Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

nyccarguy

qbrozen said:

Michaell said:

I'll admit I've looked at some JDM cars from a dealer in TN, I think. I focus on the 4-door sedans rather than the Kei cars or enthusiast oriented models.

Well, I have a very sweet Gloria coming up for sale. But it is a slushbox. At least it has the VQ engine, though! And less than 20k miles! Not to mention fully serviced, including t-belt and new tires. $9k on that one. Slight grandpa odor inside that may or may not be gone at sale time.

If we are going to play THAT game, then can I interest you in an ultra low mileage Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4Xe? Is there a more perfect vehicle for Colorado than a 4 Door, 4 Wheel Drive, Convertible. Heated seats, Heated steering wheel, as well as the ability to disconnect the sway bars with the push of a button. LOL!

breld

@michaell - I should be pretty open this weekend.

breld

If these are truly available, they would be great options.

https://www.schomphonda.com/new-vehicles/?_dFR[model][0]=Civic%20Hatchback&_dFR[type][0]=New&_paymentType=our_price

explorerx4

@qbrozen,
You can get an ionizer to get rid of aroma's in the car.
It took running it a few time, but I finally got rid of the mouse smell for a nest in the Mustang.
Here's a link to the one I bought.
https://www.amazon.com/Enerzen-Commercial-Industrial-Deodorizer-Sterilizer/dp/B00JAP7388/ref=sr_1_4?adgrpid=1346902315560415&hvadid=84181466873066&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=100226&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-84181753463492:loc-190&hydadcr=26612_9986941&keywords=ionizer&qid=1664896578&qu=eyJxc2MiOiI1LjY2IiwicXNhIjoiNS4xNiIsInFzcCI6IjQuNjEifQ==&sr=8-4

stickguy

breld said:

If these are truly available, they would be great options.

https://www.schomphonda.com/new-vehicles/?_dFR[model][0]=Civic%20Hatchback&_dFR[type][0]=New&_paymentType=our_price

those are all rubber band trans cars. I thought he (wisely) wanted a hand shaker?

cdnpinhead

pensfan83 said:

If I recall your TSX is red? Do you have any issues with fading or discoloring or did Honda/Acura have that worked out by then?

Do I ever, but that's the least of it. The portions of the car that haven't been replaced or repainted due to damage (hit a coyote at 75 at night on the freeway, kid ran into me with a bicycle [really, I was stopped], loose tire bounced into the top of the windshield and roof, etc.) are definitely faded. The various repainted areas are all red, but slightly different shades. Fortunately I care most about how the car drives rather than how it looks. A complete quality repaint would cost several thousands, and I don't think it's worth it.

kyfdx

pensfan83 said:

kyfdx said:

Pretty sure that @breld has a nice German car for sale, soon. Stick-shift, too...

Thinking of taking a trip down memory lane?

Not me, but @Michaell is looking for a car, and he's right down the road.

Michaell

@kyfdx said:
Not me, but @Michaell is looking for a car, and he's right down the road.

Replace "is" with "May be"

nyccarguy

@qbrozen

I bought a pack of these Damp Rid hanging bags. They do take time, but work very nicely. Last year after my Prelude took on some water, I vacuumed it out and tried almost everything to get the musty smell out of it. Vinegar & Baking Soda. Febreeze. Opening up a detergent pod and leaving it in a plastic dish. After using 3 or 4 of these over the course of a few months, it smells fresh and pleasant inside the Prelude.

https://www.amazon.com/DampRid-Hanging-Fresh-16-Ounce-3-Pack/dp/B072LN492H

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

If I had not turned my 2019 TLX lease in early to Carvana, I almost definitely would have bought it out. and probably kept it a very long time. would never have sniffed that kind of miles, but 10 years, easy.

I got to take a short drive in a TLX the company bought used. I was very impressed with the ride and the interior.

qbrozen

@nyccarguy said:
If we are going to play THAT game, then can I interest you in an ultra low mileage Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4Xe? Is there a more perfect vehicle for Colorado than a 4 Door, 4 Wheel Drive, Convertible. Heated seats, Heated steering wheel, as well as the ability to disconnect the sway bars with the push of a button. LOL!

Whoa! For his $25k cap, that’s very generous of you! @Michaell , jump on that!

oldfarmer50

Almost a punch.

I spotted this yesterday and was planning on giving the guy a call. You just don’t see trucks for that price any more. Mileage was decent for the age and the rust looked appropriate for something driven around here. I had a retirement party to attend so I figured I’d call when I got back. SOLD!

https://albany.craigslist.org/cto/d/clifton-park-dodge-dakota-sold/7540765178.html

You snooze, you lose.

qbrozen

@pensfan83 said:
@qbrozen are you thinking of keeping anything you've imported or have inbound so far or still waiting on something else to bid on?

