Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

breld

Our JCW came from a "partner" though nothing was different about the process as far as I could tell.

Though we're still waiting on the registration and have had to extend the temp plates twice now.

tjc78

Found my Enclave. It hasn’t shown up at a dealer yet.

https://plc.ua/en/auctions/lot/buick-enclave-2017-vin-5gakrbkdxhj300257-mh-5gakrbkdxhj300257/#

laurasdada

I was just watching an old Top Gear, a comparo of Executive Saloons; Maser QP, AM Rapide and Porsche Panamera (~2015?).
When deciding which was the winner, that they would want, Jeremy listed all the faults of the QP. And announced it was clearly the winner, the one he'd want. Richard and James both agreed immediately. To both all the reasons not to buy one, and that it was the one they would buy!

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

If I didn’t already have a used car “on order” I just might be trying a few things from carmax for a day! Definitely a good way to test out if a particular model will work for you.

CarMax should have checked out this group before they made that offer. They may need to install a revolving door.

stickguy

I wonder how many in a row you can do before getting cut off?

corvette

tjc78 said:

Found my Enclave. It hasn’t shown up at a dealer yet.

https://plc.ua/en/auctions/lot/buick-enclave-2017-vin-5gakrbkdxhj300257-mh-5gakrbkdxhj300257/#

That's an interesting site--I guess they are a broker where people can buy cars sight unseen and have them imported to the Ukraine?

pensfan83

qbrozen said:

stickguy said:

On the Camaro, main drawback to me, is having to drive around in a camaro.

455hp helps me forget. Besides, I'd probably put 1k miles on it, if that, before transferring. Come Spring/Summer, I'm willing to bet someone will give me a couple grand to have a $325/mo payment on one.

I was prepared to look past the Camaro's faults to scratch the V8/RWD itch but the Mrs. is skeptical about being able to unload it, especially once I mentioned it would be limited to PA residents, and is even more skeptical about profiting.

I'm more certain on the latter than the former but I honestly think I would have no trouble with either. There was never a firm "no" but I've been down that road before and don't care to go down it again.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

On the Camaro, main drawback to me, is having to drive around in a camaro.

Oh they aren’t that bad. I drove an SS last week and you can get used to the coffin-like visibility. I might have enjoyed it more in the summer though. Quite a screamer in track mode. The shame of it was that most of the time I was in snow/ice mode.

qbrozen

I think I math'ed myself out of the camaro. I'm thinking, best case, I get it for $325/mo sign and drive. Then let's say I use it for 4 months, making 3 payments in the process. Then, let's say, I get someone to pay $2k to take it over. That's only about $1k in my pocket. Even less after the SAL fee, which I think is a couple hundred bucks. Is $800 worth the fight and the hassle? Methinks not.

Now a Challenger 392 on the other hand ...

oldfarmer50

28firefighter said:

Correct - you'd remain on the hook in every way for the lease. For that reason I would not transfer it to anyone I didn't know well, and therefore would not use a service.

For the record, I typically just post on Leasehackr and Craigslist.

Lots of quality folks on Craigslist. I’d trust them implicitly.

stickguy

oldfarmer50 said:

stickguy said:

On the Camaro, main drawback to me, is having to drive around in a camaro.

Oh they aren’t that bad. I drove an SS last week and you can get used to the coffin-like visibility. I might have enjoyed it more in the summer though. Quite a screamer in track mode. The shame of it was that most of the time I was in snow/ice mode.

I also hate the giant doors, especially in a tight garage.

stickguy

qbrozen said:

I think I math'ed myself out of the camaro. I'm thinking, best case, I get it for $325/mo sign and drive. Then let's say I use it for 4 months, making 3 payments in the process. Then, let's say, I get someone to pay $2k to take it over. That's only about $1k in my pocket. Even less after the SAL fee, which I think is a couple hundred bucks. Is $800 worth the fight and the hassle? Methinks not.

Now a Challenger 392 on the other hand ...

It would make sense for my son. Lease it as nice weather toy, and lease the Kona limited I found him, both leases combined for less than his current G70. Swap the Kona for the $205/mo sign and drive Jetta S I found, and only $530/month, for 2 new cars. That seems like a great deal.

oldfarmer50

tjc78 said:

Found my Enclave. It hasn’t shown up at a dealer yet.

https://plc.ua/en/auctions/lot/buick-enclave-2017-vin-5gakrbkdxhj300257-mh-5gakrbkdxhj300257/#

Have you looked at dealers in Ukraine?

oldfarmer50

pensfan83 said:

qbrozen said:

stickguy said:

On the Camaro, main drawback to me, is having to drive around in a camaro.

