Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

mjfloyd1

My 4 post lift has a power button that you keep depressed to raise the car. When you lower it you press another button and must keep the safety latch pushed down. It you don’t keep it pushed down then the safety latch will stop the car from dropping when the safety enters the detent. Pushing the lever down keeps the safety latch from entering the detent and stoping the car from lowering. This same safety latch is engaged when you have the lift and car at the desired height.

explorerx4

Here's a picture from the wedding venue.


Didn't see any car dealers in the river area.

corvette

Also, I think 100PercentJake may be learning the hard way that the motorcycle videos don't get nearly as many views on "Car YouTube."

xwesx

oldfarmer50 said:

qbrozen said:

This is so fantastic.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1988-iveco-90-16/

Perfect for a camping trip during the zombie apocalypse.

Definitely a cool rig. Whomever stuck the MPH conversion on the speedometer was rather optimistic about the rate of conversion.

breld

Regarding Chicago, what’s really great about this college is it’s in Naperville, a really nice, quaint small town that’s a 45 minute train ride from Chicago.

So sort of best of both worlds I’d say - access to the big city but nice suburban environment for a new student.

explorerx4

@breld,
I'm going to guess Wheaton. One family up the street sent a couple of their kids their.

stickguy

I want no part of maintaining one of these, but dang, I love the colors on this, especially the interior.

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/KVWOjRMr/1999-bmw-740il

stickguy

I keep thinking about a Wrangler. This one is cool. Nice color. Not that I need a Rubicon (well, a Wrangler in the first place). I walked past a couple times yesterday a generation before this one, but still a 2 door stick. In burgundy, but with a hardtop. I liked it.

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/KDvWn8D8/2010-jeep-wrangler-rubicon

breld

explorerx4 said:

@breld,
I'm going to guess Wheaton. One family up the street sent a couple of their kids their.

It’s a small private college called North Central College. My son has the opportunity to pitch on their baseball team and the school has the programs he is interested in, so it makes for a great fit.

stickguy

some more randoms from the listings.

I had a desire for one of these back in the late 70s too. My friends parents bought one and I got to drive it. Yes I liked small oddball cars back then too. This one is probably a fun driver, and a little bit hopped up.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1980-ford-fiesta-5/

and I wonder what this will go for. I know I will catch some grief for this, but I love this one. At least it isn't triple white.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1988-volkswagen-cabriolet-7/

qbrozen

stickguy said:

I keep thinking about a Wrangler. This one is cool. Nice color. Not that I need a Rubicon (well, a Wrangler in the first place). I walked past a couple times yesterday a generation before this one, but still a 2 door stick. In burgundy, but with a hardtop. I liked it.

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/KDvWn8D8/2010-jeep-wrangler-rubicon

Wow. I had no idea the 3.8 was ever paired with a 6-spd stick in any vehicle ever.

stickguy

that the same lump that was in the minivans for years?

roadburner

stickguy said:

some more randoms from the listings.

I had a desire for one of these back in the late 70s too. My friends parents bought one and I got to drive it. Yes I liked small oddball cars back then too. This one is probably a fun driver, and a little bit hopped up.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1980-ford-fiesta-5/

and I wonder what this will go for. I know I will catch some grief for this, but I love this one. At least it isn't triple white.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1988-volkswagen-cabriolet-7/

Back in 1980 I was on the car hunt that eventually ended up with me buying an Arrow 2.6 GT. I liked the Fiesta but I wanted A/C- it was dealer installed but the car had to have a factory installed A/C prep kit. None of the ones I liked had that kit. One idiot salesman told me to wait for the upcoming 1981 Escort, as it "would make the Fiesta look sick." Right.
Other stories from that search:
I stopped at a dealer that I heard had a used 240Z. Turns out it had sold and the salesman asked me what other cars I was interested in. I said something like a TR6, Alfa Spider, or Scirocco. He replied, "We have a nice Pinto!"
I found a new orange Capri RS- every option but A/C.
Another Ford dealer with no Fiestas begged me to try a "really clean!" Datsun B210.
Back then it was obvious that salesmen at domestic dealers thought cars smaller than a Granada or Nova were essentially interchangeable- and a buyer looking at a GTV might also be interested in a Monza or a Corolla...

qbrozen

stickguy said:

that the same lump that was in the minivans for years?

