Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

kyfdx

Pretty good experience with Discount Tire, today.

I've had a very slow leak in one of the Michelins that I put on, last October (at Costco). Over 5-6 weeks, it will give me the low indicator light, and it will be down from 38 to 30 psi. Recently, that accelerated to every two weeks.

Made an on-line appointment, yesterday, for 10:15 am today.
Arrived at 0958, and they took the keys immediately.
At 1035 tech walks in, and says there was a nail in the tire, which they were able to plug, with no issues. No charge.
Me: You should charge me, I didn't buy these tires, here. I did buy a set last year, but not these.
Tech: No, that's okay. See ya next time.
10:38 I'm in my car and driving away.

au1994

kyfdx said:

Pretty good experience with Discount Tire, today.

I've had a very slow leak in one of the Michelins that I put on, last October (at Costco). Over 5-6 weeks, it will give me the low indicator light, and it will be down from 38 to 30 psi. Recently, that accelerated to every two weeks.

Made an on-line appointment, yesterday, for 10:15 am today.
Arrived at 0958, and they took the keys immediately.
At 1035 tech walks in, and says there was a nail in the tire, which they were able to plug, with no issues. No charge.
Me: You should charge me, I didn't buy these tires, here. I did buy a set last year, but not these.
Tech: No, that's okay. See ya next time.
10:38 I'm in my car and driving away.

Customer Service 101 right there…

28firefighter

This is basically why I give discount tire the opportunity to price match costco (or anywhere else) - their service is wonderful. They special ordered my Indy 500s for the ZHP AND price matched Firestone, no questions asked.

stickguy

Man there is a pitiful selection of cars these days.

Somebody needs to find the next hack that isn’t something my wife hates!

qbrozen

stickguy said:

Man there is a pitiful selection of cars these days.

Somebody needs to find the next hack that isn’t something my wife hates!

ummmm... help a guy out and maybe be more specific?

henryn

stickguy said:

Man there is a pitiful selection of cars these days.

Somebody needs to find the next hack that isn’t something my wife hates!

I doubt there will be another "hack", it's rather surprising that even one showed up in the midst of this madness. The only thing that looks even remotely interesting at the moment is ordering a Maverick and hoping that you like it when it eventually shows up. And god only knows when it will show up.

Anyone who really needs to find transportation right now, your only 2 sane choices appear to be trying to get a deal at MSRP on an unpopular new model, or a much older (10 or more years) used car. Commonly known as a "beater" or "hooptie".

laurasdada

Congrats on the Defender, JPP! So glad to see a British punch, hopefully there will always be an England.

Went to British Cars day at Larz Anderson Park yesterday. Surprisingly large turnout! Not a LR in sight, but a great collection of the British roadsters of my youth; Spitfire, TR6, Midget, MGB, Stag (i babysat for a family that owned a Stag; it ran!), Sunbeam Tiger, Lotus Europa and Esprit, Morgan and more... And, of course, a selection of E-Types, as well as XJ-S, XK8 and XK. Even a '15 XF, just to remind me of the ghosts of girlfriends past.

The LF decided she doesn't want a blue car. Or a light interior. Or a convertible. Until she saw the '20 Bentley Continental GT in that combination yesterday. THAT, she wants. The gentleman owner had bought it for his wife for her 60th birthday, coincidental to my offer to buy the LF a car for the same occasion. She was also quite taken by the Lotus Evora GT.

A lot of current Brit models, too. Notably many Aston Martins. The desire for a British ride is still strong in this one. As well as the MB SL we test drove; I just dig the Rube Goldberg top!

henryn

I've owned two black trucks, never a black car. That would be my least favorite color choice, partly for how hard it is to keep clean, but mostly because of the heat in this part of the country. I've always been prejudiced against white trucks because they look like a "fleet truck". That prejudice does not apply to white cars, and white is a very good color to own in places like Texas or Florida or Arizona. Right now, both my minivan and my truck are white. I didn't choose the color, just the vehicle, and from among very limited choices. But both look pretty good, and I am not unhappy at all.

