Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

mjfloyd1

Probably should remove the rugs

Michaell

@Sandman6472 - you should update your signature block to reflect the new Impreza your son bought.

mjfloyd1

Evolution of BMW grille

stickguy

of no great surprise to me, Carvana got confused on their end and never completed the review steps last week so I got an email this morning that my offer expired and I needed to renew (at a lower price of course). So I called (nothing online said they did not work weekends) and left a callback request. Shocked when an hour later I got one.

Nice kid, was on for probably 45 minutes while he went back and forth with a supervisor to approve an extension (which they did) then the appraisal team to sign off (also done) and then he took care of booking an appointment.

so, barring anything else unforeseen, at noon tomorrow I should be Maverick-less, temporarily (hopefully). But as always, I will remain skeptical until process is complete.

Sandman6472

Just got home from clocking out from yesterday when I worked and passed a couple of Corolla Cross's on the road. They are certainly a bit larger than I had thought as compared to my Golf. Just not sure it's gonna fit to be honest and it's almost 2" wider than the Golf. The width could also be an issue when we both park in there too. As much as I like it, the more I look & research, it might not be, "the one". Which means the Kona moves up to the top spot right now. And thinking the best way to pick up a Mini Cooper Countryman is an ex-loaner as I'd save a bit but still get a low mileage new vehicle. I should rent one from work for a couple of days to see if it'll actually work but I think I'd fall in love with one if I did go that route.
Stick, congrats on making things happen with Carvana. I kind of knew all along that you really wanted the hybrid as your daily driver so this works out great. And if it works out that you got to use the current truck without losing much for the time you did, so much the better. A total "win/win" for you here and hopefully the out of pocket costs will be minimal. Guessing the hybrid will be equipped better which again is a good thing.

Sandman6472

Tried to add the new Impreza in my profile but it didn't take. What am I doing wrong here folks?

Michaell

Sandman6472 said:

Tried to add the new Impreza in my profile but it didn't take. What am I doing wrong here folks?

What steps did you take to add it to your signature block?

Sandman6472

That's the problem, I don't remember! Tried a few times & it's just not working. I know it can't be that hard either.

stickguy

it is not that hard, but not really intuitive. there are 2 places so it gets confusing. your profile comes up first, but that hides behind the scenes. you have to drill down another level to find signature.

stickguy

need to go grab a box and my socket set and start cleaning out the truck. Got a lot of stuff (rope, bungies, ratchet straps) stashed in there. that needs the box. Tools are so I can take off the bed cover (saving that for the next one!). Can't be too hard to figure out, since I put it on. Just been a while!

qbrozen

The things men can do when women aren't around to tell them how stupid and dangerous it is. Bahahahaha

corvette

@stickguy - do you have a build date for your hybrid? I've just been getting the generic emails Ford has pledged to send out every 45 days or so.

explorerx4

Catching up after spending an extended weekend in Eillicottville, NY.
MKC was based on the prior version of the Escape.
Here's a link to our old one on the dealer website.
It's parked where my wife left it and they didn't even wait to take off the tag for the pictures.
https://www.nickmayerwestlake.com/used-Avon-2016-Lincoln-MKC-Reserve-5LMTJ3DH5GUJ20691
Kids went skiing(man made snow only) and my wife and I kept our eye on the grandkids.
With a ruptured eardrum, I wasn't in shape to do much anyway.
Rented a pretty roomy house outside of town.

jmonroe1

stickguy said:

of no great surprise to me, Carvana got confused on their end and never completed the review steps last week so I got an email this morning that my offer expired and I needed to renew (at a lower price of course). So I called (nothing online said they did not work weekends) and left a callback request. Shocked when an hour later I got one.

Nice kid, was on for probably 45 minutes while he went back and forth with a supervisor to approve an extension (which they did) then the appraisal team to sign off (also done) and then he took care of booking an appointment.

so, barring anything else unforeseen, at noon tomorrow I should be Maverick-less, temporarily (hopefully). But as always, I will remain skeptical until process is complete.

