Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

akangl

The Honda dealer tried to get you to replace a timing CHAIN??

They were insistant that it has a BELT not a chain, now I know better, but I wasn't there that day, hubby was. The Honda dealer in anchorage is all about making the most $$$ they can. I guess if the chain is ok then we will leave it alone, just trying to keep the car from breaking down in the middle of no where.

We are switching it to synthetic oil and doing the oil changes ourself now since we have grown weary of how pushy the Honda dealer is getting about certain things. The car is going to have to last another 200k or so and I hope it can since this is our window to replace it and we aren't going to.

isellhondas

Maybe I'm confused. I'm thinking your Civic is a late model.

Honda went from belts to chains in 2006. If it's a 2005 or older, it does have a belt. Honda reccommends changing the belt every 105,000 miles or seven years whichever happens first.

And, yes, it's just prudent to replace the water pump, seals and other belts while you are "in there".

Sandman6472

Am doing a once a year oil change now since my mileage will not even be a 1000 miles and I know I've asked this before. Is it worth it to switch from dino to synthetic? Just wondering if the synthetic will coat the moving parts better as the car can sit for days at a time and then is only driven less than 15 miles in most instances. Just want to make sure the engine & all the moving parts are protected since there's a real good chance it'll be around here for many years to come...maybe until the 2016 or 2017 models come out. And even then, it might not even have 50k...since I was let go, I've literally put on about 600 miles or so and we're almost at 13 months now.

Just want to do all I can to keep this car running flawlessly...dealer said my front tires are at 3/12th's which means new shoes will be needed before next October when we might be driving it up to New York for my 40th reunion.

The Sandman :sick: :shades:

corvette

I would keep running dino and change it every year or so. As little as you are driving it, the potential benefits of synthetic aren't worth it.

There was a big fiasco a few years back when Mobil introduced a synthetic oil for light aircraft. Engines started failing prematurely. Turns out that the synthetic oil was so slippery that it didn't stick to the cylinders when the engines were shut off for days or weeks at a time, causing massive start-up wear.

akangl

Maybe I'm confused. I'm thinking your Civic is a late model.

You are correct, his Civic is a 2009. Hard to believe its a 2009 and its rocking 89k miles.

We aren't used to having high mileage vehicles, usually our vehicles have moved on by the time they hit 60k. Thus the reason we are unfamiliar with what higher mileage vehicles need.

The Escort was the FIRST vehicle we've ever had a timing belt replaced on, heck its the first vehicle we've ever had blow a head gasket. :sick:

bolivar

This afternoon I talked with a gentleman that got about 850,000 out of a 1992 Civic. I asked if he did anything major in that time, and he said he put a motor in it at about 600,000 miles.

About 200 miles a day. Might have been a 6 day workweek, since he owns a pawn shop.

graphicguy

q....am I reading your post correctly? You have a Panamera?

qbrozen

oh, no, no, no. I wish. I just had the pleasure of driving one at a Porsche event I attended.

tjc78

This afternoon I talked with a gentleman that got about 850,000 out of a 1992 Civic. I asked if he did anything major in that time, and he said he put a motor in it at about 600,000 miles.

That guy could be the lead therapist for this group of CCBAs.

I don't keep a car to 85,000 miles let alone 850.000! At that mileage I wonder how strong the entire structure of the car is. IMHO to put an engine in a car with 600K on the clock is crazy. It would be like putting a new compressor in a 40 year old fridge.

mark156

I probably wouldn't take that Bentley to a "regular" lux dealership (thinking Mercedes, BMW, Porsche, etc). I would take it to a store that specializes in ultra high end vehicles to get a number on it. Even better, a Bentley dealership. I know of only one (I'm sure there are plenty of others) like that.....Gold Coast Bentley in downtown Chicago.

Graphicguy, we have a local Bentley dealer (Rancho Mirage, CA) and there is also a local consignment lot (Exotic Motor Cars) that has been around for a long time. Maybe that would be a good place to put her Bentley. Honestly, I think wholesaling it would not be the best idea.

