Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

kyfdx

I say we count them all. We don't even know if that's going to be a business, yet.

breld

@qbrozen said:
And then we get terribly close to excluding most of Breld’s since they can’t seem to keep them for more than a couple of months.

Hey now…Mrs. Breld had her red MINI for many months before trading it for this blue one. 5 even. She even registered it! 😁

Of course I’m all in favor of counting them all - takes some of the spotlight off me, and whether @qbrozen’s purchases are for personal or dealership purposes, I’m pretty sure the financing is coming from the same place at this early stage.

breld

@tjc78 speaking the truth. Well said.

mjfloyd1

@breld said:

@qbrozen said:
And then we get terribly close to excluding most of Breld’s since they can’t seem to keep them for more than a couple of months.

Hey now…Mrs. Breld had her red MINI for many months before trading it for this blue one. 5 even. She even registered it! 😁

That’s very nearly long term ownership for the @breld family😂

henryn

corvette said:

@henryn - RedPocket would be ideal for my parents, since they are on Verizon now, and the $5/month plan looks tempting, but they sometimes use more than 500 MB a month in data. Do you know whether it slows down after that point, or does the data just cut off completely?

I don't have any certain knowledge on this, as I have never exceeded the data cap. My understanding is that the lower cost plans have a hard data cap, while the more expensive plans (3 gigs and up) have a soft data cap.

28firefighter

Amen @tjc78.

Signed,
A fellow poster who also has way too much life experience for such a young age.

fintail

Wagon was my most expensive car by far, but with its pre-inflation residual, I'd have been dumb not to buy it, and in this market, I am not sure if one can get more car for the money than the residual anyway. Easiest purchase decision I ever made.

I agree with the "if you can afford it and you want it, do it" line - these are the good old days.

kyfdx

The most we ever paid on a purchase was my wife's 2017 X3 loaner. MSRP of $54K+, but a price of $43600, after rebates, and 0%/72mo finance.

We've leased cars with an MSRP of $50K-$55K, but in both cases, very favorable leases.

oldfarmer50

fintail said:

Wagon was my most expensive car by far, but with its pre-inflation residual, I'd have been dumb not to buy it, and in this market, I am not sure if one can get more car for the money than the residual anyway. Easiest purchase decision I ever made.

I agree with the "if you can afford it and you want it, do it" line - these are the good old days.

My most expensive car was the Mustang @ $31k although with the trade-in the loan was about the same as the Eclipse.

Sandman6472

Sorry to see the last M C Mrs. B had, it was the perfect color combo. But if I were to get a M C, think I'd go with the Countryman for the slightly larger size. They've had some stunning color combo's at the dealer near me and one good thing is I know it'll fit on my side of the garage. I think once I get serious about looking, I'll know which vehicle to get like I knew with the Golf. Within a few minutes, just knew that I'd own one of these. Not sure if I did get the exact model I test drove a couple of times, though I do think it was it. They didn't have a super big selection back then in the color combo SE that I wanted. Did learn a lesson though, not going to settle this time around. I should've got the SEL model with the push button start. It also had the slightly nicer seats. Don't remember which style alloys it had but don't think I would've had the hassle with the 17" ones that are on their now. Come to think of it, the ones I have now on there now are the 17" SEL rims that I eventually chose.
TJC, I will take to heart those sentiments of yours as they are very true. Have decided that this one next time, I'm going to get exactly what I want. Deep down, think I know what I'm going to end up with but we'll have to just wait & see. I'm just not ready to give up the keys quite yet. Must admit though, I really did like the M C that Mrs. B just traded. Think if we had lived a lot closer, I might've been more proactive in trying to snag it before it was gone. Great color combo but just don't know if the size would've been too small. Showed one to my wife awhile ago and even though she said it was way too small, I had to disagree and say it could definitely work for me. Problem is, I've never driven one of those smaller ones as we only have the Countryman's at work from what I've seen. But do think it could of worked.

stickguy

I am with Tom on this, for many of the same reasons. as long as it is not financially reckless, enjoy life. it's why you worked in the first place! and you definitely can't take it with you.

Sandman6472

That's for sure! The kids will be getting a nice amount when we both pass so not going to settle with the next ride. Again, just like the Golf, I'll know it when I drive it. Within a few minutes, I knew the Tucson's days in our stable were limited. And the best part, no permission is needed on either side to get what we want where our vehicle's are concerned. I just can't go wider than I currently have which shouldn't be a problem.

henryn

I expect to leave some for my granddaughters, but I just have a problem with spending north of $50k on an automobile. It just doesn't feel right, and I don't think I would enjoy owning it knowing that I had spent that much for it.

