Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

fintail

ab348 said:

I've recently begun watching some of The Car Wizard's videos on YT, that's the guy who is Hoovie's mechanic. He isn't as annoying as Hoovie (who has set the rumor mills abuzz with talk that he is going thru a divorce!), but this fellow has his own quirks as well so he can annoy too, just not as much. It is interesting because he has certain makes/models that he absolutely hates, and others that he loves, seeing them from a mechanic's perspective. I doubt the ones he likes are as good as he says and the ones he hates are as bad as he claims, although it is one credible data point. Even though Hyundai engines like to blow up it is hard to totally blame the company when a car is presented where the owner had never changed the oil and there is just 1 qt of black guck remaining in the crankcase. He loves Toyotas and Lexii which really isn't a surprise. Some of the repair gymnastics required on certain vehicles are eye-opening. Oddly, he has had several Cadillacs with the Northstar engine and doesn't seem to hate them, which I can't quite figure out.

I was once on the Hoovie train, but the shtick got old. Car Wizard is less annoying, but also requires moderation. Maybe can be said for most YT presenters. I am usually ok with Adam's material, and a couple of auction types like Randy and Big Al's Bike and Auto.

corvette

@fintail - I really like Big Al, but he's (far) crossed the point of being a hoarder with the number of vehicles he has, since he almost never sells anything. At this point, I can almost hear the rubber dry rotting and the cylinder walls being coated with rust on the undriven vehicles.

tifighter

@ab348 said:
I watched Harry Metcalfe's review of the Civic Type R the other day:

https://youtu.be/ePXpl8LBc2I

You know it's a good car when Harry laughs and smiles while driving it and he did that here. It really seems appealing, especially those red seats (too bad they couldn't have found a few yards of the same upholstery to make the back seats match the front). The lack of an automatic transmission limits its appeal to people like me with knee issues but otherwise it seems like a hoot to drive. A shame it is so expensive though.

I get the appeal of the Type R. I just can’t imagine how much work it would be to buy one.

henryn

oldfarmer50 said:

ab348 said:

I've recently begun watching some of The Car Wizard's videos on YT, that's the guy who is Hoovie's mechanic. He isn't as annoying as Hoovie (who has set the rumor mills abuzz with talk that he is going thru a divorce!), but this fellow has his own quirks as well so he can annoy too, just not as much. It is interesting because he has certain makes/models that he absolutely hates, and others that he loves, seeing them from a mechanic's perspective. I doubt the ones he likes are as good as he says and the ones he hates are as bad as he claims, although it is one credible data point. Even though Hyundai engines like to blow up it is hard to totally blame the company when a car is presented where the owner had never changed the oil and there is just 1 qt of black guck remaining in the crankcase. He loves Toyotas and Lexii which really isn't a surprise. Some of the repair gymnastics required on certain vehicles are eye-opening. Oddly, he has had several Cadillacs with the Northstar engine and doesn't seem to hate them, which I can't quite figure out.

With all the luxury cars Hoovie gives his wife she’d be a fool to divorce him.

The Wizard has videos on which models never to buy and one of them was the Northstars. Then he went out and bought one for himself. He had to pull the engine to fix the oil pan and the head bolts.

Over the course of my long life, I have owned 3 Cadillacs with the Northstar V8. I enjoyed every one of them, and only one of them suffered the dreaded head gasket failure. I bought that one at 30k and drove it to 120k before it failed, so I don't really feel too bad even about that one.

