Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

Sandman6472

Unfortunately, I didn't have enough seniority for a beach route...am still #11 out of 350 or so in Boca. I would've killed for a beach route though! But I ended up with a nice condo route out west with the greatest folks so I was happy. Luckily, we're coming into the best part of the year weather wise...we'll see out 1st bout in the 50's later in the week...yay!

Looking more like I'll need to find a part time gig in a couple of months as my disability payments will be suspended, so I'll have to retire. We sat down and figured out our monthly overhead and some extra funds coming in on my part will just add to the pot, as we refuse to dip into our savings or investments. Time will tell!

The Sandman :sick: :shades:

Sandman6472

Once they fix the truck, keep it since you hardly drive it. Hopefully nothing else will go wrong with it. Keep it till the warranty runs out and then think about trading. If it's fixed correctly, no problem right? Prove everybody else wrong and just keep it and I think y'all will be happy ya did just that. And let's be honest, y'all don't need a new one if it's fixed correctly. You might want one, which is a different story completely. In our new economy, best to just stay the course! Maybe I'm too plain frugal and maybe it's also because I grew up where money wasn't an object, but since we got married, we've been extremely conservative, living way below our means...a good thing!

The Sandman :sick: :shades:

tjc78

Well that's promising. On most cars a blend door actuator, etc is as bad as doing a heater core.

akangl

Once they fix the truck, keep it since you hardly drive it.

Most likely I will keep it, BUT if it leaves me in the middle of Canada next June on our way to Washington all bets are off and the truck goes bye bye.

If I traded it now I'd drop down to an older used Ford F-250 with a 7.3L Powerstroke diesel. Not to mention that would cut my truck cost down to a paid off truck!

isellhondas

Do you remember the BMW convertable my son and I bought in August?

I have driven it....once!

oldfarmer50

"...I have driven it...once!..."

Yeah but how many times has your son driven the Reatta?

isellhondas

Are you kidding? It has no appeal to him at all.

I think I've put maybe 300 miles on it since June. I thought I had a garage for it but the BMW took care of that.

It's such a nice car but I just don't drive it. I start it every few weeks and drive it a bit. It runs so nice and it is such a QUIET car.

I went to start it a couple of days ago and found out the battery has given up probably the cold weather pushed it over.

Opened the hood and took a look at it. It's an Interstate and according to the date code, it's NINE and a half years old!!!

So, it's battery time!

Anybody want to buy a nice Reatta?

ab348

You haven't known trouble until you've owned a Ford Powerstroke diesel.

Sandman6472

Why tempt the fates that way! Don't understand something, what do you do to your trucks that they "all" have issues which make you trade so often? Confused here actually...are you that hard on every vehicle? I've had my Civic over 5 years now and it's always ready to go, never broken down and never stranded me. Bet your Civic is the same way. Why do your vehicles always have "issues"? :confuse:

The Sandman :sick: :shades:

akangl

You haven't known trouble until you've owned a Ford Powerstroke diesel.

We owned a 97 F-250 with a 7.3L Powerstroke. Great truck! We worked it HARD for 2 years and only one time did it fail to start.......needed a clean fuel filter then it started right up. It was abused, wrecked, and had its fuel tanks sugared before we bought it, title was a reconstruct. Never regretted owning that truck, only regret letting our neighbor talk us into selling it to him. I think it had around 150k on it when we sold it.

akangl

Bet your Civic is the same way. Why do your vehicles always have "issues"?

Our Civic has been flawless for 3 years and 90k miles. My 07 Pilot was flawless for 3 1/2 years and 62k miles. My 11 Pilot was fine except for the grinding sunroof, but that's not why we traded it. Was easier to go down to 3 vehicles and buy a new truck, plus the body shop never did get the paint on the Pilot to match.......petty I know, but whatever.

I think the reason I have issues with my vehicles is because I tend to buy vehicles that are prone to problems. The Titan and the Ram both come to mind right away.

I've had several vehicles that I had great luck with, my 90 Suburban (hubby hated it and traded it in), my 98 Grand Cherokee, my 98 Geo Metro, my 04 Focus. The Focus and Metro were sold when they weren't needed anymore. The 07 Pilot I shouldn't have sold and I do regret that.

I don't think I'm hard on vehicles, I do admit that I drive it like I stole it, but if a vehicle can't handle that then oh well. However, they are treated well, maintained, and rarely (at least anymore) work hard towing or hauling.

isellhondas

Sandman,

I hat to say this but it's almost a sickness. People buy cars. The novality wears off after awhile and they find some "reason" to get rid of it and buy something different.

