed what needed to be fixed. Still nothing out there that I really want at this point. Would like to drive the new Seltos a some point but think it might be a bit too long for my needs. The more I've read, the new GTI and Taos will probably be the best ones to fill my need going forward. Luckily with the little driving I am doing now, it's very possible that I could wait till 2022 and then get something newer. Since I'll most likely be putting less than 5K on each year, a good bet that it'll have maybe 75K by that time. Time will tell and am willng to wait at this point.

omarman

More recently Doug rated this 2004 Maserati Coupe an "exotic car bargain" and more reliable than the E46 M3.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJddtAyz4As

Meanwhile down the BaT hole...

explorerx4

There are probably some pretty unobtanium or at least very specialized parts on that Alfa.

stickguy

corvette said:

tjc78 said:

Live the Alfa. I bet that engine sounds sweet to rev up.

Probably almost like angels revving their angelmobiles.

That was a classic. Wonder if it ever sold? And the answer, as always with this vintage exotic, is get the manual tranny. And find someone like the Weezard to take care of it.

qbrozen

omarman said:

More recently Doug rated this 2004 Maserati Coupe an "exotic car bargain" and more reliable than the E46 M3.>

A bit of hyperbole there, I’d think. You’d need to get a manual Maser, for one, and those are rare. Second, while I believe the M3 has more common trouble spots, they won’t cost a mortgage payment to fix.

stickguy

Cool Alfa, even with terrible color combo. But that’s personal taste. Gray market import worries me a bit. I also did not know they offered it in AWD.

stickguy

My old TLX must have sold. Not on the site any longer. That’s nice, it it finally has a new home. Unless they dumped it elsewhere!

au1994

stickguy said:

My old TLX must have sold. Not on the site any longer. That’s nice, it it finally has a new home. Unless they dumped it elsewhere!

Funny, I was genuinely sad when I saw the Crosstrek posted on Vroom. It’s easy for me to make an emotional connection to a good car. Weird, I know.

stickguy

Easier when it’s a lease. You go in knowing it’s a relatively short term fling then you move on. So no reason to get attached.

Michaell

stickguy said:

Easier when it’s a lease. You go in knowing it’s a relatively short term fling then you move on. So no reason to get attached.

I really liked the Jetta I had, and was sorry to see it go.

tjc78

I’ve had a few leases that I was sad to give back. I have a feeling the Volvo is going to be one of those. The other was the 2012 LaCrosse.

The rest I was ready to move on.

Sandman6472

Think that's my problem with the Golf, I really like it! I knew within a few minutes of driving it that I was going to own this car. I've always done the econobox thing since I bought my first vehicle. Can't really count my grandpa's '67 Olds Cutlass Supreme as my mom bought it for her folks and after he passed, it became my high school driver. It sat home for my freshman year but we took it to school for my sophmore year. During that time, the folks downsized from a 7/6 to a 3/2 at the country club and didn't want or need three vehicles any longer. Plus, they bought a golf cart to use at their new place so I took the Cutlass while my older brother got the '72 Ford Torino GT. We paid my dad a nominal fee just so it was fair to the two other siblings.
But the Golf is the first vehicle I bought just for pure fun. That blip with the Hyundai Tucson was a total mistake from the get go and it still was the right thing to do to cut it loose as early as I did. And now that I drive so many different vehicles at work, I'm still happiest when I get back into my Golf and go home. My gut tells me that next time I should go "cheap to keep", but just not sure that'll play out. Just afraid I'll get bored real quick and want to move on.

pensfan83

I was sad to return the A4 because I knew that was likely the last manual DD I would own. Such a fun car.

I think the Tacoma may fall into that category too but for different reasons. It's been a very practical vehicle for us and it's utility as a hauler or tower has been used numerous times. If prices fall back to earth by next August and we can snag a reasonable deal I'm pretty sure we'll get another one.

[Deleted User]

pensfan83 said:

I think the Tacoma may fall into that category too but for different reasons. It's been a very practical vehicle for us and it's utility as a hauler or tower has been used numerous times. If prices fall back to earth by next August and we can snag a reasonable deal I'm pretty sure we'll get another one.

