Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

8 cars? I had that by the time I graduated college. And I was broke.

I did a list from memory a while ago and I’m sure it was over 20.

corvette

Clearly, we're all above average!

qbrozen

I suppose we make up for all the car-less people and help raise the average.

stickguy

well, if no one else in the country bought more than 1 car, Breld would have the average up to at least 5.

venture

corvette said:

@stickguy - I've had a Samsung front load washer and dryer since 2015. No mold or mildew, but I leave the washer door slightly open when I'm not using it. I do have to pull dog hair out of the washer gasket drain every so often.

You're not supposed to wash your dog in there.

tjc78

@stickguy said:
how big are those? 10x20? I could use it as a shed! probably cheaper. Just won't tell the wife before it gets dropped off.

8x20 or 8x40 are the common sizes

stickguy

so basically a big metal shed. Not wide enough to park a car in.

qbrozen

@stickguy said:
so basically a big metal shed. Not wide enough to park a car in.

Depends on the car. I could easily fit some of mine. Well, all of mine. I just might not be able to get out of a couple once in there.

roadburner

I got my license in 1973 and I had owned 4 cars by 1983; I had held on to 2- the Monte Carlo and the SPL311, buying the Bavaria in 1983. The Bavaria was an early high-water mark for me, having become enamored with that car since I first saw an ad in Car and Driver back in 1971.

stickguy

qbrozen said:

@stickguy said:

so basically a big metal shed. Not wide enough to park a car in.

Depends on the car. I could easily fit some of mine. Well, all of mine. I just might not be able to get out of a couple once in there.

let me clarify. OK for storage. Or shipping overseas. Not useful as a regular garage.

Sandman6472

Glad I took the old tint off as it's much easier to see. The last couple of days have been in the upper 90's so yes, it's a bit hot after sitting at the office all day. But once I open all four windows, the heat goes out and end up driving that way for a few minutes till I put the a/c on. But since I live literally under 10 minutes from home, driving with the windows open is just fine. Today, will be the first day driving around noon as I have some errands to run shortly. Then, I'll see what I want to do. If too hot, can always have lighter tint put on and be done with it. Not really a big deal. But the way the old tint aged, still glad I had it taken off.

stickguy

My issue (well one of them) with AC is when doing short local trips it doesn’t have time to cool the car off before you arrive. If you keep the windows closed just swelter with a fan roaring.

I always used the 5x60 AC option. A windows down, moonroof open, drive at 60. Blow all that hot air right out of the car!

jmonroe1

Sandman6472 said:

Glad I took the old tint off as it's much easier to see. The last couple of days have been in the upper 90's so yes, it's a bit hot after sitting at the office all day. But once I open all four windows, the heat goes out and end up driving that way for a few minutes till I put the a/c on. But since I live literally under 10 minutes from home, driving with the windows open is just fine. Today, will be the first day driving around noon as I have some errands to run shortly. Then, I'll see what I want to do. If too hot, can always have lighter tint put on and be done with it. Not really a big deal. But the way the old tint aged, still glad I had it taken off.

————————————————-
Shoulda left it alone. All southern Florida cars otta have tint. It also saves on gas mileage since you avoid drag from open windows.

jmonroe

au1994

stickguy said:

My issue (well one of them) with AC is when doing short local trips it doesn’t have time to cool the car off before you arrive. If you keep the windows closed just swelter with a fan roaring.

I always used the 5x60 AC option. A windows down, moonroof open, drive at 60. Blow all that hot air right out of the car!

Honda/Acura used to have a cool feature that if you held down the unlock button, all windows would drop and the sunroof would open.

May not seem like a big deal but in the middle of summer in GA, that extra minute or so while you walked up to the car, secured bags etc and got ready to take off, made a big difference.

I've enjoyed the remote start on the Jeep on a few occasions as well but I am not always parked in a line of site to it.

corvette

VWs and Audis used to open/close the windows and sunroof if you turned the key in the door and held it in place. I think my 2002 Altima would roll down the front windows with the remote, as you described.

explorerx4

Universal wondows down/roof open or up and closed is a pretty common feature.

au1994

explorerx4 said:

Universal wondows down/roof open or up and closed is a pretty common feature.

From the remote? I don't remember my other makes doing that.

explorerx4

Yes from the remote. My 2013 Fusion could do that.

venture

explorerx4 said:

Yes from the remote. My 2013 Fusion could do that.

