Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

explorerx4

@tjc78,
Just filled up the Explorer after the first local driving only fillup, 25.4 MPG.
No trips longer than 15 miles one way.

tjc78

@stickguy said:
Sharp looking beast of a truck. You getting that thing in the garage?

Why do I cut these things so close? Next week I will see about home.

tjc78

@Michaell said:
Went back to the dealer after my sister got off work. Naturally, this went to the top of the list.

Now to get her husband on board. Uphill battle, me thinks.

This is my whip for the week:

Great color. If looks brand new

28firefighter

The first angle doesn’t seem so bad. The second, well…

stickguy

It either hits or it doesn’t. Extra clearance is just wasted space.

tjc78

@28firefighter said:
The first angle doesn’t seem so bad. The second, well…

Only got out like three times along the way. Tape measure didn’t lie. Lol.

tjc78

@explorerx4 said:
@tjc78,
Just filled up the Explorer after the first local driving only fillup, 25.4 MPG.
No trips longer than 15 miles one way.

Wow, that’s outstanding. I think the wife and I are just too heavy with the pedal.

stickguy

Our new house is more driving but better mileage. More country backroads to get to the busy area and regular short highway stints (1-2 exits, maybe 6-7 miles). Purely local since last fill up Maverick at 27+ and RDX at 22+. The Acura really gets lousy mileage.

sda

Our Q5 seems to get around 20-22 mpg around town and 27-29mpg on the interstate. PUG of course. My SIL gets similar mpg from her 19 RDX yet it is fwd.

jmonroe1

@stickguy said:
JM since your the builder, how wide does a landing step need to be? The steps stick out about 22” from the wall. So I figure a landing would need to be at least 18”? Gain a few inches which would help but bigger benefit would be Not walking right into the car at the bottom. And being able to park closer to it.

Probably not worth the effort but something g to think about.

No options to move them short of major reframing to shorten a hallway and relocate the door back. And probably rework ceiling and joists in the basement.

————————————————-
Since the steps stick out only 22 inches you can’t move them to the side wall because you can’t have a step that is only 11 inches wide.

I assume you can’t relocate the steps to the back wall without going through a major renovation. But if by chance you can relocate the steps to the back wall, you should look into that. Call a couple carpenters to see what they think about that because moving could be even more of a hassle. Of course learning to live with it might be the best way to go.

Pulling in on an angle isn’t the end of the world. I do it all the time parking Mrs. j’s car on the right outside wall. Just to provide more room to the swing the drivers door open when pulled into the garage. She gets out before I pull in. We’re used to it now and don’t even think twice about it. The few times when it rains, she moves a little faster to get in or out of the car. She won’t melt.

jmonroe

rayainsw

tjc78 - "..we can officially count the punch."
Congrats!
Enjoy!
- Ray
Agree that those seats look v nice!

roadburner

@breld said:
I mentioned a used M240i convertible a while back in mineral gray with oyster leather.

I was mistaken on the interior - it’s cognac. They finally posted pics…that’s a beautiful car.

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=653591824&allListingType=all-cars&makeCodeList=BMW&seriesCodeList=2_SERIES&city=Parker&state=CO&zip=80134&location=&searchRadius=500&modelCodeList=BMW230I,BMWM2,BMWM240I,BMWM240IXD&marketExtension=include&isNewSearch=false&showAccelerateBanner=false&sortBy=relevance&numRecords=25&firstRecord=25&dma=&referrer=/cars-for-sale/all-cars/bmw/2-series/parker-co-80134?dma=&searchRadius=500&modelCodeList=BMW230I%2CBMWM2%2CBMWM240I%2CBMWM240IXD&location=&marketExtension=include&isNewSearch=false&showAccelerateBanner=false&sortBy=relevance&numRecords=25&firstRecord=25&clickType=listing

Nice! I’m not into drop tops but that one is beautiful.

stickguy

I should get a picture. Moving the door is not an option.

Basically I’m thinking of making a landing instead of the first step that is there now (of 2 steps total). Then bring the 2 steps down at a 90degree angle, so coming down the wall. I just need to measure how wide the steps would be.

