Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

28firefighter

So far so good - shocking amount of room with the seat back giving my wife room to stretch (she's 5' 6"). He definitely enjoyed it.

I'm leaning yes.

You can beat white w/red - that is estoril blue over red or estoril blue over cognac. Good luck finding them though.

28firefighter

Also big shout out to @qbrozen and @laurasdada who have been advising me behind the scenes.

stickguy

I love that interior. would be a tough sell to my wife, so the answer to that is, don't ask her in advance.

an advantage to that set-up. When the little one drops food, it will blow out and hit the car behind instead of getting in the car. Just don't put a hat on him.

jmonroe1

tjc78 said:

That car seat is cozy back there!

Gorgeous interior! Fingers crossed it works out for you.

————————————————
His kid must be pretty good already to be able to drive it from back there.

I also agree it’s a nice car.

jmonroe

laurasdada

kyfdx said:

Can't beat white w/red

Not even Estoril Blue over Oyster?
She's a beauty, 28FF. Looking forward to the review.

28firefighter

I spent tonight going over the car with a fine tooth comb. It really is in great shape but for two things:

(1) The prior owner clearly either had a high curb or bad depth perception - the underside of the bumper lip is very scraped up. This needs a repair and respray.

(2) The tires are Michelin Pilot Super Sports with date codes of early 2017 - weeks 16 and 23.

We’ll see if they step up - I’m surprised these passed inspection.

sda

From what I’ve observed when Car Max replaces tires it is with cheapies. Salon, Ironman come to mind, though I think Ironman is owned by Cooper and Cooper now part of GoodYear?

ab348

sda said:

From what I’ve observed when Car Max replaces tires it is with cheapies. Salon, Ironman come to mind, though I think Ironman is owned by Cooper and Cooper now part of GoodYear?

None of those three brand names would inspire confidence for me.

corvette

I know CarMax won't make monetary concessions, but it will be interesting to see whether they will make repairs. I think you would be well within reason to request RFTs if the car came with RFTs, which should eliminate the cheapo tires as an option on their end.

oldfarmer50

explorerx4 said:

@oldfarmer50,
You might be able to find a bargain pickup at this type of auction.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlv6THhXMHw

My BIL used to buy ex trooper cars from the state auctions for a few hundred bucks but he spent more time under them than in them. Once I went looking for a pickup at the same auction but the vehicles were all high mile beat up junk. Even the dealers in attendance were shocked at the high prices. Comments of “somebody must be buying a present for his girlfriend” we’re heard.

breld

If I didn’t have the Integra Type S coming at some point, I’d get on the bandwagon and look for an M240i vert. I really liked the gray over saddle one I looked at last summer. Also am drawn to the occasional Long Beach blue one.

28firefighter

@corvette said:
I know CarMax won't make monetary concessions, but it will be interesting to see whether they will make repairs. I think you would be well within reason to request RFTs if the car came with RFTs, which should eliminate the cheapo tires as an option on their end.

I suspect they do nothing.

28firefighter

@breld said:
If I didn’t have the Integra Type S coming at some point, I’d get on the bandwagon and look for an M240i vert. I really liked the gray over saddle one I looked at last summer. Also am drawn to the occasional Long Beach blue one.

That has to have been a rare color combo.

oldfarmer50

nyccarguy said:

I know there are a few of you Volvo guys here in edmunds land. I know very little about Volvos. What's the skinny on the S60 B5 AWD?

All I know is that many of the Volvos in out fleet come off the truck needing work. Other than that they are nice cars with beautiful interiors. The Polestar2 is fun to drive.

tjc78

@oldfarmer50 said:
All I know is that many of the Volvos in out fleet come off the truck needing work. Other than that they are nice cars with beautiful interiors. The Polestar2 is fun to drive.

My S60 needed a sunroof repair (twice) and the XC90 needed new front rotors, other than that I’ve had two good Volvo experiences.

Truth be told I blame our driving for the rotors more than the car. Same thing happened on both Enclaves too.

oldfarmer50

I was thinking (which is always dangerous) about the continuing high prices on used cars. My boss recently told me that the company is finding the supply of new cars to be plentiful with them no longer paying sticker but rather well below invoice by as much as $6k on some models. Even with a flood of new inventory we’re still short of available cars so we aren’t selling many to dealers.

That got me wondering how the lack of rental sales is affecting the market. I’m thinking that the lack of over a million cars per year not being release for sale has to be creating a shortage and thus causing the stubbornly high prices.

Any opinions on that?

