Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

stickguy

at this stage, a power seat is a requirement for me. Especially now that most makers have gone to the ratchet lever raiser. hate that, since when you raise the seat it pitches you forward. And I like to have the front of the seat tilted up. Bad combo there.

One of the reasons actually that I wouldn't buy a 2006 civic (overall seat comfort) so I ended up with a leftover 2005 Accord (all loaded up) for barely more money.

also something that took an otherwise top contender off my list (the Mazda 3).

And yes, I know that I just dissed your fleet!

Sandman6472

No prob, I sit on an excellent cushion whenever I drive any of our fleet of four and truth be told, I don't drive the Mazda much. Going in tomorrow to claim a $25 gift card and taking a test in the Mazda ITouring with the SkyActive engine. Want to see what all the fuss is all about. Called the internet lady and will meet her at 10 a m to drive one. Will be right there so might also try the Cruze at their sister station just to compare.

The Sandman :sick: :shades:

akangl

I have driven our '07 CR-V for 50,500 miles and I find the seat comfortable

We had to stop by the Honda dealer today to order a new skid plate for the Civic ($46) and hubby looked at the CR-V again. Figured out the difference, its power vs manual seat. There was an EX-L on the showroom floor and he couldn't get comfortable in that one, so our salesguy went and grabbed an EX, bingo, perfect seating position.

Also looked at a Subaru Outback, again, perfect seating position. Both dealers wanted the front end of the Civic fixed before trade in, so couldn't do anything right then. We were seriously considering the CR-V since it hit all the options we wanted and really fit the bill.

We were given a price of $25.9k (we don't have sales tax and the doc fee is $199) on the CR-V EX AWD and that was OTD including a couple small accessories. Looking at about $10k for the Civic in trade. After looking at dealer cost, invoice, and MSRP on the CR-V, $25.9k seems high for an old body style with the '12's right around the corner. I was told that was as LOW as they would go for that car because of supply vs demand......they had about 8-10 on the lot.

So, after looking at the numbers we decided that it was more than we wanted to spend right now. Came close though, just wasn't the right deal.

stickguy

funny, but with the CR-V, I can't stand the manual seat, but like the power one just fine for getting a good seating position.

I'm getting excited to go out next year and look at options, since there is a lot of new stuff coming out that is on my list.

right now, that is CRV, CX5, escape (for the small end) and Santa Fe (midsize). All will be new designs by next year. Wife likes the highlander, but it does little for me and is quite expensive with some options.

all gonna depend on how small I can convince her to go!

stickguy

heck, let the poor guy take the truck when the weather is going to be bad. Won't kill it.

akangl

heck, let the poor guy take the truck when the weather is going to be bad. Won't kill it.

I tried last week to get him to take it but he refused. His thinking is $60 in gas round trip for the Civic vs $125 in gas for the truck.

nyccarguy

If you are not driving your truck, then isn't spending the extra money on gas cheaper than buying a brand new car & getting rid of a perfectly good Civic with only 90K miles?

michaellno

If you are not driving your truck, then isn't spending the extra money on gas cheaper than buying a brand new car & getting rid of a perfectly good Civic with only 90K miles?

A statement like that could get you branded a heretic in this forum!

ab348

We were given a price of $25.9k (we don't have sales tax and the doc fee is $199) on the CR-V EX

I dunno if I would want to drive around a vehicle named "CRVEX", especially if I was a male...

ateixeira

they did have a used Forester on the lot (2007 maybe?) that was a stick. Not something you see that often

They make plenty, only those are the first ones to sell and then owners hang on to them forever.

I kept mine for 9 years.

corvette

"I dunno if I would want to drive around a vehicle named "CRVEX", especially if I was a male..."

LOL!

mark156

I saw a test of the CR-V's 4WD system and I was disappointed in the demonstration. They took the Honda, put it on a ramp where all the wheels would slip (on rollers) as if it were on ice. They locked the rear rollers and the CR-V could not pull itself up the ramp with the rear wheels.

The exact same test was done with the Toyota Highlander 4WD and it failed too.

The 4WD CR-V is mostly front wheel drive until a front wheel is 'detected' as slipping then the rear wheels will kick in to keep things going, just not on their own.

I don't use the CR-V as an off-roader and I feel secure with it as designed (rain, snow, etc).