Might only save 6” (if steps were 16” wide) which would help, but would also avoid coming down the steps and only having a narrow space before running into the car.

stickguy

I’m also figuring we will be doing the drop off in the driveway routine. Did that a lot at the old house since there wasn’t much space to open passenger side door on her car.

Probably will just move the shelves around and figure out how to get in at an angle. Until I get the huge elliptical out of that side I can’t even attempt to get the truck in. And still have some junks from the move to sort out. But at least the RDX is safely inside now.

kyfdx

Sold my uncle's 2018 RAV4 with 4K miles to the local Toyota dealer for $25,500, two weeks ago.

Dealer put it up for $31K. It's already gone. (of course, I don't know for how much)

ab348

stickguy said:

Starting to work on the wife to downsize to something smaller than the RDX to give me a fighting chance of cramming both cars in the garage.

or I get the Miata which I know I can tuck into the side corner, and just give up on putting 2 big cars in there!

Serves me right getting distracted by the cool features and not measuring the garage and focusing on how the step ate into the room. I can tetris it to get the cars in, but it may only leave a 6" gap to get around the RDX to the step. which is going to be a problem.

How about posting a pic of the space and the steps?

explorerx4

@tjc78,
It looks like your garage is plenty long enough for the truck.

stickguy

Found an NC (2007 I think) Miata on marketplace, coincidentally in my town. Supposed to see it Sunday. I think it has 92k on it, asking $8k. If nothing else I’ll figure out if I even fit.

tifighter

I’m 6’2” and barely fit into our NC. If there was a small bump in the road with the top up, then whack went my head into the roof. YMMV.

corvette

It appears that Ford is going to re-jigger the allocation formula yet again based upon a dealer's share within its region and how quickly they are moving product. This is not great news for those of us with Mavericks on order from smaller dealers who took a bunch of orders, although it remains to be seen whether or not these allocation restrictions will apply to 2023 orders which were rolled over because they weren't built as 2022 models.

My dealer, Granger, has gotten a bunch of allocations within the past few months, but it seems that Ford hasn't been assigning VINs to them to be built.

roadburner

A 2018 M2 popped up in my area. I normally wouldn’t be interested but it has the M Performance package which gets you the $2000 M Performance exhaust along with some CF bits. About $15k cheaper than a comparable M2C- which would buy a Carbahn Stage 2 tune and some other M Performance bits and still have $12k left over. Might go check it out this weekend.

stickguy

tifighter said:

I’m 6’2” and barely fit into our NC. If there was a small bump in the road with the top up, then whack went my head into the roof. YMMV.

Solution to that is only drive with the top down!

Headroom wasn’t my issue. I had no room for my legs and feet in the NB

oldfarmer50

nyccarguy said:

@sda said:

Is that one of your company trucks LCS directly across the street?

Yes. I actually ran across the street to snap a pic of the WRX. The LCS truck is my company’s truck. Levin’s Crosstown Supply Corporation.

Be careful posting personal information. You might get some needy Edmunds poster showing up looking for some free plumbing for his next flip house.

Not mentioning any names.😂😂

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

OK, pretend I am Sandy and give me options. I want something smaller. Say in the 170" range +/- a couple. Needs to be 4 doors. Not sit too low. Some sort of hatch/CUV. Skinnier the better! AWD desirable since I now live in snow country and relative boonies. Need to have a full load of goodies (the safety stuff plus power seats, heated everything possible, moonroof, etc.)

does not have to be a hot rod, but reasonably entertaining to drive on a twisty road. good MPG (hybrid would be great, but I doubt I will find a plug in).

Hmm, I think I just described a Sube crosstrek. Need to go find dimensions! But hit me with other options. Not sure I want to do a Mini, but I know the wife liked it when I test drove one.

I’d get the Miata anyway. NY, VT and MA are beautiful in the summer. A little convertible would be worth the limitations in use.

oldfarmer50

tjc78 said:

@explorerx4 said:
@yjc78,

Glad you finally got your truck. Looks very good.

I'll curious to see what kind of mileage you get.

eTorque is rated at a couple of MPG EPA combined more than the regular Hemi.

I’ll report it. To be honest I’m 100% sure it will be dismal. I think it is reading 12.3 at the moment. There may be a few full throttle pulls in that number

Speaking of fuel economy. I have to say the XC90 is pretty thrifty. We are averaging 21.3, which for a 300HP+ heavy vehicle is impressive. Our Enclave with the same driving style/mix barely cracked 17.

