Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

fezo

Daughter wants to know why it's not covered by warranty.

It's under warranty from the people who made the screw......

akangl

Now I get to sit and wait until February when it should arrive. Ended up selling my horse this week so tow capacity is no longer an issue.

mark156

Ok, Akangl,

What color, engine, drive-train did you order? Towing package?

Why did you sell the horse?

Mark156

akangl

What color, engine, drive-train did you order? Towing package?

Why did you sell the horse?

Long story on the horse, lol.

As for the SUV, well, I didn't order what I had planned. I really really wanted another Honda, it was just driving me nuts that the new Pilot was so meh. I love the reliability and wasn't sure the Jeep would even come close.

I went to the Honda/Acura dealer today and looked at an MDX. Ended up ordering one, funny thing was they offered a better deal on that then they would on an ordered Pilot.

So 2011 Acura MDX with the tech pkg in Polished Metal with an ebony interior. I would have gone with a base MDX but they don't offer a USB port, that's a no no in my book, I have to have my USB port.

My salesguy is the one who does all the new car ordering for Honda and Acura, I'm rather lucky there. He said expect it around the middle of February. So the deposit is paid and now I wait......impatiently!

stickguy

my SIL has one of these (2009 maybe? But the new style). I have driven it a few times, for a fair distance (DD), and it is a really sweet driving unit. And the toys are fun.

But come on. Spending 4-5 k for a USB port? Pretty sure you can have one added for a little less than that! just admit you wanted the navi (that even work in alaska?) and the fancier stereo!

Nice seats too. And way more attractive than a Pilot.

akangl

But come on. Spending 4-5 k for a USB port? Pretty sure you can have one added for a little less than that! just admit you wanted the navi (that even work in alaska?) and the fancier stereo!

Nice seats too. And way more attractive than a Pilot.

Believe it or not the navi does work in alaska, its really cool. I admit the navi, the voice recognition, and the nicer stereo were attractive too.

The MDX is a beautiful car, so much prettier then the Pilot.

mark156

Hello Akangl,

Well, we have plenty of time.... tell us about the horse! :surprise:

Good choice on the Acura. I'm going to look up the website on Acura as I've not really kept up with them. If I change out the Honda as a 'toad', I might look at the RDX but the current CR-V is not even close to being 'used up'.

Mark

grandtotal

The MDX is a beautiful car, so much prettier then the Pilot.

True, but what happened to your budget?

guss

True, but what happened to your budget?

Maybe the horse budget got lumped in with the car budget. What's the cost per mile for riding a horse anyway?

jimbres

I have to have my USB port.

FYI: a few weeks ago, I added a USB port for my iPod to my '06 Honda CR-V for less than $250.

michaellno

True, but what happened to your budget?

Budget, we don't need no steenkin' budget!

Hey, this is CCBA, not "Spendthrifts Anonymous".

Nice car, jolie. I'm sure you'll be counting the days until it arrives.

Does anyone know if the MDX is made in Japan or Ohio? I'm thinking the shipping distance is closer from Japan to AK than it is from Ohio to AK.

grandtotal

I think the MDX is made in Alliston (Ontario, Canada).

michaellno

I think the MDX is made in Alliston (Ontario, Canada).

Oh, so it doesn't have to go through the lower 48 in order to get to Alaska.

grandtotal

Oh, so it doesn't have to go through the lower 48 in order to get to Alaska.

It doesn't have to, but I expect it would.

michaellno

Oh, so it doesn't have to go through the lower 48 in order to get to Alaska.

It doesn't have to, but I expect it would.

Why, aren't there enough roads and rail lines in Canada?

:P

grandtotal

Why, aren't there enough roads and rail lines in Canada?

Yup, that's about it. There is really only one E-W road in Canada (The Trans-Canada Highway) and generally speaking it's quicker (and easier) to drive from Ontario to, say, Vancouver via the U.S. As far as rail links go, again there is only one E-W line.

andre1969

but why couldn't this '01 Aurora have been on the market when my Intrepid got totaled, one year and one day ago?

