Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

steine13

d. 6
All these were couples.

As I tell my 12-year-old when she has homework issues: You have to read ALL the words, honey!

Cheers -Mathias

stickguy

not too hard to find.

Not sure if they put a new battery in but the message is gone. I did see that.

It currently is sitting in the garage, making friends with the minivan. My wife drove it home and liked it.

28firefighter

Congratulations, sir!

Many happy miles with it.

stickguy

Thanks. Nervous of course jumping into the unknown, so hopefully it all works out.

Will need to take it out on a decent run this weekend as a shake down cruise.

going to be quite a change though overall.

my daughter was all 16 YO girl upset at first because she had already bonded with the Gray one I passed on, but she has now decided the blue is pretty.

isellhondas

C- three couples.

Where have you been, wilcox??

nyccarguy

Congrats on the new ride! Good luck selling the Accord. Let us know the gory details!

houdini1

Congrats stickguy. Enjoy.

stickguy

thanks. So far, it looks good sitting in the garage. And my wife really liked driving it home. I haven't taken it out yet, so I can circulate the for sale sign on the Accord! and we had some snow/rain yesterday, and I didn't want to get it dirty.

I did find out some good additional news though. I tracked down the service advisor at the Volvo dealer that had sold and serviced it the last 4 years (in PA, thanks to Carfax). And he was nice enough to tell me what it had done before and when, and even the results of their last maintenance/inspection (back in July).

Said that they went over the whole thing then, and it was in excellent shape. passed state Inspection, and the only thing they recommended for the next service was a cabin filter. everything else was done for a while. And if a Volvo dealer isn't recommending any service, then it really doesn't need anything!

Also said that it had been very well maintained over its life, which it seemed like it had. Always nice to see on carfax all the services being done at the same dealer. And to have a historical back-up for the inspection at purchase time, which can't really see everything.

Now I even know at what mileage the brakes were done (and 5K ago, they both checked out as basically new).

stickguy

I know y'all will appreciate it, but my wife thought I was nuts. Tuesday night when we got the car home, I sat down and read the owners manual cover to cover. Even stayed up past my bedtime to do it.

learned it has all kinds of interesting features with the trip computer and personalization menus. will have to sit in it one day with the manual open and start trying them out

Other than that , it is pretty straightforward. nothing like trying to learn a new high-end BMW or MB!

gouldn

How are the seats? My first car after college was a very used 1980 GL (240) and while the car was far from perfect, I have yet to have a car that came close to that one in seat comfort.

anonymousposts

We bought the RAV4. Spent today putting the splash guards on it. Have new wipers and new air filters to finish it off. It's not the nicest ride in the world, but it seems to be competent at basic transportation. And RAV4's seem to be dead reliable for the most part. I wouldn't be happy with the interior at $20,000 but for $9,000, I can't complain.

Still keeping an eye out for a nice stick 3-series. It would be a nice garage queen while we use the RAV4 and the Tiguan as our daily drivers.

28firefighter

If his seats are anything like my C30's seats, they are the most comfortable I've ever encountered.

fezo

I've never found seats that match up with Volvo. They are the best.

Maybe I should have gotten a C70.....

stickguy

seats seem fine so far. And the leather I think is more comfy than the t-tec. having had some "break in" miles helps soften them up too!

My wife really seemed to like driving it. My daughter rode home from the dealer with her, and thought she wanted to keep it for herself!

Daughter got to drive it today, and seemed to really like it. much better brakes than the Honda, but she noticed you have to press the gas more to get it moving.

fezo

much better brakes than the Honda, but she noticed you have to press the gas more to get it moving.

Yeah, that would be a Volvo. Must be another safety feature.....

ateixeira

That's annoying, but it's better than the opposite - i.e. a really touchy throttle. Some times they just aren't linear at all.

I hate it when automakers try to "think" for you. Let me decide how much throttle I want.

nyccarguy

My Prelude has a good old fashioned cable throttle. Good stuff.

ateixeira

Even those could have the first inch or so of pedal travel be "dead". 1980s big Benzes were like that.

lemmer

Alternatively, I had some '80s Japanese cars where all the throttle seemed to be in the first inch.

ateixeira

I've had 2 cars with on/off throttles - 1980 Ford Mustang, and a 2002 Subaru Legacy.