————————————————
All that mix up has gotta make you kinda queasy as to how the payoff will go. But I think you have probably thought about that too.

jmonroe

jmonroe1

explorerx4 said:

Catching up after spending an extended weekend in Eillicottville, NY.
MKC was based on the prior version of the Escape.
Here's a link to our old one on the dealer website.
It's parked where my wife left it and they didn't even wait to take off the tag for the pictures.
https://www.nickmayerwestlake.com/used-Avon-2016-Lincoln-MKC-Reserve-5LMTJ3DH5GUJ20691
Kids went skiing(man made snow only) and my wife and I kept our eye on the grandkids.
With a ruptured eardrum, I wasn't in shape to do much anyway.
Rented a pretty roomy house outside of town.

————————————————
What could you have possibly done that made Mrs. @explorerx4 yell at you so loudly that your eardrum popped?

jmonroe

stickguy

corvette said:

@stickguy - do you have a build date for your hybrid? I've just been getting the generic emails Ford has pledged to send out every 45 days or so.

I got my build notice a few weeks ago. Scheduled right now for 4/12. That is why I started shopping the old one! Locking in value now, and hopefully having cash on hand and no old car to deal with is going to streamline the buying process (especially since I am 4 hours away now).

we spent 14 months with just the RDX before we moved, and that was when my wife still occasionally went places by herself! So a few more won't matter. Plus, if something falls apart, I can just start shopping again.

stickguy

spent some time cleaning out the truck today since I take it in tomorrow morning. They better follow through now! And learned that after a year, the rubber gasket on the bottom of the bed cover rails practically welded itself to the plastic bed cap. thought I might have to leave it on to avoid ripping the bed sides apart, but thankfully I got it worked loose with no problems so it is safely in the garage waiting to be installed on the next truck.

jmonroe1

stickguy said:

spent some time cleaning out the truck today since I take it in tomorrow morning. They better follow through now! And learned that after a year, the rubber gasket on the bottom of the bed cover rails practically welded itself to the plastic bed cap. thought I might have to leave it on to avoid ripping the bed sides apart, but thankfully I got it worked loose with no problems so it is safely in the garage waiting to be installed on the next truck.

————————————————
I’ve heard (haven’t done it myself but it sounds right) that if you use a spray can of silicone lube on the areas that come in contact with other materials you won’t have that problem.

jmonroe

corvette

I try to put a thin layer of Shinitsu grease on rubber seals yearly.

nyccarguy

On the 24th of February, our 2022 Highlander officially turned a year old. 21,000 miles and counting.

stickguy

in 2 weeks our Acura turns 3. will probably be in the mid-19s at that point.

kyfdx

corvette said:

I try to put a thin layer of Shinitsu grease on rubber seals yearly.

Surprised that one made it past the censors..

xwesx

Wowza! Chilly morning today. I think we were spoiled by a couple days of near 30-degree weather at the end of the week (Thursday/Friday), and this morning I awoke to temperatures sixty degrees colder than that! And on a Monday. The grump abides.....

sda

xwesx said:

Wowza! Chilly morning today. I think we were spoiled by a couple days of near 30-degree weather at the end of the week (Thursday/Friday), and this morning I awoke to temperatures sixty degrees colder than that! And on a Monday. The grump abides.....

Not to put salt in the wound, but sunny 70 today. I mowed the grass and cleaned up the back yard.

henryn

sda said:

xwesx said:

Wowza! Chilly morning today. I think we were spoiled by a couple days of near 30-degree weather at the end of the week (Thursday/Friday), and this morning I awoke to temperatures sixty degrees colder than that! And on a Monday. The grump abides.....

Not to put salt in the wound, but sunny 70 today. I mowed the grass and cleaned up the back yard.

Expected high of 83 here in Houston today. Definitely shorts and t-shirt weather.

stickguy

Carvana adventure is over. delivery was smooth. 15 minutes in and out. all the paperwork was ready. agent dude just had to check miles and take a few pictures, I signed the forms, took my plates and money and left. Quick, painless and efficient.

newer location for them. former car dealership location they are using to take in purchases (you can drop off or pay them extra to pick up at the house) and if you buy a car can pick it up there. Also the staging area I think for the tractor trailers that collect or drop off cars for the local region. And based on the 10 I counted, the lot where they keep their fleet of tow trucks.

