Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

isellhondas

That's generally true but in the case of a CRV, I can't think of anything that has better resale or higher demand as a used car.

The Mazdas are so soft at the auctions. Our UCM used to cherry pick through them and buy the nicest of the bunch for thousands of dollars "back of book".

And we would sell these at attractive prices making them a pretty good buy for people who liked Mazdas.

corvette

You could probably negotiate a swap to the 17" wheels/tires from a Touring model when you purchased the Grand Touring. The dealer could put the 19s on the Touring (where he removed the 17s) as a dealer-installed accessory and charge someone $800 for them.

corvette

As far as I know, the Volt has regenerative braking and all of the other normal hybrid features. It won't do well on a road trip, because the steady state highway MPG is around 35 MPG.

I think the upcoming 2013 Accord plug-in hybrid will slaughter the Volt on pretty much any measure other than the distance it can go without starting the gas engine. The price will certainly be lower and the highway MPG should be higher.

stickguy

not a bad idea. I recall thinking of doing that on some other car in the past.

trade them for a few accessories that I do want, like roof rails. a win win!

kyfdx

Hmmm... reading about the Volt on Chevy's website... it looks like the car never really runs off the gas engine?

It seems that the gas engine is a generator that supplies electricity to the battery... It doesn't actually provide motive power to the vehicle.. Even with the gas engine is on, it is just supplying power to the electric motor, which provides propulsion?

Is that right? Sort of like having a diesel generator at work for when the electricity goes out? It's actually an electric car with a backup power source onboard.

Someone tell me if I'm wrong... If that's correct, then it's not really a hybrid, or like the upcoming Prius plug-in.

rayainsw

'..the car never really runs off the gas engine? '
Well - not 'never', as I understand it.

'The Volt’s Gas Engine DOES Turn the Wheels. Sometimes.'

http://www.motortrend.com/features/editorial/1010_unbolting_the_chevy_volt_to_se- e_how_it_ticks/#ixzz1pVLWlo95

stever

My first car was a '74 CJ-5.

That was the first and last car I made car payments on for the full term and pretty much killed any shot I may ever had had to join the exclusive CCBA club.

Saw my first two ZipCars today, one being a Tacoma. Seems like a good way to experience some different rides if you live in an urban area.

stickguy

but I finally fired up the new laptop I bought a few weeks ago. I was getting tired of looking at a screen with big black blobs running across it. And it was slower than dirt and constently freezing up to boot.

Nothing fancy (Lenova, i3 processor) for a whopping $399, but this thing has a fantastic screen and just flies along. Weighs less, and much cooler running. Will not be missing the old beast.

even better, I will be able to car surf much faster without having to go sit at the desktop in the other room. This I can do in my easy chair, in front of the TV.

bolivar

In the Car and Driver issue about 5 months ago, they looked at how the Volt goes down the road. The 'transmission' is extremely complex. CD made a stab at explaining how it worked, it the various stages, but my eyes crossed up and didn't actually retain much. The thing has gears inside gears outside gears, this locks, that locks, etc etc. It pretty much drives the car in all modes. All electric, all gas, regenerative braking, gas rechargine, etc etc. Very complex.

rayainsw

That is 5,000 miles ‘stateside’ – after redelivery last November.
Just a few random thoughts.

I am enjoying every drive. I find this to be an extremely well balanced and fun coupe. The raw thrust is very nearly equal to the 2007 Corvette I had. The 7 speed DCT transmission is excellent – by far the best such device I have experienced. The brakes and handling are also excellent. The exhaust note is intoxicating.

Nothing has fallen off – no rattles, squeaks or groans have appeared. No trips to the dealer. So far, everything I had expected.

I went to the local annual auto show here in Atlanta on Saturday. I saw nothing close to my price range that I would rather be driving.

- Ray
Very pleased with the choice . . .

stickguy

combine all that with a Chevy dealer service department (most of which will have no clue), and not something any sane person will want to own out of warranty.

tjc78

Nothing fancy (Lenova, i3 processor) for a whopping $399, but this thing has a fantastic screen and just flies along.

