Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

explorerx4

I found Lane Watch to be counterintuitive when when wanting to move to the left.

qbrozen

Civic is definitely lightyears better looking than the current one. Pretty nice overall. Hate the screen sticking way out of the dash, though. The blue looks like my former Grabber Blue mustang, which of course was a throwback to the grabber blue that started in 1969.

mjfloyd1

@Sandman6472 said:
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.

Hopefully they will fit. If not, that stinks to be honest

breld

@nyccarguy - congrats to your sister. We all can get into the details and pick apart the deal, but at the end of the day, she’s getting into a new model for the same money in this crazy market.

oldfarmer50

nyccarguy said:

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."

Somebody needed one more unit to make his bonus. Sometimes the stars align.

breld

Shopping at a local MB dealer last weekend, all their GLEs were marked up between $1,500 and $5,000.

I learned from the salesperson that the chip problem will cause these markups for another 4 years.

breld

We went to another MB dealer yesterday and they immediately offered 2% off sticker. Not saying it’s a great deal, but given the conditions I’d say it’s at least fair.

qbrozen

breld said:

Shopping at a local MB dealer last weekend, all their GLEs were marked up between $1,500 and $5,000.

I learned from the salesperson that the chip problem will cause these markups for another 4 years.

Please ask him next week's powerball numbers and TSLA value.

henryn

qbrozen said:

breld said:

Shopping at a local MB dealer last weekend, all their GLEs were marked up between $1,500 and $5,000.

I learned from the salesperson that the chip problem will cause these markups for another 4 years.

Please ask him next week's powerball numbers and TSLA value.

Yeah, and once you have those winning powerball numbers, be sure and share with all of your friends here.

au1994

I don’t think I’ve experienced a mark up on something I tried to buy since I got a PT Cruiser for the ex wife when those came out and they were only trying to get 1500.

I’m going to try the order route on the 4xe from Mall of Georgia. If that still doesn’t come back as a good deal, I guess I’m just out at this point. I hope this chip shortage doesn’t last 4 years. I may go into withdrawals if thats the case.

One oddity in all of this…after the ridiculous number on the Land Cruiser, I put the X1 into KBB for the cash offer option. Came back just under 21k which I found shockingly low for this market. 44k miles and typically equipped for a BMW…premium plus pkg, pano roof but no sport seats. I thought it would at least hit 25k in this madness.

stickguy

the salesman just pulled 4 years out of his hat to get a sale now.

explorerx4

@au1994,
You need to try multiple sources for buy quotes. They can vary quite a bit.
When I sold my truck last August, I got 2 quotes. They were 5k apart.

stickguy

that Civic hatch is really tickling my fancy right now (but as we all know, my fancy is very, very fickle). Really just what I need. Perfect size, I love a liftback hatch, quick enough to be entertaining, good handling and with new tires can really be upgraded, all the features I need, great MPG, stick available. All for a pretty reasonable price brand new (and given a choice, I prefer new).

Just need to get into one to test sit (if the seats aren't great, I ain't buying) and see how it drives (that I am not expecting any issues with). Will look at a sedan if the hatches are going to be later intro. Maybe this weekend if they are out!

I have a typical routine to keep the wife happy when I am looking. Stop at a dealer, look/drive, then go to the nearest brewery for a cold one to discuss! And there are a couple of good ones real close to the Honda dealer.

explorerx4

The civic copied Cadillac with the rear side window trim.

au1994

explorerx4 said:

@au1994,
You need to try multiple sources for buy quotes. They can vary quite a bit.
When I sold my truck last August, I got 2 quotes. They were 5k apart.

And I’ll do that when we can find something she likes. Believe it or not, she likes the new grill on the 4 series. Caveat is she has some very specific color combo’s one being a light interior. The dealers here love to keep black interiors on the lot.

cdnpinhead

Well, a Honda Civic with a real transmission -- excellent. Exterior colors, none. You can choose black or white -- oh boy. Maybe it'll improve in time.

stickguy

I have not checked to see if they have the build page up on the hatch. But yeah, that was a bummer on the last model. why not a few more colors, no clue to me.

henryn

explorerx4 said:

@au1994,
You need to try multiple sources for buy quotes. They can vary quite a bit.
When I sold my truck last August, I got 2 quotes. They were 5k apart.