Also, we have a local car auction company (McCormicks) that puts on an auction every November and February. In fact, that's where I bought the '64 Rolls back in '98. Of course, you have to consider all the fees involved.

Mark156

rayainsw

I just passed 45,000 miles on current
[ soon to be sold ] vehicle.
Most I have put on a car in 10+ years.
- Ray
BMW off ship, waiting for customs, etc.

anonymousposts

It's 36 months at 12k per year. The money factor is .00120 with a 59% residual which will equal around $13,800 to purchase it at the end of the lease. We got an offer for $28,000 from another dealer on the Hyundai, so we are going to the VW dealer tomorrow to try and get them to match the other dealers offer. As of right now we are leaning towards purchasing it, with the sales tax savings and the 0.9% it works out to be nearly $3000 cheaper in the long run if we buy vs. lease.

The Hyundai has too many minor glitches. The NAV sometimes won't work which means you lose Bluetooth and the ability to use the touchscreen. It's gotten worse so now when it freezes up you can't even hear the radio. The parking brake is weak and a few other minor issues. However, those issues mean we will not buy it at the end of the lease so might as well dump it now.

fezo

Punch my ticket.

You had to know that when I paid off the Ody that this was coming.

I am now the proud owner (along with a bank to be named later) of a Toyota Solara convertible.

This is what I get for visiting im brentwood. Every time I see him anymore he sells me a car.....

stever

Congrats! You deserve it!

corvette

LOL, congratulations!

stickguy

post a link. which one is it? When it first came up, they had 2 listed.

and at least when it is parked for 3-4 months, it won't be convertible weather anyway!

I decided that I want a BMW convert, but a 2 seater. Probably won't find a Z4 in the old price range (cheap like me!), but could be fun searching for a Z3.

akangl

I don't keep a car to 85,000 miles let alone 850.000!

Me either! Longest I've kept a car was 62,000 miles and foolishly sold it, that was my 07 Pilot. Hubby on the other hand kept his 88 F-150 for 9 1/2 years (bought new) and 150k miles. I can see the Civic sticking around for a while too, he had to choose between a new car and a 4-wheeler......you can guess which won.

kyfdx

Congrats!

Don't know if I mentioned it here, but we picked up my wife's new ride, last Saturday..

2011 Infiniti G37X Sport..

Leased of course.... lol

(That's three in two months... :P )

graphicguy

fezo....congrats on the Solara. I always thought those looked more like a Lexus than a Toyota. Slick looking cars.

kyfdx...congrats on the Infiniti. They're always on my radar, and the times I've test driven them, I've enjoyed the experience.

qbrozen....congrats on getting to drive a Panamera. I think you and I are the only two people on the planet that like the looks of them. Then again, I liked the looks of my previous Acura TL, too.

tjc78

The Hyundai has too many minor glitches. The NAV sometimes won't work which means you lose Bluetooth and the ability to use the touchscreen. It's gotten worse so now when it freezes up you can't even hear the radio. The parking brake is weak and a few other minor issues. However, those issues mean we will not buy it at the end of the lease so might as well dump it now.

The dealer should have replaced your system amp/brain. Those issues are WELL documented at Hyundai. There are several TSBs explaining what you went through.

At least yours didn't die on the highway!

Fezo.... congrats on the Solara. I loved my 2000, great riding car. Does it have the 3.3? I never understood why Yota didn't shove the 2GR 3.5 in there and keep it going for another few years.

michaellno

fezo,

Good on ya on the Solara purchase.

Why is it that you keep buying used Toyotas from a Hyundai dealership?

I assume that the Ody was used as part exchange.

So, you've got the Solara, the wife has the Camry, and the daughters are driving the Celica 'vert and the Accord.

What, no family truckster for the little ones?

fezo

I have found that with a nice sized sedan and a cap on the roof (easy to put on and take off) you can do pretty much anything you want for four people. The older girls virtually never travel with us anymore so I think we're good. I'm perfectly fine with having to rent a van a couple of times a year if need be.

