Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

graphicguy

breld said:

So our friends are being told by the insurance company that their vehicles are likely totaled, based on the age of the vehicles and the level to which they were submersed in the flooding.

She has a 2017 RDX w/only 50k miles that looks like it only has 10k miles. And he has a TLX in similar condition.

Feel bad particular for him…it is a red over red TLX A-Spec that he loves and can’t be replaced in that color combo.

Sounds like the plan is the cars will be towed to a local destination to be formally evaluated/adjusted, and we’ll be getting a rental to make our way back to Raleigh (where they live and we’re flying out from).

We may be helping with some shopping considerations this week.

LOVED that color combo. IF there was one car I wished I had never sold, it was my red over red TLX A-Spec with the 3.5L V6.

Michaell

Member looking for advice - not quite sure how to describe what they want.

oldfarmer50

Michaell said:

Member looking for advice - not quite sure how to describe what they want.

I’m not sure he can describe what he wants either.

jmonroe1

nyccarguy said:

No big surprise, our Highlander stops much smoother with its brand spankin new front Toyota Brake Pads & Rotors. My service advisor said the rears are 60% worn and will probably need to be replaced in the next 5,000 - 10,000 miles. All said and done, front pads, rotors, labor, & tire rotation set me back $728.75.

————————————————
YIKES. Every time I see numbers like that for doing a brake job like you described for a single axle, my eyes bleed.

You should watch a few YouTube videos to see how simple changing disc brakes can be. Better yet, ask our poster buddy @qbrozen when he’s going to do a brake job and go over to his place to see how it’s done. After you see it done you’ll probably say, “is that all there is to it? Taking off the tires is half the work.”

For what you paid, you could have replaced the calipers and hoses too and still not come up with what you spent.

I’ve said it at least a dozen times on these forums, “drum brakes were much more difficult to do than disc brakes”. But even those weren’t impossible for a shade trees mechanic to do.

jmonroe

jmonroe1

oldfarmer50 said:

Michaell said:

Member looking for advice - not quite sure how to describe what they want.

I’m not sure he can describe what he wants either.

————————————————
Anyone who tries to answer that guys questions is as kooky as he is.

jmonroe

au1994

Michaell said:

Member looking for advice - not quite sure how to describe what they want.

explorerx4

@breld,
Hope your friend's house back in Raleigh is ok. They got some of that weather there, too.

xwesx

nyccarguy said:

No big surprise, our Highlander stops much smoother with its brand spankin new front Toyota Brake Pads & Rotors. My service advisor said the rears are 60% worn and will probably need to be replaced in the next 5,000 - 10,000 miles. All said and done, front pads, rotors, labor, & tire rotation set me back $728.75.

Oof. But, at least you can stop well!

I need to do a little maintenance on the truck, too. Flush the brake fluid, drain/filter/fill the transmission, replace fluid in the front and rear differentials (along with new diff covers that actually have drain holes on them!), and install new cab mounts (the current ones are complete junk, apparently, which causes a harsher ride and rattling).

nyccarguy

jmonroe1 said:

nyccarguy said:

No big surprise, our Highlander stops much smoother with its brand spankin new front Toyota Brake Pads & Rotors. My service advisor said the rears are 60% worn and will probably need to be replaced in the next 5,000 - 10,000 miles. All said and done, front pads, rotors, labor, & tire rotation set me back $728.75.

————————————————
YIKES. Every time I see numbers like that for doing a brake job like you described for a single axle, my eyes bleed.

You should watch a few YouTube videos to see how simple changing disc brakes can be. Better yet, ask our poster buddy @qbrozen when he’s going to do a brake job and go over to his place to see how it’s done. After you see it done you’ll probably say, “is that all there is to it? Taking off the tires is half the work.”

For what you paid, you could have replaced the calipers and hoses too and still not come up with what you spent.

I’ve said it at least a dozen times on these forums, “drum brakes were much more difficult to do than disc brakes”. But even those weren’t impossible for a shade trees mechanic to do.

jmonroe

I've watched YOUTUBE videos on how to do brake jobs. It looks easy. I know my luck when it comes to things like this. The Wheels will come off without an issue. It will take me a long time to get the 1st pad and rotor off. The second pad & rotor will come off easier. I'll get the 1st pad & rotor on with ease, then it will take me close to 2 hours to get the 2nd pad & rotor back on. I'll be fighting with the clip...