28firefighter

@oldfarmer50 said:
I was thinking (which is always dangerous) about the continuing high prices on used cars. My boss recently told me that the company is finding the supply of new cars to be plentiful with them no longer paying sticker but rather well below invoice by as much as $6k on some models. Even with a flood of new inventory we’re still short of available cars so we aren’t selling many to dealers.

That got me wondering how the lack of rental sales is affecting the market. I’m thinking that the lack of over a million cars per year not being release for sale has to be creating a shortage and thus causing the stubbornly high prices.

Any opinions on that?

There is 100% a correlation between the reduction of sales from rental fleets and used car prices. Not the only one of course.

With interest rates higher, people are holding onto their current cars longer - this group excepted. Further the lack of new car supply in 2020 through mid 2022 means less cars were leased and therefore less off lease cars will be entering the used car market until probably late- 2024/2025.

stickguy

Farmer that is certainly one of the reasons. Along with people holding their old ones longer and there will be a dip in lease returns. Eventually the new car glut will help flush out more used cars to the market and also lower demand

I think a lot of people had to go used when new was marked up and often unavailable. Now buying new is much smarter.

tjc78

From everything I see and read the scales are heading back toward the customer in many cases.

stickguy

Hopefully not on mavericks!

But if I am out of the market it explains why it finally shifted.

explorerx4

People working remotely/hybrid has also figured in people hanging onto their cars longer, since they don't drive as much.

nyccarguy

this group excepted

I know you meant this sarcastically, but it has made me think twice. I'm paying 2.49% interest on our highlander. Some subvented fiancing rates (like my Dad's Tahoe) are around 6%. Lease money factors are through the roof. Traditional fiancing rates that dealers quote are in the 7-9% range. My mother in law is picking up her new Crosstrek on Friday. She's shopped the interest rate between her credit union, a large national bank, & the dealer. She opted to self finance. She's going to pay for the car with a bank check and then pay herself back.

pensfan83

I'd be

tjc78 said:

From everything I see and read the scales are heading back toward the customer in many cases.

I agree, but it's a slow process. It seems like some manufacturers are content to dole out minimal or no incentives, which puts pressure on the dealer network to discount to account for current rate environment. Dealers have grown used to not discounting at all or minimally over the last 2.5 years and seem to be looking to the manufacturers to up the incentives so they leverage that as the "dealer discount".

It's like a game of chicken on who is going to blink first.

tifighter

Just back from a road trip. My wife has family in Wyoming so we drove out to see them for the week. Put over 2k miles on the Lexus. Overall mpg was around 30.5 which seems pretty good given all of the up and down on passes. Great interstate car with comfortable seats, but definitely floaty in the corners on narrower highways. I’m still concerned that we’ll want more leg space once the baby comes, given out much my wife likes to sit back on these trips - no economy seating for her…

explorerx4

Interesting news for you 4xE owners.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeaE824Wn6Mhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeaE824Wn6M

28firefighter

tifighter said:

Just back from a road trip. My wife has family in Wyoming so we drove out to see them for the week. Put over 2k miles on the Lexus. Overall mpg was around 30.5 which seems pretty good given all of the up and down on passes. Great interstate car with comfortable seats, but definitely floaty in the corners on narrower highways. I’m still concerned that we’ll want more leg space once the baby comes, given out much my wife likes to sit back on these trips - no economy seating for her…

Interesting - does your second row slide back at all? I know some SUVs they can be adjust back a bit which would buy another 1-2" of space.

Also with the infant carrier, you can get pretty close to the back of the passenger seat - as long as it isn't touching the seat and you can slide a hand between the carrier and back of the front seat, you're golden.

I'm sure someone somewhere would roast me alive, but we never put our guy in the middle seat in any of our cars except for his first few weeks so my wife could sit next to him. He has generally been (and still remains) on the passenger rear side. Perfect position for him to give me his opinion on how I'm driving too slowly or listening to bad music.

pensfan83

28firefighter said:

tifighter said:

Just back from a road trip. My wife has family in Wyoming so we drove out to see them for the week. Put over 2k miles on the Lexus. Overall mpg was around 30.5 which seems pretty good given all of the up and down on passes. Great interstate car with comfortable seats, but definitely floaty in the corners on narrower highways. I’m still concerned that we’ll want more leg space once the baby comes, given out much my wife likes to sit back on these trips - no economy seating for her…

listening to bad music.

The criticism gets more pointed and direct as they age.

nyccarguy

pensfan83 said:

I'd be

tjc78 said:

From everything I see and read the scales are heading back toward the customer in many cases.