And, it's equipped nicely, V-8, leather, sunroof, etc. Fairly low miles. In fact, that's only 2,000 more than what I've gotten my Park Ave up to. Overall though, I'm sure the Park Ave's the better choice. Those Auroras could get troublesome as they aged, and those V-8 models can be expensive when they brake. And, I know this is nitpicky, but I HOPE those back windows roll down further than that!

jayrider

Oldsmobile is extinct --- value is reduced for that brand but your Buick lives on !!!!
You did better with the one you adopted.

michaellno

but why couldn't this '01 Aurora have been on the market when my Intrepid got totaled, one year and one day ago?

Ah, the sign of a true CCBA'er -- bought a car but is still looking!

I really like the looks of that generation Aurora. A former manager of mine bought an '03 - knowing that Olds was being discontinued. He, too, got the 4.0, but his is white.

On the car toy front, the wife and I had a brief conversation about cars this past week. She started the conversation by saying that she wanted something smaller than her VUE to drive, since she felt "wasteful" that she was by herself most of the time. She's doing a fair amount of driving to Colo. Springs, and the 19-21 MPG she gets in the VUE seems to not be good enough.

So, I reminded her of my plan to buy a fun car when the ION is paid off next summer, and she commented that it would have to be something that we both liked - and that she could drive it on the many nice days we have here in Colorado. I showed her a Z4 that passed us on the road, and she didn't have an opinion one way or the other about it - though I suspect she didn't get a good enough look at it to really comment.

I've given up on the idea of her driving the ION - I believe she still doesn't trust it after stalling out twice on our daughter. Plus, on the few occasions where she does ride in it, she complains that it smells like pizza. I guess I've become immune to it.

No chance that we'd trade the VUE - we're way buried in it and it's nice to have both AWD and some storage space for the occasions where we need it. Also, she likes the power the VUE has - wifey has a bit of lead in her foot, if you know what I mean.

stickguy

hard to think that a teacher that does not seem to want to appear extravagant or wasteful would be driving an Z4 to work! And I was thinking of the Ion, but you squashed that.

and doesn't it defeatt he purpose of buying yourself a mid-life crisis toy car, if your wife is going to take it whenever the weather is nice enough to drive it?

stickguy

A tech package MDX is not cheap, but neighther is a grand cherokee once you put in the V8 and start ladling on the options.

I like her plan though. Sell everything else (trailers, horses, kids) and put it all into a nice car!

akangl

A tech package MDX is not cheap, but neighther is a grand cherokee once you put in the V8 and start ladling on the options.

I like her plan though. Sell everything else (trailers, horses, kids) and put it all into a nice car!

You are right, its not cheap, but it works out cheaper then the GC and will actually hold some value. I had to bargain hard with hubby to be allowed a luxury suv. The agreement is I do not get another car until I get all the way through the extended warranty, not 1/2 way like with the Pilot. Considering he holds the checkbook I'm pretty sure he means it.

I get to live my CCB tendencies through him sometime in the next year, he's going to buy a CR-V to commute with and give the Civic to our son. We want to make sure the kid starts his life with a decent car, can't beat the Civic. Hubby is letting our daughter pick the color of the CR-V since it'll be hers when its 2 years old.

I haven't sold my kids, lol, they are growing up too fast anyway. My son will be 17 in May...I can't make excuses for not letting him have his driver's license at that point. :sick:

mark156

My SIL bought a '06 VW Bug Diesel a couple of weeks ago, only 9,800 miles on ebay. She loves it. She had the eye lashes put on the headlights.

She has a '07 Honda CR-V, LX, blue, dark grey clothe, new tires, 88,000 miles for $14,000. It's in TN... so, akangl, it might be too far to go if you were interested. )
They live in the country and she works in the city, so those really are hwy miles. Looking on eeeebay and carsdotcom...CR-V's have high asking prices.

As crazy as AK prices are, I can only imagine what a used CR-V would go for up there.

