Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

ab348

corvette said:

Ya'll are making me feel really well traveled. Looking at the map, I have visited every state except:
Vermont
Rhode Island
Delaware
Idaho
Alaska
Hawaii

Geez man, I’m in a corner of Canada and I’m not a big traveller but even I’ve been to 4 of those! 😁

qbrozen

@Michaell said:
.00255 and 70%

Dang! Tacos are expensive! Nearly $40k with no extras.
What are the numbers for an SR?

jmonroe1

ab348 said:

corvette said:

Ya'll are making me feel really well traveled. Looking at the map, I have visited every state except:
Vermont
Rhode Island
Delaware
Idaho
Alaska
Hawaii

Geez man, I’m in a corner of Canada and I’m not a big traveller but even I’ve been to 4 of those! 😁

————————————————
Does anyone in here have trophy for this guy?

jmonroe

nyccarguy

@qbrozen said:

@Michaell said:
.00255 and 70%

Dang! Tacos are expensive! Nearly $40k with no extras.
What are the numbers for an SR?

I pay $350 per month including 6.35% tax and MSD on my 1 option SR.

The broker did tell me that an SR5 would be significantly more expensive and would bump the payment up to the $400+ range.

Michaell

qbrozen said:

@Michaell said:

.00255 and 70%

Dang! Tacos are expensive! Nearly $40k with no extras.

What are the numbers for an SR?

Same as the SR5.

qbrozen

I'll have to give it thought. I actually WANT a Colorado. I just don't want to deal with Chevy dealers. Already had one in NY come back saying "you'll need more money down to get to that price" after I gave every detail of how I arrived at my payment.

ab348

.

qbrozen said:

I'll have to give it thought. I actually WANT a Colorado. I just don't want to deal with Chevy dealers. Already had one in NY come back saying "you'll need more money down to get to that price" after I gave every detail of how I arrived at my payment.

What about the GMC Canyon version? Slightly nicer vehicle as well as a different dealer network

ab348

Interesting piece from CNBC on the slow sales of EVs:

https://youtu.be/cZlsZwcIgpc?si=9ovgPrf5s-KSpYr2

qbrozen

nyccarguy said:

I pay $350 per month including 6.35% tax and MSD on my 1 option SR.

The broker did tell me that an SR5 would be significantly more expensive and would bump the payment up to the $400+ range.

What discount off MSRP did he get you?

breld

Inventory is improving. Interest rates are scaring some customers away for now. And dealers are still hanging onto the post-pandemic era of MSRP. They’re shocked when you bring up the idea of any sort of discount.

nyccarguy

@qbrozen said:
What discount off MSRP did he get you?

I’ll have to dig up the paperwork. It was $1K DAS including broker fee + MSD.

Also, take a test drive in 1. I fit fine at 5’10” 170 lbs. I know you are 6’5”

jmonroe1

breld said:

Inventory is improving. Interest rates are scaring some customers away for now. And dealers are still hanging onto the post-pandemic era of MSRP. They’re shocked when you bring up the idea of any sort of discount.

————————————————
They are good at playing the victim. Like the time back in ‘87 when I was trying to buy a used ‘85 Grand Prix from a local Buick dealer. I decided to leave but the salesman said let me see what I can do. He leaves, comes back rather quickly and says the sales manager was on his way. The sales manager enters the salesman’s office and blurts out, “is this the guy that’s trying to steal our car”. There were only the 3 of us in the office so I guess he was talking about me. After he introduces himself he said, “what do you say we split the difference”. My reply was “what do you say we don’t”, and I got up to leave. He yells out, “OK,OK you stole it”. Sure I did, I just didn’t get hosed as badly as he wanted me to.

You’re supposed to feel guilty when you steal something but I didn’t.

jmonroe

stickguy

I test sat a Taco before I got the Maverick. Hated the seating position. Very uncomfortable. And I am only 6'

oldfarmer50

nyccarguy said:

Vermont is quite beautiful for those of you who have never been:

That looks like I-91. Very pretty but I still say route 100 is prettier if you’re not in a hurry. More little shops and eateries too.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

Vermont does have some very pretty areas. and a lot of nothing too! and cows. lots of cows.

We were going to run over for a weekend trip this month but didn't end up happening. Maybe in early November if the weather holds! might just be 1 day though since we are only about 45 minutes from VT.

