Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

xwesx

pensfan83 said:

Scratch that. After Thursday highs start topping out in the 30s (somewhere @xwesx is snickering) so both cars go down for their winter slumber by EOW. I'm travelling for work next week and the following week is spent shopping and prepping for the holiday.

Hey, just because it's chilly here doesn't mean I'm wishing the same on the rest of you! Temps warmed up over night, and now it's mid-20s. I spent some time filling up a heating oil tank on my trailer to take home and pour into the tank there, and it was comfortable to hang out doing it. I need to make several trips before I have my home tank full enough for the whole winter, but if the weather holds out, it shouldn't be much of a chore.

Strangely, the pricing setup the delivery companies are using now is such that I would have to pay over a thousand dollars more for delivery than just doing it myself one hundred gallons at a time.

28firefighter

The miles are high but that's a great car. I'd have happily driven that in high school and college, but then again, I'm an odd one.

xwesx

28firefighter said:

The miles are high but that's a great car. I'd have happily driven that in high school and college, but then again, I'm an odd one.

Same here. On all points.

Heck, I'd happily drive it now.

au1994

@xwesx about 2.5 weeks is all. I’m just impatient! Come on down and I’ll give you the ol’ friends and family discount.

28firefighter

My wife and I took a weekend away and left our kiddo with his grandparents for a couple nights - hopped over the cascades to Leavenworth for the weekend. Absolutely torrential downpours and winds all the way over Steven's Pass (40XXft elevation) on the way out and then changed over to snow while we were there for the weekend. We left Leavenworth early Sunday. There was probably 4-5" of largely untouched snow on the ground and much more in the passes.

I was thrilled with the performance of Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 4s I put on the Y a couple months ago. If my eyes were closed (they weren't) I'd have barely noticed that the roads were anything other than normal weather driving. Car lost traction for a split second once on the descent but not much beyond that. Can't say the same for some of the other vehicles around me. Not to mention, the Y is just such a great trip car - comfortable, quick, audio system is great, etc.

Awesome weekend away AND a nice little test for the Y!

corvette

Maverick is in Iowa. Dealer reached out about financing, etc... At this point, it may be after Thanksgiving before I can make arrangements to pick it up.

tifighter

sda said:

I had a rebadged Opel, 98 Cadillac Catera. It was a very nice car when it wasn't at the Cadillac service department. It went through 3 heater valves in less than a year. Multiple check engine lights, engine that stuttered at certain speeds and hvac failure. The entire electronic control panel died. Luckily all covered by warranty and they always provided me a nice loaner. Perhaps not all the car’s fault, poorly trained mechanics? But still… and my last Cadillac.

Yeah. But it was the Caddy that zigs.

stickguy

corvette said:

Maverick is in Iowa. Dealer reached out about financing, etc... At this point, it may be after Thanksgiving before I can make arrangements to pick it up.

don't wait too long. Lots of stories of dealers selling them out from under customers, and not giving much time at all to go fetch it.

or just do all the paperwork in advance. I had all that stuff done and just signed a few things when I arrived. Which was a week later because it arrived a few days before Christmas, right when we were heading out of town, and I did not take delivery until NYE

kyfdx

corvette said:

Maverick is in Iowa. Dealer reached out about financing, etc... At this point, it may be after Thanksgiving before I can make arrangements to pick it up.

Send me a plane ticket, I'll go get it..

au1994

I agree with @stickguy. I’d go ahead and do the paperwork so that you ‘take possession’ now, worry about pick up later. A few nefarious Jeep dealers have done the same thing on 4xe’s.

explorerx4

I saw a Mav in the used vehicle parking area on Sunday. On dealer website, it was listed for 47k.
Today, not listed. I would put in an effort to take ownership and possession.
Oops, wrong dealer.
http://abrahamautomall.com/details.cfm?searchvkid=3128632&cftoken=5799c2ae5f18d7f1-80B5A40E-B721-41B3-6C23CC1BFD44EE15&cfid=34261521

fintail

Low teens at night here, 4-5" of snow in many places yesterday, and a glaze of ice on many roads to boot. To make it more fun, I can't get my winter tires on til Friday. Drove to work anyway today, car didn't miss a beat, just gotta take it easy (some people aren't good that, either wanting to go 20 over or 10 in a 45).

xwesx said:

pensfan83 said:

Scratch that. After Thursday highs start topping out in the 30s (somewhere @xwesx is snickering) so both cars go down for their winter slumber by EOW. I'm travelling for work next week and the following week is spent shopping and prepping for the holiday.

Hey, just because it's chilly here doesn't mean I'm wishing the same on the rest of you! Temps warmed up over night, and now it's mid-20s. I spent some time filling up a heating oil tank on my trailer to take home and pour into the tank there, and it was comfortable to hang out doing it. I need to make several trips before I have my home tank full enough for the whole winter, but if the weather holds out, it shouldn't be much of a chore.

