Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

andres3

tjc78 said:

@28firefighter said:

@au1994 said:

He’s 6 and a half??? Father time is an unbeatable opponent. And yes, I love Harry Potter. I can read them over and over.

I have no idea where the time is going.

My son turns 10 in March. I can’t even fathom how quickly it’s gone by

Got you beat, my daughter turns 10 in November! One way to count the decade is to think of how many cars that was ago for some of you. For me, it's just the day my custom ordered S4 arrived at the dealership for pickup, the same day my daughter was born. Now I'm on S4 #2 and if you count the A4 my third B8.5 Audi chassis.

And yes, her first ride in a car home from the hospital was in a brand new S4.

andres3

roadburner said:

When I see mixed brands of tires on a car it's a guaranteed hard pass for me- ditto for "house brands."

Mismatched tires or cheap Carmax Chinese specials automatically get the "4 new tires" discount to any offer I make.

andres3

sda said:

kyfdx said:

I see kitchens closing earlier than close time, frequently. But, 7 PM close for an 8 PM close restaurant is a little weird. Maybe 8 PM is Sunday or Holiday hours?

My son was a manager at a local "upscale" pizza chain. (mostly sit-down diners). If they were open until 10 pm, someone could come in at 9:59 pm and sit down to eat.

Personally, I think that's rude, but that was their deal.

When I was in college, I worked part time at several pizza places. More than once, minutes before closing at 12-1am customers would walk in wanting to have a sit-down meal. We had already broken down the salad bars, cleaned the kitchen and were ready to lock the door and leave. But no, the manager always insisted we re-open the kitchen to cook for the late stragglers. That would delay our leaving by an hour or more and made for an early morning with little sleep!

I was upset one time when Baskin Robins told me that they had already cleaned the milkshake machine like 1/2 hour before closing time, and of course, refused my milkshake order. I remember thinking "then clean it again after making my milkshake."

corvette

rayainsw said:

Just passed 10,000 miles on the X3.
- Ray
Still enjoying the drive...

Shame about those cracks in the instrument cluster.

28firefighter

Today we celebrate the most joyous day of the year - the first day of school. My kiddo is off to 1st grade (which, as we talked about the other day, I cannot believe).

Michaell

28firefighter said:

Today we celebrate the most joyous day of the year - the first day of school. My kiddo is off to 1st grade (which, as we talked about the other day, I cannot believe).

Schools have been in session for 3 weeks here in Colorado.

Congrats to your little one!

imidazol97

I enjoy the talk here about folks' families as their young ones grow up. I recall
when some of these little ones were born. It brings back pleasant memories
of our son's learning and growth stages.

Ahhhh. First grade!

qbrozen

Eldest started back today, the younger one tomorrow.
It is weird, but I prefer them out of school. It is just too much hassle getting them up and out each morn.

tjc78

My kids go back tomorrow. We moved back to our primary house from the shore yesterday. What an ordeal. I sent the wife home with a fairly loaded car and she hit BJ’s on the way home. I stayed back and cleaned everything there and loaded the truck with the rest of the stuff and the kids.

@qbrozen
I hear you .. getting the out the door in the morning is always fun!

au1994

Jeez…we started school on 8/3 here in GA.

tjc78

@au1994 said:
Jeez…we started school on 8/3 here in GA.

Yeah but they are out in May. We run until Father’s Day

explorerx4

Kids in NE Ohio started their 3rd week of school this week.

au1994

tjc78 said:

@au1994 said:

Jeez…we started school on 8/3 here in GA.

Yeah but they are out in May. We run until Father’s Day

True. We also do a fall break which hits in about 2 weeks. Not a fan of that one. He is a senior now so it’s not a big deal, but for the younger ages, just about the time you get them back into the routine…BAM! Out for a week.

Michaell

qbrozen said:

Eldest started back today, the younger one tomorrow.
It is weird, but I prefer them out of school. It is just too much hassle getting them up and out each morn.

And it only gets worse as they get older...

28firefighter

They've dropped my old Elantra N down to what they paid me for it (give or take a few bucks) - $33,999.

sda

28firefighter said:

They've dropped my old Elantra N down to what they paid me for it (give or take a few bucks) - $33,999.

Carvana, CarMax? Prices maybe softening afterall.

28firefighter

sda said:

28firefighter said:

They've dropped my old Elantra N down to what they paid me for it (give or take a few bucks) - $33,999.

Carvana, CarMax? Prices maybe softening afterall.

Sorry - Vroom.

oldfarmer50

28firefighter said:

Today we celebrate the most joyous day of the year - the first day of school. My kiddo is off to 1st grade (which, as we talked about the other day, I cannot believe).

It’s been 6 years since I retired from that world but my favorite memories were of the little ones and their unbounded enthusiasm.

andres3

28firefighter said:

They've dropped my old Elantra N down to what they paid me for it (give or take a few bucks) - $33,999.

