Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

nyccarguy

After driving her 2021 Rental Suburban around for almost a week, my Mom decided it was way too big for her needs. She brought the Suburban back to Enterprise and swapped into something smaller. A 2021 BMW 740i X-Drive!

After driving my truck for the past 2 plus years as well as our Pilot, I almost forgot how amazing it is to drive a purpose built, proper, German Sedan. The 7 looks quite handsome in person. Her rental is Black on Black. Without gigantic M Sport wheels and rubber band tires the 740 looks like an old school understated German sleeper sedan. The interior is a wonderful place to be. Quilted leather. Supportive, comfortable, & very nicely bolstered seats with adjustable thigh support.

The driving experience is typical BMW. The big sedan drives much smaller than it actually is. Smooth & powerful Turbocharged Inline 6. A very nicely balanced ride coupled with athletic handling. The electric steering while very precise lacks feedback of any kind.

It’s truly a shame that our country has moved away from sedans. The driving experience is so far superior to even the best driving SUV. I get it. We own a 3 row SUV & a pickup truck.

stickguy

I don't find our RDX to drive much differently than my TLX did. Both were smooth and good handling. It's a little softer maybe due to higher ride height and taller tires, but still drives well.

corvette

fintail said:

Calling most of the lower range/popular Teslas "luxury" involves some creative vocabulary, if not mental gymnastics by those making the classifications.

Agreed, and I also seem to recall some unfavorable comparisons between the Model S and the S-class.

xwesx

I was finally able to get the alignment on the Q7 performed today. SOOOOOO much better now! Oh, and my right headlight failed. I guess I shouldn't be too disappointed about that since I have over 123,000 miles on the car... and these are the original bulbs! I replace bulbs on the Subarus every year as part of my annual maintenance, and, even then, sometimes they don't make it to the next AMW.

oldfarmer50

nyccarguy said:

After driving her 2021 Rental Suburban around for almost a week, my Mom decided it was way too big for her needs. She brought the Suburban back to Enterprise and swapped into something smaller. A 2021 BMW 740i X-Drive!

After driving my truck for the past 2 plus years as well as our Pilot, I almost forgot how amazing it is to drive a purpose built, proper, German Sedan. The 7 looks quite handsome in person. Her rental is Black on Black. Without gigantic M Sport wheels and rubber band tires the 740 looks like an old school understated German sleeper sedan. The interior is a wonderful place to be. Quilted leather. Supportive, comfortable, & very nicely bolstered seats with adjustable thigh support.

The driving experience is typical BMW. The big sedan drives much smaller than it actually is. Smooth & powerful Turbocharged Inline 6. A very nicely balanced ride coupled with athletic handling. The electric steering while very precise lacks feedback of any kind.

It’s truly a shame that our country has moved away from sedans. The driving experience is so far superior to even the best driving SUV. I get it. We own a 3 row SUV & a pickup truck.

Your mom has good taste. I love those big 7 series sedans. Suburbans and 7s….those don’t come cheap. Good for mom.

au1994

I see a new 7 at the grocery store from time to time. Its in a beautiful light champagne-ish color that is killer. They seemed to have toned down the grill on the 7 and it looks much better. 86k base so yowza…

ab348

I guess Enterprise runs very differently down there than it does here. Or different from all the car rental places here. A BMW 740 would never be found as a rental here.

kyfdx

corvette said:

kyfdx said:

As someone with a finished ceiling in the lower level, and a panel on the opposite side, the cost of the wire to the garage would be the least of my worries to put in a 240v charger.

You can always just run the wire in one of those spiffy looking gray PVC conduits on the outside of the house and avoid dealing with that headache. Like, share, and subscribe to my channel for more outdoor decorating tips!

Knocking a hole in the wall, between the garage and the laundry room, I could access the 220 dryer plug. Unplug the dryer, plug in the car charger. Seems like the best budget alternative..

explorerx4

@kyfdx,
How about this way?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKCo8L251a8&t=276s

kyfdx

@explorerx4

Pretty nifty. I think I'd still have to poke a hole through the wall, behind the dryer (garage directly on the other side), but it looks like that would work. I didn't really follow the whole grounding of the plug, thing. Between the splitter and the extension cord, I wasn't really sure what they were grounding.

Good to know! Of course, you'd have to make sure you didn't use the dryer at the same time, I think. That would just be asking for it.