A nice day trip would be to take route 4 out of NY to Rutland and up over the mountain to Woodstock VT. Nice place to walk around if the weather is good.

You could take a detour on the way back and drive up Killington mountain. Even without the snow the ski facilities are impressive. The view from the top of the mountain is spectacular.

corvette

qbrozen said:

I actually WANT a Colorado. I just don't want to deal with Chevy dealers.

Is there a broker on LH who works with Chevrolet/GMC dealers? I'd gladly pay a broker fee to avoid those kinds of hijinks.

Michaell

Member needs help with a lease return with recent damage

corvette

I'm kind of snickering at how the Tacoma seems to have consistently fit the category of "reliable/safe/solid/decent vehicle which leases somewhere between fair and cheap." (No snark intended, I may lease one someday!)

xwesx

jmonroe1 said:

Antarctica, well if you want to make Alaska seem like the tropics, that’s a good place to go. Unless global warming has changed that place, I remember reading years ago, that Antarctica is the coldest place on Earth. Even hot coffee there isn’t hot.

jmonroe

Haha, that's for sure! *But*, he is there to maintain equipment, and they do that in the antarctic summer, so the temperatures aren't too terrible. They tend to hover around freezing a lot. He's on a small research outpost this time (about 40-60 people there this time of year), and it used to be perched on only about a 1/4 mile patch of rock jutting up along the coast, but the ice sheet that once surrounded it has receded dramatically, so now there are a few miles of exposed ground sloping down on all sides of the station.

xwesx

mjfloyd1 said:

It didn’t have the Recardo seats? How disappointing 😂

My first car was a Stang but none since. I had to have the door hinge welded after a couple years so I don’t really have a soft spot for them…😂

I saw a mustang smashed up along the side of the highway this morning where it had spun out.... Hehe.

xwesx

qbrozen said:

Ok… where the heck did the post about lifting a Tesla go? Meant to come back later to address and I now can’t seem to find it. ANYWAY… I find that very surprising. Never occurred to me it would even have a simple enough suspension to do such a thing. And do you have to a monthly subscription to keep it lifted, or …?

Thanks for the cruelty, Q! LOL

Shockingly, the suspension on the car is quite simple and laid out in such a way that it was incredibly easy to work on it! I think the whole job took us about 3.5 hours (from hauling tools out to having them all put away). It was just a 1.75" suspension lift, and it doesn't make the car look awkwardly tall at all. In fact, it looks really naturally balanced at this height, raising the car from 6" to 8", or so it was told to me. The car actually sat at about 9" when we put it back on the floor, but it will probably settle in a little after a short drive.

My friend thanked me afterward, saying, "I'm glad you were able to help out, because I've never done anything like this before, and I was feeling a little intimidated even though the instructions looked straightforward."

xwesx

cdnpinhead said:

Here are all the states I haven't visited:

I'm pretty sure the one state I'll never visit is Hawai'i. I'm sure they appreciate it!

xwesx

nyccarguy said:

explorerx4 said:

@nyccarguy,
Does UVM have a specialty your son is interested in? 61k for tuition, room and board, plus misc expenses for out of states students.
I went to a small Catholic college in the same area(St Mike's) but it was so long ago, it might as well have been back in the Ice Age.

Actually they do have a specialty he's interested in. Tuition costs at every school are eye watering to say the least. Hmm. I never thought about a small catholic college. Maybe he would qualify for a full minority scholarship there

He should check out Alaska! Education here is comparatively affordable.

xwesx

I'm not sure if this 2019 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport 4D pickup will come through, but I think the owner wants to have owned this thing for free! 88,000 miles, some aftermarket suspension work and some other goodies, and asking $46,500.

qbrozen

corvette said:

qbrozen said:

I actually WANT a Colorado. I just don't want to deal with Chevy dealers.

Is there a broker on LH who works with Chevrolet/GMC dealers? I'd gladly pay a broker fee to avoid those kinds of hijinks.