Would have liked a 3 series but what I need now is an insanely reliable car. With any luck in a few years I can hand this down to one of the kids and move to my 3 series. If not, I'm very happy with this car. If I keep it 15 years (heresy around here) I'll be fine.

michaellno

Would have liked a 3 series but what I need now is an insanely reliable car. With any luck in a few years I can hand this down to one of the kids and move to my 3 series. If not, I'm very happy with this car. If I keep it 15 years (heresy around here) I'll be fine.

Steve, I think the Solara 'vert is an excellent choice for this phase of your life. Seems to me that you can have the top down almost year round (especially with the heated seats!) and have the wind-in-your-hair feeling.

Enjoy!

Sandman6472

Enjoy them, both of you. Especially like the Solara...would be a great car for me down south here...and I would use the convertible whenever...our weather just begs for the top to be down most days...and nights to!

The Sandman :sick: :shades:

qbrozen

... I'm glad this isn't at a dealer I could trade my VW to.

DROOL!

ateixeira

OMG 9790 miles, she hasn't even warmed up yet!

Bello!

I just got promoted, you should *NOT* have shown me that!

kyfdx

Seems a little unbelievable.... maybe a scam..

Plus, it's a slushbox?

stickguy

2nd time in 3 months, one of our 2005 Hondas has thrown a CEL. I had it with my Accord in the summer (turned out to be some sort of evap valve solenoid gizmo).

Yesterday, the wife says that the "little square yellow light" is on in her odyssey. ALso had a check gas cap message, so she took that on and off, but the CEL is apparently still on. I have been working like a dog this week so won't see it until tomorrow, but looks like that is going in for a check now too. I smell a much bigger bill than my normal oil change hit coming up!

A couple more issues, and the wife will stop mentioning that maybe there really isn't any reason to trade it in next (2012) Christmas season!

Of course, based on history, if it breaks down and strands her it will be gone as soon as it was fixed.

fezo

I'm smelling another Ody ownership bites the dust...

I'm without an Ody for the first time since late 01 and down to one Honda in the stable of 4. This is unlike me. Even more unlike me is now three Toyotas!

anonymousposts

As you all know, we used to be diehard Honda people. Their recent models have left us no choice but to go elsewhere. The only new Honda product we would buy is the new Ody.

anonymousposts

We didn't even attempt to have it fixed... It was intermittent so we didn't want to hear "unable to duplicate" or have them pull apart the dash to replace it and create more issues. Overall it was a very nice car but Hyundai needs to work on the details. We feel pretty lucky to be getting out of it as cheaply as we are.

oldfarmer50

"...I am now the proud owner of a Toyota Solara..."

So I guess I can stop looking, huh?

tjc78

We feel pretty lucky to be getting out of it as cheaply as we are.

I got out of mine painlessly too. A local dealer who specializes in off-lease vehicles bought me out of mine and handed me a check for some equity I had in it (got to love heavily subsidised leases). The car was on their website for sale on a Friday, and gone by Monday.

roadburner

Congrats!!!

isellhondas

Went yesterday and since I still have my "blue card" I got in for free through the exhibitor's side.

Looked at everything and left thinking that of all makes, the one that REALLY grabbed me the most was......no, not Honda......not Hyundai......FORD!

Talk about some NICE cars! Fit and finish was superb and every model just seemed to sparkle!

stickguy

Craig, I agree with you. Right now, Ford and of all things Kia have the most that actually push my buttons.

The only Honda that I even have the faintest interest in is the upcoming CRV. Other than that, the brand isn't on any of my shopping lists.

stickguy

Steve, I am pretty much over the Ody and minivan in general. It has been fine overall, but too much of a barge, and I don't trust it as it gets on in years. Just hoping that it doesn't do anything expensive to me before Xmas 2012, when it will be just turning 8 YO with just about 75-80K on the clock.

I think it would be gone now (my wife is ready for something smaller and a change of pace too, plus new is fun!) if it wasn't for the pesky issue of money. A few leaner years followed by going all in on home improvements (that were desperately needed, and in the end, well worth it) kind of put wheels on the back burner.