Yep

tjc78

Pretty sure the Wrangler was the last application of that engine.

au1994

stickguy said:

I keep thinking about a Wrangler. This one is cool. Nice color. Not that I need a Rubicon (well, a Wrangler in the first place). I walked past a couple times yesterday a generation before this one, but still a 2 door stick. In burgundy, but with a hardtop. I liked it.

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/KDvWn8D8/2010-jeep-wrangler-rubicon

I had a 07 2 dr automatic with the soft top. It was a ton of fun. Loved driving around with the top and doors off. I never had any major issues with mine. I think I had to have the gas tank replaced for a vent issue but that was under warranty and I remember a quick oil change place saying that the transmission fluid looked dark and ‘burned’ for the relatively low miles on it. its a Jeep so its not going to ride like a Lexus but I never felt like it was going to rattle my teeth out.

It would be good for you as the runabout fun car. They are not great as a DD in my opinion. What’s great about them, the openness, is its drawback as well. You can’’t exactly run around with a bunch of ‘stuff’ in it with the top down and park anywhere to run another errand.

tjc78

A friend of my wife’s has a new Jeep. It’s pretty loaded and has the soft roof that folds back, doors come off etc.

She claims to “love it” but complains that it’s so cold in the winter and hot in summer. She came from a full boat RAM.

I told my wife she bought it because everyone else at the campground has one. It’s funny at that place by the Jersey shore I swear 30-40% of the people have a Jeep. I’ve seen at least four different Gladiators.

I can say that we are the only people in the park with Volvos lol.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

I want no part of maintaining one of these, but dang, I love the colors on this, especially the interior.

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/KVWOjRMr/1999-bmw-740il

Were those as high maintenance as more recent 7s? I seem to recall reading that some mid 90s BMWs were the most carefree ever made. (But that may have been the 5 series).

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

I keep thinking about a Wrangler. This one is cool. Nice color. Not that I need a Rubicon (well, a Wrangler in the first place). I walked past a couple times yesterday a generation before this one, but still a 2 door stick. In burgundy, but with a hardtop. I liked it.

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/KDvWn8D8/2010-jeep-wrangler-rubicon

Considering sky high resale values on those that’s not a bad price but with 4 days to go it’s probably 1/3 of what it will bring.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

some more randoms from the listings.

I had a desire for one of these back in the late 70s too. My friends parents bought one and I got to drive it. Yes I liked small oddball cars back then too. This one is probably a fun driver, and a little bit hopped up.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1980-ford-fiesta-5/

and I wonder what this will go for. I know I will catch some grief for this, but I love this one. At least it isn't triple white.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1988-volkswagen-cabriolet-7/

I agree there’s something fun about driving a small ultralight car. Some of them can have snappy handling and at least sound like they are fast. I was driving a Nissan Versa yesterday after driving a bunch of SUVs and it felt like a little sports car by comparison.

roadburner

tjc78 said:

A friend of my wife’s has a new Jeep. It’s pretty loaded and has the soft roof that folds back, doors come off etc.

She claims to “love it” but complains that it’s so cold in the winter and hot in summer. She came from a full boat RAM.

I told my wife she bought it because everyone else at the campground has one. It’s funny at that place by the Jersey shore I swear 30-40% of the people have a Jeep. I’ve seen at least four different Gladiators.

I can say that we are the only people in the park with Volvos lol.

I don't get that; my 1999 TJ has a great HVAC system. Even at 5F the heater will keep things toasty.

oldfarmer50

qbrozen said:

stickguy said:

I keep thinking about a Wrangler. This one is cool. Nice color. Not that I need a Rubicon (well, a Wrangler in the first place). I walked past a couple times yesterday a generation before this one, but still a 2 door stick. In burgundy, but with a hardtop. I liked it.

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/KDvWn8D8/2010-jeep-wrangler-rubicon

Wow. I had no idea the 3.8 was ever paired with a 6-spd stick in any vehicle ever.

I guess it was still used up to the 2010 model. I assumed that it had been retired by then. As lackluster as it was it was better than the 3.7L head blower that came in later Jeep products.

qbrozen

The 3.8 was largely fine for reliability. It was the 4-spd auto strapped to it that was made of playdough.

sda

I like that silver 88 Cabriolet. I had an 87 Triple white (white leather interior) Wolfsburg Ed Cabriolet. It was a fun car. Some of my friends mocked me as it was considered a chick's car. I didn't care. I do like the 88 front end better with the added driving/fog lamps.

au1994

roadburner said:

tjc78 said:

A friend of my wife’s has a new Jeep. It’s pretty loaded and has the soft roof that folds back, doors come off etc.

