Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

michaellno

Updated:

2012 Punch List:
02/15/12 breld 2012 BMW X3
02/28/12 breld 2009 Honda Odyssey
03/22/12 nyccarguy 2011 BMW 328xi (lease)
07/31/12 breld 2011 Audi A5
08/05/12 qbrozen 1998 Volvo S70
08/20/12 breld 2007 VW Beetle
11/xx/12 jayrider 2012 Buick LaCrosse AWD
12/17/12 mark156 2013 Honda CR-V EXL w/ nav
12/23/12 anon 2013 Honda Accord

2013 Punch List:
01/08/13 breld 2011 BMW 335xi
01/11/13 steine13 2013 Chevrolet Cruze LT (lease)
01/15/13 breld 2010 BMW 328xi wagon
01/18/13 qbrozen 2013 Nissan Leaf (lease)
01/19/13 anon 2013 Toyota Sienna (lease)

Punch guesses for 2013:
Michaell 15-17
Stickguy 25
Qbrozen 28
Au1994 30
Nyccarguy 38
Rayainsw 39
Ateixeira 40

stickguy

my 3 (or 4?)

2/15/12 - 2007 Volvo S40
8/31/12 - 2013 Acura RDX AWD
*9/12/12 - Took the first RDX back, and got the one they were supposed to give us, so count the 2 as 1 punch.
12/21/12 - 2000 Acura Integra LS

nyccarguy

remember this 2001 Integra GSR with 13,533 miles? What were they asking for it, $18.5? It is now down to $16,500. How low will it go?

michaellno

The deal for the RDX was consummated on 8/31 - that's the one I'm going to record:

2012 Punch List:
02/15/12 breld 2012 BMW X3
02/15/12 stickguy 2007 Volvo S40
02/28/12 breld 2009 Honda Odyssey
03/22/12 nyccarguy 2011 BMW 328xi (lease)
07/31/12 breld 2011 Audi A5
08/05/12 qbrozen 1998 Volvo S70
08/20/12 breld 2007 VW Beetle
08/31/12 stickguy 2013 Acura RDX AWD
11/xx/12 jayrider 2012 Buick LaCrosse AWD
12/17/12 mark156 2013 Honda CR-V EXL w/ nav
12/21/12 stickguy 2000 Acura Integra LS
12/23/12 anon 2013 Honda Accord

2013 Punch List:
01/08/13 breld 2011 BMW 335xi
01/11/13 steine13 2013 Chevrolet Cruze LT (lease)
01/15/13 breld 2010 BMW 328xi wagon
01/18/13 qbrozen 2013 Nissan Leaf (lease)
01/19/13 anon 2013 Toyota Sienna (lease)

Punch guesses for 2013:
Michaell 15-17
Stickguy 25
Qbrozen 28
Au1994 30
Nyccarguy 38
Rayainsw 39
Ateixeira 40

So far, that's 12 for 2012 and 5 in 2013. Any more guesses from the crowd?

stever

When you first started this list I was going to choose somewhere in the low 60s. After lurking in the weeds (on no, group think may hammer me! :shades: ), I'm going to slot in at 36.

If nothing else, if I'm in the lead on December 15th, it'll encourage Nyccarguy to hit the showrooms.

ateixeira

Time capsule, but not a Type R, so it will go lower.

andre1969

Don't forget to add my 2012 Dodge Ram...9/23/12.

stickguy

got some details on the Cobra my BIL is getting. I saw a picture (it is silver with black stripes, not common but sharp). Fresh build with 540 miles on it.

Rouch engine. It is a "427polished IR (fuel injected). Way to much engine but being considered used you don't have choice if you want the car. All the pwr can't even be put to the ground in car this light. 556hp 537 ft lb torque"

Considering this must weigh 2,500#s at most, that is a pwr/weight ratio of about 4. That is obscene. not sure what you can even do with something like this. Other than look at it in the garage.

corvette

If we're doing a 2012 list, I technically bought my 2003 540i on 12/30/2011, but took delivery on 1/12/2012. Not sure whether that counts for 2012 or not.

ateixeira

What counts is when you drive it off the lot!

breld

Oh, I'm sure we'll end up at the Denver Auto Show at some point. I see it's in March this year - seems like the past couple of years it's crept into April.

