Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

ateixeira

I've taken the Miata there a couple of times, once with the wife and once with a buddy. You get "wind burn" after a while, though.

I suggest leaving the top up unless you're driving locally, and at lower speeds.

Top down, consider wearing ear plugs at higher speeds.

kyfdx

500+ miles home.... think I'll leave the top up...

One question for anyone who makes the Maryland to Columbus, Ohio run.. Would you follow I-70 (and the turnpike) through PA, or break off on I-68 to Morgantown, then back up I-79 to meet up with I-70?

Most of the mapping shows the Morgantown route to be slightly longer and slightly quicker, though I'm not sure why, as it's all freeway, either way... Is it tolls and lower speed limits taking I-70 all the way?

regards,
kyfdx

ronsteve

Must be nice (yet dangerously tempting) to be able to find such things just by popping in. And after tweaking some parameters in that search, should I consider myself lucky that this 328xi stick is still a 2-hr drive away?

kyfdx

Wow... that's nice!

That Arctic color is a little different... It doesn't look nearly as gray as those photos.... one of those colors that changes with the lighting...

corvette

I was in your part of the country last week... How did the whole Motor City Drive thing come about in Colorado Springs? I drove by there, and I've seen a bunch of multi-line dealerships nearby each other, but this was something else!

Nearly every new car dealer in Colorado Springs is on the one stretch of road. Porsche, Mazda, Volvo, VW, Mercedes, Subaru, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Kia, Lexus, Infiniti, etc... And I don't think most of the dealers are affiliated?

stickguy

OK, now that one I like. No clue about pricing being good bad or indifferent. ANd I don't that that much discretionary budget at the moment of course.

but, I would accept the AWD for that car!

ronsteve

OK, now that one I like. No clue about pricing being good bad or indifferent. ANd I don't that that much discretionary budget at the moment of course.

but, I would accept the AWD for that car!

I'll have to leave judgement of the pricing to the experts because the book values on Bimmers are all over the place! Edmunds comes up with $19k, while KBB is $24k. I guess it's all about the difference, eh?

AWD and lack of bun-warmers are cons... but the color is good, especially the non-black hides! If I had the discretionary budget, it's dangerously close!

kyfdx

Yeah.... no heated seats on an AWD... That would be a strange combo in my area..

breld

I like that 3-series wagon. Not too many around with the sport package. The pricing seems pretty decent to me, assuming it's in good condition for its age. Before my wife and I bought our 328xi sedan, we were pretty close to buying a 2006 325xi wagon, manual trannie. It had less miles on it than this one (like 38k I think), but hardly any options - I think it only had heated seats and park distance control (no leather, premium, sport, etc.). And we could only get the dealer down to low $20's. So with the extra options this one has, seems like a good deal.

ateixeira

Wish I could help but we tend to drive North or South. Haven't had a single road trip West, maybe it's time?

akangl

We went to the local Ford dealer yesterday for a promo offering state fair tickets if you took a test drive. They happened to have a 2012 Focus SE on the lot, so hubby drove it. He liked it, it was quieter than the Civic and a much more pleasant car. They appraised the Civic and wrote up a deal on the Focus. I laughed and said no, so they worked numbers a bit more. In the end offered us an unbelievable deal on a car that's in short supply and stepped up on our 09 Civic with 83k miles on it.

I think if the Focus had been a manual transmission it would be parked in our garage right now. Hubby couldn't bring himself to take the automatic even thought it would have made things easier as far as teaching our 15 year old to drive. The truck is too big for her to want to drive and she can't manage the manual transmission in the Escort.

ateixeira

I've heard a few people say it's not smooth at low speeds. Maybe wait, v1.0 seems risky, it's new tech for Ford. A co-worker got a Fiesta with the new 6 speed auto and it died on her. The trans was replaced completely. It's not the same one, though.

They had no sticks in stock?

tifighter

Jolie must have her own parking spot at the Ford dealer by now :shades:

akangl

They had no sticks in stock?

Nope, just 2 automatics. Hubby isn't a big fan of autos, he prefers to row his own gears.

We'll see how the next couple months play out but we may be trading the F-150 in on a car my daughter can drive. Hard to justify paying for a vehicle no one drives. Its not looking very promising that I'll be able to drive again. :sick:

ronsteve

Trust me, if I only had to answer to myself on this one, me and the V70 would be heading west on I-40 one day this week... with some uncertainty as to which wagon would be making the eastbound trip.

rayainsw

'Its not looking very promising that I'll be able to drive again. '

Wow - I hope that does not come to pass for you.....
Sorry to hear!
- Ray
Good luck to you!

ateixeira

Have them call you when a stick comes in, then. Or, there must be other Ford dealers near you, no?