Would you mind me asking what you're paying again for that one? I know you've probably said it in the past. They're advertising a $326/month payment for 36 months, $0 down here for a 2020 Tacoma Double Cab V6 TRD Sport 4WD. I was considering that being another vehicle the boys could share for now, myself included

sda

I was a little sad when I saw my Accord listed online. I traded it on a late Friday evening and they had it listed early Monday. By Wednesday it was sold. 7yrs, 1mo, a record for me.

pensfan83

dad23 said:

pensfan83 said:

I think the Tacoma may fall into that category too but for different reasons. It's been a very practical vehicle for us and it's utility as a hauler or tower has been used numerous times. If prices fall back to earth by next August and we can snag a reasonable deal I'm pretty sure we'll get another one.

Would you mind me asking what you're paying again for that one? I know you've probably said it in the past. They're advertising a $326/month payment for 36 months, $0 down here for a 2020 Tacoma Double Cab V6 TRD Sport 4WD. I was considering that being another vehicle the boys could share for now, myself included

We did a one-pay lease but the equivalent monthly is $235-$240 if I recall correctly. 24 months/12K miles, matures next August. Just turned over 10K so we'll be under on mileage by probably 7K.

[Deleted User]

Wow... Is the Prelude still for sale?

nyccarguy

pensfan83 said:

dad23 said:

pensfan83 said:

I think the Tacoma may fall into that category too but for different reasons. It's been a very practical vehicle for us and it's utility as a hauler or tower has been used numerous times. If prices fall back to earth by next August and we can snag a reasonable deal I'm pretty sure we'll get another one.

Would you mind me asking what you're paying again for that one? I know you've probably said it in the past. They're advertising a $326/month payment for 36 months, $0 down here for a 2020 Tacoma Double Cab V6 TRD Sport 4WD. I was considering that being another vehicle the boys could share for now, myself included

We did a one-pay lease but the equivalent monthly is $235-$240 if I recall correctly. 24 months/12K miles, matures next August. Just turned over 10K so we'll be under on mileage by probably 7K.

My Tacoma goes back next September. I think I'm well over 10K over my miles.

Michaell

nyccarguy said:

pensfan83 said:

dad23 said:

pensfan83 said:

I think the Tacoma may fall into that category too but for different reasons. It's been a very practical vehicle for us and it's utility as a hauler or tower has been used numerous times. If prices fall back to earth by next August and we can snag a reasonable deal I'm pretty sure we'll get another one.

Would you mind me asking what you're paying again for that one? I know you've probably said it in the past. They're advertising a $326/month payment for 36 months, $0 down here for a 2020 Tacoma Double Cab V6 TRD Sport 4WD. I was considering that being another vehicle the boys could share for now, myself included

We did a one-pay lease but the equivalent monthly is $235-$240 if I recall correctly. 24 months/12K miles, matures next August. Just turned over 10K so we'll be under on mileage by probably 7K.

My Tacoma goes back next September. I think I'm well over 10K over my miles.

nyccarguy said:

pensfan83 said:

dad23 said:

pensfan83 said:

I think the Tacoma may fall into that category too but for different reasons. It's been a very practical vehicle for us and it's utility as a hauler or tower has been used numerous times. If prices fall back to earth by next August and we can snag a reasonable deal I'm pretty sure we'll get another one.

Would you mind me asking what you're paying again for that one? I know you've probably said it in the past. They're advertising a $326/month payment for 36 months, $0 down here for a 2020 Tacoma Double Cab V6 TRD Sport 4WD. I was considering that being another vehicle the boys could share for now, myself included

We did a one-pay lease but the equivalent monthly is $235-$240 if I recall correctly. 24 months/12K miles, matures next August. Just turned over 10K so we'll be under on mileage by probably 7K.

My Tacoma goes back next September. I think I'm well over 10K over my miles.

But you knew that, going in, and you chose the Toyota because of the low excess mileage charge.

pensfan83

dad23 said:

Wow... Is the Prelude still for sale?

Not at this time, for what I was being offered I'll just keep it. The suspension is definitely in need of a refresh at this point in its life and I haven't driven it as much this year as a result. I'll probably slowly purchase parts over the winter and install in the spring.

