Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

Sandman6472

Wish us luck with Elsa as looking like we're in the cone of concern. Looks to be a Monday/Tuesday event and just wondering what my work places will do? Once a hurricane warning is in effect, or even a tropical storm for that matter, it becomes a safety event for ones employees. Especially with a hurricane warning, best to err on the side of safety than not. Do remember one storm, the post office came out & told us to cease operations and get back asap. Yet another time, the storm turned at the last moment we had a beautiful day off. But employee safety must come first as well as keeping the roads as clear as possible so an issue for sure.
I know I'll hear either way Monday about coming in that day or not and about Tuesday. She's a fast mover which is very unusual so am thinking that work will be canceled or closed early on Monday and Tuesday might be a later start time if we go in at all. Personally, wish Elsa turns more westerly into the gulf and peters out so no one is really effected by it. After Andrew, Wilma & Irma, I've had enough of hurricanes to be honest and I'd surely be gone from here long ago if my other half would go with me. I've just had enough storms over these past 52 years and am tired of it all!
Funny, we had to go pick up so vehicles by the beach yesterday so we drove over to Deerfield Beach and watched the ocean and the folks out & about. I love going on vacation o the beach, lying under a shade tree and listening to the waves is so calming for me. We are long overdue for going, last time was Marco Island in 2017, was so nice, we extended our trip for an extra couple of days!

tjc78

@Sandman6472 said:
Wish us luck with Elsa as looking like we're in the cone of concern. Looks to be a Monday/Tuesday event and just wondering what my work places will do? Once a hurricane warning is in effect, or even a tropical storm for that matter, it becomes a safety event for ones employees. Especially with a hurricane warning, best to err on the side of safety than not. Do remember one storm, the post office came out & told us to cease operations and get back asap. Yet another time, the storm turned at the last moment we had a beautiful day off. But employee safety must come first as well as keeping the roads as clear as possible so an issue for sure.
I know I'll hear either way Monday about coming in that day or not and about Tuesday. She's a fast mover which is very unusual so am thinking that work will be canceled or closed early on Monday and Tuesday might be a later start time if we go in at all. Personally, wish Elsa turns more westerly into the gulf and peters out so no one is really effected by it. After Andrew, Wilma & Irma, I've had enough of hurricanes to be honest and I'd surely be gone from here long ago if my other half would go with me. I've just had enough storms over these past 52 years and am tired of it all!
Funny, we had to go pick up so vehicles by the beach yesterday so we drove over to Deerfield Beach and watched the ocean and the folks out & about. I love going on vacation o the beach, lying under a shade tree and listening to the waves is so calming for me. We are long overdue for going, last time was Marco Island in 2017, was so nice, we extended our trip for an extra couple of days!

As I’m sure you’ve seen from my posts the beach is our favorite place! Unfortunately not a great weather day so won’t make it today (pool instead) but hoping for the next couple of days. Took T/W off to extend the weekend.

henryn

cdnpinhead said:

henryn said:

They apparently put good paint on those old Tacomas.

You bet. The VOC police weren't up to speed as much as they are today and it was still possible to use actual enamel. Remember Ditzler paint? Real colors that didn't chip and were much less likely to look like they'd been put on with a roller.

I was completely unfamiliar with "VOC" and had to do a google search, then search again for "VOC and car paint". Regardless of Volatile Organic Compounds in the paint, most 20 year old cars and trucks do not have the same ... what should I say, "paint retention", as those older Tacomas.

I do remember all of the hoorah about the frames rusting out.

breld

@mjfloyd1 - Love the Q7. Still a very classic design, but with nice updates on the 2020, particularly on the interior (though I was always a fan of the click wheel to control things).

And beautiful house too!

henryn

The car connection just posted a test drive on a 4XE.

https://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1132776_first-drive-2021-jeep-wrangler-4xe-hybrid-plugs-into-a-greener-cleaner-great-outdoors

tifighter

benjaminh said:

Brand-new $125k Tesla Model S Plaid explodes in flames. No accident. Just fire. Driver escapes, but was briefly trapped.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/07/01/tesla-plaid-fire/

“He’s in the car, he smells and sees the smoke, turns around and sees the smoke is filling up the cabin, then flames, and reacts almost immediately,” Geragos said in an interview. “The door malfunctions, he gets out and somehow the car is still running [down the road] according to witnesses as he’s trying to get away from the car. And within moments of him getting out of the car, the car is engulfed in flames.”