Now, next year end will be interesting. Last college tuition payment made (son graduates in spring 2013, daughter does not start until fall 2014) so a year off from that, but I will need a 4th car so she has something to drive.

going to be a busy November/December 2012!

stickguy

Find me a screaming deal on a BMW Z3 or Z4, and I will send my BIL in Amsterdam over to pick it up.

either that, or he needs to finally buy himself a porsche so I can take his Honda S2000!

oldfarmer50

"...Find me a screaming deal on a BMW Z3 or Z4..."

The 'ol farmer "can do". How about a 2004 Z4 convertible with about 30K miles? Looks something like this:

http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-abc/BMW-Z4-fa-fence-1024x768.jpg

Located about 30 minutes from Amsterdam. Garaged winters. I'm not sure what he wants but i could ask. :shades:

Tell you what, you make the deal and I'll drive it over to your BIL's house.

isellhondas

Although I have to admit, Kia has still come a LONG way but, in my mind, it's still a Kia. It wasn't that many years ago they were pure junk and I can't shake that feeling even though I'm probably wrong.

I took a look at the new Optima and I couldn't believe it was a Kia.

Honda still builds fantastic cars that last nearly forever but they better work on creating some excitement.

fezo

Yeah, that's Honda's problem. They are great vehicles right through the whole lineup but it's been a looooong time since the days when every new release or revision had people in "I NEED that car" mode.

Heck, if they had made an Accord convertible (boy, those rumors lasted for years) I'd have bought one. They lost me to Toyota.

stickguy

I will regret this, but heck yeah, ask!

dang, I did not realize that the Z4 went back that far. Flies time.

stickguy

Looks like the Ody CEL really was the gas cap. Light is off today. Of course, I told the wife I fixed her car. just wouldn't tell her my secret for a while! But finally explained how it works.

Sandman6472

Out of our 4 rides, we have a Mazda, Hyundai, Nissan & a Honda...all good cars but got a feeling that we'll be adding another Hyundai to the fleet when the Mazda goes sometime next year...with a Ford as a real long shot! The Jetta just won't make it but we have several, personal reasons as to why. One thing I know, there's no Honda that we'll be test driving because none appeal to us. I do like the Insight but hate the split rear window. So bye bye Honda!

The Sandman :sick: :shades:

Sandman6472

I was impressed with the Focus I drove on Tuesday...decent acceleration, nice creature comforts & decent seating especially in front. They had an SEL hatch with leather in a sea foam green color that was just outstanding looking...though a bit pricey with all the options...I'd definitely cut back on them. But a nice overall car! And for me to like a Ford, it must be really good!

The Sandman :sick: :shades:

anonymousposts

We made the leap today and bought our first VW. Bought a Pepper Gray Tiguan S with 6 speed manual. It came with the cargo management system and first aid kit. They told us it had wheels in an email but the S doesnt come with wheels so we ended up getting it for $21,500 + 499 doc fee and sales tax. Total OTD with 6% tax was $23,300 @ 0.9%. Their final lease offer was $280 per month with them paying acquisition fee and first payment and us paying their doc fee only at signing. Because of the 0.9, the purchase still ended up cheaper in the long run.

oldfarmer50

"...FORD!..."

Going to the auto show myself tomorrow. Have to go alone as the wife says she is sick of me talking about cars...GASP! :surprise:

Hope to see a Mustang GT on display but local Ford dealers seem to want to push the SUVs around here. More profit I supose. The egronomics have not changed over the 2005 I rented so I know I can fit in one but still....

oldfarmer50

"...heck yeah, ask..."

OK I'll see him Monday I believe.

Meanwhile, here's another one from the same area. This is a rich town so I think they grow on trees here.

http://albany.craigslist.org/cto/2643027525.html

Sandman6472

Sweet ride there. How far are you from Clifton Park? My best friend lives there.

The Sandman :sick: :shades:

Sandman6472

Great choice...I sat in the exact vehicle at the VW dealer on Tuesday...a very sweet ride! I'm like you guys in that I like the alloys, as they make it look so much better buy could definitely live with the S with the auto tranny though...a must for me. Think y'all will love it!

The Sandman :sick: :shades: