Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

stickguy

Nice car there. Not my choice of color (prefer darker blue), but must be a blast to drive. Ambitious price though.

roadburner

I like the Subie and the Fiesta; and a high school buddy had a Pinto Cruising Wagon with that wild graphics package:

roadburner

If it was RWD I'd be EXTREMELY tempted...

breld

Ambitious price?

I actually thought it was a fair, if not good, price. Their list price, which is no haggle btw, is around NADA trade value. I am sincerely curious as to how high you think it is.

Thanks!

breld

Yeah - naturally not too many RWD examples here in Colorado. Maybe some coupes, but certainly very few sedans.

oldfarmer50

"...I would never buy a Catera..."

Are you sure?

http://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/ctd/3529071928.html

oldfarmer50

"...would look good next to my..."

Would look good next to just about anything. I wish I had that kind of dough to throw at a used car. :sick:

One question, do you prefer the AWD to the RWD?

oldfarmer50

"...since we're discussion Caddys..."

I thought you were going to the car show not the boat show. I like all those except the 1973 Ford. The drivability of those years was terrible as car makers struggled with pollution control and milage.

tjc78

love the thermometer

I've never seen one like that on a Caddy. My 89 Town Car had one just like it.

The 99 LTC, could be OK depending on the mileage. The 98-02 style just isn't my favorite. 90-97 and 03-11 is much better.

jpp75

My grandparents had an LTD just like that one when I was growing up except it was a lighter shade of green. Seemed OK for what it was, although I do remember them having to let it "warm up" for a couple of minutes before driving away so it wouldn't stall.

jayrider

I owned a 71 Galaxy and all 4 doors rusted through the bottom in 3 years.

qbrozen

That's mighty cheap. That's close to auction value.

Am I right to say that doesn't have bun warmers, though? In Colorado? Is that allowed?

qbrozen

I think the seller of that '79 Caddy made a typo in the price.

'73 LTD: see... this is a more realistic seller.

For the same price, and assuming 120k miles or less on the Lincoln, I'd rather have that than the S430.

corvette

"Am I right to say that doesn't have bun warmers, though? In Colorado? Is that allowed?"

It has them, they're part of the Cold Weather Package which also includes the folding rear seats. On the newer E90s, the bun warmer controls are on the same panel as the climate controls.

breld

Would look good next to just about anything. I wish I had that kind of dough to throw at a used car.

One question, do you prefer the AWD to the RWD?

Well, it should be close to a straight across trade for the A5 - I figure pretty good value for value, and the 335's character would be more to my liking. So financially, I can live with that.

I generally drive the Odyssey (fitted with Blizzaks) when it snows, but being here in Colorado, I guess I'd still say I prefer the AWD over the RWD, just for the added sure-footedness, as well as for resale in this region. I do appreciate the RWD dynamics of the 530i though (and no resale penalty, since it was only offered in RWD).

qbrozen

ah, OK. I see the buttons up there now.

Man, that is a sweet ride. Blue on red might be a bit flashy for me, but interesting nonetheless.

breld

That's mighty cheap. That's close to auction value.

Am I right to say that doesn't have bun warmers, though? In Colorado? Is that allowed?

Yeah, I'm always on the lookout for these 335's, and the miles may be a tad high, but generally these are going closer to $40k (may be CPO though).

This is being sold at a Honda dealership that also has a sister BMW dealership - I'm not sure why it wouldn't have been sold immediately to the BMW shop, but my guess is that the Honda store tries to sell it themselves on the quick if they can, and if not, then BMW takes it. I considered calling my salesperson at the BMW store to see if they could get it and CPO it, but then I do think it'd be several thousand more. So with almost 2 years and 23k miles left on the factory warranty, I'm thinking this is the better way to go.

So, well priced, but a one owner, clean carfax - anything else in particular to look out for on this one? Those 335's are covered under additional powertrain warranty through 100k miles, aren't they?

Thanks!

qbrozen

100k powertrain? Not that I'm aware of.

The n54 engine has some additional coverage on the turbos, but I believe this is an n55, right?

I don't have CPO on my 135i. I'm not worried. I bought one without it intentionally to save the money. Plus, I've already started modding mine, which wouldn't have been allowed to stay under warranty.

breld

Yeah, I think you're right on the N54 vs N55 and the warranty coverage.

I like the extra peace of mind that the CPO brings, but I also like the extra money in my pocket on this one. A warranty can always be purchased later if it makes sense.

xwesx

Hahaha; well, you run your old iron. Mine mostly just sits.

The F250 is winter-use only as a snow plow. Considering how much I've used it, I've put a ridiculous amount of work into it.

The C20 sees some hauling duty in the summer, but I doubt I put more than 500 miles a year on it. I'd like to restore it, actually (it mostly just needs a paint job and new wood in the bed), as it is all original at this point other than tires, bulbs, wires, plugs, and hoses, but I have to finish my house first so I have some place to do it!

The E100, well, it is primarily my seasonal tire and rabbit food storage shed (mobile!), but I take it out a couple times a summer to stir things up. It's my labor of love.... I've had it since I was thirteen. I drove it between Alaska and Oregon three times, though, and that was always an adventure. I'd almost like to make that run in it again, just for the nostalgia. Almost. :P

corvette

Word on the BMW boards is that BMWNA has started cracking down on the dealer practice of CPO-ing a car that's already in inventory when a customer requests it. I'm sure BMWNA doesn't like it (their position is that the CPO decision should be made at the time the dealer takes the car into inventory), but to me, it's not as shady as a lot of the other things dealers do.

xwesx

This Pinto is more subdued. It is the standard wagon (no portholes!), white with fake woodie. Quite the sight, for sure. My mom had let it sit for about five or six years with no distributor in it. When I picked it up from her, I spent several hours getting it running, and it was running well, but I was concerned about the internals.

My brother (who was 50% owner) wanted to take it to college at Linfield (about 250+ miles away), but I strongly encouraged him not to do so given that we had only put about 250 miles on it since the fix, and there was no telling whether it was going to hold up (I always run a minimum of 500 miles before I feel comfortable with a rebuild or major repair). Of course he didn't heed that advice, and 240 miles into his trip it threw a rod through the block.

My father recommended it go to the great beyond, but I'm a stubborn cuss. I drove down there with a car dolly, hauled it home, parked it in our quanset hut, flew back to Alaska, and there the car sits today. :sick:

fintail

For some reason I like those non-parallel B-pillar Fleetwoods. A bit pricey and I would prefer leather, but looks like a nice car. The LTD looks good too, haven't seen one of those on the road in ages. That's the cheapest running driving MB W220 I have seen, but there's a reason for that.

qbrozen

So my sister and her husband are both in need of vehicles. I am pushing them to go the leasing route because they don't take care of their cars and the husband is all about paying as little per month as possible.

So, anyone know a site or list of the cheapest current lease deals? I've just been seeking them out one by one, but there has to be a better way. So far, I've suggested the current Kia, Hyundai, Mazda, Honda, Nissan, and Chevy deals (last one was her idea... she likes the Cruze). I'm looking for anything under $200/mo for starters.

nyccarguy

Anybody driven one of these 2012 or 2013 Dodge Chargers? 370 hp V8, available AWD (RWD based), decent looking, & massive incentives for a possible purchase price of under $30K. It might be worth a look.

tjc78

Drove a 300 (same as Charger) when they first came out. Nice car with tons of power, but the interior was crappy. The newer models seemed to have corrected that.

I saw something like 4K rebates or 0% and 2K. Those are monster incentives for sure. I would also be willing to bet you can buy at invoice (minus rebates) all day long.

Kirstie_H

A reporter is looking for a new sports car buyer. If you have purchased a sports car in the past 6 months, please send your daytime contact info along with the make and model of your new car to pr@edmunds.com no later than Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 11 a.m. PT/2 p.m. ET.

michaellno

...and the husband is all about paying as little per month as possible.

So, anyone know a site or list of the cheapest current lease deals? I've just been seeking them out one by one, but there has to be a better way.

There are dealers here in Denver offering VW's for under $100/mo. Of course, there is a massive amount due at signing.

Where do they stand on that issue? Not sure there are any $0 down and under $200/mo leases available.

michaellno

Anybody driven one of these 2012 or 2013 Dodge Chargers? 370 hp V8, available AWD (RWD based), decent looking, & massive incentives for a possible purchase price of under $30K. It might be worth a look.

Not driven a 300C or Charger, but I do like the looks of the redesign very much.

My only issue is that the stance of the AWD version seems a bit off to me. I like the 'hunkered down' look of the RWD version better.

nyccarguy

Massive rebates for sure + cheapo financing. $2000 + $1500 V8 credit.

nyccarguy

I agree with the fact that the RWD looks much better and can be had with nicer wheels. While I'm sure our winters in (way) Southern New England pail in comparison to yours in Colorado, I have AWD in my current 328xi and LOVE it (the AWD & the BMW).

jayrider

You could check ridewithg dot com

ateixeira

$1500 V8 credit

Sounds like gas money.

stickguy

I would be interested in that type of site too. I do it the old fashioned way. SOme mentioned here, but mostly read the big Sunday paper. Pretty much anything being hawked like that is going to show up in ads from multiple dealers.

this week, I particularly noticed Toyota (Corolla $199 and Camry $249) and my favorite, ATS w/moonroof for $299 and only $850 at signing.

I think the Yotas were sign and drive.

Honda has some pretty aggressive deals now too. Civic and Accord.

qbrozen

Well, between their 2 cars, I figure they'll have about $5k equity.

All the ones I've shown them so far are under $200 with $2k due at signing. Of course, after adding taxes, tags, and upping the mileage to 15k, who knows?

qbrozen

suggested Civic. Thing is, she's trying to simplify and figure out a place that has 2 vehicles they'd want. With ONLY the civic as a viable option, Honda probably isn't going to be on the list.