Sandman6472

No, the Countryman I drove the other day was not an "S" version and I think it was a 2021 considering the miles it had on it. Haven't seen that many Mini Cooper's in our fleet to be honest but when I do, try to get them to drive. The one I drove that afternoon was going to the M C dealer near our office & with all the traffic, I got there quicker than most of the others. Went outside & saw that the white over gray CountrymanS was open, so I got in & sat for a spell. I was blown away to be honest with how good it all felt. From the meaty steering wheel to the switch gear I touched, just absolutely beautiful! I really liked what I was seeing/feeling and could see myself owning one. But, when one adds in the Harmon Kardon sound system, the price moves quite close to $38K, which is a lot of money to spend on a vehicle. Just not sure I really want to go that high.
But, we shall see when the time comes. Once I truly do get serious about buying anything, we'll just have to see. Really need to drive the Kona Limited and the Kona N & go from there. Before I drove the M C on Tuesday, I happened to get into a brand new Kia Soul & took it to a local branch. Think it had under 500 miles on it. Was a base model in a dark gray color which suits it very well. Drove nicely for what it is, a basic entry level economy car. Not many options to speak of...it got the job done with no fuss or flair. Think I'd get very bored with it within days, just like I would with the Hyundai Venue. Both get the job of driving done, but I want more fun in my d d.

ab348

oldfarmer50 said:

The Wizard has videos on which models never to buy and one of them was the Northstars. Then he went out and bought one for himself. He had to pull the engine to fix the oil pan and the head bolts.

I think he's had several Northstars. I watched the head bolt replacement video, not for the faint of heart.

laurasdada

Yes, whither Graphicguy?

Michaell

@Sandman6472 - what are you waiting for before you “get serious”? If you find a car you like, jump on it and pull the trigger.

qbrozen

Michaell said:

@Sandman6472 - what are you waiting for before you “get serious”? If you find a car you like, jump on it and pull the trigger.

He is waiting until he gets hyperfocused on a Nissan product, and then talk about it and post pictures for months and months.

breld

tifighter said:

@ab348 said:

I watched Harry Metcalfe's review of the Civic Type R the other day:

https://youtu.be/ePXpl8LBc2I

You know it's a good car when Harry laughs and smiles while driving it and he did that here. It really seems appealing, especially those red seats (too bad they couldn't have found a few yards of the same upholstery to make the back seats match the front). The lack of an automatic transmission limits its appeal to people like me with knee issues but otherwise it seems like a hoot to drive. A shame it is so expensive though.

I get the appeal of the Type R. I just can’t imagine how much work it would be to buy one.

Not sure how much work it takes...just takes deep pockets.

A quick look at listings seems to reflect MSRP + $5k could get you one. As great as the new Type R apparently is, I'm guessing $50k is a ceiling not many buyers want to exceed.

tjc78

@laurasdada said:
Yes, whither Graphicguy?

Must just be staying away from Edmunds. He was just active in another forum yesterday (not car related)

tjc78

Just realized … that may have been a little stalkerish and he will probably see I viewed his profile… I now hang my head in shame

ab348

One must wonder if he will ever return?

venture

qbrozen said:

Michaell said:

@Sandman6472 - what are you waiting for before you “get serious”? If you find a car you like, jump on it and pull the trigger.

He is waiting until he gets hyperfocused on a Nissan product, and then talk about it and post pictures for months and months.

I don't remember him ever posting a picture, but if he does I want to see this famous garage first; where he can only get a small car in.

laurasdada

ab348 said:

One must wonder if he will ever return?

Did I miss something, an offense of some sort?

fintail

corvette said:

@fintail - I really like Big Al, but he's (far) crossed the point of being a hoarder with the number of vehicles he has, since he almost never sells anything. At this point, I can almost hear the rubber dry rotting and the cylinder walls being coated with rust on the undriven vehicles.

That's part of what makes it funny - very few want the cars he hoards, and even fewer would pay anything for them. He's a magnet for unloved material, like the Trofeo convertible he recently picked up. The FL climate is also not kind to cars stored outside, something he will need to deal with sooner or later.

qbrozen

venture said:

I don't remember him ever posting a picture, but if he does I want to see this famous garage first; where he can only get a small car in.

No, but that other poster who never bought anything did. lol.
I'm just poking fun @Sandman6472

andres3

Might get my S4 back today just making me $1,000 lighter.

You know I'm upset about it; but looking at used car prices it might be a tiny price to pay to play.

