Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

kyfdx

@JustinS got his Santa Cruz in August. I think it's a loaded model.

breld

kyfdx said:

@JustinS got his Santa Cruz in August. I think it's a loaded model.

I actually reached out to him and got his feedback on his experience, which has been very positive.

kyfdx

breld said:

kyfdx said:

@JustinS got his Santa Cruz in August. I think it's a loaded model.

I actually reached out to him and got his feedback on his experience, which has been very positive.

He seems like a nice guy..

JustinS

Yeah, @breld reached out! Mine is the Limited trim and next month will be the six month mark already!

breld

Alright - went ahead and placed a deposit at the no-haggle Hyundai dealership at straight-up MSRP. Crazy world where that's a great deal, and other dealers are adding D&H on top of that at a minimum, and several thousand dollars in many cases.

I'd say I wouldn't mind if MSRP just starts being more the norm for transaction prices, perhaps with manufacturer rebates kicking in as season and demand warrant. Just take out the dealer discount and make it simple.

28firefighter

JustinS said:

Yeah, @breld reached out! Mine is the Limited trim and next month will be the six month mark already!

Time to sell!

corvette

@breld is this the turbo engine? Because my crystal ball predicts a very short tenure in the @breld garage, followed by trading it for a turbo one, if it isn’t.

28firefighter

SEL Premium is Turbo.

qbrozen

breld said:

Alright - went ahead and placed a deposit at the no-haggle Hyundai dealership at straight-up MSRP. Crazy world where that's a great deal, and other dealers are adding D&H on top of that at a minimum, and several thousand dollars in many cases.

I'd say I wouldn't mind if MSRP just starts being more the norm for transaction prices, perhaps with manufacturer rebates kicking in as season and demand warrant. Just take out the dealer discount and make it simple.

Boy... soo... will this be additional? Or is the Polestar gettin gone already?

mjfloyd1

I thought @breld traded polestar for X5 hybrid??

28firefighter

mjfloyd1 said:

I thought @breld traded polestar for X5 hybrid??

Traded the XC90 for the X5

mjfloyd1

@28firefighter said:
Traded the XC90 for the X5

At least it was a volvo

Michaell

The SC is a net add to the fleet

stickguy

Got my tonneau cover installed. Even after watching the video a couple of times, much more of a bear of a job than I expected. I probably had something fractionally off but eventually I got it all in place. Then spent too much time trying to figure out why it wouldn’t latch. Finally determined I could get it to catch with the tailgate down but not up (which just means the gasket on the end tucks under the tailgate instead of sitting on top.

Had to pack it in for the day to go back to work. But I’m guessing I’ll be out there again loosing clamps and finagling all the parts. Side rails might not quite be level.

Not paying the guy, seems like false economy this time.

But dang, the videos make it look incredibly easy!

tjc78

breld

@stickguy - that's interesting to hear. When we were considering the lower trim levels of the Santa Cruz, I looked into the aftermarket tonneau covers and yes, the videos on install make it look super simple.

But there were enough other features that my wife wanted that it was an easy decision just to get the trim level that comes with the tonneau from the factory.

au1994

I’m not mechanically inept but I’m no Mr. Goodwrench either but I’m ashamed to admit how long it took for me to put together and install an over the spare bike rack on the Jeep. 6 simple steps my a…

stickguy

Exactly.

I’ll be back out there tomorrow laying on my back in the bed screwing around up under the rails.

xwesx

corvette said:

Or, hear me out… do a Mrs. @breld and buy something to tide me over in the interim.

Touché

cdnpinhead

au1994 said:

I guess it was a situation of you can’t miss what you don’t have.

Much like garage door openers, or indoor toilets.

xwesx

au1994 said:

I’m not mechanically inept but I’m no Mr. Goodwrench either but I’m ashamed to admit how long it took for me to put together and install an over the spare bike rack on the Jeep. 6 simple steps my a…

I received an email from etrailer.com a couple weeks ago informing me I had won some sort of Firestone controller. They asked me if I wanted it and, of course, I said 'yes' before I even knew what it was. Well, it shows up in the mail yesterday, and it turns out to be an air compressor system for air springs (bags). It looks incredibly complicated to set up, and it doesn't actually have the bags (nor do I have a vehicle on which I can think to install them), but now I'm determined to sort something out.

I'll need to check clearances, but it's theoretically possible to put some sort of assist bags on the Q7 if I can figure out adequate clearance to weld some plates onto the suspension components. After towing that trailer 6,000 miles, I know it could sure use a little more support in the back.

Anyway, if I take it on, this may turn into a helluva project!

All this going through my mind when I still need to replace the alternator that self-destructed on it.

mjfloyd1

@breld said:
@stickguy - that's interesting to hear. When we were considering the lower trim levels of the Santa Cruz, I looked into the aftermarket tonneau covers and yes, the videos on install make it look super simple.

But there were enough other features that my wife wanted that it was an easy decision just to get the trim level that comes with the tonneau from the factory.

I’m sure that the next owner will appreciate these accoutrements

xwesx

cdnpinhead said:

au1994 said:

I guess it was a situation of you can’t miss what you don’t have.

Much like garage door openers, or indoor toilets.

stickguy

The factory hard roll up is very slick. The box also eats up a lot of the minimal cargo space.

corvette

@mjfloyd1 said:

@breld said:
@stickguy - that's interesting to hear. When we were considering the lower trim levels of the Santa Cruz, I looked into the aftermarket tonneau covers and yes, the videos on install make it look super simple.

But there were enough other features that my wife wanted that it was an easy decision just to get the trim level that comes with the tonneau from the factory.

I’m sure that the next owner will appreciate these accoutrements

There’s a thought. If I decide the Mav XL is too austere, that may be about the time they’re ready to get rid of the loaded up Santa Cruz.