It's like being addicted to alcohol, cigarettes or gambling. I'm serious!

These people literally spend THOUSANDS of dollars jumping from car to car and they are rarely happy for very long.

akangl

The novality wears off after awhile and they find some "reason" to get rid of it and buy something different.

Some cars I've gotten rid of do fit in this catagory. I don't believe the F-150 does, I truely like the truck, its comfortable, fun to drive, and fits our needs. It does shake confidence in a vehicle when it leaves you stranded 70 miles from home though.

I am glad we bought it from a dealership that offers loaner cars even though they didn't have one available yesterday. They were nice enough to rent us a truck from Enterprise at their expense. Hopefully I know by mid-week when the truck is coming home, I'd much rather have it than the rental.

Providing the F-150 doesn't do anything else stupid in the near future that leaves us stranded it will stay in the stable. I really am trying not to trade it in, I'd rather pay it off and keep it.

I must be somewhat cured, I did spend $1500 to fix a $1000 car just a month ago because I liked the car and hated to get rid of it. I did think about selling it for parts, but couldn't bring myself to do it.

mark156

Currently we have 8 cars in the stable.... some cars leave early, some stay for a while...

By year we have...... (all were bought new except the RR) The Lincoln was inherited.
1964 RR
1990 500SL
1995 E320 Convt.
2001 S500
2007 CR-V
2007 Lincoln TC
2009 B GTC
2010 LR LR4

The cars that left the stable during that time...
1991 560SEL
1994 S500
1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee
1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2000 E430
2002 ML500
2006 LR3

Looks like the 2001 Mercedes S500 may have a new home soon. Thinking seriously of checking out the new 2012 Jaguar XJL..... maybe even one of the high performance models.... won't know until I see them in person which will be in 2 weeks when I return to TN from CA. Buying in TN has been kinder to the checkbook. :P

Mark156

bolivar

Sandman, Workers Comp laws vary by state. But in my state, Oklahoma, this is a big business for lawyers. There are lawyers and even firms that only deal with Workers Comp claims. And, they take cases on contigency, meaning they are only paid if/when they win a case. I think most cases start with a claim, and then are strung out for many months/years. If you win, you get money from the original claim date, and the lawyer takes his pay out of this. These lawyers have a set of doctors you will be referred to.

If you are not in agreement with how your disability payment is being handled, this might be something for you to check into. It probably would be a better approach rather than you trying to work the system.

bolivar

I'm in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, 66 and retired/laidoff as Computer Programmer for a major oil company. I accepted a layoff package when I was 54, stayed away for a year, then worked a year as a contract worker. Overall there was 34 years credited time (2 years drafted into Army counts in this time). No kids, which helped a lot towards accumulating savings, and I've been told I'm very 'frugal', allowing the 54 age retirement. Except the terrible economy and stock market drops have diminished my savings more than what I've had to spend. When people ask what I do, I tell them I do nothing and I'm very good at it. I do help people with computer problems, for free, except for gift cards for Staples or resturants some people give me for my work.
I read this forum, but am not really a CCBAer. We've got a 2005 Deville (wife's car) lease car bought about 4 years ago, a 2006 Honda Ridgeline truck bought new, and a 2007 Corvette bought new.
I've offered my wife to sell the Corvette and her Deville and buy a new Cadillac CTS-V, for her to drive, but giving me a car with about the same capabilities of the Corvette with 4 doors. But she wants a 'tank' to drive and talks about an Escalade. I'm resisting this strongly.

Sandman6472

I will call back the attorney in the morning and go see him. Not sure what he'll say but am interested to find out. But I will have no income so that will be the problem...I don't want to deplete our savings on something that might not come through. So will see what he says and go from there. The easiest thing to do is just accept it, get my retirement pension & move on. But I truly believe that I am disabled due to my latest injury. We shall see...and thank you for your help here...most folks wouldn't be so kind! But I for one believe in "playing it forward" and try to help someone else when I can! So again...thanks!

The Sandman :sick: :shades:

kyfdx

If they say you aren't disabled, ask for your old job back... Shouldn't take more than a week or so, and you'll be able to prove to them you can't do the job... and, start the process over again..

Must have seen that a hundred times where I work..

