Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

stickguy

you are doing it right. stay real small and the big guys don't notice you snapping up the crumbs they drop.

stickguy

hopefully toward year end you figure out another one of these killer deals, just on something I want. So I can just have you order 2, with the 2nd one in my name!

sda

kyfdx said:

stickguy said:

Just noticed that local VW dealer has a Taos in stock (pictures and everything). Kinda pricey. An SEL, so well equipped (includes moonroof package) but only FWD. MSRP $34,200.

Don't Tiguans top $40K MSRP, now?

They do. You can get a very nicely equipped Tiguan SE fwd with panoroof for $30k. I think the Tiguan is a better buy than the Taos SE with similar equipment that is also priced at $30k. The top Taos SEL with 4-Motion is $36k+, too expensive for what it is.

28firefighter

@Qbrozen - shipping has few stages. Shipping with no ETA and shipping with ETA. Once you have an ETA, depending on where the dealer is, you can expect 1-3 weeks. West coast closer to 3 weeks.

tifighter

breld said:

tifighter said:

breld said:

stickguy said:

Looks like they are short one right now.

That's right. We were sort of preemptive in taking advantage of trade values on the X3 and freeing up the space for the next SUV. We do still have the Leaf occupying a garage space since it isn't costing anything to hold on to, but that will go once we pull the trigger on an SUV.

Do you still have that Y reservation?

Yeah, we do. And we even took the next step where they are matching us with a car - estimated delivery would be in August.

I'm still considering it. At the March pricing, state incentives that are still available, and maybe even federal incentives back in play, it could be a good deal.

That March price point would be a nice little bonus.

I finally got a chance last week to drive the Y on the highway for awhile (it's my wife's car). Four hours round trip, A/C on and driving about 10 over the limit. I got around 270wh/mi, which is nearly 3.8 miles/kWh. This is surprisingly good efficiency to me, on par with our previous 3 despite the taller profile and wider tires. It sure makes my X look like a pig.

qbrozen

28firefighter said:

@Qbrozen - shipping has few stages. Shipping with no ETA and shipping with ETA. Once you have an ETA, depending on where the dealer is, you can expect 1-3 weeks. West coast closer to 3 weeks.

darn. I must have posted in the wrong place. Here is what I got from the dealer.


It looks to me that it was just released from a 3rd party vendor to return to Toledo where it will be assigned a rail car.

Currently with an ETA into Port Allen LA Rail Yard on July 5th….but this will probably change once it get’s an assigned train. Once it does arrive at Port Allen it can take up to a week for us to physically receive, inspect and process in the vehicle. Once we have done that, our finance team will be reaching out to arrange your terms and delivery.

Sandman6472

I saw a new Taos on Saturday and it looked a bit too big for my side of the garage to be honest. And just not sure we're going back to a German vehicle to be honest. I just want something with no drama and "cheap to keep" at this point. So the new Corolla Cross is looking better & better to be honest. I like a Toyota, we both like a Toyota, so that won't be an issue.
A3 is at Tire Plus again getting a tire patched. I've been in bed with a wicked cold for two days now and had to pick the other half up about an hour ago. Still needs new tires so not sure what's going to happen. If it were my vehicle, it would already have new sneakers on it but I can't make this decision since it ain't my vehicle. Learned long ago to never temp the fates, guessing she's more trusting than I am. I just do what she wants.

stickguy

Sandy, the Taos is actually shorter. It is 174.2" long. The Corolla cross is 175.6".

you should just move the water heater to outside. Or switch to a tankless. Would free up quite a bit of room for longer cars!

stickguy

My wife wants absolutely nothing to do with her car. Just final say on what to get, and pick out the color. She prefers to be nowhere near the negotiating/deal process. Just go look at them, test drive, pick the color, then wait until it is time to go pick it up. And after that, she knows she can ignore it and by magic, it gets washed, filled with fuel, and maintained. She is just supposed to mention if it does something "funny", or needs gas!

I do spoil her.

