Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

roadburner

We looked at a new Montero SR in 1994; we would have bought one but every Mitsubishi dealer we tried to work with played the typical games. We ended up with a 1993 Pathfinder SE with the off-road package, which we kept until the Jeep replaced it in 2002.

oldfarmer50

Michaell said:

Congrats, @tifighter !

Our latest installment of "As the Infiniti Turns" happened today....

My BIL has become fixated on the Infiniti QX55, so they finally made it to the dealership today, to get a test drive of the new car and a trade quote on his 2019 Q50.

The experience couldn't have gone any worse. The first quote included $7K of crap added onto the $48K MSRP, and a payment north of $900/mo. The trade in quote on the Q50 was $1000 under the lease buyout.

A second pass at a payment brought it down to somewhere around $700/mo.

They walked.

My sister and I are hoping the BIL has an epiphany about his budget, and that they start to shop something a bit less expensive.

At the moment, the plan is for him to buy out his lease next spring, then consider a Venza as the family vehicle. I'm trying to keep her grounded, given the inevitable rise in interest rates that are heading our way. The buy out payment on the Q50 is likely going to be higher than the lease payment.

Sigh.

My credit union is still offering rates as low as 1.74% on car loans.

jmonroe1

@oldfarmer50 said:
My credit union is still offering rates as low as 1.74% on car loans.

————————————————

Man, that interest rate can’t last very long. You otta buy a handful of hoopties while you have the chance. Don’t come in here crying next week saying, “@jmonroe I should have listened to you”.

jmonroe

Michaell

oldfarmer50 said:

Michaell said:

Congrats, @tifighter !

Our latest installment of "As the Infiniti Turns" happened today....

My BIL has become fixated on the Infiniti QX55, so they finally made it to the dealership today, to get a test drive of the new car and a trade quote on his 2019 Q50.

The experience couldn't have gone any worse. The first quote included $7K of crap added onto the $48K MSRP, and a payment north of $900/mo. The trade in quote on the Q50 was $1000 under the lease buyout.

A second pass at a payment brought it down to somewhere around $700/mo.

They walked.

My sister and I are hoping the BIL has an epiphany about his budget, and that they start to shop something a bit less expensive.

At the moment, the plan is for him to buy out his lease next spring, then consider a Venza as the family vehicle. I'm trying to keep her grounded, given the inevitable rise in interest rates that are heading our way. The buy out payment on the Q50 is likely going to be higher than the lease payment.

Sigh.

My credit union is still offering rates as low as 1.74% on car loans.

New or used cars?

oldfarmer50

Michaell said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Michaell said:

Congrats, @tifighter !

Our latest installment of "As the Infiniti Turns" happened today....

My BIL has become fixated on the Infiniti QX55, so they finally made it to the dealership today, to get a test drive of the new car and a trade quote on his 2019 Q50.

The experience couldn't have gone any worse. The first quote included $7K of crap added onto the $48K MSRP, and a payment north of $900/mo. The trade in quote on the Q50 was $1000 under the lease buyout.

A second pass at a payment brought it down to somewhere around $700/mo.

They walked.

My sister and I are hoping the BIL has an epiphany about his budget, and that they start to shop something a bit less expensive.

At the moment, the plan is for him to buy out his lease next spring, then consider a Venza as the family vehicle. I'm trying to keep her grounded, given the inevitable rise in interest rates that are heading our way. The buy out payment on the Q50 is likely going to be higher than the lease payment.

Sigh.

My credit union is still offering rates as low as 1.74% on car loans.

New or used cars?

I should have listened to jmonroe, as of this morning it jumped to 2.49% for new or used.

nyccarguy

@tifighter - I’m a couple days late, but big congrats on the Mitsubishi!

jmonroe1

oldfarmer50 said:

Michaell said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Michaell said:

Congrats, @tifighter !

Our latest installment of "As the Infiniti Turns" happened today....

