Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

stickguy

A little glue, fix it yourself.

28firefighter

I like that M3. But can’t tell if the color of the wheels is dark or it’s just covered in brake dust…or both?

corvette

@kyfdx - is that the price for an OEM replacement, or is that what upholstery shops are charging nowadays? I'd suggest a road trip to Wichita to let Car Wizard's guy do it, but he retired and only does occasional jobs for the Car Wizard.

mjfloyd1

@28firefighter said:
I like that M3. But can’t tell if the color of the wheels is dark or it’s just covered in brake dust…or both?

Dark wheels but covered in brake dust

pensfan83

corvette said:

@kyfdx - is that the price for an OEM replacement, or is that what upholstery shops are charging nowadays? I'd suggest a road trip to Wichita to let Car Wizard's guy do it, but he retired and only does occasional jobs for the Car Wizard.

Doesn't seem out of line. $550 netted me this 3 years ago

- Reupholstered rear parcel shelf, install new speaker grilles.
- Install new A-pillars
- Install new center console
- Install new handbrake handle and leather boot
- Install new Alcantara shift boot
- Install ZHP shift knob
- Re-glue fabric on B-pillars.
- Re-glue fabric on 3rd brake light housing

I supplied all the parts though, save for the fabric used on the rear parcel shelf. The shop used a black suede that looks very good.

kyfdx

corvette said:

@kyfdx - is that the price for an OEM replacement, or is that what upholstery shops are charging nowadays? I'd suggest a road trip to Wichita to let Car Wizard's guy do it, but he retired and only does occasional jobs for the Car Wizard.

OEM isn’t available, but it’s a reasonable facsimile. It was either that or suede.

I’ll guess that material is less than $50 of the cost. It’s mostly labor. This shop has done at least 10 cars like mine, and even had one they’d just finished at the shop, when I stopped in. That one was re-done in suede, but I didn’t want a non-stock look.

Headliner is black, just like the rest of the interior.

jmonroe1

@kyfdx said:
Cayman needs a new headliner. $700. 😕

————————————————
If you’re gonna shake your beer cans before drinking the beer, do it outside of the car the next time.

jmonroe

ab348

mjfloyd1 said:

I have no words

I agree. Far too many SUV/CUV vehicles on the roads. Nice color on that BMW.

mjfloyd1

I’m not personally a fan of the “I just puked bile all over my car” color

28firefighter

@mjfloyd1 said:
I’m not personally a fan of the “I just puked bile all over my car” color

You really are an artist with words.

stickguy

that color does not actually bother me. But I like more unique colors.

mjfloyd1

@28firefighter said:

@mjfloyd1 said:
I’m not personally a fan of the “I just puked bile all over my car” color

You really are an artist with words.

Thanks for noticing, Bruh 😎

venture

I stopped at the Toyota place. They have hardly any cars.

venture

I had complained before about my Subaru dealer continuously calling me and emailing me trying to get me to buy a newer car. When I go in for service, a guy I'll call Tim, well, because that's his name, confronts me almost before getting in the building about buying a car. He has a printout of a new model of the one I'm having serviced and what my new payment would be compared to my present payment. I tell him every time that I'm not interested and to not do that. He still does it every time.

Another reason I'm not financing cars anymore as well as the reason I have a BMW right now. We have also been looking for something, other than Subaru, to replace the wife's Ascent. She loves it, but she doesn't need seating for 8 anymore.

I was on the way out to my Subaru dealer a little while ago to talk to my sales guy since he has been on vacation. Tim called and tried to get me to buy a new car.

corvette

I'm confused--why were you headed out to the Subaru dealer to talk to your sales guy if you are looking for something other than a Subaru to replace the Ascent?

pensfan83

Did used values take a dive over the past week? There's one I'm kinda, sorta focused on now that seems awfully cheap for the miles (less than 1,500) and year (2022 but sold in October last year).

oldfarmer50

pensfan83 said:

Did used values take a dive over the past week? There's one I'm kinda, sorta focused on now that seems awfully cheap for the miles (less than 1,500) and year (2022 but sold in October last year).

I’ve noticed a price change in used cars newly listed in the last few weeks. I contrast that with older listings that are substantially higher.

28firefighter

I believe the used car market is definitely taking a hit. Better movement on the new side (better inventory + better subsidized interest rates) means more cars on the used car side.

qbrozen

guy down the street from me in myrtle beach has a sparkling clean Dakota v8. Makes me want to find one.

28firefighter

qbrozen said:

guy down the street from me in myrtle beach has a sparkling clean Dakota v8. Makes me want to find one.

Does it come with the gas pump in the bed to keep it moving? When I was in the FD, one of my buddies had one and I seem to recall him saying it was a real pig.

au1994

28firefighter said:

I believe the used car market is definitely taking a hit. Better movement on the new side (better inventory + better subsidized interest rates) means more cars on the used car side.

