Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

xwesx

Sorry, guys. I was dredging up two or three-day-old posts in my responses, and I didn't consider how quickly the conversation moves here sometimes!

I had my second coronavirus vaccine injection on Saturday morning, followed by a couple hours of pickleball and another hour or so of basketball drills with my daughter. I was rather tired after all that, but then the vaccine started kicking in, and the next 36 hours or so were a whole lot of napping or near-napping stints that didn't involve any seat time at a computer!

I felt much better this morning.

stickguy

Glad you got it, and got through it!

Sandman6472

Did see a new Ford Bronco in the gas line at PBI last week. Looked nice and seems to be the perfect size, not too big...not too small. It was in a light brown as I recall and pleasing enough. That's the one good thing about Enterprise over Hertz, we buy from almost every manufacturer so I get to drive a whole lot of stuff that I like. So much variety which I think the public does like better. Only issue now is getting new vehicles. We've put a bunch of the older ones back into service temporarily to meet the demand as it seems people are traveling once again. Foolish or not, I can't really say though I do think we need to tread lightly going forward.
Have definitely decided to get the shingles vaccine but since I got the 2nd Pfizer vaccine on March 11th, pan to wait about 4 months to move forward. Think that should be plenty of time between vaccinations.

Sandman6472

Got a feeling since my Golf has an accident recorded on its Carfax report, doubt any of those companies would want to buy it. Think I was told that they only will buy unmolested vehicles which makes sense. Luckily I did get a diminished value settlement from the others kids company which helped a bit, but no matter what, that accident is still in the record. Anyways, think I'd be lucky to even get $8.5K for it anyways and right now, it's worth more to me than that. Guess in the long run, it was the right thing to switch employers back at the end of 2019. Even if there was no pandemic, just cutting down my miles to work and all costs that went with it by 2/3 has saved us a lot of $. And no more burn out which is the best outcome of all. I still get up and look forward to going into work, something I couldn't say after 2016 while still at Hertz. The longer commute plus the driving into Miami almost everyday just got to be too much for me and I dreaded the almost 45 minute commute back home in that bumper to bumper traffic each night. I was so close to quitting there at the end of 2019, and then the Enterprise gig just fell into my lap! Totally saved me and as of today, no plans of retiring again, that's been taken off the table for now. Think we've decided to revisit that and our moving plans sometime in 2023 or so with a possible 2025 date in mind. No real hurry now it seems.

qbrozen

xwesx said:

qbrozen said:

stickguy said:

isn't the X2 a $50,000 Mini?

Ours wasn’t close to 50. It wasn’t even 44.

Regardless, resale is driven by perception. If a 3-yr-old Bronco Sport gets 60% of its original MSRP on a dealer buyout offer, I’ll change my tune.

The problem is the way they packaged the BS (did they think ahead on the name?!). You have to get the top trim, which still doesn’t even come with leather and upgraded stereo, to get the acceptable engine.

I'm not disagreeing with you at all here. However, I suspect the limitation on the engine choice has a lot to do with the combination of competing factors:

1. Elimination of the poor-selling, high-volume, high-fuel-economy models from their lineup.
2. Significantly increased CAFE averages that come into play soon (or have already? I don't recall).

If they have, say, five different "trim" levels, and four of them come with the smaller, more economical engine, then it stands to reason that the larger engine will have a smaller impact on CAFE than if it was an optional engine further down the lineup. CAFE takes into consideration the number of vehicles produced of each type, so they must play the game in order to avoid related penalties.

Of course, electric will change things in their favor in a dramatic way soon, but the numbers aren't there currently to have a substantial impact at the moment.

Good points.

Better yet, they could have kept the smaller engine in all but offer hybridization in the higher trims for more power while maintaining efficiency.

graphicguy

And, it gets weirder and weirder. Having seen some of you mention Carmax, I took the Stinger to them this afternoon. I’ve had them look at a couple of different cars as a straight buy from me in the past. Normally, I wouldn’t bother, but who knows?