My BIL has become fixated on the Infiniti QX55, so they finally made it to the dealership today, to get a test drive of the new car and a trade quote on his 2019 Q50.

The experience couldn't have gone any worse. The first quote included $7K of crap added onto the $48K MSRP, and a payment north of $900/mo. The trade in quote on the Q50 was $1000 under the lease buyout.

A second pass at a payment brought it down to somewhere around $700/mo.

They walked.

My sister and I are hoping the BIL has an epiphany about his budget, and that they start to shop something a bit less expensive.

At the moment, the plan is for him to buy out his lease next spring, then consider a Venza as the family vehicle. I'm trying to keep her grounded, given the inevitable rise in interest rates that are heading our way. The buy out payment on the Q50 is likely going to be higher than the lease payment.

Sigh.

My credit union is still offering rates as low as 1.74% on car loans.

New or used cars?

I should have listened to jmonroe, as of this morning it jumped to 2.49% for new or used.

———————————————

You’re right, I told ya.

jmonroe

henryn

https://www.pcmag.com/news/tesla-reportedly-runs-out-of-vehicle-parts-at-shanghai-gigafactory?utm_source=email&utm_campaign=whatsnewnow&utm_medium=title

Tesla Reportedly Runs Out of Vehicle Parts at Shanghai Gigafactory

EV production stopped completely yesterday as Shanghai enters its sixth week of lockdown.

qbrozen

Don't all jump at once.

explorerx4

The Shop Rite I go to doesn't have Ferrari's

28firefighter

The G35 is back - on the check engine and burning oil smell, it seems to have been a one and done for now; mechanic drove it 60 miles while I was out of town and was not able to replicate the codes or the smell. Power steering pump is in good shape and just needed new fluid and a bleed.

I'm not foolish enough to believe that we're done with the check engine light or oil issue, but for now there is nothing to do except to watch it.

au1994

28firefighter said:

The G35 is back - on the check engine and burning oil smell, it seems to have been a one and done for now; mechanic drove it 60 miles while I was out of town and was not able to replicate the codes or the smell. Power steering pump is in good shape and just needed new fluid and a bleed.

I'm not foolish enough to believe that we're done with the check engine light or oil issue, but for now there is nothing to do except to watch it.

Maybe it suffered from the same random malady that @nyccarguy's former Pilot did.

stickguy

Ferrari, Frieghtliner, pretty much the same thing.

ab348

Odd juxtaposition earlier today. I was going to buy some lawn soil and within the same block encountered a blue round-headlight Volvo 244, which used to be common in these parts but which jumped out at me as something I have not seen in traffic in quite some time. Obviously someone's hobby car as it looked very good (for a 240). Just a moment later I encountered a yellow (but which looked almost yellow-orange like Velveeta) BMW i8. Not for the shy, retiring type.

au1994

stickguy said:

Ferrari, Frieghtliner, pretty much the same thing.

Well, they can both haul that's for sure. I'll see myself out now.

sda

@28firefighter said:
The G35 is back - on the check engine and burning oil smell, it seems to have been a one and done for now; mechanic drove it 60 miles while I was out of town and was not able to replicate the codes or the smell. Power steering pump is in good shape and just needed new fluid and a bleed.

I'm not foolish enough to believe that we're done with the check engine light or oil issue, but for now there is nothing to do except to watch it.

Grrrr

qbrozen

28firefighter said:

The G35 is back - on the check engine and burning oil smell, it seems to have been a one and done for now; mechanic drove it 60 miles while I was out of town and was not able to replicate the codes or the smell. Power steering pump is in good shape and just needed new fluid and a bleed.

I'm not foolish enough to believe that we're done with the check engine light or oil issue, but for now there is nothing to do except to watch it.

Check for water in the trunk.

