Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

kyfdx

RWD are really hard to find in the East, though... Especially once the AWD craze caught on (say, '03 on....)

shonewillym

I have given information to buy car for car Buyers.....

andre1969

looks like we already have about 8" of snow on the ground, and they're calling for 16-24+ total! I had been looking forward to trying out the traction control and abs on the Park Ave, but on second thought, maybe I'll pass! :P

fezo

So when the heck are we getting more pictures of the Park Avenue? Shovel around it and get going! :P

qbrozen

We're only at about 1-2 inches here near the Jersey shore (6-12 projected). I just came back from trying out the wife's Mazda5 and the Benz. I found out something new to me... RWD w/snow tires trumps FWD w/all-season tires. I tried one turn in the Mazda and turned right back around and brought it home. Took as much as 30 feet to stop from 15 mph. I tried applying the brakes 25 feet before my driveway at that speed and couldn't make the turn. Yikes.

The Benz, on the other hand, was quite surefooted. Guess I'll have to get the wife some snow tires for her car, too. And I really thought the all-seasons I put on hers would suffice. They are supposed to be good in snow. The best snow car I ever had was my FWD volvo S70 shod with Continental all-seasons. Go figure.

kyfdx

.. on the interior of that 325i wagon... Didn't look at the pictures before... .assumed it was the sand interior..

But, it is natural brown leather with black trim and black carpets.. That is almost perfect..

So.. my new advice? Go get it right now! lol..

It just happens to be the only E46 wagon on eBay with a stick... Already bid up to $5K, with 8 days to go...

ghulet

we only have about an inch of snow on the ground here in Chicago; I just got back from a quick run to the store (a mile away); wow, I had forgotten what it was like to drive a RWD car with an automatic and no LSD/TCS. The car does have decent tires, and for the most part, it wasn't so bad. The only even minor problem is the start-off from stop signs on the un-plowed side streets.....no big deal, though. I did discover the ABS works A-OK

andre1969

looking out the window, the snow is starting to come up to the rear bumper of the New Yorker.

Here's a pic I took earlier this morning, maybe around 8:30 or so...


I was able to get my '85 Silverado out, and ended up parking it up by the entrance to the driveway, so when the time comes, it will be easier to get out. I was sliding all over the place, and ended up going out onto the road at about a 45 degree angle. Well, I figured I'd just drive up to the end of the road, and turn around on the road it empties out onto, as that road's wider and flatter. Only problem is, when I came back I couldn't get back up the first hill on my street! So I ended up going the long way around. And stupid me, I didn't even think to take my wallet, cell phone, etc. Well, I was gone long enough, one of my roommates thought I got stranded somewhere, and started digging his truck out to come get me! Luckily I got back home before he got anywhere near digging it out.

For an update, here's a pic I just took about 20 mins ago...


And to think we could easily get another foot on top of this!!

fezo

Kind of looks like that up here.

Here's what you need to do. Get a plow for the Silverado. Today. The drive it up to my house - only maybe three hours or so.....

So is the Park Ave in the garage?

andre1969

So is the Park Ave in the garage?

Nah, the Park Ave is across the street, at my grandmother's. I have the Catalina, LeMans, and 5th Ave in the garage...and enough other junk that you can't get a 4th car in there.

I might go out a bit later before it gets dark and take some more pics. But right now I'm in the house, barefoot, as warm and toasty as you can get with a heat pump, and in no mood to run back outside!

andre1969

Well now I'd say we're up to about 18-20" of snow. Here's a pic of the New Yorker...


And here's what the Park Ave is having to endure...


I guess that shows the difference between parking on gravel and parking on asphalt. The Park Ave doesn't look all that buried, while the NY'er looks like it's about to disappear!

oregonboy

I love how you can see the line of the bumper guards in the snow almost to the hoodline of the New Yorker. :shades:

fintail

Wow, that's pretty cool...I am sure it is causing chaos for many on the east coast, but I'm jealous.

And yeah, the bumper guard shape is something.

stickguy

not the easiest thing in the world to arrange, especially on an Ebay car where who knows if you even end up gettin git.

and now with the 20"+ of snow, then Holiday travel (what a dumb time to end an auction), if I wanted that 325 (and dang, I am real attracted to it) I would have to get it sight unseen.

One reason I never bought anything off ebay.

Now, if it was for sale normally and local to me, I would have gone to seen it.

well, maybe not, considering we are snowed in.

Hmmm, maybe the reality of snow will scare all the NE people away from RWD?

Although as broz pointed out, a set of quality snows, and it will get through most anything that doesn't high center it!