Mark156

Sandman6472

Test drove one of these this morning and liked it more than I thought. Not as peppy as the current S model we have but not bad and the mpg's are much better as the S is a thirsty mother, my biggest complaint. But it'll move past the 100k by next week and we plan to keep it till a year from now. Need to throw in some new plugs & an air filter in a few weeks to keep it running right. I figure it will last for another 100k miles but figure by the time it hits 120k, we'll cut her loose from the herd. Will now request the $25 Visa gift card for this test drive. So far, no word on the $50 from Ford for the Focus test drive. Between the two cars, the Mazda wins hands down in every department.

Waiting for the new Verano to test drive as that'll be the luxury car that I really like from the brochure and what I've read...more upscale than the Cruze and nicer looking to my eyes. Am sure she'll like it also. It hits all the buttons that we're looking for...leather, bluetooth, nice interior appointments, just a nice package all the way around. But one must pay extra for the privilege to own one and the 18" rolling stock can get a bit pricey...something to keep in mind since we're now at the point where we plan to keep our rides longer. At this rate, my Civic will be the last car I ever buy...just hit 32,780 this morning so doing the math, getting to 100k will take a lifetime!

The Sandman :sick: :shades:

ateixeira

Must've been like this one, hosted by Subaru but certified by USAC:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktoGVBR4op4&NR=1

stickguy

Now I am curious to see how the upcoming CX-5 is with the skyactive. Hope it is at least a bigger displacement, since the "truck" will be bigger.

Kirstie_H

A major news network is seeking to interview someone who was saved from serious injury/death in an auto accident due to new safety technology. The ideal candidate should live in close proximity to a major metropolitan area, i.e. Los Angeles, Chicago, New York City, etc. Please send an email to pr@edmunds.com by 3 pm/pt, December 8.

ateixeira

Did anyone else see Mythbusters was in the news?

They shot a cannonball that went rogue and ended up crashing through a house! It ended up smashing in to a Sienna minivan, which stopped it from killing anyone.

Does that count, Kirstie?

isellhondas

Pretty bad when a car manufacturer has to pay people to test drive cars.

About ten years ago, Honda did a dumb program where they sent out mailers to people offering a set of walkie talkies of all things to people if they test drove cars.

Boy, did that bring out the strokes! and I can't recall even one car being sold becaue of that promo. The sales people would see people walk in with the forms in their hands and run!

One of these strokes almost wrecked an S-2000 that he thought would be "fun" to drive. It scared the salesperson half to death.

Still, if a person is in the market (or not) I guess it's an easy way to score 25.00 or a set of walkie talkies!

The best ones were the people who came in and said..." Hey, do I really have to drive a car?....I'm not in the market at all". We would simply stamp their little forms and send them on their way.

ab348

If you think the goodie giveaways were bad, a few years ago GM promoted a "24-hour test drive" program. They had a fleet of new models that were basically free daily rentals for some people.

boomchek

Agree with you about these promos. Usually people who have free time come in to get their gift and then flee. Actually stamping the forms and letting time go works better as salespeople don't end up wasting time with them.

I think Kia or Hyundai was offering a $50 gas card or something like that for a test drive recently. I would have went but was busy and didn't want to waste a salesperson's time either.

Sandman6472

It was Ford for test driving the Focus which I did as we are narrowing down our choices right now even though Isell thinks it's a bad idea. We don't...and will continue to do it if any more come to us. It did help me decide that a Focus is not the car for us, so it was a good thing. Being that we currently have a Mazda3s, it was a great opportunity for me to see, feel & drive the new generation with the SkyActive engine, just the model we'd get. It does have less power than our current S, but it'll be more economical which is one of our goals here in buying a new vehicle. And I did like the vehicle a lot actually and it just might be the vehicle the wife ends up with after all. She's not as happy about my 1st choice, the Elantra, as I'd had hoped she'd be. And I know she'd be just as happy with the new Mazda I Touring as she is with her current S and she has to be happy!!! We'll hit 100k any day now so we know it will be a reliable vehicle for our needs. Just wish the exterior & interior were a bit more "Elantraesque" if anyone can understand that.

The Sandman :sick: :shades:

mark156

ateixeira, that is not the exact video that I saw but is better as it shows more cars. As I recall, the video that I saw showed a Toyota Highlander and a Volvo.

I just don't understand why they would make a 4WD that will not pull with one wheel. Might as well just get the FWD unless you are getting the Subaru. :sick:

Mark156

mark156

The Subaru can't be towed 4 wheels down with the automatic.... bummer. :sick:

Mark156

stever

Good excuse to buy a new toy. :shades:

kyfdx

ZHP

ateixeira

We get a bunch of those, too, in fact I have one for Kia in my drawer that I've been meaning to use.