I'll stick to cabin filters & air filters thank-you very much!

pensfan83

Elon's launch pad

breld

oldfarmer50 said:

breld said:

So our friends are being told by the insurance company that their vehicles are likely totaled, based on the age of the vehicles and the level to which they were submersed in the flooding.

She has a 2017 RDX w/only 50k miles that looks like it only has 10k miles. And he has a TLX in similar condition.

Feel bad particular for him…it is a red over red TLX A-Spec that he loves and can’t be replaced in that color combo.

Sounds like the plan is the cars will be towed to a local destination to be formally evaluated/adjusted, and we’ll be getting a rental to make our way back to Raleigh (where they live and we’re flying out from).

We may be helping with some shopping considerations this week.

This may be a dumb question but why didn’t they move the cars elsewhere before the storm hit?

Well, I don’t think anyone anticipated the level of flooding with this storm. It seems to have been very localized, right where we are staying at Carolina Beach.

breld

graphicguy said:

breld said:

So our friends are being told by the insurance company that their vehicles are likely totaled, based on the age of the vehicles and the level to which they were submersed in the flooding.

She has a 2017 RDX w/only 50k miles that looks like it only has 10k miles. And he has a TLX in similar condition.

Feel bad particular for him…it is a red over red TLX A-Spec that he loves and can’t be replaced in that color combo.

Sounds like the plan is the cars will be towed to a local destination to be formally evaluated/adjusted, and we’ll be getting a rental to make our way back to Raleigh (where they live and we’re flying out from).

We may be helping with some shopping considerations this week.

LOVED that color combo. IF there was one car I wished I had never sold, it was my red over red TLX A-Spec with the 3.5L V6.

I thought you had had the same combo. My friend is pretty devastated…may end up with a new TLX, but as you know, he can get a red exterior, or a red interior, but not both.

graphicguy

breld said:

graphicguy said:

breld said:

So our friends are being told by the insurance company that their vehicles are likely totaled, based on the age of the vehicles and the level to which they were submersed in the flooding.

She has a 2017 RDX w/only 50k miles that looks like it only has 10k miles. And he has a TLX in similar condition.

Feel bad particular for him…it is a red over red TLX A-Spec that he loves and can’t be replaced in that color combo.

Sounds like the plan is the cars will be towed to a local destination to be formally evaluated/adjusted, and we’ll be getting a rental to make our way back to Raleigh (where they live and we’re flying out from).

We may be helping with some shopping considerations this week.

LOVED that color combo. IF there was one car I wished I had never sold, it was my red over red TLX A-Spec with the 3.5L V6.

I thought you had had the same combo. My friend is pretty devastated…may end up with a new TLX, but as you know, he can get a red exterior, or a red interior, but not both.

I recall looking up the numbers on the red/red combo when I had mine. I seem to recall it was less than 200 produced in total.

When I first saw the one I bought on the dealer's lot, to say I was totally enamored with it would be an understatement.

That version of the TLX was probably its best iteration. The V6 was torquey, super smooth. The car was quick. The transmission was quick to shift up and down, nearly imperceptibly. Those seats were super comfortable. It braked and steered well. SH-AWD made it handle like a much smaller, and much lighter car. That version of the ELS sound system could still play multi-channel disks, too.

Need toes if I have any more pics of it......even the accent lighting was red.

nyccarguy

@breld said:
I thought you had had the same combo. My friend is pretty devastated…may end up with a new TLX, but as you know, he can get a red exterior, or a red interior, but not both.

Not even the Type S version?

nyccarguy

MILEstone - 2023 Tacoma

explorerx4

@breld,
Your friends should get some preliminary valuations for their vehicles by getting quotes from Carvana, Carmax, etc.
I know they won't actually be selling to them but they will at least get some kind of baseline to work from.
Tried Vroom but they are out of the buying/selling business.
They did have a link to a website Carstory.
It might cover the whole country.
Just for grins, I looked up Ford, over 650k vehicles listed.
Not the easiest to navigate but ok.
Of course, these are retail asking prices but you can narrow it down by Zip Code.

stickguy

My TLX A spec had that same dash. Really worked well. Excellent car overall. Though mine was the 4 cyl FWD version, which was still pretty quick and had a different, lighter feel to the steering and excellent handling. great MPG too for a large car. I should have kept it, but Covid days were a strange time.

oldfarmer50

breld said:

oldfarmer50 said:

breld said:

So our friends are being told by the insurance company that their vehicles are likely totaled, based on the age of the vehicles and the level to which they were submersed in the flooding.