Sandman6472

Thanks for the pics of all that snow. My wife & daughter are up in D.C. and are snowed in and since my 24 year old has never seen snow, she's lovin' it. Living in South Florida, we never see snow. So thanks for the pics and please feel free to post more. Never drove in snow...is it similar to driving in real rainy conditions? I've hydroplaned a few times...is it like that?

The Sandman :sick: :shades:

ghulet

....holy cow, Andre. And you're getting another foot? Geez, for as bad a rap as Chicago gets about our weather, we no longer get anything near as much snow as the east coast....we still have about an inch (put it this way: I can still see the grass in my front yard).

Sandman, it's hard to describe driving in snow, I guess: it's really not at all like rain, though, more like thick, slippery sand. My motto is 'tread lightly': no quick moves, don't attempt jackrabbit starts, drive more slowly and give yourself lots of room to brake. Do your slowing down before turns, take those slowly, or you may end up in a ditch or into oncoming traffic. I guess that's about all I can advise.
Admittedly, I haven't put nearly as many miles as people my age, but in almost 25 years of driving, I've had exactly one snow-related mishap (put my RWD Caprice in a ditch in college, I was drunk).

bumpy

Are those wheels on the Buick not supposed to have center caps? Exposed lugs seems kinda low-rent for a $30k+ near-luxury car.

fezo

We've got a foot here and I was out driving in it a bit - not a good idea but no harm no foul.

I bought my Celica on Ebay. That wagon is SO tempting.

boomchek

The Allroad is pretty neat but I think it's a money pit hence the no reserve. Note that there are zero photos of the dashboard or gauge cluster. Maybe ALL the idiot lights are permantnetly lit up in this one.

Crazy depreication after 7 years. Weren't these about $40k new?

Tempting if it would be local.

stickguy

lookedat the audi link. I think the current bid (2K) is about right. 98K on it? might as well go on a coke and crystal meth weekend bender. Might be less risky.

and yes, that was a joke.

Snow? Snow is fun to drive in. Problem is, around here, we end up with a few inch hard pack (think ice rink) covered with piles of snow and slush.

6 inches of fresh hard unpacked powder? Snow tires and no problem!

I just looked at the BMW link. If I was ever gonna bid on a car like that, it would be that one (nice ad, and tons of 100% positive feedback).

I also like that color, and love the interior.

This snow (we are in the 15/16" range, and still coming down at a furious pace) is not helping, since it will make it more difficult to sneak off and take a look early this week.

what the hell, I feel a value bid coming (although I have a feeling this one is going to end up hitting the BIN price).If I actuallly needed a car, and had discretionary funds, I would be tempted to just pay the $8,600.

I do love this car though.

qbrozen

stick, you CAN go ahead and make the winning bid AND THEN get the inspection. If the car is not as advertised, you can back out. You are only obligated to honor the bid if as described.

Another interesting one popped up in the autoshopper. A lot in Lakehurst has an '03 Protege5 5-spd with only 42k miles. Advertised for $8900, but $7500 would probably get it done.

The question I ask myself is, "given the same price, would I want a bimmer wagon with ~100k or a mazda wagon with half the miles?"
Of course, the bimmer would be comfier, quieter, more desirable, and possibly more fun. BUT, it is so much more practical to spend the money on a car with half the miles.

qbrozen

Something like this shows up. And I just think "to hell with spending $7500! I could drive this!"

corvette

I think that's just how they look. I can't think of many mainstream cars that don't have exposed lugs.

corvette

Don't know if you're a reader of Jalopnik, but they found this parked on the streets of Denver:
280SE 4.5

tifighter

That P5 is a find. If it has the optional ABS/side airbags, I wouldn't have to think twice. Guess that would put me in the minority. And yes, I've owned both a P5 and a BMW.

stickguy

nice celica. Evenbetter would be the hatch version. I remember looking at them when they first came out (yes, I am old),but too rich for my blood at the time IIRC!

I live P5s too, but not sure I want to go that way now. Not a bad sounding deal though.

andre1969

Are those wheels on the Buick not supposed to have center caps? Exposed lugs seems kinda low-rent for a $30k+ near-luxury car.

I was wondering that, too. Once I dig the car out, I'll take a look. I guess it's possible that it had center caps, but they got lost over the years? I'm really NOT impressed with the lug nuts on the car. They just have these plastic caps that screw on over the lugs. They're gray and not even shiny. And if you need to get a wheel off, I think you have to take the caps off before you take the lugnuts off, so it turns into twice the work!