Sandman6472

Spoke with the union about that...they said there's no job for me within 50 miles, the reason I was let go 13 months ago! Anyways, I couldn't work a 40 hour/week job anymore, just too painful to sit for that long of a period. That was my first question when I called the union hall a few weeks back. I'm lucky that I'll have credit for 31 years of government service, I really feel for the folks that were let go and still had years to go before retirement. Trying to make lemonade outta lemons here. And I also need to make my other 1/2 happy and for some strange reason, she wants me to go back to work. She sees how much pain I'm in and how difficult it is for me to just do the simple things but I guess she thinks that if I'm out & busy, I'll feel better. And the extra $ will come in handy. Maybe she's right...and maybe not.

But one things for sure, I'm not bored, I always find something to do in the house. And I take each day as it comes with no set plans except doctors appointments and having to pick up groceries. I'm here when they need me and I'm the most content than I've ever been in life. We don't owe anybody, have $ coming in & everyone is healthy. So I'd say I'm rather blessed in many ways! And my belief in G-d helps ground me so I know we'll be o k. Since life is all about timing, things will fall into place at the appropriate time and as long as everyone is healthy & happy, I'm good to go!

The Sandman :confuse: :sick: :shades:

fintail

I like your taste in cars roughly 20 years ago - if there was a heart icon I would use it for your 560SEL and older S500, and the E cabrio isn't too shabby either :shades:

fintail

I am glad that sickness came and went for me pretty quickly. From 01-06 I bought 3 cars, since then, none. The money is just too much, and I've got one I am completely comfortable with.

isellhondas

Hey, I'm guilty of finding "reasons" to get rid of perfectly good cars and it scares me to think about how much money we have wasted over the years.

I finally got the cure but it took awhile.

steine13

"I am glad that sickness came and went for me pretty quickly."

I went cold turkey in '07. Haven't bought a car, new or used, since then.

Fat chance getting props for that from THIS bunch of addicts, though ;->

Cheers -Mathias

stickguy

the last "real" cars purchased in my family (that is, my car or the wife's/family car) were in december 2004 and dec 2005. that finished up a run of 2 new and a used in about 2 years for me (counting my toy, a miata).

Since then, nothing. And they are both still in the 60K band for miles.

Did buy 2 used (cheap) cars for my son when he got his license (a contour to start him out, and 8 months later a deal on a family hand me down 2000 TL (still have that). We got the TL in 12/2008, so almost 3 full years for anything now.

We are hoping to have the financial means to replace the Odyssey this time next year when it is 8 years old. And I will be looking for something cheap about the same time so my daughter has a car to drive (she gets her license almost exactly 1 year from now). So late next year could be fun!

corvette

"Fat chance getting props for that from THIS bunch of addicts, though ;-> "

You're not doing your part to support the economy! :P

roadburner

The last car I bought was the 2002(off eBay) in September 2008. Before that were the MS3(July 2007), and the X3(December 2005).

Sandman6472

June of '06 for the wife & me but the kids did theirs in late '08 & early '09. Thinking that we'll be doing a '13 or '14 for her replacement. And really have no idea what that'll be since it won't be mine nor will I be footing the bill. All I need to really do is test drive the actual car and do the negotiating.

The Sandman :sick: :shades:

oldfarmer50

"...Anybody want to buy a nice Reatta..."

Sure, put a new battery in it, drive it to the east coast and I'll give you a grand. I can flip it for twice that in this area. :shades:

Or maybe we could work a trade for an '84 Vette of similar milage that I've been pouring money into.

oldfarmer50

"...by year we have..."

My hat is off to you. I have a bunch of used cars in my driveway but all of them put together wouldn't be worth what any ONE of yours are.

Please don't tell me RR stands for Rolls Royce...I might start crying.

akangl

I finally got the cure but it took awhile.

I had my cure and foolishly sold it. I wish I still had my 07 Pilot, I kept it 3 1/2 years and 62k miles, longest one for me.

Hubby and I have spent most of the day in the garage working on the Escort, replaced the rest of the bulbs except for the climate control, will get to that another day.

Now if I could just get my truck back....... :sick:

oldfarmer50

"...And my belief in G-d..."

Wow! Have the anti-religious bigots gotten so successful at putting down people of faith that you're reluctant to post the word "God"? Faith is a gift I haven't yet received but I don't begrudge anyone who has. Go ahead and express your beliefs.

Sorry for the off topic rant. Sometimes I get carried away. :mad:

HOSTS: delete if you feel so inclined.

stickguy

of OCD + CCB

My BIL said something funny over thanksgiving (when I asked him if he was taking his 550 off the road for the winter).

he said yes, but didn't know why he bothered to keep his cars perfect, since he never kept them long enough to really matter, and the dealer never cared when he trades them in!