Michaell

kyfdx said:

stickguy said:

Just noticed that local VW dealer has a Taos in stock (pictures and everything). Kinda pricey. An SEL, so well equipped (includes moonroof package) but only FWD. MSRP $34,200.

Don't Tiguans top $40K MSRP, now?

I just priced out an SE AWD on the VW website .... $31K, or so.

I'm sure the SEL R-Line with all the packages can top $40K.

stickguy

SE to me seems to be a much better deal. The SEL models seem to cost a lot more money for just a few extra gadgets or toys.

roadburner

The Alfa Spyder I thought would go for $25k on BaT went for $57k. Only 7k miles on it, but still...

roadburner

In other news, my son finally picks up the 330i xDrive tomorrow. He was supposed to pick it up yesterday but someone dinged the fender while it was sitting in the lot after the CPO inspection. Luckily their PDR guy can fix it.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

Sandy, the Taos is actually shorter. It is 174.2" long. The Corolla cross is 175.6".

you should just move the water heater to outside. Or switch to a tankless. Would free up quite a bit of room for longer cars!

How about building another garage bay?

cdnpinhead

Nothing is ever simple in Sandyland.

stickguy

the moving to a new house was a good plan until it fell apart!

tjc78

@stickguy said:
My wife wants absolutely nothing to do with her car. Just final say on what to get, and pick out the color. She prefers to be nowhere near the negotiating/deal process. Just go look at them, test drive, pick the color, then wait until it is time to go pick it up. And after that, she knows she can ignore it and by magic, it gets washed, filled with fuel, and maintained. She is just supposed to mention if it does something "funny", or needs gas!

I do spoil her.

My wife must know yours. There isn’t single thing you just mentioned that doesn’t apply in my house.

The gas thing I don’t understand… we live in Jersey and they pump for us!

tjc78

If I was in that garage situation I’d be looking at ways to free up that space.

Tankless would certainly help and then I’d have the air handler mounted high on the wall. It can be done.

stickguy

simple answer might be to swap sides. an A3 is 175.5" long, exactly the same as a Corolla cross.

henryn

tjc78 said:

@stickguy said:

My wife wants absolutely nothing to do with her car. Just final say on what to get, and pick out the color. She prefers to be nowhere near the negotiating/deal process. Just go look at them, test drive, pick the color, then wait until it is time to go pick it up. And after that, she knows she can ignore it and by magic, it gets washed, filled with fuel, and maintained. She is just supposed to mention if it does something "funny", or needs gas!

I do spoil her.

My wife must know yours. There isn’t single thing you just mentioned that doesn’t apply in my house.

The gas thing I don’t understand… we live in Jersey and they pump for us!

------------------------end of quoted material---------------------------

My ex-wife would be the 180 degree opposite. She was drag racing, at the strip, when she was just out of high school. I didn't know her then, but it was one of the things I liked about her when we did meet many years later. And I always admitted that she was a better driver than me. Faster reflexes, better peripheral vision. My peripheral vision is average, my reflexes are a hair above average, but she exceeded me, and by a good margin.

She always took a strong interest when we were car shopping, for her or for me. She wasn't very good at negotiating, so she always left that part to me. But she was right there, picking the colors (I'm 50% color blind), and weighing in on the options. Any test drives were always split 50/50. And she could not navigate, couldn't read a map to save her life. So whenever navigation was necessary, she would drive and I would navigate. Worked out quite well, for many years.

Always play to your strengths.

qbrozen

@roadburner said:
The Alfa Spyder I thought would go for $25k on BaT went for $57k. Only 7k miles on it, but still...

Whhaaaa?? That’s gotta be a record. Like… beyond record. That’s insanity. A 4C is a better car in every conceivable way and can be had for less than that.

oldfarmer50

henryn said:

tjc78 said:

@stickguy said:

My wife wants absolutely nothing to do with her car. Just final say on what to get, and pick out the color. She prefers to be nowhere near the negotiating/deal process. Just go look at them, test drive, pick the color, then wait until it is time to go pick it up. And after that, she knows she can ignore it and by magic, it gets washed, filled with fuel, and maintained. She is just supposed to mention if it does something "funny", or needs gas!