A few months ago I bought practically the same laptop for my Fiance at Office Depot (in your neck of the woods). She loves it and it flies. I gave my aging laptop to my mother as the Ipad is what I use for most of my surfing. I still can't give up my desktop for bills, burning DVDs, etc.

Oh, and I think I am getting the Fiance to like smaller SUVs. She saw a brand new Equinox in white at the store on Sat and said that she liked it a lot. I said I wanted her to get it's twin the Terrian (mainly so I could buy it at the same dealer I got the Buick). I so wish Buick got a version of that platform. I guess 3 varients was enough (the current SRX isn't a true clone but very similar IMO).

qbrozen

I'm not convinced that car has the sport pack like he says. Tough to tell from the small pics, but the seats don't seem to have the separate leg support.(?)

I saw a couple in the latest roundel that I thought you'd be interested in, but now can't remember them off the top of my head.

lamronh49

Volt can recharge and drive on the gas engine at the same time. You do not have to plug it in to recharge.

It's an electric with benefits, you might say.

isellhondas

Benefits?

I can't imagine anybody buying one of these overpriced cars!

tjc78

+1 on that. The fuel cost savings over another compact car just aren't there to justify the costs.

Volt= 40K
Cruze = 20K

Verdict= 20K buys ALOT of gas!

isellhondas

Yes, a lot of gas.

I predict there are going to be a lot of people wishing they had never drank the kool aid after buying a Volt.

There are SO many better and more sensible choices!

fintail

The thing needs to be offered on a loss leader subsidized lease - no more than 299/month.

ateixeira

We discussed in another thread, and even if you factor in the incentives, the lease for a Volt is $349 and for the Cruze it's $159.

Let's remember the Volt is based on a shortened Cruze platform, and only seats 4.

Heck, Chevy has a Malibu lease for $179 right now. You can get a Malibu *and* and Cruze for less than 1 Volt.

isellhondas

Read the fine print. that 179.00 lease may require a huge cap reduction and it's probably a base model.

They probably can't decide where to price the residual on a Volt at this point! Depending on a lot of factors, it could be pretty high or in the toilet.

stickguy

No, whatever "sport" he is referring to must just be the 17" wheels. It has the normal seats and steering wheel (which I am OK with).

greg128

The consensus on this forum is that the Volt is one of the worst and most idiotic
vehicles ever made. Unfortunately that opinion is not in any way shared by people who actually own them. In fact they absolutely love them.

volt reviews

steine13

Ah, Love!

Seriously, some people spend "way too much" on a car because it's cool.

That could be a 911... or a classic car... or anything, really.

I've never given the Volt much thought, but it is one heck of an achievement, technologically. So to the right customer, it's certainly "cool."

Remember when the Prius came out? Gas was so cheap that people endlessly worked out how you had to own it for 10 years to come out ahead, and don't forget the time value of money blah blah blah

Prius owners were neck and neck with 911 owners in "satisfaction." They might still be. So bully for the Volt owners -- car enthusiasts in their own right!

Cheers -Mathias

akangl

Got the letter from the insurance company stating what they have decided the ACV is on the Escort. They haven't mentioned what the salvage value is yet and I can't get an idea either since salvage yards won't give me a quote because the car is too old. Anyway, they gave me an ACV of $2011, can't say I'm disappointed considering we only paid $1000 for the car a year ago.

The adjuster that came out to look at the car commented that the car was in above average condition for its age/miles and he was impressed. I also pointed out the recent work done to the car, I had a letter from my mechanic, pictures from last fall, and all my receipts for work done.

I should know in the next few days what the salvage value is and they will cut us a check for the car, minus the salvage value and deductable.

Can't say as I'm disappointed considering Nada clean retail is $2075!

isellhondas

People who buy cars like that are probably likely to say good things to justify their purchase.

I never judge cars until they have 100,000 miles or more.