Sandman6472

After having worked at both Hertz and now Enterprise, amazed that Enterprise has a nicer selection of vehicles but being a privately held company, they must have more leeway in what they can buy/lease or however they do it. Must say, I enjoy working at Enterprise so much more. Spent 6 years at Hertz and can see me doing the same here at Enterprise if we both don't fully retire in about 3 years, something I don't see happening. Think we'll just start taking some more time off to take some trips to balance things out. And at this point, not really sure where we'll be living either as our pharmacist daughter hasn't told us yet what her plans will be come April of '22. And even if she does re-locate up to the Orlando area, it'll still take us some time to clean out this place then pack up & move. Just taking things one day at a time now.
I'm still dealing with vertigo so when not at work, I'm laying low at the house. It took a few weeks back in 2018 when I first had a case of it and looks to be following the same course this time. Comes & goes during the day/night. Took that Bonine for motion sickness & it didn't really help that much. Luckily the last couple of days when I was feeling poorly & a bit wobbly, it was in the morning and I wasn't driving much at all. I usually drive the chase vehicle Tuesday & Wednesday afternoons while Friday, not at all. Not the best system but one of the other drivers came up with this rotation & we're trying it out for awhile.
But I will say I'm still enjoying working at Enterprise just as much after almost 2 years, my anniversary date is 12/3. It's actually a fun job as OF will probably agree with. No stress to speak of & our boss is a great guy to work for. Still a bit slow but he said he expects things to pick up soon as I'd really like to get a 4th day in every couple of weeks.

sda

kyfdx said:

@explorerx4

Pretty nifty. I think I'd still have to poke a hole through the wall, behind the dryer (garage directly on the other side), but it looks like that would work. I didn't really follow the whole grounding of the plug, thing. Between the splitter and the extension cord, I wasn't really sure what they were grounding.

Good to know! Of course, you'd have to make sure you didn't use the dryer at the same time, I think. That would just be asking for it.

Perhaps you could put a toggle switch that would direct which outlet was live, but not both. Maybe next to the dryer so those wanting to use the dryer wouldn't get mad when they needed to do clothes? The downside is if the car needed charging, too, not to forget to switch it to charge the car after the clothes were dried.

kyfdx

sda said:

kyfdx said:

@explorerx4

Pretty nifty. I think I'd still have to poke a hole through the wall, behind the dryer (garage directly on the other side), but it looks like that would work. I didn't really follow the whole grounding of the plug, thing. Between the splitter and the extension cord, I wasn't really sure what they were grounding.

Good to know! Of course, you'd have to make sure you didn't use the dryer at the same time, I think. That would just be asking for it.

Perhaps you could put a toggle switch that would direct which outlet was live, but not both. Maybe next to the dryer so those wanting to use the dryer wouldn't get mad when they needed to do clothes? The downside is if the car needed charging, too, not to forget to switch it to charge the car after the clothes were dried.

Yeah, that would be a minor issue. No one is doing laundry at my house after 9 pm. Remembering to plug the car in before going to bed would be the biggest obstacle.

Sandman6472

Just wish the charging infrastructure down south here was better as I'd like to try EV ownership as think I'd be a good candidate for it now that I drive so little. If I'm doing 40 miles/week, I'm lucky. Work pretty close to my job and everything else I do is probably within a 10 mile radius. Looking like I'll be putting in around 3K miles from 11/30/20 to 11/30/21 according to my records. So I'd probably need to fill up about every 3 weeks or so considering the EV I'd have has a 300 mile range, and could maybe even charge up every month!
Also, the prices are still a bit too high for me to even consider jumping in at this point. And with the chip problem, no inventory of anything to speak of really. Luckily, only stopping to buy petrol every few weeks just because I hate when it gets below a half tank. Very happy the Golf is behaving itself also as now is just not the time to buy anything!

stickguy

Your needs and usage is absolutely idea. Plus they gave the instant torque response off the line you like. Put sn outlet in the garage, and no issues charging.

Sandman6472

Someone tried to use my Chase credit card in California last Sunday morning at 3:30 am as I got a text. After telling the text it wasn't me, they canceled my card and will be sending me a new card this week. I checked online and did see my current charges on that card but now, it's got a new credit card number. Must admit, my few credit card companies are very quick to inquire about weird charges and contact me. This is now the third time this has happened on a credit card in my name, a first time for my Chase card. Only bad part is having to wait a week for the new card to show up but have another one to use. And can get some cash, what's that, and use that. Guess Chase figured that it might not be me ordering groceries in California so they refused the charge and contacted me immediately.
Just another strange issue one has to deal with in life I guess. Just an annoyance to be honest, an annoyance!!!

fintail

Hertz at SEA usually has a big BMW fleet including several 7ers. That's a segment where the S-class eats everyone's lunch, so those sales are probably appreciated.

ab348 said:

I guess Enterprise runs very differently down there than it does here. Or different from all the car rental places here. A BMW 740 would never be found as a rental here.

stickguy

That’s why I have my main cards set up to notify me for any online charge, or in person above $20. Chase makes that really easy.

fintail

Comparing cars on price (or size) alone can be somewhat dangerous. Everyone doesn't have to compete with each other. MB is just taking high end EVs seriously now, with the EQS. Before, it had nothing to really compete with Tesla, and vice versa (although the cult may disagree).

corvette said:

fintail said:

Calling most of the lower range/popular Teslas "luxury" involves some creative vocabulary, if not mental gymnastics by those making the classifications.

