Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

tifighter

I should be good for one punch this year. But if it ended up at three, well, shift happens…

oldfarmer50

I just heard a tv ads for a lease on a new Nissan Altima for $199 a month. I didn’t get a chance to read the fine print so I’m guessing it required big money up front. Could this be the beginning of better lease rates?

kyfdx

I'm looking for somewhere between zero and two for punches, this year.

laurasdada

I may be a one-puncher... Still fighting the frugal demon as well as trying to decide between a third whip or doing something immature and swapping the semi-shocking A7 for...?
I do dig driving in Ben Franklin mode for local trips, as well as the overall nice economy for such a destroyer-class land cruiser. As well as the smooth, quiet ride. And, it's purty.
After driving the X3 over the holidays, I continue to much prefer the A7. Which, again, is predominately my bias away from the high seating of the SUV. As well as the A7s much nicer dashboard (I don't like the map lines in the X3 dashboard, it looks like someone spilled pickup sticks there. I'd remove it), smoother/quieter ride and overall interior (to these eyes).

venture

Uh oh!

I was looking at my "local" BMW dealers web site and they have pretty much what I have been looking for.

330Xi, black with red interior, coming in barely under my self-imposed cap of 50K.

I may make the 35-mile drive to have a gander. I just don't know if I'm ready for the $180 oil changes again.

28firefighter

That’s a future you problem. I believe your first 3 years of oil changes are included.

roadburner

28firefighter said:

That’s a future you problem. I believe your first 3 years of oil changes are included.

And after you reach 50k miles you can buy 3 years of oil changes for $199.00.

Michaell

venture said:

Uh oh!

I was looking at my "local" BMW dealers web site and they have pretty much what I have been looking for.

330Xi, black with red interior, coming in barely under my self-imposed cap of 50K.

I may make the 35-mile drive to have a gander. I just don't know if I'm ready for the $180 oil changes again.

Let the games begin!

I'll admit to having peeked at some used BMWs on-line the last week or two. Found a decently equipped CPO X2 M35i for around $38K.

roadburner

laurasdada said:

I may be a one-puncher... Still fighting the frugal demon as well as trying to decide between a third whip or doing something immature and swapping the semi-shocking A7 for...?
I do dig driving in Ben Franklin mode for local trips, as well as the overall nice economy for such a destroyer-class land cruiser. As well as the smooth, quiet ride. And, it's purty.
After driving the X3 over the holidays, I continue to much prefer the A7. Which, again, is predominately my bias away from the high seating of the SUV. As well as the A7s much nicer dashboard (I don't like the map lines in the X3 dashboard, it looks like someone spilled pickup sticks there. I'd remove it), smoother/quieter ride and overall interior (to these eyes).

I prefer to sit lower to the ground as well; it's just a personal preference. For example, my wife wishes her E84 X1 sat a little higher. The Wrangler isn't a performance vehicle(on-road at any rate) so I don't mind having to climb up into it.

ronsteve

@henryn said:
I suspect a low revving, normally aspirated, torquey V8 will last longer than any turbo charged high revving 4 or 6 cylinder. But then, I really don't plan to keep anything that long anyway. After all, this is CCBA!

Of course most of the modern turbo 4 cylinders have more torque at low rpm than the NA V6 in my RDX. And they’re not geared any shorter so highway cruising rpm’s are about the same.

I think what I would worry about more is the HPFP on the newer DI engines. The flip side is wondering what the cylinder deactivation on the RDX does to the innards of the engine. One more reason i surely won’t take it beyond 150k.