There for a while, silver was so common that I got tired of seeing it, on both cars and trucks. And yes, I owned several cars and trucks in silver. I am trying to decide on a color before I finalize the order for a new Maverick, but there are very limited color choices in the XL trim level. I may just go with the Oxford White, I haven't decided yet. One of the things holding up my visit to the dealership to actually place the order.

Any recommendations from the crowd here? The Velocity Blue is the most colorful, the Area 51 is kind of weird looking to me. Perhaps Carbonized Grey?

Sandman6472

We have a load of new Maxima's at Enterprise right now and folks do love 'em it seems. Not something I'd ever want but hey, many folks seem to want them.
No oil leak as of this morning so canceled the appointment. Figure if it's a true leak, it'll come back in due time and then, we'll address it. Didn't want to waste his time and was very upfront about that. He really is a great mechanic and glad my co-worker gave me his name. We've already used him on both vehicles and know we'll be back...in time.

28firefighter

Sandman6472 said:

We have a load of new Maxima's at Enterprise right now and folks do love 'em it seems. Not something I'd ever want but hey, many folks seem to want them.
No oil leak as of this morning so canceled the appointment. Figure if it's a true leak, it'll come back in due time and then, we'll address it. Didn't want to waste his time and was very upfront about that. He really is a great mechanic and glad my co-worker gave me his name. We've already used him on both vehicles and know we'll be back...in time.

How are you evaluating that there is no leak happening anymore? By the fact there is nothing on the floor of the garage or by actually getting underneath/on top and taking a look? Many cars have skid covers underneath that will capture leaking oil until it reaches a point of overflowing onto the floor. Just because there is nothing on the floor does not mean the leak has stopped...

All this to say, if you're seeing oil on your floor at all, you should probably get it checked...

stickguy

qbrozen said:

stickguy said:

Man there is a pitiful selection of cars these days.

Somebody needs to find the next hack that isn’t something my wife hates!

ummmm... help a guy out and maybe be more specific?

I mostly meant not a 4xe. Though she did say get anything I want, she doesn’t care. If it’s bad she just won’t ride in it.

I’m looking at right now as either buy at MSRP on something that usually doesn’t discount much, and is pretty well priced to start (new Civic?) or just lease something that hasn’t gotten absurd, but increase the monthly budget ~$50. Saw a Rodo on another Elantra N line but the DSG. 1st payment only DAS and about $350/month. Something that normally right now I would look at (it’s a 2021 still) at maybe $300 tops, nobody gets hurt, but try for $275 for a steal.

So if I really needed wheels, the extra $50 isn’t going to break me.

stickguy

28firefighter said:

Sandman6472 said:

We have a load of new Maxima's at Enterprise right now and folks do love 'em it seems. Not something I'd ever want but hey, many folks seem to want them.
No oil leak as of this morning so canceled the appointment. Figure if it's a true leak, it'll come back in due time and then, we'll address it. Didn't want to waste his time and was very upfront about that. He really is a great mechanic and glad my co-worker gave me his name. We've already used him on both vehicles and know we'll be back...in time.

How are you evaluating that there is no leak happening anymore? By the fact there is nothing on the floor of the garage or by actually getting underneath/on top and taking a look? Many cars have skid covers underneath that will capture leaking oil until it reaches a point of overflowing onto the floor. Just because there is nothing on the floor does not mean the leak has stopped...

All this to say, if you're seeing oil on your floor at all, you should probably get it checked...

That’s why everybody should have a 2 post lift in the garage!

Good point about all the covers and pans. Can’t see the top, and the underneath pans can collect the drips. So you tend to find problems much later.

corvette

If I ordered a Maverick, it would be Cactus Grey.

explorerx4

Sometimes things stop leaking when there is nothing left to leak out.

stickguy

Then you usually hear bad noises shortly after.

nyccarguy

stickguy said:

Then you usually hear bad noises shortly after.

