Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

mark156

Mark, it seems like you look after your vehicles fairly well. I can't believe the dome light was so much on the S500 ! Was it the whole housing they replaced?

I guess that's why there are many of these cars for sale for cheap because people can't afford to look after them and they end up getting neglected. Hence you see them for sale with half the electrical items not working and half the dashboard lit up with warning lights.

Out of curiousity, do you usually keep all of your cars insured at all times for driving? Or do you keep some in storage during parts of the year? How do you decide what to drive and when?

I'm looking at the invoice now... $660 for the dome lamp (looks like total replacement).

I looked in our local paper last night and at our local Mercedes dealer...no 2000-2006 S-class listed. I never see this model for sale at our local dealer. Plenty of E-class and C-class used but not the older S-class.

All cars are insured at all times. 4 are kept in TN and 3 plus the MoHo are kept in CA (generally). I just rotate driving them so they all stay pretty low in mileage. I have a person at each house to start the cars weekly and bring them up to operating temperature. The '64 Rolls is the only one with a trickle charger installed. I've only driven it 6,000 miles in 12 yrs (almost 91,000 miles now). It's needing a power steering gear box rebuild (quoted $5,100) as it's starting to leak some... I'll wait until it gets worse which might take years.

Getting ready to head back to CA tomorrow taking the '10 Land Rover back. 4,700 current miles with another 1,800 soon. :P The new LR4 is sweeeeet... it has been nicely improved over the '06 I had. Drives a lot better, more nimble.

Mark

roadburner

The 97K car is about 30 minutes away.

boomchek

If you spread all your driving over all of your cars then yes, the miles will stay low on all of them. We have 2 cars at home, and both of them, our 08 Jeep and our 04 Civic (that I use for commuting to work) have each 50k kms (30k miles) on them. I find it to be easier on the cars and on their maintenance if driving duties are split among the two.

By the way if you ever decide to buy a place in Vancouver and buy a fleet of exotic cars with it, I'd be happy to start them up for you weekly when you're away. :P

kyfdx

128i w/spt pkg

Okay.. who wants to check it out for me?

krwest1

This one doesn't have sport package. You can tell by the seats and the wheels. It does have manual, which is a plus. I'm very close to leasing a 2010 128i with M Sport and manual. Good deals now with the $1500 and loyal money factor reduction. Have you looked into that?

kyfdx

Crap!! No Sport!

How did I miss that? Must have been blinded by the red seats....

Not leasing... the deals are good, but not blindingly (lol) so... For me to lease a BMW, they practically have to give it to me (which has happened twice...)..

I'm really not in the $30+ price range for myself... the wife is the one who gets to spend that much...

Still can't believe I missed the lack of Sport pkg.. That's my #1 requirement, after the stick...

Anyway.. if that car actually had the sport package.... it would be perfect for me...

krwest1

Most of the ones I've found with Sport also have Premium and Auto. Most of the ones I've found with a manual trans don't have Sport. Go figure.

kyfdx

Yeah... not many people are as discerning as we two... (some of us have better eyesight, evidently...)

stickguy

well, if yo can compromise on the sport package (and the only thing I ever really wanted in that was the sport seats and 3 spoke wheel), I will be going right past allentown when I head to NY to pick up my son from college.

although that won't be for about 5 weeks, so might not be there.

damn. Now I need another excuse to drive something I shouldn't be.

roadburner

If I bought new it would be a White/Coral Red 128i M Sport with CWP, Xenons, Premium sound, USB, and Comfort Access.
And no hole in the roof.

qbrozen

Huh. Didn't realize they took the moonroof off the standard features list. That was one thing that really bugged me when it was introduced.

stickguy

no moonroof = no chance I own it.

now comfort access, that has no value to me.

To each his own.

kyfdx

Nope.... after the stick-shift, the sport package is #1 on my list (which makes it that much more unbelievable that I missed it..).

As near as I can tell the M-Sport package just adds an aerodynamic kit and different alloy wheels (same size) as the regular Sport package? Or, maybe a special steering wheel, as well?

If I were willing to get a 135i, it would be easier to find it equipped the way I want... but, don't need the power, lower fuel mileage and higher insurance rates, not to mention higher initial costs.. I really like the color combo and equipment on the Atown unit.. If it had sport, it would have been perfect.

I've still got three months... My lease is up near the end of July.. If I don't find a used car that I want (and the 1-series is just one possibility), then I may end up with a new MINI or GTI. They both have pretty good purchase incentives now, but I notice those tend to peak in the summertime.

kyfdx

Comfort access... I used to feel the same way, until I got a couple of BMW loaners..

With the new fob, you insert it into the slot, then push the stop/start button. Totally unnatural, and just goofy..

If you get comfort access, you leave the fob in your pocket.. Just sit down, put your foot on the brake and push the stop/start button. Still goofy, but one thing to do, instead of two.