Well, looks like they want into the game, too.

They looked it over. Drove it. And, gave me an offer of $1,400 over what I paid. Offer good for a week.

This is nuts!

May have to look at new cars in earnest.

au1994

graphicguy said:

And, it gets weirder and weirder. Having seen some of you mention Carmax, I took the Stinger to them this afternoon. I’ve had them look at a couple of different cars as a straight buy from me in the past. Normally, I wouldn’t bother, but who knows?

Well, looks like they want into the game, too.

They looked it over. Drove it. And, gave me an offer of $1,400 over what I paid. Offer good for a week.

This is nuts!

May have to look at new cars in earnest.

Its almost comical! But as the saying goes, make hay while the sun shines!

Michaell

New Lexus NX 4.6 - quite eye opening!

xwesx

Michaell said:

New Lexus NX 4.6 - quite eye opening!

I think the Q5 does that, too. At least, it did a few time on that drive up from Anchorage! Everything was fine, then suddenly, *BOOM*, whiteout!

fintail

New? Looks just like a 2015

Fun one though, this is a vehicle segment I am extra-careful around when in crosswalks etc.

Michaell said:

New Lexus NX 4.6 - quite eye opening!

nyccarguy

That slush box prelude sold for $15K

oldfarmer50

nyccarguy said:

This (THIIIIS) Prelude is in exceptional condition. Yes it is an automatic and the color (IMO is hideous). https://carsandbids.com/auctions/98XQPJ2Q/2000-honda-prelude

You guys should see the Preludes that pop up in FB Marketplace. People are selling shells with no engine because they (must have) never changed the timing belt and their engine went completely kaput.

Somebody did a great paint correction on that car regardless of the color. I actually find the color kind of interesting although if given the choice I probably wouldn’t put it on that car.

sda

graphicguy said:

And, it gets weirder and weirder. Having seen some of you mention Carmax, I took the Stinger to them this afternoon. I’ve had them look at a couple of different cars as a straight buy from me in the past. Normally, I wouldn’t bother, but who knows?

Well, looks like they want into the game, too.

They looked it over. Drove it. And, gave me an offer of $1,400 over what I paid. Offer good for a week.

This is nuts!

May have to look at new cars in earnest.

You got an awesome deal on the Stinger, you put the sting on the dealer! A new TLX Advance perhaps?

graphicguy

sda said:

graphicguy said:

And, it gets weirder and weirder. Having seen some of you mention Carmax, I took the Stinger to them this afternoon. I’ve had them look at a couple of different cars as a straight buy from me in the past. Normally, I wouldn’t bother, but who knows?

Well, looks like they want into the game, too.

They looked it over. Drove it. And, gave me an offer of $1,400 over what I paid. Offer good for a week.

This is nuts!

May have to look at new cars in earnest.

You got an awesome deal on the Stinger, you put the sting on the dealer! A new TLX Advance perhaps?

I dunno? Thinking.....truck? Mini (you guys seem to love them here)? Volvo (another brand that seems to be beloved in here)? 2 or 3 Series? Keep the Stinger since I like the car (but not the dealer)?

Having fun doing some research.

28firefighter

Punch pending in 4-8 weeks (but the numbers + lease rates are locked) - just waiting in confirmation that the order was placed

corvette

qbrozen

28firefighter said:

Punch pending in 4-8 weeks (but the numbers + lease rates are locked) - just waiting in confirmation that the order was placed

C’mon now. No favorites. Fess up or I’ll blw the whistle myself. LOL

tifighter

28firefighter said:

Punch pending in 4-8 weeks (but the numbers + lease rates are locked) - just waiting in confirmation that the order was placed

You're worse than me...

corvette

Dad picked up a 2021 Ford Ranger XLT with the blackout trim package. I told them they traded the wrong car, since they actually drove the Honda Element (a last model run 2011 with 151,000 miles) and you can see the Audi Q5 in the background with the hood up and Battery Tender connected, but anyway... The Honda Ridgeline was dismissed as "not really a truck" (but would have done everything they needed and is way more of a truck than the Element was?). Not sure why there was no interest in the Colorado/Canyon, both sides of the family tend to really like GM products and Car and Driver wrote a glowing review of them in their latest comparison test (and panned the Ranger).