So far, the minimum interval between problems has been 11 months.

roadburner

qbrozen said:

venture said:

I don't remember him ever posting a picture, but if he does I want to see this famous garage first; where he can only get a small car in.

No, but that other poster who never bought anything did. lol.
I'm just poking fun @Sandman6472

I believe his name was iluvnothingiwouldbuy...

andres3

What happened to Nissan's mojo anyway? They seem like a shell of a company, more like Mitsubishi than a Honda/Toyota competitor.

stickguy

got bored and all recent time on Carvana, I cooked up another scheme. Ran it past the wife. Let's just say, it might take some convincing.

https://www.carvana.com/vehicle/2665150

This might explain why Carvana pays so much for inventory. Price seems insane, yet they have 2 others in process of being purchased in the $46k range. That link is basically the same as my pending build (though it has ACC and no moonroof). So MSRP on a 2023 would be in the $35k range. Some serious markup for a year old used one.

so the plan, buy the new one when it arrives. If offers are still nuts on them, drive straight to one of the C places and flip it for a big $ profit. Then buy a used Miata and pickup with part of the money, and flip the wife's car into something like an X3 with the rest. Or save a bunch and swap it for a CRV hybrid (about an even swap) to get the MPG boost this plan otherwise tosses in the dumpster!

I really can't understand why this got an eye roll out of her. She is getting the new car out of the deal!

I should have bought Henry's F150 to get things rolling.

corvette

fintail said:

The FL climate is also not kind to cars stored outside, something he will need to deal with sooner or later.

Yes. At his old place, he had some makeshift carports made from 5 gallon buckets, concrete, PVC pipe, and tarps (I'm sure the neighbors loved that), but I don't recall seeing any of those on the new avocado farm.

I enjoyed it when he had a dealership and would do fix and flips on cars he had no interest in keeping, like Altimas and Pilots, although as he's said many times before, the used car market made it impossible for him to do that for the past couple of years or so.

laurasdada

Stick, wife loves, loves, loves her new X3. Yes, more than she loves me. But, I have ice cream, so I can live with it.

Sandman6472

Michael, guess with the Golf behaving itself, no need to cut it from the herd. I've been driving only about 2K miles/years since the pandemic which ain't much. So as much as I'd like something new, it just is silly right now. And considering how much I still like my Golf, just makes zero sense to do anything. And getting to drive all these newer vehicles at work has scratched that itch for something new and it ain't costing me a dime. Lastly, I'm going to have to finance this time as I don't want to disrupt my portfolio right now. Let's just say that I'm down a bit on one of my stocks a bit, so selling anything right now just would just not be the right move financially speaking. The only good thing about my situation is if I do finance, I can cover that nut with my work income easily or go into my monthly dividends. By waiting another year, saving the way I do, I'd probably even have enough to buy it outright then. So, it's a bit complicated right now.
Not sure how to upload a photo from my iPhone in here but once one sees where the air handler is right in front of where I park, then my issue with length would be easy to see. But we like small vehicles anyways, so it's not a big deal to me. On the other hand, if something happens to the Golf like another accident or major engine problems, then it would be gone very quickly. But since it's running like a champ currently, best just to wait & see. By then, hoping that dealer inventories will get back to normal levels & that my portfolio improves a bit. And lastly, since it's not uncommon for us to keep our vehicles up to ten years, I'm at a good place right now. Both at eight years of ownership so figure within the next twelve to eighteen months, I'm going to have to jump anyways on something.
So, that's where I'm at now. Time is my friend right now, so am squirreling away as much cash as possible and looking towards late 2024 as the perfect time for me to finally pull that damn trigger!

kyfdx

Popped out to the airport to give my friends a ride home. Parked in the cell phone lot for 10 minutes, and then the car won't start. They Ubered home. I called AAA. All kinds of crazy warning lights, so naturally, it was a dead battery.

Car is five years old, so probably about time. Dropped it at my local mechanic on the way home. Should be ready in the morning.

stickguy

that flipper in Colorado must have sold you a lemon.