I actually look for it in test drives now. I've owned both a Ford and a Subaru after those and neither had the same issue, thankfully.

qbrozen

my 135 is like that. I have to be REAL gentle pushing it down from a stop or it LEAPS off the line, often with unsightly tire spin.

stickguy

Damned, now I want a 135!

actually, the Acura TL my son drives is like that. Have to be real gentle on the throttle starting out. Whenever my wife drove it it was like whiplash city.

fintail

My old W126 was like that, I think it was someone's idea of an economy feature - make it difficult to give lots of throttle. I swear your ankle could get sore driving it.

I remember when I first started driving, my grandma let me take her ~86 Olds out - it would leap off the line with the pedal barely touched, but in typical period GM fashion, got winded by 45mph or so.

rayainsw

'..I have to be REAL gentle pushing it down from a stop or it LEAPS off the line..'

Mine will 'leap', given a lot of throttle from a stop - but generally I start with the trans. [ manually ] in 2nd gear - somewhat blunting the effect of throttle movement . . .
- Ray
Occasionally enjoying a leap - or 2

ateixeira

I remember those mid-size GMers being all or nothing, yeah...

qbrozen

The 1 will do it in first or second. I actually find it a bit smoother in first.

I often start the 540 out in 2nd. If starting in first, even if going ever so gently, it still jumps after you are halfway through the intersection and put your foot down more than quarter way. So its either CRAWL through first or SPRINT. No in between to be found.

gouldn

Yeah a very interesting discussion. My 01 Forester has an old-fashioned cable linkage but still jumps off the line. After getting used to it, you can easily make it smooth.

On my 07 X3 (which I no longer have) I could never get used to it. It would be dogish at first, and then jump. I could never drive it as smooth as my older car. I wonder if maybe the transmission was 'learning' my style as I was trying to learn the car's dynamics. Who knows, that car is gone now anyway

tjc78

I wonder if maybe the transmission was 'learning' my style

This group doesn't keep a car long enough for the learning transmissions to adapt!

rayainsw

'This group doesn't keep a car long enough for the learning transmissions to adapt! '

Ha - but I have actually [ at almost 5,000 miles ] been impressed
with how well mine has learned.
- Ray
Or [ perhaps ] it has trained me ?

kyfdx

Our '08 X3 transmission programming sucked... they never could get it right...

But, it was the wife's car... so...

qbrozen

Sooo... i've put maybe 1500 miles on the 135 so far. Managed 25mpg with the last tank of gas. I could get used to that. Oh, but then I started driving the snot out of it for most of this tank. We'll see how that goes. OBC says 24, but that's been optimistic. Probably 23 in reality.

The Continental DWSs are proving pretty good. Haven't had REAL bad weather yet. The left rear apparently has a slow leak. TPMS came on Monday. Checked and tire was 28psi. Topped it up to 34, then the light came on again yesterday (Thursday). I jacked it up and inspected it, but couldn't find anything. Tightened the valve stem, which gave up 1/2 turn pretty easily, so fingers crossed.

Then the oil light came on today. Its a quart low according to the OBC. Hmmmm... hope that's not a sign of things to come. I changed the oil the week I got it, but have to 'guess' how much to put in. Maybe I didn't get it quite right.

tjc78

I changed the oil the week I got it, but have to 'guess' how much to put in.

What is the point of these "no dipstick" cars? In a 40K car it can't be a cost cutting thing. I understand that the computer can do it for you, but I still would like visual confirmation my car has enough oil.

gouldn

Yeah I agree. It really freaked me out that I couldn't visually confirm oil level on my X3. Not that it ever burned even a drop according to the OBC, but who checks the checker, right?

stickguy

Got some pictures finally of the Accord, and fired it out onto Craig's tonight. Now just have to wait for the anxious buyers to start flooding in!

Of course, I pick the 1 weekend we are supposed to get some snow this year. Just can't win! Good thing i am not desperate to move it.

Actually drove the Volvo tonight, and put gas in it. nice driving car, but quite different than the Honda. Going to take some getting used to.

for one thing, every thing is backwards. radio and cruise buttons are reversed on the steering wheel, and the gas filler in on the passenger side. That is going to screw me up for a while!

Got to play with the trip computer though. Fun seeing instant MPG. And I got 34.1 MPG on the way home from the gas station!

stever

gas filler in on the passenger side

My Subaru's filler is on the "wrong" side like that.

There's usually a little triangle icon near the gas gauge that indicates which side of the car the filler is on. I have to look everytime, in either car we have. The trouble is, the triangle is in odd spots on both dashboards. :sick:

fezo

So, do we get a link to your ad?