No fancy vending machine. That expense, long since done away with!

now as long as they pay off the note as expected, I am out of the truck business for the time being.

stickguy

turned out that Maverick ownership, in addition to being very convenient (I will likely always have a truck in the fleet now of some sort) was also quite profitable. Based on some quick math, I leased for 14 months (6,500 miles) for $-340/mo. Yes, I was effectively paid over $300 to drive it. Not a bad side hustle!

After everything I had in it (otd cost to buy + the spray in bed liner) I cleared about $4,800 on this flip. Once I finally roll it into the next one, I should still be about $2,000 ahead of the game (while gaining 1 MY, 14 months of warranty, and a bunch of features we didn't have in the old one).

Of course, if I was smart, and it was possible to do, I would find a cheap older truck to have for utility duty, and plow the rest into a Miata or some other fun car. Too bad the "cheap" trucks are $20,000 100k miles rust buckets now!

qbrozen

congrats, @stickguy

nyccarguy

Nice job @stickguy

ab348

Better cash that cheque ASAP, Stick. That company is very unhealthy.

https://carbuzz.com/news/carvana-is-still-losing-money-because-used-car-demand-keeps-dropping

stickguy

It was in the bank 15 minutes after I got it.

henryn

stickguy said:

Carvana adventure is over. delivery was smooth. 15 minutes in and out. all the paperwork was ready. agent dude just had to check miles and take a few pictures, I signed the forms, took my plates and money and left. Quick, painless and efficient.

newer location for them. former car dealership location they are using to take in purchases (you can drop off or pay them extra to pick up at the house) and if you buy a car can pick it up there. Also the staging area I think for the tractor trailers that collect or drop off cars for the local region. And based on the 10 I counted, the lot where they keep their fleet of tow trucks.

No fancy vending machine. That expense, long since done away with!

now as long as they pay off the note as expected, I am out of the truck business for the time being.

Exactly the same experience I had around May of 2021 when I sold Carvana my 2016 Town & Country. A former new car dealership, with hundreds of cars completely filling up all of the surrounding lots. They even paid for an Uber ride home.

At that time, there was no extra charge for them picking up versus you delivering to them, but you could take 2 or 3 days off the turnaround time if you delivered to them. And they would pay for the Uber ride home, so why not?

stickguy

This was my 3rd sale to them. first I took it to the vending machine in Philly and uber'd home. 2nd one they came and took it away. This one, the wife just followed me down (about 10 miles from our house) and we stopped for lunch on the way back. Not sure when they could have come to pick up, but it was an extra $75 so not worth the cost. Plus I wanted the money as soon as possible just in case!

also, starting tonight it is supposed to snow/rain/mix every day into Saturday morning so good to get it out of the way.

kyfdx

@stickguy Congrats!

sda

I've sold three cars to CarMax and it was a positive experience, though nothing since 2003. For a while it seemed CarMax wasn’t giving a competitive offer so I stopped getting bids from them. I guess they were forced to up their game in the past few years with all of the ‘shortages’.

stickguy

I was hoping to use them but they were $2k lower. We sold my daughters Jetta to them in 2021 and it was a good experience.

jmonroe1

In April of 2019 I sold Mrs. j’s 2012 Legacy Limited to Carvana for around $2200 more than the dealer I bought her 2018 Legacy Limited from. I told that story here when I bought the 2018 Subie.

If that dealer would have given me $500 more than they offered I wouldn’t have given Carvana a try. It was Son #1 who looked into it for me because I had never heard of Carvana before that. So in the end the dealer did me a favor by not offering me what I wanted for the 2012 Subie. Sometimes you get lucky.

FWIW, I don’t remember Carvana offering me anything but pickup from my driveway. Just like @stickguy’s sale it was totally painless. I never had a car transaction go better than that EVER.

Another FWIW, Son #1 bought his GMC pickup 2 years ago from Carvana. But he went to the vending machine on the other side of the Burgh to get it. Maybe it was cheaper doing it that way but he wanted his sons to see the vending machine beast. Mrs. j and I went along too. Then we all went to dinner at one of those golf driving place things that are so popular today. My Grandsons got a kick out of that place too.

jmonroe

Sandman6472

Stick, you did quite well! Congrats.