Kind of. But he only ever has stuff that anyone can get discounted, like Silverados. Besides, my trade-in really makes things tough. As of last night, I'm kind of pondering just selling it to Carvana and looking for something to buy with cash, like this one.

stickguy

That’s nice looking. Seems solid underneath. Should serve the purpose as a work beater and can certainly tow a car trailer.

oldfarmer50

xwesx said:

mjfloyd1 said:

It didn’t have the Recardo seats? How disappointing 😂

My first car was a Stang but none since. I had to have the door hinge welded after a couple years so I don’t really have a soft spot for them…😂

I saw a mustang smashed up along the side of the highway this morning where it had spun out.... Hehe.

A inexperienced driver turning off the traction/stability control isn’t a good idea.

oldfarmer50

qbrozen said:

corvette said:

qbrozen said:

I actually WANT a Colorado. I just don't want to deal with Chevy dealers.

Is there a broker on LH who works with Chevrolet/GMC dealers? I'd gladly pay a broker fee to avoid those kinds of hijinks.

Kind of. But he only ever has stuff that anyone can get discounted, like Silverados. Besides, my trade-in really makes things tough. As of last night, I'm kind of pondering just selling it to Carvana and looking for something to buy with cash, like this one.

Didn’t those V8s have head gasket issues?

stickguy

It’s a dodge. Likely had all kinds of issues

au1994

nyccarguy said:

@qbrozen said:

What discount off MSRP did he get you?

I’ll have to dig up the paperwork. It was $1K DAS including broker fee + MSD.

Also, take a test drive in 1. I fit fine at 5’10” 170 lbs. I know you are 6’5”

Highly recommend this. The Taco has a very 'flat' seating position that doesn't work for all body types.

au1994

corvette said:

I'm kind of snickering at how the Tacoma seems to have consistently fit the category of "reliable/safe/solid/decent vehicle which leases somewhere between fair and cheap." (No snark intended, I may lease one someday!)

To me it falls into the category of 'does a lot of thin

corvette said:

I'm kind of snickering at how the Tacoma seems to have consistently fit the category of "reliable/safe/solid/decent vehicle which leases somewhere between fair and cheap." (No snark intended, I may lease one someday!)

To me, it falls into the category of 'does a lot of things well but nothing great' other than a great value which I am completely fine with. As with a Frontier, I'd gladly sacrifice a few niceties for a smokin' deal as it would be my errand runner, 2 days to the office runner and lake stuff hauler. We'd road trip in something else.

qbrozen

@oldfarmer50 said:
Didn’t those V8s have head gasket issues?

Seems far less prevalent than Subaru, but of course it is American so it gets bashed while the Japanese brand gets a pass.

kyfdx

Never heard anyone say anything good about that model Dakota.

stickguy

It’s pretty cheap. And can tow. Probably inexpensive to fix.

kyfdx

stickguy said:

It’s pretty cheap. And can tow. Probably inexpensive to fix.

Anyone that's owned one...

oldfarmer50

Has anyone ever bought from one of those credit union “special offers”? I’m looking at one now and I’m not impressed. Looks like the special offer is a $250 price reduction. I wonder how many of them are repos that the credit union is trying to avoid taking a bath on at the auction.

Strange coincidence? Yesterday they gave us all a $2/hr. raise at work and today I’m getting solicitations to buy a Cadillac. News travels fast.

I also got to drive my first BMW 440i yesterday. A nice convertible. I can see why they are becoming popular, more room than the 3 series.

stickguy

@oldfarmer50 said:
Has anyone ever bought from one of those credit union “special offers”? I’m looking at one now and I’m not impressed. Looks like the special offer is a $250 price reduction. I wonder how many of them are repos that the credit union is trying to avoid taking a bath on at the auction.

Strange coincidence? Yesterday they gave us all a $2/hr. raise at work and today I’m getting solicitations to buy a Cadillac. News travels fast.

I also got to drive my fist BMW 340i yesterday. A nice convertible. I can see why they are becoming popular, more room than the 3 series.

Should have swung by so I could show my wife the car

roadburner

oldfarmer50 said:

Has anyone ever bought from one of those credit union “special offers”? I’m looking at one now and I’m not impressed. Looks like the special offer is a $250 price reduction. I wonder how many of them are repos that the credit union is trying to avoid taking a bath on at the auction.

Strange coincidence? Yesterday they gave us all a $2/hr. raise at work and today I’m getting solicitations to buy a Cadillac. News travels fast.

I also got to drive my fist BMW 340i yesterday. A nice convertible. I can see why they are becoming popular, more room than the 3 series.