I dunno, they generate show room traffic. A while ago I got one from Mazda, for a different car, and actually did end up buying an MX-5, though not on that day.

They're really just trying to create show room traffic, hoping you see something you like. If they target the potential buyer properly (perhaps that's where Honda missed), they could get a few sales.

ateixeira

Good thing that ML's mirrors fold, WOW that is a tight fit! :surprise:

slorenzen

That trailer is TOTALLY COOL!!!

I sent the link to a friend of mine who shoots competitiveley around the country.

:P

stever

That guy was a long time Mercedes salesman, but the ML running costs were too high. So he got a Wrangler, and it fits in the trailer easier. And weighs less to boot.

Sandman6472

Absolutely, at 10 a m yesterday, I was the only person looking at new/used cars...the other two folks were there for service. About three salesmen were just walking around with nothing really to do. The internet lady I spoke with pushed some sales guy on me though I specifically asked for her. The guy smelled, maybe it was his cologne, b.o. or coffee but it was not a nice test drive in that repsect. And he put the a/c on and it was weak, same as our '05 model but with the black dash and blackish interior, this could be a problem again. When I brought this up to him, he stammered and assured me the known a/c issue had been fixed. I liked the car basically but not the sales guy but got a feeling the wife will really like the car, drives the same as hers but with less power when you push the accelerator.

Back in '05, we got an e-mail with a $500 off coupon a few weeks after her initial test drive plus there was one in the rebate mailer I got. But we're still one year out just like Stick.

The Sandman :sick: :shades:

ateixeira

Put it this way...I may start to car shop soon, though the process can take years for me.

Any how, I'm curious to try a SkyActiv Mazda (any, really), some of the 40mpg clubbers, and the new Impreza's FB20 engine. A test drive certificate like that would get me off my be-hind.

Kia sent one for the Optima, but I've driven one already, so I'll probably sample a Rio or Soul with the new GDI engine.

lemmer

I drive the salepeople nuts. When am I going to buy? Maybe today. Maybe not for a year or two. How much do I want to spend? As little as possible to get what I like. It might be $5K but it might be $30K.

Of course, that is probably sort of par for the course in this group.

ateixeira

Same here. I'll buy today, or maybe 2017.

To be fair, though, I will refer people to the ones that treat me well, and have done that, actually. I have them staple the business card on the brochure and then give them to a friend or co-worker looking for that type of car (if I like the car, naturally).

Fitz Subaru treated me well when I came in with a test drive certificate, so soon after they sold a car to my dad. Then my cousin. Then my sister. Then my brother. Then me, next time I was in the market. I'm sure that salesman is glad he was nice to me!

It's hard to quantify the return of such a promotion, but get some one in the door and treat them well, and who knows?

qbrozen

Price isn't TOO crazy. $9k is enough for a clean stock one. And I wouldn't even go that high, personally, given the mods and bad bumper.

He really should have cleaned the interior before taking pics. :sick:

kyfdx

Nice that it has leather vs. the alcantara, though.... ZHPs used to bring stupid money... at least they are starting to drop...

I'd rather have that '01 wagon, though.... lol

roadburner

What about this 2007 335i coupe?

nyccarguy

Nice car roadburner. A beautiful '07 335 i coupe w/ SP, 6 speed, & no NAV (or idrive). Happy bidding & let us know what happens!

qbrozen

Would fetch $19k as a trade. So $21k would be pretty fair all around.

Sandman6472

Now that's one sweet ride...and it's from Florida too!

The Sandman :sick: :shades:

stickguy

I like that coupe. A lot. Might even break my "no black leather" rule for it (but man, if it had gray or red, much better!).

21K would be quite attractive. And of course, much less than the 25K BIN he has now.

the ZHP? Nice car, getting up there is miles, and I can't see myself ever having another bright red car.

kyfdx

The Imola Red on the ZHP looks a lot better than that picture... my friend describes it as "blood red".. Wouldn't go that far, but it's definitely not bright red (or even Electric Red, which is the normal E46 color)...

That said, I saw a white one the other day... which made me wish I had that color.

qbrozen

You could get CPO for less than $25k.

mark156

Wow, that is a nice trailer but they can be a pain in the behind trying to find a RV park that has spaces large enough.

Towing four down is absolutely the best way to go when trying to tour the country. Easy hook-up and release.