“Once he saw the fire shoot out of the back, that’s when he immediately pulled over to try to exit the vehicle,” Setchen said. “He tried to get out of the vehicle; he was pushing the door frantically and it would not engage.”

Finally, he said, the owner put the weight of his body against the door.

“He was able to push the button again and lean against the door very hard and that’s when it opened up,” he said.

I'll wait for the investigation before drawing any conclusions. Every few months there's some media story, usually at the end of a quarter, about some Tesla incident. That this guy had an attorney, who describes himself as a celebrity lawyer, talking to the media within hours of the incident, has to be a coincidence, I'm sure.

tifighter

Good turnout at the local cars and coffee this morning-

tifighter

tifighter said:

I actually liked this one-
BaT 650i.

I just thought this particular 650 was sorta cool, cabrio with the V8 manual, plus dark red interior. But I agree with @oldfarmer50 that the miles were more then I'd want. Still, it brought the money.

28firefighter

@tifighter said:
I just thought this particular 650 was sorta cool, cabrio with the V8 manual, plus dark red interior. But I agree with @oldfarmer50 that the miles were more then I'd want. Still, it brought the money.

Those 8 cylinders are heartbreakers though.

kyfdx

@tifighter Looks like a great spot for C&C

oldfarmer50

roadburner said:

Herewith the object of my affection:

Nice interior.

laurasdada

Good luck with Elsa, Sandy (and all in the path).
For those keeping score, I've had two incidents with the A7e MMI now. First was a false error message regarding the headlights. Now, the radio system was stuck "initializing, please wait..." Of course, the interim solution was to reboot, which worked. But, it's apparently a known issue, so off we go to my first visit to a dealer service department, a week from Monday.

fintail

Griots HQ?

tifighter said:

Good turnout at the local cars and coffee this morning-

oldfarmer50

Sandman6472 said:

Wish us luck with Elsa as looking like we're in the cone of concern. Looks to be a Monday/Tuesday event and just wondering what my work places will do? Once a hurricane warning is in effect, or even a tropical storm for that matter, it becomes a safety event for ones employees. Especially with a hurricane warning, best to err on the side of safety than not. Do remember one storm, the post office came out & told us to cease operations and get back asap. Yet another time, the storm turned at the last moment we had a beautiful day off. But employee safety must come first as well as keeping the roads as clear as possible so an issue for sure.
I know I'll hear either way Monday about coming in that day or not and about Tuesday. She's a fast mover which is very unusual so am thinking that work will be canceled or closed early on Monday and Tuesday might be a later start time if we go in at all. Personally, wish Elsa turns more westerly into the gulf and peters out so no one is really effected by it. After Andrew, Wilma & Irma, I've had enough of hurricanes to be honest and I'd surely be gone from here long ago if my other half would go with me. I've just had enough storms over these past 52 years and am tired of it all!
Funny, we had to go pick up so vehicles by the beach yesterday so we drove over to Deerfield Beach and watched the ocean and the folks out & about. I love going on vacation o the beach, lying under a shade tree and listening to the waves is so calming for me. We are long overdue for going, last time was Marco Island in 2017, was so nice, we extended our trip for an extra couple of days!

Up here the company shuts us down if they anticipate a real winter blizzard but we’ve had occasions where we’ve been sent off into the mountains on the cusp of a storm. I remember coming back from a late trip to Burlington VT in the dark with snow so heavy it caked up on the headlights making us blind.

28firefighter

Car and Driver just tanked the 4xE rubicon. I can only sum it up as: they tested a Wrangler and were surprised it drove like a wrangler.

qbrozen

@tifighter said:
Good turnout at the local cars and coffee this morning-

Wow. Some rare stuff there. Very cool.

I sometimes feel like I should take my Daytona to shows with the amount of attention it always gets. Not like everyone is turning their head, but I get at least one comment every time out.

Yesterday, I was heading to the pet store for supplies and stopped at a light behind a line of cars. Young guy in a newer Challenger pulled up next to me and stopped traffic so he could ask me what year. Apparently, a Daytona was unusual for him and he was quite excited to know more about it. Then, just a few mins ago, I’m sitting in a parking lot waiting for my son when another younger man came to my window and started talking about it. He had a 2011 on the other side of the lot but plain grey with 117k miles. He wanted to talk shop. Lol.