Going from one make of car to another is always an adventure as you get used to things. I was so used to how Honda did everything that going to a Toyota was a bit of an adjustment. A Volvo would be more so.

tjc78

Good luck with the sale. I think it will go quickly. Desirable color combo, low miles and people pay good money for used Hondas.

rayainsw

'..people pay good money for used Hondas. '
I was amazed at how quickly my Mom's Accord sold -
and for how much!
- Ray
Out of the used car sellin' business....

stickguy

well, so far, not looking good. no calls and no emails. weather might not have helped.

I will TTT it tomorrow morning to see what happens. But I have not had the best luck in the past selling stuff.

So I am getting grief already from the wife, and starting to expect the worst (as in taking a huge bath on it) which will be a double whammy since I went over budget on the new car already.

jayrider

Give it 4-6 weeks --- about average for most fsbo's.

oldfarmer50

"...I will TTT it tomorrow..."

Sorry to be thick but what does that stand for?

As far as selling your Honda have you tried Craigslist? I've had success there although it has taken as long as a month to get a hit.

stickguy

TTT is message board speak for To The Top. as in getting your ad to to top of the page.

Craig's is where I have it listed. Too cheap to pay for an ad if I don't have to!

fezo

So, I still get no listing. How are you going to tempt me if I can't see it?

breld

So, as expected, we completed the deal on my wife's X3 today. Traded in her 328xi on a new X3 (28i model). It was probably the best experience I've had at a dealership - we spent a lot of time poking through several of their new and used X3's, and they also let me take a new 328i out to get a feel for the new 4-cyl engine (which will be the new base engine in the 2013 X3, starting with April production). It is indeed a nice, efficient engine, but we were more than happy to stick with the in-line 6.

Price-wise, they cut to the chase with a set amount over invoice for the new car ($1,000), and really stepped it up on the trade. $20,000 trade allowance on the 3, which Q said was "crazy money" on the RWTIV thread, so based on his always solid advice, we didn't hesitate. We considered ordering one, but the only thing we would have added is the sport package; we decided that wasn't all that important on this car, and frankly, didn't want to miss out on their seemingly desperate trade offer.

So my wife has a new set of wheels that does a pretty decent imitation of her 3, but has loads more room for the kids in the rear seat. We set out seeking out that perfect 3'er wagon, but feel we ended up with something much more practical.

rayainsw

Congrats & best of luck!
- Ray
3 driver....

stickguy

My wife really wants one of these at the end of the year when we are supposed to be in the market to upgrade from her minivan.

Now, if I can get them to pony up 20K on a 2005 Odyssey, will be all set...

But congratulations. I test drove one when they came out (at a test drive event) and really enjoyed it.

stickguy

You are just a stalker. I know your type.

but, here you go.

http://southjersey.craigslist.org/cto/2845549082.html

I actually have an appointment set up for 2 today with some women that lives within 5 minutes of me (based on the town she said she lives in) so things are looking up.

Of course had to pick the worst weekend to try and sell. It is coated with snow/ice and frigid outside. Exactly what I expected though, based on my luck...

Took the Volvo for a shake down cruise yesterday, putting 100 miles on it running all over God's creation looking for a cotillion dress for my daughter. Drives nice, and I had fun playing with the trip computer (got over 28mpg based on that). Though now it is filthy from the salt. Poor little thing.

The kid has driven it twice and really seems to like it too. It is a nice manageable size for her. And I do like small cars.

Now once the Accord sells, I can start "toy" shopping. If I start now, might actually find something by December.

nyccarguy

Congrats on the new X3 & for getting top dollar for your trade. I'm curious as to what they're going to list your 328xi for that they gave you a solid $20K for it.

Back in 2007 I was hell bent on leasing a 328xi wagon for my wife. From all the research I did, it looked like the perfect car for our family (at the time just me, wife, & son #1). I felt the wagon didn't have that much extra cargo space than the tiny E90 sedan. We tried fitting a rear facing infant seat in the back which rendered the front passenger seat useless. We drove an X3 and absolutely LOVED it. It was the perfect vehicle for our needs. You are going to really enjoy your new X3.

What'd you think of the new F30 BTW?

stickguy

but does it say something about me that for some reason, I want this?

If I had room for it, would be fun to just have it around! And cheap too.

http://southjersey.craigslist.org/cto/2810405247.html

fezo

Stalker? This coming from our latest curbstoner...... :P

Damn. I can't tell you how many times in the past year or so I'd jump at that car. Unfortunately I am the only one in the family that like driving a stick. I'd have to give up my drop top to do that which, of course, isn't happening.

For my daughter who actually is starting to car shop it has two things wring - the sick (silly kid) and the leather (I can go either way on leather myself).

If you don't sell it in a week I'll be surprised.