I am happy to see these people like their Volts. Heaven knows they certainly paid the admission charge in spades!

pknopp

So that you can foot part of the bill for those who take them up on this lease?

laurasdada

Or a Jag XK? I am a fool for a pretty face. Guess that makes me a...guy!

Well, I'm not going to have the use of the AWD this coming winter, so I have a decision to make about the Jag truly becomming my 7/24/365 car. Or, having my CCB club card punched again:

Snow tires which I may be stuck with if I trade the Jag at a later date? A set of dedicated snows/rims will be very expensive, just snows expensive but not used Rolex Daytona expensive...

New "all season" tires (e.g. Conti DWS or Nokian WRG2) that have a good snow rep and just try to avoid the snow? Currently shod with summer Dunlops, which could barely handle getting up my driveway with 1/8" of snow. Not a safe way to go about the day...

Or, sell/trade the beloved mid-life crisis Jag (do I keep the gold chains?). If sell/trade, I'm hoping to get a good trade value, but it is a Jag. Replacement: A5/S5/A7? RR Evoque? The '13 A/S5 will be out soon, potentially good deals on '12s. But, I'd like to keep the Jag as long as I can. And, the aforementioned deals on '11 3 series...

Such is the dilemma of one who buys a car with his heart (for the first time in my life) rather than his head.

So, how often has being a fool for a pretty face worked out for y'all? :shades:

fintail

I'd rather subsidize upcoming technology than false states and profiteering wars, so yeah.

stickguy

for the price of a set of wheels and snows, just do what lots of people with fancy pants cars do and get a winter beater. Sell it off once the weather gets nice.
\
too nice of a cr to drive around in the crap anyway, even if the tires are not dangerous!

Sounds like you would regret it too much if you sell, not that an Audi (or even a 3 series) is a penalty box.

laurasdada

Thanks, I've thought about that, too. The awd is/was the winter beater (although a pretty nice one!), but that is now my daughter's car. No where to put a fouth car (and insurance!), although I am sort of considering that option.

When I bought the Jag, it was with the mindset that this is my car, not a garage queen. But, driving through the New England snow, sleet and slush would probably have me in tears! Not to mention what it would do to the still fairly pristine aluminum skin of the Jag. I've got a few months to ponder, enjoy a little car shopping...

Yeah, such are the magnificient problems oft encountered here in the CCB board!

ateixeira

Read the fine print. that 179.00 lease may require a huge cap reduction

Keep in mind I'm comparing Chevy to Chevy, so apples to apples.

The Volt has $2500 due at signing. The Malibu just $1529, and the Cruze just $1129.

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f13/chevrolet-lease-offers-get-much-more-attr- active-98551/

So even factoring the down payment, you can get both cars for about the cost of one Volt.

ateixeira

people who actually own them. In fact they absolutely love them.

Ignorance is bliss? I'm half-kidding.

You'll never break even. You get a Volt for other reasons - image, early adoption, political, pro-green views, etc.

I remember the Pontiac Aztek won JD Power APEAL awards. Those few also loved their rides. No one else did, though.

stickguy

just got an Email from the local BMW dealer, touting 3 series leases. $319/mo with $3,500 down (30 months/10K year miles).

also listed a sales price. I looked up one of the sale cars, and it was $4,950 off of MSRP.

this was a 2011 328xi of course.

andre1969

I remember the Pontiac Aztek won JD Power APEAL awards. Those few also loved their rides. No one else did, though.

Yeah, "Ask the Man Who Owns One" isn't always the best indicator of a good vehicle. I'm sure the owners of these cars just love them to death. But I don't think most people would.

ateixeira

Did you see the Top Gear USA episode that featured those? Fun stuff...

stickguy

something a bit different, and fun.

seems pretty clean, and not too modded. Just had to peel the tint and ditch the sub if it isn't hidden.

http://southjersey.craigslist.org/cto/2912244367.html

steine13

Regarding the link you posted:
http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f13/chevrolet-lease-offers-get-much-more-attr- active-98551/

The dates on that discussion are all 2010... ? -Mathias

fezo

I won't be in quite so much but I'm here. Hanging out in the hospital for quite a while. Stay tuned...

nyccarguy

Stickguy

Instead of buying a few cars over the next few years, consider this awesome lease program. 10K per year (which you've admitted you won't do) + a 67% residual. BMW makes your 1st 2 pmts.