Which is kind of funny, I have never thought of myself as a Puritan, but that statement sounds like something a Puritan would say.

corvette

Somewhat related, the price point is the sticking point for me on most of the current crop of EVs. I don't have a problem (in theory) paying $50k for a vehicle, but given the charging infrastructure limitations which presently exist, I can't wrap my mind around paying that much for an EV which I would plan to use as a daily driver, which includes occasional long haul road trip duties.

Michaell

corvette said:

Somewhat related, the price point is the sticking point for me on most of the current crop of EVs. I don't have a problem (in theory) paying $50k for a vehicle, but given the charging infrastructure limitations which presently exist, I can't wrap my mind around paying that much for an EV which I would plan to use as a daily driver, which includes occasional long haul road trip duties.

There are a number of YT channels dedicated to life with an EV, including road trips.

One of the ones I watch (he and his wife live in Chicago, and have an ID.4), just picked up a Polestar 2 in Denver and immediately took it on a 4000 mile road trip. He's only posted part one, which was Denver to San Diego. As I know that route well (I-70 to I-15), I was particularly interested in how often he stopped and where the charging stations were. Not altogether different from driving an ICE vehicle that same route, just a few more stops.

IIRC, part 2 is San Diego to Louisville, KY (hey!), then part 3 is Louisville back to Chicago.

It can be done, and he is very positive on how the infotainment interface in the Volvo (powered by Google) will map out the charging stops, the estimated battery life left at the time of arrival, and the estimated charge time needed.

28firefighter

We’ve done several road trips with the Tesla so far. I’d drive it cross country in a minute with no qualms. Car does all the work for you figuring out the logistics, anyway!

corvette

Tesla's charging infrastructure seems to be outstanding, by all measures. The things that concern me are reports like Hoovie's F-150 Lightning, which supposedly refused to connect to any Electrify America DC fast chargers, if memory serves. EA is Ford's official charging partner, and those may be the only ones available in some areas.

"Improvise, adapt, and overcome" is probably good life advice and good advice for addressing EV charging issues.

ronsteve

Most expensive MSRP was the RDX, which went for $44k new, but I got it 3 years old, CPO with 39k miles in the 24s. This one was also my biggest note because the Volvo was worth next to nothing by then.

Most expensive purchase side of transaction was the Volvo which was just short of $30k. MSRP was in the 38s, but it was a year old retired demo with 11k on it.

nyccarguy

@corvette said:
Tesla's charging infrastructure seems to be outstanding, by all measures. The things that concern me are reports like Hoovie's F-150 Lightning, which supposedly refused to connect to any Electrify America DC fast chargers, if memory serves. EA is Ford's official charging partner, and those may be the only ones available in some areas.

"Improvise, adapt, and overcome" is probably good life advice and good advice for addressing EV charging issues.

Imagine you have a very expensive Rivian and can’t really charge it outside your home area.

Sandman6472

That's my real issue if I go with a Chevy Bolt, will I be able to charge it if taken on a road trip? I know for my daily driving, it won't be an issue because I maybe do 300 miles in about 3 months all told...just don't drive much weekly anymore. But just wondering if I go up to New York or Chicago, am I going to find enough working charging stations on the trip? Getting stuck is just not something I'd want to do.
Like the size of the smaller 2023 Chevy Bolt as it fits into my size constraints and assuming the interior won't be a penalty box at all. Price wise, it's right in my comfort zone. Free garage charging station. It checks all the boxes for me at this point but availability is the real issue here. They have none at my local Chevy store for me to even test drive. Don't know how it drives & not sure I'll even like it or the interior. So, I really need to get behind the wheel of one and not for a lousy 5 minute determined course they have mapped out. I want to drive it on the highway, on back streets & in stop & go traffic to get a real feel as I'm going to be making a big commitment here and want to make sure it's a decision I can life with for many years to come.

Michaell

Sandman6472 said:

That's my real issue if I go with a Chevy Bolt, will I be able to charge it if taken on a road trip? I know for my daily driving, it won't be an issue because I maybe do 300 miles in about 3 months all told...just don't drive much weekly anymore. But just wondering if I go up to New York or Chicago, am I going to find enough working charging stations on the trip? Getting stuck is just not something I'd want to do.
Like the size of the smaller 2023 Chevy Bolt as it fits into my size constraints and assuming the interior won't be a penalty box at all. Price wise, it's right in my comfort zone. Free garage charging station. It checks all the boxes for me at this point but availability is the real issue here. They have none at my local Chevy store for me to even test drive. Don't know how it drives & not sure I'll even like it or the interior. So, I really need to get behind the wheel of one and not for a lousy 5 minute determined course they have mapped out. I want to drive it on the highway, on back streets & in stop & go traffic to get a real feel as I'm going to be making a big commitment here and want to make sure it's a decision I can life with for many years to come.

Yes, a trip from FL to NY or IL will be fine - you just have to plan ahead.

