Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

stever

Ha! What new cars come with spares these days?

ateixeira

I like my Miata, but I can't imagine it being my one and only car. I have that and a minivan, and as much as I try, the minivan ends up doing more miles each year, probably because it does all the family trips.

Still, wow, $2600 depreciation on a brand new car for 16 months? It only lost 12% of its value.

My rule of thumb is you lose 10% the minute you drive off the lot, then another 10% per year after that. By that formula yours only really cost you about half of what it should have.

Congrats on the GTI, too.

jayrider

I've seen pictures -- google -- sits a bit taller but nothing radical.

ateixeira

Here you go:

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/25/2012-honda-cr-v-previewed-with-new-concept/

kyfdx

Congrats on the new GTI!!

breld

I like my Miata, but I can't imagine it being my one and only car. I have that and a minivan, and as much as I try, the minivan ends up doing more miles each year, probably because it does all the family trips.

Well, I'm in the same boat, with a CX-9 as the family hauler. We have a "blended" family with four kids, so we need the CX-9 seating capacity, but not all the time. So I basically wanted a small fun car that could still accomodate more than two passengers along with a little more cargo capacity. My wife has a 3-series sedan, which serves that purpose well (except for the automatic, which we both somewhat regret ), but when we have to drive separately, I have the choice of two "extremes" between the Miata and CX-9, and for practical purposes, I ended up driving the CX-9 most of the time. So now, the CX-9 should be relegated to family hauling, and we each have a fun, yet practical, car.

Still, wow, $2600 depreciation on a brand new car for 16 months? It only lost 12% of its value.

Yeah - $5,500 of incentives from Mazda for the leftover 2009's really helped. So I may miss the car a bit, but I have no heartburn over the financial side of it. I probably wouldn't be doing anything if the trade value wasn't so strong.

Congrats on the GTI, too.

Thanks!

breld

Thanks!

A little premature on the congrats though apparently - the salesperson called this morning, and there were two GTIs there were looking to get. One has accessories installed to the tune of $5k (wheels and such) that I of course don't want, and the other one apparently has damage to it from the transport. They pushed to see if those accessory wheels could be replaced with the stock, but the other dealer wasn't interested.

So it may be a couple more weeks. The thing is, they'd like my Miata trade now, as they have an interested dealer. They say they can't guarantee the same strong trade in a couple weeks, which I mostly understand, particularly with the convertible season. Seems kinda funny to hand them my car now, without getting the new car for a couple of weeks. I mean, I could get lucky and sell it in the meantime (or I could find no buyer and less of a trade). Or maybe a used GTI pops up. "It's all about today" - isn't that what the dealers say?

isellhondas

We've had two Miatas and I am a huge fan!

Fun, reliable and just cool cars.

But....try being on the freeway with a semi on both sides of you that you know can't see you.

My final straw was having a motorhome switch lanes on me coming home from work one night. I was forced onto the shoulder where of all things was a guy changing a flat!

I skidded up to the rear of his car and when I stopped, I had maybe three feet to spare. He was terrified and I was too. I had to sit there for a few minutes to get my composure back.

breld

I think my "school bus" yellow helped a bit .

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mark156

ateixeira, thank you for sharing the image of the New Honda CR-V! If that's the real deal, I like it!

Mark156

slorenzen

Meh...

they say stylish, I say over-styled.

i'm sure it's a nice CUV, but it just looks too...something... :confuse:

mark156

Isell, was that you? Sorry, I just didn't see you when I was changing lanes in my 42.5 ft. Dynasty.

Seriously though, there are sure some blind spots with low small cars. I have triple view side mirrors and also side and rear camera's. There is that 'one' spot when a low car comes up on the passenger side (interstate ramp merge) that I can't see. My mirror, the bottom convex part set to the lowest setting and the side camera misses a low car. My co-pilot will double check for me.

Mark.

michaellno

Is that a "Broncos Country" plate on the Miata?

ateixeira

Your story made me go appraise my Miata, looks like I'd only be down about $2800 in depreciation over the 2+ years I've had it.

Unbelievable.

I have to stay out of this thread! LOL

fezo

Hush up! You are going to get me looking which isn't good at this particular moment.

I do need a Miata at least once.

qbrozen

hopefully it works out. you are going to love the GTI.

Are you getting DSG or stick?

breld

Is that a "Broncos Country" plate on the Miata?

It is indeed. Our "Country" is in a bit of disarray at the moment.

breld

Stick. I've heard the DSG is pretty slick, but it's just not for us.

isellhondas

What may be "Meh" (whatever that means?) to you may be the opposite for many others.