As it gets closer we should see if we can coordinate schedules.

kyfdx

Hopefully, I won't add one to it, this year, but that's not how the smart money bets...

nyccarguy

Not me. Not this year Steve. My '01 Prelude Type SH is staying put. My wife's 2011 Pilot EXL w/ NAV is a 10 year vehicle (hopefully), & my BMW lease isn't up until September 2014. I do not ANTICIPATE a punch for us this year. But thanks for your kind words of encouragement.

stickguy

Hmm, cheap luxury though a bit miley. At least you will be unique. 1 owner from an expensive town, I like that.

http://southjersey.craigslist.org/cto/3568512982.html

cheap euro, complete with KM speedo.

http://southjersey.craigslist.org/cto/3558554115.html

expensive euro. Who would have expected 2 in the same area, 2 towns apart?

http://southjersey.craigslist.org/cto/3475959829.html

is an espaider the electric version of a normal spaider?

http://southjersey.craigslist.org/cto/3569393502.html

a grille for Mr. C.

http://southjersey.craigslist.org/cto/3514107733.html

anonymousposts

We had a total of 4 in 2012....

2007 Toyota RAV4
2012 Toyota Prius
2008 Honda Odyssey
2013 Accord (already included)

nyccarguy

Those X-Types are interesting. Just as a point of reference, my Uncle who lives in Southern, NH had 2 of them. The first was a 2.5 & then when the lease was up, he got a 3.0. He LOVED both cars. The 2.5 was Honda reliable. No trips to the shop other than scheduled maintenance. The 3.0 was basically problem free. Except for one day in a nasty, New England snow storm, when the transfer case just s%$t the bed out of nowhere while he was driving on I-93.

oldbearcat

The X-Types are very interesting. I owned two of them - a 2003 2.5 and a 2006 3.0 model. They're reasonably quick, great in snow/rain, and handle very well. The 2.5 Model was my favorite of the two - the engine was smooth like a gas turbine, and, pulled strongly all the way to redline. The 3.0 model had more low end grunt, but, the drivetrain wasn't as smooth and quiet as the 2.5 model's. While I owned them, both had to visit the dealer a few times to get gremlins sorted out, but, neither ever stranded me anywhere. They were both great long trip cars.

Regards:
Oldbearcat

steine13

I'll slot in after stickguy in '12:

08/31/12 stickguy 2013 Acura RDX AWD
09/14/12 steine13 1995 Toyota Camry 123k

I also move used-car buyers add the mileage to their sled...

And put me down for an Outback in '13.

I'm sitting on $3k in "Subaru bucks" that need spending... Plus, the girls just managed to buy a leaky milk container and spilled a half a glass of 2% milk on the passenger seat of the '07 Vibe... I think they're trying to tell me something...

Cheers -Mathias

michaellno

anon - do you have the approximate purchase dates for the first three? I'd like to keep the list in chronological order....

Also, I don't see a 2013 guess from you.

steine - if folks provide me with the mileage of their used car purchases I'll be happy to include them on the line item.

fintail

The first 928 is cool, with that op-art "Pasha" interior. Too bad maintenance on those is insane.

ateixeira

The "Espaider" looks to have an ill-fitting replacement top, probably not OEM. Check out the finish on the driver's side, compare to the passenger side.

I put a top on my NA Miata myself and I did a better job than that. First time I had used a rivet gun, too.

Wonder where else they cut corners?

breld

Let's see, 3 of our 4 purchases in 2012 were used:

2009 Odyssey had 45k miles
2011 A5 had 17k miles
2007 Beetle had 56k miles

Both our 2013 punches were used:

2011 335xi had 27k miles
2010 328xiT had 21k miles

Thanks Michael!

anonymousposts

01/29/2012 - Toyota RAV4 - 72k
05/2/2012 - Toyota Prius - new
9/25/2012 - 08 Odyssey - 57k
12/23/2012 - 2013 Accord - new

2013 guess - 31

michaellno

Thanks, breld and anon, for the updates ... I now have 18 punches for 2012 and 5 for 2013.

I'm still pretty confident with my guess of 15-17 for 2013. As I look at the 2012 punches I see a number of purchases from people who probably won't punch again this year (andre, jayrider, corvette).