Agreed, and I also seem to recall some unfavorable comparisons between the Model S and the S-class.

Sandman6472

Have that same thing with Chase and Wells Fargo and did have an issue with W F a few years ago also. They contacted me immediately about someone trying to use my card in Arkansas and of course, knew it was bogus so declined the charge & contacted me. I know when we put a large deposit on a Camry many years ago, I got a phone call within like 5 minutes wanting to know if I did make this charge. Definitely appreciate this service to be honest, glad they figured that a customer living in Florida might just not be making a purchase in California at 3 am on a Sunday morning! Sure, it wasn't for a large amount, $48.81, but glad they declined the charge and let me know that early in the morning. Glad I left my cell phone on so I heard the beep about getting a text.

28firefighter

Subaru is “coming soon” at CarMax for…$998 more than they paid us for it. I dunno how that makes any sense financially for them. In fairness, I checked the offer again 3 days later and it had dropped $3k…

https://www.carmax.com/car/21314719

sda

28firefighter said:

Subaru is “coming soon” at CarMax for…$998 more than they paid us for it. I dunno how that makes any sense financially for them. In fairness, I checked the offer again 3 days later and it had dropped $3k…

https://www.carmax.com/car/21314719

Your is timing impeccable!

jmonroe1

@kyfdx said:
@explorerx4

Pretty nifty. I think I'd still have to poke a hole through the wall, behind the dryer (garage directly on the other side), but it looks like that would work. I didn't really follow the whole grounding of the plug, thing. Between the splitter and the extension cord, I wasn't really sure what they were grounding.

Good to know! Of course, you'd have to make sure you didn't use the dryer at the same time, I think. That would just be asking for it.

That air head is proof as to why you can’t believe everything you see on the internet. I GUARANTEE you that the manufacturer of that cable doesn’t recommend running that cable through the dryer vent. The cable is ALWAYS supposed to be exposed to free air ambient temperatures not heated dryer air at anytime.

As for grounding, grounding is only a safety thing. It is NEVER supposed to carry ANY current. That gizmo had a sensor to detect if the ground wire is connected, again for safety reasons. As much as that air head tried to defeat it he couldn’t. That gizmo was designed to ensure that you can’t charge without the ground. Note how that air head connected to the ground of the receptacle. Yes, it provided a ground so the cable would allow charging but the manufacturer couldn’t design around that method of grounding.

Like I’ve said to folks when explaining how electrical cables should be run and connected; if you give me enough paper clips and tape, I can wire a house but that doesn’t make it right just because the lights come on when you throw the switch.

When I see things like this it scares the hell out of me.

jmonroe

fintail

Sounds like the Zillow house flipping model.

28firefighter said:

Subaru is “coming soon” at CarMax for…$998 more than they paid us for it. I dunno how that makes any sense financially for them. In fairness, I checked the offer again 3 days later and it had dropped $3k…

https://www.carmax.com/car/21314719

qbrozen

Just e-signed final docs for ALgo.
Then I did the math. Because I have made 4 payments, I'm not clearing as much as I originally thought. After all is said and done, I will have been paid $5,162.79 to drive the Jeep for 5 mos.

andres3

VROOM offered me about $27,500 for the S4 just leaving out one persnickety detail about the engine.

My sell price right now is $17K. Anyone want to benefit?

stickguy

qbrozen said:

Just e-signed final docs for ALgo.
Then I did the math. Because I have made 4 payments, I'm not clearing as much as I originally thought. After all is said and done, I will have been paid $5,162.79 to drive the Jeep for 5 mos.

For that price, I’ll take 2!

xwesx

Sandman6472 said:

No stress to speak of & our boss is a great guy to work for. Still a bit slow but he said he expects things to pick up soon as I'd really like to get a 4th day in every couple of weeks.

It's not nice to call your boss slow, but at least you recognize his better qualities as well.

xwesx

qbrozen said:

Just e-signed final docs for ALgo.
Then I did the math. Because I have made 4 payments, I'm not clearing as much as I originally thought. After all is said and done, I will have been paid $5,162.79 to drive the Jeep for 5 mos.

Ouch, that must hurt. I'm sorry that you are taking such a terrible hit to free yourself of this chain around your neck!

andres3

You can flip an S4 for easy profit apparently: https://www.carmax.com/car/21488882

andres3

Expensive 3,800 lb paperweight for under $20K, someone here should bite. :P

jmonroe1

@andres3 said:
VROOM offered me about $27,500 for the S4 just leaving out one persnickety detail about the engine.