Still too high to be honest. You can get better for $34K. On the other hand, can't blame you for selling for top dollar.

oldfarmer50

sda said:

28firefighter said:

They've dropped my old Elantra N down to what they paid me for it (give or take a few bucks) - $33,999.

Carvana, CarMax? Prices maybe softening afterall.

CarMax offered me $15,600 for my 4 year old Kia that I paid $18k for while I was getting an estimate from Edmunds. Strangely, Edmunds said it was worth $14,300.

qbrozen

Michaell said:

qbrozen said:

Eldest started back today, the younger one tomorrow.
It is weird, but I prefer them out of school. It is just too much hassle getting them up and out each morn.

And it only gets worse as they get older...

Older one graduates HS this year, so I hope it won't get worse.

qbrozen

Just canceled my Blazer EV reservation. Received the email that it was now open for ordering. I checked the specs of what is available and the RS AWD weighs 6500 lbs and comes with a whopping 288 hp ... for $60k starting price. Hard pass.

stickguy

I remember watching my Maverick linger on Carvana for a couple of months with the price dropping every so often. I know they marked it up quite a bit so it still sold for maybe $2k more than they paid me? they made something on it.

28firefighter

qbrozen said:

Just canceled my Blazer EV reservation. Received the email that it was now open for ordering. I checked the specs of what is available and the RS AWD weighs 6500 lbs and comes with a whopping 288 hp ... for $60k starting price. Hard pass.

Talk about an over-promise and under-deliver.

nyccarguy

@oldfarmer50 said:
CarMax offered me $15,600 for my 4 year old Kia that I paid $18k for while I was getting an estimate from Edmunds. Strangely, Edmunds said it was worth $14,300.

The market for $10-$20K cars is crazy right now and will be for the foreseeable future. Don’t think I haven’t thought about buying a Jetta and driving it for 2 years/40K miles and selling it or trading it in while it still has 10K left of warranty miles.

nyccarguy

My 3 children started school last Wednesday. My oldest son is a senior in High School, my middle son is a freshman in high school. My daughter just started 7th grade.

stickguy

nyccarguy said:

@oldfarmer50 said:

CarMax offered me $15,600 for my 4 year old Kia that I paid $18k for while I was getting an estimate from Edmunds. Strangely, Edmunds said it was worth $14,300.

The market for $10-$20K cars is crazy right now and will be for the foreseeable future. Don’t think I haven’t thought about buying a Jetta and driving it for 2 years/40K miles and selling it or trading it in while it still has 10K left of warranty miles.

not sure how long before I inherit a low miles 2020 Sentra, but that just might hang around as the winter beater that can sit outside.

stickguy

nyccarguy said:

My 3 children started school last Wednesday. My oldest son is a senior in High School, my middle son is a freshman in high school. My daughter just started 7th grade.

a senior already? Time flies. Been through the whole college search drama yet? with applications of course being the "best" part!

28firefighter

@nyccarguy said:
My 3 children started school last Wednesday. My oldest son is a senior in High School, my middle son is a freshman in high school. My daughter just started 7th grade.

Man I remember you planning for your oldest’s Bar Mitzvah. Wild.

graphicguy

corvette said:

graphicguy said:

oldfarmer50 said:

One question. If GM does a buyback or gives you trade assistance where does sales tax enter into the equation? If they give your your money back do they also refund the sales tax paid? In my state that could amount to $5k on your typical overpriced truck.

Yes…all taxes, all dealer fees, any finance interest and/or fees…the deal is totally unwound on a total buyback. On a unit swap, you should try to keep the MSRP between the unit you have and the unit you’re getting as close as possible. You pay the difference between any delta price wise between the new unit and the lemon unit. However, all fees for the transaction are taken care of by GM.

That was my recollection when I got the G6 bought back, but there was a prorated deduction for mileage (based on 100k life expectancy, IIRC) for a complete buyback. They initially offered me an "MSRP to MSRP" swap--basically, $23k or whatever the sticker price was as "house money" against a replacement. Since Pontiac was being wound down by that point, I think they told me I could apply it towards any new GM vehicle.

I think that’s a negotiation move. They did the same with me on the Cadillacs. They wanted to charge me for the mileage. I declined and filed lemon law paperwork. Then, they said “forget about charging for mileage, we’ll just do a ‘like-for-like’ swap”. Too little, too late. I filed lemon law with BBB. They kept trying to offer another swap. But, by that time they had stonewalled me so much, for so long, insulted me, made me feel I was the one who was “crazy”, it was buy back or nothing.

Still irritates me to this day.

graphicguy

kyfdx said:

pensfan83 said:

@kyfdx said:

I see kitchens closing earlier than close time, frequently. But, 7 PM close for an 8 PM close restaurant is a little weird. Maybe 8 PM is Sunday or Holiday hours?