I haven't driven it. I really liked Ford's 10 speed auto in the F-150. I suspect putting premium fuel in the Ranger with its Ecoboost engine is good for a dozen or two extra horsepower.

corvette

28firefighter said:

Punch pending in 4-8 weeks (but the numbers + lease rates are locked) - just waiting in confirmation that the order was placed

Do they actually lock financing numbers now on ordered vehicles? When I ordered the 325i in 2005, my recollection was that you could lease an ordered car, but you'd be stuck with the then-current numbers at the time you took delivery. Not to mention, always the possibility of a dealer playing games with the money factor.

stickguy

so, feels like the old days, 3rd base coaching remotely while my son looks at cars. This Carmax windfall has him all excited. He stopped at Audi and drove an S4 premium plus. Then went to BMW and drove an X3 M40i. Tomorrow will go back to Audi to drive an SQ5 and talk some numbers on either that or the S4 (or maybe both!)

Initial impressions, he still really likes Audi's. Said the new interior tech (screens and speed) are a big improvement. And of course, nicely done. So I could see him going back to them.

The X3 (he wanted to see an M340i too, but they are wiped out in the area) blew him away. He said it was a "monster" and had way more power/speed than it had any right to have. And seemed quicker than the S4. But as suspected, not likely to ever get close enough to be in budget (they lease really high). But, if he decides to go the hot rod CU route, the SQ5 might.

Oh, the Audi dealer shares a parking lot with a Toyota dealer too, so will go check out a Tacoma tomorrow too, but my guess is, while the practicality will make sense, the driving dynamics will lag the other options just a smidge.

tifighter

stickguy said:

well, this is gorgeous. If I was ever going to buy a car off an online auction, it should be this one. Not only is it a great configuration, it lives really close to me (actually right in the middle of me and TJC) and the indy that did the recent work on it is about 5 minutes from me (I drive past it frequently) and is the place I would use if I ever actually did buy an old BMW. I am curious what this is going to end up selling for. And I am sure it will eat the next owner alive, but at least the carbon was just cleaned out.

even has a warranty!

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/3vG5AJgm/2009-bmw-z4-sdrive35i

I'll obviously monitor this one compared to my own. Same color combo. Uglier wheels. While it has the N54 vs my N52, it doesn't have the sport pkg, has 12 year old idrive, over 3x the miles and is 2 years older. Oh, and it has the infamous HPFP. My paint is significantly better too.

I like my car. I even got a notice to renew the annual tabs. It must be doing something right.

graphicguy

28firefighter said:

Punch pending in 4-8 weeks (but the numbers + lease rates are locked) - just waiting in confirmation that the order was placed

Gotta be a Tesla! Amirite?

tifighter

graphicguy said:

28firefighter said:

Punch pending in 4-8 weeks (but the numbers + lease rates are locked) - just waiting in confirmation that the order was placed

Gotta be a Tesla! Amirite?

I'm actually going to say no. But he's certainly got us all on the hook now.

explorerx4

@corvette,
You'll have to let us know how he likes the Ranger.
The Ranger powertrain puts the other mid size trucks to shame, although may not be the smoothest.

stickguy

I like the way the ranger looks. The GMs are less attractive, and I just can't warm up to the interior.

I have read some reviews of this class of trucks, and the Ridgeline tends to win, unless you really have to tow fairly heavy loads, but most people doing that are getting a 1/2 ton anyway. For the suburban cowboy duty most of these trucks do, the Ridgeline is more than "trucky" enough.

28firefighter

Hahaha. You all are funny.

2021 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara 4xE. And yes CCAP let’s you lock rates and incentives.