BMWs do it too. Subaru's do not. Grrr

nyccarguy

@Sandman6472

Your Golf is is phenomenal shape!

oldfarmer50

jmonroe1 said:

Sandman6472 said:

Glad I took the old tint off as it's much easier to see. The last couple of days have been in the upper 90's so yes, it's a bit hot after sitting at the office all day. But once I open all four windows, the heat goes out and end up driving that way for a few minutes till I put the a/c on. But since I live literally under 10 minutes from home, driving with the windows open is just fine. Today, will be the first day driving around noon as I have some errands to run shortly. Then, I'll see what I want to do. If too hot, can always have lighter tint put on and be done with it. Not really a big deal. But the way the old tint aged, still glad I had it taken off.

————————————————-
Shoulda left it alone. All southern Florida cars otta have tint. It also saves on gas mileage since you avoid drag from open windows.

jmonroe

I thought that debate had been settled with the gas mileage decline of using the AC being equal to the miles lost to drag from the open windows.

au1994

venture said:

explorerx4 said:

Yes from the remote. My 2013 Fusion could do that.

BMWs do it too. Subaru's do not. Grrr

I hope the Maverick does it. None of my past BMW's did it. '11 328, '13 335, '16 X6, '15 335, '17 X1, '05 330.

nyccarguy

Not a punch to report, but I paid a deposit and my son will officially be a student at Quinnipiac University starting this fall!

corvette

@au1994 - I can confirm that the poverty-spec XL trim Maverick does *not* roll down the windows with the remote. I can't speak to the more high-falutin' trim levels.

xwesx

Congrats, @nyccarguy ! Will he be living on campus or commuting?

roadburner

au1994 said:

explorerx4 said:

Universal wondows down/roof open or up and closed is a pretty common feature.

From the remote? I don't remember my other makes doing that.

My BMWs from 2004-up all had that feature.

roadburner

nyccarguy said:

Not a punch to report, but I paid a deposit and my son will officially be a student at Quinnipiac University starting this fall!

Congratulations!

explorerx4

@nyccarguy,
Congrats! A very good school with a great ice hockey team.

qbrozen

Look look look!!
NO warning lights!
It won’t last but I can at least revel in it today.

pensfan83

Is the Maserati a keeper or was it intended for resale?

jmonroe1

oldfarmer50 said:

jmonroe1 said:

Sandman6472 said:

Glad I took the old tint off as it's much easier to see. The last couple of days have been in the upper 90's so yes, it's a bit hot after sitting at the office all day. But once I open all four windows, the heat goes out and end up driving that way for a few minutes till I put the a/c on. But since I live literally under 10 minutes from home, driving with the windows open is just fine. Today, will be the first day driving around noon as I have some errands to run shortly. Then, I'll see what I want to do. If too hot, can always have lighter tint put on and be done with it. Not really a big deal. But the way the old tint aged, still glad I had it taken off.

————————————————-
Shoulda left it alone. All southern Florida cars otta have tint. It also saves on gas mileage since you avoid drag from open windows.

jmonroe

I thought that debate had been settled with the gas mileage decline of using the AC being equal to the miles lost to drag from the open windows.

————————————————-
He’s big on saving gas so not using the AC helps with that thinking. Me, I’m all for comfort so the AC is always on. I just kick the gas pump when I have to buy gas.

jmonroe

28firefighter

Isn’t every car on this thread for resale?

qbrozen

Anything can happen, of course, but I had intended to keep the QP, at least for a little while. Does it make sense to keep a QP and a Charger? Probably not. At first blush, I will say the QP is quicker, handles better, shifts better, brakes better, sounds better, and feels much smaller and lighter than it really is. Oddly, while both are from 2008, the tech in the QP feels waaayyy older. Probably because it has so much more than the Charger. I just now was able to activate the QP radio ($11 to retrieve the code on an iphone app). That thing is like an antique at this point.

The argument for the Charger is, obviously, reliability and cost of repairs. It is also much better looking. Yes, the QP is a very pretty design, but it flies under the radar far more than my hemi orange Daytona, IMHO. Oh, and I'm confident the Charger will basically have $0 depreciation at this point. I can't say the same for the QP, although I doubt it would lose very much if I keep everything working.

And the QP is still not fully sorted. I broke the mirror control last night, so I gotta fix that now. And I previously broke the hazard button. The bigger item is the headliner, which is sagging and filthy. I did get a couple of intermittent warnings last night. After some research and code reading, it would seem I need to replace the front hubs (because the speed sensors are built in to them). I was also told by the tire place that my front brake pads are done. OHHH, and I almost forgot: the AC isn't working. Whoops! I'm pretty sure that worked before (I drive too many cars to remember exactly), so maybe just a charge. We'll see.

nyccarguy

@xwesx said:
Congrats, @nyccarguy ! Will he be living on campus or commuting?

