Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

nyccarguy

Also from last night. I95 North 1 - Prelude 0

kyfdx

Still, that has to be a blast driving that to work.

oldfarmer50

fintail said:

stickguy said:

'76 Mark IV 2 door. Yours for only $14,000

One of these just popped up on local CL - maybe a 73 was less down on power?

https://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/d/colville-1973-lincoln-continental-mkiv/7621283525.html

I bet you could pick it up for $7500 if you had cash in hand.

208 hp. with a 19 sec 1/4 mile. 🥲😭😱🤬

venture

I went to BMW Financial Services website to look at my account since I recently sent a check for the balance owed. It says, "Account Terminated". LOL

The Germans don't mess around.

kyfdx

@oldfarmer50 Can confirm. My mother had a Lincoln Coupe, same year, with the 460. Very, very slow (like everything else from '76)

stickguy

yet we all managed to merge onto the highway and get where we were going just fine.

nyccarguy

kyfdx said:

Still, that has to be a blast driving that to work.

It is, but there is so much construction and the roads are in such bad shape. Even getting here in the AM is challenging.

oldfarmer50

nyccarguy said:

Prelude 1 - Costco 0

Doesn’t Costco have free boxes you can use? When I fill up the trunk at Sam’s Club I grab an empty orange box and leave it in the car. Makes it easier to haul all my over buying into the house.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

I love this. I have seen a few (including in person not far from my house) of these kits on a prior gen Charger, but never knew they came on other cars. This is a great package.

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/KPmGDlxo/2006-subaru-impreza-wrx-sti

That’s cute but I wonder how practical. Is it AWD? Otherwise it might lose traction with a load in the bed.

I finally saw a Hyundai Santa Cruz in the wild yesterday. I don’t know how it compares with the Maverick but it looks similar in size. A lot more expensive from what I hear.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

heard a buying story tonight, talking to my BIL and SIL (late 60's couple). Have been talking to them for a few years since they were planning to replace their 2003 Odyssey (up to about 115K miles and getting a little tired, but well maintained. It was time).

had been focused on a Sienna hybrid (they have a Prius they love) to be able to carry bikes inside. But found out they just brought home a Santa Fe hybrid. Dealer had one as some sort of discount, but the Toyota dealer was talking about a 6 month wait and $10k markup on a Sienna. So they went with the much better deal, and decided they really at this point don't need the bigger interior and that the SF was a better sized vehicle for them at this point..

Hyundai has really jazzed up the upper trim levels of the Santa Fe. The interiors are impressive and they’re full of cool little electronic gizmos to attract the video game generation. I kind of like the camera that looks down the side of the car and displays on the gauge cluster when you make a turn. Most of the stuff would probably be lost on a troglodyte like me though.

kyfdx

Subarus are AWD, so not too much worries on traction. I doubt the load limit would be above 500 lbs, in any case.

tjc78

@kyfdx said:
@oldfarmer50 Can confirm. My mother had a Lincoln Coupe, same year, with the 460. Very, very slow (like everything else from '76)

When I had my beater 79 with the 400 (351M)… I stripped the cats off, added duals, pulled the smog pump off and advanced the timing to an inch of pinging and it really woke it up.

Still slow, but I think it would have beaten my 89 Town Car with tow package and dual exhaust. Slow and slower lol. I also had a 2000 Solara V6 at the time and it felt like a total rocket ship compared to the Lincoln’s … but that was slow too.

kyfdx

tjc78 said:

@kyfdx said:
@oldfarmer50 Can confirm. My mother had a Lincoln Coupe, same year, with the 460. Very, very slow (like everything else from '76)

When I had my beater 79 with the 400 (351M)… I stripped the cats off, added duals, pulled the smog pump off and advanced the timing to an inch of pinging and it really woke it up.

Still slow, but I think it would have beaten my 89 Town Car with tow package and dual exhaust. Slow and slower lol. I also had a 2000 Solara V6 at the time and it felt like a total rocket ship compared to the Lincoln’s … but that was slow too.