$55.5 MSRP, $381 DAS and $381 a month all in. 36/10 lease. Should arrive by June.

Build: https://www.jeep.com/bmo.wrangler_4xe.2021.html#/build/exterior/98036/CUJ202117JLXP74A/2TP/APA,PDN,TV,ECX,DFY,DME,Z1S,SDU,TTG,WRN,CL,UAQ,ADE,AJ1,HT3,GXD,XBM,CWA,MRU,29P

corvette

@28firefighter - that is an insanely good lease deal on that Wrangler. I had no idea they leased that well--I might even consider one at that price!

@stickguy and @explorerx4 - yeah, from what I've read, the Ranger has one of the better powertrains in that class, but chassis dynamics aren't great. The Element often towed a utility trailer with a motorcycle on the back. I once towed the same trailer with my old Tahoe, and it was not light, even when empty. I'm sure a Ridgeline or any of the other midsizers would be a huge improvement. They've had two GMC Sonomas and a Canyon, all regular cab, so the extra length of everything available in the current market will definitely be different, but the Ranger should ride significantly better than their previous trucks due to the longer wheelbase.

I never warmed up to the Element, as I didn't feel like it did anything well other than haul cargo. I suspect I will like the Ranger better.

28firefighter

Have to find a dealer that does that deep a discount. But, Chrysler is passing along the $7500 rebate. Combined with a high residual....

tjc78

@28firefighter
Sweet deal. How many dealers did you go through before one played ball to make that deal work?

Michaell

28firefighter said:

Have to find a dealer that does that deep a discount. But, Chrysler is passing along the $7500 rebate. Combined with a high residual....

This is through CCAP?

28firefighter

Michaell said:

28firefighter said:

Have to find a dealer that does that deep a discount. But, Chrysler is passing along the $7500 rebate. Combined with a high residual....

This is through CCAP?

Yup.

tjc78 said:

@28firefighter
Sweet deal. How many dealers did you go through before one played ball to make that deal work?

1. Found his name through another board. First offer. He wasn’t familiar with the lease because I was his first, but we walked through it and it worked.

laurasdada

Waiting to make a left onto the road I was travelling this morning, I saw what I thought was another A7; my first glance was brief as the SUV in front of me blocked the view as it began making the turn. But, as the car made the left, I was able to see it wasn't an A7, but a new Genesis G80. There is, of course, a resemblance (as, aren't top brass at Hyundai formerly of, among others, Audi?), but that Genny was a handsome devil. The lighting treatment nicely distinctive. Perhaps I'll walk the local Hyundai (Genesis-ish) lot this weekend.
Having recently purchased my Galactica, my constant car shopping has somewhat abated. Well, that and prepping for the move, which happened today. Moving stinks; don't do it.

Michaell

28firefighter said:

Michaell said:

28firefighter said:

Have to find a dealer that does that deep a discount. But, Chrysler is passing along the $7500 rebate. Combined with a high residual....

This is through CCAP?

Yup.

tjc78 said:

@28firefighter
Sweet deal. How many dealers did you go through before one played ball to make that deal work?

1. Found his name through another board. First offer. He wasn’t familiar with the lease because I was his first, but we walked through it and it worked.

Thanks for the confirmation; we don’t have any information as to whether the incentives are available for a lease.

That, plus the high residual, makes for a tasty lease payment.

xwesx

corvette said:

Dad picked up a 2021 Ford Ranger XLT with the blackout trim package. I told them they traded the wrong car, since they actually drove the Honda Element (a last model run 2011 with 151,000 miles) and you can see the Audi Q5 in the background with the hood up and Battery Tender connected, but anyway... The Honda Ridgeline was dismissed as "not really a truck" (but would have done everything they needed and is way more of a truck than the Element was?). Not sure why there was no interest in the Colorado/Canyon, both sides of the family tend to really like GM products and Car and Driver wrote a glowing review of them in their latest comparison test (and panned the Ranger).