Looks are so subjective and how do you change an SUV without making changes so major they would trun traditional Honda buyers off?

I saw and heard it all...

" Ohh, look at those nice tailights"

or...

" Egad, look at those ugly tailights...what was Honda thinking?"

Same with colors, interiors and everything else.

I guess this is why restaurants have menus?

isellhondas

So, that was YOU!!

I'm glad you couldn't hear the things I called you that night!

I made the Drill Instructor on Full Metal Jacket sound like a choirboy!

jayrider

Plus the "service" on the auto every 40k miles is very pricey.

isellhondas

That is an extreme example of what we called a "love it or hate it" color.

No middle ground on THAT color!

I happen to like it but only on a Miata!

breld

Well, actually sitting at the dealership getting paperwork done. Real nice - no surprises when I came in (no extra fees or anything). I made it clear that my offer was "plus tax," but you never know what they may try to sneak in.

So I say goodbye to my Miata, and the 2012 GTI should arrive in 7-10 days. I would have been just fine with the 2011 they had (which sold earlier this week before I came in), but I'm a sucker for the "refresh" year. Not many changes for 2012, but they did add the trendy Audi-like LED daytime running lights.

It does seem the salesperson did a lot of work today to locate me a 2012 in time for them to count the sale for month-end. Nice folks here.

The Audi dealership that has the used ZHP is just next door, so while I was waiting I wandered over to look at it again. Definitely a sharp looking coupe, but I am pretty excited to have the added functionality in the GTI.

stever

Congrats! (and a good excuse to change your post title, lol).

akangl

Hubby wanted to look at the new Chevy Cruze, so we went to the dealer in anchorage since the one near the house made it very clear earlier this week they will not take the Civic in trade.

Drove a 2011 silver Chevy Cruze ECO, 6-spd manual, nice car. They offered us $9800 for the 09 Civic which considering it has 82k on the clock and a duct taped front bumper is probably a generous offer.

After the offer on the Civic we were sitting there and hubby said ya know, I just can't get excited about silver. So he is going to wait and order a '12 in red around spring. Get one last winter out of the Civic and maybe ship it out with our son. Really the Civic hasn't done anything wrong, its a great car, but hubby is looking for more mpg and stability control/traction control.

My F-150 will be a garage princess this winter since I can't drive until spring due to health issues....I am NOT happy and there is NO way hubby is getting his hands on my keys!! Finally get a truck I adore and I have to just look at it all winter. :sick:

mark156

Akangl,

The Cruze is a nice looking car.

Why is he 'son' being shipped out?

Sorry to hear about your health issue. That's a longtime to make a recovery and I hope that you make a speedy one!

I'm eyeball'n the new 2012 CR-V..... hopefully the dealers will have a nice stock at the end of the year. Kinda think'n about buying it in Eugene, OR, because the hitch store is there that installed the M&G air brakes system on the current Honda and they did a wonderful job. I'll just bring the title with me on the old Honda so I'll be ready.

Mark156

roadburner

Plus the "service" on the auto every 40k miles is very pricey.

I found that it is dangerous to assume that most VW dealers even know what service their cars need. Back in 2007 there was a topic on VW Vortex concerning the fact that more than a few VW dealers weren't even aware that the DSG required servicing at all. Here's my contribution to the thread:

" I called the three dealers in the Louisville, KY area(a 50 mile radius). In each case I asked for the service department. Once I was connected I asked how much it cost to service the DSG in a new Golf GTI. Here are the results of my informal survey:

Bachman Volkswagen, called on 2/28/07- "The newer transmissions are sealed and don't need service. Everything is done through the computer." Huh?

Neil Huffman Volkswagen, called on 3/1/07- The first person in service who picked up asked me what a DSG was. I was transferred to a second person who stated that there was "no recommended service" for the DSG.

Clapp Volkswagen, called on 3/1/07- "The service costs $339 and is performed every 40,000 miles." Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner!!!

So...
Kudos to Clapp VW, which has the only service department in Kentuckiana that appears to know the service requirements of newer VWs.

OTOH, if ignorance truly IS bliss, then Bachman VW and Neil Huffman VW must have the happiest service departments in the area..."

I wonder how many DSGs have failed because some idiot infested VW service departments didn't do their homework?

akangl

The Cruze is a nice looking car.

Why is he 'son' being shipped out?

Sorry to hear about your health issue. That's a longtime to make a recovery and I hope that you make a speedy one!