Though, I have to ask, have you made that drive in either the Golf or A3 in the 7/8 years you've owned them? Many people avoid buying a car because of something you "might" do with the car that it won't do well.

stickguy

And if that need arose, can either use the ICE car in the family, or employee discount and rent one.

ab348

At this stage, possibly aside from a Tesla, I can't see an electric as being suitable from a long-distance trip, full stop. Just rent a car if you need to drive.

stickguy

Cool car. Jjust watched on you tube Pine Hollow auto diagnostics deal with one. What a nightmare. When you have to hoard EBAY ECMs to have spares, not the ownership experience for me.

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/30G8oZB1/2008-saab-9-3-turbo-x-sport-sedan

stickguy

And here’s a cheap little runabout that would be perfect for Michael if he was still looking for a 2nd car.

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/3OPDEm0R/2012-volvo-s60-t6-awd-r-design

nyccarguy

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/3vqx1OBj/1999-acura-integra-gs-r-sedan

This is interesting. Yes it is unmodified. It also has close to 200K on it and has been well driven.

stickguy

My BIL had o e of those integras new. That I definitely should have bought when he sold it.

I love this. Great maverick replacement. Nearly the same bed size but takes up half as much garage space! Who needs a back seat anyway?

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/mini-pickup-conversion-2/

benjaminh

I was recently on a Lyft ride, and got to talking to the driver about his car, which was a c. 2013 Honda Civic. He told me he got the car a few years prior with 50,000 miles, and that it had now crossed over 300k with no major problems. Original engine and transmission. He changes the oil every 20k with synthetic. Changes the tires every 60-70k with Bridgestone tires from Costco. His average mpg he said was about 29, which given the mostly city miles seemed okay.

Anyway, maybe 300k is possible with my Acura? Who knows....Probably my leather seats will go before the engine. I should condition my leather sometime in the next few months.

qbrozen

20k-mile oil changes? On city miles? Yikes. Guess can't argue with his results, but maybe the car dies at 320k and he could have gone 500k. ;b

stickguy

that's still what, 3 months? based on the miles and time owned.

henryn

The big diesel rigs go a lot more than 20k miles between oil changes. They do have extra filtration, but the oil itself is good for many more miles than what we normally use. I used to change every 3k miles, then 5k miles, now just annually as I don't drive 5k miles in a year on either vehicle. If I were driving as many miles as that Civic owner above, I very well might go 3 months / 20k miles between changes.

Well, probably not, it wouldn't feel right. But I very well might go 1.5 months / 10k miles.

jmonroe1

benjaminh said:

I was recently on a Lyft ride, and got to talking to the driver about his car, which was a c. 2013 Honda Civic. He told me he got the car a few years prior with 50,000 miles, and that it had now crossed over 300k with no major problems. Original engine and transmission. He changes the oil every 20k with synthetic. Changes the tires every 60-70k with Bridgestone tires from Costco. His average mpg he said was about 29, which given the mostly city miles seemed okay.

Anyway, maybe 300k is possible with my Acura? Who knows....Probably my leather seats will go before the engine. I should condition my leather sometime in the next few months.

————————————————-
I don’t know how he gets away with 20K mile oil changes with any type of oil.

As for his tires lasting 60-70K miles, that’s unbelievable and I don’t believe him. Especially driven as a taxi. I’ve never gotten more than 42K miles out of tires. Coincidentally those were Bridgestone tires I had. I’d kiss the tire gods on the lips if I ever got 60-70K miles out of a set of tires.

Some guys can blow a lot of smoke. He could have been a used car salesman before going into the taxi biz.

jmonroe

stickguy

that kind of miles on Civic tires seems perfectly reasonable to me.

henryn

I got 60k miles on a set of tires on a Passat, and a little more than that on a set of Michelins on a 2009 Cadillac. I can easily believe 70k on a Civic.

pensfan83

nyccarguy said:

@pensfan83

Did you replace your radiator & radiator hoses when you did your timing belt/water pump service? Since my radiator is original I was thinking of upgrading to the Aluminum Mishimtoto radiator and Silicone Hoses.

https://www.mishimoto.com/honda-prelude-aluminum-radiator-performance-97-01.html

https://www.mishimoto.com/mishimoto-aluminum-fan-shroud-kit-honda-prelude-97-01.html

https://www.mishimoto.com/honda-accord-silicone-radiator-hoses.html

No, radiator, hoses, and water pump were done in 2016 by the prior owner along with the alternator. The water pump was then changed again with the timing belt service I had done. A lot of people in the Prelude groups seem to endorse the Mishimtoto setup so I'd say go for it if you're ready to update.

jmonroe1

OK guys, what makes a Civic so easy on tires even if driven as a taxi?