Michaell

stickguy said:

that flipper in Colorado must have sold you a lemon.

Nah - if that was the case, the clutch would have gone out.

tjc78

@Sandman6472 said:
Michael, guess with the Golf behaving itself, no need to cut it from the herd. I've been driving only about 2K miles/years since the pandemic which ain't much. So as much as I'd like something new, it just is silly right now. And considering how much I still like my Golf, just makes zero sense to do anything. And getting to drive all these newer vehicles at work has scratched that itch for something new and it ain't costing me a dime. Lastly, I'm going to have to finance this time as I don't want to disrupt my portfolio right now. Let's just say that I'm down a bit on one of my stocks a bit, so selling anything right now just would just not be the right move financially speaking. The only good thing about my situation is if I do finance, I can cover that nut with my work income easily or go into my monthly dividends. By waiting another year, saving the way I do, I'd probably even have enough to buy it outright then. So, it's a bit complicated right now.
Not sure how to upload a photo from my iPhone in here but once one sees where the air handler is right in front of where I park, then my issue with length would be easy to see. But we like small vehicles anyways, so it's not a big deal to me. On the other hand, if something happens to the Golf like another accident or major engine problems, then it would be gone very quickly. But since it's running like a champ currently, best just to wait & see. By then, hoping that dealer inventories will get back to normal levels & that my portfolio improves a bit. And lastly, since it's not uncommon for us to keep our vehicles up to ten years, I'm at a good place right now. Both at eight years of ownership so figure within the next twelve to eighteen months, I'm going to have to jump anyways on something.
So, that's where I'm at now. Time is my friend right now, so am squirreling away as much cash as possible and looking towards late 2024 as the perfect time for me to finally pull that damn trigger!

I wish I had your restraint my friend. I get antsy after three years let alone 8.

Michaell

tjc78 said:

@Sandman6472 said:

Michael, guess with the Golf behaving itself, no need to cut it from the herd. I've been driving only about 2K miles/years since the pandemic which ain't much. So as much as I'd like something new, it just is silly right now. And considering how much I still like my Golf, just makes zero sense to do anything. And getting to drive all these newer vehicles at work has scratched that itch for something new and it ain't costing me a dime. Lastly, I'm going to have to finance this time as I don't want to disrupt my portfolio right now. Let's just say that I'm down a bit on one of my stocks a bit, so selling anything right now just would just not be the right move financially speaking. The only good thing about my situation is if I do finance, I can cover that nut with my work income easily or go into my monthly dividends. By waiting another year, saving the way I do, I'd probably even have enough to buy it outright then. So, it's a bit complicated right now.

Not sure how to upload a photo from my iPhone in here but once one sees where the air handler is right in front of where I park, then my issue with length would be easy to see. But we like small vehicles anyways, so it's not a big deal to me. On the other hand, if something happens to the Golf like another accident or major engine problems, then it would be gone very quickly. But since it's running like a champ currently, best just to wait & see. By then, hoping that dealer inventories will get back to normal levels & that my portfolio improves a bit. And lastly, since it's not uncommon for us to keep our vehicles up to ten years, I'm at a good place right now. Both at eight years of ownership so figure within the next twelve to eighteen months, I'm going to have to jump anyways on something.

So, that's where I'm at now. Time is my friend right now, so am squirreling away as much cash as possible and looking towards late 2024 as the perfect time for me to finally pull that damn trigger!

I wish I had your restraint my friend. I get antsy after three years let alone 8.

I'm at 8 years on the Outback, and I've been itching for a while, now. Just not the right time to go back into debt.