Thanks! He’ll be living on campus. I think 1st & 2nd year students are required to live on campus. It’s about an hour from home, so not too close but not too far away either.

xwesx

qbrozen said:

And the QP is still not fully sorted. I broke the mirror control last night, so I gotta fix that now. And I previously broke the hazard button. The bigger item is the headliner, which is sagging and filthy. I did get a couple of intermittent warnings last night. After some research and code reading, it would seem I need to replace the front hubs (because the speed sensors are built in to them). I was also told by the tire place that my front brake pads are done. OHHH, and I almost forgot: the AC isn't working. Whoops! I'm pretty sure that worked before (I drive too many cars to remember exactly), so maybe just a charge. We'll see.

Oh, dang. Well, I can help you out, Q! I'll buy the Sierra from you to free up some cash for sorting out the Maz.

xwesx

nyccarguy said:

Thanks! He’ll be living on campus. I think 1st & 2nd year students are required to live on campus. It’s about an hour from home, so not too close but not too far away either.

Great! Scratch that car off the list of things needed for a couple years, then....

stickguy

No clue of the lariat maverick has that feature. Never tried.

Sounds good but not so much when you come back to the car and find the windows and roof half open because you leaned on the key fob.

stickguy

Congrats Bradd. The big Q. Near home and great hockey program. All I know about it thanks to my son’s time at Cornell.

venture

au1994 said:

venture said:

explorerx4 said:

Yes from the remote. My 2013 Fusion could do that.

BMWs do it too. Subaru's do not. Grrr

I hope the Maverick does it. None of my past BMW's did it. '11 328, '13 335, '16 X6, '15 335, '17 X1, '05 330.

My 2005 325i did. I think my 2023 330xi did too - didn't have it long enough to play with it.

tifighter

@28firefighter said:
Isn’t every car on this thread for resale?

How dare you.

Also, make me an offer.

jmonroe1

xwesx said:

nyccarguy said:

Thanks! He’ll be living on campus. I think 1st & 2nd year students are required to live on campus. It’s about an hour from home, so not too close but not too far away either.

Great! Scratch that car off the list of things needed for a couple years, then....

————————————————
You took the words right out of my mouth.

@nyccarguy, congrats I think. Don’t let anyone try to scare you about having a kid off at school. It’s even scarier when you have 2 kids away at school at the same time.

Who needs a new car when you can shine up the ones you already have?

jmonroe

corvette

nyccarguy said:

He’ll be living on campus. I think 1st & 2nd year students are required to live on campus. It’s about an hour from home, so not too close but not too far away either.

Far enough away not to come home for dinner, but close enough to bring his laundry home. Congrats!

stickguy

better than my kids. Son was about 3.5 hours away, and I did that RT a couple times the same day. Including once after work. that was a long one.

daughter was about 8 hour drive away (philly to NC). Did not do that one same day.

explorerx4

Both my kids went to colleges about 800 miles away.

Sandman6472

Having a garage helps to keep a vehicle looking good. I've always been a bit over the top in making sure it was always waxed and never abused. And being the only driver basically, I don't drive like a crazy person though when needed, I can get the thing moving! And no matter what else I test drive, I still can't find anything else I like better right now. It's the perfect size for my needs and it's running great. So, I've basically stopped looking for a replacement.

tjc78

Congrats Bradd!!

qbrozen

@xwesx said:
Oh, dang. Well, I can help you out, Q! I'll buy the Sierra from you to free up some cash for sorting out the Maz.

No worries. Got the hubs and pads from amazon for less than $250 total.

sda

Throttle House posted a video comparing the 2025 Camry and 2024 Accord hybrids. The Camry was considerably quicker than the Accord. Shocker, neither were anywhere as quick as the Camry's previous V6 or Accord's 2.0t.

nyccarguy

Had an interesting commute this AM. Besides the fact that it took me 1 1/2 hours to drive 32 miles. I had to take my Tacoma in for the 15,000 mile service, there is a recall for "weld splatter" that could cause the drive shaft to decouple (minor detail), & everyone I talk to says there is a terrible, constant humming noise when I talk to them on Bluetooth or Carplay. My son is away for a few days helping build a house for HABITAT FOR HUMANITY and the Wrangler is with him. My Prelude is resting comfortably in the driveway waiting to have a new radiator & coolant installed. I need to get to work, so I borrowed my best friend's 2017 2 Door Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Hard Rock 6MT. It has about 72,000 miles on it. It isn't lifted, but has big mud tires. It is an easy stick to drive. The gears aren't close together, but the 3.6 V6 is very torquey.

corvette

Good luck on the Bluetooth fix. Hopefully, there is a firmware update or something. My Tundra had an annoying alternator whine type of sound whenever I had my phone plugged into USB to use CarPlay, that the dealer was unable to fix.