Strangely, the pricing setup the delivery companies are using now is such that I would have to pay over a thousand dollars more for delivery than just doing it myself one hundred gallons at a time.

sb55

stickguy said:

What is it again? I forgot the model. I assume it’s somehow related to some domestic GM from the time frame?

I had a German Opel once. Probably one of the few in this group that did.

I did. My first car was a 1972 "leftover" from a Buick dealer that looked like this.

qbrozen

sb55 said:

stickguy said:

What is it again? I forgot the model. I assume it’s somehow related to some domestic GM from the time frame?

I had a German Opel once. Probably one of the few in this group that did.

I did. My first car was a 1972 "leftover" from a Buick dealer that looked like this.

That's an awesome first car.

ab348

sb55 said:

I did. My first car was a 1972 "leftover" from a Buick dealer that looked like this.

The car magazines back in that era loved those.

stickguy

Mine was a dark green 1975 manta. That had issues. Most notable was it had the one year only FI system that in 1982 nobody knew what to do with and parts were unobtanium. But when it ran, really fun to drive!

corvette

I'm going to see whether I can figure out a last minute trip this coming Thursday and Friday, once the dealer confirms we're good to go.

sda

stickguy said:

Mine was a dark green 1975 manta. That had issues. Most notable was it had the one year only FI system that in 1982 nobody knew what to do with and parts were unobtanium. But when it ran, really fun to drive!

I especially liked the Manta Lexus in dark metallic blue or burgundy with matching corduroy interior though that material didn’t hold up in sunny climates. A friend had a white 75 Manta with red vinyl interior, 4 sp. I liked that car. This was in 81-82. Even then the local Buick dealer wanted no part of working on it, he had to rely on an independent garage.

oldfarmer50

Here’s a question. Have any of you used the Edmunds TMV valuation tool recently?

I was trying to gauge if a truck I saw on a dealer’s site was worth the asking price and the TMV was out of this world, $4k more than the dealer was asking.

Now that could mean that this truck was a piece of junk that was worse than TMV “rough” condition or Edmunds is way off the mark. Could it be that TMV is basing valuations off previous sales and not accurate in the current declining market?

kyfdx

oldfarmer50 said:

Here’s a question. Have any of you used the Edmunds TMV valuation tool recently?

I was trying to gauge if a truck I saw on a dealer’s site was worth the asking price and the TMV was out of this world, $4k more than the dealer was asking.

Now that could mean that this truck was a piece of junk that was worse than TMV “rough” condition or Edmunds is way off the mark. Could it be that TMV is basing valuations off previous sales and not accurate in the current declining market?

I'm not sure how good that is, any more. Better to use a buy bid from our partner, Carmax.

henryn

kyfdx said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Here’s a question. Have any of you used the Edmunds TMV valuation tool recently?

I was trying to gauge if a truck I saw on a dealer’s site was worth the asking price and the TMV was out of this world, $4k more than the dealer was asking.

Now that could mean that this truck was a piece of junk that was worse than TMV “rough” condition or Edmunds is way off the mark. Could it be that TMV is basing valuations off previous sales and not accurate in the current declining market?

I'm not sure how good that is, any more. Better to use a buy bid from our partner, Carmax.

I expect all online car valuation tools, Edmunds, KBB, you name it, are having a tough time at this moment. I agree a "buy bid" would probably be more useful, as they have to be willing to put their money where their mouth is.

henryn

kyfdx said:

corvette said:

Maverick is in Iowa. Dealer reached out about financing, etc... At this point, it may be after Thanksgiving before I can make arrangements to pick it up.

Send me a plane ticket, I'll go get it..

Hah! I'll do it without the plane ticket, but I won't promise to turn it over afterwards.

stickguy

I watched a video on Carvana future yesterday (I think from YAA). Some interesting stuff, but the comments were wild. A bunch of current and former employees, and a number of people really familiar with the inner workings. Really sounds like more of a tech bro pyramid scheme than a legit car sales business.

kyfdx

stickguy said:

I watched a video on Carvana future yesterday (I think from YAA). Some interesting stuff, but the comments were wild. A bunch of current and former employees, and a number of people really familiar with the inner workings. Really sounds like more of a tech bro pyramid scheme than a legit car sales business.

It reminds me of Zillow getting into the house flipping business. The big difference: Zillow actually had a related business that they could go back to.

