Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

jmonroe1

oldfarmer50 said:

nyccarguy said:

I would need a significant sum of money to build new here in my neck of the woods. Until then I’m stuck with my 1955 flood plain special.

Yikes! How have you managed in this wet year? Decades ago my wife’s rich relatives lived in the Stamford area. They had a beautiful house on a pond. The only trouble was that when it rained their septic system nearest the pond would cease to function and overflow the yard.

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Did they ever ask you to cut the grass in that yard?

jmonroe

stickguy

the grass is always greenest over the septic tank.

nyccarguy

@oldfarmer50 said:
Yikes! How have you managed in this wet year? Decades ago my wife’s rich relatives lived in the Stamford area. They had a beautiful house on a pond. The only trouble was that when it rained their septic system nearest the pond would cease to function and overflow the yard.

Every time it rains steadily, I still get some water puddling in one corner of my basement at the lowest point, right by the washing machine. It’s tiled now and dries up by the next AM. Still, it’s quite unnerving to say the least.

nyccarguy

@stickguy said:

@tifighter said:
I smell COLLUSION!!

Jersey guys stick together. Didn’t you ever watch the Sopranos?

“You never admit to this thing…”

-Phil Leotardo

corvette

@nyccarguy - Almost done rewatching Boardwalk Empire. I didn't think that at the time those series were first released, but it may be better than The Sopranos.

nyccarguy

As far as punch guesses for the year, I’m going to refrain this year. I don’t think I’m ever close & the volume of punches from our group never ceases to amaze me.

Personally, I don’t see a punch for me in 2024. Famous last words, I know. Currently I’ve got a solid vehicle at a decent payment (Tacoma) that won’t cost me much to keep to term. Even though I’m going to blow through the miles, I should be able to see it before I turn it in for the residual. Maybe I’ll even want to buy it out. Who knows? I’ve got time to think about it. My Plug In Hybrid Jeep is currently close to $15K under water, so that’s going to stay in the fleet for the foreseeable future until the lease is up if the market stays its course. My Highlander is a great vehicle albeit on the small side for our family of 5. We’ve racked up over 43K miles on it and it won’t even be 2 years old until the end of February. I only owe $31K on it @ 2.49% APR. I don’t see myself taking on additional debt and resetting the finance clock for another $45K-$50K vehicle at today’s astronomical interest rates.

nyccarguy

@corvette said:
@nyccarguy - Almost done rewatching Boardwalk Empire. I didn't think that at the time those series were first released, but it may be better than The Sopranos.

That’s on HBO MAx? I don’t subscribe.

stickguy

I have cooked up a couple of schemes. Most of which my wife just listens to and shakes her head and makes vague references to liking her car.

problem is, to pull any of them off, it really means flipping both cars. making it even more complicated.

I thought the selling both and leasing a Ridgeline and freeing up a lot of cash had legs. But still a work in progress to do something about the 2nd car need. And the minor detail if the wife is willing to drive one!

tjc78

@nyccarguy said:

@stickguy said:

@tifighter said:
I smell COLLUSION!!

Jersey guys stick together. Didn’t you ever watch the Sopranos?

“You never admit to this thing…”

-Phil Leotardo

Did you know he spent 20 years in the can?

nyccarguy

tjc78 said:

@nyccarguy said:

@stickguy said:

@tifighter said:

I smell COLLUSION!!

Jersey guys stick together. Didn’t you ever watch the Sopranos?

“You never admit to this thing…”

-Phil Leotardo

Did you know he spent 20 years in the can?

Now that you mention it, I don't recall him ever referencing the fact that he was incarcerated.

kyfdx

stickguy said:

saw this while looking at the cars coming up at the Mecum Kissimee auction starting today. I think Walt had one of these? Or some version with this drivetrain. I actually love this. But am blown away at the estimate. I know it looks like new and has like 12k miles on it, but 45-60k? Ouch. I could get a 718 Boxster instead.

https://www.mecum.com/lots/1098370/1976-ford-mustang-cobra-ii/?aa_id=515414-0

I had a '77, but it had green stripes. And, like that car, no A/C

MSRP was $46XX .

135 HP from that V-8 and the world's smallest 2-bbl carb

stickguy

Well, a few tweaks and a holly sniper will ramp up that 135 no problem.

corvette

@nyccarguy - yes. I have a grandfathered AT&T fiber plan that includes Max.

sda

stickguy said:

the grass is always greenest over the septic tank.

Wasn't that a title of a book by Erma Bombeck way back when? She was always funny.

breld

I’ll throw out my punch guess for 2024 at 37. A handful below this year, if nothing else ‘cause it was a stupid banner year in my household that we won’t repeat.