Taking a hit/normalizing, I would agree based on some shopping of the Jeep recently.

au1994

venture said:

I stopped at the Toyota place. They have hardly any cars.

Must be hit or miss. The one closest to me has 167 on the ground and 200+ listed in transit. Now 33 of what’s on the ground are 4Runners and 37 are Corollas. Only 14 Camry’s but 34 Taco’s.

pensfan83

@oldfarmer50 said:
I’ve noticed a price change in used cars newly listed in the last few weeks. I contrast that with older listings that are substantially higher.

That's exactly what's happening here. Listed Monday for what appears to be a very fair price but older ones are holding steady...and in some cases $3K-$4K higher.

venture

corvette said:

I'm confused--why were you headed out to the Subaru dealer to talk to your sales guy if you are looking for something other than a Subaru to replace the Ascent?

Nothing is certain yet.

venture

au1994 said:

venture said:

I stopped at the Toyota place. They have hardly any cars.

Must be hit or miss. The one closest to me has 167 on the ground and 200+ listed in transit. Now 33 of what’s on the ground are 4Runners and 37 are Corollas. Only 14 Camry’s but 34 Taco’s.

I looked at their web site. Supposedly they have 57. 15 are Tacos and 7 are 4 Runners. 1 Camry, 2 Corollas.

Most of the57 are "in transit". They have 13 on the ground. Lot looks bare except for some used ones.

pensfan83

Purchase pending

stickguy

qbrozen said:

guy down the street from me in myrtle beach has a sparkling clean Dakota v8. Makes me want to find one.

if you want one, that is the area to get one. Not up here in the salt belt! Heck, buy it for me and I will flip the hybrid. As long as you can guarantee I will average 45 MPG in the Dodge.

stickguy

pensfan83 said:

Purchase pending

I'm all tingly. And I did not think you were really looking now.

stickguy

lots of chatter on the Maverick forum about used prices coming down. Good think I cashed in my jackpot on the 2022 before they did! Seems that the flippers have largely left the Maverick market which is helping. But even with hybrids, it seems the days of windfall profits are over. Good thing I want to keep mine and don't have another one on order.

stickguy

still looking at new build houses (have a lot hold on one that we are waiting for pricing on after looking at it today, and are supposed to meet the agent for another one hopefully Monday to get $ on that to compare options). I have asked for cost for a full 3rd bay garage but for various reason (feasibility or just cost) it looks like would end up with just an oversized 2 car garage. Not my dream, but much better than are tight closet we have now!

so floated my cost saving plan past the wife, and she seemed at least intrigued (I am holding the carrot up of dual wall ovens and a walk in pantry to distract her!). Instead of spending a ton on the 3 bays, when I barely need 2 cars, we can go with the expanded/oversized 2 car (easy to park them both and room to put the snow blower!) and put all the $ saved into something like a 2 series convertible, and sell her Acura for the rest and some nice leftover $. that way we still have the practical car, but another very nice one to use when we don't need much cargo room as the "fun" car. and only 2 bays required!
\
plan seems bullet proof to me.

explorerx4

I try to consider what the next buyer of my house will want when building it.

I'm still looking at new F150's. The truck I posted a couple of weeks ago has a revised factory sticker, down $1900.

stickguy

given that we are upsizing from downsizing (and the current front runner is a 4 bedroom place) we need to also since it won't likely be our age in place home. More likely in a few years we turn it over to our son when they start having a family!

we will definitely do things we want (like the kitchen) but it will also be smart choices that will make it very desirable someday as a resale.

I actually don't think the 3rd bay is a really a $ value add though.

explorerx4

@stckguy,
We'll just have a difference of opinion on the 3rd garage.
Your loss.

stickguy

it is the $20,000+ that is more of an issue. Given a choice I would have 4.

actually one of our looking options is a wide enough lot that we have space to build a 2nd garage at some point!

qbrozen

28firefighter said:

qbrozen said:

guy down the street from me in myrtle beach has a sparkling clean Dakota v8. Makes me want to find one.

Does it come with the gas pump in the bed to keep it moving? When I was in the FD, one of my buddies had one and I seem to recall him saying it was a real pig.

I used to get 14 mpg in my '97. So, yes, an absolute pig. I still loved it, though.

qbrozen

I have a confession to make.
The 4 of us were out and about today and came upon a new Prius for the first time. It was surprisingly good looking. Best looking toyota car in quite some time, dare I say? All of us thought so.

Michaell

qbrozen said:

I have a confession to make.
The 4 of us were out and about today and came upon a new Prius for the first time. It was surprisingly good looking. Best looking toyota car in quite some time, dare I say? All of us thought so.

It's getting rave reviews, especially the Prime version.