For non-Dodge people, it is most often young kids who gawk and pull mom or dad’s hand and point.

tifighter

fintail said:

Griots HQ?

tifighter said:

Good turnout at the local cars and coffee this morning-

Yes, first Saturday of every month. You are all invited

tifighter

kyfdx said:

@tifighter Looks like a great spot for C&C

Theme this month was American. Italian, then German are still coming.

qbrozen

I’m rather perplexed by that brown thing. Appears to have been a Ford. Maybe an extended cab pickup? But then the back is heavily modified and I think those might be Lincoln taillights?

ab348

Sandman6472 said:

Wish us luck with Elsa as looking like we're in the cone of concern. Looks to be a Monday/Tuesday event and just wondering what my work places will do?

Already downgraded to a tropical storm.

mjfloyd1

@28firefighter said:

@tifighter said:
I just thought this particular 650 was sorta cool, cabrio with the V8 manual, plus dark red interior. But I agree with @oldfarmer50 that the miles were more then I'd want. Still, it brought the money.

Those 8 cylinders are heartbreakers though.

Yep. At this point, I’d only want a ‘Merican V8

fintail

I think the Seattle MBCA is having their annual gathering there in August. Not going to drive the old dear on that kind of round trip to attend, though.

I like how it appears to be an all-is-welcome event, unlike the heavily micromanaged trust funder/techbro show off event in Redmond.

tifighter said:

fintail said:

Griots HQ?

tifighter said:

Good turnout at the local cars and coffee this morning-

Yes, first Saturday of every month. You are all invited

stickguy

I think the Brown Ford is a big Bronco with the removable roof off. and some mods of course!

henryn

I think stress think the brown thing started life as a Ford pickup. I dislike lowered trucks in general, and that thing is so low it would never make it over a speed bump. But then maybe it's a low rider, with hydraulic lift, and they don't actually drive it at that height, that is just when it's parked?

henryn

I was just checking the weather radar (rainy here today), and google adsense showed me an ad for the Alfa Romeo Stelvio. Normally I get ads for things I have searched for, or looked at on ebay, or something like that. The Alfa Romeo must be a by product of hanging out with all of the weirdo car nuts on here.

tifighter

qbrozen said:

I’m rather perplexed by that brown thing. Appears to have been a Ford. Maybe an extended cab pickup? But then the back is heavily modified and I think those might be Lincoln taillights?

It appeared to be a short box extended cab late 70's F series, dropped within a millimeter of its life, with Navigator taillights and Lincoln badges. Back cab was cut so it opens onto the bed. Definitely longer than a Bronco. It was so wacky I had to take a pic. I admire the creativity.

stickguy

big day today. had to run up to the pool store and since that is right around the corner from the Honda dealer, I stopped in (wife assumed something was up when I headed that way, but I stopped at Mission BBQ on the way for lunch so she would not be Hangry.)

they had cars inside again. Probably doing the floors the week before! Conveniently they had 2 Civics. A sport and a touring. Overall impressions (we just test sat, did not ask for a drive) were positive. Very roomy. Wife said it seemed big enough. Passed the "elbow test" (if we have to fight for elbow room on the center console it is too narrow!) And the back seat was limo like. Tons of legroom, and I did not hit my head. Trunk looked quite large too. So functionally, very useful. Outside looks good, and does not seem overly large. So I consider it to be just right!

Dash is nice in person. the interesting vents and crosshatch trim give it some style. Everything else seemed typical Honda. Clean, simple and logical. Looks easy to live with.

seats were good in the touring. Cushion was long enough and could tilt up enough that I was comfortable. Lumbar not adjustable for some reason, but felt good to me. Also sat in the sport (manual seat) and that is a non-starter. As always, to get the seat raised to where I want it, the cushion tilts down and I get no thigh support. So not a chance I buy any model that doesn't have the power.

anyway, assuming it drives as well as it presents, looks like a winner!

stickguy

they also had a Ridgeline parked out front (sold sign, so I think was there to be delivered so we did not sit in it). Unfortunately none inside to play with. Showed the wife. She thought it did not look too bad. Did not seem as big as it probably is, but it was sitting outside a big building. stick it in a garage and I bet it does! But compared to a Ram 4 door parked nearby, it looked small!

stickguy

so, this was at least a good 1st step at picking something out. Still not sure what would make the most sense. She agreed that some sort of PU could come in handy now since we are trying to move ahead with the get this place sold and move to a new one plan. That means getting rid of a ton of stuff here, and getting new (and more projects) at the next place. Having a truck available should make that a whole lot easier! Might be a good time to lease one. Unless can find something that makes sense to buy.

a small sedan, that sounds like something to just try and get as cheap as possible to have spare wheels. Otherwise might look at something nicer, even if CPO, for similar money.

