Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

Michaell

I really like the CX-50. Rode with my sister when she test drove a Turbo Premium Plus a couple of years ago.

Mazda builds a nice complement of vehicles.

stickguy

I would bet that it is still way more power than your mom is likely to ever need or use.

xwesx

Looks great. Black always works with white, so I think the black wheels are way better than silver for the rest of the car's appearance. I suspect she'll tell you next time that she wants another Mazda. LOL

corvette

Nice. To paraphrase Warren Buffett, I'd rather get a fair deal on a great car than a great deal on a fair car.

Sandman6472

Not a fan of the black wheels either but that seems to be "hate it" or "like it" thing. But on a lease like this , does it really matter. If it were mine & I was buying it, those wheels would be history. And when the heck is Mazda going to bring their infotainment systems into the current century already? As bad as Audi's and to me, a real safety hazard to use. Hated the one we had in the recently departed A3 and would keep me from purchasing one. Think I could like the Mazda CX-30 but the audio system takes it off the list. Have no clue why they can't come up with a better design after so many years? Have to say, my current Golf has an excellent Fender system with two knobs and a screen high up on the dash. I can use it without looking at it as it's all done with the hand controls. I'm still very happy with it after all these years.

corvette

Very brief driving notes on a 2024 Maverick Hybrid XLT from TTAC, although they say a full review is to follow. I don't disagree with his overall impressions, although I've never driven the hybrid version, so can't comment on its acceleration. I don't disagree that the cabin is downmarket and the screens are a bit small, but I think you have to look at those things in the context of getting an extremely versatile vehicle for its price range. I disagree with the complaint about heavy steering--the author should drive a new Frontier for comparison.

I received parts today and performed the "shift to park" TSB on the Volt this evening. It would occasionally show a "shift to park" error when powering down, and refuse to fully power down, which is a common problem on several GM vehicles. Since I am the warranty, I decided to fix it myself. Parts were cheap, but it was a lot more difficult than I anticipated. I will say that the plastic trim panels snapped out perfectly. Removing the shift boot was a PITA and would have been a lot less onerous with a helper. Removing the shifter assembly was also not fun.

The parts to add a power tailgate lock to the Maverick have shipped, so I have another auto project on my list.

stickguy

Seemed a bit picking at nits for the sake of it to me. The interior is certainly simple, but that can be a good thing these days. Though I have the lariat so much nicer seats (not a fan of the XLT cloth) and different colors, and the better infotainment, so that might sway things. But on the plus side, super simple to use everything.

heavy steering? No clue where that comes from. Steering is well weighted, and very good feedback. Acceleration is fine, if you need it just have to boot it harder. Normal use (as in, hybriding it!) will certainly be more leisurely. But it has respectable giddyup when required. compared to a "real" truck, this thing drives like a Lexus.

oldfarmer50

corvette said:

Here’s another lease bargain from my FB feed. Anyone want to lease an MDX for $839/month (effective) plus tax?

With that much of a down payment, why not just buy it outright?

Is that why jmonroe is thinking of me, he’s planning on buying me one for my birthday next month?🥳🥳🥳

oldfarmer50

qbrozen said:

Poor bed liner design had led to this tailgate’s condition. It wraps around the bottom and is (was) glued in place, covering the drain holes. Pics are after I cut away the wraparound piece of the liner.

I’m running out right now to check the condition of my tailgate!😫

I have a liner on the tailgate also so I checked that area when I bought the truck. The drains are clear but I see the first hint of rust forming on the welds just above them. When it warms up I’m going to seal those welds with rust encapsulator and spray Fluid Film up into the drain holes.

Around here the fight with rust is never ending.

stickguy

I’m too old for fighting. So going with plan B. Don’t keep them long enough for it to matter. And if I do have a keeper, hide it in the garage all winter.

oldfarmer50

qbrozen said:

The hinges are still solid, so I am attempting to just make it look decent with trim and wrap. The problem is by the GMC badge where there is not much metal left for the trim to attach to. I may have to rig some support.

I’d look for a junkyard replacement. You’re not in a rust belt area are you? There should be some from front end collisions that are in decent shape. I can almost guarantee that the rust you see isn’t all the rust there is.

tjc78

@Sandman6472 said:
Not a fan of the black wheels either but that seems to be "hate it" or "like it" thing. But on a lease like this , does it really matter. If it were mine & I was buying it, those wheels would be history. And when the heck is Mazda going to bring their infotainment systems into the current century already? As bad as Audi's and to me, a real safety hazard to use. Hated the one we had in the recently departed A3 and would keep me from purchasing one. Think I could like the Mazda CX-30 but the audio system takes it off the list. Have no clue why they can't come up with a better design after so many years? Have to say, my current Golf has an excellent Fender system with two knobs and a screen high up on the dash. I can use it without looking at it as it's all done with the hand controls. I'm still very happy with it after all these years.