He has a 2000 MY Honda S2000 that it makes sense to take off the road up in snow country (up to a whopping 24K on the odo on that one). Somebody someday is going to get the most perfect 1st year S2000 when he finally sells that one (eventually he will not be able to hold out and will get a Porsche. or a Cobra kit car. )

But I couldn't own something as nice as the BMW and spend 1/3 of the year with it stashed in the garage while I drove a toyota PU every day!

steine13

--- Have the anti-religious bigots gotten so successful at putting down people of faith that you're reluctant to post the word "God"? ---

No, not that I know of.
Of course, I don't know any "anti-religious bigots" and wouldn't know what they might look like. Then again, some of my best friends are agnostics ;->

There are religions where it is not considered OK to write the word "God" but an abstraction such as "G-d" is allowable. Orthodox jews, for instance.

So, no, not anti-religious rules but the opposite.

Of course, sandman_6472's motivation may be different entirely, and I would not presume to speak for him.

Many of us get a lot of exercise jumping to conclusions.

I do like living in a secular society, and I hope the U.S. continues that way. Zealots all have a rack in the basement, ready for use.

Cheers -Mathias

Sandman6472

I am Jewish and I was taught long ago to write G-d's name that way, it's out of respect. So, Sir, you are really off base here! I was trying to be respectful, it really is offensive to assume the worst here. A simple, "why do you write it that way" would've been the tactful way to ask me. I respect my elders and I respect my G-d, so please, don't jump to any conclusions about a person you don't even know! Your reaction is the exact reason I don't get into any religious discussions, people like you seem to look for the worst and I was brought up to believe religion should bring out the best. I am truly disappointed here especially with the "holiday season" in full force! I am,

The Sandman :sick: :shades:

roadburner

But I couldn't own something as nice as the BMW and spend 1/3 of the year with it stashed in the garage while I drove a toyota PU every day!

The only time I won't drive my ti is when the roads have a coating of ice or snow; summer/track tires don't work all that well in those conditions and if some imbecile ran into it I'd spend the rest of my life in the penitentiary because I'd likely kill the idiot...

stickguy

sure, if the roads were bad I would take the truck. But even in the winter, the roads are dry for long stretches.

fezo

Oh, he meant well. It could hae been worse. He could haev called you s-ndman.

Sandman6472

Absolutely! So, from now on I can call you F-zo and I'll be S-ndman...works for me!

The S-ndman :sick: :shades:

fezo

W-rks f-r me, t-o..........

mark156

Please don't tell me RR stands for Rolls Royce...I might start crying.

Well yes, it's a 1964 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud III, antique white with off white leather. I bought it in 1998 at a car auction and just recently spent a little money in having the power steering gearbox rebuilt, new engine gaskets, new starter, new radiator (2nd time in 14 yrs). But, I love the old car and it sure gets a lot of thumbs up!

Mark156

mark156

I like your taste in cars roughly 20 years ago - if there was a heart icon I would use it for your 560SEL and older S500, and the E cabrio isn't too shabby either

Fin, the '91 560SEL was becoming a high mileage wallet drain (83,000 miles) when I traded it in '99 for the new '00 E430 sport. The '94 S500 was also becoming a high mileage car (over 80K, I think) when traded it in '00 for the '01 S500. Now, the '01 S500 has 88,000 miles and it's time for it to go.

The '90 500SL only has 55,000 original miles (silver with black leather, black clothe top), the '95 E320 Cabriolet has only 38,000 original miles (white with grey leather, black clothe top)....they are really not worth much now but are beautiful cars. :sick:

Mark156

qbrozen

Wish I knew what my "fix" is. I really like my VW and 540, but still looking toward the next car.

What I really should do is try to locate a place that rents higher-end cars. Because it isn't so much a reason to get rid of what I have, but to have something else.

stever

Ever think of trying one of those swap a lease sites?

I don't begrudge anyone buying cars frequently. Lots of hobbies cost a lot of money. Having to pay all the DMV fees and taxes every time would probably bug me more than the price of the car (heck, some of y'all seem to break even or make money on your trades as it is).

Curious about something else too - do your insurance agents ever comment about the car churn in your households? Car Churn - sounds like a reality show.

fintail

What color was the 94 S500? Those cars can be a real pain to maintain, many need eventual wiring harness replacement, but they are more attractive to me as time goes on. Not considering a new S-class?