Good looking, quick, and, apparently, handles pretty well (compared to older Prii, I suppose).

stickguy

qbrozen said:

I have a confession to make.
The 4 of us were out and about today and came upon a new Prius for the first time. It was surprisingly good looking. Best looking toyota car in quite some time, dare I say? All of us thought so.

I saw one the other day on the road. It was actually pretty sharp. I would have no problem with having a new one. Fairly quick now, and almost fun to drive, along with your incredible gas mileage!

corvette

I've seen a couple. It's the first sexy Prius. 0-60 in around seven seconds, which is a significant improvement from previous generations. They went with bold styling + improved performance rather than trying to eke out another small MPG bump. If a three year old Prius gets 50 MPG, the new model getting 3 MPG more is not going to entice someone who owns one to buy a new one.

roadburner

I was driving back from the summer prosecutors conference in the C43 and the navigation system diverted me on to some entertaining (and mostly deserted) rural two lanes. I switched the car into Sport+ had some fun. The C43 really comes alive on that setting, and it simply refuses to get out of shape. I didn't really hammer it as there were too many blind corners but it is a four-star riot. Short of an E39 or E60 M5, I've never driven a sedan that has such an aggressive character. Best of all, when you do want to relax a flip of a toggle switch convers the car into a relatively sedate cruiser. It's a Sturmpanzer for the road...

tjc78

@stickguy said:
it is the $20,000+ that is more of an issue. Given a choice I would have 4.

actually one of our looking options is a wide enough lot that we have space to build a 2nd garage at some point!

Certainly couldn’t add it on after for only 20K.

sda

roadburner said:

I was driving back from the summer prosecutors conference in the C43 and the navigation system diverted me on to some entertaining (and mostly deserted) rural two lanes. I switched the car into Sport+ had some fun. The C43 really comes alive on that setting, and it simply refuses to get out of shape. I didn't really hammer it as there were too many blind corners but it is a four-star riot. Short of an E39 or E60 M5, I've never driven a sedan that has such an aggressive character. Best of all, when you do want to relax a flip of a toggle switch convers the car into a relatively sedate cruiser. It's a Sturmpanzer for the road...

My kind of car..and what do I drive? sigh

stickguy

If I do it myself!

That is on the low side. One place we debated but ultimately didn’t want the lot was an extra $34k for an arrangement like Explorer has.

tjc78

@stickguy said:
If I do it myself!

That is on the low side. One place we debated but ultimately didn’t want the lot was an extra $34k for an arrangement like Explorer has.

I think with where you live now a third bay is a nice selling point years down the road.

ab348

If you cannot get the 3rd garage bay, can you at least get the builders to constrict it taller to accommodate a future lift? The toy car you never seldom drive can live up top.

oldfarmer50

pensfan83 said:

@oldfarmer50 said:

I’ve noticed a price change in used cars newly listed in the last few weeks. I contrast that with older listings that are substantially higher.

That's exactly what's happening here. Listed Monday for what appears to be a very fair price but older ones are holding steady...and in some cases $3K-$4K higher.

I’m guessing that the higher priced ones represent vehicles bought by dealers at higher prices 6 or 9 months ago that they can’t accept will never be worth what they paid. Denial for sure.

What I’m worrying about is the possible UAW strike creating a shortage and prices going up across the board again.

mjfloyd1

sda said:

roadburner said:

I was driving back from the summer prosecutors conference in the C43 and the navigation system diverted me on to some entertaining (and mostly deserted) rural two lanes. I switched the car into Sport+ had some fun. The C43 really comes alive on that setting, and it simply refuses to get out of shape. I didn't really hammer it as there were too many blind corners but it is a four-star riot. Short of an E39 or E60 M5, I've never driven a sedan that has such an aggressive character. Best of all, when you do want to relax a flip of a toggle switch convers the car into a relatively sedate cruiser. It's a Sturmpanzer for the road...

My kind of car..and what do I drive? sigh

The struggle is real😂

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

given that we are upsizing from downsizing (and the current front runner is a 4 bedroom place) we need to also since it won't likely be our age in place home. More likely in a few years we turn it over to our son when they start having a family!

we will definitely do things we want (like the kitchen) but it will also be smart choices that will make it very desirable someday as a resale.

I actually don't think the 3rd bay is a really a $ value add though.

I don’t know, all my rich neighbors have 3 car garages. The millionaire next door who had the matching 650i convertibles, the slightly less rich guy on the other side who has a Challenger, a Corvette and a Wrangler and the guy across the street who keeps building additional garages to house his Jaguar collection.

I’m sure people like that would love 3 bays.

kyfdx

$34K for a 3rd garage is about $300/mo. on the mortgage, and you'll get it all back, and more, when you sell.

stickguy

what's a mortgage?