Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

corvette

Those blower motors can be a real pain to access. The other thing that often goes out is the blower motor resistor. Dad's Canyon melted two of those (thankfully, the wiring harness didn't melt, which was also a common problem on that model). I'm guessing that the newer cars that have infinitely-variable fan dials have some sort of electronic doodad instead of a resistor.

stever

The blower resistor on my '99 Quest went out about two weeks ago. It's a printed circuit board instead of the coil gizmo. 4 speed fan though, not infinite.

ateixeira

I'm shocked, but I guess in the end it worked out OK.

kyfdx

Well.. it's not a done deal, but I expect it to happen...

I'm mostly disappointed for my wallet..

So... the latest candidate for she who must be pleased.. is a Tiguan..

She really wants another small SUV, but said she would consider 4-door cars (not wagons or vans)..

Ideally, in order, she'd like:

X3
Q5
XC60
Tiguan
RDX
RAV4
CR-V

There isn't a decent lease deal on any of them, so we will probably purchase... been looking at slightly used ones, as well... Purchase probably leaves out the BMW and Audi as just too expensive... and, might knock out the Volvo and Acura, as well...

ateixeira

Forester's not on her short list?

Residuals are just stupid-high. Ask car_man, he often has to double-check because he thinks it must be a mistake.

Make sure she loves it, though, never mind the bargain.

kyfdx

She has no taste for Subarus... Even though, I didn't like mine, a Forester Turbo would be perfect for her...

Not going to happen...

EDIT: For a luxury make, the SRX has a decent lease deal.. but, she doesn't love it... and I'm not going to drop $500/mo for a lease on something that is just "okay" with her.. I can buy a Tiguan for that price..

ateixeira

Then ignore the lease deals, run the other way!

kyfdx

Yeah.. I'm learning.. slowly..

If I had to pick, I'd get her a Countryman... but, she has hated the look of MINIs, ever since they came out...

So.. probably won't get her one....

ateixeira

fezo

OK, I'm noting what she likes and thinking about this carefully and have to ask one question - have you thought about trading in your wife?

kyfdx

I've fully depreciated her... not sure I'd get anything...

Plus, she is the one that makes the major bucks! lol

ateixeira

I'd make some comment about new models having more air bags but I think I'd put my own life at risk if I did.

qbrozen

go buy this, will ya?

fezo

Look at that! Hasn't even broken 210K yet.

After you...

ateixeira

Those really do not ever die...

qbrozen

and its a turbo, so not even the most mundane of the 240s. Interior needs some sprucing up, but its a turbo stick, c'mon! If I posted that on swedespeed, it would be gone within hours, I bet.

ateixeira

Stick turbo wagon? Instant street cred...

kyfdx

Okay.... if someone will pick this up and deliver it to me... I'll buy it right now.... I'm not kidding..... Do it.. you know how I am..

corvette

Forester turbo actually seems like a decent value for the money, even if you're buying. Something like $32k fully loaded, and you get a turbo four with a ton of HP and torque, xenon lights, heated leather, sunroof, etc. On the con side, the MPG is so-so, the automatic only has four speeds, and there's no keyless ignition.

kyfdx

Big con: She doesn't like Subarus...

So..anyway... Dropped by the Audi dealer on my lunch hour, today...

corvette

The 240 is much cheaper than an X3 or a Tiguan. I'm sure your wife will love it, it's a wagon and has a lot more room than the Z4.

kyfdx

This is the kind of thinking that I like... .and, that gets me in trouble..

The Volvo would be for me and kid...

mark156

Akangl, I was just wondering, since your hubby is looking for a new car anyway, why doesn't he just drive the new truck?

His Civic has high mileage and maybe it can be passed down to one of your kids.

I would sure hate to see you get rid of the truck since you like it so much. You can at least ride in it! Your husband might be holding the steering wheel, but we know you will be doing the driving! :P

Mark156

Sandman6472

Found out on Tuesday that I need a new compressor in my '06 Civic with just over 32.2k on the clock. Any advice from folks here? Isell mentioned I should call Honda and see what they'll do to help, as I'm out of warranty by about 26 months. The 1st estimate I got is about $950.00 or so which is pretty steep. And this was from my mechanic who just fixed the wife's Mazda's a/c on Tuesday to the tune of $400.00...a bad blower motor fan...but most of that was for labor, as it was an labor intensive job, 3 hours. He said the Civic's labor will be much less but it's the part that's expensive.

Any opinions would be great as to how to deal with Honda...what do I need to say to them to maybe get some monetary help. Thanks all...I am,

The Sandman :sick: :shades:

isellhondas

Sandman, I answered your question in another forum.

I think you have a good chance of getting some help from Honda especially if you've been a loyal service customer.

stickguy

I love it. My daughter would be aghast. And my wife would just shake her head.

houdini1

Sandman, it sounds as if you might have gotten your estimate from an independent shop. If that is the case I would also go to the nearest Honda dealer and let them diagnose the problem and give you an estimate.

That will give you the opportunity to discuss the situation with a Honda dealer and maybe let them contact Honda Corp. on your behalf. Plus if a Honda dealer is doing the work you might have a better chance of getting some help from Honda. If that doesn't work, and their estimate is higher, you can always go back to the independent.

Good luck !

kyfdx

Hasn't anyone gone to look at the Volvo wagon, yet? :confuse:

qbrozen

I just can't. I already have 3 cars and can't risk it.

kyfdx

Right now, I've only got 4 cars for three drivers.. and shopping for another one (besides this)..

I think you should go check it out, and see if it's worth buying... If so, we could run up there next weekend and drive it home... You are mechanically inclined, so I vote for you...

After all, it's only 600 miles... that's just 70 miles farther than I went to get the last one...

qbrozen

wow. The peer pressure!

Did you take a close look at those pics? Looks like it needs new carpets and at least the driver's seat redone. How much of a project are you looking to undertake? How much mechanical work? Any body work? If I can make it over there (quite possible since it appears to be 13 miles from work), just want to know how to set expectations.

I've got the 3 and my wife has 1, but we're shopping for another for her. So we'll be at 5 again soon. I think I'll then sell the MR2. That might have to wait till Spring, though.

kyfdx

I actually thought the cosmetics looked pretty good, considering the age and mileage... I did see the bolster on the driver's seat (just need some gold duct tape... lol).. Carpets, shmarpets...

I didn't see any rust.... The turbo lettering looks like it's fallen off and glued back on, but overall, the body looks great..

Assuming the body/interior are as good as the pictures, I'd be happy with that... assuming the switchgear and adustables all work. My biggest fear would be powertrain issues.... clutch, tranny, turbo, etc... (that's where you come in...lol) Of course, no pictures of the underside.

Seriously, how many turbo, stick-shift wagons do you see? I'm surprised he isn't asking more.

akangl

Akangl, I was just wondering, since your hubby is looking for a new car anyway, why doesn't he just drive the new truck?

Not very practical since his commute is so long, about 500 miles/week. Gas would eat us alive.

The tentative plan is for my son to pay the Civic off after he gets home from basic training next summer. Then he'll take it with him and hubby will buy a new car.

We will sell the Escort and buy my daughter a car with an automatic to drive. Its looking like I'll be able to drive after the 6 months is up, my doctor is confident that medication will control the seizures.

I couldn't bring myself to sell the truck, just couldn't do it. I have let my son take it to the store, he's a good driver and I trust him. I had to chuckle when he sent me a text picture of the truck parked perfectly in the parking lot of the store.

qbrozen

Its not just the bolster. The whole seat is well cracked and worn. This can better be seen in the pic of the dash where you can see the top right of the driver's seat and how cracked it is. If you look at the pic of the passenger seat, you can also see the inside seam of the driver's outside bolster is split. The back seat is pretty worn, too. You can see by the discoloration in pic #10.

then you've got what looks like a split in the door panel where the handle and window switches intersect. There is carpeting covering the dash, so most likely that's a mess underneath (and now I actually noticed a crack that has run under the dashtop, too just above the auxiliary gauges).

I'm not sure... but is that an outside tempt gauge that's pegged at 102 degrees?

It does look fairly rust free, though.