I agree, but it's a slow process. It seems like some manufacturers are content to dole out minimal or no incentives, which puts pressure on the dealer network to discount to account for current rate environment. Dealers have grown used to not discounting at all or minimally over the last 2.5 years and seem to be looking to the manufacturers to up the incentives so they leverage that as the "dealer discount".

It's like a game of chicken on who is going to blink first.

i'm surprised the dealers haven't blinked 1st. They've got to be getting killed paying all that floor plan interest. Unless the floor pan interest pales in comparison to the money they made selling new cars over sticker and used cars for what new cars cost...

roadburner

corvette said:

I know CarMax won't make monetary concessions, but it will be interesting to see whether they will make repairs. I think you would be well within reason to request RFTs if the car came with RFTs, which should eliminate the cheapo tires as an option on their end.

The M235i and M240i usually came with conventional summer tires, although I believe RFT and all-season rubber was an option.

jmonroe1

28firefighter said:

I spent tonight going over the car with a fine tooth comb. It really is in great shape but for two things:

(1) The prior owner clearly either had a high curb or bad depth perception - the underside of the bumper lip is very scraped up. This needs a repair and respray.

(2) The tires are Michelin Pilot Super Sports with date codes of early 2017 - weeks 16 and 23.

We’ll see if they step up - I’m surprised these passed inspection.

————————————————
If you have to bend over or get on your knees to look at the underside of the bumper lip I wouldn’t worry about it but I’d point it out just to see what they’ll do. You have to remember this a used car, after all.

As for the tires, you should be able to get a reduction in price. If somehow they replace the tires with cheapos, buy the car then replace them with whatever tires you want and sell the cheapos to help offset the cost of what you buy.

And now for the important advice, your son knows you have the car, so you’ll have to deal with him if you don’t buy it. Good luck with that.

jmonroe

28firefighter

CarMax won’t do anything, the biggest of which is the tires. So it doesn’t make sense to move forward. They’ll sell a car with 10 year old tires.

There are other fish in the sea.

qbrozen

28firefighter said:

CarMax won’t do anything, the biggest of which is the tires. So it doesn’t make sense to move forward. They’ll sell a car with 10 year old tires.

There are other fish in the sea.

don't throw out the baby with the bath water.

pensfan83

nyccarguy said:

pensfan83 said:

I'd be

tjc78 said:

From everything I see and read the scales are heading back toward the customer in many cases.

I agree, but it's a slow process. It seems like some manufacturers are content to dole out minimal or no incentives, which puts pressure on the dealer network to discount to account for current rate environment. Dealers have grown used to not discounting at all or minimally over the last 2.5 years and seem to be looking to the manufacturers to up the incentives so they leverage that as the "dealer discount".

It's like a game of chicken on who is going to blink first.

i'm surprised the dealers haven't blinked 1st. They've got to be getting killed paying all that floor plan interest. Unless the floor pan interest pales in comparison to the money they made selling new cars over sticker and used cars for what new cars cost...

In April my Acura dealer was still looking for MSRP on everything. Unless their stance is different if you physically step into the store, their website shows $0 dealer discount.

Also, by way of putting down a few thousand dollars of cash I could pick up a Sonic Gray Civic Si @ MSRP tomorrow and buyout the RDX and have two car payments that would equal what an MDX or Grand Cherokee 4xe Overland would require. But a 5th car is going to create friction so not a likely route.

jmonroe1

nyccarguy said:

this group excepted

I know you meant this sarcastically, but it has made me think twice. I'm paying 2.49% interest on our highlander. Some subvented fiancing rates (like my Dad's Tahoe) are around 6%. Lease money factors are through the roof. Traditional fiancing rates that dealers quote are in the 7-9% range. My mother in law is picking up her new Crosstrek on Friday. She's shopped the interest rate between her credit union, a large national bank, & the dealer. She opted to self finance. She's going to pay for the car with a bank check and then pay herself back.

————————————————
Good for your MIL. That sounds kinda familiar.

I pulled a fast one on myself when I bought my ‘15 Genny. The interest rate for 5 years was 0.9%, so I took that deal and also paid myself a little bit each month.

I, inherently, don’t like banks so that was my chance to slap them where it hurts and they didn’t even know.

jmonroe

28firefighter

There are other vehicles I can look at that don’t have those issues. > @qbrozen said:

don't throw out the baby with the bath water.

I don't think I am, but you may be right.

28firefighter

They're offering to refund my transfer fee if I decide to move forward.

jmonroe1

28firefighter said:

They're offering to refund my transfer fee if I decide to move forward.