She claims to “love it” but complains that it’s so cold in the winter and hot in summer. She came from a full boat RAM.

I told my wife she bought it because everyone else at the campground has one. It’s funny at that place by the Jersey shore I swear 30-40% of the people have a Jeep. I’ve seen at least four different Gladiators.

I can say that we are the only people in the park with Volvos lol.

I don't get that; my 1999 TJ has a great HVAC system. Even at 5F the heater will keep things toasty.

Yeah, good heaters must be a “Jeep thing”. Mine was great in the JK. I’d ride around in 50 degree weather in a jacket with it blasting and be fine.

tjc78

roadburner said:

tjc78 said:

A friend of my wife’s has a new Jeep. It’s pretty loaded and has the soft roof that folds back, doors come off etc.

She claims to “love it” but complains that it’s so cold in the winter and hot in summer. She came from a full boat RAM.

I told my wife she bought it because everyone else at the campground has one. It’s funny at that place by the Jersey shore I swear 30-40% of the people have a Jeep. I’ve seen at least four different Gladiators.

I can say that we are the only people in the park with Volvos lol.

I don't get that; my 1999 TJ has a great HVAC system. Even at 5F the heater will keep things toasty.

I have no idea. I rode in it once with her husband and we had the top folded back on a cool day. I could see the black vinyl top heating up the black interior to the point the AC was stressed.

My opinion is you don’t buy a convertible Jeep to sealed up with AC.

28firefighter

Punch to report. Not me of course. My BIL and SIL recently acquired a travel trailer and wanted to get something more robust to tow it with ahead of a 2 month trip.

Ended up getting a CPO 2018 X5 35d (diesel) with basically everything except M Sport. The market on these, as with everything, was fairly whacked out but they ended up getting a reasonable deal and more than fair value on their trade.

tjc78

That’s a rig you don’t seeing towing everyday.

28firefighter

No. But they were hellbent on a diesel SUV and there just aren’t many out there. Separate issue entirely.

They were looking at a Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel and those are few and far between (and generally lacking in options for the $$).

explorerx4

I hope it's a small travel trailer.

28firefighter

It’s about 4500 lbs unloaded. The X5d with the right hitch will handle up to 7700 lbs.

roadburner

au1994 said:

roadburner said:

tjc78 said:

A friend of my wife’s has a new Jeep. It’s pretty loaded and has the soft roof that folds back, doors come off etc.

She claims to “love it” but complains that it’s so cold in the winter and hot in summer. She came from a full boat RAM.

I told my wife she bought it because everyone else at the campground has one. It’s funny at that place by the Jersey shore I swear 30-40% of the people have a Jeep. I’ve seen at least four different Gladiators.

I can say that we are the only people in the park with Volvos lol.

I don't get that; my 1999 TJ has a great HVAC system. Even at 5F the heater will keep things toasty.

Yeah, good heaters must be a “Jeep thing”. Mine was great in the JK. I’d ride around in 50 degree weather in a jacket with it blasting and be fine.

I remember one time it was 9F and all three of us were in the Wrangler and my son, sitting in the back, asked if I would turn the heat down.
And note that my Jeep has the convertible top.

ab348

oldfarmer50 said:

stickguy said:

I want no part of maintaining one of these, but dang, I love the colors on this, especially the interior.

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/KVWOjRMr/1999-bmw-740il

Were those as high maintenance as more recent 7s? I seem to recall reading that some mid 90s BMWs were the most carefree ever made. (But that may have been the 5 series).

I have a vague memory of a former mod here (Shifty) dealing with a 7-series in need of a new wiring harness which basically meant the car had to be written off as economically unrepairable.

kyfdx

I had a '76 CJ-5. The day the Bengals were in the "Freezer Bowl", NFL playoff game against the Chargers in 1981, the wind chill was minus 69 F. I don't remember the temperature, other than it was below zero.

Co-workers had invited me to their local tavern to watch the game.. Wives/girlfriends doing pot luck, etc. Pulled out at 11 AM. Had to go to four ATMs, before I found one that wasn't frozen up. 15 miles of interstate, and 10 miles of back roads later, I still didn't have heat. On the interstate, I couldn't get out of 2nd gear (3-speed manual), because the engine would bog down, if the revs dropped below 2500.