I’ve only owned full size gas guslers so maybe that explains my poor life-long tire mileage.

jmonroe

qbrozen

henryn said:

The big diesel rigs go a lot more than 20k miles between oil changes. They do have extra filtration, but the oil itself is good for many more miles than what we normally use. I used to change every 3k miles, then 5k miles, now just annually as I don't drive 5k miles in a year on either vehicle. If I were driving as many miles as that Civic owner above, I very well might go 3 months / 20k miles between changes.

Well, probably not, it wouldn't feel right. But I very well might go 1.5 months / 10k miles.

diesel rigs also drive at steady rpms for many many miles, not to mention diesels run lower RPMs, hence fewer revs per mile and less friction overall. It just isn't comparable to a high-strung 4-cyl petrol in city driving.

benjaminh

I've never gone more than about 8000 miles between oil changes, even on full synthetic. But Mobil 1, which is what he said he used, claims it will last 20k. He drives so much that he changes oil every 2 months or so. Ecopia tires, which I think is what he uses, have a warranty of 70,000 miles. I'm not sure what his mix of city to highway is, but it sounds like he makes a lot of runs to SEATAC, which is a lot of highway.....

nyccarguy

Integra sold for $8,800

tjc78

@jmonroe1 said:
OK guys, what makes a Civic so easy on tires even if driven as a taxi?

I’ve only owned full size gas guslers so maybe that explains my poor life-long tire mileage.

jmonroe

The 04 Grand Marquis I had saw 50K out of the first set of Michelin and the second set had 52K on them with at least 10k more life to go when I sold it

kyfdx

We got 55K miles on the OE set on a 2008 X3, and didn't even get dinged for them, when we returned the lease.

jmonroe1

benjaminh said:

I've never gone more than about 8000 miles between oil changes, even on full synthetic. But Mobil 1, which is what he said he used, claims it will last 20k. He drives so much that he changes oil every 2 months or so. Ecopia tires, which I think is what he uses, have a warranty of 70,000 miles. I'm not sure what his mix of city to highway is, but it sounds like he makes a lot of runs to SEATAC, which is a lot of highway.....

————————————————
Will car manufacturers stand behind those engine oil change interval claims in the event of engine problems or will Mobile 1 make good on those claims if the manufacturers don’t?

jmonroe

stickguy

dang, even cheap tires are expensive now! hopefully I don't need to get any for many years to come. at maybe 10K miles total, between 2 cars, they should rot out before they wear out!

jmonroe1

qbrozen said:

henryn said:

The big diesel rigs go a lot more than 20k miles between oil changes. They do have extra filtration, but the oil itself is good for many more miles than what we normally use. I used to change every 3k miles, then 5k miles, now just annually as I don't drive 5k miles in a year on either vehicle. If I were driving as many miles as that Civic owner above, I very well might go 3 months / 20k miles between changes.

Well, probably not, it wouldn't feel right. But I very well might go 1.5 months / 10k miles.

diesel rigs also drive at steady rpms for many many miles, not to mention diesels run lower RPMs, hence fewer revs per mile and less friction overall. It just isn't comparable to a high-strung 4-cyl petrol in city driving.

————————————————-
Why are you trying to use physics to support these extended oil change intervals.

jmonroe

benjaminh

I'm not saying it's a good idea or what I would do, just reporting on what the Lyft driver told me.

But yes, Mobil 1 extended performance does come with a warranty....

https://www.mobil.com/en/lubricants/for-personal-vehicles/our-products/mobil-limited-warranties/mobil-1-extended-performance-limited-warranty

28firefighter

As a Seattle resident, rarely does driving to SeaTac Airport count as highway driving. Are you on a highway? Yes. But stop and go traffic at 10 mph for significant stretches is normal unless you drive it off peak.

benjaminh

28firefighter said:

As a Seattle resident, rarely does driving to SeaTac Airport count as highway driving. Are you on a highway? Yes. But stop and go traffic at 10pm for significant stretches is normal unless you drive it off peak.

So true....

mjfloyd1

@au1994 said:
Thanks for the heads up. I’ll call about mine shortly and it needs an oil change. Glad to hear this because the longer I stewed on it, the madder I got.

Edit — Called my dealer and the service guy said not available and all he knew was sometime in Q1 “which means January to March” yeah got it boss. Since he had already ticked me off I asked him what I should do? Should I stop driving it and come pick up my loaner?

Needless to say he and I probably won’t be exchanging Christmas cards.

I called today and the local Jeep dealer has the software. We are scheduled to get both flashed next week.

pensfan83

The onboard computers dictate oil change frequency, and any other required maintenance, for the Tacoma and RDX. The next service for the RDX will require an oil change and brake fluid change, for example. For the BMW and Honda the oil gets changed at least annually regardless of mileage and fluids changed according to manufacturer specs.

explorerx4

We've gotten 70+K out of a couple of sets of OEM tires and 60K out of a couple of other sets.