If that E320 is worthless, you can just give it to me, I won't mind hauling it away ...that early R129 could find a ride on the tow truck too :shades:

nyccarguy

Excellent suggestion Steve. I've never personally used lease swapping sites, but know a few people who have & they have been nothing but pleased. You can find a short term lease to take over if you are a CCBAer or if you are a serial leassor (on the leasing hamspster wheel as isellhondas says), it is a fantastic way to save some money. You don't have to pay any lease inception (bank fees) & you can take advantage of someone who made a huge downpayment and has a super cheap lease payment.

I know someone who's on his 2nd swap leased Mercedes-Benz GL450. He saved $50 a month on the lease payment as opposed to if he went to a dealer & leased new. The guy he took over the lease from was a doctor who's wife saw a Range Rover Sport that she "had to have."

The same guy just picked up a 2011 Porsche Boxster for 22 months. His sister picked up a Boxster S for 9 months.

I know someone else who's in medical device sales in FLA & has a huge territory. He picked up a Chevy Impala from an older gentleman who due to medical conditions couldn't drive anymore. The lease payment was dirt cheap & he was able to drive 30,000 miles.

You do need time to find the right car at the right payment for the right amount of miles, then time for the leasing company to process your paperwork.

qbrozen

do your insurance agents ever comment about the car churn in your households?

Funny you should mention that. During one of my conversations in the past year, the agent stated something like "Ok, so I'm deleting car 18, the Floopmobile 5000, and adding car 19, the Westingdale." So I asked if these numbers correspond to the number of cars I've had on this policy. She confirmed, I chuckled, and she said "ummm... yeah. That's... ummm... alot."

qbrozen

That is a really good thought.

That has occurred to me in the past, but for some reason I always forget. It might be too pricey for something like the 911 I want. I'm thinking an '02 with under 40k miles for under $25k. Theoretically, we're talking a payment south of $500/mo. I don't think I could lease one for that money. But, then again, even $600/mo for something like 18 mos would probably save me money in the long run since I wouldn't, as you put it, have to worry about fees etc. when I go to trade again.

BTW, was looking online at 135s last night. Found a nice '09 sport pack, manual trans, with premium and cold weather with under 40k for like $24k. That's tempting. But I really should hold out for a Porsche, I think. Either that or a Maserati.

EDIT: hahahaa. I just checked swapalease and the cheapest 911 is over $1100/mo!!!

qbrozen

Man, this could become a new addiction to waste time.

Found what seems to be a real nice deal. A 2011 128i convertible with manual trans. Seller offering $1500 to take on the remaining 20 payments at $414 ea with 20k miles remaining. Apply the cash towards the payment and we're talking $340/mo for 1k miles/mo. Not too shabby at all.

isellhondas

If I feel inclined, I'll replace the battery today.

I can't think of any reason the Reatta wouldn't make it to the East Coast but you'll need to bring more than a grand and you'll be doing the driving!

mark156

What color was the 94 S500? Those cars can be a real pain to maintain, many need eventual wiring harness replacement, but they are more attractive to me as time goes on. Not considering a new S-class?
If that E320 is worthless, you can just give it to me, I won't mind hauling it away ...that early R129 could find a ride on the tow truck too

All the 'big' Mercedes are/were black with tan leather. The '94 S500 was actually a good car, I don't remember ever having problems with it. It's funny that you mention the wiring harness, the current '01 S500 needed a new wiring harness while under warranty. Everything started to go squirrelly (wipers wouldn't work, doors wounldn't lock, etc). After 3 one week stays at the Mercedes dealer, they found that it was the wiring harness. The car really has been good since then and works great but after having it for 11 yrs., we're tired of it.

Also, we're just not excited about Mercedes anymore, the styling just doesn't entice us. Actually, we would get a Bentley Continental Flying Spur but there is not a Bentley dealer in TN. The closest is St. Louis or Atlanta.

We looked at the '07 S500 when they first came out but the electronics just seemed to quirky and and it took 6 steps to turn on the radio, they might be better now but, like I said, the styling is just ho-hum.

Seriously, the '95 E320 listed for $79K but we got a good deal on it. We traded a 17 yrs old '78 450 SL (143,000 miles) in on it. The E320 might be worth 12ish now?? I would use it as a door-stop rather than take nothing for it! :P

When you use the chassis designation number, I really don't know which cars they fit.

Mark156