My sell price right now is $17K. Anyone want to benefit?

Does that price include a radio that works and tires that hold recommended air pressure?

jmonroe

andres3

jmonroe1 said:

@andres3 said:

VROOM offered me about $27,500 for the S4 just leaving out one persnickety detail about the engine.

My sell price right now is $17K. Anyone want to benefit?

Does that price include a radio that works and tires that hold recommended air pressure?

jmonroe

1 radio, 8 wheels, and 4 tires that hold pressure.

oldfarmer50

ab348 said:

I guess Enterprise runs very differently down there than it does here. Or different from all the car rental places here. A BMW 740 would never be found as a rental here.

I see them routinely. I guess they are available in some sort of executive/luxury classification or as special orders along with the Maseratis.

Speced out for rental car use I’ve seen the window sticker in the mid $90s.

oldfarmer50

Sandman6472 said:

Someone tried to use my Chase credit card in California last Sunday morning at 3:30 am as I got a text. After telling the text it wasn't me, they canceled my card and will be sending me a new card this week. I checked online and did see my current charges on that card but now, it's got a new credit card number. Must admit, my few credit card companies are very quick to inquire about weird charges and contact me. This is now the third time this has happened on a credit card in my name, a first time for my Chase card. Only bad part is having to wait a week for the new card to show up but have another one to use. And can get some cash, what's that, and use that. Guess Chase figured that it might not be me ordering groceries in California so they refused the charge and contacted me immediately.
Just another strange issue one has to deal with in life I guess. Just an annoyance to be honest, an annoyance!!!

Probably a skimmer at the gas pump got your information. That’s why I use cash whenever I can.

corvette

@kyfdx said:
Knocking a hole in the wall, between the garage and the laundry room, I could access the 220 dryer plug. Unplug the dryer, plug in the car charger. Seems like the best budget alternative..

You can also upgrade to outdoor charging capability by leaving door(s) open and stringing the cable out said door(s). Never mind any critters that might come in. I can guarantee your wife will be super impressed with this trick!

@andres3 said:
1 radio, 8 wheels, and 4 tires that hold pressure.

How many keyfobs?

xwesx

corvette said:

How many keyfobs?

One; but he will drop it off with two!

jmonroe1

@andres3 said:
1 radio, 8 wheels, and 4 tires that hold pressure.

That being the case, I think you otta part it out.

jmonroe

stickguy

new Integra prototype release was tonight. Well, more like the outside styling and a few vague facts. Did confirm that it would come in (start?) right about $30k, have the 1.5t engine, and available 6 speed. No info on which AT though would be offered.

not quite as striking styling as the teaser, but IMO looks good. Corporate nose, and pretty much a tweaked up Civic hatch body.

so pretty much, a more deluxe hatch version of the new Si. With I assume a nicer, corporate Acura interior (hopefully with their super nice seats!)

initial online feedback seems to be, the fanboys hate it. But, right up the alley of what I would want! a little more expensive, more comfortable Si with the hatch I love!

no clue when it comes out, but I doubt it is on sale before Q2 2022.

https://youtu.be/K40wcyYGVUg

nyccarguy

@stickguy - I can’t wait to see it in person & can’t wait to get my hands on one for a test drive.

stickguy

It pushes a lot of my buttons. Just not expecting to see one for 6 months or so.

I need an oil change before Christmas, so will have to go find the salesman that sold us the RDX if he is still around. See if they have any expectations.

au1994

I wouldn’t kick it out of the garage.

qbrozen

I don’t think I’ll ever get excited about a FWD sedan.

explorerx4

Follows in the footsteps of the original Integra(nicer Civic).

au1994

The Maverick continues to get positive reviews…

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/autos-trucks/the-2022-ford-maverick-is-a-refreshingly-back-to-basics-truck/ar-AAQCyrS

oldfarmer50

au1994 said:

The Maverick continues to get positive reviews…

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/autos-trucks/the-2022-ford-maverick-is-a-refreshingly-back-to-basics-truck/ar-AAQCyrS

That’s a pretty glowing review but I don’t fully trust first year reviews. In the past the first positive reviews have changed to negative after the press perks from the manufacturer stop.

au1994

These are always taken with a (large) grain of salt. After all Motor Trend did name the Vega car of the year.

stickguy

I’ve watched a ton of updates from actual owners, after some miles and lots of different usage. That will give a good reality check, but overall still very positive.

andres3

The Integra with a 1.5 instead of a 2.0 seems like a mistake.

qbrozen

andres3 said:

The Integra with a 1.5 instead of a 2.0 seems like a mistake.

They need to leave room for a Type R.