Dealers will start dealing and interest rates will moderate by mid-year.

nyccarguy

breld said:

I’ll throw out my punch guess for 2024 at 37. A handful below this year, if nothing else ‘cause it was a stupid banner year in my household that we won’t repeat.

Dealers will start dealing and interest rates will moderate by mid-year.

Where have we heard that one before?

breld

@nyccarguy - the water in the basement issue is stressful. We were contending with an issue over the summer months where our sump pump was working overtime and discharging several gallons of water a day into our yard (I eventually re-routed it to a bucket so I could measure the output).

But at least in that case the sump pump was doing its job and the water was an outside issue. I suspect our new neighbors with new landscaping were overwatering.

benjaminh

stickguy said:

I have cooked up a couple of schemes. Most of which my wife just listens to and shakes her head and makes vague references to liking her car.

problem is, to pull any of them off, it really means flipping both cars. making it even more complicated.

I thought the selling both and leasing a Ridgeline and freeing up a lot of cash had legs. But still a work in progress to do something about the 2nd car need. And the minor detail if the wife is willing to drive one!

Isn't your RDX almost paid off? And didn't you get a great price on your Maverick with that dealer I suggested when you got your first one? But it's an interesting idea. If you can get approval I think you could pull it off.

Would you consider a Subaru Ascent or even a Honda Odyssey? Both cost less and in some ways might be more functional than a Ridgeline. The Ridgeline is a quite large at 210 inches length, compared to 199.7 for the Maverick and 186.7 for the RDX. The Ascent comes in at 196.8 and the Odyssey at 205. The Odyssey has comfortable room for 8 adults and impressive cargo room: 33 cubic feet with all seats up, 89 with the third row folded into the floor, and 145 max. With the 3.5 V-6 and 10-speed transmission the Odyssey has the same powertrain as the MDX. 0-60 is a fast 6.5 seconds according to Car and Driver, while highway mpg beat the epa with an impressive 30 on regular gas. The EX model is nicely optioned and lists for $39k, which should mean a lower lease cost.

https://www.caranddriver.com/honda/odyssey

benjaminh

My local Toyota dealer still has very few vehicles, except for the RAV4 and 4Runner.... And these available numbers include vehicles in transit.

benjaminh

The first few minutes of this video shows the superiority of the Subaru awd to some others, including even in a Toyota.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GpR5Ga8XXE&t=376s

kyfdx

Drove by my local dealer about a week ago, and it was packed with cars.

au1994

I forget about the Ridgeline. I'll have to put it on the list to replace the Jeep this fall.

Just trucky enough for my needs but a little more costly compared to the Tacoma, Frontier and Maverick.

benjaminh

Lease on an Ascent Premium 2.4 turbo with option package 12, which includes power rear gate, auto-dimming mirror with compass, cold-weather pkg including heated windshield wipers, blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic alert, leather-wrapped steering wheel, rear seat climate controls, etc.

oldfarmer50

benjaminh said:

My local Toyota dealer still has very few vehicles, except for the RAV4 and 4Runner.... And these available numbers include vehicles in transit.

I don’t know if this is true but I’ve heard stories of Toyota dealers hiding inventory off site so they can claim shortages and demand a higher price.

kyfdx

No trucks on that list.. my dealer has dozens of Tundras

oldfarmer50

benjaminh said:

Lease on an Ascent Premium 2.4 turbo with option package 12, which includes power rear gate, auto-dimming mirror with compass, cold-weather pkg including heated windshield wipers, blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic alert, leather-wrapped steering wheel, rear seat climate controls, etc.

Looks like my credit score barely qualifies. I’m guessing 90% of buyer wouldn’t.

kyfdx

It depends. The FICO Auto score goes to 900.

Also, that could have just been a default selection. SMF gives top tier rates to anything over 700 (assuming no other credit issues)

benjaminh

I actually typed that in seeing if it would change anything. The default is 700 with same payment.

stickguy

@benjaminh said:
Isn't your RDX almost paid off? And didn't you get a great price on your Maverick with that dealer I suggested when you got your first one? But it's an interesting idea. If you can get approval I think you could pull it off.

Would you consider a Subaru Ascent or even a Honda Odyssey? Both cost less and in some ways might be more functional than a Ridgeline. The Ridgeline is a quite large at 210 inches length, compared to 199.7 for the Maverick and 186.7 for the RDX. The Ascent comes in at 196.8 and the Odyssey at 205. The Odyssey has comfortable room for 8 adults and impressive cargo room: 33 cubic feet with all seats up, 89 with the third row folded into the floor, and 145 max. With the 3.5 V-6 and 10-speed transmission the Odyssey has the same powertrain as the MDX. 0-60 is a fast 6.5 seconds according to Car and Driver, while highway mpg beat the epa with an impressive 30. The EX model is nicely optioned and lists for $39k, which should mean a lower lease cost.

https://www.caranddriver.com/honda/odyssey

We don’t want a big SUV. And no chance she is getting another minivan. I like having the truck so was a scheme to combine the 2 we have now into one “luxury” car that had real truck capabilities. Only works if she wants to drive it as “her” car if the 2nd car will not be something she likes. That becomes “my” car. Quotes since I do the vast majority of driving on both of them!