You are trying to find the "perfect" used E46 & I respect that. Just pull $400/ month out of thin air. $400 per month x 28 months (BMW pays 1st 2, remember) = 11,200. Don't put anything down. You won't have to sink a dime into the car for 30 months. You won't have to worry about selling the car 2 years down the road.

You owe it to yourself to at least go and test drive an E90 328xi sedan.

steine13

Good luck, man.
That doesn't sound like fun.
Hope they have internet for you... and I hope everything turns out OK.
-Mathias

anonymousposts

We now have the 2012 Tiguan and the 2007 RAV4. We love the Tiguan, it's going nowhere. We like the RAV but came across this deal... 2007 Mercedes ML320 CDI with 55,000 miles. One owner, well maintained. It's a deep burgundy over tan. $22,500. Any thoughts?

oldbearcat

Well, guess I'm a fool for a pretty face as well. I've had 3 Jags. The first two were X-Types with AWD, and, these were great in bad weather. The third was an S-Type VDP 4.2 which, with decent tires, got quite a bit of winter use, because it wasn't that bad to drive. The S-Type got to a place where wife and I decided it was risky to use it as our long trip car, and, we parted ways with Jaguar. I still miss that car - it was a delight to drive - a muscle car in a tuxedo. All three jags brought decent money at trade-in time, so, I don't reget owning them one bit.

Regards:
Oldengineer

kyfdx

RAV4 vs. CR-V

stickguy

interesting idea. I tried to float a sedan to the wife, but she wants a CUV of some kind. And I really don't need the car now (since I can't drive 2 at a time!)

I think it would be more than that anyway. The offer that I got in email (based on the 5K off MSRP) was IIRC 319/mo. + 3,500 down, so that would be another 120 or so. Plus tax, and probably at least $450 for a "rental".

would be nice to drive, of course. But most likely, the wife gets her car and I get something cheap this time around, but that does leave me next in line!

isellhondas

I'm here for you Steve but you already knew that!!

tjc78

2007 Mercedes ML320 CDI with 55,000 miles. One owner, well maintained. It's a deep burgundy over tan. $22,500. Any thoughts?

I don't know too much about the CDI models, but wasn't the ML pretty trouble prone? It certainly would be a step up from the RAV but I would be worried about maintenance and repair on that thing.

graphicguy

fezo.....as isellhondas mentioned, thinking about you. Just let us know if you need a smile and we'll do our best to provide one for you.

Regarding "Top Gear America"....not to insult any of its fans, but what a poorly written, poorly acted, poorly done show. Every once in awhile, I'll be channel surfing and see it. Out of morbid curiosity I'll watch for a few minutes and realize how pathetic the show is, right down to doing poor excuses for copying BBC's versions. In short, even as a car enthusiast, I find it unwatchable.

The GF has liked the Volt since she sat in one during the car show this past winter. We finally got to drive one last week at a local dealer. Actually, it's pretty impressive. Aside from the fact that the Cruze and particularly the Volt are high MPG cars, that's really where any semblance of similarities end.

Everything about the Volt is vastly better than any Cruze or any hybrid I've ever been in.

Cheers for GM!

andre1969

Hang in there, Fezo! We're rooting for you!

andre1969

A lady at work sent me this ad, for a 2006 Accord that her sister is interested in buying. The ad actually says 1991 Accord, although the car is a 2006 EX-L V-6. Asking $2,750, which is so low it sounds downright fishy.

Fortunately, the sister is skeptical, and her guard is up. And I think something's going on here, as well. So, what say you guys?

28firefighter

Listed in Germantown, MD but the picture has palm trees? Sounds like a scam to me.