[Deleted User]

Just curious, one of our three seems to be leaning toward old school cars, like the Prelude, Supra or Celica. His dream car would be a Delorean, an obvious long shot, make me wonder where I went wrong with him

Michaell

Keep a lease or return it? Member needs help with a decision:

https://forums.edmunds.com/discussion/63817/land-rover/range-rover-evoque/2018-evoque-se-premium-keep-it-or-return-the-lease#latest

xwesx

Range Rover... RETURN IT!

qbrozen

T&C is finally home! Didn’t realize how badly it needed those lower control arms. Never even noticed they had gone bad. Just thought it was the van loosening up with age. It feels SO MUCH tighter now.

For FCA dragging their feet, and probably because I never once called him or gave him grief, the SA comped the oil change. With the $100 ded, $29 tire rotation, and tax, we paid $137 and FCA coughed up $3500. The timing chain cover leak is common on the 3.6, he told me, so they always look for it, and replacing that means the valve covers and intake also come out, so new gaskets there, too. Then we have the new driver’s seat frame and controls, passenger seatbelt, speed sensor, and those lower control arms.

In speaking with him about my rental, he explained that I had the Voyager, and he is of the opinion the Pacifica feels like an entirely different vehicle. Better suspension, parts quality, etc.

au1994

xwesx said:

Range Rover... RETURN IT!

Ditto

Michaell

au1994 said:

xwesx said:

Range Rover... RETURN IT!

Ditto

Feel free to jump over there and let the OP know...and why.

qbrozen

Oh, and SA shared a recent experience with the lifetime warranty where a woman’s vehicle (I failed to ask what model) needed a new engine. They gave her $7k check instead. She was tickled because the car was only worth $4k on trade.

andres3

Did someone mention a site that's free for looking up original stickers based on the VIN #? I need that site!

My perfect S4 might be one of the 10% that doesn't have a sport rear diff!!!!!! Bad luck!

corvette

@qbrozen sounds like that warranty has already paid for itself! JRGo is having a similar experience with his F-250, although, it sounded like CarMax only charged him $3,000 or so for the five year warranty, which seems extremely low given the complexity of that vehicle. The one on my Murano was around $2,500, they never had to pay a claim, and I got most of it back when I sold it.

qbrozen

corvette said:

@qbrozen sounds like that warranty has already paid for itself! JRGo is having a similar experience with his F-250, although, it sounded like CarMax only charged him $3,000 or so for the five year warranty, which seems extremely low given the complexity of that vehicle. The one on my Murano was around $2,500, they never had to pay a claim, and I got most of it back when I sold it.

Yup. Sure has. I'm quite a bit ahead when I add in the headlight issue I had a while back. I'm really surprised it covered the control arms. Would have thought that regular wear and tear. But, hey, good for me! lol.

explorerx4

@corvette,
My take on JR's truck is that it was a 'deleted' diesel, so Ford wouldn't cover it.
Carmax screwed up selling it, but made it right.

corvette

explorerx4 said:

@corvette,
My take on JR's truck is that it was a 'deleted' diesel, so Ford wouldn't cover it.
Carmax screwed up selling it, but made it right.

I didn't think about that, but it makes sense.

Other than sticking him with a Focus (instead of a comparable vehicle) as a rental, I was impressed with how they treated them. IMO, a lot of dealerships would look at the 7-pin hitch (which was busted, but he bent back into shape) and said "no problem found," but they actually replaced it. Between the initial CEL fix (which, technically, was probably under CarMax's standard 90[?] day warranty), the new CEL, and replacing most of the front suspension to try to quell the death wobble, they will probably be out close to $10k, and he hasn't even had it six months!

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

corvette said:

tjc78 said:

Live the Alfa. I bet that engine sounds sweet to rev up.

Probably almost like angels revving their angelmobiles.

That was a classic. Wonder if it ever sold? And the answer, as always with this vintage exotic, is get the manual tranny. And find someone like the Weezard to take care of it.

And own a chain of frozen custard shops to generate the cash needed to pay for it all.

stickguy

He has actually confirmed that the channel pays for all the cars coming and going. Freddy's must pay for his regular living expenses!

Just saw the latest episode where he actually picked up 4 hoopties the weezard had finished, and all total, the bill was $7,500. Though that seemed low because one of them was the Bentley that was there for 6 months.