Mark

akangl

As crazy as AK prices are, I can only imagine what a used CR-V would go for up there.

I remember my Honda salesguy talking about selling a 98 (I think) with 200k on it for some crazy price like $7k. Buying a used CR-V up here is pretty crazy.

kyfdx

..bring stupid money..

In 2008, traded an '02 CR-V with 106K to a Subaru dealer.. They gave me a check for $9000...

Not bad...

akangl

..bring stupid money..

That they do. Almost anything Honda brings stupid money up here, except for the Ridgeline, those seem to drop like a rock. I saw a 2001 MDX go for $11k a couple days ago, thing had 110k on it.

I could have ordered a Mercedes M class, through our bank there is a $3k rebate plus invoice pricing. Brought it down to the same price as the MDX. Didn't interest me that much, I drove one a few years ago when they first came out, but meh, not my thing.

michaellno

hard to think that a teacher that does not seem to want to appear extravagant or wasteful would be driving an Z4 to work!

Not that it's a huge issue, but my wife is not a teacher. She's the director of early childhood programs for the district - she's in charge of the full-time child care, preschool and school-age before and after school programs. 3 jobs, but only one paycheck. She's responsible for as many kids as both the elementary school principals.

However, she likes to remind me that she is the lowest paid administrator in the district - even the folks who oversees the food services and transportation programs make more than she does!

roadburner

Found a nice 128i stick with the M Sport package. CPO too. Unfortunately, it is on the lot at Jake's Weenie -I mean Jake Sweeney BMW...
:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

akangl

Found a nice 128i stick with the M Sport package. CPO too. Unfortunately, it is on the lot at Jake's Weenie -I mean Jake Sweeney BMW...

Hmmm, I sense a little bit of hosility..... :P

kyfdx

I know someone, who knows someone... which car is it?

28firefighter

How do you feel about a ride to Cleveland? For sale in the suburbs...

http://cleveland.craigslist.org/cto/2075185994.html

stickguy

that is a nice looking car. I would take it. Even better if it had a lighter interior, but if you like black, it is equipped the right way.

kyfdx

Like the color, the stick, the sport package... I'm not sure if those are the normal sport wheels, or optional sport wheels... Don't love them.. a little busy, but okay.

I like my cars loaded up... this one has heated seats, but no xenons... and, it's hard to tell, but I'm betting on no premium package, which means leatherette and possibly manual seats... Which may not be a deal killer, depending on what's important to you. Nice low miles, and over 2.5 yrs of warranty (not counting the CPO). Carfax shows an in-service date of June 2009, which is nice..

stickguy

long as it has a moonroof, should be otherwise OK. I don't really care about xenons. The power seat though would be tough to give up, but being the only driver, not that big of a deal once you get it dialed in just right.

roadburner

The lack of Xenons(and the selling dealer) are the only sticking points. I've built a 2011 128i on the BMW NA site and the MSRP would be a tick over 34K. The only options would be the Cold Weather, Convenience, M Sport, and Value Packages- as well as the H-K audio upgrade. Perfect. For me, anyway...

kyfdx

How important is the CPO to you? This car has over 2.5 yrs of warranty... I'm not sure I'd want to pay the $2K extra for that...

roadburner

This puppy recently turned up on AutoTrader. The dealer is in the same group as my BMW dealer, so my salesperson could handle the sale. It's a two owner car. The first owner was a corporation, then it was sold as a CPO car to an Army officer who was transferred to KY. I checked with my service adviser and he confirmed that the CPO warranty is still in effect until February 2013- and I'm virtually certain that the selling dealer isn't aware of that. Not a very exciting color combination -I wish the interior was Coral Red- but it looks like to be killer price.

28firefighter

Not an exciting color combination, but not completely offensive either. I love the 335. Still have to wonder why its so cheap though...

qbrozen

There is still some room to negotiate. Right now priced somewhere north of $4k over wholesale.