We own both outright so this isn’t a plan to lower payments. But cash in the bank would come in real handy a couple of months from now!

kyfdx

@stickguy You're from Jersey. Don't you have a "guy" for those short-term loans?

jmonroe1

kyfdx said:

Drove by my local dealer about a week ago, and it was packed with cars.

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So, you peeked into @breld’s garage when the door was open.

jmonroe

benjaminh

kyfdx said:

No trucks on that list.. my dealer has dozens of Tundras

My screen capture couldn't get all models given how the site scrolls the model selections. They do have a few trucks at Oxmoor Toyota.

benjaminh

This Ridgeline in a theoretical world would be "her" car, and yet she doesn't want a large SUV. You thought she would want to drive a Ridgeline that's 2 feet longer than her current ride, and a foot longer than a three-row SUV. That seems...optimistic. But here at CCBA we do like to try to make things work somehow.

breld

Registered the Corvette this morning. So 50% of the garage is registered. I know...impressive.

[Deleted User]

Would a lease-buyout be a punch? We have a few months left on the Tacoma but no real plans yet. I'd like something new, just not sure what at this point.

nyccarguy

breld said:

Registered the Corvette this morning. So 50% of the garage is registered. I know...impressive.

1st the Hindenberg, now this...

stickguy

@dad23 said:
Would a lease-buyout be a punch? We have a few months left on the Tacoma but no real plans yet. I'd like something new, just not sure what at this point.

We talked about this in committee in the past. I think the answer is no, because it would be double dipping.

stickguy

@benjaminh said:
This Ridgeline in a theoretical world would be "her" car, and yet she doesn't want a large SUV. You thought she would want to drive a Ridgeline that's 2 feet longer than her current ride, and a foot longer than a three-row SUV. That seems...optimistic. But here at CCBA we do like to try to make things work somehow.

Don’t be a buzzkillngton. 😁

The likely end result is she would take the 2nd car. Whatever that was.

[Deleted User]

stickguy said:

@dad23 said:

Would a lease-buyout be a punch? We have a few months left on the Tacoma but no real plans yet. I'd like something new, just not sure what at this point.

We talked about this in committee in the past. I think the answer is no, because it would be double dipping.

Well, I guess we need to find something new then to be a team players!!!

benjaminh

Given how little stick drives, and how he keeps his vehicles pristine, they must have great resale value. Maybe around 35k each? That's a nice bit of change.

Have you considered leasing a Mazda Miata Grand Touring with the 6-speed manual as your car? Even loaded the Miata is still reasonable at around $35k. For "her" car what about just leasing her the 2024 version of what's she's got? An RDX Tech lease will be everything she already has, just better and newer. Or purchase with the 3.9 Acura financing over 60 months?

stickguy

I need to build a garage before I can get a 3rd car. That won’t be immediately.

benjaminh

But I thought you were considering cashing out both of your vehicles?

stickguy

Not to lease 2 replacements.

explorerx4

I checked the inventory where my nephew bought his truck.
12 F150's listed, although some incoming. Discounts were 5-10K.
9 Lightnings with 4K discounts on the website.

stickguy

I drove past the local ford dealer today (an old school single owner place). Definitely a lot more cars on the new side than a year ago.

jmonroe1

benjaminh said:

kyfdx said:

No trucks on that list.. my dealer has dozens of Tundras

My screen capture couldn't get all models given how the site scrolls the model selections. They do have a few trucks at Oxmoor Toyota.

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If they only have a few, you better let @roadburner know before they’re gone. He’ll never forgive you.

jmonroe

ab348

benjaminh said:

But I thought you were considering cashing out both of your vehicles?

Don’t rain on his delusions scheming!

stickguy

If I unexpectedly inherit a sentra to turn into my winter snow beater, wish me luck on converting the other 2 cars into 1 special one!

laurasdada

Stick, worth it for the picture of Farrah alone.

My A7 lives outside, while the M240 lives blissfully unaware of the weather in the garage (as does her X3. Which goes without saying as I, too, enjoy living indoors...). I guess the A7 is my winter beater. What a bad plan that was.

au1994

Like myself, I’m sure many of you have run a vehicle through Carvana in the past few months. I have received an updates on all of mine in recent weeks and they are all dropping significantly. The X1 dropped 2500 in a month. They are a little off on their mileage estimate but I wonder if this is a sign of things to come in the market this year.