————————————————
So, that puts a set of replacement tires to what?

jmonroe

28firefighter

$600 installed.

stickguy

Is it still a good deal adding cost of tires? If so go for it. Sounds like they don’t need to be replaced immediately anyway.

And low cars like that all seem to have scraped up chins. Just don’t look at it.

stickguy

jmonroe1 said:

nyccarguy said:

this group excepted

I know you meant this sarcastically, but it has made me think twice. I'm paying 2.49% interest on our highlander. Some subvented fiancing rates (like my Dad's Tahoe) are around 6%. Lease money factors are through the roof. Traditional fiancing rates that dealers quote are in the 7-9% range. My mother in law is picking up her new Crosstrek on Friday. She's shopped the interest rate between her credit union, a large national bank, & the dealer. She opted to self finance. She's going to pay for the car with a bank check and then pay herself back.

————————————————
Good for your MIL. That sounds kinda familiar.

I pulled a fast one on myself when I bought my ‘15 Genny. The interest rate for 5 years was 0.9%, so I took that deal and also paid myself a little bit each month.

I, inherently, don’t like banks so that was my chance to slap them where it hurts and they didn’t even know.

jmonroe

I just self financed the Maverick. Making money not taking out a market rate loan.

jmonroe1

28firefighter said:

$600 installed.

————————————————
I’d say you’re a winner.

jmonroe

28firefighter

I'm picking it up at 3:30 - thanks for playing along.

nyccarguy

28firefighter said:

I spent tonight going over the car with a fine tooth comb. It really is in great shape but for two things:

(1) The prior owner clearly either had a high curb or bad depth perception - the underside of the bumper lip is very scraped up. This needs a repair and respray.

(2) The tires are Michelin Pilot Super Sports with date codes of early 2017 - weeks 16 and 23.

We’ll see if they step up - I’m surprised these passed inspection.

28firefighter said:

$600 installed.

So you are out the tranfer fee. If you really LOVE the car and it is a good price compared to others on the market, then having the set of tires YOU want installed doesn't sound like too much of a deal breaker.

tifighter

@28firefighter said:
I'm picking it up at 3:30 - thanks for playing along.

Nice. 2 series club meeting at madrona park cars and coffee coming soon.

kyfdx

28firefighter said:

I'm picking it up at 3:30 - thanks for playing along.

I was gonna say.. over a $600 set of tires?

I once bought a CJ-5 from a guy, just to get him to sell me his Marantz 880 speakers.

tifighter

@28firefighter said:
Interesting - does your second row slide back at all? I know some SUVs they can be adjust back a bit which would buy another 1-2" of space.

Also with the infant carrier, you can get pretty close to the back of the passenger seat - as long as it isn't touching the seat and you can slide a hand between the carrier and back of the front seat, you're golden.

Second row has captains, and they are all the way back. Real issue is that my wife is 6’ tall, so we both have our seats far back to be comfortable. With the rear facing seat in place in the second row, she has to move her seat up more than she normally would like it. I just underestimated how ginormous infant seats are.

jmonroe1

28firefighter said:

I'm picking it up at 3:30 - thanks for playing along.

————————————————
Don’t cheap out with a mere thank you. We deserve to see it first hand, so you should be preparing for a long road trip.

jmonroe

28firefighter

@tifighter said:

@28firefighter said:
Interesting - does your second row slide back at all? I know some SUVs they can be adjust back a bit which would buy another 1-2" of space.

Also with the infant carrier, you can get pretty close to the back of the passenger seat - as long as it isn't touching the seat and you can slide a hand between the carrier and back of the front seat, you're golden.

Second row has captains, and they are all the way back. Real issue is that my wife is 6’ tall, so we both have our seats far back to be comfortable. With the rear facing seat in place in the second row, she has to move her seat up more than she normally would like it. I just underestimated how ginormous infant seats are.

The euro ones are better than most. My niece had a chicco and you needed a ford excursion to sit in front of it comfortably.

laurasdada

I may have misrepresented earlier, my M240xi comes with Pirelli Cintuarto AS 18" runflats, staggered. And, they appear to have plenty of life left.

Early victim was the extended chin spoiler on mine; not sure what happened (Something on the highway or speed bump my theories) or how the prior owner didn't scrape it up.
I was able to reinstall it, but it is now two pieces (left and right) no longer one continuous piece. If it worsens, I'll simply remove it.
And put it on the wife's X3, she'll never notice!

pensfan83

@28firefighter said:
I'm picking it up at 3:30 - thanks for playing along.

Does the N go as part of this transaction for tax purposes or not at all?