Not too soon if I'm making fun of myself, right?

ab348

Bad times at Carvana:

https://www.autonews.com/used-cars/carvana-lay-2500-executives-forgo-salaries-rest-year

Carvana Co. plans to lay off 2,500 employees, or about 12 percent of its work force, according to a document it filed Tuesday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Those employees are primarily in Carvana's operations groups, the company said. In connection to those cuts, the online used-vehicle retailer will "transition operations away" from a few of its logistics hubs and from its inspection and reconditioning center in Euclid, Ohio.

Carvana said its executive team will forgo their salaries for the rest of 2022 "to help contribute to the severance pay for departing team members."

The layoffs relate to “recent macroeconomic factors that are significantly impacting automotive retail,” a Carvana spokesperson said in a statement.

They come just weeks after Carvana reported a $506 million loss in the first quarter as high used-vehicle prices, rising interest rates and other issues affecting the auto industry dented sales. It felt higher costs and a lower profit per vehicle than expected.

stickguy

Scratch them from the “Maverick windfall resale” list!

corvette

I'm surprised Carvana and similar dealership models aren't doing better. The inventory problem seems to have brought back the carnival atmosphere of many traditional dealerships. It seems like a decent amount of people would get fed up with those games and buy from CarMax, Carvana, etc.

iluvmysephia1

Hey all of y'all, iluvmysephia1. I'm back! I left in 2018 because I was on so many sites that I felt I had to choose at least one to say goodbye to. I left not knowing if I'd be back, but, man, I had been on this site since 2000.

How are all of you all? We're still in the house we were in in southern New Mexico and now we drive a 2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick in Sparkling Silver with black trim.

2011 Kia Soul LX:

stickguy

welcome back. I did not realize the Soul still came with a stick in 2021.

iluvmysephia1

Yes it did, however, Kia dropped the manual transmission completely from all Soul models the next model year. I found a picture of my '21 Soul LX and will post it on here as soon as I can. How is everybody? Are most of the class of characters still on here?

jmonroe1

@iluvmysephia1 said:
Yes it did, however, Kia dropped the manual transmission completely from all Soul models the next model year. I found a picture of my '21 Soul LX and will post it on here as soon as I can. How is everybody? Are most of the class of characters still on here?

Well, I’m still here and because I’m the most important character in here Edmunds won’t let me go and I no longer have to pay dues.

I gather you’re not looking for a job anymore and hope all is well.

jmonroe

iluvmysephia1

jmonroe1 said:

@iluvmysephia1 said:

Yes it did, however, Kia dropped the manual transmission completely from all Soul models the next model year. I found a picture of my '21 Soul LX and will post it on here as soon as I can. How is everybody? Are most of the class of characters still on here?

Well, I’m still here and because I’m the most important character in here Edmunds won’t let me go and I no longer have to pay dues.

I gather you’re not looking for a job anymore and hope all is well.

jmonroe

Hey, jmonroe1! You're right, you are the most important member of the Edmunds.com forums. Yes you are. Nice ta be back. I just took a picture of my '21 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick in Sparkling Silver paint with black trim. If I was a Las Vegas Raiders fan the colors would be perfect. But I'm not. I'm a Seattle Seahawks fan and yes, I've got a front license plate that sports the Seattle Seahawks.

I retired in August 2021 and so my wife and I are both retired and we've both started the real life now.
I rehired back in here in Alamogordo, NM, in February of 2018 and am I ever glad I did. It went well, we have the house of our dreams and I love my automobile so much. Our Chow Chow Meggy May just turned 14 two days ago and she's doing very well. Now to try and post that picture.

iluvmysephia1

Here's my one rig:

2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick with Sparkling Silver paint and black trim


She is a beauty!

xwesx

14-year-old Chow?! That's impressive. Hopefully her health holds up right up to the point it doesn't hold at all.

Welcome back to the group, though I'm a little put out that you'd drop this squad over any/all the others in the world of internet.

iluvmysephia1

14-year-old Chow?! That's impressive. Hopefully her health holds up right up to the point it doesn't hold at all.

Welcome back to the group, though I'm a little put out that you'd drop this squad over any/all the others in the world of internet.