The Cruze is a really nice car and I see one in hubby's future, he's just fussy about color and refuses to settle like he did with the Civic.

My son is going into the Navy, so we'd like to send a car with him so he doesn't have to worry about buying one right away. So we'll either send the Escort or the Civic out.......don't laugh about the Escort, its an excellent little car, every bit as reliable as the Civic.

I'm devastated about not being able to drive, but I understand and I know its for the best. I try to look on the bright side.....I don't have to buy winter tires for it and it won't rack up rough winter miles.

oldbearcat

OK - just ignore those two guys sneaking up on you with the big butterfly net and funny looking rubber pull over shirt..

Oldbearcat

oldbearcat

I just wish they'd add a nice 6 cylinder engine with some torque to the menu. If they add another row of seats and you put 7 adults in it, I'm wondering if how much performance and fuel economy will degrade.

Regards:
Oldbearcat
2010 Honda CRV LX

isellhondas

They already have a car like that. It's called a Pilot!

mark156

Isell, I see the Pilot is getting a refresh too. On the Honda 'future' car page, they are touting the new 'Ridgeline Sport'. That vehicle is in definite need of an update, gett'n really long in the tooth as it still looks like the old Pilot.

Our '07 Honda CR-V EXL is my first experience with Honda and that car just does everything right. Right size, good fuel economy, AWD, comfortable, etc. It's not a race car or over loaded with high tech gadgets. We don't have electric seats (came out in later model years as you know) but they are very adjustable.

Cars, in my opinion, have just become too techie and I like the simplicity of the Honda. In fact, the Honda's navigation system is the easiest of all our cars that have nav ( MB-S500, Bentley and Land Rover LR4).

Maybe by the end of the year, Honda will be up to speed and not delay the '12 CR-V.

Mark156

slorenzen

Isell,

Please don't misunderstand me, no offense intended by my remarks.

I have owned Hondas over the years ( 2 currently), and they are rock-solid cars.

I've just been disappointed with the styling direction Honda has taken for the last several years.

BTW: "meh" is the verbal equivalent of a shrug of the shoulders, indicating indifference.

isellhondas

Why would I ever be offended? I wouldn't be offended if I was still in the business.

Everyone is different. What disappoints a few people may very well please the masses. Hopefully this will happen with the new CRV.

Acura laid an egg a couple of years ago when they put the "beak" front ends on their products. In this case, the masses were turned off but I'm sure there were others who liked the look.

It's tough making changes just for the sake of making changes.

Thanks for teaching me a new word. Hadn't heard that one!

mark156

Isell, when did you get 'out' of the business, I didn't know.

Mark :confuse:

isellhondas

I pushed the retirement button last May.

I had simply had enough.

fintail

I couldn't imagine selling cars to the locals around here. I'd have to own the lot, so nobody could fire me :shades:

mark156

Congratulations on your retirement! I, too, would have a very low threshold for idiot customers (maybe I'm one, I don't know). :confuse:

My Land Rover salesman (sold me my '06 and '10) is the most easy going guy. I sure hope the customers are good to him. On the other hand, my Bentley salesgirl needs lessons in treating a customer who is dropping $250,000 cash on a car. She does not know how to smoozje a customer. I will not be buying from her again. The BIG Bentley sedan has caught my eye and she will NOT get the sale if and when I decide to purchase. :mad:

Mark

isellhondas

It was a lot of the "locals" that caused me to move up my retirement date and I know you know what I'm talking about!

corvette

"I, too, would have a very low threshold for idiot customers (maybe I'm one, I don't know)."

Unfortunately, this is a problem with any line of work where you have to deal with the public! One of the advantages of working with computers is that they usually don't talk back to you.

fintail

An hour shopping in the Overlake area will tell me all I need to know :shades:

You must have had a good run though, that dealer is always busy.

isellhondas

Try Crossroads.

I got lucky. That store is family owned and very well run by some great people. Number one Hnada store in nine states for 30 plus years in a row.

I guess I just got tired of hearing the same things day after day and dealing with people that didn't operate like I always have. I found myself losing my patience more often than I should have.

I will always consider that store to be "family" and I hope they think the same of me.

isellhondas

As much as I appreciate the finer and unique points of Land Rovers, I don't think I could sell them. Our store got to the point where we would wholesale every one that was traded in because of the problems we had with them.

But, they can do things and go places no other cars can. The people who buy cars like this know the pitfalls or at least they better and they better be able to afford the upkeep.