It was an M440i- with the homely beaver tooth grilles at no additional charge...

oldfarmer50

An inexperienced drive

xwesx said:

mjfloyd1 said:

It didn’t have the Recardo seats? How disappointing 😂

My first car was a Stang but none since. I had to have the door hinge welded after a couple years so I don’t really have a soft spot for them…😂

I saw a mustang smashed up along the side of the highway this morning where it had spun out.... Hehe.

turning off the tra

stickguy said:

@oldfarmer50 said:

Has anyone ever bought from one of those credit union “special offers”? I’m looking at one now and I’m not impressed. Looks like the special offer is a $250 price reduction. I wonder how many of them are repos that the credit union is trying to avoid taking a bath on at the auction.

Strange coincidence? Yesterday they gave us all a $2/hr. raise at work and today I’m getting solicitations to buy a Cadillac. News travels fast.

I also got to drive my fist BMW 340i yesterday. A nice convertible. I can see why they are becoming popular, more room than the 3 series.

Should have swung by so I could show my wife the car

Swing by the airport on Monday and you’ll see me zipping back and forth in any number of cars. If she likes one, you can run right down the road to the BMW dealer.😃

oldfarmer50

roadburner said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Has anyone ever bought from one of those credit union “special offers”? I’m looking at one now and I’m not impressed. Looks like the special offer is a $250 price reduction. I wonder how many of them are repos that the credit union is trying to avoid taking a bath on at the auction.

Strange coincidence? Yesterday they gave us all a $2/hr. raise at work and today I’m getting solicitations to buy a Cadillac. News travels fast.

I also got to drive my fist BMW 340i yesterday. A nice convertible. I can see why they are becoming popular, more room than the 3 series.

It was an M440i- with the homely beaver tooth grilles at no additional charge...

Excuse me, I thought I typed 440i. Yes it was a 440i. I corrected the error. I’ve driven many 3 series and a few 2s

qbrozen

kyfdx said:

Never heard anyone say anything good about that model Dakota.

Loved mine... but not quite that model. Same body, different drivetrain (5.2 v8). But try and find one of those with low miles and no rust. Ain't happenin. I always looked down on the 4.7, but there ain't no other choice, sadly, if you want on old mid-sizer. If Dodge had soldiered on with the Dakota and dropped the 5.7 in it ... oh to dream. But, hey, buy one of these older ones and swap it. Done!

qbrozen

Just submitted my paperwork to Carvana. yikes.

If this all follows through, my net cost for having "renting" the WRX for 20 mos will be $368/mo. $96/mo of that is just tax, though. And another ~$25/mo to the DMV (MVC here in NJ). If I had managed to trade it in and gotten the >$1600 tax credit, net would have been $285/mo.

stickguy

not bad. that is about the same I think I did with my TLX a few years ago. I think it came out to be around $300 effective.

corvette

The final gen Dakotas all seem to have rust around the rear fenders. My neighbor has one with that affliction, and it appears to be covered up with blue painter's tape.

jmonroe1

corvette said:

The final gen Dakotas all seem to have rust around the rear fenders. My neighbor has one with that affliction, and it appears to be covered up with blue painter's tape.

————————————————
I’ve never seen that stuff rust.

jmonroe

qbrozen

I guess carvana figured a way to shave costs slightly. I can either drop it off 30 miles away or have them pick it up for $190.
Yeah, I’m dropping it off.

stickguy

I found that out with my Maverick. And the location is only about 13 miles from me. Heck yeah I dropped it off. and was at the bank 15 minutes later depositing that check.

jmonroe1

qbrozen said:

I guess carvana figured a way to shave costs slightly. I can either drop it off 30 miles away or have them pick it up for $190.

Yeah, I’m dropping it off.

————————————————
I didn’t know you had a flat bed that could only be loaded and unloaded with a fork lift. So I guess after you remove the hold down chains you plan on doing a quick takeoff to satisfy the drop off option.

jmonroe

corvette

$190 would more than pay for an Uber, if needed.

stickguy

I just had my wife follow me down. I will give Carvana props. They were very well organized with all the paperwork printed and check ready. A few minutes of the guy looking at the truck and taking some pictures, than a few more signing the papers, he hands me the check and my plates and I was out of there. Round trip, including a stop for lunch and the bank, and I think we were home in 90 minutes.