Noises are bad, but silence is the killer.

sda

nyccarguy said:

stickguy said:

Then you usually hear bad noises shortly after.

Noises are bad, but silence is the killer.

Have pen and checkbook ready!

henryn

sda said:

nyccarguy said:

stickguy said:

Then you usually hear bad noises shortly after.

Noises are bad, but silence is the killer.

Have pen and checkbook ready!

No one writes checks anymore. A platinum credit card is good.

28firefighter

henryn said:

sda said:

nyccarguy said:

stickguy said:

Then you usually hear bad noises shortly after.

Noises are bad, but silence is the killer.

Have pen and checkbook ready!

No one writes checks anymore. A platinum credit card is good.

Except when they don't take AMEX.

xwesx

nyccarguy said:

stickguy said:

Then you usually hear bad noises shortly after.

Noises are bad, but silence is the killer.

The most poignant advice every man needs to hear at his wedding!

qbrozen

grrrr...
Acq fee has been added for NJ.

Deal is going to be roughly $405/$405 now.

OH, and there is an extra fee for state-to-state DMV charges?? I dunno. Crazy. That's another $300 or so.

stickguy

Maybe this will make you feel better paying an extra $10.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Reo57YMcH_0

xwesx

qbrozen said:

grrrr...
Acq fee has been added for NJ.

Deal is going to be roughly $405/$405 now.

OH, and there is an extra fee for state-to-state DMV charges?? I dunno. Crazy. That's another $300 or so.

Well, they're gonna get you any which way they can. Although, the extra fee for DMV sounds like a load of brown stuff, to me.

xwesx

stickguy said:

Maybe this will make you feel better paying an extra $10.

Forksy!!!!!

Didn't someone already post that video?

ronsteve

@qbrozen said:
Sounds about right. They developed the '04 (start of 6th gen) with performance in mind, then that was it. They dropped the manual mid-cycle.

When did the dreaded CVT come around?

andres3

henryn said:

oldfarmer50 said:

“She said a lot of people are going to wind up upside down on their car loans, and I can readily believe that.”

So how is that any different than before?

I think that most who are upside down on a car loan got that way by financing at the dealership, not at their bank or credit union. A good loan officer at a bank or credit union will try to discourage you from getting into such a deal in the first place, whereas the finance person at the car dealership is going to encourage irresponsible borrowing.

Where were you in 2004-2008 when the banks encouraged irresponsible borrowing? OK, on homes rather than cars.

qbrozen

xwesx said:

stickguy said:

Maybe this will make you feel better paying an extra $10.

Forksy!!!!!

Didn't someone already post that video?

I believe that's the 3rd time. lol.

corvette

@ronsteve said:
When did the dreaded CVT come around?

2007-ish, I think. IIRC, the sixth gen started out life with a choice of either four or five speed auto depending on trim level, but I think they switched to CVT in the middle of that model’s cycle.

qbrozen

I just went through the paperwork. Man, they made a mess of it. The documents all have varying numbers. I decided to just focus on the actual contract because I (nor the broker) could make heads nor tails out of all the other paperwork where the taxes and fees were different on every page. All I know is that the final contract works out correctly. Rather than confuse the finance person even more, I let them keep my $1k deposit. So final final numbers are $1k DAS and $396/mo.

stickguy

still a good deal. Does that include shipping, or do you have to pay that out of pocket too?

qbrozen

shipping is OOP. $750.
And let's not forget the $500 broker fee.

Honestly, whether or not I could have done better had the broker in DC spoke up sooner, I'm not sure. To the best of my knowledge, they don't lock the RV. So, I would have suffered a 2 point drop in residual in addition to the new fee. So $1180 lower residual, plus tax and finance. Still a broker fee there. So I'm paying $750 shipping but saving ~$1350 with the RV lock.

Had I found someone to do the deal ... let's say I did it myself through Gupton or Mall of GA ... again, no RV lock, but no broker fee, and maybe a couple hundred bucks lower shipping ... I'd have maybe saved $650 but had that $1350 overall bump. So I guess I did OK in the end.

kyfdx

qbrozen said:

grrrr...
Acq fee has been added for NJ.