I haven't driven it. I really liked Ford's 10 speed auto in the F-150. I suspect putting premium fuel in the Ranger with its Ecoboost engine is good for a dozen or two extra horsepower.

I still love the color on the Q5.

As for the Ranger versus the GM "midsize" twins, I asked my friend in Anchorage about this too. His 2000 Chevy 1500 shortbed single-cab pickup was stolen a couple months ago, and he had to replace it on short notice. He ended up with a Ford Ranger, very basic, just a silver king-cab 4WD (one of only a handful of king cabs in Alaska).

He said he refused to buy a 1/2 ton pickup because they are "ridiculously priced," most were heavily optioned in terms of what was on the local lots, and he didn't really need a 1/2 ton. So, he then looked at the GM twins, but he just didn't find the cab seating comfortable at all. Tacoma... same story. But, then comes the Ranger, and he felt like it was a good fit for him. So, he broke his family mold and went with a non-GM buy.

xwesx

tifighter said:

stickguy said:

well, this is gorgeous. If I was ever going to buy a car off an online auction, it should be this one. Not only is it a great configuration, it lives really close to me (actually right in the middle of me and TJC) and the indy that did the recent work on it is about 5 minutes from me (I drive past it frequently) and is the place I would use if I ever actually did buy an old BMW. I am curious what this is going to end up selling for. And I am sure it will eat the next owner alive, but at least the carbon was just cleaned out.

even has a warranty!

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/3vG5AJgm/2009-bmw-z4-sdrive35i

I'll obviously monitor this one compared to my own. Same color combo. Uglier wheels. While it has the N54 vs my N52, it doesn't have the sport pkg, has 12 year old idrive, over 3x the miles and is 2 years older. Oh, and it has the infamous HPFP. My paint is significantly better too.

I like my car. I even got a notice to renew the annual tabs. It must be doing something right.

Over ten grand with three days to go. Somebody has spring fever!

oldfarmer50

Too much power?

https://www.powernationtv.com/post/dodge-challenger-hellcat-driver-flips-pickup-truck-leaving-cars-and-coffee?utm_source=drip&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Challenger+Hellcat+Driver+Flips+Pickup+Leaving+Cars+%26+Coffee

xwesx

28firefighter said:

Hahaha. You all are funny.

2021 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara 4xE. And yes CCAP let’s you lock rates and incentives.

$55.5 MSRP, $381 DAS and $381 a month all in. 36/10 lease. Should arrive by June.

Build: https://www.jeep.com/bmo.wrangler_4xe.2021.html#/build/exterior/98036/CUJ202117JLXP74A/2TP/APA,PDN,TV,ECX,DFY,DME,Z1S,SDU,TTG,WRN,CL,UAQ,ADE,AJ1,HT3,GXD,XBM,CWA,MRU,29P

Well, that came out of left field! I definitely would not have guessed that in, say, my first 30 choices....

Is this the lease replacement for the wife's Outback? I hope it turns out to be livable for a few years.

xwesx

oldfarmer50 said:

Too much power?

https://www.powernationtv.com/post/dodge-challenger-hellcat-driver-flips-pickup-truck-leaving-cars-and-coffee?utm_source=drip&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Challenger+Hellcat+Driver+Flips+Pickup+Leaving+Cars+%26+Coffee

Hmmm... that looks like too much stupid to me. But, sure, blame the car!

xwesx

A review of the new Bronco (not Sport) in an off-road session, including some rock crawling. Impressive performance, to say the least!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Cf2n_F1Hbk


Please forgive the host (I find her annoying; YMMV); thankfully there's a lot of off-road footage and her parts are easily skippable.

I've never been much for off-roading in something actually meant for the task, but this thing makes me ponder the possibility.

roadburner

oldfarmer50 said:

Too much power?

https://www.powernationtv.com/post/dodge-challenger-hellcat-driver-flips-pickup-truck-leaving-cars-and-coffee?utm_source=drip&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Challenger+Hellcat+Driver+Flips+Pickup+Leaving+Cars+%26+Coffee

Not enough brain cells.