For now I am going to enjoy a few months with no car payment, because I’m “only” at 104k

fintail

2023 Prius is, dare I say, palatable. What a change from the dorky weird for the sake of weird prior model.

explorerx4

Something to consider if you are thinking of buying a used Highlander Hybrid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxHL0zbXBK0

fintail

roadburner said:

Today we took the C43 on a 50 mile round trip to a restaurant In Bardstown for an early dinner; so far the more I drive it the more I like it. One ability the C43 shares with my M235i is the way it can transform from a laid back cruiser to a hard-edged sport sedan at the flip of a switch- although even in quiet mode the exhaust pops and burbles as the car is coming to a stop, which I really like. And, despite the whining of numerous US automotive writers, my wife and I find the suspension tuning to be comfortable and spot on. Fuel mileage has averaged 26 mpg, which is more than acceptable in my book. Overall, I think I made the right choice.

I recall the suspension on my OG C43 was pretty harsh and flinty, not helped by its tendency to tramline on rutted WA state roads (maybe a function of tires). The E55 I replaced it with felt like a 1975 Fleetwood in comparison. I think the right tires can have a real influence on the ride quality of these cars - modern runflats sometimes do not help with a refined ride. Even on my wagon, going from the lower profile 19" wheels to the tall sidewall soft snow tires transforms it, like being on a cloud.

stickguy

ronsteve said:

@henryn said:

I suspect a low revving, normally aspirated, torquey V8 will last longer than any turbo charged high revving 4 or 6 cylinder. But then, I really don't plan to keep anything that long anyway. After all, this is CCBA!

Of course most of the modern turbo 4 cylinders have more torque at low rpm than the NA V6 in my RDX. And they’re not geared any shorter so highway cruising rpm’s are about the same.

I think what I would worry about more is the HPFP on the newer DI engines. The flip side is wondering what the cylinder deactivation on the RDX does to the innards of the engine. One more reason i surely won’t take it beyond 150k.

For now I am going to enjoy a few months with no car payment, because I’m “only” at 104k

if you are worried about the VCM, there are a few different options to defeat them. When I had mine I read a lot of threads about it on the Acura forums. Really simple to install (pretty much just plug it in) and supposed to be really effective. If I had decided to keep ours longer term (we did make it to 8 years!) I would have thrown one in. especially after the warranty was fully expired.

supposedly they made some updates to cure the problems with the system, I am just not sure what year they went in, or how effective they actually were.

pensfan83

@kyfdx said:
I'm looking for somewhere between zero and two for punches, this year.

We're adopting a similar approach.

au1994

I could be in for 1 this year. IF things normalize we’d probably go ahead and shift the X1 to the kiddo and get the wife a new ride. She’s a big fan of the Genesis GV70 and the Infiniti QX55. She also likes the X4, X3 and Q5. I’d like to keep it to the Asian contenders from a acquisition and maintenance cost perspective.

mjfloyd1

Leasehackr has some brokers with 10% off Q5 as it is being revamped for next year

tifighter

Lucid Air pure deliveries have begun, which I believe means that Q should soon be on the clock.

jmonroe1

oldfarmer50 said:

I just heard a tv ads for a lease on a new Nissan Altima for $199 a month. I didn’t get a chance to read the fine print so I’m guessing it required big money up front. Could this be the beginning of better lease rates?

————————————————
If it’s black it’s a good deal.

jmonroe

stickguy

kyfdx said:

I'm looking for somewhere between zero and two for punches, this year.

same. if I never find a toy I like (or get the boss to sign off on something), that only leaves Ford on the clock to make me a new Maverick. If neither event happens I expect to finish the year with the same fleet we are starting it with.

tjc78

I was a Toyota lover for 12 straight years. Three great vehicles, but I see nothing in their current lineup I’d own other than a Tundra or Sequoia. The Highlander is very nice but I think I’d want the 3.5.

Not bad cars by any means, but just not doing it for me anymore.

henryn

I would buy a new pickup this year, if I could get a good deal on one. I will admit that is a very big "IF".

And I have this still unscratched itch to own a new or newer Mustang GT. But once again, only IF ...

venture

28firefighter said:

That’s a future you problem. I believe your first 3 years of oil changes are included.

Oh. I thought they stopped doing that. Good to know.

henryn

oldfarmer50 said:

I just heard a tv ads for a lease on a new Nissan Altima for $199 a month. I didn’t get a chance to read the fine print so I’m guessing it required big money up front. Could this be the beginning of better lease rates?