Sandman6472

That's why I buy what I really like, except the Tucson incident which we don't talk about. Think it's also because we've always lived below our means once I got married. My folks used to get new vehicles more often as one was charged to the family business so every two years, a new Cadillac or Lincoln wold show up at the house. Even once the folks retired, they'd get newer vehicles on a regular basis. Our financial situation was totally different, so we had to adjust our spending to a much lower income level.
So going forward, I'll just find the best vehicle for me that I can & enjoy it for a long time. Without breaking the bank of course!

sda

kyfdx said:

Popped out to the airport to give my friends a ride home. Parked in the cell phone lot for 10 minutes, and then the car won't start. They Ubered home. I called AAA. All kinds of crazy warning lights, so naturally, it was a dead battery.

Car is five years old, so probably about time. Dropped it at my local mechanic on the way home. Should be ready in the morning.

The battery in the Passat is original too. That gives me pause. I believe the battery in the Q5 is also original but it is situated way under the cargo floor and is hard to reach. Each time I've had the Audi serviced at the dealer I mention my concern about the battery yet it always tests out ok. I guess I need to bite the bullet and have them both replaced to avoid catastrophic failure like you experienced.

breld

stickguy said:

that flipper in Colorado must have sold you a lemon.

I'm pretty sure @kyfdx still is ahead by thousands of dollars on that deal.

kyfdx

breld said:

stickguy said:

that flipper in Colorado must have sold you a lemon.

I'm pretty sure @kyfdx still is ahead by thousands of dollars on that deal.

You betcha!!

kyfdx

sda said:

kyfdx said:

Popped out to the airport to give my friends a ride home. Parked in the cell phone lot for 10 minutes, and then the car won't start. They Ubered home. I called AAA. All kinds of crazy warning lights, so naturally, it was a dead battery.

Car is five years old, so probably about time. Dropped it at my local mechanic on the way home. Should be ready in the morning.

The battery in the Passat is original too. That gives me pause. I believe the battery in the Q5 is also original but it is situated way under the cargo floor and is hard to reach. Each time I've had the Audi serviced at the dealer I mention my concern about the battery yet it always tests out ok. I guess I need to bite the bullet and have them both replaced to avoid catastrophic failure like you experienced.

The GTI battery is in an easy location. I really could have done it, myself (or let the clerk at Autozone do it), but I didn't want to turn it off, and my mechanic is right on the way home. It's only a 15 minute walk home.
Need to keep him busy, so he's there for me, when needed.

ab348

Sandman6472 said:

Not sure how to upload a photo from my iPhone in here but once one sees where the air handler is right in front of where I park, then my issue with length would be easy to see.

Posting a photo from an iPhone is easy. A few ways to do it actually but take some photos and decide on the one you’re happiest with. Click the rectangular icon at the top of the posting box that looks like a postcard. Click on the “Choose Files” button that comes up, then click the “Photo Library “ choice. Select your photo and away you go.

stickguy

this site is easy. can just copy/paste if you want to. Most sites now make you host pictures elsewhere and just link to them. That can be a pain.

fintail

andres3 said:

What happened to Nissan's mojo anyway? They seem like a shell of a company, more like Mitsubishi than a Honda/Toyota competitor.

Nissan was so relevant or even hip and aspirational when I was a kid. Now, well, look up "Big Altima Energy".

qbrozen

Still working on my 2-post lift. Had to wait for a drill and bit to make large enough holes in the cement. That finally arrived late yesterday. Drilled 2.5 of the 10 holes before the drill broke. Back to amazon that goes. Took a trip to harbor freight and picked up another. Finished enough anchors to then run the steel cables between the towers and adjust those up. Back to anchors before the clock and back pain both did me in for tonight. 2 more anchors to go, then figure out the hydraulics. No manual with this thing, BTW.

corvette

kyfdx said:

All kinds of crazy warning lights, so naturally, it was a dead battery.

Car is five years old, so probably about time. Dropped it at my local mechanic on the way home. Should be ready in the morning.

If you know a good lawyer, you can probably go after the previous owner for those kind of shenanigans!

(I jest, but "they had to have known!" is a far more common claim than you might think.)

henryn

Sandman6472 said:

Let's just say that I'm down a bit on one of my stocks a bit, so selling anything right now just would just not be the right move financially speaking.