Oh, as for snow, the worst of it is over and we're just down to flurries now. I think we ended up with about two feet. I'll get more pics in the morning. It's supposed to be cold tomorrow too, so I don't think it's melting anytime soon!

roadburner

And if you need to get a wheel off, I think you have to take the caps off before you take the lugnuts off, so it turns into twice the work!

I rented a 2005 Silverado and it had the same moronic setup(the truck had a flat).
Like you said, it requires twice the work. I'd like to meet the dimwit who dreamed that design up, as well as the imbecile supervisor who signed off on it.

fintail

Nothing but class, even if that big engine is a bit of a pig

tifighter

Now that Andre is taken care of, who else needs a full sizer?

kyfdx

1) From your picture, Andrew, I'd say that you are missing center covers on those wheels...

2) P5.. nice car... I guess the one thing that would sell me on the BMW, though... is RWD vs. FWD.. Also, the whole engine/clutch/shifter on the P5s is not all that inspiring..

3) eBay... Good for sellers.. not so good for buyers (and, I've even bought a car via eBay..) NJ seems to be BMW Central.. Seems like every other car that I'm interested in is up there.. I have the feeling that this car is going to crack $8K... maybe even over $9K.. It's just so rare to get any 5-speed wagon.. and this one is RWD and has all the options.. The only thing holding it back are exterior color and average miles.. I really want it... :surprise:

kyfdx

.. according to the auto-check... .that BMW has had 40K of it's miles put on, in just the last 20 months... Weird...

tifighter

Ok..you 3 freaks.

I had a Z3 some time ago, and it was generally solid, but there were always little things like randomly slow power windows, a transmission that occasionally clunked into reverse, etc. To its credit, these things never amounted to anything big, it never left me stranded, and I enjoyed the car. But it often felt like something was looming.

I've driven a 325 in the past and liked the car. Since everyone loves the E46, how are they as a used buy? Could I expect a similar experience? They seem more complicated. Electrics good? Assuming good presentation, how many miles would cause you pass? And last, how reliable is the steptronic tranny?

(I'd like a stick too, but I'm pretty sure the wedding vows said something about automatics only)

stickguy

While I guess you could reject the car if it didn't pass muster, how easy is that to do? For sure it would have to be local, and if so, might as well lok at it inadvance!

On the BMW, the (as usual) draconian terms are 1K within a day, and the balance shortly after.

Well, this rocket scientist has the auction ending the day after X-mas. Just so happens I am out of town (and far from him) until middle of the next week, so I would pretty much have to paypal the deposit, and whow up Tuesday or Wednesday to buy it out. At that point, not sure what I could do about the deposit (certainly I could refuse to pay the balance, but don't you run into contractual issues with Ebay deals?)

Something to be said for buying at a dealer (the most obvious being it costs more!). Much preferable to me is finding something like this for private sale local to me, but tht is a crapshoot.

Still, love that car!

stickguy

Oh, just checked the auction. It is up to $5,978 (?) already, with 7 days to go.

Since the BIN is now gone (when the listing first appeared, it was about $8,700 IIRC), I am guessing the seller expects it to easily push 9K. Starting to think that the BIN would have been worth it.

What the heck, after the hollidays, I will see if the green 2000 is still floating around at the Buick dealer in PA. Quite likely, given the weather!

boomchek

I don't think Andre's car is missing center caps. The wheels were just designed that way for whatever reason. Look at these stock photos:

fintail

Maybe to aggravate owners by having to remove lugnut caps rather than a wheel cover. I could see GM designers doing that :shades:

Hey Andre, does that thing have blinkers in the mirrors? I saw some previous generation Buick yesterday...I think it was a PA but could have been a LeSabre, with the blinkers in the mirror glass.

andre1969

Maybe to aggravate owners by having to remove lugnut caps rather than a wheel cover. I could see GM designers doing that

Yeah, I could, too. Another stupid thing I discovered today, while cleaning the car off, is that you can't position the wipers in an upright position, off of the windshield, to prepare for snow, ice, etc. This thing has them recessed a bit, and they hit the edge of the hood when you try to lift them.

As for the blinkers in the mirrors, I haven't noticed whether this car has 'em or not. And no, I'm not turning into your typical Buick driver who either forgets to use the turn signals in the first place, or forgets to turn them off! :P I just hadn't noticed. However, the heads-up display does show the turn signals.

Maybe in more recent years though, they might've put those turn signal indicators in the side mirrors?