The nissanusa web site has only one lease offering on a new Altima, and it includes $3,099 up front which makes for a rather expensive lease.

corvette

@explorerx4 - it says that video is private. I'm slightly skeptical (as I am of anything these days), as I read a post on the Gen2 Prius board complaining that the person had to remove the entire cowl to just to change spark plugs... the same spark plugs I changed in mine without any of those heroics, using only a 3/8" ratchet, spark plug socket, and a short extension.

venture

Michaell said:

venture said:

Uh oh!

I was looking at my "local" BMW dealers web site and they have pretty much what I have been looking for.

330Xi, black with red interior, coming in barely under my self-imposed cap of 50K.

I may make the 35-mile drive to have a gander. I just don't know if I'm ready for the $180 oil changes again.

Let the games begin!

I'll admit to having peeked at some used BMWs on-line the last week or two. Found a decently equipped CPO X2 M35i for around $38K.

It's nice. Still in the plastic.

The dealer took off a little and BMW has a $1,000 rebate if you finance through them. I can probably wiggle a little more out of them. The offer on my trade was surprising. I thought they would try to steal it.

Mrs. Venture is still not convinced. She's saying the same thing she said before when I bought my last BMW. She thinks people buy them to show off. I have to decide if I can put up with that again for 3 years.

breld

corvette said:

nyccarguy said:

Happy New Year to all! What was the final count for 2022? Who guessed properly? Who will be the 1st punch of 2023 (@breld)?

I think the tally is 41. Caveat: We have not yet heard from the Colorado contingent regarding any potential last-minute 2022 @breld shopping shenanigans.

No shenanigans from me.

roadburner

fintail said:

roadburner said:

Today we took the C43 on a 50 mile round trip to a restaurant In Bardstown for an early dinner; so far the more I drive it the more I like it. One ability the C43 shares with my M235i is the way it can transform from a laid back cruiser to a hard-edged sport sedan at the flip of a switch- although even in quiet mode the exhaust pops and burbles as the car is coming to a stop, which I really like. And, despite the whining of numerous US automotive writers, my wife and I find the suspension tuning to be comfortable and spot on. Fuel mileage has averaged 26 mpg, which is more than acceptable in my book. Overall, I think I made the right choice.

I recall the suspension on my OG C43 was pretty harsh and flinty, not helped by its tendency to tramline on rutted WA state roads (maybe a function of tires). The E55 I replaced it with felt like a 1975 Fleetwood in comparison. I think the right tires can have a real influence on the ride quality of these cars - modern runflats sometimes do not help with a refined ride. Even on my wagon, going from the lower profile 19" wheels to the tall sidewall soft snow tires transforms it, like being on a cloud.

The dealer had already put new ContiSportContact 5 SSR MOE tires on it. so I'l stick with them until they wear out- at which point I'll put UHP tires on it- most likely the Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4.

roadburner

venture said:

Michaell said:

venture said:

Uh oh!

I was looking at my "local" BMW dealers web site and they have pretty much what I have been looking for.

330Xi, black with red interior, coming in barely under my self-imposed cap of 50K.

I may make the 35-mile drive to have a gander. I just don't know if I'm ready for the $180 oil changes again.

Let the games begin!

I'll admit to having peeked at some used BMWs on-line the last week or two. Found a decently equipped CPO X2 M35i for around $38K.

It's nice. Still in the plastic.

The dealer took off a little and BMW has a $1,000 rebate if you finance through them. I can probably wiggle a little more out of them. The offer on my trade was surprising. I thought they would try to steal it.

Mrs. Venture is still not convinced. She's saying the same thing she said before when I bought my last BMW. She thinks people buy them to show off. I have to decide if I can put up with that again for 3 years.