+1

On the 2016 T&C, Carvana was nearly $1,100 more than Carmax or Vroom. Not $5k, but not exactly peanuts either.

And on the 2018 F150, Carmax offered $32.5 and the small dealer who bought it wrote me a check on the spot for $37.5. Which is $5k, so there you go.

tjc78

@breld said:
@nyccarguy - congrats to your sister. We all can get into the details and pick apart the deal, but at the end of the day, she’s getting into a new model for the same money in this crazy market.

That’s why I suggested it. Crazy market right now and taking advantage of the high trade in value. I’m not well versed in how that model leases but $450 all in for that vehicle doesn’t seem like a terrible deal. I’ve seen $400+ Camry leases ….

henryn

au1994 said:

explorerx4 said:

@au1994,
You need to try multiple sources for buy quotes. They can vary quite a bit.
When I sold my truck last August, I got 2 quotes. They were 5k apart.

And I’ll do that when we can find something she likes. Believe it or not, she likes the new grill on the 4 series. Caveat is she has some very specific color combo’s one being a light interior. The dealers here love to keep black interiors on the lot.

I do not like and do not want a black interior. It isn't a total deal breaker, but a very strong negative at least.

Kinda like the whole black wheels thing. Not my cup of tea, thank you.

tjc78

@henryn said:
I do not like and do not want a black interior. It isn't a total deal breaker, but a very strong negative at least.

Kinda like the whole black wheels thing. Not my cup of tea, thank you.

+1 on both counts. I will not own a car with black wheels.

ronsteve

@henryn said:
I do not like and do not want a black interior. It isn't a total deal breaker, but a very strong negative at least.

Kinda like the whole black wheels thing. Not my cup of tea, thank you.

Too many black interiors in general these days. The wife’s Jetta is a black interior but I have managed 5 straight cars with tan interiors.

sda

I’m not keen on a black interior either, yet that’s what I have with the Passat. I haven’t found it as objectionable as I thought it might be. With wood grain, textured aluminum accents, a light off white headliner and sunroof help brighten up the interior.

qbrozen

just for fun, I submitted my yet-to-arrive Jeep to Vroom. They came back with $49k. A little low. Carvana doesn't recognize the vin. I won't try autonation until I have the vehicle.

qbrozen

ronsteve said:

Too many black interiors in general these days. The wife’s Jetta is a black interior but I have managed 5 straight cars with tan interiors.

If I search on one of the websites, I pick everything except black interior. Usually narrows the field by about 80-90%.

sda

@qbrozen Now that you have the ML drivable, work on the Coronet next?

andres3

Feeding my chronic tire buyers itch, I scored 4 OEM (triple 5-spoke B8.5 S4 wheels clad with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S's with only 1,000 or so miles of wear and a year's age in a garage for $750. Already mounted.

Only catch, one of the wheels was bashed into by a CA driver that can't drive worth a lick, with enough force to cause a heavy S4 two complete 360's, which you can see on the 4s's rubber that something happened! LOL.

The bright side is that it looks like only surface damage to the wheel, though over something like 75% of the wheels' surface! Needs a good sandblast and refinish I think.

stickguy

Given a choice I would get something other than black interior. Though my last Honda (2005 Accord) had black leather, and it was not that bad. At least my car lives in a garage! Depends on the other parts (dash, carpet, headliner) as to how it comes together. Actually, my TLX was black, but seat surfaces were cloth. That, the red trim, and lighter dash parts brightened it up enough.

so, if the car is otherwise something I really want, I will compromise on the interior.

qbrozen

sda said:

@qbrozen Now that you have the ML drivable, work on the Coronet next?

eventually. gotta fit it in with all the socializing my wife is thrusting upon us.

xwesx

andres3 said:

Only catch, one of the wheels was bashed into by a CA driver that can't drive worth a lick, with enough force to cause a heavy S4 two complete 360's, which you can see on the 4s's rubber that something happened! LOL.