One stock? You're telling us you're only down on one stock? (Muttering incoherently in his beard as he wonders off into the night...)

Michaell

henryn said:

Sandman6472 said:

Let's just say that I'm down a bit on one of my stocks a bit, so selling anything right now just would just not be the right move financially speaking.

One stock? You're telling us you're only down on one stock? (Muttering incoherently in his beard as he wonders off into the night...)

And, couldn't you write off those losses on next year's taxes?

benjaminh

So stickguy has sold his first Maverick! Congrats.

Reading this story on Tesla, a few things stand out....

https://www.wardsauto.com/industry-news/musk-sketches-tesla-plans-investor-day

"....Tesla’s next-generation vehicle platform will reduce the size of the necessary plants by almost half, while being more efficient and turning out the same volume of vehicles as its current factories. Costs per plant will be cut by 50% compared with today’s plants....

Tesla’s next gigafactory will be built in Monterrey, Mexico. At the end of 2022, the company had installed capacity to build 1.9 million vehicles a year. Musk’s goal is to reach capacity of 20 million vehicles for which he says the company will need 12 gigafactories in all...."

Reading some other stories, it looks like the second generation Model 3 will be out in maybe three years or so, and taking the hyperbole with a generous sprinkling of salt it will probably cost significantly less. Maybe 35k even before the federal rebates? Apparently the glass roof feature is being eliminated for the next generation.

Even if Tesla only reaches half of its 10-year production goal, adding 10 million vehicles to current supplies is likely to affect the supply and demand balance—and vehicle prices. Many manufacturers have said they are going to limit production to keep prices high, but meanwhile Tesla is going to be taking market share. As some are now saying, there's going to be an EV price war, which really has already started.

Currently a base Model 3 has an msrp that almost exactly the same as a BMW 3-series—45k. But the Tesla gets a $7500 federal tax credit, while the BMW doesn't. No wonder the Model 3 already outsells the 3-series by something like 4-1. Probably this year sales of the 3-series will pass the Accord, and next year it will probably pass the Camry.

I don't think I'll personally be getting a Tesla, but a lot of people are going to just based on sheer economics.

qbrozen

The tax credit won’t always be there to help Tesla make sales. And, IMHO, the base model 3 pales in comparison to a 3-series. I very much prefer my WRX to a base model3, as a matter of fact. They are very similar in quality feel, but I get AWD, better handling, and more range. The Model 3 is leasing quite well in NJ right now, but I just don’t want a base model at all for any price.

tjc78

@qbrozen said:
Still working on my 2-post lift. Had to wait for a drill and bit to make large enough holes in the cement. That finally arrived late yesterday. Drilled 2.5 of the 10 holes before the drill broke. Back to amazon that goes. Took a trip to harbor freight and picked up another. Finished enough anchors to then run the steel cables between the towers and adjust those up. Back to anchors before the clock and back pain both did me in for tonight. 2 more anchors to go, then figure out the hydraulics. No manual with this thing, BTW.

Love Harbor Freight. I have one right over the bridge done the shore and bought pretty much all my tools, shop vac etc for down there.

We are also getting one in Deptford, 5 mins from my primary house. I’ll be there frequently.

They are expanding a good bit. Wish they needed a development manager…..

qbrozen

@tjc78 said:

@qbrozen said:
Still working on my 2-post lift. Had to wait for a drill and bit to make large enough holes in the cement. That finally arrived late yesterday. Drilled 2.5 of the 10 holes before the drill broke. Back to amazon that goes. Took a trip to harbor freight and picked up another. Finished enough anchors to then run the steel cables between the towers and adjust those up. Back to anchors before the clock and back pain both did me in for tonight. 2 more anchors to go, then figure out the hydraulics. No manual with this thing, BTW.

Love Harbor Freight. I have one right over the bridge done the shore and bought pretty much all my tools, shop vac etc for down there.

We are also getting one in Deptford, 5 mins from my primary house. I’ll be there frequently.

They are expanding a good bit. Wish they needed a development manager…..