455hp helps me forget. Besides, I'd probably put 1k miles on it, if that, before transferring. Come Spring/Summer, I'm willing to bet someone will give me a couple grand to have a $325/mo payment on one.

I was prepared to look past the Camaro's faults to scratch the V8/RWD itch but the Mrs. is skeptical about being able to unload it, especially once I mentioned it would be limited to PA residents, and is even more skeptical about profiting.

I'm more certain on the latter than the former but I honestly think I would have no trouble with either. There was never a firm "no" but I've been down that road before and don't care to go down it again.

When she gets to “do what you want...you always do anyway” that enough approval for me. I ended up with a Mustang that way.

andres3

stickguy said:

well, it does have a new clutch!

Did you miss that the AWD is broken and it's running on FWD?

stickguy

Who looks at the details? It’s pretty and cool.

andres3

oldfarmer50 said:

stickguy said:

If I didn’t already have a used car “on order” I just might be trying a few things from carmax for a day! Definitely a good way to test out if a particular model will work for you.

CarMax should have checked out this group before they made that offer. They may need to install a revolving door.

I bet they have some nominal test drive fee or some nominal 30-day return fee that isn't so nominal. I'd also be shocked if States like CA didn't make them pay at least 1/12th the annual taxes and registration dues for 30 days. I think 3 days was the limit even on the 7-day return policy of old.

au1994

andres3 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

stickguy said:

If I didn’t already have a used car “on order” I just might be trying a few things from carmax for a day! Definitely a good way to test out if a particular model will work for you.

CarMax should have checked out this group before they made that offer. They may need to install a revolving door.

I bet they have some nominal test drive fee or some nominal 30-day return fee that isn't so nominal. I'd also be shocked if States like CA didn't make them pay at least 1/12th the annual taxes and registration dues for 30 days. I think 3 days was the limit even on the 7-day return policy of old.

I’m sure we could dig into the fine print, but yes, there has to be some type of “rent” calculation that comes into play if you decide you just don’t like it. Likey $.XX/mile, a cap on mileage that can be driven and some type of “administration” fees for unwinding the deal.

Otherwise what’s to stop you from getting a minivan for the annual pilgrimage to Disney and then brining it back? Oh wait, we can’t go to places like that anymore.

au1994

oldfarmer50 said:

OK experts....

I just saw a video where two engine mechanics diagnosed an engine problem and one of the comment they made was that the sludge they found was due to synthetic oil that “crystallized” after many short trips where the oil didn’t heat up enough. The implication was that conventional oil would be better under these conditions.

That sounds counterintuitive to me.

Thoughts?

Never heard of this but I do recall hearing something about short trips not being good for direct injection engines for similar reasoning.

xwesx

qbrozen said:

I need extra opinions to know if I’m off.

So I was watching this Maser on C&B:
https://carsandbids.com/auctions/3gGNeg8G/2008-maserati-quattroporte-executive-gt

Folks are chiming in what a great deal it was. I, on the other hand, and thinking “multiple owners, unknown accident damage, and existing lien.” $16250 plus fees.

Now, of course, it is no longer listed, so my comparison is trashed, but I had found an ‘07 (still with the ZF) with 44k, one owner, clean carfax, and better colors (blue over brown) for $16k asking. Which would you rather have?

The blue one, no doubt.

kyfdx

30 days to change your mind
We give you 30 days (up to 1500 miles) to decide if your car is the perfect fit for your life. If it's not, simply bring it back for a full refund. It's that easy.

https://www.carmax.com/why-carmax#:~:text=We give you 30 days,It's that easy.

andres3

kyfdx said:

30 days to change your mind
We give you 30 days (up to 1500 miles) to decide if your car is the perfect fit for your life. If it's not, simply bring it back for a full refund. It's that easy.

https://www.carmax.com/why-carmax#:~:text=We give you 30 days,It's that easy.

On the website it says "As long as the condition is consistent with when you purchased it and you’ve driven fewer than 1500 miles since your purchase, you can bring it back within 30 days and we’ll help you complete your return. "

So if someone bashes into your rear end, and you pay a shop overtime to complete the repairs before day 30, does that qualify as "consistent condition?" So if some Toyota/Lexus driver slams into you, does that negate your return clause (because many repairs will take longer than 30 days?)