We are [probably] keeping the Suzuki Wagon R at myrtle beach. I intended the Pajero for myself, with the reasoning that its towing capacity would be perfect for fetching and delivering cars, but wife is balking. She says use the Sprinter (although towing capacity is lower and it is obviously far less maneuverable with an extra 20 feet hanging out back). I think I’d have to choose between it and the WRX, it would seem. Until I get more seat time in the Mitsu, I can’t decide. I don’t necessarily want to give up the WRX, but gotta do what’s best. Alternatively, if I get a shop, the Mitsu lives there as the shop vehicle. Drive to the shop in personal car and hop in that to go tow stuff.

I have maybe the strongest lead yet on a shop. Need the weather to clear up.

stickguy

just keep them all and park strategically enough that she won't even notice how many you have.

nyccarguy

qbrozen said:

@nyccarguy said:

If we are going to play THAT game, then can I interest you in an ultra low mileage Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4Xe? Is there a more perfect vehicle for Colorado than a 4 Door, 4 Wheel Drive, Convertible. Heated seats, Heated steering wheel, as well as the ability to disconnect the sway bars with the push of a button. LOL!

Whoa! For his $25k cap, that’s very generous of you! @Michaell , jump on that!

After all is said and done, when he sells it in 5 years, the net cost will only be about $25K:)-

henryn

explorerx4 said:

@qbrozen,
You can get an ionizer to get rid of aroma's in the car.
It took running it a few time, but I finally got rid of the mouse smell for a nest in the Mustang.
Here's a link to the one I bought.
https://www.amazon.com/Enerzen-Commercial-Industrial-Deodorizer-Sterilizer/dp/B00JAP7388/ref=sr_1_4?adgrpid=1346902315560415&hvadid=84181466873066&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=100226&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-84181753463492:loc-190&hydadcr=26612_9986941&keywords=ionizer&qid=1664896578&qu=eyJxc2MiOiI1LjY2IiwicXNhIjoiNS4xNiIsInFzcCI6IjQuNjEifQ==&sr=8-4

I have the same ionizer, purchased last year to get rid of the smell of cigarette smoke in the Pacifica. It worked, took about 3 passes overall. Each time I used it, the smell was gone, but came back, until the 3rd attempt finished it off.

If you're going to be a car dealer, then you probably should own one of these.

stickguy

oldfarmer50 said:

Almost a punch.

I spotted this yesterday and was planning on giving the guy a call. You just don’t see trucks for that price any more. Mileage was decent for the age and the rust looked appropriate for something driven around here. I had a retirement party to attend so I figured I’d call when I got back. SOLD!

https://albany.craigslist.org/cto/d/clifton-park-dodge-dakota-sold/7540765178.html

You snooze, you lose.

yes, when a deal drops in your lap jump on it immediately. I did the same thing last month with a Miata. Guy called Wednesday night to say it was home, but we were going out so I said I would come look Thursday afternoon. Sold that morning.

I wish I saw this ad in time. Only 10 minutes from me. For that price I would have skated you and grabbed it. Buy that, flip the Maverick to Carmaxvanaroom, and use it as the winter snow beater. A clean 4x4 in this market is a steal at that price.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Almost a punch.

I spotted this yesterday and was planning on giving the guy a call. You just don’t see trucks for that price any more. Mileage was decent for the age and the rust looked appropriate for something driven around here. I had a retirement party to attend so I figured I’d call when I got back. SOLD!

https://albany.craigslist.org/cto/d/clifton-park-dodge-dakota-sold/7540765178.html

You snooze, you lose.

yes, when a deal drops in your lap jump on it immediately. I did the same thing last month with a Miata. Guy called Wednesday night to say it was home, but we were going out so I said I would come look Thursday afternoon. Sold that morning.

I wish I saw this ad in time. Only 10 minutes from me. For that price I would have skated you and grabbed it. Buy that, flip the Maverick to Carmaxvanaroom, and use it as the winter snow beater. A clean 4x4 in this market is a steal at that price.

Well, to sour grape missing the deal we can assume that it had multiple expensive problems anyway. The one tip off is that he said he replaced the brake lines. That usually means the underside is heavily rusted.

stickguy

I thought of that too. Just watched a video from the car wizard with this exact scenario. Body looked great. underneath, not so much.

good thing about looking at a used truck instead of a car, you can slide under easy enough in their driveway to check it out! No lift required.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GhCRuuCMCI

qbrozen

ok, i bought the ionizer.