Michaell

oldfarmer50 said:

Too much power?

https://www.powernationtv.com/post/dodge-challenger-hellcat-driver-flips-pickup-truck-leaving-cars-and-coffee?utm_source=drip&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Challenger+Hellcat+Driver+Flips+Pickup+Leaving+Cars+%26+Coffee

This happened in Colorado at a C&C meet. Several different camera angles captured this. Hellcat Challenger, so 700+ HP. Roads were cold, so maybe a bit slick, but still a stupid move.

corvette

xwesx said:

I still love the color on the Q5.

As for the Ranger versus the GM "midsize" twins, I asked my friend in Anchorage about this too. His 2000 Chevy 1500 shortbed single-cab pickup was stolen a couple months ago, and he had to replace it on short notice. He ended up with a Ford Ranger, very basic, just a silver king-cab 4WD (one of only a handful of king cabs in Alaska).

He said he refused to buy a 1/2 ton pickup because they are "ridiculously priced," most were heavily optioned in terms of what was on the local lots, and he didn't really need a 1/2 ton. So, he then looked at the GM twins, but he just didn't find the cab seating comfortable at all. Tacoma... same story. But, then comes the Ranger, and he felt like it was a good fit for him. So, he broke his family mold and went with a non-GM buy.

The green is a great color on the Q5. Looks like it might get driven slightly more going forward, as my mom doesn't like the additional length of the Ranger and also prefers a hatchback. She was somewhat interested in the Ridgeline because the Element has been almost trouble free for a decade. The single repair I can remember was an oil pressure sender, which was only a couple hundred bucks at the dealer, but the kicker was that the failure of that part was causing the transmission to surge, so it went in to the shop with everyone thinking the transmission was toast.

The midsize pickup choice was based on personal preference, the full size being "too big" and would have been tough to fit in the garage. The tops of their garage doors are arched, and height could be an issue with a full size. I've never tried to pull any of mine in to check. The Ranger probably cost within spitting distance of an F-150 STX extended cab, although I think the Ranger has additional features like blind spot monitors that aren't available on the STX. Inventory seems to be quite scarce right now.

nyccarguy

@corvette - I like your parent’s new Ranger! Sharp color & option combination. How’d they make out with the Element on the trade in?

nyccarguy

@28firefighter - nice job with the Jeep. The high incentive & strong residual will make these sell well. It is a good sell to the wife: 4 Door, 4 Wheel Drive, Plug In Hybrid Convertible.

corvette

nyccarguy said:

@corvette - I like your parent’s new Ranger! Sharp color & option combination. How’d they make out with the Element on the trade in?

Thanks! Haven't seen the deal sheet... I know they had a buy bid of around $8k from Carvana. Typical dealer shenanigans (they bought from the very large dealer in town that none of the local Edmunds posters like, but also the only dealer with decent inventory). Based on what I had penciled in, I think they did okay, but probably could have fared slightly better by shopping one dealer against the other if there weren't an inventory problem.

Sandman6472

Not sure we could make due with just one vehicle, but could make it work. Am usually home on my n/s days and only do a couple of errands anyways. On my work days, could always take the Audi to work and drop it back off to the house at 8:15 as we leave for the road. We really are that close to our casa and she don't start stirring until maybe 8:45 accept those couple of days each week she goes down to Lauderdale. Saturday I only went out a 6:50 in the morning to Home Depot and in the evening to pick up Chinese food while Sunday, it sat all day in the garage. Today, only a few small errands and was back within the hour. Work the next couple of days plus Friday so technically, we could just live with only one vehicle but I'd have to be a bit more pro-active and bum some rides from a fellow co-worker to get me home. And after tax season ends on May 15th, not sure how long TurboTax will keep her until next November for the new tax season.
Still loving the Golf, did see my dealer just got in a 2017 model, an SE, in the darker blue with the alloys I had swapped out. Love the push button start/stop but hate the black interior. Has in the low 25K miles on it, a real positive for me but the dark interior just kills it for me. Now, if it were an "SEL" model with those super low miles, just might be tempted to try it out. I've never had the same model back to back either and not sure I'm into that. The price ain't bad either...ain't bad at all...just not sure if I could actually do it. But again, if it's an "SEL" model with the right color combo and nicer alloys, possibly would do it. Am closing in on 67K miles on the odo so that's another item I have to take into account. The 2017 model is just over 25.7K on the clock which is a strong positive for it. Nicer thrones plus the 9 speaker Fender infotainment system, another bonus! But that driving the same vehicle issue is one I've never dealt with before. The other half has done that with her 1992 & 1995 Camry's didn't faze her at all though it bothered me a bit.