My wife almost said something when I came close to buying a Plum Crazy Challenger SRT, but that's about it. She likes the C43 so much I think her next car may be a Mercedes.

explorerx4

@corvette,
Didn't realize it was a private video, just watched it on YT before I posted it.
There is a lot of stuff on the top of the engine including the intake manifold and ECU which I don't think I've heard of before.
The video about the dealer wanted to $1600 to change the spark plugs at the recommended 60k.

roadburner

I am a member of another automotive themed board, and one topic discusses vehicles in general. One guy posted that he had just bought a Hyundai Palisade and that he was able to get it at MSRP with no add-ons save TTL- and that he paid a bit under $57k out the door. Interspersed with the congratulations were some of the following comments:

That's a chunk of change.

More than my mortgage!

My personal situation will never involve 50 thousand dollar depreciating assets.

I can't imagine paying $50K+ on a vehicle...

Is your last name Jones? There won't be many people keeping up with you...

I informed one of those knuckleheads' that he would likely stroke out if he followed another board I'm on
where 41 cars were purchased- and none of them were low-rent penalty boxes.

henryn

When Hyundai first entered the US market back in 1986, they were the very epitome of "low rent penalty boxes". I do object to that phrase, I have owned a number of such cars, and never considered any of them a "penalty box", but never mind, you went there, we'll go with it.

The fact that a "low rent" auto manufacturer is selling new cars for $57k is noteworthy. And not in what I would call a good way, either.

corvette

Here's what I have:
01/10/22 qbrozen 2022 Subaru WRX
01/12/22 breld 2022 BMW X5 PHEV
02/04/22 qbrozen 2022 RAM TRX
02/19/22 breld 2022 Ford Bronco 4 door
02/24/22 nyccarguy 2022 Toyota Highlander
03/09/22 28firefighter 2008 Infiniti G35 100k
03/24/22 nyccarguy 2022 Jeep Wrangler 4xE
03/28/22 mjfloyd1 2022 Honda CR-V Touring hybrid
04/19/22 breld 2004 BMW 330i ZHP (from 28firefighter)
04/25/22 graphicguy 2022 Honda Accord Hybrid Touring
05/08/22 tifighter 2003 Mitsubishi Montero Limited 35k
05/24/22 jpp75 2022 Rivian R1T
06/21/22 28firefighter 2022 Tesla Model Y
06/21/22 carnaught 2023 Hyundai Elantra Limited
07/01/22 Anonymous_posts79 2022 VW ID.4
07/22/22 breld 2022 Rivian R1T
07/28/22 28firefighter 2022 Hyundai Elantra N
07/28/22 breld 2023 MINI Cooper S
08/02/22 carnaught 2022 Honda CR-V Touring
08/xx/22 qbrozen 2022 Mercedes Sprinter 2500 4x4
08/23/22 tjc78 2022 RAM 1500 36/10 lease
08/28/22 dad23 1966 Ford Mustang fastback
08/28/22 tifighter 2020 BMW M2 Comp 10k
08/29/22 qbrozen 1995 Suzuki Alto Works Turbo 44k
09/06/22 xwesx (son) 2009 Subaru Forester 155k
09/10/22 breld 2020 Mercedes E450 21k
09/24/22 breld 2022 Mercedes GLC300
09/29/22 nyccarguy 2023 Jeep Wrangler 4xe
10/12/22 jpp75 2021 Volvo V60 T8 25k
10/29/22 rayainsw 2022 BMW X3 M40i
10/29/22 laurasdada 2022 BMW X3 30i
11/17/22 corvette 2022 Ford Maverick XL
11/26/22 breld 2022 Ford Mach E GT Performance Package
xx/xx/22 qbrozen 1992 Nissan Gloria
xx/xx/22 qbrozen 2022 Jeep Wrangler 4xE
xx/xx/22 qbrozen 2022 Jeep Wrangler 4xE
xx/xx/22 qbrozen 1997 Suzuki R wagon
xx/xx/22 qbrozen 1994 Mitsubishi Pajero
xx/xx/22 qbrozen xxxx Opel
12/17/22 breld 2023 MINI Cooper JCW
12/22/22 roadburner 2020 Mercedes C43 AMG xxk

