Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

tjc78

Forgot about that. Toyota got burned by the 05 change. The 2GR V6 was rated at 280 initially, but was bumped down to 268 with the new testing standards.

akangl

But...mostly have driven wagons and minivans.

Yeah, a lot less likely to get looked at by a cop. Believe me every cop notices my flashy red truck with the big chrome wheels and personalized plates!

ronsteve

Which handy-dandy inflation calculator is the preferred one?

I'll take a shot... and these are actual (approximate) prices paid...

1993: $10900

1999: $14600

2002: $21725 (sticker was $25300)

2007: $28995 (sticker was $37605)

Anyone wanna take a run at the calculator or point me to the one you're using?

rayainsw

I am quite pleased to say that I drove my [ red ]
Corvette for over 30,000 miles without even being
stopped.
And I admit to 'chronically' exceeding the speed limits -
when conditions seemed to so urge...
- Ray
Never approached the Corvette's stated top speed -
but may have the opportunity with the next
vehicle [ victim ? ] as a portion of the Euro
Delivery trip will be on sections of the Autobahn
west of Munich that have no speed limit...

hondai

Just purchased a 2007 Hyundai Sonata, 5-speed M/T with 100,000 miles...it's still pretty clean, especially the engine. Must say, I really like the kinda bland styling, it's the Korean Caprice Classic to me. Always wanted one but had to have it in a stick; plus, didn't want to pay new car price. If it's anything like my 2003 Accent -- 155,000 miles and still running great -- I'll be happy. Plan on running it as long as I can. Plus, I probably got it for probably 60% off what it was worth new...

roadburner

Am I the only one that sees the irony in a judge giving advice as to which laser jammer works the best?

I used to teach a one hour continuing legal education course on radar and other speed enforcement technologies. I always told the attorneys that I would not tell which detectors were best until the end of the presentation. At least no one left early!

roadburner

Yeah, a lot less likely to get looked at by a cop. Believe me every cop notices my flashy red truck with the big chrome wheels and personalized plates!

Ditto for the two red cars I've owned. In each case I would have avoided a ticket had I been paying attention to what my detector was telling me. A detector is just one tool in your arsenal- you also need to use your brain as well as your powers of observation in order to avoid being nabbed.

akangl

A detector is just one tool in your arsenal- you also need to use your brain as well as your powers of observation in order to avoid being nabbed.

I can usually pick out a cop a long ways off, I know where they hide and since they only use a few select makes/models of cars its easy to pick them out.

Prior to my 2 tickets last July I had gone 5 years without one and another 5 years prior to that one. I try hard to keep the speed down, I really do know better and with the personalized firefighter plates on my truck now I have to behave myself. Won't be getting a ticket any time soon since I'm grounded and can't drive for a few months. :sick:

anonymousposts

We have decided to buy the VW. We found no comparable wagons anywhere within 500 miles. The TDI seems to have been the most popular but there are only a few of those. The ones we have seen seem to be $19,000-$21,000 for similar options and equipment.

michaellno

Anyone wanna take a run at the calculator or point me to the one you're using?

The inflation calculator I've been using can be found here.

graphicguy

I was speeding about 9 over for a couple of hours yesterday, until dusk hit and I slowed for deer. Never gotten a speeding ticket.

But...mostly have driven wagons and minivans.

Steve...would you say that you were driving "under the radar"? :P

Sorry....I just couldn't help myself!

Both Valentine (whose founder used to work for Escort) and Escort are based on my home town. I think Escort actually owns the Bell brand, too.

I've visited both HQs. Both say they're the best. I've owned both in the past. Both are very good. The only downside to the Valentine is they have a tendency to "false"....a lot. Not a bad thing, but annoying. I tended not to pay as close attention to the Valentine given that it falsed so much.

Either one would be good....probably the best in the industry, whichever one you choose.

Personally, I find that paying attention more saves me from tickets. It's probably been 15 years since I've had a ticket for anything. And, I think that ticket was for not feeding enough into a parking meter.

For example....

-do you see sudden brake lights? Either a wreck or someone spotted a cop.

-is there a single engine plane circling above you and painted "notches" on the side of the road about every 1/4 mile? Probably a set up for the plane to clock cars in between the notches to assess your speed and relay it to a cop on the ground.

-are there bushes or tress in the median, thick enough to hide a patrol car? Assume there is a patrol car there.