I couldn't find any lease deals on Yota's site, or Ford's

So I'm thinking Versa + Sentra or Soul + Forte. Maybe Cruze + Traverse. I've also pointed out Jetta + Tiguan, but I don't think that one is going to fly.

nyccarguy

As a car nut, I've ALWAYS wanted a V8. With 3 kids 6 & under, my shot at getting a mustang, camaro, or challenger approved by the board of directors is slim. If I present it as: 4 doors, AWD, nice sized trunk...

corvette

A leftover 2012 Civic leaves a lot to be desired from an enthusiast's perspective, but will meet their numbers, even with zero down:

http://www.weymouthhonda.com/lease/?&code=FB2F5CEW&leasetype=2

corvette

"...4 doors, AWD, nice sized trunk..."

A BMW 550 xDrive or X5 would also meet those criteria. :P

michaellno

While I'm sure our winters in (way) Southern New England pail in comparison to yours in Colorado, I have AWD in my current 328xi and LOVE it (the AWD & the BMW).

You'd be surprised. My wife and I always claim that there are about 10 days a year where you really NEED AWD. I've driven FWD cars pretty much the whole time I've lived in Colorado (19+ years now) and I can count on the fingers of one hand how many times I wished I had AWD.

In fact, I've never even used winter tires while living in CO.

Having said that, in the 15 years we've been married, the wife and I have had 5 AWD vehicles (Expedition, Explorer, 2 VUEs and the CX-7). Even though she's a native, the wife likes the security of having AWD available to her on those days where the daughter's MINI just won't cut in on the drive to work.

For some reason, the AWD versions of the 300 and Charger are very obvious - like they are on tippy-toes. Quattro Audis, 4Matic MBs and xDrive BMWs look much like their 2WD counterparts.

breld

Well, my "trial period" with the Audi is over. We went and looked at the 335 over lunch - it checked out great so with a little haggling on the trade value, it's a done deal (or will be in a couple of hours when we go back).

Their no-haggle pricing on the BMW was solid; their trade offer was reasonable, but I did get them to come up $500 to match NADA's average trade value, so overall feel good about the whole thing.

The 335 is in great shape - no dings, scratches, chips that I could see. Windows are tinted and clear bra is already installed, so a couple of things that I would normally do are done.

The red interior is not nearly as bright as in the pictures - much more subdued. I still don't know if I'd choose it if I were to order the car, but since this one has it, it's sort of fun.

So, an m-sport, manual, navigation 335xi. They've been hard to come by, and we've actually had a couple we were interested in that sold quicker than we could decide, so I'm excited about getting our hands on this one.

breld

Yeah, Michael's right. When Colorado gets hit with a big storm, dropping 3-4 feet of snow in the metro area, it makes national news, but the reality is that happens rarely (none in the past couple seasons) and even when it does, the sun's out the next day or two and it all melts away.

But I do like having AWD, even recognizing that a lot of it is mental. Havings said that, given snowy/icy conditions, I'd take our Odyssey with Blizzaks over the X3 with all-seasons any day. Now, my previous CX-9 with Blizzaks - that inspired a lot of confidence in the snowy conditions.

xwesx

Congrats!

It looks like a fun car. I'm not a big fan of sedans, but I could go for that one. It's funny that the steering wheel looks nearly identical to the on in my Forester (shape/styling/buttons).

I thought the interior was a bit garish upon first glance, but I think I would feel much differently about it in person. That car looks like it has some spirit - enough to keep you interested for a while, anyway!

roadburner

Good deal on a great car!

nyccarguy

Congrats! You will LOVE that car! Awesome color combination! Mazel-Tov & congratulations!

nyccarguy

True, but find me one under $30K;)

nyccarguy

I'd probably agree with you that there are probably only 10 days a year here where the AWD is necessary. From 2002 - 2011 I got by with snow tires on my FWD Prelude & NEVER got stuck. I also know that AWD/4WD helps you start, & the added weight probably hampers avoidance maneuvers & braking performance in the snow.

I'm also pretty sure that A LOT of how well my 328xi drives in the snow has to do with the traction & stability control. Shut those off and my car will spin & slide if I want it to.

Maybe it does give me a false confidence. Back in my younger days on edmunds, I'd argue that all one needs is RWD & dedicated snow tires. Now, the snow tires are such a pain, especially since 4 tires wouldn't fit in my 328xi.

oldfarmer50

"...dodge Chargers..."

As a former rabid Chrysler supporter I am ashamed to say I wouldn't buy one. Much too heavy (4000 pounds+ IIRC)

The really big motors move it along but you could get a lot of other cars just as fast that wouldn't eat gas.

Rented one with a 3.5L a few years ago and it was nothing special. It sure didn't give me the same thrill up the leg that my 74 Charger did.

oldfarmer50

"...always wanted a V-8..."

Oh, now I understand. I'd still look for something lighter in weight.

There is nothing quite like the torque of a good V-8.

corvette

Congratulations! If that car had an automatic and was a year or two older (and thus a little less expensive), I might be on a flight out there to drive it home!