Oh, and while tromping around in the snow today, I'd guess we ended up with about 20" total. It drifted higher in places, though. So, this has been one of the worst snow storms in my memory. I'd say this might be the 4th worst that I can remember. 2/79, 1/00, and 2/03 were worse. 2/83 was comparable. We also had a monster in early 1996, but I remember that year we got 3 storms in rapid succession, so by the time #3, the biggest hit, we already had a ton on the ground, so that made it seem worse than it was..

roadburner

Since everyone loves the E46, how are they as a used buy? Could I expect a similar experience? They seem more complicated. Electrics good? Assuming good presentation, how many miles would cause you pass? And last, how reliable is the steptronic tranny?

The E46 gets pretty good marks for reliability; the newer the better. A PPI by someone that KNOWS BMWs is essential. A full service history is nice to have as well. The 2003-2005 ZHP is the best variant out there; it's the closest thing to an E46 M3 you can get:



Later ZHP cars are available with a slushbox. Heresy!

qbrozen

While I guess you could reject the car if it didn't pass muster, how easy is that to do?

Pretty easy, actually. And, as for the deposit, as long as you use Paypal (highly recommended), all you do is file a grievance through them. They open an "investigation," you send them the PPI that shows the car is not as described, and case closed, you get the money back.

nippononly

The Marauder still had plastic spinning discs in the odometer in 2003? Yikes.

Don't know that I would spend $14K on that, but at least it's got nice low miles.....

tifighter

Yeah, I just thought it was a funny thing to run across. That interior might have been okay in 1992. Maybe. There was another one being sold by the original owner with lower miles...he wanted $20k for it. Um, yeah, good luck with that...

I will admit that it looks a little sinister in black, though.

fezo

Where is that Protege? That could be one for my daughter - even as I am trying to convince her it's a better deal for me to just pay all her gas in the van...

One word on Celicas. I got off easy last year with essentially a non-winter. Man, does that thing suck in the snow!

fintail

You'd know if you had these in-glass blinkers, they are pretty bright. I guess that bodystyle lived up until around 2005 or so, right? So it was probably a later car when blinker mirrors started becoming a fad introduced by the Euros, yeah.

Have fun in the snow! :shades:

british_rover

Oh thats nothing. Many of the Volvos and Saabs don't just have screw on lug caps they have tap on ones. The are hammered onto the lug nuts with a dead blow hammer or the back of a heavy screwdriver. Then you have to have this special little pliers to take them off.

Many of the Saabs and Volvos come in missing their caps because instead of taking them off when someone changes a tire they just shatter them with an impact gun.

stickguy

one of the many lots in Lakehurst. Pretty much your neck of the woods, right?

Also, a Celica is fine in the snow. Just have to put the right tires on it!

fezo

Yeah, Lakehurst is maybe 25 miles. I'll look around a little though I'm slowly selling my daughter on the idea that a van with the gas paid for is in her best interest. It certainly is in mine!

Somehow I can't bring myself to think of snow tires for the Celica! If I moved back north sure but not here!

I could get talked into replacing the existing tires.

fezo

Found it! Right where I thought it would be.

Of course with a stick I'd end up driving it. Things could be way worse than that.

stickguy

Well, most people keep the old convertible in the garage when it snows.

besides, while it might be hard to believe if you look out your window (at least mine, we got 21"), but we really don't snow on the roads very often around here.

Anyway, if it does need new sneaks, a good set of performance AS rubber will still make a huge difference.

mark156

""I live in fear of rear window regulator failure, so I don't even roll them down.""

Fin.... sorry for the slow response. The window regulators break because of the 'lack' of use. So, you should exercise your windows!

""You also have a previous (W220) S-class?""

Yes, we have a 2001 S-class that was bought new (now has 83,000 miles). It had a problem early on while under warranty. The car had random gremlins (wipers wouldn't work, car wouldn't start, car wouldn't lock or unlock, etc.), after three attempts at the service shop, they found out it needed a new wiring harness. Honestly, the car has been perfect since the wiring harness was replaced.

I'm getting to be as bad as Andre as there are 8 cars in the stable:
1964 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud III (90,000 miles)
1990 Mercedes SL500 (53,000 miles)
1995 Mercedes E320 Cabriolet (36,000 miles)
2001 Mercedes S500 (83,000 miles)
2007 Honda CR-V EXL (31,000 miles)
2008 Monaco Dynasty Motorcoach (28,000 miles)
2009 Bentley GTC convertible (2,800 miles)
2010 Land Rover LR4 (210 miles)

I'm trying my best to keep my CCBA card up to date!

Mark