She has a 2017 RDX w/only 50k miles that looks like it only has 10k miles. And he has a TLX in similar condition.

Feel bad particular for him…it is a red over red TLX A-Spec that he loves and can’t be replaced in that color combo.

Sounds like the plan is the cars will be towed to a local destination to be formally evaluated/adjusted, and we’ll be getting a rental to make our way back to Raleigh (where they live and we’re flying out from).

We may be helping with some shopping considerations this week.

This may be a dumb question but why didn’t they move the cars elsewhere before the storm hit?

Well, I don’t think anyone anticipated the level of flooding with this storm. It seems to have been very localized, right where we are staying at Carolina Beach.

Ok, I get it. We seldom get rain that intense around here.

tjc78

@nyccarguy said:
MILEstone - 2023 Tacoma

I just hit 20K on the Ram too.

stickguy

oldfarmer50 said:

breld said:

oldfarmer50 said:

breld said:

So our friends are being told by the insurance company that their vehicles are likely totaled, based on the age of the vehicles and the level to which they were submersed in the flooding.

She has a 2017 RDX w/only 50k miles that looks like it only has 10k miles. And he has a TLX in similar condition.

Feel bad particular for him…it is a red over red TLX A-Spec that he loves and can’t be replaced in that color combo.

Sounds like the plan is the cars will be towed to a local destination to be formally evaluated/adjusted, and we’ll be getting a rental to make our way back to Raleigh (where they live and we’re flying out from).

We may be helping with some shopping considerations this week.

This may be a dumb question but why didn’t they move the cars elsewhere before the storm hit?

Well, I don’t think anyone anticipated the level of flooding with this storm. It seems to have been very localized, right where we are staying at Carolina Beach.

Ok, I get it. We seldom get rain that intense around here.

We seldom get rain period around here.

stickguy

20K? we just hit 25K on the Acura, and that took 4.5 years. . Might do it in 3.5 in the Maverick if I stop being so busy at work and can go out occasionally!

I still don't understand why people fully set to retire comfortably chose to work instead.

cdnpinhead

Some people really enjoyed their jobs.

Imagine.

stickguy

Like I said, I can't understand it! Still, no matter how much I enjoyed what I did for a living, not working and doing other things seems like such a better gig. Unless maybe working part time as a hobby? But working a full time grind job, why?

[Deleted User]

We finally hit 15k

qbrozen

A friend reached out to me this evening asking if I or anyone I know might be interested in adopting a ‘54 Chevy coupe project car. Technically free. Her friend’s dad just wants it to go to a good home. Not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but I have requested photos. I don’t want to drive my trailer an hour north to find a rusted heap of scrap. If it is serviceable, I’m thinking I might sell off the Mini project and put this one in its place.

oldfarmer50

nyccarguy said:

MILEstone - 2023 Tacoma

I haven’t hit 20k on the Mustang yet.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

20K? we just hit 25K on the Acura, and that took 4.5 years. . Might do it in 3.5 in the Maverick if I stop being so busy at work and can go out occasionally!

I still don't understand why people fully set to retire comfortably chose to work instead.

For me retirement meant going down to only one job and eventually half a job. I’m easing my way out so I don’t have to fully retire feet first. I may have to delay it somewhat as I found out today I hit “the donut hole” and my med costs doubled.

stickguy

oldfarmer50 said:

stickguy said:

20K? we just hit 25K on the Acura, and that took 4.5 years. . Might do it in 3.5 in the Maverick if I stop being so busy at work and can go out occasionally!

I still don't understand why people fully set to retire comfortably chose to work instead.

For me retirement meant going down to only one job and eventually half a job. I’m easing my way out so I don’t have to fully retire feet first. I may have to delay it somewhat as I found out today I hit “the donut hole” and my med costs doubled.

I thought they passed legislation eliminating the donut hole? Or did that not take effect yet?

OK, I was curious enough to look it up. it will be a 1 year hit for you in 2024.

So no matter what happens during 2024, the annual Donut Hole will end on December 31, 2024 for ever. On January 1, 2025, your Medicare Part D drug coverage starts over from the beginning, however, as mentioned above, once your out-of-pocket spending reaching $2,000, you will pay nothing for your formulary drug purchases through the end of 2025.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

oldfarmer50 said:

stickguy said:

20K? we just hit 25K on the Acura, and that took 4.5 years. . Might do it in 3.5 in the Maverick if I stop being so busy at work and can go out occasionally!