Also...on the sport package? I want summer tires... then, winter tires later... I just really like that set-up... Of course the sport seats and 1" larger wheels are nice, too..

jayrider

If you can kyfdx, you should test drive the new 2011 mustang gt v8 stick with the glassroof. The reviews are great if you want a speed racer ride that matched up well with the bmw m3 in all aspects and cost 28k less. Would appreciate your test drive impressions.

kyfdx

I'd love to try one out, but that would definitely not be a car that I'd buy..

roadburner

Huh. Didn't realize they took the moonroof off the standard features list. That was one thing that really bugged me when it was introduced.

Yep, it's now an option on both the 128i and the 328i. I also hear it will be a delete option on the 335is. I STILL kick myself for not buying the Sterling/Imola E46 M3 my dealer had a while back. No premium package, hole in the roof, or power seats; the only options it had were 19" wheels, Harman-Kardon audio, and Xenons. Perfect...

michaellno

With the new fob, you insert it into the slot, then push the stop/start button. Totally unnatural, and just goofy..

Just like the daughter's MINI.

Oh, wait, they are owned by BMW, aren't they? Stands to reason that there would be some shared components.

Kirstie_H

A reporter is looking to speak to consumers who purchased a GM, Ford or Chrysler within the past year for the first time. If you purchased the vehicle to help out the US automakers, please make note of that as well. Please send your daytime phone number to ctalati@edmunds.com by Tuesday, April 20, 2010.
Thanks,
Chintan
Corporate Communications
Edmunds.com

ghulet

....that BMW and Mercedes offer you, ostensibly, a 'choice' of a sunroof or not, though good luck finding either without one. And the fact that you are forced to pay $1000+ for a sunroof on vehicles with MSRPs of $35k+ is a little greedy, IMO, if you consider it's been standard on pedestrian upper-level Accords since, what, 1986?.

fintail

Can a new US-spec MB be ordered without a sunroof?

roadburner

And the fact that you are forced to pay $1000+ for a sunroof on vehicles with MSRPs of $35k+ is a little greedy

I look at it as saving $1000+ dollars by not being forced to take an option I would never use. It also removes @60 pounds from the highest point of the vehicle.
I'll take a sunroof if it's standard, but no way will I pay for one it's an option.
Back in 1995 my salesperson had to fight tooth and nail to keep Munich from cutting a hole in the roof of my Club Sport(the sunroof was officially an option but BMW Individual was trying to strong-arm the dealers into making the option mandatory). My salesperson was able to get two Club Sports built without a sunroof and their might be another 3 or four out there.

ghulet

I guess my point was, it'd be nice if the 'roof were standard, but an optional 'delete' (with buyer receiving the savings). It's just that clearly 99.8% of buyers want them, thus things like BMWs, Benzes, pricier Volvos, SAABs, etc. will have them. And if you'd like one without, you have to convince the dealer you're serious, AND to find or special order one, etc. PITA. It is nice they're technically 'available' with or without, which I don't think is the case with something like a Civic EX, even. Of course, Honda especially is well-known for their streamlining of factory options.

German makes, in particular, have become like GM of the '60s: 80 zillion configurations, mind-boggling options list, nickel and dime you for everything. But, granted, you are technically able to get exactly the car you want, if you're willing to wait and pay.

kplacer

German makes have always been nickel and dime artists. I remember being amazed in the late 60s and early 70s to learn that metallic paint was a pricey option on most of their models, whereas with American makes there was a whole rainbow of metallic colors to choose from at no extra charge. Now of course all manufacturers have learned that lesson and charge extra for certain colors. I cannot imagine that is anything but pure profit in most cases.

It seems to me it was the advent of Asian makes that led to a decline in consumer choice. They were the first to either offer no options at all or to bundle them up into a few packages, not letting you order them a la carte as was traditionally the case. Add to that consumer acceptance of (or blindness to) roof rail strips, which led the domestics to adopt the same practice to avoid proper metal-finishing of the seams between the roof and quarter panels, and of course the ubiquitous gray mouse-fur interior, and it appears we have not come very far in some ways.

roadburner

When Max Hoffman was BMW's importer he would set a low MSRP but there would be a list of "Mandatory Options" such as Michelin tires, a rear anti-roll bar, etc., that were added to the final sale price.

stever

Hey Mark, is there any chance at all that you'd consider a Genesis (or Equus) as an addition to your fleet?

(you can ignore this if you like - you may get raked over the coals over in the Is There Room in the Luxury Market for Hyundai? discussion whatever you say :shades: )

(lol, but if you pass on the question, that's an answer too)

fezo

Hey! I like Mark. Don't send him over to that topic! It gives me headaches. Wins my prize for the least learned in the most words.

stever

lol, he could just answer in here, and we could allude to a mystery shopper over there. :shades:

fezo

OK. That works.

What is amusing over there is that the opposing sides can never settle on something remotely defining what they are talking about and thus the distinction between a luxurious car and luxury ownership treatment is never quite made.