@tjc78 came closest with a prediction of 42 punches. If we're going by Price is Right rules, @xwesx and @28firefighter both guessed 37, with @xwesx being first to guess. @qbrozen took delivery of 10, not counting two (I think) Pajero Minis which should arrive soon. The @breld household was a close runner-up with 9 punches. There, @xwesx had the closest guess (predicting 6 punches for @breld). I believe @28firefighter was the only one to make a separate prediction for @qbrozen punches, which was slightly closer at 8.

If anyone has predictions for 2023, I'm glad to try to record them.

henryn

explorerx4 said:

@corvette,
Didn't realize it was a private video, just watched it on YT before I posted it.
There is a lot of stuff on the top of the engine including the intake manifold and ECU which I don't think I've heard of before.
The video about the dealer wanted to $1600 to change the spark plugs at the recommended 60k.

Youtube is a very good source of information for DIYers. But you do need some idea of what you're doing, and at the very least look at more than one posted video for the particular job. There are a number of very misleading videos on YouTube these days.

When I purchased my newish 2019 Pacifica in 2021, I knew that it needed new brakes. The pads were still fairly thick, but the rotors looked like something from a post-apocalyptic sci-fi movie and the pedal was soft. I went online and watched a number of videos, just to see if there were any tricks that I needed to know about. And indeed there were. On the rears, you don't push back the caliper pistons, you go through the interface on the dash to retract those calipers.

I viewed a number of videos on YouTube showing would be "mechanics" pushing back the caliper pistons manually. And working on their brakes with a really cheap lightweight floor jack, no jack stands. Overall, it was the worst example of misinformation on YouTube that I have encountered.

henryn

venture said:

Mrs. Venture is still not convinced. She's saying the same thing she said before when I bought my last BMW. She thinks people buy them to show off. I have to decide if I can put up with that again for 3 years.

There certainly are people who buy a BMW as a "status symbol". Not everyone, but some percentage. The same is true for many other brands as well. I always say, "You be you, and let the others worry about their opinions or reasons."

roadburner

corvette said:

Here's what I have:
01/10/22 qbrozen 2022 Subaru WRX
01/12/22 breld 2022 BMW X5 PHEV
02/04/22 qbrozen 2022 RAM TRX
02/19/22 breld 2022 Ford Bronco 4 door
02/24/22 nyccarguy 2022 Toyota Highlander
03/09/22 28firefighter 2008 Infiniti G35 100k
03/24/22 nyccarguy 2022 Jeep Wrangler 4xE
03/28/22 mjfloyd1 2022 Honda CR-V Touring hybrid
04/19/22 breld 2004 BMW 330i ZHP (from 28firefighter)
04/25/22 graphicguy 2022 Honda Accord Hybrid Touring
05/08/22 tifighter 2003 Mitsubishi Montero Limited 35k
05/24/22 jpp75 2022 Rivian R1T
06/21/22 28firefighter 2022 Tesla Model Y
06/21/22 carnaught 2023 Hyundai Elantra Limited
07/01/22 Anonymous_posts79 2022 VW ID.4
07/22/22 breld 2022 Rivian R1T
07/28/22 28firefighter 2022 Hyundai Elantra N
07/28/22 breld 2023 MINI Cooper S
08/02/22 carnaught 2022 Honda CR-V Touring
08/xx/22 qbrozen 2022 Mercedes Sprinter 2500 4x4
08/23/22 tjc78 2022 RAM 1500 36/10 lease
08/28/22 dad23 1966 Ford Mustang fastback
08/28/22 tifighter 2020 BMW M2 Comp 10k
08/29/22 qbrozen 1995 Suzuki Alto Works Turbo 44k
09/06/22 xwesx (son) 2009 Subaru Forester 155k
09/10/22 breld 2020 Mercedes E450 21k
09/24/22 breld 2022 Mercedes GLC300
09/29/22 nyccarguy 2023 Jeep Wrangler 4xe
10/12/22 jpp75 2021 Volvo V60 T8 25k
10/29/22 rayainsw 2022 BMW X3 M40i
10/29/22 laurasdada 2022 BMW X3 30i
11/17/22 corvette 2022 Ford Maverick XL
11/26/22 breld 2022 Ford Mach E GT Performance Package
xx/xx/22 qbrozen 1992 Nissan Gloria
xx/xx/22 qbrozen 2022 Jeep Wrangler 4xE
xx/xx/22 qbrozen 2022 Jeep Wrangler 4xE
xx/xx/22 qbrozen 1997 Suzuki R wagon
xx/xx/22 qbrozen 1994 Mitsubishi Pajero
xx/xx/22 qbrozen xxxx Opel
12/17/22 breld 2023 MINI Cooper JCW
12/22/22 roadburner 2020 Mercedes C43 AMG xxk