I do spoil her.

My wife must know yours. There isn’t single thing you just mentioned that doesn’t apply in my house.

The gas thing I don’t understand… we live in Jersey and they pump for us!

------------------------end of quoted material---------------------------

My ex-wife would be the 180 degree opposite. She was drag racing, at the strip, when she was just out of high school. I didn't know her then, but it was one of the things I liked about her when we did meet many years later. And I always admitted that she was a better driver than me. Faster reflexes, better peripheral vision. My peripheral vision is average, my reflexes are a hair above average, but she exceeded me, and by a good margin.

She always took a strong interest when we were car shopping, for her or for me. She wasn't very good at negotiating, so she always left that part to me. But she was right there, picking the colors (I'm 50% color blind), and weighing in on the options. Any test drives were always split 50/50. And she could not navigate, couldn't read a map to save her life. So whenever navigation was necessary, she would drive and I would navigate. Worked out quite well, for many years.

Always play to your strengths.

Sounds like a match made in heaven. I knew my wife was the one for me when she bought me a Dodge Charger.

kyfdx

BaT is not real life. I don't even bother looking at the website.

tjc78

@kyfdx said:
BaT is not real life. I don't even bother looking at the website.

Presumably money changes hands along with ownership…. Is it really that much worse than Mecum or BJ gets stupid values for cars when two guys with more liquor in them than sense go head to head?

kyfdx

tjc78 said:

@kyfdx said:

BaT is not real life. I don't even bother looking at the website.

Presumably money changes hands along with ownership…. Is it really that much worse than Mecum or BJ gets stupid values for cars when two guys with more liquor in them than sense go head to head?

Yeah, but when you watch those shows on TV, you realize it's people with loads of excess money, looking for expensive toys ('69 Z28, etc).

BaT actually has cars that normal humans might want. Not collectors, just really cool variants of normal cars. Like ZHPs or that recent Prelude. But, the prices aren't what any normal human might pay. Auction sites are just terrible. It isn't that the sales don't happen at those prices (though you might argue that many don't), it's that the market gets so skewed on the internet.

nyccarguy

@qbrozen

With $700 & change shipping, it is definitely a no brainer. You will definitely spend that in gas, tolls, food, & hotels driving back up. Not to mention your time & the fact that you'll most likely get a rock chip in your windshield on the way up.

roadburner

My wife isn’t a car nut, but she takes an active role in picking out her cars.
She used to be my navigator in TSD rallies, and we actually finished in the top 3 once or twice.
And of course she found a 1973 Bavaria for me when we were dating...

au1994

Sigh…dealers…

Trying to buy (lease) the 4xe off the lot. They are HOT, the Granite Crystal got sold while I was still negotiating. Found a Silver one in Charlotte that was equipped the way I want…Sahara, cold weather, hardtop. I’d prefer anti-spin rear end but can live without it.

Dealer says he will honor the $27, 400 KBB offer on the Land Cruiser. Nuts! Even if he deducts for tires.

His offer comes in this morning…$3k market adjustment, $1995 dealer safety pkg, payment of $717 with 3k down. I don’t even know if I will bother to respond.

I guess I will have to order. I sure wanted the instant gratification of getting one now.

nyccarguy

au1994 said:

Sigh…dealers…

Trying to buy (lease) the 4xe off the lot. They are HOT, the Granite Crystal got sold while I was still negotiating. Found a Silver one in Charlotte that was equipped the way I want…Sahara, cold weather, hardtop. I’d prefer anti-spin rear end but can live without it.

Dealer says he will honor the $27, 400 KBB offer on the Land Cruiser. Nuts! Even if he deducts for tires.

His offer comes in this morning…$3k market adjustment, $1995 dealer safety pkg, payment of $717 with 3k down. I don’t even know if I will bother to respond.