I’m not so sure it’s that out of date. Wireless CarPlay and AA, large touchscreen, redundant console controls with a dedicated volume knob. Hard button HVaC and steering wheel controls.

Not sure what more you’d want. Her car has the base audio system. Nothing to write about, but better than some non-premium systems I’ve heard.

The next level up comes with premium sound

stickguy

That’s a touchscreen now?

au1994

tjc78 said:

@Sandman6472 said:

Not a fan of the black wheels either but that seems to be "hate it" or "like it" thing. But on a lease like this , does it really matter. If it were mine & I was buying it, those wheels would be history. And when the heck is Mazda going to bring their infotainment systems into the current century already? As bad as Audi's and to me, a real safety hazard to use. Hated the one we had in the recently departed A3 and would keep me from purchasing one. Think I could like the Mazda CX-30 but the audio system takes it off the list. Have no clue why they can't come up with a better design after so many years? Have to say, my current Golf has an excellent Fender system with two knobs and a screen high up on the dash. I can use it without looking at it as it's all done with the hand controls. I'm still very happy with it after all these years.

I’m not so sure it’s that out of date. Wireless CarPlay and AA, large touchscreen, redundant console controls with a dedicated volume knob. Hard button HVaC and steering wheel controls.

Not sure what more you’d want. Her car has the base audio system. Nothing to write about, but better than some non-premium systems I’ve heard.

The next level up comes with premium sound

If its wireless CarPlay, its ahead of a lot of the things I’m shopping and at a lower price point.

au1994

It’s time to play another round of “Feed My Indecisiveness”. Today’s musing is a Maverick XLT with the Tremor package in Terrain over black.

Thoughts??

xwesx

au1994 said:

It’s time to play another round of “Feed My Indecisiveness”. Today’s musing is a Maverick XLT with the Tremor package in Terrain over black.

Thoughts??

I'm shaking.

stickguy

tremor looks pretty cool. and has some real off roady type upgrades (rear differential I think). You lose the 4K tow package option though if that matters to you.

ab348

stickguy said:

That’s a touchscreen now?

Apparently they upgraded it to a touchscreen last year after receiving heavy criticism for the old console knob control being outdated. Not sure making it a touchscreen is a Great Leap Forward though since the screen is still about the same size (small) and located a long reach away on the top middle of the dash.

tjc78

@ab348 said:
Apparently they upgraded it to a touchscreen last year after receiving heavy criticism for the old console knob control being outdated. Not sure making it a touchscreen is a Great Leap Forward though since the screen is still about the same size (small) and located a long reach away on the top middle of the dash.

Yes it is touchscreen. It’s not a huge display but wider than most so side by side map/music looks good.

qbrozen

@oldfarmer50 said:
I’d look for a junkyard replacement. You’re not in a rust belt area are you? There should be some from front end collisions that are in decent shape. I can almost guarantee that the rust you see isn’t all the rust there is.

I’m in NJ. Rust is a way of life. I can get a new one online for less than $200. But then it won’t match. I’d rather nurse this one along for a while for the little bit of time and money it is costing me.

qbrozen

Oh, I don’t think I have given a Maser update. Not that there is much to report.

No idea where I left off, but I think I at least shared the melted relay connector and the fact the wrong battery was in the car.

After I moved it one day, the cooling fan was stuck on even with the car off for some time. Back into the fuse box I go. It would seem the replacement relay harness still wasn’t all seated quite right. Needed a little extra push. That seems to have solved it. And, thus far, the new battery seems to be making other components happy. It keeps its charge and, after clearing all the codes, I don’t have any warning lights for the moment.

In other news, I think maybe the stereo is dead. It was flashing while I read systems and cleared codes, but I can’t figure out how to get it to come on otherwise. Perhaps it won’t work with the CD changer removed? Hmmm… That is the one code that remains in fault: no signal from CD changer.

stickguy

actually stumbled upon a legit good lease deal on Rodo. almost hit the button but the wife would kill me.

new Ridgeline trailsport. $46k sticker. 36/10K. With all taxes and fees rolled in (so true 1st payment only sign and drive), $411/month. That is like the good old days.

if Carvana was still offering over MSRP on Maverick purchases might be tempting! Sell that truck, use it to pay off the house, and lease a bigger replacement!

xwesx

qbrozen said:

In other news, I think maybe the stereo is dead. It was flashing while I read systems and cleared codes, but I can’t figure out how to get it to come on otherwise. Perhaps it won’t work with the CD changer removed? Hmmm… That is the one code that remains in fault: no signal from CD changer.

That could possibly be it. I know the system in my Q7 will fail to operate if any components fail on it, including the CD drive and the Sirius module. They are all connected with fiber optics, though, and you can install a bypass loop in place of the bad component in order to retain the remaining functionality of the head unit. Just plug and play.

oldfarmer50

au1994 said:

It’s time to play another round of “Feed My Indecisiveness”. Today’s musing is a Maverick XLT with the Tremor package in Terrain over black.

Thoughts??