@tjc78 came closest with a prediction of 42 punches. If we're going by Price is Right rules, @xwesx and @28firefighter both guessed 37, with @xwesx being first to guess. @qbrozen took delivery of 10, not counting two (I think) Pajero Minis which should arrive soon. The @breld household was a close runner-up with 9 punches. There, @xwesx had the closest guess (predicting 6 punches for @breld). I believe @28firefighter was the only one to make a separate prediction for @qbrozen punches, which was slightly closer at 8.

If anyone has predictions for 2023, I'm glad to try to record them.

45

stickguy

I am always low, so will ratchet it up and guess 40.

roadburner

henryn said:

When Hyundai first entered the US market back in 1986, they were the very epitome of "low rent penalty boxes". I do object to that phrase, I have owned a number of such cars, and never considered any of them a "penalty box", but never mind, you went there, we'll go with it.

The fact that a "low rent" auto manufacturer is selling new cars for $57k is noteworthy. And not in what I would call a good way, either.

I sincerely wish that I could take credit for that term, but it actually came from the board I'm talking about. A guy was asking questions about a jaguar that his girlfriend owned. As predicted, numerous "experts"-most of which had never even sat in a Jag- weighed in with useless opinions, many along the lines of "She should have bought a [insert the name of a anodyne transport here]."
Finally, one person posted the following:
"...asking for information, on a forum full of low rent penalty box drivers, about a Jaguar, or any medium cost European car for that matter, will be less useful than slamming your hand in a car door.."

laurasdada

There is a large % of the population that considers a car as simply a way to move their stuff around; as I've nicknamed, a "closet on tires." A generalization, but just from my personal experience, this better half of the population is 98%+ in this belief.
YMMV, mine hasn't so much.
She loves the ambient lighting, she's set it to purple.

stickguy

well, the primary mission of a car is transporting people, and some amount of stuff, place to place. Anything beyond that is gravy, but it needs to be able to do that well. And a large amount of people in this country don't have the spare cash to care much about fun. Or the time to deal with a high maintenance set of wheels.

fintail

roadburner said:

I am a member of another automotive themed board, and one topic discusses vehicles in general. One guy posted that he had just bought a Hyundai Palisade and that he was able to get it at MSRP with no add-ons save TTL- and that he paid a bit under $57k out the door. Interspersed with the congratulations were some of the following comments:

That's a chunk of change.

More than my mortgage!

My personal situation will never involve 50 thousand dollar depreciating assets.

I can't imagine paying $50K+ on a vehicle...

Is your last name Jones? There won't be many people keeping up with you...

I informed one of those knuckleheads' that he would likely stroke out if he followed another board I'm on
where 41 cars were purchased- and none of them were low-rent penalty boxes.

"More than my mortgage" - lol yeah if one bought in nineteen eighty what? 30 years ago even here that would have bought nothing more than a very modest fixer upper in a marginal area.