The bright side is that it looks like only surface damage to the wheel, though over something like 75% of the wheels' surface! Needs a good sandblast and refinish I think.

Better tread with caution on that one. It would really surprise me if the wheel took a hit like that and it didn't at least fatigue the aluminum at/near the mounting points. It would be a really bad deal to have a wheel failure with your driving style... and your driving style puts a lot of stress on a wheel!

xwesx

qbrozen said:

sda said:

@qbrozen Now that you have the ML drivable, work on the Coronet next?

eventually. gotta fit it in with all the socializing my wife is thrusting upon us.

Ugh. How annoying. You should talk to her about that.

xwesx

stickguy said:

Given a choice I would get something other than black interior. Though my last Honda (2005 Accord) had black leather, and it was not that bad. At least my car lives in a garage! Depends on the other parts (dash, carpet, headliner) as to how it comes together. Actually, my TLX was black, but seat surfaces were cloth. That, the red trim, and lighter dash parts brightened it up enough.

so, if the car is otherwise something I really want, I will compromise on the interior.

Same here. As much as I generally like light interiors, it doesn't take me long to adapt to whatever color it ends up being.

xwesx

qbrozen said:

sda said:

@qbrozen Now that you have the ML drivable, work on the Coronet next?

eventually. gotta fit it in with all the socializing my wife is thrusting upon us.

Also, funny you should mention that. Last night, as I was in my driveway finishing a woodworking project, I was listening to the lively banter of my neighbors down the hill. I got to thinking about how often they seem to have a big crew of folks over there and when it was that I last had folks over to our place just to visit. Honestly.... I don't remember! Years, at least. Other than working at the office, I don't socialize at all (outside of this forum!).

stickguy

one thing I never have to worry about is my wife organizing any kind of socializing (that does not involve going to visit family).

qbrozen

xwesx said:

Also, funny you should mention that. Last night, as I was in my driveway finishing a woodworking project, I was listening to the lively banter of my neighbors down the hill. I got to thinking about how often they seem to have a big crew of folks over there and when it was that I last had folks over to our place just to visit. Honestly.... I don't remember! Years, at least. Other than working at the office, I don't socialize at all (outside of this forum!).

I should move to Alaska! Oh wait, I hate dealing with snow.

Her folks were here Friday night. Saturday morn I had to mess with the pool salt system a bit, then I got some time in the afternoon to finish up the Benz. Then Sunday (father's day of all things), I had to go spend it at her sister's house. This Sat, she has us totally booked with folks from our martial arts school coming here for training and a BBQ. And she keeps bugging me to arrange a trip with the kids. Not her, mind you, just me and the kids.

henryn

Socializing is good for you. When you reach a certain age, you will never regret the time you spent with friends and family. At least the parts of your family that you get along with!

roadburner

au1994 said:

I don’t think I’ve experienced a mark up on something I tried to buy since I got a PT Cruiser for the ex wife when those came out and they were only trying to get 1500.

I’m going to try the order route on the 4xe from Mall of Georgia. If that still doesn’t come back as a good deal, I guess I’m just out at this point. I hope this chip shortage doesn’t last 4 years. I may go into withdrawals if thats the case.

One oddity in all of this…after the ridiculous number on the Land Cruiser, I put the X1 into KBB for the cash offer option. Came back just under 21k which I found shockingly low for this market. 44k miles and typically equipped for a BMW…premium plus pkg, pano roof but no sport seats. I thought it would at least hit 25k in this madness.

Three years ago we paid around $21k for my wife E84 X1.

roadburner

qbrozen said:

sda said:

@qbrozen Now that you have the ML drivable, work on the Coronet next?

eventually. gotta fit it in with all the socializing my wife is thrusting upon us.