I know, I know. At the time I decided to leave Edmunds we were in a store here in Alamogordo that didn't have anything I was really interested in. I was stopping to type every so often and I just thought to myself:

Self! Drop this forum and stick to the rest of them - for now. You can always come back. Know this: it wasn't personal at all. It was a personal decision of mine, however. If that makes sense. As long as you all love Kia's, Foghat, the Seattle Seahawks and Chow Chows you'll be all right with me from Tuesday, May 10th, 2022 and/on.

iluvmysephia1

Does anyone remember how to change the vehicle in our profile? I can't find a logical way to change it. I click on it and there's no way to edit the photo on my profile. Anyone have the missing link?

qbrozen

click your profile pic in the right menu and select Edit Profile. Then, in the new page, use the right menu again to Change Pic.

iluvmysephia1

click your profile pic in the right menu and select Edit Profile. Then, in the new page, use the right menu again to Change Pic.

Thanks, gbrozen - it worked like a champ! I really try everything first on my own to fix or update things before asking, but that one really stumped me. Thanks again, man.

iluvmysephia1

Testing to see if my updated car shows in the lower left. It should say 2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed.

iluvmysephia1

No, it's not showing. I'll see if I can fix it right now before I go to bed. It's late, it's 9:03PM Mountain Time here in the southern most chunk of the Rocky Mountains.

iluvmysephia1

All right, anyone else wanna help me get my 2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick to show up in the lower left-hand corner of my posts? I've already fixed it in my profile so I really don't know what the problem might be. Thanks in advance to answers that work.

iluvmysephia1

I done fixed it brothers in Edmunds. It's done!

Yes!

iluvmysephia1

1971 VW Super Beetle

I'm considering this little Bug but, like everything I buy, will scrutinize everything about this used automotive item to the Nth degree before spending the actual dollars on it. It has a problem with spilling out ghastly when the driver goes around a corner just right. It needs a

FUEL TANK RUBBER HOSE AND CLAMP KIT

It also needs the other exhaust pipe replaced and the fuel gauge isn't working. That may not be tough to fix once one gets the proverbial VW Super Beetle repair manual. Sounds like everyone daring to get an old Beetle needs a repair manual.

Anyone know of any other Edmunds member that owns an old-school VW Beetle? Let me know. I don't know about you but I'll pay a good local Alamo mechanic to fix the broken fuel gauge. I have located a great foreign auto mechanic in Alamogordo and if I buy this car I will hire his auto repair shop to do all 3 of them. The current owner says his wife has two Beetles and they don't need this one. Hey, I saw her other Bug and it was bright red and, by all rights, so far this guy is on the up and up with anything or everything I want to know about the car. I need to know how much fuel is left in my tank and, although there's an app for that, I am a purist in that I want the old-school fuel gauge to work as it was intended by Volksauto themselves. This car looks like it will be a ball to drive and a joy to own. We'll see if I'm brave enough to spend the pesos on it. And, I watched a video where 2 decent-sized guys got in the front to make a YouTube video, and man, there's not a lotta extra room in there at all! This car will be my little getaway car for fun little trips around town and up the hill to Cloudcroft and the Sunspot Observatory and the little mountain hamlet of Timberon.

They want $5,000 for the car and the odometer say 83,XXX-odd miles on it, I have a feeling that has rolled over to 183,XXX. BTW - the above 3 fixes to this car will keep that mechanic busy for probably 5 hours and I'll be out an estimated $600 for it, but, the engine sounds solid, it is a 4-speed stick (wouldn't have it any other way), it has a one year old red interior that looks great in pictures and he's also had installed a Bluetooth stereo with a 6X9 kicker speaker (I perked my ears up literally when he texted that to me). The steering wheel and dash looks cherry as does the headliner and as you can see in the picture the people who painted it in Mexico did a great job with it. It has the original factory wheels and the tires look newer. The bumpers look correct and the metallic grey finish shines and has been treated very well. I think this couple loves VW Beetles and I can tell by the way they treat this one I'm interested in.