Tough thing about sticks is that few are made, so the few that are out there might be sought after, and hard to find.

fezo

What's the word on the seizures now? You had 2, right? How long does that dump you off the road in AK? I know in NJ if you have 2 within 12 months that's it until you have 12 consecutive months with none. In PA it's one and done until 12 months without. That might well have disabled me if I lived in PA. As it turned out the 2 that I had were 12 months and 16 days apart. That was a long time ago and they fixed what caused that.

That said I'm very soon to go off the road for a minimum of three months and likely more. Am debating selling the Ody and worrying about things when I get out of the hospital. There must be a better way to live on the upper east side for 100 days....

akangl

What's the word on the seizures now? You had 2, right? How long does that dump you off the road in AK?

I've had a total of 3, last one was Thursday......my birthday, happy birthday to me. :sick: I woke up in an ambulance about 5 am, wondering what the heck happened. Poor hubby was about beside himself, he's never had to call 911 for anything......usually people call 911 to get him. This last one was by far the worst, lasted 4-5 minutes.

Still no answer from my doctor as to the cause, I'm going back to see him in a couple days. Hopefully he will figure it out.

State law in Alaska says 1 seizure and you have to have 6 months with no seizures. Doctors aren't required to report it to DMV, but there's NO way I'm driving until I've hit that 6 month mark. The most I drive is to move the truck in and out of the garage for its weekly bath.

kyfdx

... you can go back to driving after two months... :surprise:

omarman

Ohio bmv requires medical certification from your doctor which must be updated, but I don't know if there's any specific time frame requirements at all based on the last seizure activity. Maryland's mva was completely different and I think they had a 3 month wait time from the last seizure activity. I've got family in martin county but never lived there myself, but I thought Kentucky had the same 3 month time frame as Maryland. Anyway, none of the places I've lived have stressed how important it is for everybody to understand how common meds - even the OTC meds - can affect your ability to drive a car.

Others have already posted about antidepressants or antihistamines (like benadryl) which can trigger seizure episodes. But any state motor vehicle department is basically there to regulate and if anything facilitate driving privileges. Here in Ohio you can apply for a CDL waiver if you have a medical condition which might otherwise disqualify your driving privileges.

fezo

NJ does have that option of the doctor not reporting the first one to the dmv. I was only off the road for a few weeks which was very lucky but in retrospect risky as they didn't know the cause for 8 months.

Going off driving for three months won't be an issue this time. I'll be in the hospital the whole time so unless I was going to try to drive up the hall......

stickguy

you, my friend, need to get a Hoveround for the stay. You need your mobility, right?

though if you can't leave your room, you might be better off with a chair on casters. Just make vroom vroom noises and pretend. And hope they don't relo you to bellevue.

js06gv

I know some of you guys are from Jersey so thought I'd enlist some help here. My aunt is looking for a used car in the $6-8K range, something small and good on gas. She is in the Jackson/Freehold area, and I'm looking for a few used car dealers that you all trust. Ideally I'd like her to look at some private sales, but lack of time will probably keep her from doing that. Any recommendations you could provide are greatly appreciated!

kyfdx

530 mile drive home... Wife now has a new Z4..

corvette

Congratulations, man! I hope someday I find a bargain like that!

mark156

Akangl, I'm so sorry to hear of these new episodes that you are having. I sure hope the docs can find the cause and eliminate them!

Take care of yourself!
Mark156

akangl

I'm so sorry to hear of these new episodes that you are having. I sure hope the docs can find the cause and eliminate them!

Me too!! Not being able to drive is torture! My son keeps saying I should let him drive my truck.....um, NO.

I go into the hospital on Tuesday for 3 to 5 days of testing, hopefully have an answer by the end of that. For now I'm back on medication and am at 10 days so far without a seizure.

kyfdx

I'm hoping next time... to find that sort of bargain on a car that my wife really desires. I mean, she loves the Z4, but she wanted an SUV.. lol.

As I noted before, I've never come close to a deal like that, and I've made quite a few great lease deals..

It was a nice drive back... the scenery in Western Maryland is beautiful. Made just one stop, halfway home... I love traveling alone!

akangl .. Get well soon!!

graphicguy

Congratz kyfdx! You know, we need pics!!!!!!

akangl.....indeed, do get well soon!

fezo

10 days is a start. Seizures are so weird. You are in one spot and a moment later you are somewhere else and it's hours later.

I probably have a bout a month before I outdo you by not only driving but not be outside for 100 days.....

qbrozen

sorry. Was posting a reply to you when Edmunds crapped out for me several days ago and has now just returned.

Stay away from the Honda and Toyota dealers in Freehold. Dodge/Subaru is OK to deal with there. Didn't really like the Chevy dealer, either.

My prime suggestion is to go up the road a bit to the Honda dealer in Old Bridge. They have a nice used selection (not just Hondas).