I try not to buy too much there only because I know it won’t last long. I have a bench grinder from them that is about 7 yrs old, so that’s been good. A floor jack didn’t last, though. After maybe 1 year it got to where it only lifts about halfway. I could prob add fluid but haven’t bothered. Their handtools constantly break on me. This hammer drill seems pretty good so far. Not as many extras as the amazon one but about twice as heavy, which is usually a good sign. Paid $81 after coupon. The amazon unit was $60.

28firefighter

henryn said:

Sandman6472 said:

Let's just say that I'm down a bit on one of my stocks a bit, so selling anything right now just would just not be the right move financially speaking.

One stock? You're telling us you're only down on one stock? (Muttering incoherently in his beard as he wonders off into the night...)

Just one stock? *Begins weeping*

tjc78

@qbrozen said:

@tjc78 said:

@qbrozen said:
Still working on my 2-post lift. Had to wait for a drill and bit to make large enough holes in the cement. That finally arrived late yesterday. Drilled 2.5 of the 10 holes before the drill broke. Back to amazon that goes. Took a trip to harbor freight and picked up another. Finished enough anchors to then run the steel cables between the towers and adjust those up. Back to anchors before the clock and back pain both did me in for tonight. 2 more anchors to go, then figure out the hydraulics. No manual with this thing, BTW.

Love Harbor Freight. I have one right over the bridge done the shore and bought pretty much all my tools, shop vac etc for down there.

We are also getting one in Deptford, 5 mins from my primary house. I’ll be there frequently.

They are expanding a good bit. Wish they needed a development manager…..

I try not to buy too much there only because I know it won’t last long. I have a bench grinder from them that is about 7 yrs old, so that’s been good. A floor jack didn’t last, though. After maybe 1 year it got to where it only lifts about halfway. I could prob add fluid but haven’t bothered. Their handtools constantly break on me. This hammer drill seems pretty good so far. Not as many extras as the amazon one but about twice as heavy, which is usually a good sign. Paid $81 after coupon. The amazon unit was $60.

For the little things I do, their stuff is fine. I’m sure if I did some of the projects you do, I’d want better as well.

stickguy

they are fine for me, since I tend to buy tools thinking I need them, then turns out I didn't, so they stay in the box forever not being used. Will outlast me that way!

I do need a new cordless drill though. My not very expensive B&D seems to have a battery that no longer holds a charge. And I never had much luck with the chuck on that one. So a new one for my birthday might be in order. The rest of the power tools I ever use are pretty much 30 years old at this point.

I do need a new Dremel tool kit too. I got a Sears version 20 years or so ago and that never really worked very well. So I should put that on my list!

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

got bored and all recent time on Carvana, I cooked up another scheme. Ran it past the wife. Let's just say, it might take some convincing.

https://www.carvana.com/vehicle/2665150

This might explain why Carvana pays so much for inventory. Price seems insane, yet they have 2 others in process of being purchased in the $46k range. That link is basically the same as my pending build (though it has ACC and no moonroof). So MSRP on a 2023 would be in the $35k range. Some serious markup for a year old used one.

so the plan, buy the new one when it arrives. If offers are still nuts on them, drive straight to one of the C places and flip it for a big $ profit. Then buy a used Miata and pickup with part of the money, and flip the wife's car into something like an X3 with the rest. Or save a bunch and swap it for a CRV hybrid (about an even swap) to get the MPG boost this plan otherwise tosses in the dumpster!

I really can't understand why this got an eye roll out of her. She is getting the new car out of the deal!

I should have bought Henry's F150 to get things rolling.

Have you seen the prices on used Miatas?

stickguy

unfortunately yes. And Carvana seems to have 90% of the ones for sale in the country.

best deal seemed to be a 2017 grand touring with 17K miles for about $23,000 (maybe 22). That was a current (ND) body style which I would want. Even the prior (NC) versions (about 2007-2015) are not cheap until you get into the miles and stories ones out on FB marketplace.