I still don't understand why people fully set to retire comfortably chose to work instead.

For me retirement meant going down to only one job and eventually half a job. I’m easing my way out so I don’t have to fully retire feet first. I may have to delay it somewhat as I found out today I hit “the donut hole” and my med costs doubled.

I thought they passed legislation eliminating the donut hole? Or did that not take effect yet?

OK, I was curious enough to look it up. it will be a 1 year hit for you in 2024.

So no matter what happens during 2024, the annual Donut Hole will end on December 31, 2024 for ever. On January 1, 2025, your Medicare Part D drug coverage starts over from the beginning, however, as mentioned above, once your out-of-pocket spending reaching $2,000, you will pay nothing for your formulary drug purchases through the end of 2025.

Well that’s good news as the representative at my insurance company was entirely unhelpful.

tjc78

@stickguy said:
20K? we just hit 25K on the Acura, and that took 4.5 years. . Might do it in 3.5 in the Maverick if I stop being so busy at work and can go out occasionally!

I still don't understand why people fully set to retire comfortably chose to work instead.

If I didn’t take the truck to FL and all the back and forth to shore it would be closer to 11 or 12K.

As for retirement…. I’m sure it’s hard to give up the paycheck.

Once I hit retirement age it will be a tough call. My wife is younger than me and I doubt I’ll retire until she can.

kyfdx

Yeah, this is the last year for the donut hole

kyfdx

I'm going to hit 40K miles on the 2018 GTI, today, on the way home. About 1200 miles on this trip.

mjfloyd1

kyfdx said:

I'm going to hit 40K miles on the 2018 GTI, today, on the way home. About 1200 miles on this

How is the clutch holding up?

breld

@mjfloyd1 said:

That was too easy.

breld

Friends’ Acuras are getting towed off.

breld

The RDX only has 50k miles and the TLX just 38k miles.

Some tears are being shed.

corvette

@breld - that stinks, they both look like new.

kyfdx

mjfloyd1 said:

kyfdx said:

I'm going to hit 40K miles on the 2018 GTI, today, on the way home. About 1200 miles on this

How is the clutch holding up?

Michaell

@breld - that is a bummer, especially on the TLX. The A-Spec is a nice trim.

@kyfdx - enjoy the rest of the trip home! I really like that GTI you bought from @breld.

sda

corvette said:

@breld - that stinks, they both look like new.

Sad

explorerx4

Those vehicles may live another life after the settlement is paid out.

au1994

explorerx4 said:

Those vehicles may live another life after the settlement is paid out.

Unfortunately, you are probably right.

As Mike told Greg "Caveat Emptor"

nyccarguy

breld said:

The RDX only has 50k miles and the TLX just 38k miles.

Some tears are being shed.

Those poor cars!

breld

@explorerx4 said:
Those vehicles may live another life after the settlement is paid out.

The tow driver said the cars would be back on the road in a month.

jmonroe1

breld said:

Friends’ Acuras are getting towed off.

————————————————
Those cars are too nice to be flooded out. Hopefully they got a decent insurance settlement for them. But they’re not gone forever. Soon to be seen on a local BHPH lot.

jmonroe

graphicguy

breld said:

Friends’ Acuras are getting towed off.

I'm half tempted to chase that red TLX down to see how bad the damage is (if any).

graphicguy

All Acura fans out there, just saw a program last night that the ZDX (their EV) has a one year plus supply sitting on dealers' lots. They weren't budging from MSRP when my sister and I looked at them a few weeks ago. Looks like they're going to sit for a while.

au1994

graphicguy said:

All Acura fans out there, just saw a program last night that the ZDX (their EV) has a one year plus supply sitting on dealers' lots. They weren't budging from MSRP when my sister and I looked at them a few weeks ago. Looks like they're going to sit for a while.

Jeez...arrogant much, Acura?

au1994

I once read an article around the time of Katrina that said buying a flood damaged car, no matter the quality of repair/resto, was just asking for trouble. And that was 2005 tech. Can you imagine now?

explorerx4

That RDX is burning off some of the excess water.
Once the cars are sold at auction with a branded title, they can be moved around and eventually end up with a clean title.