Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

au1994

fintail said:

28firefighter said:

So....here is my story for the afternoon. TL;DR - don't be like me.

The Audi was filthy - it's clear they didn't do much of a detail at all. So I decided, this afternoon I would give it a good wash and wax. Start my usual routine - dry the car and notice - "man this paint feels really really rough." And then...I panic.

The following stream of consciousness went through my brain as my blood pressure went up:
"oh my god oh my god oh my god I finally did it - I stripped the clear coat off the car with the pressure washer. Did I use the wrong nozzle? Was I too close? Oh god my wife is going to kill me....."

And then I realized - the dealer mentioned they had taken some tree sap off during prep. I bet this car was parked outside and given the seattle treatment (never seen a wash that wasn't falling from the sky). Go in the garage, get my clay bar....2 hours later, 2 clay bars later and an entire bottle of instant detailer and we have solved the issue. I'm taking a break for a bit, but will go back out and put some wax on.

Stay tuned for more tales of the idiocy of 28FF...

It's the western WA way - 100K worth of vehicles sit collecting moss on the driveway while $200 worth of yard sale rejects and failed MLM junk lounges in the garage.

Not just a PNW phenomena. The confirmed bachelor up the street keeps his Raptor Shelby ($115K MSRP) and super tricked out Rubicon in the driveway. Garage is filled with his other misc. toys.

stickguy

I saw a Santa Fe out on the road. Not a fan.

stickguy

oh, when we picked up the rental van at Newark yesterday, Enterprise had a new defender sitting there. Was not expecting that.

pensfan83

We have a Chrysler Pacifica this week. Base model I assume but it certainly does the job

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

oh, when we picked up the rental van at Newark yesterday, Enterprise had a new defender sitting there. Was not expecting that.

I think we have a couple floating around Albany as well.

tjc78

@stickguy said:
I saw a Santa Fe out on the road. Not a fan.

+1

au1994

tjc78 said:

@stickguy said:

I saw a Santa Fe out on the road. Not a fan.

+1

+2

Michaell

One last observation from yesterday. I was able to ride in the Audi Q8 e-tron that @breld leased 6 months ago.

I’ve been lucky to ride in - and occasionally drive - the vehicles he’s rotated through over the years we’ve been friends. MB, BMW, Audi, etc

The E-tron is by far the nicest of all of them. Fast without being overpowering. Compliant over the rough roads that Denver offers up. Quiet inside, with just the right amount of useful tech. Luxury feel to the eye and touch. Just a wonderful all around vehicle.

jmonroe1

pensfan83 said:

We have a Chrysler Pacifica this week. Base model I assume but it certainly does the job

————————————————-
I think you linked the wrong pic. That doesn’t look like any model of a Pacifica I’ve ever seen.

jmonroe

jmonroe1

Here it is, 1991.

You have to click on “Watch on YouTube” when you get the black pop-up box.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4T2GmGSNvaM

jmonroe

qbrozen

@stickguy said:
I saw a Santa Fe out on the road. Not a fan.

I like all angles except the rear. That is pretty awful.

corvette

The H-shaped DRLs on the new Hyundais are kind of neat.

breld

@michaell summed up our visit the Denver Auto Show well.

The new GX Lexus had was in their dark green (Nori Green) which I thought was striking. It's good those aren't readily available at the dealerships yet (particularly for those who aren't on a list, which we are not), 'cause that could be a quick impulsive purchase.

The other highlight for me was taking a closer look at the Kia EV9. It's a cool design to my eye, and the interior was really comfortable. Intriguing, though in the top trim it is right there price-wise against the Rivian and Volvo EX90. Not saying it doesn't compete well with those offerings, but that may be challenging for Kia.

breld

qbrozen said:

@stickguy said:

I saw a Santa Fe out on the road. Not a fan.

I like all angles except the rear. That is pretty awful.

100% agree. Not sure what was going through the designers' minds with the placement of the taillights. I read somewhere that they claimed it was necessary due to the placement of the tailgate struts, but that doesn't seem to have hampered the design of all the other SUVs on the road.

xwesx

Sandman6472 said:

Having worked at both company's now, think Enterprise is the better company. Much better to their employees. Our boss is one of the best bosses I've ever had in my working career. I know most of my co-workers love the job. Think for a retiree who wants to get out of the house & make some extra cash, it's the perfect gig. Most of our days are from 8 am to 5:45 pm, give or take which isn't bad. Personally, I'd rather do a 10 hour day once I'm there but since the pandemic, those are few & far between. Like working the occasional weekend as it's usually just a 6 hour day and I like a 30 hour week if possible. We get paid bi-weekly unlike at Hertz, where it was weekly. I never had a weekly paycheck before and did get used to it!