-this last one came from a police officer friend. If your driving past a bar (not a nice restaurant, but a bar) on a weekend night, after 10 p.m., assume there's a cop close by. She said it's like shooting fish in a barrel patrolling near a bar on a Friday or Saturday night after 10-11.

michaellno

1993: $10900
1999: $14600
2002: $21725 (sticker was $25300)
2007: $28995 (sticker was $37605)

Here goes:

$10,900 = $16,836
$14,600 = $19,524
$21,725 = $26,948
$28,995 = $31,492

fezo

Funny thing on airplanes for enforcing speed.

On teh Garden State Parkway there is a section marked that aircraft are used for speed enforcement. i'm betting there isn't one plane used for that but there are almost always planes flying up and down that section. They are just folks flying back and forth to Atlantic City. The Parkway is just an easy way for them to see they are heading where they want to.

graphicguy

fezo....the planes around here are obvious. The same plane will fly in a circle over about a 1 mile radius. Sure enough, a mile from spotting the plane, there will be a cop.

There are some places around here that those who are observant (or have been caught, yours truly included), that know when the planes are out.

They're pretty obvious as they fly like buzzards overhead.

andres3

Is it illegal to have ANTI-Aircraft Weaponry to combat aircraft patrols on the highway?

Surface to Air missiles sound quite useful.

Actually, that type of ticket is a good one to fight in court, as both officers (the witness of the so-called crime in the plane, and the person who confirmed identity - the one pulling you over) must BOTH testify in court.

Doubtful they'd both remember to show up.

ronsteve

Now the perspective post...

$10,900 = $16,836 for my 1993 Pontiac Sunbird... comparable today would be a Chevy Cruze, which would probably run a few Benjamins more, but most likely has a few more goodies too.

$14,600 = $19,524 for my 1999 Corolla... about dead-on today, eh?

$21,725 = $26,948 for my 2002 Accord V6 Coupe... that won't get you a V6 today. :-/

$28,995 = $31,492 for my 2006 Volvo V70 2.5T... hard to say because they're all XC70s now.

michaellno

$21,725 = $26,948 for my 2002 Accord V6 Coupe... that won't get you a V6 today. :-/

Which means that Honda has raised prices faster than the rate of inflation since 2002.

ronsteve

$21,725 = $26,948 for my 2002 Accord V6 Coupe... that won't get you a V6 today. :-/

Which means that Honda has raised prices faster than the rate of inflation since 2002.

Or the discounts were just really good in 2002. The $25300 sticker adjusted to today's dollars would be $31382... which is in the ballpark, no?

And my Volvo was pretty heavily discounted too.

michaellno

Or the discounts were just really good in 2002. The $25300 sticker adjusted to today's dollars would be $31382... which is in the ballpark, no?

Good point.

ateixeira

Unfortunately, HP isn't affected by inflation. 110 HP then is 110 HP now, my friend

Good point, however I look at power/weight. My Escort was 2300 lbs. The Fiesta probably gained enough that they'd accelerate in a similar manner. Back then C&D quoted 0-60 in about 8 seconds.

Edit: wiki says 2420-2600, ST would be among the heaviest.

I looked at the SE-R as well. Regional demand put street prices on those at around $14k back then, considering I paid under $11k they were not even in the same price class. I always liked 'em, though, and also the odd ball NX2000. Remember those? I wanted an NX with the T-Top, but that would have been even more than the Sentra SE-R!

breld

I remember the NX2000 - I liked them quite a bit. That was a successor to the Pulsar NX (or something like that), right? Now that was a goofy thing. If I remember correctly, you could replace the top, rear section of it with a separate piece to make it a wagon (sort of like a camper top on a pickup).

Anyway, I came across this ad on craigslist. Intriguing, no?

Mazda RX-7

ateixeira

Yeah, my wife's roommate (at the time) had a Pulsar, what an oddball car.

The NX was a tiny little hatch, egg shaped, but not as strange as that Pulsar was.

The local Nissan dealer had ADMs on those, can you believe it? When will dealers learn those are customer-repellant?

And yes that RX7 is a nice find. I took a friend to look at one once, and *almost* bought it. The steering had an odd noise to it and it just didn't feel straight. Could have been wrecked, so we avoided it.

fintail

I knew a girl in high school who had a then nearly-new NX2000, yellow, really weird little thing, especially in the small town where I lived, nearest Nissan dealer was over an hour away.