Mark156

stever

Big honking RVs, especially ones pulling trailers or toads are terrific. They can't go down one track forest service roads to the little clearing 200' off the road and crank up their generator and make a racket dialing in the satellite dish at midnight. Everyone should go camping in one. Excepting me.

We're down to one tent now, but ours is about ten years old and we have been tire kicking a few. But they're so expensive these days. You can easily pay $400 for one.

(just razzing you - we may hit Florida in Feb. and stay in my brother's trailer at the place where he campground hosts. Although, tenting in Brooklyn has our interest too).

roadburner

Would fetch $19k as a trade. So $21k would be pretty fair all around.

I bid $19K, figuring if he's desperate enough to drop the price to trade-in I'll buy it. Needless to say, I get the "Reserve Not Met" blurb.
So Thursday I get home and I've got a message from the seller:

"I see you enterered[sic] a big[sic] for my BMW. Are you seriously interested in this vehicle?"

At that point the auction had over three days left, so I'm trying to figure out whether the seller is panicked or just naive.
My guess is all of the above. And say what you will, but I question the intelligence of people who can't/won't proofread their messages.
Two days to go- wonder what will happen next?

28firefighter

And say what you will, but I question the intelligence of people who can't/won't proofread their messages.

I don't question their intelligence as much as I would question how decent their care for the car has been. Lack of attention to detail in an e-mail like that gives me pause.

That said, there is an eBay Motors smartphone app, and those could easily have been touchscreen auto-correct issues.

stickguy

A few years ago my local BMW dealer had a nice blue over tan 2005 325xt wagon, that they had up on Ebay. I had actually seen the car in person and liked it. So, I bid.

No idea what their reserve was, but I believe they had it listed at mid-20s (on the lot)? I ended up being high bid at something like 16K (I don't remember what the max bid I put in was).

I never even got the courtesy email as high bid/reserve not met. They probably just had cars out as another way to advertise, and were not at all interested in spending 5 minutes to contact someone that obviously was interested.

stickguy

was out doing some Christmas shopping, and just "happened" to end up by the local automall. So of course, I stopped in.

Stopped at Kia down the road 1st (hey, why not?). OK stuff. The Rio was a nice piece, but hated the headrests. Really pushed my neck forward, so that was a no-go. Other than that, a Serrento would be a good size for my wife, so really interested in seeing the new Santa Fe (should be about the same size, but with 4 cyl power).

next stop, Honda (wanted to see a new CRV in the flesh). Waste of time, since they had none. And man, nothing in that show room interested me in the least. Hondas just seem kind of "old fashioned" now.

My last stop was BMW. had a nice chat with a young sales dude (I told him when I got there I was just browsing/test sitting, but it seemed slow so he hung around to chit chat. Or try to sell, one or the other, but it was a friendly hard sell!)

Anyway, that had a beautiful 2012 1 series coupe on the floor. Venetian(?) red (a darker, almost Merlot, red). Man, that was nice. it was a 128, but with the M Sport package. I love the seats with the thigh extender, but might be a tad snug in the bolsters (though I was earing a leather coat over a sweatshirt, and I never wear a coat to drive). Pretty sure though my wife would find them too constraining. Also sat in a convertible with normal seats, and they were real nice and less tight. I suppose I could live without the sport seats.

but overall, it felt perfect. No idrive either, so a bonus. this one (a 2012) had everything but nav, and a sticker of just over 40K. Yikes. Pushing a 469/36 lease. But, also had a 2011 325 sedan, same color with sport pack (sticker of 42K) for 369/27. That was a super nice car too.

Did not drive it, because I am supposed to be waiting, and it might have gotten out of hand (financially!) if I did.

Would have looked to deal on a CPO, but the supply of 1 series (vs. 3) is super tight. They had 1 used convertible in the entire place. But, he said that they should start getting the first wave of off lease 2008s soon.

stickguy

oh, forgot the interesting part.

I get home and retrieve the mail, and in it were 2 flyers from BMW> 1 touting the Z4 drive event (not a real one, just sending me to a website to look it up) and the other one about the big December offers (lease and finance specials). Hey, maybe if I had gotten that before I stopped in...

rayainsw

On a 3 series with power seat adjustments, the bolsters can be
adjusted = 'opened \ closed'.
"You can change the width of the backrest to suit
your individual preferences by adjusting the lat-
eral-support pads.
Press the front or rear end of the switch.
Backrest width decreases or increases accord-
ingly." - 3 owner's manual.
Don't know about the 1 series,
but might be worth investigating...?
- Ray
Seats adjusted to perfection....