Michaell

mjfloyd1 said:

@breld said:
@stickguy - that's interesting to hear. When we were considering the lower trim levels of the Santa Cruz, I looked into the aftermarket tonneau covers and yes, the videos on install make it look super simple.

But there were enough other features that my wife wanted that it was an easy decision just to get the trim level that comes with the tonneau from the factory.

I’m sure that the next owner will appreciate these accoutrements

Rubbing hands in anticipation…

breld

Well of course part of the decision in my mind with going with the turbo is resale versus the somewhat anemic base engine.

@michaell do you have a preference on color?

oldfarmer50

xwesx said:

au1994 said:

I’m not mechanically inept but I’m no Mr. Goodwrench either but I’m ashamed to admit how long it took for me to put together and install an over the spare bike rack on the Jeep. 6 simple steps my a…

I received an email from etrailer.com a couple weeks ago informing me I had won some sort of Firestone controller. They asked me if I wanted it and, of course, I said 'yes' before I even knew what it was. Well, it shows up in the mail yesterday, and it turns out to be an air compressor system for air springs (bags). It looks incredibly complicated to set up, and it doesn't actually have the bags (nor do I have a vehicle on which I can think to install them), but now I'm determined to sort something out.

I'll need to check clearances, but it's theoretically possible to put some sort of assist bags on the Q7 if I can figure out adequate clearance to weld some plates onto the suspension components. After towing that trailer 6,000 miles, I know it could sure use a little more support in the back.

Anyway, if I take it on, this may turn into a helluva project!

All this going through my mind when I still need to replace the alternator that self-destructed on it.

That’s some smart marketing, give you a cheap air compressor and get you to buy $10,000 worth of car mods.

british_rover

Almost six years. Anyone around I still remember?

stickguy

welcome back! Still selling Volvos?

qbrozen

british_rover said:

Almost six years. Anyone around I still remember?

that depends on how good your memory is. :b

corvette

Maybe! Or at least I remember you!

explorerx4

Mitchell

british_rover

@stickguy said:
welcome back! Still selling Volvos?

Nah don't even work in a dealership anymore. I left over a year ago now after I was the service manager for about five years. Still sort of in the business. Started a new career as an auto claims adjuster last week.

@qbrozen said:
that depends on how good your memory is.

I do remember you. Still in Jersey? Didn't you have an Alfa?

@corvette said:
Maybe! Or at least I remember you!

Remember you too how is it going?

nyccarguy

@british_rover said:
Almost six years. Anyone around I still remember?

Hey! Thanks for coming back to check in! I remember you.

What are you driving these days?

stickguy

claims adjusting. that must be fun!

corvette

british_rover said:

Remember you too how is it going?

I'm good! Sounds like you've joined one of the most despised professions, other than attorneys!

corvette

Weirdly, it looks like Ford doesn't seem to advertise any sort of complimentary maintenance, but they do give you 42,000 FordPass reward points with the purchase of a gas engined vehicle, which is said to be good for the first three maintenance visits.

explorerx4

I think you can use the point to buy accessories and parts.

qbrozen

british_rover said:

I do remember you. Still in Jersey? Didn't you have an Alfa?

Still in NJ. No Alfa currently in the stable.

What are you currently driving?

Are you working for a particular insurance company?

andres3

mjfloyd1 said:

This says used car prices may drop by up to 30% by this time next year.

https://www.autotrader.com/car-news/report-used-car-prices-could-finally-come-tumbling-down?LNX=SOMEDFBGENPOST

Do "they" say how often their predictions are wrong?

andres3

british_rover said:

@stickguy said:

welcome back! Still selling Volvos?

Nah don't even work in a dealership anymore. I left over a year ago now after I was the service manager for about five years. Still sort of in the business. Started a new career as an auto claims adjuster last week.

@qbrozen said:

that depends on how good your memory is.

I do remember you. Still in Jersey? Didn't you have an Alfa?

@corvette said:

Maybe! Or at least I remember you!

Remember you too how is it going?

Let me know if they give you a bonus for really sticking it to someone with a claim.

corvette

andres3 said:

Do "they" say how often their predictions are wrong?

In that respect, I'm guessing "they" follow the same rule as weather reporters and other TV prognosticators.

stickguy

pretty sure the ford points can be used for service too.

My dealer must offer complimentary service (the first one). At least that is what the Email from the SA I got said. Though since I am only at 147 miles and it will be 4 weeks old this Friday, might not be an issue real soon.

sda

stickguy said:

pretty sure the ford points can be used for service too.

My dealer must offer complimentary service (the first one). At least that is what the Email from the SA I got said. Though since I am only at 147 miles and it will be 4 weeks old this Friday, might not be an issue real soon.

No excuses…get out and drive, enjoy!

xwesx

qbrozen said:

Still in NJ. No Alfa currently in the stable.

True, but you've only been through what, another dozen or perhaps a baker's dozen since then?

stickguy

sda said:

stickguy said:

pretty sure the ford points can be used for service too.

My dealer must offer complimentary service (the first one). At least that is what the Email from the SA I got said. Though since I am only at 147 miles and it will be 4 weeks old this Friday, might not be an issue real soon.

No excuses…get out and drive, enjoy!

I need someplace to go!

actually was going to NY Saturday. But looks like the n'oreaster will be hanging around so that won't happen. Thought about going Friday instead but not sure I would make it back before the snow/ice moved in. which would be nasty.

might be going Monday instead!

28firefighter

This has to be a unicorn:
https://seattle.craigslist.org/est/cto/d/bellevue-1998-volvo-miles/7437668840.html

stickguy

hope you bought it. at that price these days, it's a steal!

28firefighter

I sent a note. We shall see!