My son was a manager at a local "upscale" pizza chain. (mostly sit-down diners). If they were open until 10 pm, someone could come in at 9:59 pm and sit down to eat.

Personally, I think that's rude, but that was their deal.

Dewey's?

Yes, he started working there in college, and put in 6.5 years, altogether.

Dewey’s…Oh Yeah! COme to think of it, for the general geographic area some of us are living in (N. KY, SW OH) we have some really good pizza places…..the afore mentioned Dewey’s, Adriaticas, Chesters!

corvette

graphicguy said:

I think that’s a negotiation move. They did the same with me on the Cadillacs.

Probably so, I don't think it's provided for in the lemon law. But, at that point, only taking a 12% haircut for 12,000 miles to get rid of my lemon vehicle was a win, to me, since my alternative was to sell or trade it for far less than that.

pensfan83

What's the consensus on PPF amongst this group? Only called one reputable shop but I was quoted $2,100 for full front (hood, bumpers, grill, lights, mirror caps, fenders...basically everything forward of the firewall). Ceramic on the entire car is an additional $1,800. I'm less inclined to do ceramic but got the quote anyway.

kyfdx

pensfan83 said:

What's the consensus on PPF amongst this group? Only called one reputable shop but I was quoted $2,100 for full front (hood, bumpers, grill, lights, mirror caps, fenders...basically everything forward of the firewall). Ceramic on the entire car is an additional $1,800. I'm less inclined to do ceramic but got the quote anyway.

I wash my car every three months, whether it needs it, or not. Does that tell you anything? lol

pensfan83

@kyfdx said:
I wash my car every three months, whether it needs it, or not. Does that tell you anything? lol

Why yes, yes it does

explorerx4

@pensfan83,
When was the last time you got dinged for over 2k in rock chips when selling a car?

stickguy

I’d buy a bottle of Avalon king and some touch up paint, and call it good.

roadburner

I spotted this rare classic while handling a special prosecution case in another county.
Color me hopelessly envious.

kyfdx

There is a mid-90s Acura CL (1st gen CL) parked on a street nearby, with a V8 badge on the trunk lid.

28firefighter

Looked into PPF for the Tesla. Not worth it IMO.

explorerx4

An AMG Malibu SS is a really rare find.

corvette

So is a V8 Acura.

andres3

An AMG Infiniti would make more sense since they shared some motors with Mercedes, but I believe that was limited to a 2.0T.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

nyccarguy said:

@oldfarmer50 said:

CarMax offered me $15,600 for my 4 year old Kia that I paid $18k for while I was getting an estimate from Edmunds. Strangely, Edmunds said it was worth $14,300.

The market for $10-$20K cars is crazy right now and will be for the foreseeable future. Don’t think I haven’t thought about buying a Jetta and driving it for 2 years/40K miles and selling it or trading it in while it still has 10K left of warranty miles.

not sure how long before I inherit a low miles 2020 Sentra, but that just might hang around as the winter beater that can sit outside.

Change that CVT fluid every 30k miles or it might just sit, period.

oldfarmer50

pensfan83 said:

What's the consensus on PPF amongst this group? Only called one reputable shop but I was quoted $2,100 for full front (hood, bumpers, grill, lights, mirror caps, fenders...basically everything forward of the firewall). Ceramic on the entire car is an additional $1,800. I'm less inclined to do ceramic but got the quote anyway.

I’m sure that protects the paint but I would only want it if I was driving in severe conditions. Does the treatment stop rock chips? I wouldn’t think anything does. $2100 seems excessive since you could get it done in one of these new ceramic waxes a lot cheaper.

oldfarmer50

roadburner said:

I spotted this rare classic while handling a special prosecution case in another county.
Color me hopelessly envious.

I bet that guy is the king of the rental car fleet.

corvette

oldfarmer50 said:

Does the treatment stop rock chips?

My understanding is that it would either stop or reduce their severity. The films are also self-healing. Minor surface scratches and swirls disappear after a short period of time--I'm not sure whether it's heat or UV rays that may hasten that process.

greg128

andres3 said:

An AMG Infiniti would make more sense since they shared some motors with Mercedes, but I believe that was limited to a 2.0T.

I had a Crossfire SRT with the AMG supercharged V-6. It was a fast & fun car and quite unique. I only saw 2 or three of them on the road in the 5 years I owned it. Sold in 2012.

au1994

@nyccarguy - How’s the Tacoma working out?

oldfarmer50

greg128 said:

andres3 said:

An AMG Infiniti would make more sense since they shared some motors with Mercedes, but I believe that was limited to a 2.0T.

I had a Crossfire SRT with the AMG supercharged V-6. It was a fast & fun car and quite unique. I only saw 2 or three of them on the road in the 5 years I owned it. Sold in 2012.

That was my dream car except for the price and that I barely fit in it. I wouldn’t want to try to get one repaired these days.