Buying Adesa was probably a bad move for a company that was struggling with cash flow, but that purchase actually made sense.

qbrozen

I approved my listing with C&B. Writeup seems a bit flat compared to their other listings, but I guess it isn't a thrilling car compared to others they sell.

laurasdada

sda said:

I had a rebadged Opel, 98 Cadillac Catera. It was a very nice car when it wasn't at the Cadillac service department. It went through 3 heater valves in less than a year. Multiple check engine lights, engine that stuttered at certain speeds and hvac failure. The entire electronic control panel died. Luckily all covered by warranty and they always provided me a nice loaner. Perhaps not all the car’s fault, poorly trained mechanics? But still… and my last Cadillac.

Sounds like my father's zigCatera. He enjoyed driving it, the few days a month it wasn't in the shop.

nyccarguy

qbrozen said:

I approved my listing with C&B. Writeup seems a bit flat compared to their other listings, but I guess it isn't a thrilling car compared to others they sell.

THIIIIIIIIIS is a 1992 Nissan Gloria!

In all seriousness, best of luck to you with the sale/auction. I hope you make a ton of money.

qbrozen

nyccarguy said:

qbrozen said:

I approved my listing with C&B. Writeup seems a bit flat compared to their other listings, but I guess it isn't a thrilling car compared to others they sell.

THIIIIIIIIIS is a 1992 Nissan Gloria!

In all seriousness, best of luck to you with the sale/auction. I hope you make a ton of money.

He actually didn't even say that. lol. Here is an exclusive preview of Doug's comment.

Here's a cool Japanese-market sedan – it's a Nissan Gloria, which is a rear-wheel drive luxury model that was never officially sold in the United States. I love the boxy styling, as it's very typical of the early 1990s – and this particular Gloria ticks a lot of the right boxes. It touts low indicated mileage, it's powered by the desirable 3.0-liter V6, AND it's very nearly unmodified. It also boasts a U.S. title, so the difficult process of importing a car has already been completed – and this Gloria is offered with the thrill of no reserve.

roadburner

au1994 said:

Michaell said:

au1994 said:

I’ve threatened to pass it on to Jr. He was not amused. Apparently a green Subaru wagon would not be the envy of the HS parking lot.

Beggars can't be choosers. Seems like a great first car for a teenager.

He’s in the well used 328i in my sig. It’s beginning to nickel and dime us so the comment was only half way in jest. He loves it though, wants to keep it forever. He washes it so often that I’m afraid he’ll wear the finish off.

If there were any deals to be had in luxury or near luxury land we would flip the X1 to him and get my wife a new ride.

My son wanted to keep the 2009 328i even though he now has a F30 330i xDrive. Go figure...

kyfdx

qbrozen said:

nyccarguy said:

qbrozen said:

I approved my listing with C&B. Writeup seems a bit flat compared to their other listings, but I guess it isn't a thrilling car compared to others they sell.

THIIIIIIIIIS is a 1992 Nissan Gloria!

In all seriousness, best of luck to you with the sale/auction. I hope you make a ton of money.

He actually didn't even say that. lol. Here is an exclusive preview of Doug's comment.

Here's a cool Japanese-market sedan – it's a Nissan Gloria, which is a rear-wheel drive luxury model that was never officially sold in the United States. I love the boxy styling, as it's very typical of the early 1990s – and this particular Gloria ticks a lot of the right boxes. It touts low indicated mileage, it's powered by the desirable 3.0-liter V6, AND it's very nearly unmodified. It also boasts a U.S. title, so the difficult process of importing a car has already been completed – and this Gloria is offered with the thrill of no reserve.

That sounds pretty good!

roadburner

sda said:

I had a rebadged Opel, 98 Cadillac Catera. It was a very nice car when it wasn't at the Cadillac service department. It went through 3 heater valves in less than a year. Multiple check engine lights, engine that stuttered at certain speeds and hvac failure. The entire electronic control panel died. Luckily all covered by warranty and they always provided me a nice loaner. Perhaps not all the car’s fault, poorly trained mechanics? But still… and my last Cadillac.

But it could "zig" really well- right?

tifighter

Given that we all made zig jokes over the last 24 hours, you'd have to say the Cadillac marketing department did their jobs well. Seriously.

tifighter

For the Volvophiles in the group-

Michaell

Betcha @breld is already on the wait list!

oldfarmer50

henryn said:

kyfdx said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Here’s a question. Have any of you used the Edmunds TMV valuation tool recently?

I was trying to gauge if a truck I saw on a dealer’s site was worth the asking price and the TMV was out of this world, $4k more than the dealer was asking.

Now that could mean that this truck was a piece of junk that was worse than TMV “rough” condition or Edmunds is way off the mark. Could it be that TMV is basing valuations off previous sales and not accurate in the current declining market?

I'm not sure how good that is, any more. Better to use a buy bid from our partner, Carmax.