After listening to my mother tell of so many stories related to her trucking years (she just retired two months ago), your "boss" is the most impactful aspect of how much the drivers enjoy their work. Ultimately, the work is the work (doesn't change, really), but the politics, games, and interactions surrounding that work makes a world of difference with the right attitudes/personalities involved. I'm sure I could say that about any job, but those in logistics are on a different level so much of the time.

xwesx

jmonroe1 said:

I think you linked the wrong pic. That doesn’t look like any model of a Pacifica I’ve ever seen.

jmonroe

I think what he's trying to say is this: "If you've seen one, you've seen them all!"

Universal.

qbrozen

woohooo!
The Sierra and the Quattroporte are finally titled and registered.
What a hassle.

jmonroe1

xwesx said:

jmonroe1 said:

I think you linked the wrong pic. That doesn’t look like any model of a Pacifica I’ve ever seen.

jmonroe

I think what he's trying to say is this: "If you've seen one, you've seen them all!"

Universal.

————————————————
I think he was trying to rub it in that he was in a warmer area than I was. I hate when that happens.

Now you, everyone is in a warmer area than you , so you’re used to it.

jmonroe

jmonroe1

qbrozen said:

woohooo!
The Sierra and the Quattroporte are finally titled and registered.
What a hassle.

————————————————-
How much did the bribe cost you to get that done?

jmonroe

qbrozen

@jmonroe1 said:
————————————————-
How much did the bribe cost you to get that done?

jmonroe

Nearly $1200 in taxes and fees. On top of paying … I think it was like $75 or so to re-start my NJ LLC as an auto restore shop. Lol.

But better than doing the whole Montana LLC thing. That would have run me about $3k-$3300.

Now to start modifying the truck. Already have a diablo tune and just ordered a replacement tailgate lock. Rust remediation, suspension, exhaust, and some appearance goodies are on the docket for starters.

sda

Have you been able to drive the Quattroporte?

jmonroe1

qbrozen said:

@jmonroe1 said:

————————————————-

How much did the bribe cost you to get that done?

jmonroe

Nearly $1200 in taxes and fees. On top of paying … I think it was like $75 or so to re-start my NJ LLC as an auto restore shop. Lol.

But better than doing the whole Montana LLC thing. That would have run me about $3k-$3300.

Now to start modifying the truck. Already have a diablo tune and just ordered a replacement tailgate lock. Rust remediation, suspension, exhaust, and some appearance goodies are on the docket for starters.

————————————————-
That wasn’t so bad.

How about some pics of before, during and after the finished work?

@oldfarmer50 will be especially interested in the before and after rust remediation work.

jmonroe

qbrozen

sda said:

Have you been able to drive the Quattroporte?

I drove it once.

I just need to swap the tires ASAP. I was afraid to drive it on the bald tires, and I didn't want to put new ones on until I was sure I could title it.

qbrozen

Oh, I forgot to share my thoughts on GM's 5.3. I honestly always turned my nose up at it, thinking it is just too small to be "enough." I was very wrong. I'm amazed at how much grunt this thing has. Really impressive.

ab348

breld said:

The other highlight for me was taking a closer look at the Kia EV9. It's a cool design to my eye, and the interior was really comfortable. Intriguing, though in the top trim it is right there price-wise against the Rivian and Volvo EX90. Not saying it doesn't compete well with those offerings, but that may be challenging for Kia.

Jonny Smith (The Late Brake Show on YouTube) did a review of the EV9 in U.K. trim and liked it very much. It is a big beast for sure but seemed well thought-out.

tjc78

@qbrozen said:
Oh, I forgot to share my thoughts on GM's 5.3. I honestly always turned my nose up at it, thinking it is just too small to be "enough." I was very wrong. I'm amazed at how much grunt this thing has. Really impressive.

I’ve driven quite a few of those. Yes it has plenty of power IMO.

xwesx

qbrozen said:

I was very wrong.

Taking a snapshot of this for posterity.

nyccarguy

@qbrozen said:
Oh, I forgot to share my thoughts on GM's 5.3. I honestly always turned my nose up at it, thinking it is just too small to be "enough." I was very wrong. I'm amazed at how much grunt this thing has. Really impressive.

It’s a great engine. It has low end grunt. Plenty of passing power. I’m sure the 6.2 is awesome, but complete overkill.

explorerx4

When my family members who had 5.3's drove my F150's with the 3.5, they were like 'Holy Sh*t'.
Coming out of Wilkes-Barre heading south on I-81 there is a long upgrade.
We usually stop at the DD at exit 165 and and drives after we stop.
One time, after she passed everyone going uphill her comment was 'This thing has unlimited power'.