On the other hand, it's the one topic that would get posts even in the event of a nuclear war. ("When I get out of the fallout shelter I'm going to take my Genny out for a spin."....)

mark156

Hey Steve,

I've never heard of the thread 'Is There Room in the Luxury....". I only frequent this thread (CCBA) and the 'motorhome purchasing' thread that is quite dead over in the car shopping forum.

And no, I don't think we need another 'additional' car in the fleet. Hyundai's are good cars and certainly have a place to fill with a following. Hyundai's have really improved their looks over the years but would be rather bland in our garage. Our Honda CR-V is the 'incognito' car in the fleet as it disappears once you get behind the wheel... I love it!

Frank Sinatra had a 'incognito' car that went up for auction after his death at a local car auction in Palm Springs. It was a late 80's Chrysler Town and Country K-car wagon with wood paneling. They say he would put on a fisherman's hat and no one would ever recognize him.... he looked like all the other old geezers in Palm Springs! LOL! :P

Mark156

tifighter

Maybe a wood paneled Genesis?

Naw, that would attract attention I guess...

stever

Slumming in a CR-V. Yeah, I could see that.

Thanks!

fezo

I heard about that Sinatra car before. Don't know where but I love it.

I could see that with the hat.

In these parts if you drive a Buick or a Grand Marquis I think there's a law that you have to wear a hat.

fintail

I think that Sinatra incognito car was on ebay a few years ago.

tifighter

Here's a quick blurb I found about the Sinatra car. Me, I always liked the look of the last Grand Wagoneers...

jayrider

Wonder if Frank was a grinder.

grandtotal

Wonder if Frank was a grinder.

No, he was a crooner.

jayrider

One wise crack deserves another. Congrats.

akangl

Letting my mom give my son a car......yeah she gave it to him, refused to take the $200 for it. Now he wants to learn to drive!! *sigh* I feel gray hair coming on really fast!

After spending $518 on repairs the Explorer has turned out to be a very pleasant car, my son totally loves it. Its a good thing the 4WD is fixed now because his second drive he put it in the ditch.....it drove back out with no trouble and there wasn't another scratch on it, lol. However, hubby had yet another gray hair and was quite frazzled when they got home.

mark156

tifighter, thanks for finding the 'Chrysler Car' clip! That IS the wagon that I saw at the auction and can't believe it went for way more than it was worth...wow.

Some friends of mine bought the Palm Springs house that Frank Sinatra owned when he was married to Ava Gardner (early 50's). It has since been sold and is used as a rental for private parties. It's a cool house called 'Twin Palms' (been to a couple of fundraisers there). The swimming pool is shaped like a piano and when the sunlight hits the skylights on the covered walkway, the shadows look like piano keys on the walk at that edge of the pool.

Mark

Kirstie_H

A reporter for a major publication is looking for consumer attitudes toward car buying after the credit crunch. The reporter is looking for
1) consumers who either traded down their vehicle or purchased a cheaper vehicle than what they were driving in the past, and/or
2) consumers who are cutting back on the numbers vehicles they own.

If you would agree to be interviewed for this story, please send your daytime phone number to ctalati@edmunds.com by April 28.

Thanks,
Chintan Talati
Edmunds.com
Corporate Communications

roadburner

My Club Sport had a slow leak in the RR tire so I ran by my BMW dealer to get it patched. While they were fixing it I walked around the new and used lot. Get this- the used lot had three 335i sedans with the Sport Package- all slushboxes. The one non-Sport 335i was equipped with -you guessed it- a six speed manual... :confuse:
They also had a gorgeous 2009 Silverstone M3 sedan, but it was way too much money...
On a brighter note the Club Sport garnered several complements when I pulled it into the service area. One of the service advisors was broadly hinting about how he really wants one. I have to admit that it looks pretty good for a 15 year old car with 121K on it:

oregonboy

Burner, Man, I really love your Club Sport. It posses the soul of what made BMWs great in their roots. If you ever sell it, you WILL regret it 'till the end of your days. :shades:

corvette

Looks great. Love the two-tone upholstery. A one-owner, 15-year-old car is usually going to stay in better shape than one with multiple owners.

fintail

There can't be many out there like that...I have to agree, don't sell it. You'll never be able to go back.

nippononly

Don't EVER sell that car. It's probably the last of the pure BMWs

kyfdx

Don't listen to them! SELL that car!! You've just been LUCKY so far... keep it any longer and it's going to bite you in the ***...

I'm only 100 miles away, my lease is up in three months, and my 401K is up 80% in the last year.... :surprise:

The money is literally (okay, not literally) burning a hole in my pocket...

roadburner

...for all the kind words. Don't worry, I'm keeping the Club Sport forever.
Sorry, kyfdx

kyfdx

Okay... who lives near Winston-Salem? :surprise:

'06 BMW 330Ci ZHP

roadburner

Remember the 2009 M3 I saw at the dealer? With every option save M DCT?
Get this: The guy bought it new and traded it in after only driving it 1920 miles. Care to guess what BMW he replaced it with?
A diesel X5. Really.