I guess I will have to order. I sure wanted the instant gratification of getting one now.

Did you get my PM?

au1994

nyccarguy said:

au1994 said:

Sigh…dealers…

Trying to buy (lease) the 4xe off the lot. They are HOT, the Granite Crystal got sold while I was still negotiating. Found a Silver one in Charlotte that was equipped the way I want…Sahara, cold weather, hardtop. I’d prefer anti-spin rear end but can live without it.

Dealer says he will honor the $27, 400 KBB offer on the Land Cruiser. Nuts! Even if he deducts for tires.

His offer comes in this morning…$3k market adjustment, $1995 dealer safety pkg, payment of $717 with 3k down. I don’t even know if I will bother to respond.

I guess I will have to order. I sure wanted the instant gratification of getting one now.

Did you get my PM?

Sorry, no doesn’t look like it

kyfdx

So, considering the thing we aren't supposed to talk about.... (this is for you @qbrozen )

Is the dealer in Louisiana the only one making good deals in the Eastern half of the US?

28firefighter

No - Tri City in Eden NC, Mall of Georgia, Gupton Motors, and Koons in DC (less so) are also doing deals for orders.

nyccarguy

Does anybody know if there is a 9 month pull ahead program for 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLCs? My sister is currently leasing a 2019 GLC 300 4Matic for $450 per month for 36 months/12K miles per year (I don't know the particulars, and am lucky I got that out of her). She called me the other day and told me she has gotten a few letters and emails that they want her 2019 GLC. I tell her this is just a marketing "come on."

Anyway, she calls the salesman whom she leased her current GLC and previous GLE through and asks; "is this for real?" He knows her situation (42 year old widow with 2 young children) and has helped her out tremendously. He tells her it is for real. They'll take her 2019 GLC back as a pull ahead free and clear (not roll it into the new lease). Her new lease payment will be $500 per month for 30 months (instead of 36 months). Again, I don't know any particulars like the sticker price of the 2021 GLC, the money factor they are charging her, nor the selling price (I know that's the most important stuff). I do know that when she originally leased her GLE, she worked for a large, national real estate company that qualified her for a large fleet discount. Even though she doesn't work for that company any more, they put the fleet discount code in the computer and are still giving her that discount (as they did for her current 2019 GLC). The payment includes NY Sales tax, scheduled maintenance, & wheel/tire protection.

I'm just curious if the math makes sense. Yes, she's paying $50 per month for the newer car that is essentially the same as what she has. With MB taking back 9 months worth of $450 payments, that saves her $4,050. The new lease will cost her $15,000 over the next 30 months. If they are taking back $4,050 worth of payments, she'll effectively be paying $10,950 over the next 30 months which equals $365/month. Did I figure that out correctly.

Not sure any of this matters. Those of you with younger siblings know that she's most likely already made up her mind and will pick the new GLC up this weekend.

stickguy

Your math seems off. It’s just a $500/month lease now. So for the next 9 months it will cost her an extra $450 total. Then continue on until it ends.

So no clue what the payment would be next March if she just keeps the current one at the lower payment until then.

May not be worth your hassle, but she should run it through carmax. Probably some equity, though I assume without her trade, the lease on the new one will be higher.

stickguy

But if she wants it, seems like a pretty easy and good deal to lock in for another 2 years or so.

qbrozen

nyccarguy said:

I'm just curious if the math makes sense. Yes, she's paying $50 per month for the newer car that is essentially the same as what she has. With MB taking back 9 months worth of $450 payments, that saves her $4,050. The new lease will cost her $15,000 over the next 30 months. If they are taking back $4,050 worth of payments, she'll effectively be paying $10,950 over the next 30 months which equals $365/month. Did I figure that out correctly.