Bentleys, I know nothing about and I probably wouldn't be any good at selling them.

fintail

I shop at the Overlake Fred Meyer often as the fintail is stored near there. It is often a patience-trying experience :shades: and I feel kind of sorry for the clerks who work there.

Sometimes I think I wouldn't mind being an MB dealer - heaven knows I know enough about the cars, but I think some of the clientele might annoy me, and I have been told being a salesman is more about selling than product knowledge or brand enthusiasm, so maybe it wouldn't work out.

isellhondas

Sometimes the greenest of greenpeas sell the most cars when they first start.

They don't have preconceived ideas about people. When it comes to used cars, they haven't developed a list in their minds about which are good and which are bad. They assume every customer is there to buy and they believe everything they hear from the customers. They are trusting and the customers know that.

They don't know what is a "deal" and what isn't.

It is very easy to get jaded in this business and to size up people. Sometimes this will cost a sale but usually the instincts of a veteran are right on.

I tried to keep on my product knowledge and I was as good as anyone. Still, every so often questions that you never hear get asked.

What is the wheelbase? (who cares?) That kind of a question.

fintail

Who would ask about the wheelbase? My response to that one would be "do you have a computer?" :shades: I am pretty judgmental and a little cynical, so I probably wouldn't be cut out for it...although I do know enough to not base anything on how someone is dressed, given the amount of casual looking money in this area.

I visited the new Barrier showroom today. Nice facility, but it was pretty dead, so I chatted with a newbie salesman for awhile. He seemed to have a fair grasp of the models and seemed to think I'd be wanting to drive off in a new CLS550 today (I will admit the engine is impressive), but I told him right off I was just killing some time. I've heard horror stories about the place, but I've never really had an issue when I am there being a lookie loo.

mark156

Isell,

Both of my Land Rovers have been surprisingly reliable. I put 38,000 miles on my '06 LR3 when I traded for the '10 LR4 (currently 12,000 miles). The '10 has 375 hp whereas the '06 had 300 hp. The '10 has a lot of improvements with the ride and handling.

My twin brother has an '03 Land Rover Discovery with 106,000 miles.... very, very few problems. It has been a good runner and he has never gotten over 15 mpg no matter how he drives it, but he loves it. He is not a car nut like me but appreciates them.

My '02 MB ML500 was troublesome. Made me not want another Mercedes. My '00 MB E430 Sport was good and I sold it to my other brother when I ordered the Bentley. It only has 43,000 miles on it now (they don't drive it much).

I really don't think I could sell cars but I would love to sell upper end motorhomes like Marathon's, Newell's, etc. I could just talk about and demo them all day. :P But, I guess it's the 'selling' that is most important and getting the most money possible. I would hate someone to grind me as I don't do that to salesman, my patience would get very, very thin. :sick:

Mark156

michaellno

Did some compiling of data today on the cars I've owned and driven since getting my license in 1979. This includes HS, college, 2 marriages, living in CA, AZ, CA (again) and CO.

I've owned or driven 20 cars in the past 32 years.

Half were from US manufacturers (4 Ford, 4 Saturn, 1 Pontiac & Buick), half foreign (8 Japanese - 3 Honda, 2 Mazda, 2 Izusu, 1 Nissan, 1 British - MINI, and 1 German - VW).

Includes 7 sedans (6 4-door, 1 2-door), 6 SUV's, 4 hatchbacks, 2 coupes and 1 pickup.

14 of the 20 were 4-cylinders, with 4 V6's and 2 V8's.

12 automatics, 8 stick shifts.

The most popular color was blue (5), followed by white and burgundy (3 each), silver, grey, and beige (2 each), with 1 each green, pewter and red.

Seems like the only thing consistent about my car buying is the inconsistency in what I've bought, although 5 of the last 9 have been SUV's.

ateixeira

Have you ever been to the same dealership twice? LOL

Good variety, actually.

I'm close, let's see...

Ford
Datsun
Chevy
Ford
Subaru
Mazda
Toyota
Mazda

I'm not including my wife's cars.

Interestingly, the only time I bought a 2nd car from one brand, the first car was a used car purchase.

So if we only consider new, I have never repeat-purchased, not once.

Still true if I add the motorcycles I've owned:

Honda
Yamaha
Honda

tjc78

Cool idea,

I've had 10 cars since 95.

1 Mercury
1 Ford
2 Lincolns
1 Oldsmobile
3 Toyotas (in succession)
1 Chevy
1 Hyundai

Never owned a 4 cyl or a stick shift.

3 V8s the rest V6s

3 Burgundy, 3 White, 2 Blue, 1 gold/beige, 1 Silver