My mother also had a '72, with the same engine. Even though the same rated HP (more or less), it seemed quicker. Maybe, less smog equipment, then.

tjc78

I’m pretty sure the 76 was lower compression compared to the earlier ones.

nyccarguy

@oldfarmer50 - I usually do fill my empty costco boxes up with my costco purchases. Makes it so things don't slide arouns in the back of my Jeep as well as being easier to carry inside. I found it easier to load everything into the Prelude's trunk without boxes.

laurasdada

I95 Fairfield County has been under construction since the Mets last won a World Series!

fintail

oldfarmer50 said:

fintail said:

stickguy said:

'76 Mark IV 2 door. Yours for only $14,000

One of these just popped up on local CL - maybe a 73 was less down on power?

https://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/d/colville-1973-lincoln-continental-mkiv/7621283525.html

I bet you could pick it up for $7500 if you had cash in hand.

208 hp. with a 19 sec 1/4 mile. 🥲😭😱🤬

But to be fair, it weighs like 5000+ lbs right?

The 460 talk reminds me of one of my earlier car memories, that being my mom's T-Bird with that engine, parked in the driveway, hood up, my dad working on it and removing parts. I might have been 5. He later told me the car had frequent PCV quirks among other drivability concerns, and he removed some equipment.

sda

@kyfdx said:
@oldfarmer50 Can confirm. My mother had a Lincoln Coupe, same year, with the 460. Very, very slow (like everything else from '76)

I remember dad's 77 Grand Marquis with the 460 being a disappointment with hardly brisk acceleration. It was quick to swill fuel however, 8-10 mpg. On a trip doing about 60 and ac off it might get 15mpg.

roadburner

stickguy said:

Good luck getting a lawn mower in there.

That's why Enterprise rents trucks.

roadburner

tjc78 said:

@nyccarguy said:

Prelude 1 - Costco 0

Who needs an SUV?

I managed to fit four tires from my MS3 into the Club Sport.

roadburner

An attorney friend just took delivery of an i4 M50. He loves it but is learning the hard way that KY lacks a significant EV infrastructure outside of a few large population areas. He drove it to a rural county for a hearing; it took 2 hours to drive to the courthouse and almost 8 hours to get back home.

roadburner

oldfarmer50 said:

fintail said:

stickguy said:

'76 Mark IV 2 door. Yours for only $14,000

One of these just popped up on local CL - maybe a 73 was less down on power?

https://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/d/colville-1973-lincoln-continental-mkiv/7621283525.html

I bet you could pick it up for $7500 if you had cash in hand.

208 hp. with a 19 sec 1/4 mile. 🥲😭😱🤬

Be still my heart...

jmonroe1

@venture said:
I went to BMW Financial Services website to look at my account since I recently sent a check for the balance owed. It says, "Account Terminated". LOL

The Germans don't mess around

————————————————
Now you’ll have to be on the lookout for the repo truck.

jmonroe

roadburner

Still looking for a truly off-road capable SUV; I wish Nissan still sold the Xterra; that's about the only thing I like as well as a Wrangler...

jmonroe1

@kyfdx said:
@oldfarmer50 Can confirm. My mother had a Lincoln Coupe, same year, with the 460. Very, very slow (like everything else from '76)

————————————————
I sure I mention this before:

I wasn’t about to put up with the emissions junk on my ‘75 Grand Prix with the 400 CID V8 engine. So, I pulled the vacuum line on the EGR valve and inserted a golf tee. That helped some but the real helper was when I solved its constipation problem by taking off the catalytic converter and installed an eliminator pipe (later called a “Test Pipe” for legal reasons) from J. C. Whitney. Then I was satisfied.

jmonroe

jmonroe1

oldfarmer50 said:

nyccarguy said:

Prelude 1 - Costco 0

Doesn’t Costco have free boxes you can use? When I fill up the trunk at Sam’s Club I grab an empty orange box and leave it in the car. Makes it easier to haul all my over buying into the house.

————————————————
More proof that great minds think alike. In fact, I have 2 boxes in the trunk that are just part of the permanent landscape back there now.

jmonroe

jmonroe1

oldfarmer50 said:

stickguy said:

I love this. I have seen a few (including in person not far from my house) of these kits on a prior gen Charger, but never knew they came on other cars. This is a great package.

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/KPmGDlxo/2006-subaru-impreza-wrx-sti

That’s cute but I wonder how practical. Is it AWD? Otherwise it might lose traction with a load in the bed.

I finally saw a Hyundai Santa Cruz in the wild yesterday. I don’t know how it compares with the Maverick but it looks similar in size. A lot more expensive from what I hear.