If the Palisade buyer is in a high sales tax area, that might be a 50K sticker vehicle, not unreasonable if well-loaded. Weird the little worlds some people live in.

benjaminh

44

laurasdada

stickguy said:

well, the primary mission of a car is transporting people, and some amount of stuff, place to place. Anything beyond that is gravy, but it needs to be able to do that well. And a large amount of people in this country don't have the spare cash to care much about fun. Or the time to deal with a high maintenance set of wheels.

Beyond that, as in, "what do you mean, when did I last change the oil? I put gas in it nearly every week!"

carnaught

43

explorerx4

@henryn,
Regardless of the level of difficulty of the job, the point is the dealer wanted $1600 to change the sparkplugs(6).

qbrozen

Today’s project.

qbrozen

corvette said:

Here's what I have:
08/xx/22 qbrozen 2022 Mercedes Sprinter 2500 4x4
xx/xx/22 qbrozen 1992 Nissan Gloria
xx/xx/22 qbrozen 2022 Jeep Wrangler 4xE
xx/xx/22 qbrozen 2022 Jeep Wrangler 4xE
xx/xx/22 qbrozen 1997 Suzuki R wagon
xx/xx/22 qbrozen 1994 Mitsubishi Pajero
xx/xx/22 qbrozen xxxx Opel

for posterity.

08/12/22 qbrozen 2022 Mercedes Sprinter 2500 4x4
07/01/22 qbrozen 1992 Nissan Gloria
03/11/22 qbrozen 2022 Jeep Wrangler 4xE
03/24/22 qbrozen 2022 Jeep Wrangler 4xE
10/25/22 qbrozen 1997 Suzuki R wagon
09/05/22 qbrozen 1994 Mitsubishi Pajero
12/09/22 qbrozen 1996 Opel Astra

oldfarmer50

henryn said:

oldfarmer50 said:

I just heard a tv ads for a lease on a new Nissan Altima for $199 a month. I didn’t get a chance to read the fine print so I’m guessing it required big money up front. Could this be the beginning of better lease rates?

The nissanusa web site has only one lease offering on a new Altima, and it includes $3,099 up front which makes for a rather expensive lease.

I figured it was something like that. I’m sure they’ll be coming up with a $1/month lease with $20k due at signing.

oldfarmer50

henryn said:

explorerx4 said:

@corvette,
Didn't realize it was a private video, just watched it on YT before I posted it.
There is a lot of stuff on the top of the engine including the intake manifold and ECU which I don't think I've heard of before.
The video about the dealer wanted to $1600 to change the spark plugs at the recommended 60k.

Youtube is a very good source of information for DIYers. But you do need some idea of what you're doing, and at the very least look at more than one posted video for the particular job. There are a number of very misleading videos on YouTube these days.

When I purchased my newish 2019 Pacifica in 2021, I knew that it needed new brakes. The pads were still fairly thick, but the rotors looked like something from a post-apocalyptic sci-fi movie and the pedal was soft. I went online and watched a number of videos, just to see if there were any tricks that I needed to know about. And indeed there were. On the rears, you don't push back the caliper pistons, you go through the interface on the dash to retract those calipers.

I viewed a number of videos on YouTube showing would be "mechanics" pushing back the caliper pistons manually. And working on their brakes with a really cheap lightweight floor jack, no jack stands. Overall, it was the worst example of misinformation on YouTube that I have encountered.

I did some slap dash body work on my rusted cargo van doors after watching YT videos. Turned out ok considering it was a spray foam and Bondo job.

jmonroe1

henryn said:

oldfarmer50 said:

I just heard a tv ads for a lease on a new Nissan Altima for $199 a month. I didn’t get a chance to read the fine print so I’m guessing it required big money up front. Could this be the beginning of better lease rates?

The nissanusa web site has only one lease offering on a new Altima, and it includes $3,099 up front which makes for a rather expensive lease.

————————————————
When you look at the fine print that takes all the fun out of car buying. Really any buying.

jmonroe