28firefighter

Went to see a movie tonight with a buddy. Took the BMW and actually got to drive it in no traffic. It continues to be absolutely delightful and the best vehicle I’ve ever owned.

My buddy had never been in it - he said it felt effortless going fast. Truth fact.

nyccarguy

28firefighter said:

Went to see a movie tonight with a buddy. Took the BMW and actually got to drive it in no traffic. It continues to be absolutely delightful and the best vehicle I’ve ever owned.

My buddy had never been in it - he said it felt effortless going fast. Truth fact.

That's great to hear! I'm glad you are really enjoying the car!

qbrozen

@explorerx4 said:
When my family members who had 5.3's drove my F150's with the 3.5, they were like 'Holy Sh*t'.
Coming out of Wilkes-Barre heading south on I-81 there is a long upgrade.
We usually stop at the DD at exit 165 and and drives after we stop.
One time, after she passed everyone going uphill her comment was 'This thing has unlimited power'.

Yes, the TT 3.5 (and 2.7) are beasts. Couldn’t get one of those (in similar condition/miles) for anywhere near what I paid for the Sierra, though. And the v8 will always sound better.

laurasdada

28firefighter said:

Went to see a movie tonight with a buddy. Took the BMW and actually got to drive it in no traffic. It continues to be absolutely delightful and the best vehicle I’ve ever owned.

My buddy had never been in it - he said it felt effortless going fast. Truth fact.

I second that emotion.

roadburner

I probably would have held on to my F22 a bit longer if the telematics could have been upgraded to 4G. My wife said it was the best car we had ever owned- until I bought the C43.

Michaell

Member needs help picking a car for long distance driving

stickguy

That’s a long commute to do weekly.

28firefighter

Makes @nyccarguy ’s commute seem reasonable.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

That’s a long commute to do weekly.

I do 600 miles a day but I need a day to recover.🥹

stickguy

yeah, but you don't have to drive 600 miles, then work after that.

nyccarguy

@28firefighter said:
Makes @nyccarguy ’s commute seem reasonable.

Charlotte is not an easy drive either. If you’ve got to travel to Charlotte weekly, then fly down.

stickguy

I did the drive from Philly to Greensboro NC area a bunch of times. Not for the faint of heart. and that is probably 3 hours shorter at least.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

yeah, but you don't have to drive 600 miles, then work after that.

I doubt that poster does either, that’s at least a 10-12 hour drive. I have worked back to back days but it wasn’t easy.

kyfdx

Reading the original post, again. I think they are just commuting once per week, for the 2-3 days that they need to work.

Seems clear, now.

I live in NYC and may need to work in Charlotte 2-3 days a week. I need some advice on affordable but reliable and safe options for a used car. I don't often drive in NYC so something with good navigation for doing the 8-hour drives to Charlotte, twice a week, would be helpful.

It's one trip per week.. 8 hours, each way.

tjc78

Interesting situation…. Begs the question would you rather commute 8 hours twice a week or 90 mins each way for 5 days.

stickguy

Once probably but that means you are away from home all week. Some people don’t like that.

Plus that drive is booked at 10 hours if you cannonball run it. And that’s if you have no traffic issues which is highly unlikely based on my experience!

stickguy

I got curious. Monday to Friday can get frontier out of LaGuardia for $132 RT. or spirit for $231. That plus a cheap rental car if you need it there seems a lot nicer option and overall cheaper. And those airlines stink about as much as driving on I95

kyfdx

stickguy said:

I got curious. Monday to Friday can get frontier out of LaGuardia for $132 RT. or spirit for $231. That plus a cheap rental car if you need it there seems a lot nicer option and overall cheaper. And those airlines stink about as much as driving on I95

Frontier has a decent sized operation at CVG, and is growing. I fly discount airlines occasionally (Allegiant). But, when I see 12 hour delays listed on some Frontier flights, it makes me not want to try it.

We’ve flown them once (with no issues), but avoid if possible.

explorerx4

A guy at work moved from near Hartford to just south of Charlotte, then the company said he couldn't work remote(nice, huh?).
Luckily, he still had family 30 miles or so from our office, so he did the CT/NC commute once a week.
After about a year, he took a job in NC.

oldfarmer50

tjc78 said:

Interesting situation…. Begs the question would you rather commute 8 hours twice a week or 90 mins each way for 5 days.

If I had to commute 90 minutes every day I’d find another job. My morning commute is 11-15 minutes depending on start time.

imidazol97

My last commute was 18 minutes leisure driving rural road with occasional stop signs. I knew how good I had it.

Previous commute was 20 min mostly on divided highway at 60 mph.