But, I did have that nice canvas top and metal body to keep me warm...

au1994

ab348 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

stickguy said:

I want no part of maintaining one of these, but dang, I love the colors on this, especially the interior.

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/KVWOjRMr/1999-bmw-740il

Were those as high maintenance as more recent 7s? I seem to recall reading that some mid 90s BMWs were the most carefree ever made. (But that may have been the 5 series).

I have a vague memory of a former mod here (Shifty) dealing with a 7-series in need of a new wiring harness which basically meant the car had to be written off as economically unrepairable.

Seem to remember that as well, thought it might have been a 928 but I think it was a 7 Series.

au1994

yummy...

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1993-honda-prelude-4/

breld

We really liked our X5d - ours was a 2012. I think the next generation was more efficient in mileage. Our was Topaz Blue (I think it was Topaz) with Oyster leather and the sport package. It was a nice find.

breld

I made a “reservation” to go look at the Mach-E at a local Ford dealership this afternoon. They’re doing some sort of “tour” and they’re going around Denver area dealers.

au1994

breld said:

I made a “reservation” to go look at the Mach-E at a local Ford dealership this afternoon. They’re doing some sort of “tour” and they’re going around Denver area dealers.

Oh boy

stickguy

If I did get a used Wrangler like that, I actually want the T-top hardtop (freedom top?) The one where the section above the front seats are individual pop out panels. A good compromise to get fresh air without having to deal with the convoluted soft top going on and off.

roadburner

Calling the Mach-E a Mustang is like calling a Cayenne a 911- or a Trailblazer a Corvette.

au1994

Yes, its called the freedom top. The front to panels pop out and then the back half unbolt and lifts off. An easy 2 person job on a 2 door, the 4 door is a bit more unwieldy.

The soft top on the JK is really not that complicated. My first couple efforts at the up and down were not pretty but were done in the privacy of the garage to save me the embarrassment! Once you get the hang of it, you can have it up or down in no time. I just never carried my side panels or back window with me when the top was down.

With the freedom top you’d have the level of security that I mentioned lacking before.

explorerx4

@breld,
I hope he gets to have a 'normal' college experience whatever he decides.

oldfarmer50

au1994 said:

yummy...

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1993-honda-prelude-4/

Wow, where have they been hiding that all these years? 1000 miles a year. They certainly haven’t been driving it.

oldfarmer50

breld said:

I made a “reservation” to go look at the Mach-E at a local Ford dealership this afternoon. They’re doing some sort of “tour” and they’re going around Denver area dealers.

I understand it has some pretty impressive acceleration but I won’t ever forgive Ford for calling it a Mustang.

stickguy

nice car. looks new. I like it doesn't have the 4WS, after hearing about the cost of a clutch or suspension work. Plenty fun handling with the normal setup IMO. And I might not get that much use out of VTEC since I don't spend much time running the revs up at 6k anyway!

breld

oldfarmer50 said:

au1994 said:

yummy...

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1993-honda-prelude-4/

Wow, where have they been hiding that all these years? 1000 miles a year. They certainly haven’t been driving it.

Same year and model as mine when I graduated college. Mine was blue though.

Love it.

breld

@jpp75 joined me for the Mach-E event this afternoon (note that I leave out the full name so as not to enrage anyone).

All in all, it’s really exciting to see a new entrant in the EV world, with many more to come. Personally, I think it’s a fun design - I agree they could have pulled some design elements from the Mustang without going all in on the name. But name aside, I thought it was pretty striking.

Interior-wise, the seats were very comfortable - the demo guy said that was feedback he consistently received from Tesla owners. It has the obligatory large touchscreen, but with a dial at the bottom for some manual involvement.

They were showing the long-range (300ish miles) AWD Premium model and it seemed very well equipped. Stickers for $54,700 before incentives, which would be $10k in Colorado. Thought that was pretty reasonable.

stickguy

looking for Wes. Found a few Crosstreks I like.

red is nice. Colorado, we got people there! Lower miles too.

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/825437376/overview/

another one like the one up North.

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/828198094/overview/

and another Colorado car. I like this blue. Lower miles, and certified!

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/826648505/overview/

breld

Crosstreks seem to hold their value so well, especially here in CO. I’d be curious to price a new one compared to used.