My wife and I belong to an informal supper club. Each couple hosts a dinner once a year, so there's a dinner every quarter. Aside from that we go out to dinner with my uncle or a few other couples every few months. Aside from my son, I'm more than happy with meeting the rest of the relatives only on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

mjfloyd1

andres3 said:

Feeding my chronic tire buyers itch, I scored 4 OEM (triple 5-spoke B8.5 S4 wheels clad with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S's with only 1,000 or so miles of wear and a year's age in a garage for $750. Already mounted.

Only catch, one of the wheels was bashed into by a CA driver that can't drive worth a lick, with enough force to cause a heavy S4 two complete 360's, which you can see on the 4s's rubber that something happened! LOL.

The bright side is that it looks like only surface damage to the wheel, though over something like 75% of the wheels' surface! Needs a good sandblast and refinish I think.

We need a chronic car parts buyers anonymous

mjfloyd1

xwesx said:

andres3 said:

Only catch, one of the wheels was bashed into by a CA driver that can't drive worth a lick, with enough force to cause a heavy S4 two complete 360's, which you can see on the 4s's rubber that something happened! LOL.

The bright side is that it looks like only surface damage to the wheel, though over something like 75% of the wheels' surface! Needs a good sandblast and refinish I think.

Better tread with caution on that one. It would really surprise me if the wheel took a hit like that and it didn't at least fatigue the aluminum at/near the mounting points. It would be a really bad deal to have a wheel failure with your driving style... and your driving style puts a lot of stress on a wheel!

Just slow it down and you'll be fine

oldfarmer50

Saw our first EV at an office yesterday. It’s going to be interesting renting that car out since the office doesn’t have anything special to charge it with. Supposedly it takes 60 hours with a regular 110 outlet.

tifighter

Not much to argue with on this one-
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2012-bmw-328i-6/

stickguy

I love everything about it (other than needing to remove window tint). Except, of course, the price it likely goes for.

kyfdx

oldfarmer50 said:

Saw our first EV at an office yesterday. It’s going to be interesting renting that car out since the office doesn’t have anything special to charge it with. Supposedly it takes 60 hours with a regular 110 outlet.

60 hours? That can't be right.

henryn

A (very) quick google search gave these numbers:

2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV
55 hours at 110v
7.5 hours at 220v

Newegg, which mostly sells computers and computer parts, had in their daily specials for today a charging station for electric cars. Seems they are becoming more mainstream.

EV Charging Station Level 2 Professional Mode 3 Wall Box

kyfdx said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Saw our first EV at an office yesterday. It’s going to be interesting renting that car out since the office doesn’t have anything special to charge it with. Supposedly it takes 60 hours with a regular 110 outlet.

60 hours? That can't be right.

kyfdx

henryn said:

A (very) quick google search gave these numbers:

2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV
55 hours at 110v
7.5 hours at 220v

kyfdx said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Saw our first EV at an office yesterday. It’s going to be interesting renting that car out since the office doesn’t have anything special to charge it with. Supposedly it takes 60 hours with a regular 110 outlet.

60 hours? That can't be right.

shewwww

au1994

tifighter said:

Not much to argue with on this one-
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2012-bmw-328i-6/

That’s really nice. I had an 2011 in black but no M Sport. That engine is butter.

stickguy

Saw this. I do like it and want to see one in person. Mostly posting because I found the process really interesting. Especially the painting

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJfA3nrf0mI

henryn

Robotics like that always amaze me. It looks like the Santa Cruz is in full scale production, I wonder when we'll be able to drive one at the dealer? That and the Maverick have caught my interest.

corvette

oldfarmer50 said:

nyccarguy said:

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."

Somebody needed one more unit to make his bonus. Sometimes the stars align.

That happened with the 2002 Volvo S80 my parents bought. End of the month, and I think they had some sort of discretionary loyalty money, and used the rest of their allocation to make the deal happen.