Also, for the heck of it, check in in Pro Vovo right there on Main St in the borough. It is an excellent and reasonable volvo repair shop that often has 2 or 3 cars for sale.

ateixeira

You must have driven right across that rain storm, no? How'd it handle the rain.

People were hydroplaning left and right around here.

kyfdx

Nope... left at 3:00 pm on Saturday.... dry all the way home!

ateixeira

Cool, rain came on Sunday, time depends on how far east/west.

My minivan got "washed" last night, driving home around 9pm, on the DC beltway.

fezo

My neighbor is big on Pro Vovo and he works for Princeton Volvo!

I know what you mean about those Freehold Honda and Toyota dealers. They (the Toyota one) did everything in their power to keep me from buying from them.

js06gv

Thanks q. She ended up with an '02 Santa Fe from Pine Belt Chevy before I saw your post. Decent deal, not an ideal purchase but was what she could afford. Plus she had one years ago but had to let it go due to a divorce. She's happy. Thanks for the guidance.

qbrozen

As long as she's happy. I avoid Pine Belt at all costs, personally, but its just personal preference, of course.

akangl

10 days is a start. Seizures are so weird. You are in one spot and a moment later you are somewhere else and it's hours later.

I probably have a bout a month before I outdo you by not only driving but not be outside for 100 days.....

Seizures are incredibly weird, I hate the loss of time. I'm on day 2 in the hospital and so far nothing but a whole lotta wires glued to my head......makes sleeping interesting.

I go home Friday morning, I'm ready to go home NOW! Fezo I don't envy you having to do 100 days.....but I wish you all the best.

fezo

Oh, having things glued to your head is always fun. Did that with a couple of EEGs. "Sir, we examined your brain and found nothing." Thank you.

I'm doing myself the favor of not looking up too much about what I'll be going through. Afraid I'd talk myself out of it.

When the time comes I'm planning on not being out of contact for more than a few days.

laurasdada

Have just bought our second car in the last 3 months, an '11 BMW 535xi for the wife. I'm hoping I can now be considered a CCB, although we last bought her a new car in '02 and prior to my 6/11 purchase, I last bought in '05. But, it's never too late to become chronic, right?

rayainsw

What options?
What are your initial impressions?
[ And hers ? ]
- Ray
1 week 'til I leave - for new BMW p/u..

omarman

Oh, having things glued to your head is always fun. Did that with a couple of EEGs. "Sir, we examined your brain and found nothing."

Funny! You gotta love it when people react to, "The test results were negative..." Is that bad? No that's good. Well that's good! Well, the bad part is that we still don't know what the problem is...and then comes billing, deductibles, and claim denials. Now that's bad.

laurasdada

We pick it up Sunday. Not sure if I'll be allowed to drive it! She admits she bought it for "girlie" reasons as I talked about power/torque/ride/handling. Cold weather, Premium Pkg, IPOD/USB, NAV and Satellite radio. Not all desired, but as we bought from somewhat diminishing '11 stock, fit the bill. Tasmin Green, too many black, silver and grey BMWs on the road. Although Space Gray would have been my choice. Good to be unique, though.

She's not had a car this powerful before, our first Bimmer. We'll see. Safe and fabulous travels to Germany, looking forward to your write up of the ED experience!

rayainsw

'..too many black, silver and grey BMWs on the road'
I hear you - mine will be blue...
Hope you are allowed to drive it!
- Ray
Excitement growing every hour now..........

fezo

BMW does such nice things with blue. I can't tell you how jealous I am.

EEG - I don't remember if the EEG revealed it but they did find the cause of my seizure about 8 months afterward. As with the current medical issue had to go to a big city (in this case Philadelphia) to get a doctor who knew what to look for.

laurasdada

I like BMW blues a lot. Which one: Deep Sea? Imperial? Monaco? And, of course, don't forget the Zaino (Z-5 w/zfx for the blue I would imagine)!

I think you'll have a great experience with your European Vacation, don't forget you liederhosen... Maybe I'll try it in a couple of years?

rayainsw

'Which one: '

BMW calls it Le Mans blue - dark metallic - but does not
look black in dim light...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rayainsw/BMW%20335iS%20LeMans%20Blue/P131- 0260crop335iSfrontResized9.jpg

Taken at my dealer - my interior will be a different color.
- Ray
Just a few more days...

tifighter

Enjoy Munich. Nice time of year for the south. Where else are you going?

rayainsw

We will be driving south across Germany and through a portion of Austria.
[ Krimml \ Innsbruck ]
We will cross northern Italy to the Mediterranean \ east coast – Cinque Terre.
And stay in that area for 3 or 4 days.
Then drive back north – along Lake Como.
Along the southeast tip of Switzerland.
Then back to Germany – and [ edit: east ], along a portion of [ no speed limit ] Autobahn – back to Munich.