I'm not trying to talk you out of it, just that, since you are thinking of buying long distance, it is best to be prepared for the worst.

fezo

I hope the medication he feels confident about isn't trileptal..... That was my first anti-seizure medication. A side effect of it is that it can dump your sodium. It did that just over a year into things. Low sodium produces (wait for it) - seizures! Did that one in the ER..... Things are fine now with now seizure meds now 8 years down the road.

kyfdx

Okay, okay... I'll look at those pictures, sober... Should be able to do that by Saturday..

akangl

I hope the medication he feels confident about isn't trileptal

Nope, he has me on Keppra and so far so good, its a new medication that has few side effects. I'm not a big fan of taking medication but if its the difference between seizures and no seizures I can become a big fan real fast. I want to be able to drive again, this is making me slightly bananas, although on the good side my truck will be low miles!

isellhondas

I think you guys may be remembering those old Volvo Wagons as being better than they were. I've owned a couple of them years ago.

The turbo part would scare me. Those non turbos were as tough as a box of rocks. not much in the power department but pretty bulletproof.

They don't last forever and 200K is a lot of miles.

Problem areas were mostly limited to electrical glitches.

I would rather spend 5000.00 on an extra nice one with around 100K that didn't need anything.

Of course, that car probably doesn't exist.

kyfdx

Of course, that car probably doesn't exist.

I agree with that part... plus, I don't want to spend $5K on an extra car...

Don't think the turbos are any less bulletproof, as far as the actual engine... the turbo might be another matter... Plus, you need the turbo to get barely adequate acceleration..

I'm sure with a couple of swaybars, that thing will be a handling champ! :surprise: Seriously, I don't have any fantasies about what the car is.... Just think it is very cool...

Actually, the kid around the corner has an '88 240 DL, slushbox...

mark156

Akangl, I'm glad to hear that you are not going to sell the truck. Six months will fly by (to us, not you)... LOL!.... And you are right, it will be a very low mile brand new truck!

Go out and sit in it and listen to CD's so you can continue to bond! The smell of a new vehicle will cure whatever ails ya!

Mark156

andres3

I can post a lot of car buying stories here.

isellhondas

About five years ago, a guy drove onto our lot with a mint and I mean MINT 245 wagon. It was as near perfect as it could have been and get this, it had if I recall correctly something like 58,000 miles.

He wanted to buy a new Accord but he wanted something like 3000.00 over retail book for the Volvo. I think it was the last year they made those.

We called the local Volvo store for a "buy bid" and we were told.." Throw out the books...a car like that will break the bank"

Their buy bid was something like 1500.00 over RETAIL! We were shocked!

But the seller wouldn't budge. He advertised the Volvo locally and within a day it was sold. He said his phone wouldn't stop ringing.

He went ahead and bought his Accord.

It was that pale yellow color with an automatic and it still smelled new inside.

mark156

What year was the '245'?

Mark

fintail

Books sometimes don't really know about cult cars.

I remember several years ago one of the major "books" undervalued old MB...I'd enter a 1985 300TD in "excellent" condition with 50K miles and it would spit out something like $3K...I'll buy em all day for that.

corvette

Me too... Of course, I would actually have to play the lottery in order to win it!

isellhondas

I think it was a 1990 or 1991.

houdini1

I have also noticed that about MB in the past. I owned a couple of circa 1980 240-D's. (couldn't afford a 300). Whatever the "books" said back then you could just double that number if you actually wanted to buy one...and they were still a bargain.

isellhondas

All Hondas have strong resale value but, by far, the ones that hold their value the best are the 1996-2000 hatchbacks.

Back in those days, a DX with automatic was about 12,000. We would install A/C for 1295.00. Today, a nice one of these is nearly impossible to find.

Most have been slammed, modified or turned into junk.

A couple of years ago, we took in the nicest 1998 that you would ever find. We priced it about 2500.00 over what the books said. Of course, the "book" buyers were quick to tell us that it was overpriced and we definatly understood where they were coming from.

It got snapped up within a day and the phones continued to ring for weeks afterwards.

Even more desirable are the 1988-1991 Civic 4WD wagons. When new, a lot of stores had trouble selling these goofy looking little cars. Today they are like gold and nearly impossible to find.

kyfdx

It has everything but leather..

fintail

Reminds me of when a MB specialist I used to patronize when I lived elsewhere sold an 85 300TD (wagon). Black on palomino, gorgeous, clean and with no needs, I think it had maybe 75K miles on it - this was several years ago, when I think TMV or some other guide said something like $3800 for it. He put it up for sale for $8K and it sold the same day, sight unseen. He easily could have got more for it.

I am sure some cars can't get close to book from the other way either, let's say a 3 year old Sebring or something.