————————————————
That sounds like Hyundai is now making folks pay for the premium name. Who would have ever thunk that 20 years ago?

jmonroe

corvette

roadburner said:

He loves it but is learning the hard way that KY lacks a significant EV infrastructure outside of a few large population areas. He drove it to a rural county for a hearing; it took 2 hours to drive to the courthouse and almost 8 hours to get back home.

Yeah, the lack of DC fast charge infrastructure in the state makes many of them unappealing as primary vehicles at the current price points. Most people are fine charging at Level 2 most of the time, but the times they need Level 3, they really need it.

xwesx

explorerx4 said:

Anyone looking for a light duty utility trailer?
https://www.bing.com/shop?entryPoint=msn&FORM=msatfc&msnrid=11a565f6c05144fcb5c4e5b12dc47a4c&adunitId=378983&propertyId=316966&q=Bike+Trailers+&+Child+Seats&ocid=hpmsn&cvid=11a565f6c05144fcb5c4e5b12dc47a4c&ei=20&overlayId=136671665318

$239,900?! That's quite a bargain!

stickguy

roadburner said:

Still looking for a truly off-road capable SUV; I wish Nissan still sold the Xterra; that's about the only thing I like as well as a Wrangler...

what about a 2 door Bronco?

stickguy

the Santa Cruz is about 6" shorter than a Maverick (all from the bed) but a few inches wider.

stickguy

went to the bank and got a cashiers check to pay for the whole truck this time since Ford no longer has free money. That amount hurt my cold, puritan heart badly.

but, sill a deal in this market (especially on something still having chronic ADMs at the dealer). the full OTD amount is still about $1,500 below MSRP. So probably should not complain. Could likely stop at Carmax on the way home and clear a tidy profit! But I won't.

corvette

My parents rode in the Maverick for the first time last weekend and commented that the interior felt bigger overall than their Ranger crew cab. I know the Maverick is narrower, but I think most of the measurements for interior dimensions are similar to the Ranger, so I guess the overall packaging must make the Mav feel more spacious.

stickguy

the unibody instead of BOF makes a huge difference in the cab. I find it very roomy. I have had my daughter and her BF (who is a pretty big guy) and they both said there was plenty of room and comfort. Not that I care, since I am always in the driver's seat!

I was behind an XL hybrid today, in the carbonized gray my old one was. Do you like your wheels? I just can't work up a liking for the steelies. And to me it makes the car look a little bit off. Maybe because they were smaller?

corvette

I like the steelies. I’m still toying with the idea of painting them bronze, though. I’m sure the 18” (?) wheels on the Lariat don’t adversely affect the ride quality since they’re not much bigger.

qbrozen

Very displeased with my Mini purchase. I realize it is Copart, but I didn't realize they can just flat out lie. How can you say it runs and drives when it won't start? And how is "minor dents and scratches" the same as "looks like a repaint is in order"? And it appears at least one corner of suspension is well bent. OH yeah, and there is the little matter of a previously shattered window that has since been replaced (without removing any of the busted glass) with one from a different vehicle AND we totally failed to get it to roll back up, so water has been inside the vehicle and destroyed at least the driver's seat. So glad I went with a cheap first purchase from them.

stickguy

Looks like my offer might be getting reduced....

lots of youtube stuff that makes it seems like the auctions are the wild west now, and have really gone down hill with the crap like that. and shows the danger of bidding remote too.

good thing you got it cheap.

so what is the plan? fix it as best you can and try to retail, or cut your loses and use this as a test case for sending it back through another auction since you are a dealer now?

tjc78

@qbrozen said:
Very displeased with my Mini purchase. I realize it is Copart, but I didn't realize they can just flat out lie. How can you say it runs and drives when it won't start? And how is "minor dents and scratches" the same as "looks like a repaint is in order"? And it appears at least one corner of suspension is well bent. OH yeah, and there is the little matter of a previously shattered window that has since been replaced (without removing any of the busted glass) with one from a different vehicle AND we totally failed to get it to roll back up, so water has been inside the vehicle and destroyed at least the driver's seat. So glad I went with a cheap first purchase from them.

Wow… I’m stunned they misrepresented it that badly.

nyccarguy

@qbrozen said:
Very displeased with my Mini purchase. I realize it is Copart, but I didn't realize they can just flat out lie. How can you say it runs and drives when it won't start? And how is "minor dents and scratches" the same as "looks like a repaint is in order"? And it appears at least one corner of suspension is well bent. OH yeah, and there is the little matter of a previously shattered window that has since been replaced (without removing any of the busted glass) with one from a different vehicle AND we totally failed to get it to roll back up, so water has been inside the vehicle and destroyed at least the driver's seat. So glad I went with a cheap first purchase from them.