Will you have to sue for damages for "loss of return privileges due to negligent driving?"?

qbrozen

kyfdx said:

30 days to change your mind
We give you 30 days (up to 1500 miles) to decide if your car is the perfect fit for your life. If it's not, simply bring it back for a full refund. It's that easy.

https://www.carmax.com/why-carmax#:~:text=We give you 30 days,It's that easy.

could have sworn they'd only offer an exchange at that point. Pretty surprising.

kyfdx

qbrozen said:

kyfdx said:

30 days to change your mind
We give you 30 days (up to 1500 miles) to decide if your car is the perfect fit for your life. If it's not, simply bring it back for a full refund. It's that easy.

https://www.carmax.com/why-carmax#:~:text=We give you 30 days,It's that easy.

could have sworn they'd only offer an exchange at that point. Pretty surprising.

That's new

qbrozen

Boy, this could keep me occupied for many many months. Here are those I'd like to try from just the first 50 under "sportscars."

https://www.carmax.com/car/19619413
https://www.carmax.com/car/19806983
https://www.carmax.com/car/19788142
https://www.carmax.com/car/19718148
https://www.carmax.com/car/19788606
https://www.carmax.com/car/18755881

qbrozen

https://www.carmax.com/car/18027877
https://www.carmax.com/car/20016614

stickguy

you should stop posting these, when I have myself convinced that a 1.4t Jetta is plenty of car for me!

tjc78

stickguy said:

you should stop posting these, when I have myself convinced that a 1.4t Jetta is plenty of car for me!

I don’t see you keeping that long term if you end up with it.

stickguy

well, that is entirely possible. My son already offered to take it over in December. Just keep passing it around the family!

nyccarguy

stickguy said:

well, that is entirely possible. My son already offered to take it over in December. Just keep passing it around the family!

There’s going to be a bidding war between @stickguy & stickguyjr

stickguy

he's more over the place than I am. Quite possible he ends up getting 1 car, an S4 or M340i. Unless he really thinks some sort of hatch/utility would be more useful and worth getting. Maybe if an X3 M40 was cost competitive.

tjc78

I enjoyed having a small pickup truck and a sedan. Best of both worlds and the truck was cheap to own and didn’t add much to my insurance.

This was when I was single before we had an SUV for the wife.

stickguy

nice review on the next GTI. Big updates to the interior especially.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJ8ViHfQReA

corvette

Elliot Alvis posted a nice follow-up on the Hellcat he sold on Carsandbids:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWBxsOS8U1U

stickguy

I watched that earlier. Got burned, but like he said, he should not have done what he wasn't comfortable with. No one else to blame.

Auctions always want no reserve, or at least a really low one.

roadburner

In the latest Car and Driver Lightning Lap the 2021 Supra nosed out the M2 Comp by 0.4 seconds- and my current car by 7.9(!) seconds...

xwesx

Yeah, that's a real bummer. I know exactly how he feels, and I hope he can let go at some point knowing that he has no control over what happens next with it. It's a lot like owning a pet, to be honest: When it is their time to go, let them go... Once you decide to sell a car (when you're attached to it), you just have to move your mind into practical mode and let it go. After all, the only thing you get to keep is the memories, and all that feeling loss will get you is unneeded stress.

With both, there's never a better way to get over the last one than getting the next one.

au1994

qbrozen said:

kyfdx said:

30 days to change your mind
We give you 30 days (up to 1500 miles) to decide if your car is the perfect fit for your life. If it's not, simply bring it back for a full refund. It's that easy.

https://www.carmax.com/why-carmax#:~:text=We give you 30 days,It's that easy.

could have sworn they'd only offer an exchange at that point. Pretty surprising.

Wow. I stand corrected. They must be seriously overloaded with inventory to take a risk like that.

explorerx4

It looks like that Alvis guy tried to get 1 too many YT videos out of that car and got burned.
When he was gaming the system, great. System gamed him, boo hoo.

corvette

explorerx4 said:

It looks like that Alvis guy tried to get 1 too many YT videos out of that car and got burned.
When he was gaming the system, great. System gamed him, boo hoo.

The YT guys seem to feed off each other to increase their exposure. In this instance, he thought he'd get more exposure and more $ for his car by listing it on another YT guy's auction site. He got the exposure, but less $ in his pocket.

graphicguy

Didn’t watch the entire video about the Hellcat. From what you guys are saying, he didn’t get the price he wanted because he did a “no reserve” auction. I’ll assume he knows what that means....the selling price isn’t established by him, but is established by the bidders. So, he was surprised?