As a side note, they sometimes call me "Stick" at wok because I walk with a cane. On my first day there, the resident name giver gave me the name, "Citizen Cane" and both that and "Stick" are what most of the drivers call me now. Guess it was different to have someone come in walking with a cane. I don't even notice it anymore as I've been walking with it since my accident in 2005. It's like having a 3rd leg...but now, it's part of me.

Worked my first Monday today & was better than I thought. Was a long day as we got back about 6:40 or so. Get to do the whole thing tomorrow but then, have two days off which should give me time to rest up for Friday & Saturday which I was asked to work last Saturday. The lead driver will be taking the day off so I was asked to fill in for him. An extra six or so hours in my check again which is fine by me since I was off for ten days the middle of February after I fell.

oldfarmer50

nyccarguy said:

On the 24th of February, our 2022 Highlander officially turned a year old. 21,000 miles and counting.

I’ll probably put just about that many miles on my Kia on it’s 4th anniversary next month.

oldfarmer50

henryn said:

sda said:

xwesx said:

Wowza! Chilly morning today. I think we were spoiled by a couple days of near 30-degree weather at the end of the week (Thursday/Friday), and this morning I awoke to temperatures sixty degrees colder than that! And on a Monday. The grump abides.....

Not to put salt in the wound, but sunny 70 today. I mowed the grass and cleaned up the back yard.

Expected high of 83 here in Houston today. Definitely shorts and t-shirt weather.

Same as Canada.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

turned out that Maverick ownership, in addition to being very convenient (I will likely always have a truck in the fleet now of some sort) was also quite profitable. Based on some quick math, I leased for 14 months (6,500 miles) for $-340/mo. Yes, I was effectively paid over $300 to drive it. Not a bad side hustle!

After everything I had in it (otd cost to buy + the spray in bed liner) I cleared about $4,800 on this flip. Once I finally roll it into the next one, I should still be about $2,000 ahead of the game (while gaining 1 MY, 14 months of warranty, and a bunch of features we didn't have in the old one).

Of course, if I was smart, and it was possible to do, I would find a cheap older truck to have for utility duty, and plow the rest into a Miata or some other fun car. Too bad the "cheap" trucks are $20,000 100k miles rust buckets now!

You did very good.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

This was my 3rd sale to them. first I took it to the vending machine in Philly and uber'd home. 2nd one they came and took it away. This one, the wife just followed me down (about 10 miles from our house) and we stopped for lunch on the way back. Not sure when they could have come to pick up, but it was an extra $75 so not worth the cost. Plus I wanted the money as soon as possible just in case!

also, starting tonight it is supposed to snow/rain/mix every day into Saturday morning so good to get it out of the way.

Is that location in the Latham-Newtonville area across from a former amusement park? If so that’s the former Chrysler dealer where I bought my PT Cruiser.

stickguy

On 9 just south of 155. No clue about an amusement park but it is next to a swimming pool place.

I’ve never been along that stretch before. Not our normal haunts.

Michaell

oldfarmer50 said:

nyccarguy said:

On the 24th of February, our 2022 Highlander officially turned a year old. 21,000 miles and counting.

I’ll probably put just about that many miles on my Kia on it’s 4th anniversary next month.

The Outback celebrates its 8th birthday with us tomorrow. I celebrated a day early by filling up the gas tank.

It has less than 55,000 miles on the odometer and we've spent less than $5K in maintenance and repairs to keep it on the road (that includes 2 sets of tires). It's done everything we've asked of it, and as much as I'd like to trade it in on something new, it still looks darn good after it gets washed. Interior is holding up, as well, though I did notice today that the glove box is slightly misaligned on the right side.

It's got a dealer appointment scheduled for tomorrow - the rear washer nozzle isn't working again, and I plan to get new wiper blades installed, front and back. I'll ask them to take a quick look at the glove box, as well.

I could get used to this not working thing some of you have going - but, not quite ready to retire. I'm hoping another 7-9 years, once I find honest work again, should do it.

stickguy

I’m loving it. Just hate having to think about spending Money. That’s an adjustment. Otherwise I would have a serious itch to be out shopping. Too much temporary money in the bank account now.

jmonroe1

oldfarmer50 said:

henryn said:

sda said:

xwesx said:

Wowza! Chilly morning today. I think we were spoiled by a couple days of near 30-degree weather at the end of the week (Thursday/Friday), and this morning I awoke to temperatures sixty degrees colder than that! And on a Monday. The grump abides.....