I do want to see a Kona. Still like small hatches that are not super low (wife did comment that the Civic was low, but she is used to the RDX and hasn't ridden in a lower car in a year). A small CUV could take care of that problem.

I think the only likely way I get a Civic is a manual hatch. But that assumes they put the stick in a top trim model with power seats!

Maybe I should just reserve a hybrid Maverick with luxury package and see how I like it when it arrives, and if the lease deals make any sense!

kyfdx

stickguy said:

I think the Brown Ford is a big Bronco with the removable roof off. and some mods of course!

I think you are correct.

Michaell

@stickguy - I recommend you take a closer look at the Kona. I text drove an Ultimate trim a few weeks ago, and really liked it. The Ultimate trim has the 1.6T engine and the DSG transmission.

mjfloyd1

@kyfdx said:
I think you are correct.

I thought old Bronco with the removable top too

mjfloyd1

@roadburner

There are more expensive ones out there if that makes you feel any better about the price

I wish it was CPO, that would make it easier to swallow as well

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/9c045fa1-9452-4581-8b59-c925ab5272e4/?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=highintent_ret_bv1_yahtgn&aff=yahtgn&bac=yahtgn&fbclid=IwAR3MUs_pEAy13OotpMRro1vv89RZdi6_2ROqsZ8z9HvinLo92DDYLtDAbEY

benjaminh

stickguy said:

....I think the only likely way I get a Civic is a manual hatch. But that assumes they put the stick in a top trim model with power seats!

Maybe I should just reserve a hybrid Maverick with luxury package and see how I like it when it arrives, and if the lease deals make any sense!

According to Motor Trend, the new Civic Si, which is due in October, might be a hatchback....

https://www.motortrend.com/news/2022-honda-civic-si-timing-leaks/

"Why wait for the Civic Si? For starters, it'll offer a manual transmission. The new Civic sedan is automatic-only; Honda has said it'll continue to offer the three-pedal option for the Civic hatchback, Si, and Type R models. That makes it likely that the new Si will be available solely as a hatchback, a move that would more closely link it with the Type R above it in the lineup. Previously, the Si was offered as a sedan or coupe, but given the former's transmission limitation and the latter's death with the Civic's 11th-gen redesign, the hatchback bodystyle seems preordained."

Motor Trend likes the new Civic Touring.

https://www.motortrend.com/cars/honda/civic/2022/2022-honda-civic-touring-sedan-first-test-review/

Motor Trend got from 0-60 in 7.4 in the new Civic, which seems okay.

If my guess is right, and the base hybrid engine gets the Maverick to 60 in more like 9+ seconds, then 7.4 will seem pretty good.

But the last generation Civic Si was at about 6.8, and the new one should be similar.

tjc78

Every time I see a Kona I can’t help but think it’s just a nice looking little Ute.

tjc78

@stickguy said:
big day today. had to run up to the pool store and since that is right around the corner from the Honda dealer, I stopped in (wife assumed something was up when I headed that way, but I stopped at Mission BBQ on the way for lunch so she would not be Hangry.)

they had cars inside again. Probably doing the floors the week before! Conveniently they had 2 Civics. A sport and a touring. Overall impressions (we just test sat, did not ask for a drive) were positive. Very roomy. Wife said it seemed big enough. Passed the "elbow test" (if we have to fight for elbow room on the center console it is too narrow!) And the back seat was limo like. Tons of legroom, and I did not hit my head. Trunk looked quite large too. So functionally, very useful. Outside looks good, and does not seem overly large. So I consider it to be just right!

Dash is nice in person. the interesting vents and crosshatch trim give it some style. Everything else seemed typical Honda. Clean, simple and logical. Looks easy to live with.

seats were good in the touring. Cushion was long enough and could tilt up enough that I was comfortable. Lumbar not adjustable for some reason, but felt good to me. Also sat in the sport (manual seat) and that is a non-starter. As always, to get the seat raised to where I want it, the cushion tilts down and I get no thigh support. So not a chance I buy any model that doesn't have the power.

anyway, assuming it drives as well as it presents, looks like a winner!

I passed Avalon Honda the other day and was absolutely stunned how few cars they have. Must be scary for them.

tifighter

mjfloyd1 said:

@kyfdx said:

I think you are correct.

It must be a love child-

laurasdada

Pouring rain today, but did the usual suspects. LF has decided she wants a German SUV, sigh... We glanced at the RDX, cruised the Jag lot and F and E Pace. None of those stirred her soul.