Updated list:

2012 Punch List:
01/12/12 corvette 2003 BMW 540i
01/29/12 anon 2007 Toyota RAV4 72K
02/15/12 breld 2012 BMW X3
02/15/12 stickguy 2007 Volvo S40
02/28/12 breld 2009 Honda Odyssey 45K
03/22/12 nyccarguy 2011 BMW 328xi (lease)
05/02/12 anon 2012 Toyota Prius
07/31/12 breld 2011 Audi A5 17K
08/05/12 qbrozen 1998 Volvo S70
08/20/12 breld 2007 VW Beetle 56K
08/31/12 stickguy 2013 Acura RDX AWD
09/14/12 steine13 1995 Toyota Camry 123K
09/23/12 andre1969 2012 Dodge Ram
09/25/12 anon 2008 Honda Odyssey 57K
11/xx/12 jayrider 2012 Buick LaCrosse AWD
12/17/12 mark156 2013 Honda CR-V EXL w/ nav
12/21/12 stickguy 2000 Acura Integra LS
12/23/12 anon 2013 Honda Accord

2013 Punch List:
01/08/13 breld 2011 BMW 335xi 27K
01/11/13 steine13 2013 Chevrolet Cruze LT (lease)
01/15/13 breld 2010 BMW 328xi wagon 21K
01/18/13 qbrozen 2013 Nissan Leaf (lease)
01/19/13 anon 2013 Toyota Sienna (lease)

Punch guesses for 2013:
Michaell 15-17
Stickguy 25
Qbrozen 28
Au1994 30
Anon 31
Steve 36
Nyccarguy 38
Rayainsw 39
Ateixeira 40
Kyfdx 45

rayainsw

I have obviously not kept track of the numbers
of 'punches' here - so I am rather surprised.
- Ray
0 punches in 2012 = provisional CCBA card extension ?

michaellno

I have obviously not kept track of the numbers of 'punches' here - so I am rather surprised.

0 punches in 2012 = provisional CCBA card extension ?

Surprised by how many or how few punches there were in 2012?

I'm living vicariously through you guys. My last punch was February 2011. I hope that by maintaining this list I'll be granted my CCBA extension gratis.

ateixeira

You're both on probation.

I should talk, I got 3 new cars in 2008-2009 but then a dry spell since!

michaellno

You're both on probation.

I'm in serious danger of losing my card, then. No punches expected for the family for at least two more years.

And, even then, I've got to convince the wife that:

1) It's ok to have more cars than drivers
2) It's ok for me to get a new / used car even though I work from home

stickguy

OK. the 2007 Volvo had 91K on it. The 2000 Integra had 166K on it (barely broken in).

laurasdada

Two punches in '11, none since. However, daughter heads to college in the fall, leaving the 11 year old SUV behind. Mine to use in the winter, since my car don't go in snow (literally, wide summer tires), but she's getting just tear-inspiring mpg in her local driving. So, do I trade it for something more economical, a cute-ute? Love the utility of the RX, so would like to have a hauler available. Of course, the potential out of pocket $ will probably more than offset any mpg saving. But, I haven't bought a new car in almost two years!!!

laurasdada

Looking at the pix of Ol' Farmer's future Celica's front end got me to thinking: Auto mfg. logos- The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. I'll start with just one of each, of course one could add many to each. And add categories, e.g. The Classic or The Most Descriptive. Maybe I will:

The Good: BMW. Simple, colorful, motion.
The Bad: Hyundai. Weak, amorphous.
The Ugly: Toyota. Interlinked blobs.
The Classic: Mercedes Benz. Elegance and class.
The Most Descriptive: Ferrari. Power, pasion and performance. May be the best (along w/MB).

jayrider

Check out a Prius for your daughter. Roomy and very reliable. New or a 2010 to save bucks. 30k on my 2010 and ZERO problems.

michaellno

Mine to use in the winter, since my car don't go in snow (literally, wide summer tires), but she's getting just tear-inspiring mpg in her local driving. So, do I trade it for something more economical, a cute-ute? Love the utility of the RX, so would like to have a hauler available. Of course, the potential out of pocket $ will probably more than offset any mpg saving.

Only if the savings at the pump meets or exceeds the payment.

I've thought about that a lot as I drive around delivering pizzas. My ION gets 23-25MPG. What if I traded it in for a Prius C? 53 city, 49 hwy, 50 combined. So, double the MPG of what I'm getting now.

I probably get 220-260 miles to a tank before I refill .. 10 or 11 gallons. The Prius C has a 9.5 gallon tank and would probably fill up with 8-8.5 gallons. So 400-425 miles to a tank.

Figure 3 gallons saved per fill up ($9 with recent RUG pricing), but I would need to fill up only half as much. Right now I fill up every 5 or 6 days - so, double that to 10-12 days. 11 gallons at $3/gal is $33 - multiply that by three and I'm at $100/mo savings. Plus the $10 I'd save each month with the smaller fill ups.