The Rams I’ve driven with the 5.7 get a little over 20 on the highway.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

I’m also figuring we will be doing the drop off in the driveway routine. Did that a lot at the old house since there wasn’t much space to open passenger side door on her car.

Probably will just move the shelves around and figure out how to get in at an angle. Until I get the huge elliptical out of that side I can’t even attempt to get the truck in. And still have some junks from the move to sort out. But at least the RDX is safely inside now.

Come winter you won’t want to get out in the driveway and then drag snow and salt into the house.

A picture would be nice so that the designers among us can come up with something.

jmonroe1

@oldfarmer50 said:
Be careful posting personal information. You might get some needy Edmunds poster showing up looking for some free plumbing for his next flip house.

Not mentioning any names.😂😂

————————————————
Too late. I’m glad I know what to look for now. That truck will be gone by the time he shows up for work tomorrow morning.

jmonroe

roadburner

@sda said:
Our Q5 seems to get around 20-22 mpg around town and 27-29mpg on the interstate. PUG of course. My SIL gets similar mpg from her 19 RDX yet it is fwd.

My M235i and 318ti average 26-27 mpg in town and 30-32 mpg on the interstate. The Clubman averages 36 mpg around town and 45 mpg on the interstate. The X1 returns 23 mpg in town and 28 mpg on the interstate. The Jeep is lucky to see north of 15 mpg period.

stickguy

Hard to get a Good angle but this should work. Can’t see here but the car is shifted to the left so over the midpoint of the garage. Without the step it would be over by the wall. My thought is take that cabinet down and relocate it. Then have the step reworked so you step out onto a small landing then make a left and come down along the wall. Basically walk into where the cabinet is now. Then I can park front of car close to the step. Now you need extra clearance to get off the step by the car.

stickguy

That other stuff along the wall would obviously be moving.

tjc78

@explorerx4 said:
@tjc78,
It looks like your garage is plenty long enough for the truck.

At the shore, yes. At home it won’t fit without some reorganization, which is needed anyway.

stickguy

Probably could not get a wide enough step. 20” might be too narrow. A shorter car would help! Only other option might be coming in at a 15 degree angle with the nose toward the middle then do the same with my car, sticking the nose into the corner. The outside wall actually is a lot roomier. That has 2’ from edge of door to play with.

explorerx4

@stickguy,
I see some moving boxes against the wall.
We got lucky and some friends of our kids are moving to a larger house, so we gave them close to 100 boxes.
Still getting rid of some every week when trash picked up.

kyfdx

stickguy said:

Probably could not get a wide enough step. 20” might be too narrow. A shorter car would help! Only other option might be coming in at a 15 degree angle with the nose toward the middle then do the same with my car, sticking the nose into the corner. The outside wall actually is a lot roomier. That has 2’ from edge of door to play with.

Yeah, I think your steps will be too narrow.

stickguy

We have a bunch of boxes to a friend of our son. Still have plenty left and more to unpack!

stickguy

@kyfdx said:
Yeah, I think your steps will be too narrow.

Yeah. Once I get it emptied out I’ll just start playing Tetris and figure out how to make it work. But parking outside in the winter, not an option.

tjc78

@stickguy
You could always remove the right railing and cabinet and just come up the steps from the side. Not ideal but won’t cost you anything.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

Hard to get a Good angle but this should work. Can’t see here but the car is shifted to the left so over the midpoint of the garage. Without the step it would be over by the wall. My thought is take that cabinet down and relocate it. Then have the step reworked so you step out onto a small landing then make a left and come down along the wall. Basically walk into where the cabinet is now. Then I can park front of car close to the step. Now you need extra clearance to get off the step by the car.