I am down to seeing how I'm going to get to where they are without calling my buddy here in Alamo that loves cars. I will probably call him to drive me there and give him a tidy little fee to go out of his way for me. Also, I need to nail down a price. I was thinking of giving him $4,400 to cover my costs to upgrade the car to original shape, but, $5,000 is pretty reasonable and with classic cars it seems right to give him the 5 grand and eat the extra $600 after I buy it. I insist these 3 problems get fixed so I can feel I'm starting with a complete Super Beetle, plus I want to fully enjoy the car. That's how I roll. I will obsess over cleaning the old buggy. Watch a guy on YouTube named Gjeebs. He'll show you how to clean a car - he has a BMW M2 and a Tesla Y model in his stable.

Good night, everyone. I'm so glad I came back on here. I absolutely love automobiles and love to talk to others about them and this site is my favorite all-time automotive talk website.

This is a Texas car but the owner/seller does not have a front license plate. Why did I notice that? Heh-heh, because I wanna know why? Oh well. In New Mexico we're just required to display one, and that is in the back, of course.

jmonroe1

iluvmysephia1 said:

I done fixed it brothers in Edmunds. It's done!

Yes!

It’s about time.

jmonroe

iluvmysephia1

It’s about time.

jmonroe

Are you what happens to people after they retire? Tee-hee. That's all right. I'm retired too, and if I do actually buy this car my wife will be singing my praises, too, like you.

qbrozen

@iluvmysephia1 said:
1971 VW Super Beetle

I'm considering this little Bug but, like everything I buy, will scrutinize everything about this used automotive item to the Nth degree before spending the actual dollars on it. It has a problem with spilling out ghastly when the driver goes around a corner just right. It needs a

FUEL TANK RUBBER HOSE AND CLAMP KIT

It also needs the other exhaust pipe replaced and the fuel gauge isn't working. That may not be tough to fix once one gets the proverbial VW Super Beetle repair manual. Sounds like everyone daring to get an old Beetle needs a repair manual.

Anyone know of any other Edmunds member that owns an old-school VW Beetle? Let me know. I don't know about you but I'll pay a good local Alamo mechanic to fix the broken fuel gauge. I have located a great foreign auto mechanic in Alamogordo and if I buy this car I will hire his auto repair shop to do all 3 of them. The current owner says his wife has two Beetles and they don't need this one. Hey, I saw her other Bug and it was bright red and, by all rights, so far this guy is on the up and up with anything or everything I want to know about the car. I need to know how much fuel is left in my tank and, although there's an app for that, I am a purist in that I want the old-school fuel gauge to work as it was intended by Volksauto themselves. This car looks like it will be a ball to drive and a joy to own. We'll see if I'm brave enough to spend the pesos on it. And, I watched a video where 2 decent-sized guys got in the front to make a YouTube video, and man, there's not a lotta extra room in there at all! This car will be my little getaway car for fun little trips around town and up the hill to Cloudcroft and the Sunspot Observatory and the little mountain hamlet of Timberon.

They want $5,000 for the car and the odometer say 83,XXX-odd miles on it, I have a feeling that has rolled over to 183,XXX. BTW - the above 3 fixes to this car will keep that mechanic busy for probably 5 hours and I'll be out an estimated $600 for it, but, the engine sounds solid, it is a 4-speed stick (wouldn't have it any other way), it has a one year old red interior that looks great in pictures and he's also had installed a Bluetooth stereo with a 6X9 kicker speaker (I perked my ears up literally when he texted that to me). The steering wheel and dash looks cherry as does the headliner and as you can see in the picture the people who painted it in Mexico did a great job with it. It has the original factory wheels and the tires look newer. The bumpers look correct and the metallic grey finish shines and has been treated very well. I think this couple loves VW Beetles and I can tell by the way they treat this one I'm interested in.