Are you talking about the Tremor off road package or the Tremor appearance package?
Do you want show or go?

au1994

oldfarmer50 said:

au1994 said:

It’s time to play another round of “Feed My Indecisiveness”. Today’s musing is a Maverick XLT with the Tremor package in Terrain over black.

Thoughts??

Are you talking about the Tremor off road package or the Tremor appearance package?
Do you want show or go?

On the Maverick its functional.

stickguy

Only 1 on the Maverick. Tires, locking differential, bumpers and some other off road tweaks.

explorerx4

I think Mav Tremor has a 1 inch suspension lift, too.

ab348

I don't like the word "tremor". Whether in neurology or in seismology, they are never good.

au1994

I have a line on a great deal on an XLT Tremor. My hesitation is its in Terrain. Not my first color choice.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

Only 1 on the Maverick. Tires, locking differential, bumpers and some other off road tweaks.

This must be outdated information then:

“ The 2023 Ford Maverick Tremor Off-Road Package costs $2,995 MSRP and Tremor Appearance Package costs $1,495. Both packages are available for ordering in September.”

explorerx4

When I did a quick Build and Price, only 1 Tremor Pkg is available.
Maybe it's a change from last year.

nyccarguy

au1994 said:

I have a line on a great deal on an XLT Tremor. My hesitation is its in Terrain. Not my first color choice.

English please for those of us too lazy to look on the ford website:)

jmonroe1

nyccarguy said:

au1994 said:

I have a line on a great deal on an XLT Tremor. My hesitation is its in Terrain. Not my first color choice.

English please for those of us too lazy to look on the ford website:)

————————————————-
Some car buff you are. Ain’t you heard of Terrain White before?

Disappointed with you VERY disappointed.

jmonroe

au1994

nyccarguy said:

au1994 said:

I have a line on a great deal on an XLT Tremor. My hesitation is its in Terrain. Not my first color choice.

English please for those of us too lazy to look on the ford website:)

It’s a sand color.

jmonroe1

au1994 said:

nyccarguy said:

au1994 said:

I have a line on a great deal on an XLT Tremor. My hesitation is its in Terrain. Not my first color choice.

English please for those of us too lazy to look on the ford website:)

It’s a sand color.

————————————————-
Goes well with beach front property. That’s what’s gonna cost you.

jmonroe

au1994

stickguy said:

actually stumbled upon a legit good lease deal on Rodo. almost hit the button but the wife would kill me.

new Ridgeline trailsport. $46k sticker. 36/10K. With all taxes and fees rolled in (so true 1st payment only sign and drive), $411/month. That is like the good old days.

if Carvana was still offering over MSRP on Maverick purchases might be tempting! Sell that truck, use it to pay off the house, and lease a bigger replacement!

Thats a really good deal.

nyccarguy

au1994 said:

nyccarguy said:

au1994 said:

I have a line on a great deal on an XLT Tremor. My hesitation is its in Terrain. Not my first color choice.

English please for those of us too lazy to look on the ford website:)

It’s a sand color.

That's nice. The Wrangler had a color like that in limited availability (Gobi?) and The Tacoma was available in Sand for a few years. I like it.

au1994

nyccarguy said:

au1994 said:

nyccarguy said:

au1994 said:

I have a line on a great deal on an XLT Tremor. My hesitation is its in Terrain. Not my first color choice.

English please for those of us too lazy to look on the ford website:)

It’s a sand color.

That's nice. The Wrangler had a color like that in limited availability (Gobi?) and The Tacoma was available in Sand for a few years. I like it.

Yes, it was Gobi on the Wrangler. The Tacoma shade was a little darker which I wish this one was. My 1st choice would be Hot Pepper Red but this would be a consideration. I don’t want black or gray so those are the only 2 hard passes.

qbrozen

photos from the shipping yard. mmmmm... I've got my hopes way up on this one.

ab348

Not quite Invisibeige, but close, Ward, close.

venture

Q,

That's clean looking car.

pensfan83

Tacoma #1 was that color, Quicksand. I was a fan because it stood out in a parking lot of grayscale vehicles. Same with # 2 (Army Green).

roadburner

If that Alfa was LHD I'd be very tempted.

stickguy

Color is nice. Makes it easy to find my relatively bright blue Maverick. The white SUV? Yeah, better remember where you parked that one.

stickguy

House is now officially on the market. Showings start tomorrow after work, and have 1 already scheduled so far.

jmonroe1

stickguy said:

House is now officially on the market. Showings start tomorrow after work, and have 1 already scheduled so far.

————————————————-
It only takes one.

Good luck.

jmonroe

stickguy

we got 2 now! so enough for a bidding war.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

House is now officially on the market. Showings start tomorrow after work, and have 1 already scheduled so far.

So if I bought enough mud covered coffee cans with me even I could wander around your house?

stickguy

show up at the open house and you can do it for free.

enough coffee cans and you can take it home with you.

nyccarguy

@qbrozen

The Alfa looks great! Those seats look 10/10!