Just did the sit in, smell and taste test. Have setup test drives for Monday morning and afternoon, with lunch in between.

Currently, based upon her seat test, her order is:

Audi Q5
BMW X3
MB GLC

I have a feeling, no matter the drive, it will be the Q5 with the X3 a dark horse (as she had an '18 330xi). Likely, the Benz will be a one and done drive.

She would like a PHEV, is willing to give up the hatch space and any hopes of a real spare tire. Me, I was partial to the X3; I think it was the sport seats. Or, more likely, the BMW dealer gave me chocolate chip cookies... But, my desire is moot. It is what she wants and deserves.

So, we'd likely sell/trade the CX-5, giving us two sensible pairs of shoes to drive. Which, and I'm drawing up the legal papers for her to sign, leaves the door open for me to go all mid-life crisis (again) shopping...

Jag dealer just dropped the price $5k on a '17 White/black/black BMW 640xi vert, the MB 450SL remains available, at a reasonable asking price (for this market), no reduction since the not feminine enough test drive a couple of weeks ago.

Of course, buying our new home in early '22, perhaps not the time for more loans and cash depletion. Darn sensibility.

henryn

tifighter said:

mjfloyd1 said:

@kyfdx said:

I think you are correct.

It must be a love child-

I said "started life as a Ford pickup", well up above. I am fairly familiar with the old Ford pickups, and the old style Bronco. Some of the cars that are discussed in here, I know absolutely nothing about. But old Ford pickups, and old style Broncos, I know those.

tifighter

Agreed @henryn

And speaking of modded 70's Fords-
1978 Ford Bronco, you won't believe this one.

mjfloyd1

@henryn said:

It’s ‘Merican Fusion

stickguy

Kona seems to have a lot of fans. Might swing by on Monday for a look Assuming the dealer has any left! I think I sat in one at the dealer when they first came out and liked it.

before I got the Elantra, I actually was looking at the hatch GT version. But got the sport because it was a lot cheaper. The Kona replaces the hatch pretty much, but just rides a little higher. Same drivetrain (the slightly detuned 1.6t, same DSG) so I know it will be quick and get good MPG. And has the power seats (biggest negative to the Sport was the manual seat). Oh, and better stereo (base elantra radio stunk).

so could end up getting me back to what I was looking at 4 years ago!

stickguy

cool Bronco. But $213,000? yowzers! I kinda liked it better before the mods when it was a 351, 4 speed.

au1994

28firefighter said:

Car and Driver just tanked the 4xE rubicon. I can only sum it up as: they tested a Wrangler and were surprised it drove like a wrangler.

Read it and agree. Its still a brick. But lots of people love the brick.

mjfloyd1

I saw a white 4xe with the dreaded black interior today. I’m glad that we ordered saddle @28firefighter

xwesx

tifighter said:

Good turnout at the local cars and coffee this morning-

That little Hack-a-Bus looks hilarious. Well done.

28firefighter

Drove with the freedom top off today and ran errands with my little one. It was wonderful out and he loved it. This is one fun brick.

Also yes, the saddle interior is so nice on these.

henryn

tifighter said:

Agreed @henryn

And speaking of modded 70's Fords-
1978 Ford Bronco, you won't believe this one.

I was reading the description, the Coyote V8, etc, etc, and said to myself, "Some fool sank way over $100k into this." Then I reach the part where it states "$260k in invoices", and I'm thinking he's never going to get his money back out of this. And then I see where it brought $213k at auction. Which is crazy in and of itself, but it still left the guy who "refurbished" it $47k in the hole.

There are some crazy people out there. This is almost as bad as that $20k Bugatti oil change.

I don't think we're in Kansas anymore.

henryn

@28firefighter, I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying your 4XE. I did read the Car and Driver article, sounds like they really really didn’t like the powertrain. And I will admit it sounds very d___ strange. One of those things you would never, but never, want to own once it’s out of warranty.

I will repeat my earlier pronouncement – the only Jeep I would ever own would be the 2 door, strictly for fun with the top and doors off. But more power to you if you’re enjoying the “brick”. It would be a very boring world if we were all driving around in Hondas or Toyotas.

28firefighter

To me, the strangest thing is that most PHEVs have CVTs (I think). The 4xE is mated to an 8 speed auto both in EV mode and gas mode. I can see where if you entered the water expecting the simplicity and “smoothness” of a CVT operation, this powertrain might disappoint.