Can't buy or lease a Prius C for $110/mo.

Sucks when logic overpowers emotion when it comes to cars.

ateixeira

Logic has absolutely no place in here, young man! Now go to your room garage!

laurasdada

Logic and math. Now my head hurts.

nyccarguy

Where on god's green earth are you buying gas for $3/ gallon?

michaellno

Where on god's green earth are you buying gas for $3/ gallon?

Colorado. I filled up the ION for $2.759/gal for RUG on Wednesday. It's gone up $.04 since then, so I suspect that we bottomed out this past week.

PUG is just under $3/gal at my local station, and probably around $3.10 for the 91 octane V-power at the local Shell.

michaellno

Logic and math. Now my head hurts.

Sorry, it's the nature of my job ... operations manager. Dealing with figures and what they mean.

As Mark Twain once said, "There are lies, damned lies, and statistics!"

breld

Have to admit, I've been curious enough to look at what used Prius's are going for. Nice to hear you've had a good experience with yours.

With the recent 335xi acquisition, the 530i doesn't serve much purpose other than sort of a "collectible" thing (nothing wrong with that).

So with all the miles I drive, I still would kinda like something that is practical and gets great gas mileage. I was strongly considering a VW TDI for awhile, and still am, but also have been intrigued with the Lexus CT200h, as they've started showing up on the used market. But my main reservation is the size, so naturally a Prius seems like a logical consideration.

Or with the X3 gone, I wouldn't mind a small SUV, like a CX-5 or CR-V.

But, I am trying to hold out the rest of the year with no more purchases.

Really.

oldfarmer50

2007 Jag---a guy at work had one, loved it but suddenly sold it. Wonder why?

Porsche---saw a 944 at my local garage. They wouldn't tell me who owned it or even what year it was. Very protective. Looked very much like those. Were/are 944s and 928s very similar? I confess to not knowing much about different Porsches other than they look cool and I can't afford one.

Eclipse---those 2Gs are very popular cars. If it was the AWD turbo I would grab it. My neighbor had a 99 hardtop with 88k miles for sale for $4800. Nice paint and ground effects. Looked good without being tarted up. I don't think he got his price.

48---I wonder if those really old cars are more fun to look at than drive.

fintail

944s and 928s are unrelated. 924s however look very much like 944s.

stickguy

too cheap? If legit, will go super quick, and if I had an open spot in the fleet, would be calling.

http://southjersey.craigslist.org/cto/3571639329.html

kyfdx

Too cheap for those miles. I just got $5K for a '92 Acura Legend. I would take that Volvo over it in a minute.

xwesx

I think I'll not be in that boat (Subaru Bucks) for another 18-20 months, at which point the oldest of my $4K in bucks will start expiring. Who knows, though, I may just keep cycling a couple hundred each year just to push the date back a little. I'm pretty happy with our '10 Forester, Subaru doesn't look like they'll bring the diesel state-side any time soon, and they don't have anything compelling on the roster right now.

I purchased the Fiesta on 8/23/12, used, 13.9K. I'm going to be reasonably conservative-yet-optimistic and shoot for 22 in 2013.

-Wes-

xwesx

Sucks when logic overpowers emotion when it comes to cars.

You and me both. There are quite a few cars I'd love to have, but my practical side precludes me from buying them.

As for oldfarmer's comment on old cars, I'd say that's absolutely true. Yet, somehow, I still find driving them to be fun (and I think fintail would agree). If they were driven on a daily basis, though, the novelty would wear off pretty quick.

oldfarmer50

"...Prius for $110..."

I don't think the Prius ever made sense on purely economic grounds. Try one of those super economical gas-sippers like the Fit or Sonic.

oldfarmer50

"...if legit..."

Too good to be true. There's probably a body in the trunk.

But yeah, call anyway.

You can always dig a hole in the backyard for the extra...um...equipment.

oldfarmer50

How about this beauty? Is there a collector's premium for being the last one ever built?

http://albany.craigslist.org/cto/3548896810.html

ateixeira

12 year old "as is", could have issues. Parts are expensive, he probably got a $2k repair estimate and decided to dump it.

ateixeira

It can though, look at resale.

Just sell it when gas prices spike. Used Prius prices get absurd.

Auto Fit gets 30mpg but Prius gets 50. Diminishing returns at that point, but when you account for resale the math makes sense.