I had done febreeze a couple of times, an orange spray stuff, and a thing of damp rid. The orange worked for a few days. None of the others really helped. It isn't a damp smell, I don't think. My fam all agrees it is like old clothes. I believe the seats are wool, as that is popular in the high-end executive cars over there, from what I've read, so I think it is just having been in storage with the windows shut. It isn't offensive, but not exactly pleasant. Mostly unnoticed when the AC is running and the air blowing around inside.

jmonroe1

oldfarmer50 said:

Almost a punch.

I spotted this yesterday and was planning on giving the guy a call. You just don’t see trucks for that price any more. Mileage was decent for the age and the rust looked appropriate for something driven around here. I had a retirement party to attend so I figured I’d call when I got back. SOLD!

https://albany.craigslist.org/cto/d/clifton-park-dodge-dakota-sold/7540765178.html

You snooze, you lose.

————————————————-
I thought you knew snoozers are losers, especially in these times.

jmonroe

oldfarmer50

jmonroe1 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Almost a punch.

I spotted this yesterday and was planning on giving the guy a call. You just don’t see trucks for that price any more. Mileage was decent for the age and the rust looked appropriate for something driven around here. I had a retirement party to attend so I figured I’d call when I got back. SOLD!

https://albany.craigslist.org/cto/d/clifton-park-dodge-dakota-sold/7540765178.html

You snooze, you lose.

————————————————-
I thought you knew snoozers are losers, especially in these times.

jmonroe

Normally I’d be wide awake for hooptie deals but the last two years have been so thin on bargains that I guess I’ve started to snooze.

You know how you tend to nod off when you get old.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

I thought of that too. Just watched a video from the car wizard with this exact scenario. Body looked great. underneath, not so much.

good thing about looking at a used truck instead of a car, you can slide under easy enough in their driveway to check it out! No lift required.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GhCRuuCMCI

So the take away from that video is to buy a bunch of cheap trucks and park them around where they’re likely to get hit?

explorerx4

@henryn,
I think I bought mine based on your recommendation. I did have to use it several times before the aroma went away for good.
I even stuck it in the cowl area between the hood and windshield base since that is where the nest was.

benjaminh

stickguy said:

I thought of that too. Just watched a video from the car wizard with this exact scenario. Body looked great. underneath, not so much.

good thing about looking at a used truck instead of a car, you can slide under easy enough in their driveway to check it out! No lift required.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GhCRuuCMCI

That's a scary video.

stickguy

loved the comments from his wife. "and you let me drive this?"

ab348

qbrozen said:

We are [probably] keeping the Suzuki Wagon R at myrtle beach. I intended the Pajero for myself, with the reasoning that its towing capacity would be perfect for fetching and delivering cars, but wife is balking. She says use the Sprinter (although towing capacity is lower and it is obviously far less maneuverable with an extra 20 feet hanging out back).

Translation of what Mrs. QB said: "I don't like driving that big truck I made you buy me, so you drive it instead."

henryn

I just received another one of those "private offers" from Ford, $2,000 off on a new F150. Too bad they don't actually have any for sale.

explorerx4

@henryn,
They are going to have to something. Sales were way down last month.

corvette

Spotted on my evening walk…

stickguy

That, is not attractive. and what a barge.

explorerx4

Needs more fake wood siding.

corvette

I was thinking @roadburner might abandon his M240i dreams for such an exquisite beauty.

Michaell

corvette said:

I was thinking @roadburner might abandon his M240i dreams for such an exquisite beauty.

He might charge you with criminal intent for even voicing that opinion.

tifighter

I don't love it. But, actually, I don't hate it.

au1994

corvette said:

Spotted on my evening walk…

Am I going crazy(ier)? I don’t hate it.

jmonroe1

oldfarmer50 said:

jmonroe1 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Almost a punch.

I spotted this yesterday and was planning on giving the guy a call. You just don’t see trucks for that price any more. Mileage was decent for the age and the rust looked appropriate for something driven around here. I had a retirement party to attend so I figured I’d call when I got back. SOLD!

https://albany.craigslist.org/cto/d/clifton-park-dodge-dakota-sold/7540765178.html

You snooze, you lose.

————————————————-
I thought you knew snoozers are losers, especially in these times.

jmonroe

Normally I’d be wide awake for hooptie deals but the last two years have been so thin on bargains that I guess I’ve started to snooze.

You know how you tend to nod off when you get old.

————————————————-
No, I don’t.

jmonroe

fintail

If the wood was a little taller/thicker relative to the size of the vehicle, it might look better:

explorerx4 said:

Needs more fake wood siding.