Deal is going to be roughly $405/$405 now.

OH, and there is an extra fee for state-to-state DMV charges?? I dunno. Crazy. That's another $300 or so.

No acquisition fee for the 48 month term, this month

explorerx4

I posted the 4xe drag race video a few days ago, but hey it happens.

qbrozen

kyfdx said:

qbrozen said:

grrrr...
Acq fee has been added for NJ.

Deal is going to be roughly $405/$405 now.

OH, and there is an extra fee for state-to-state DMV charges?? I dunno. Crazy. That's another $300 or so.

No acquisition fee for the 48 month term, this month

yeah, but what's the MF on that?

kyfdx

qbrozen said:

kyfdx said:

qbrozen said:

grrrr...
Acq fee has been added for NJ.

Deal is going to be roughly $405/$405 now.

OH, and there is an extra fee for state-to-state DMV charges?? I dunno. Crazy. That's another $300 or so.

No acquisition fee for the 48 month term, this month

yeah, but what's the MF on that?

.00196 MF

Residual only drops 4% to go from 36 to 48 months

qbrozen

actually, would need to know last month's RV on that, too

kyfdx

qbrozen said:

actually, would need to know last month's RV on that, too

Annual mileage allowance?

qbrozen

48/10.
Looks like MF is .00196.
RV would need to be 60% or better to make sense.
Sahara trim.
08510 zip.


ahhhh... i see you edited. 4% RV drop.

kyfdx

qbrozen said:

48/10.
Looks like MF is .00196.
RV would need to be 60% or better to make sense.
Sahara trim.
08510 zip.


ahhhh... i see you edited. 4% RV drop.

It's either 60% or 61% residual.

I think the adjustor for 48 months is 4% above 15K/yr, rather than the 3% for 36 months.
If so, then 61%

kyfdx

I just checked again.

.00196 MF and 61% residual

kyfdx

Only a 4% drop in residual from 36 to 48 months... plus, save $595 acquisition fee, with a small increase in MF. Seems like it would be better.

qbrozen

$1195 acquisition fee! It is a killer!
So, yes, would be far better. I texted and emailed the finance person.

kyfdx

qbrozen said:

$1195 acquisition fee! It is a killer!
So, yes, would be far better. I texted and emailed the finance person.

The Chrysler Capital lease acquisition fee for 36 months is $595, with a max $300 markup.

48 mo fee is $895, with a max $300 markup (but, of course it is waived)

I don't think they can charge $1195 on a 36 month lease. $895 should be the max (including markup)

qbrozen

kyfdx said:

qbrozen said:

$1195 acquisition fee! It is a killer!
So, yes, would be far better. I texted and emailed the finance person.

The Chrysler Capital lease acquisition fee for 36 months is $595, with a max $300 markup.

48 mo fee is $895, with a max $300 markup (but, of course it is waived)

I don't think they can charge $1195 on a 36 month lease. $895 should be the max (including markup)

It isn't a set fee right now. It varies by region. They seem to have no idea right now. The dealer inputs the VIN and zip and get the number back. Finance guy and broker even shared that someone was hit with an acquisition fee AND security deposit. No rhyme nor reason. Ohio seems to be the $1195 rule, but Michigan is $895. For example.

stickguy

man this is complicated. Much nicer just walking in local, offering a DAS/MP, and driving home with a car!

explorerx4

Drove by the Wrangler plant last week, but was disappointed to not see any.

mjfloyd1

Jeep Wrangler plant is closed for scheduled maintenance this week

au1994

mjfloyd1 said:

Jeep Wrangler plant is closed for scheduled maintenance this week

You’re killin’ me Smalls…

mjfloyd1

Second Sahara 4xe ordered today.

Sting grey
Saddle interior
Proximity key
Cold weather
Safety
Advanced safety
Black hard top
All weather mats

mjfloyd1

Exact same specs as white one