Sandman6472

Got another come on from Hyundai again today offering me strong trade number for my 2014 Tucson though there's one glaring issue here, I no longer own that vehicle and it's been gone since December of 2015! Someone ain't doing their homework in South Korea me suspects here. Both the Hyundai Kona or Kia Seltos do it for me tough like the looks of the Seltos much better. Saw one in the local mall a few months and we both agreed it's a bit too big for my needs. The new Tucson looks great but again, a bit too large for me. A shame the dash & interior ergonomics are a bit on the cheap for my liking or the Tucson would still be in our garage right now. We like 'em both to be honest but not really necessary for us. a this juncture.
The new arrival at VW, the Taos, is looking to be the perfect vehicle for my future needs once it comes out in the fall of 2021. Right size, an CUV actually and the ingress/egress shouldn't be an issue at all...more of a slide over/slide out thing like the Tucson was. Who could ask for anything more! If it comes in at a length of 170 or so, and it's turbo negates the low torque turbo lag, it could be, "the one" I've been anxiously waiting for!! Just not sure I am wanting to do the first year model guinea pig again! That used to be one of my major rules for purchasing something new along with getting the same model again with the 5 year recycle version. Did it with the 2006 Honda Civic, though it turned out to be a decent vehicle and my current 2015 VW Golf. I fell in love on that first test drive though I waited about 8 days later to purchase. I knew within 5 minutes behind the wheel that I'd own this puppy one day soon! And I can not fall in love with something new this time as I need to get a great deal going forward.

ronsteve

So... when I checked "pretty great" Carvana's number on the RDX landed at $17k. So even though the Audi is not a player, I've been very tempted by V60s but halfway talking myself out of all the possibilities.

I'll admit I had somewhat dismissed when anyone posted '17-18 model cars because they had all gone to the Drive-E powertrain, and I hadn't heard good things about the early ones (oil consumption due to bad rings). But some poking around on Swedespeed suggests they got those engines sorted well in time for the '17 model year. So maybe they are back on the table.

My gut feeling and experience with the 5-cyl turbo in my V70 had made me gravitate to the '16 T5 AWD models, BUT I come to find out that the later iterations of that engine had the same oil consumption/piston ring problems.

So what say the Volvo-philes who have some experience with the later generations? Won't look too hard for Platinum, long as it has the Convenience Package and the booty warmers. Not sure whether I'll actively avoid AWD and/or CC if I get into the Drive-E cars, so how much IS the handling penalty with those?

Any more insight on the oil consumption problem with the 5-cylinder cars?

ab348

Michaell said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Too much power?

https://www.powernationtv.com/post/dodge-challenger-hellcat-driver-flips-pickup-truck-leaving-cars-and-coffee?utm_source=drip&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Challenger+Hellcat+Driver+Flips+Pickup+Leaving+Cars+%26+Coffee

This happened in Colorado at a C&C meet. Several different camera angles captured this. Hellcat Challenger, so 700+ HP. Roads were cold, so maybe a bit slick, but still a stupid move.

One account I read said it had drag radials on the back too, so hardly suitable for use without being warmed up or on damp surfaces. I was surprised how it seemed so easy for that truck to roll over.