Sandman6472

Think I'd go with the family Sonata as it does all that you need, is paid off & if something major was to happen, the loss won't be that great. At least it would get you through this difficult time we're living in until you can purchase something you really want. Squirrel away some extra $ and wait a bit. This all assumes the Sonata drives good with no lingering issues & if the infotainment system is outdated, wouldn't cost that much to get a unit installed with today's tech built in. This way you won't feel what it is, an older family vehicle that's been taken care of & still has some useful life. And y'all already know the vehicle's history which you won't know if you go pre-owned. And there's also no large out lay of funds here...ya just got to get it to Denver. And maybe a short road trip could be fun!
You're lucky that you have some options here. Going with the family Sonata might be the best solution for the short term until the auto industry finally gets it's groove back!

Sandman6472

NY, what happened to the first Jeep Wrangler? Guess I must've missed when y'all sold it or, is it still around? Have driven a few at work and just not of fan of their road manners. Prefer the size of the 2-door models but again, not the smoothest driver out there. If I needed a Jeep, guess I'd go with a Renegade for it's small size but, we like smaller vehicles for some reason.

Michaell

Sandman6472 said:

Think I'd go with the family Sonata as it does all that you need, is paid off & if something major was to happen, the loss won't be that great. At least it would get you through this difficult time we're living in until you can purchase something you really want. Squirrel away some extra $ and wait a bit. This all assumes the Sonata drives good with no lingering issues & if the infotainment system is outdated, wouldn't cost that much to get a unit installed with today's tech built in. This way you won't feel what it is, an older family vehicle that's been taken care of & still has some useful life. And y'all already know the vehicle's history which you won't know if you go pre-owned. And there's also no large out lay of funds here...ya just got to get it to Denver. And maybe a short road trip could be fun!
You're lucky that you have some options here. Going with the family Sonata might be the best solution for the short term until the auto industry finally gets it's groove back!

Sandy, my sister has invested quite a bit of money getting and keeping the car in good condition. And, we've already replaced the head unit to one that includes CarPlay.

A couple of pix of it when I was in CA about a month ago:

Sandman6472

Still waiting to see what Toyota has up their sleeve to take on the newer & better Honda Civic. The current Corolla looks old compared to the Honda or even the Hyundai Elantra, old & dated. I get that the reliability is off the charts, I've owned a couple over the years, but they really need to knock one out of the park with the new Corolla. Think if one could fit on my side of the garage, I might be inclined to get another Honda Civic hatch. Does everything well and looks sweet doing it! I drove one a few weeks ago, a hatchback EX-L model, and was duly impressed by everything. If I knew it would fit, I would've gladly traded out of my VW Golf for it...I thought it was just that good!

stickguy

it won't fit.

benjaminh

@Michaell
"....my sister has invested quite a bit of money getting and keeping the car in good condition. And, we've already replaced the head unit to one that includes CarPlay...."

If you can claim that car, from my pov that would be a great choice in this market. Looks good in red! It's a San Diego car iirc, which means probably almost no rust underneath. If you can drive that for a couple of years, you might be able to get an okay price on a new car sometime in 2024, which is when the chip crisis for vehicles in the US might finally be over.

explorerx4

He might have trouble getting that Sonata away from his nephew who has been driving it.

kyfdx

I get the feeling he doesn't really want to drive it back from San Diego to Denver...

ab348

henryn said:

I just received another one of those "private offers" from Ford, $2,000 off on a new F150. Too bad they don't actually have any for sale.

Up here the 3 dealers in the city have a combined 52 F-150s available. All but 3 are over $60K worthless Canadian dollars.

Michaell

benjaminh said:

@Michaell
"....my sister has invested quite a bit of money getting and keeping the car in good condition. And, we've already replaced the head unit to one that includes CarPlay...."

If you can claim that car, from my pov that would be a great choice in this market. Looks good in red! It's a San Diego car iirc, which means probably almost no rust underneath. If you can drive that for a couple of years, you might be able to get an okay price on a new car sometime in 2024, which is when the chip crisis for vehicles in the US might finally be over.

It's been a SoCal car since my folks bought it in 2003.

Michaell

explorerx4 said:

He might have trouble getting that Sonata away from his nephew who has been driving it.

That may be true. He's using it to deliver pizzas, which I'm not thrilled about (cue ionizer plug!).

Michaell

kyfdx said:

I get the feeling he doesn't really want to drive it back from San Diego to Denver...

Actually, I'm overdue for a road trip. My last one was 10 years ago ....

I've got points for the flight to SD. Just gas, food and lodging to get it back to Colorado. It sucks gas like you wouldn't believe. I drove it from San Diego to Ventura County and back (300+ miles, round trip) in August and it gets low 20's on the highway.

Certainly cheaper than any new or used car I could find, at the moment.