I think that is exactly what you should do. Since the structure is basic it should be only home handy man level work.

ab348

Not that it is likely you would be getting a building inspector in, but my understanding is that codes require 36" minimum for landing and step widths, so you'd be out of luck if that ever kicked in. We're getting in too deep here but I do wonder exactly what would be needed to recess those steps into the hallway on the opposite side of the door. That would be the ideal solution. Whether or not you need to relocate point loads, etc is way beyond our pay grade here though.

ronsteve

I'd say my driving is maybe 75% highway/25% "city" and my long-term average with my 15 RDX is about 24mpg, just slightly down from what I got with the V70. It's only been in recent months that I can exceed the EPA highway number (27) as my "pure highway" driving has been hitting 28-28.5 since June (compared to 26-maybe 27 before). Not sure if that is a function of new plugs/timing belt/valve adjustment, or less Costco gas and more from other top tier brands.

stickguy

ab348 said:

Not that it is likely you would be getting a building inspector in, but my understanding is that codes require 36" minimum for landing and step widths, so you'd be out of luck if that ever kicked in. We're getting in too deep here but I do wonder exactly what would be needed to recess those steps into the hallway on the opposite side of the door. That would be the ideal solution. Whether or not you need to relocate point loads, etc is way beyond our pay grade here though.

Massive amounts of money. It would be very invasive. Honestly probably cheaper to move!

Taking off the one railing and upright could make it a lot easier though. Food for thought. And easy to do. Or undo.

stickguy

Was out earlier so just stopped by a local garage that has an inspection station license. Nice mechanic just took my car right in. 10 minutes later I was done with fresh stickers. Helps that such a new car does not require anything emissions related.

corvette

Here’s my attempt at making the Q5’s black carpet a little more dog resistant. It’s impossible to cover everything, though.

corvette

Also, out on my evening walk, I discovered that there is a silver Maverick parked at one of the houses in my neighborhood. It was getting dark, so I headed home, but I will probably stalk by there again in the next few days to get a better look.

corvette

Is anyone else having an issue where the post they just made shows up as a "new" post on the bookmarked topics page?

tjc78

@corvette said:
Is anyone else having an issue where the post they just made shows up as a "new" post on the bookmarked topics page?

Yes. @kyfdx told us it’s been reported.

jmonroe1

@corvette said:

Here’s my attempt at making the Q5’s black carpet a little more dog resistant. It’s impossible to cover everything, though.

————————————————-
Wouldn’t it be a lot easier to either leave the dog/s at home or cut their hair off?

jmonroe

jmonroe1

@corvette said:
Also, out on my evening walk, I discovered that there is a silver Maverick parked at one of the houses in my neighborhood. It was getting dark, so I headed home, but I will probably stalk by there again in the next few days to get a better look.

————————————————
What makes you think @stickguy will still be visiting in your neighborhood in the next few days? Have you forgotten that he has some garage steps to move in his new house?

jmonroe

stickguy

I got bored after we got home from looking at family room furniture again (carefully trying to steer my wife away from the super expensive sectional that the lady at the fancy furniture store did a good job upselling. and pointing her to a very good set that costs half as much but seems just as nice). So I did more searching on new car options for her.

though I did mention that really could go back to 1 but I would prefer a spare, but could replace hers with a toy and cover that need. Her response was "I don't want to drive the truck" I pointed out it was really a midsize SUV with the rear roof cut off. But will need to work on that some more.

from checking every brand I would consider buying, came up with a pretty long list of smaller CUVs/tall hatchs. a few that are reasonably affordable. and plenty that are fancier and more expensive (some quite a bit). maybe I missed something, but I don't think so. I might do some browsing when things settle down and we have time, but probably nothing on the lot to look at or drive anyway!

the list:

Normal, reasonably affordable cars.

Subaru crosstrek
Honda HRV (actually the longest car on this list after the redesign, and probably the slowest. not a good combo)
Hyundai Kona

More expensive stuff the wife would pick:

BMW X2
MB GLA
Lexus U250 (the MPG champ!)
Volvo XC40 (really like these but very pricey now)
Mini Countryman Cooper S all4 (I think the cheapest of the expensive models and quite nicely loaded)
Audi Q3

stickguy

jmonroe1 said:

@corvette said:

Also, out on my evening walk, I discovered that there is a silver Maverick parked at one of the houses in my neighborhood. It was getting dark, so I headed home, but I will probably stalk by there again in the next few days to get a better look.

————————————————

What makes you think @stickguy will still be visiting in your neighborhood in the next few days? Have you forgotten that he has some garage steps to move in his new house?

jmonroe

Hey, I have dark gray. Like all the cool people. Not silver.