I expect all online car valuation tools, Edmunds, KBB, you name it, are having a tough time at this moment. I agree a "buy bid" would probably be more useful, as they have to be willing to put their money where their mouth is.

That would work if you were selling a vehicle but not so much in judging if a dealer was charging a fair price. Wouldn’t going on a site like CarMax and viewing their inventory be better. Even there I wonder. Carvana has insane prices on their site.

pensfan83

If they have an XC60 equivalent I'd be very interested.

laurasdada

roadburner said:

sda said:

I had a rebadged Opel, 98 Cadillac Catera. It was a very nice car when it wasn't at the Cadillac service department. It went through 3 heater valves in less than a year. Multiple check engine lights, engine that stuttered at certain speeds and hvac failure. The entire electronic control panel died. Luckily all covered by warranty and they always provided me a nice loaner. Perhaps not all the car’s fault, poorly trained mechanics? But still… and my last Cadillac.

But it could "zig" really well- right?

Yes, right into the service department.

explorerx4

Some sites, like Cargurus, rate the asking prices of vehicles for sale.

qbrozen

@tifighter said:
For the Volvophiles in the group-

I had an email in my spam folder about that car. Seeing the specs in your screen cap, I gotta wonder if those are from the same vehicle or if, as manufacturers love to do, the acceleration is one trim and the 300-mi range a different one.

Michaell

Turns out I was wrong about the TPIR appearance for the family:

https://share.icloud.com/photos/039QpRbKUdAlipk2TACh_OoCQ

qbrozen

@explorerx4 said:
Some sites, like Cargurus, rate the asking prices of vehicles for sale.

And poorly, IMHO. I’ve seen, for example, the same year, make, model, and trim listed as a “great deal” for one and “good” for another when the “great” has 10k more miles for $500 less. I’ll take another year’s worth of miles for $500 more all day any day, thank you very much.

nyccarguy

Michaell said:

Betcha @breld is already on the wait list!

You've got inside information on @breld 's punches;)-

kyfdx

oldfarmer50 said:

henryn said:

kyfdx said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Here’s a question. Have any of you used the Edmunds TMV valuation tool recently?

I was trying to gauge if a truck I saw on a dealer’s site was worth the asking price and the TMV was out of this world, $4k more than the dealer was asking.

Now that could mean that this truck was a piece of junk that was worse than TMV “rough” condition or Edmunds is way off the mark. Could it be that TMV is basing valuations off previous sales and not accurate in the current declining market?

I'm not sure how good that is, any more. Better to use a buy bid from our partner, Carmax.

I expect all online car valuation tools, Edmunds, KBB, you name it, are having a tough time at this moment. I agree a "buy bid" would probably be more useful, as they have to be willing to put their money where their mouth is.

That would work if you were selling a vehicle but not so much in judging if a dealer was charging a fair price. Wouldn’t going on a site like CarMax and viewing their inventory be better. Even there I wonder. Carvana has insane prices on their site.

At least, Carmax has a one-price policy. So, you know exactly what you can buy it for.

I'm not positive that you can't get a number from Carmax without actually having the vehicle. Might be some way to fake it.

stickguy

I’d like the Volvo, if it had an onboard charger range extender (otherwise known as an engine)

stickguy

Michaell said:

Turns out I was wrong about the TPIR appearance for the family:

https://share.icloud.com/photos/039QpRbKUdAlipk2TACh_OoCQ

Very cool. Did they have to keep it confidential until the episode aired?

Too bad he didn’t get up on stage!

Michaell

stickguy said:

Michaell said:

Turns out I was wrong about the TPIR appearance for the family:

https://share.icloud.com/photos/039QpRbKUdAlipk2TACh_OoCQ

Very cool. Did they have to keep it confidential until the episode aired?

Too bad he didn’t get up on stage!

Yeah, I'm pretty sure they couldn't talk about it.

Turns out he got his price from his mom, while his wife "suggested" he bid $1700.

Guess we know who he should have listened to.

tjc78

@tifighter said:
For the Volvophiles in the group-

My wife would love this!!

xwesx

Michaell said:

Turns out I was wrong about the TPIR appearance for the family:

https://share.icloud.com/photos/039QpRbKUdAlipk2TACh_OoCQ

How cool is that?! Maybe not fifteen minutes of fame, but gone in 60 seconds, anyway.

corvette

Signed docs for the Maverick. Super easy, knock on wood... 0% financing for 36 months and they will cut me a check from that to pay for the sales tax I will have to pay in order to get it registered in KY.

sda

corvette said:

Signed docs for the Maverick. Super easy, knock on wood... 0% financing for 36 months and they will cut me a check from that to pay for the sales tax I will have to pay in order to get it registered in KY.

At long last, Congratulations!