That really stinks. I feel bad for you.

jmonroe1

qbrozen said:

Very displeased with my Mini purchase. I realize it is Copart, but I didn't realize they can just flat out lie. How can you say it runs and drives when it won't start? And how is "minor dents and scratches" the same as "looks like a repaint is in order"? And it appears at least one corner of suspension is well bent. OH yeah, and there is the little matter of a previously shattered window that has since been replaced (without removing any of the busted glass) with one from a different vehicle AND we totally failed to get it to roll back up, so water has been inside the vehicle and destroyed at least the driver's seat. So glad I went with a cheap first purchase from them.

————————————————
Damn, that sounds like a total misrepresentation. Do you have any recourse other than blasting them on Yelp?

jmonroe

explorerx4

If you want to roll the dice.
https://www.govplanet.com/for-sale/Humvees-AM-General-M1097R1-HMMWV-4-Door-Soft-Top-w/Truck-Body-Pennsylvania/9860051?h=5000,ct|35,c|3468,l2|USA-PA,sm|0,mf|1&rr=0.5&hitprm=&pnLink=yes
or this.
https://www.govplanet.com/jsp/s/item/9748584?&feedage=20230516&feedacct=GOVUSA&utm_source=criteo&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=Non Buyers&src=criteo

qbrozen

jmonroe1 said:

Damn, that sounds like a total misrepresentation. Do you have any recourse other than blasting them on Yelp?

jmonroe

Just that. As is sale and all that jazz.

I'll do what I can with it. Maybe it will look better after I clean it up. lol. I figure, worst case, it could be somebody's track toy.

qbrozen

explorerx4 said:

If you want to roll the dice.
https://www.govplanet.com/for-sale/Humvees-AM-General-M1097R1-HMMWV-4-Door-Soft-Top-w/Truck-Body-Pennsylvania/9860051?h=5000,ct|35,c|3468,l2|USA-PA,sm|0,mf|1&rr=0.5&hitprm=&pnLink=yes
or this.
https://www.govplanet.com/jsp/s/item/9748584?&feedage=20230516&feedacct=GOVUSA&utm_source=criteo&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=Non Buyers&src=criteo

I keep coming across these "police interceptors" and yet they have the NA V6. That ain't gonna intercept much, that's for sure.

qbrozen

Oh, so the bimmer is up for sale. Not sure if OK to post this here. Just showing off my first web page. haha. I've only posted it on bimmerfest for starters.

nyccarguy

This looks interesting. 2003 CRV EX AWD - new tires. Looks to be dealer serviced. 5 Speed Stick. 125K miles.

https://www.2mannys.com/vdp/19970489/Used-2003-Honda-CRV-4WD-EX-Manual-for-sale-in-Union-City-NJ-07087

stickguy

looks like a great winter beater for up my way! If I was down 1 car and had a toy in the garage.

price of course is probably double what it would have been 3 years ago, but the 5 speed makes it for me!

stickguy

qbrozen said:

Oh, so the bimmer is up for sale. Not sure if OK to post this here. Just showing off my first web page. haha. I've only posted it on bimmerfest for starters.

nice pictures and video. But (maybe I am just old) seems like more written descriptions would be helpful? This was a federalized import, right? I would want to know that.

nice use of the Charger in your logo too.

breld

qbrozen said:

Oh, so the bimmer is up for sale. Not sure if OK to post this here. Just showing off my first web page. haha. I've only posted it on bimmerfest for starters.

Wow - nicely done.

breld

So, I know it’s strange, but a few weeks ago at the Denver Auto Show, I decided to poke around the Lexus GX460 and found it appealing in its old school way. I’ve since driven a couple examples and both my wife and I are impressed. I think it’s the traditional feel of the drive…it has this solid tank-like ride and the comfort level surprised me given what it is. Equally surprising is how slow the V8 is, but it adds to the old school manner of the vehicle.

Brand new model is due out by the end of the year, surely with a turbo 6 and obviously with updated styling inside and out.

corvette

It's a posh 4Runner with a more refined engine. Probably overpriced for what it is, but there isn't much that's really comparable. If one showed up, I wouldn't kick it out of my driveway.