Not to put salt in the wound, but sunny 70 today. I mowed the grass and cleaned up the back yard.

Expected high of 83 here in Houston today. Definitely shorts and t-shirt weather.

Same as Canada.

————————————————
I didn’t know @driver100 returned to Canada so early this year. Then again that pic ain’t all that clear. That could be @ab348. Maybe he thinks there are “worthless Canadian dollars” under that mound of snow.

jmonroe

jmonroe1

Michaell said:

oldfarmer50 said:

nyccarguy said:

On the 24th of February, our 2022 Highlander officially turned a year old. 21,000 miles and counting.

I’ll probably put just about that many miles on my Kia on it’s 4th anniversary next month.

The Outback celebrates its 8th birthday with us tomorrow. I celebrated a day early by filling up the gas tank.

It has less than 55,000 miles on the odometer and we've spent less than $5K in maintenance and repairs to keep it on the road (that includes 2 sets of tires). It's done everything we've asked of it, and as much as I'd like to trade it in on something new, it still looks darn good after it gets washed. Interior is holding up, as well, though I did notice today that the glove box is slightly misaligned on the right side.

It's got a dealer appointment scheduled for tomorrow - the rear washer nozzle isn't working again, and I plan to get new wiper blades installed, front and back. I'll ask them to take a quick look at the glove box, as well.

I could get used to this not working thing some of you have going - but, not quite ready to retire. I'm hoping another 7-9 years, once I find honest work again, should do it.

————————————————
I’ve got a fix for the misaligned glove box. Slide your toll road change to the left side of the glove box.

jmonroe

Michaell

jmonroe1 said:

Michaell said:

oldfarmer50 said:

nyccarguy said:

On the 24th of February, our 2022 Highlander officially turned a year old. 21,000 miles and counting.

I’ll probably put just about that many miles on my Kia on it’s 4th anniversary next month.

The Outback celebrates its 8th birthday with us tomorrow. I celebrated a day early by filling up the gas tank.

It has less than 55,000 miles on the odometer and we've spent less than $5K in maintenance and repairs to keep it on the road (that includes 2 sets of tires). It's done everything we've asked of it, and as much as I'd like to trade it in on something new, it still looks darn good after it gets washed. Interior is holding up, as well, though I did notice today that the glove box is slightly misaligned on the right side.

It's got a dealer appointment scheduled for tomorrow - the rear washer nozzle isn't working again, and I plan to get new wiper blades installed, front and back. I'll ask them to take a quick look at the glove box, as well.

I could get used to this not working thing some of you have going - but, not quite ready to retire. I'm hoping another 7-9 years, once I find honest work again, should do it.

————————————————
I’ve got a fix for the misaligned glove box. Slide your toll road change to the left side of the glove box.

jmonroe

Toll road ..... change?

I've got a sticker on my windshield for that.

nyccarguy

glove box is slightly misaligned on the right side.

the rear washer nozzle isn't working again, and I plan to get new wiper blades installed, front and back. I'll ask them to take a quick look at the glove box, as well.

Plug it into Carvana & CarMax. See what the dealer will give you for it. I smell a nice lease on a leftover 2022 WRX Limited:)-

qbrozen

congrats, @stickguy

Michaell said:

The Outback celebrates its 8th birthday with us tomorrow. I celebrated a day early by filling up the gas tank.

It has less than 55,000 miles on the odometer and we've spent less than $5K in maintenance and repairs to keep it on the road (that includes 2 sets of tires). It's done everything we've asked of it, and as much as I'd like to trade it in on something new, it still looks darn good after it gets washed. Interior is holding up, as well, though I did notice today that the glove box is slightly misaligned on the right side.

It's got a dealer appointment scheduled for tomorrow - the rear washer nozzle isn't working again, and I plan to get new wiper blades installed, front and back. I'll ask them to take a quick look at the glove box, as well.

I could get used to this not working thing some of you have going - but, not quite ready to retire. I'm hoping another 7-9 years, once I find honest work again, should do it.

I realize it is 8 years, but $5k for 55k miles seems like A LOT for an outback.