Best ADMs I remember were something like 5K on the Crossfire and maybe a bit more on the SSR. Idiots.

kyfdx

It's funny... In 1990, I almost bought a nearly-new RX-7 convertible... It was at a small independent lot (still in business, today!), and it was bought right out from under me..

It worked out okay... two months later, I bought an '84 Porsche 911..

I really like the Mazda.. It had a slick fully automatic top with built in boot.. really ahead of it's time.. and, loaded with options. But, while revving to 9K on the tach is fun, it was heavier than the coupe and pretty slow, actually....

ateixeira

Was the convertible a turbo? i.e. did it have the top powertrain?

kyfdx

Convertibles didn't come in Turbo, unfortunately... could have really used it, with the extra weight...

kyfdx

Craigslist ad $2400

gouldn

Nice ... And with the recent stock market action it's in my new price range

stickguy

read the ad. it is actually two, two, two cars in in! (free spare parts car comes with it).

roadburner

Know a good divorce lawyer?
Because I'd need one if I brought another '02 home...

But, I did find a 1991 325 ix for $3500...

kyfdx

I saw that one, I think... the 325ix..

What do you think of that 2002? It's a stick... with a parts car... for $2400.

What more could I want? lol..

roadburner

What do you think of that 2002? It's a stick... with a parts car... for $2400

Sounds pretty good- IF the car is reasonably solid. Once you start talking about replacing the rockers or the rear shock towers then you are looking at some serious money.

kyfdx

I have in-laws in Ft Wayne that could look at it for me... not that they'd have any clue what to look for (as opposed to me, who has about half a clue).

Hmmm....

I really want an E30 325is, though.... should probably stick to that.. Hoping as the weather turns cooler, that I might see some more on the market.

seank2

I'm a regular reader of this page, so I know I have lots of experts to help me with my dilemma. I posted in RWTIV for a number on my potential trade and purchase, the purchase being a 2010 VW Jetta TDI Sportwagen, and was told, in no uncertain terms, to run very quickly in the other direction, at any price.

So, now I'm left with the question of what to get. I need a family friendly car that can do carpool, soccer, and vacation duty, as well as carry all my triathlon gear, which essentially rules out a sedan. I've done the SUV thing and don't really want to again. It also has to get relatively decent gas mileage, as it will also be my work car, and I travel fairly extensively for business.

In addition to the aforementioned Jetta, I've looked at the Mazda 5, Honda Element, a 68,000 mile 2007 BMW 328i wagon, and every small(ish) SUV there is.

I'd like to keep the price around $20,000. So, the question for the experts is, what else should I look at? Thus far, the Mazda 5 and the BMW are my favorites.

This should be an interesting discussion, I hope.

tifighter

Well, if the 5 is in the picture (good option, btw), I'd also look at the Hyundai Elantra Touring. Same size as the VW. At $20k, you can easily get a new SE with heated leather, moonroof, etc. Its available with a manual which is a plus, and that 10 year warranty. Go read some of the reviews out there, they're positive.

As far as the Jetta you posted in the RWTIV, the price seemed too high for what it was, given new ones start at $25k. You also mentioned putting on a lot of miles, so I'd pass on 68k BMW myself. Good luck.

steine13

I vote Subaru Outback, base model.
Become a member in any one of a dozen organizations -- American Canoe Assn, Am. Mountain Biking Assn. -- and six months later, you can buy any Subie for ~ two percent behind invoice.

I'm being this specific because you'll be somewhat above your $20k price point. For this you get a new car with fantastic resale, plenty of space for your triathlon stuff (including bike), and decent gas mileage.

It's a much better deal than the used Jetta.
If you also get the Chase/Subaru credit card, maintenance & tires can be "free."

-Mathias

seank2

The Outback is an interesting option as well. I'm in rural South Georgia, so a Subaru of any kind is a rare bird, which is not at all a bad thing. There are two large Subaru dealers in Jacksonville, FL, which is about an hour away.

I should have added to my original post, I've always bought used in the past, and that is my preference. I've not ruled out buying new, especially given the relatively small depreciation curve in most of the Japanese products that I've been considering.

stickguy

The mazda5 actually sounds like it could be a perfect option based on the needs you laid out. And you can likely get the bike inside without too much trouble!

roadburner

The Mazda 5 sounds like a good choice.

ateixeira

The Forester is another option, and they're slightly cheaper than an Outback.

For $20k you could even get a new one. Can you drive stick? 5 speed manuals are in that price range. Lemme look at fitzmall.com...