No. That's kind of like saying "well, I'm spending $1k, but the regular price is $1200, so I'm saving $200." No, you are spending $1k. lol.
She isn't saving $4050 over the next 9 months because she is spending $4500 on the new one. As stickguy said, that's $450 more.
Also, you know the drill, she should check what her current car is worth vs the current buyout. They could very well be stealing equity from her in this "deal."
I'd also like to know if she paid anything at inception on the current vehicle. I would say it is very likely, which means she is giving up 9 mos worth of that, too. What I mean is, let's say it was $3k at inception for a 30-mo lease, that means she pre-paid $100/mo. If she kills it now, then she paid $3k for only 21 mos, or $143/mo.

My older sister is the only person who listens to me when it comes to money and cars. haha.

tjc78

Like Q said there is definitely a cap reduction from the trade being worth more than the buyout.

IMO without getting in the weeds about the details, I would tell her to counter offer with I’ll take the deal at the exact same payment as I have now and see what happens

henryn

au1994 said:

Sigh…dealers…

Trying to buy (lease) the 4xe off the lot. They are HOT, the Granite Crystal got sold while I was still negotiating. Found a Silver one in Charlotte that was equipped the way I want…Sahara, cold weather, hardtop. I’d prefer anti-spin rear end but can live without it.

Dealer says he will honor the $27, 400 KBB offer on the Land Cruiser. Nuts! Even if he deducts for tires.

His offer comes in this morning…$3k market adjustment, $1995 dealer safety pkg, payment of $717 with 3k down. I don’t even know if I will bother to respond.

I guess I will have to order. I sure wanted the instant gratification of getting one now.

so $5,000 over MSRP? That may be the highest amount over MSRP that I have seen so far in this crazy market. I have seen $4,000 over on new loaded up trucks ($65k plus $4k in add ons). But I think $5k has the record, for now at least. Who knows how much worse this will get before we turn the corner?

nyccarguy

qbrozen said:

nyccarguy said:

I'm just curious if the math makes sense. Yes, she's paying $50 per month for the newer car that is essentially the same as what she has. With MB taking back 9 months worth of $450 payments, that saves her $4,050. The new lease will cost her $15,000 over the next 30 months. If they are taking back $4,050 worth of payments, she'll effectively be paying $10,950 over the next 30 months which equals $365/month. Did I figure that out correctly.

No. That's kind of like saying "well, I'm spending $1k, but the regular price is $1200, so I'm saving $200." No, you are spending $1k. lol.
She isn't saving $4050 over the next 9 months because she is spending $4500 on the new one. As stickguy said, that's $450 more.
Also, you know the drill, she should check what her current car is worth vs the current buyout. They could very well be stealing equity from her in this "deal."
I'd also like to know if she paid anything at inception on the current vehicle. I would say it is very likely, which means she is giving up 9 mos worth of that, too. What I mean is, let's say it was $3k at inception for a 30-mo lease, that means she pre-paid $100/mo. If she kills it now, then she paid $3k for only 21 mos, or $143/mo.

My older sister is the only person who listens to me when it comes to money and cars. haha.

You are correct. I thought more about it as I was typing it and putting it on screen. As far as I have been told, she only paid 1st month & DMV at signing on the current 2019 GLC. I told her to get buyout quotes from Carvana & AlGo. If you remember, her car was rear ended which caused an extensive amount of hidden and expensive damage to the air bag sensors. I'm not sure what the CraFax will say about that.

henryn

nyccarguy said:

@qbrozen

With $700 & change shipping, it is definitely a no brainer. You will definitely spend that in gas, tolls, food, & hotels driving back up. Not to mention your time & the fact that you'll most likely get a rock chip in your windshield on the way up.

When I was in school (69-72), there was a deal going around which some of my classmates took advantage of. If you were in school in Texas, and came from say Nebraska, this outfit would match you up with someone who wanted a car delivered from Texas to Nebraska. You got a trip home, and generally enough money to cover the gas and the plane ticket back.

The only downside I could see was who in their right mind would turn over their car keys to a college student?

au1994

henryn said:

nyccarguy said:

@qbrozen

With $700 & change shipping, it is definitely a no brainer. You will definitely spend that in gas, tolls, food, & hotels driving back up. Not to mention your time & the fact that you'll most likely get a rock chip in your windshield on the way up.