Note the worn tires with uneven wear.

kyfdx

I like the 128i better... not a fan of the eyebrow look on the '06-'08 E90 sedan...

stickguy

not my colors, but a damned nice car. As long as the fuel pump doesn't cut out while you are driving on the highway!

akangl

This wait is going to drive me insane. Since the roads have been really bad this week I've been stuck at home for 4 days now. Making me really miss my Pilot, bad roads were never a concern, I'd go out and drive on ice just for the fun of it.

The truck doesn't have winter tires, no real sense putting them on it this winter, and the abs doesn't work, all in all not a safe vehicle to venture out in when the roads are bad.

Pretty much kicking myself for selling the Pilot right now. :sick:

roadburner

not my colors, but a damned nice car. As long as the fuel pump doesn't cut out while you are driving on the highway!

A friend of mine at another dealer ran the whole option list and the repair history.
Options:
Cold Weather Package
Premium Package
Sport Package
Comfort Access keyless entry
Power rear sunshade
Manual side/rear power shades
Smoker's package
Power front seats
Park Distance Control (rear)
Xenon headlights
Real Time Traffic Information
Navigation system
Satellite radio w/1 year sub.
Logic7 sound system

Repair History:
"No problems noted and no high-pressure fuel pumps . . . yet!"

I did make one mistake; the dealer isn't in the same group as my BMW dealer- so I'll have to start from scratch with a new salesperson...

roadburner

Update on the 335i: I planned to look at it Saturday and it turned out I didn't have time to check it out. The car didn't sell so I'm scheduled to test drive it tomorrow. More news as it becomes available...

corvette

I was poking around Ford's website and trying to figure out which models of the Focus and Fiesta come with cruise control, and it was nearly impossible to figure out. Nor was it possible to get a clear picture of what features the strippo model of the Fusion was lacking compared to the mainstream models. It's like they intentionally try to obscure the differences in trim levels and option packages. "Add the convenience package, you'll get...added conveniences (or perhaps only one added convenience, we're not allowed to tell you).

Every other brand seems to have a large but easy-to-read standard/package/optional chart. If Ford has one on their consumer website, it was not obvious where to find it.

tifighter

I agree; I think the Ford website is one of the worst...

michaellno

Oh, you thought I meant Buyers, did ja?

Nope - in this case, the B stands for Borrowers, as I'm in a rental this week.

The ION was backed into a week or so ago whilst I was out delivering pizzas. I was standing next to the car when it got hit, so was able to get the name / address / insurance info of the perp. Nice older gentleman who filed a claim with his insurance company, who is picking up the tab.

So, this week I'm in a Kia Forte EX. Decent car. After one night of delivering, I've got the following opinions:

Pros:
Very well equipped - Sirius / XM, Bluetooth, power everything, audio controls on the steering wheel
Nice pickup - 1565HP from 2.4L and lots of torque
Plenty of interior room - seems about a half-size larger than the ION
5-speed manumatic transmission

Cons:
Initial throttle tip-in - even the smallest movement of your right foot sends the car zooming away from a light or stop sign.
Seats are a bit firm - not uncomfortable, mind you, just firm as compared to the ION. Decent bolstering, though
CC turns itself off every time you turn the car off - always have to manually turn it on again

Overall, not a bad little whip. Boring white - very appliance-like.

jayrider

I really liked the 2011 focus -- you can get an sel for 16k. Leather roof etc. They are dumping them in anticipation of the new model. Drove one and it wasn't right on the highway -- real jittery. Should have test dirven another one but got distracted and never went back. Very comfortable -- decent trunk.

Kirstie_H

A reporter is looking to interview a driver who recently saved money on auto insurance, either by renegotiating a policy, switching companies or changing driving habits. Please send your daytime contact info and a brief recap of your experience to pr@edmunds.com no later than December 8, 2010.

roadburner

Test drove the 335i today. Nice enough, but I wasn't ready to pull the trigger. Two hours later the sales guy calls and says he has another buyer but he wants to give me the right of first refusal. Probably should have made an offer but I didn't, so the search continues...