$20,830 for a base 5 speed, PZEV model, with the Alloys package. They don't have any base models without the alloy package, but if you found one you could get that price under $20k. PZEV is about $300 also, so again you could squeeze that price down a little.

I'd step up to a Premium package because you a huge moonroof and lots of upgrades, for $22,594, also manual trans.

Auto adds about a grand more. Prices above include freight, too.

Don't even bother shopping Subarus used. I bet prices for 2010s will be similar, 2009s only slightly lower.

breld

Lots of good suggestions here, as you'd expect.

I second the recommendations of the Subarus - both the Forester and Outback. If you find them appealing, you can't go wrong with either. The current generations of those (both for the 2010 model year?) have done extremely well. So there's a little room there (a few model years) in the used market if you want to go that way.

If you like the Jetta Sportwagen, you may want to consider going for the non-TDI version. VW may not be quite as reliable as some of the other brands, but if you like it, I don't think it's so bad as to "settle" for a second choice. I know on this forum, much of the apprehension with that wagon you were considering would be centered on the TDI version, where problems may arise in the long-run due to the poorer grade of diesel in the U.S. versus Europe. So I would consider the other two engines (the 2.5 or the 2.0T, which I believe was previously offered on that wagon).

Having said all that, if the Mazda 5 is one of your favorites, that would be a great way to go as well - a very practical package.

breld

By the way, I picked up my new GTI - white 4-door with sunroof/navigation - this previous Friday. My wife has been driving it for the most part. I have a 35 mile one-way trip to drop my kids off at school, all on a tollway at a constant 75 mph - I'm not too crazy about the break-in period, but I thought that probably wasn't the best idea for the new engine. So she is happily breaking it in for me .

It's one sharp looking hatch.

ateixeira

Congrats!

No cruise control and try to vary RPMs on that 35 mile drive...

Kirstie_H

A reporter is looking to interview people in the Miami area who plan to sell their car soon. If you care to share your comments, please email your daytime contact info to pr@edmunds.com no later than 5:00pm Pacific, on Tuesday August, 23, 2011.

andres3

I whole heartedly can recommend buying only a top of the line radar detector. You have to win the technology wars with the traffic tax collectors (oops, I mean cops).

They improve your situational safety awareness of what is around you, and more information about your surroundings can only help you as a driver.

slorenzen

"No cruise control and try to vary RPMs on that 35 mile drive... "

That reminds me of when I bought my wife her first new car in '04, an Accord V-6.

I told her to vary the speeds for proper break-in...

The day after we bought the car, she had to drive to Portland(about 2 hours) with some of her lady friends.

Turns out, she'd go 70 for a few miles, bump up to 80....bump up to 90...then back down to 70... :sick:

I'd imagine the ladies were either really engoying it, or freaking out!

At least she didn't get a ticket.

ateixeira

The DC beltway has installed speed came, they are ticket today as a matter of fact! Supposedly temporary, and only in construction zones, but I read the fine print and some of those zones will be in place for 2 whole years!

isellhondas

I would go with the Element or better yet, a CRV.

CRV's are easier to see out of and don't blow around in hard sidewinds like an Outback can. Outback are good cars too.

The BMW will kill you with maintenance (we own one!) but nothing like a VW product will!

ateixeira

New CR-V is due soon, right?

roadburner

1998 318ti Sport 164k $6500:

sport package, heated seats, sunroof, premium sound, ASC+T, dual air bags, ABS, cruise control, BMW/Alpine CD43 head unit with MB Quart speakers, M-Technic rear spoiler, M3 steering wheel, mirrors, x-brace, clutch, flywheel, control arms, wheels & front brakes w/floating rotors, M roadster rear (brakes, 3.23 LSD, axles, sway-bar & trailing arms), TC Kline suspension (springs, Koni adj shocks, adj camber/caster plates), ZKW Euro ellipsoid headlights, clear corners, 17" M contour wheels, new battery & alternator, recent Inspection II (w/all fluids), cooling system & valve-cover gaskets, replaced headliner, power steering hoses, intake manifold gaskets, window regulator, DISA valve, synthetic oil every 5k miles, second owner

http://www.bmwcca.org/classifieds/images/listings/494_2_full.jpg

http://www.bmwcca.org/classifieds/images/listings/494_1_full.jpg

http://www.bmwcca.org/classifieds/images/listings/494_5_full.jpg

Fly out to Cali and drive it home...