I am down to seeing how I'm going to get to where they are without calling my buddy here in Alamo that loves cars. I will probably call him to drive me there and give him a tidy little fee to go out of his way for me. Also, I need to nail down a price. I was thinking of giving him $4,400 to cover my costs to upgrade the car to original shape, but, $5,000 is pretty reasonable and with classic cars it seems right to give him the 5 grand and eat the extra $600 after I buy it. I insist these 3 problems get fixed so I can feel I'm starting with a complete Super Beetle, plus I want to fully enjoy the car. That's how I roll. I will obsess over cleaning the old buggy. Watch a guy on YouTube named Gjeebs. He'll show you how to clean a car - he has a BMW M2 and a Tesla Y model in his stable.

Good night, everyone. I'm so glad I came back on here. I absolutely love automobiles and love to talk to others about them and this site is my favorite all-time automotive talk website.

This is a Texas car but the owner/seller does not have a front license plate. Why did I notice that? Heh-heh, because I wanna know why? Oh well. In New Mexico we're just required to display one, and that is in the back, of course.

Have you had it checked over by a pro? I have not looked at classic bugs in a long time, but $5k seems very cheap for a real super beetle. Unless something is horribly wrong with it, you’d best not procrastinate long on it or it will be gone.

Personally, I’d get all that black off and return the chrome to its original glory.

ab348

qbrozen said:

Have you had it checked over by a pro? I have not looked at classic bugs in a long time, but $5k seems very cheap for a real super beetle. Unless something is horribly wrong with it, you’d best not procrastinate long on it or it will be gone.

Personally, I’d get all that black off and return the chrome to its original glory.

Being a Texas car it may have been somewhat immune but be sure to check it very carefully for rust. There is a reason why you don't see many Beetles these days despite VW making something like 21 million of the things.

qbrozen

Gloria is scheduled to get on her slow boat 5/16 and arrive in Baltimore 6/25. Since I have no clue what I'm doing yet, I've just signed up for a customs brokerage service. Only $125 fee, so seems well worth it. And my import duties are under $40, from what I know so far.

au1994

Wise choice on the broker.

jmonroe1

qbrozen said:

Gloria is scheduled to get on her slow boat 5/16 and arrive in Baltimore 6/25. Since I have no clue what I'm doing yet, I've just signed up for a customs brokerage service. Only $125 fee, so seems well worth it. And my import duties are under $40, from what I know so far.

It does SEEM like it’s with it. But read that paperwork again. Make sure that $40 import duty isn’t per mile.

jmonroe

iluvmysephia1

Personally, I’d get all that black off and return the chrome to its original glory.

Yeah, normally I'd like the chrome bumper but with this color I like the black.

qbrozen

jmonroe1 said:

It does SEEM like it’s with it. But read that paperwork again. Make sure that $40 import duty isn’t per mile.

jmonroe

Only 2.5% duty tax. Depends if they charge on purchase price or total price including the shipping fees. I have no clue. But, even if on total, it is $87.

First company was too good to be true. They don't handle automobiles. Reached out to a few more places. First response looks to be $325, plus gov fees.

tifighter

Great time to buy a 20 year old SUV, I thought to myself.

iluvmysephia1

Being a Texas car it may have been somewhat immune but be sure to check it very carefully for rust. There is a reason why you don't see many Beetles these days despite VW making something like 21 million of the things.

Good point, ab348. I texted the owner before you posted the above about rust and got no reply. He has done that before, though, so I'm going to text him again. That will be a deal-killer.

nyccarguy

tifighter said:

Great time to buy a 20 year old SUV, I thought to myself.

You might want to look into one of them there fancy EEElectric vEhicKukls I seen on the news.

oldfarmer50

nyccarguy said:

tifighter said:

Great time to buy a 20 year old SUV, I thought to myself.

You might want to look into one of them there fancy EEElectric vEhicKukls I seen on the news.

Or move to those states in the middle.

laurasdada

Welcome back, Sr. Sephia nee Soul.
Retire? How does one do that?