Looks more like a YouTuber wanting to get eyeballs to his site.

Michaell

graphicguy said:

Didn’t watch the entire video about the Hellcat. From what you guys are saying, he didn’t get the price he wanted because he did a “no reserve” auction. I’ll assume he knows what that means....the selling price isn’t established by him, but is established by the bidders. So, he was surprised?

Looks more like a YouTuber wanting to get eyeballs to his site.

He did set a reserve, but it was lower than he wanted.

And, the winning bidder was a Subaru dealer in the Bay Area.

omarman

xwesx said:

Yeah, that's a real bummer. I know exactly how he feels, and I hope he can let go at some point knowing that he has no control over what happens next with it. It's a lot like owning a pet, to be honest: When it is their time to go, let them go... Once you decide to sell a car (when you're attached to it), you just have to move your mind into practical mode and let it go. After all, the only thing you get to keep is the memories, and all that feeling loss will get you is unneeded stress.

With both, there's never a better way to get over the last one than getting the next one.

Sounds like an old saying from Betty White.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KHFpMcBjgo

stickguy

I found it more interesting that a Subaru dealer is buying oddball inventory off an auction site.

I wonder if it’s for someone’s personal collection?

qbrozen

IMHO, like I said before, the video proof is there that the car was beat on, so it decreased the value in this instance. Subie dealer, if smart, is basically laundering the car. They pretty much paid dealer auction value for it.

Were the POs doing anything other POs have not? No. But the video proof is still there. Buyers want to think of their new spouse as ... virginal ... a movie showing otherwise is good reason to call off the wedding. Again, just MHO.

28firefighter

+1 to what @qbrozen said with the added caveat that a hellcat with any significant mileage (> a couple thousand) has almost certainly been beat upon with regularity. I mean, after all, that is the point.

The difference between Elliott Alvis and Hoovie is that Hoovie has 1m + followers therefore making me a bit of a celebrity and adds some value to his cars regardless of the ridiculous things he does to them (like drilling a hole in the center console of lambo...). Elliott has something like 22k last I looked - not nearly the same celebrity appeal either.

stickguy

Hoovie sold a few on C&B also, and IIRC they did not pull particularly strong prices. Certainly not inflated for "celebrity" value.

On the Hellcat, maybe the miles hurt it, but I don't really think there was anything to show it was beat on. Some moderately strong pulls, and a lot of OCD care mostly. But if anyone thinks a hi performance used car was never exercised because it wasn't on Youtube, they are naïve at best. And if it is a deal breaker, they should just buy new and get one with 3 miles on it.

At least that unit was dead stock, instead of having a bunch of iffy mods done to it.

andres3

Michaell said:

graphicguy said:

Didn’t watch the entire video about the Hellcat. From what you guys are saying, he didn’t get the price he wanted because he did a “no reserve” auction. I’ll assume he knows what that means....the selling price isn’t established by him, but is established by the bidders. So, he was surprised?

Looks more like a YouTuber wanting to get eyeballs to his site.

He did set a reserve, but it was lower than he wanted.

And, the winning bidder was a Subaru dealer in the Bay Area.

Sounds like the typical real estate agent that wants you to underprice your home so they can make a quick and easy sale.

andres3

stickguy said:

Hoovie sold a few on C&B also, and IIRC they did not pull particularly strong prices. Certainly not inflated for "celebrity" value.

On the Hellcat, maybe the miles hurt it, but I don't really think there was anything to show it was beat on. Some moderately strong pulls, and a lot of OCD care mostly. But if anyone thinks a hi performance used car was never exercised because it wasn't on Youtube, they are naïve at best. And if it is a deal breaker, they should just buy new and get one with 3 miles on it.

At least that unit was dead stock, instead of having a bunch of iffy mods done to it.

Or buy from a car maker that engineers their cars to last and be durable no matter how they are driven.

nyccarguy

andres3 said:

stickguy said:

Hoovie sold a few on C&B also, and IIRC they did not pull particularly strong prices. Certainly not inflated for "celebrity" value.

On the Hellcat, maybe the miles hurt it, but I don't really think there was anything to show it was beat on. Some moderately strong pulls, and a lot of OCD care mostly. But if anyone thinks a hi performance used car was never exercised because it wasn't on Youtube, they are naïve at best. And if it is a deal breaker, they should just buy new and get one with 3 miles on it.

At least that unit was dead stock, instead of having a bunch of iffy mods done to it.

Or buy from a car maker that engineers their cars to last and be durable no matter how they are driven.

Like Audi?