When I was in school (69-72), there was a deal going around which some of my classmates took advantage of. If you were in school in Texas, and came from say Nebraska, this outfit would match you up with someone who wanted a car delivered from Texas to Nebraska. You got a trip home, and generally enough money to cover the gas and the plane ticket back.

The only downside I could see was who in their right mind would turn over their car keys to a college student?

Wasn’t one of the contestants in Gumball Rally doing this?

stickguy

maybe the guy with a rolls royce?

stickguy

nyccarguy said:

qbrozen said:

nyccarguy said:

I'm just curious if the math makes sense. Yes, she's paying $50 per month for the newer car that is essentially the same as what she has. With MB taking back 9 months worth of $450 payments, that saves her $4,050. The new lease will cost her $15,000 over the next 30 months. If they are taking back $4,050 worth of payments, she'll effectively be paying $10,950 over the next 30 months which equals $365/month. Did I figure that out correctly.

No. That's kind of like saying "well, I'm spending $1k, but the regular price is $1200, so I'm saving $200." No, you are spending $1k. lol.
She isn't saving $4050 over the next 9 months because she is spending $4500 on the new one. As stickguy said, that's $450 more.
Also, you know the drill, she should check what her current car is worth vs the current buyout. They could very well be stealing equity from her in this "deal."
I'd also like to know if she paid anything at inception on the current vehicle. I would say it is very likely, which means she is giving up 9 mos worth of that, too. What I mean is, let's say it was $3k at inception for a 30-mo lease, that means she pre-paid $100/mo. If she kills it now, then she paid $3k for only 21 mos, or $143/mo.

My older sister is the only person who listens to me when it comes to money and cars. haha.

You are correct. I thought more about it as I was typing it and putting it on screen. As far as I have been told, she only paid 1st month & DMV at signing on the current 2019 GLC. I told her to get buyout quotes from Carvana & AlGo. If you remember, her car was rear ended which caused an extensive amount of hidden and expensive damage to the air bag sensors. I'm not sure what the CraFax will say about that.

that changes the dynamics. Assuming it is on Carfax (and you have to disclose if it was in an accident anyway) they are going to probably shave 1/3 off, or close to it. Carvana just hates dirty history!

I like the idea of countering with keeping the payment the same and just swap keys. Seems like a winner.

Sandman6472

A bit unhappy about the top two vehicles on my short list might just be too big for my garage space. Still going to wait until they both come out and test drive them and then bring them home to see how they fit. Just something we'll need to wait & see how things play out, luckily the Golf is behaving and I'm not driving that much.

stickguy

New civic hatch released. I like the new styling. Much nicer than the prior version. Even 5” shorter than the sedan. And of course, can get a manual on the hatch! I’d actually prefer the normal model over an Si in many ways with a stick.

Now just need prices and trim details.

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

stickguy

Size wise and design, looks like a nice recreation of my old Mazda 626 5 door. I loved the functionality of that car.

au1994

stickguy said:

New civic hatch released. I like the new styling. Much nicer than the prior version. Even 5” shorter than the sedan. And of course, can get a manual on the hatch! I’d actually prefer the normal model over an Si in many ways with a stick.

Now just need prices and trim details.

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

That’s a nice looking package. Kinda like that blue too.

stickguy

Looks very close to my sons S4.

sda

I like both the Civic sedan and hatch. Nice job. I get tickled that 'Lane Watch' is always mentioned with disdain. I thought the Lane Watch was very useful in my 13 Accord.

nyccarguy

Update. My sister told the dealer that current GLC is a stretch for her already. If they make the payment $450 (30/12K) including NY Tax, tire/wheel protection & scheduled maintenance with just 1st & DMV DAS then she'll take it. If not, she told the salesman that she'll just wait until her lease is up in April. The salesman called her back a few hours later and told her she has to take delivery this coming Saturday. She said "sure."