Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

Sandman6472

Wonder why your insurance carrier has no problem with you doing this but Metlife said no to me? I know the drivers here in South Florida are a bit on the crazy side but still! Too bad because I felt good about this gig...had a good vibe and the two office managers seemed pretty decent when they were interviewing me. They seemed to communicate well which I am finding is key to the perfect worker/boss dynamic. They seemed pretty level and low key where my current guy is a bit high strung... see it when things don't go as planned. In the beginning, my co-workers knew what signs to look for and damn, they were right! The few things that he does when the stress level kicks in happened just as they predicted...it was incredible to watch as everything they said that would happen...did. The walking around in circles, the head and hand gestures, the twitching of the head...it all happened like on cue. When the sarcasm kicks in, I know it's not a good sign as well as the talking behind our backs. Others have reported back word for word what he says about me and it is disturbing. I need another job I think!

The Sandman

Sandman6472

I am also at 7 years 4 months on my Civic, bought June of 2006. Doesn't seem that long but damn, it surely is! Get compliments that it looks brand new once it is cleaned up and being garaged at night definitely helps...the paint is pretty flawless and it hasn't been clayed ever. Do keep it waxed regularly though which does help and the front seats/headrests have always had covers. I tend to take pretty good care of my vehicles if allowed to do so and maintain them always. I just need it to start every time so am willing to do what is necessary to make sure it never leaves me stranded.

The Sandman

Michaell

We bought the ION in June 2006 as well.

My insurance company doesn't know about my part-time gig.

jayrider

Consider them informed !!! You are welcome. [winky]

nyccarguy

Softer ride & yes would smoke my 328xi in a straight line. MPG probably isn't outstanding, but better than the 22 I'm averaging.

sb55

Why can an insurance Co. say no? Is it because you will do more miles? Do you need a business policy? I would get quotes from another company.

Sandman6472

We just got this company last February I think and they will see once the one year renewal comes around that my mileage has gone up about 10k miles, so I know our rate is going to go up by a good amount. Right now I do not use my vehicle for work but to get there. If I did take this courier job, my mileage would go up dramatically and I wouldn't lie if they asked why...it's grounds for them to drop your coverage. Besides, my wife thinks that getting paid just $.60/mile isn't worth it as the government rate is right around $.545/mile...she thinks they should be paying more for all the wear and tear and depreciation. I already emailed them that I would have to decline this great opportunity at this time. Maybe sometime in the future things will be different and I could work for them but now is not the right time I guess.

The Sandman

stever

Insurance companies are funny about risk. (carinsurance.com)

oldfarmer50

"...sure it isn't much..."

Don't be so sure. My district pays about $23/hr. With full bennies and defined benefit pension which is obscenely generous for a part-time job. Of course after NY taxes it probably equals $13 in Florida.

They have slapped so many regulations on a job that used to be done by farmers and housewives that they are constantly short drivers.

The drug testing alone eliminates 50% of the population.

"...if you tear up a leased car..."

I'm not sure. Yes, if you bang up the sheet metal you will get dinged but from what I've read, as long as it looks good they don't care if you bust the suspension or forget to change the oil.

Sandman6472

But I can see their point especially when it comes to their liability. I will just look for something else where my vehicle is not used. For the time being, my current gig is still running so I am good. this courier position would've been slotted in for those times I don't work and then it would've been more and more. I know things will work out and maybe the Hertz gig will come through and then all my problems would be solved. I love to drive so it is a good fit for me. I am not upset just a bit let down...that job would've been fun!

The Sandman

Sandman6472

Those yellow buses seem awfully big but I guess after awhile, one does get used to it and making wider than normal turns. A real shame that kids today show little respect for their elders...I know we were very polite growing up as we lived in a small town and my parents ever got wind that we were disrespectful to anyone, they would've "taken care of business"! That disrespect stuff was just not tolerated in our house one bit...we were brought up right and all had manners and I made sure my kids were brought up the same way!

The Sandman

stever

Agreed. I suppose you could ask your carrier about a rider. Might not be all that expensive.

Over the years, we've paid a lot of folks, many of them retirees, to shuttle our car on river trips so it'll be waiting for us at the take-out. Maybe you could come up with some idea like that - running shuttle for bike tourers (sag wagon!) or saltwater kayakers or who knows. Pretty seasonal work in most places, but maybe not where you are.

Getting a CDL isn't that expensive and might look good on your resume (probably raise more red flags with your insurance company though). Law and medical offices and title companies use couriers all the time (most hire a company like the one you talked to), but some outfits are big enough that they want their own in-house driver. Friend of mind really miled up his Subaru delivering paperwork for a title company but only worked "twice" a day, unless there was a rush job.

Working for Hertz gets you into a lot of different cars though. :-)

oldfarmer50

"...she really liked that Sebring Convertible..."

Sandy, I forget where in Florida you are but Miami Craigslist has 991 Sebring convertibles for sale. I have it from some of your neighbors that the best time to buy is in the spring.

I prefer the 1996-2000 models because they had the Mitsubishi V6 engine rather than the later Chrysler 2.7 which could sludge if the oil wasn't changed.

Those are also dirt cheap.

oldfarmer50

"...do you need a business policy..."

Perhaps but my farm van is insured under the same policy as my other cars and the company certainly knows because they write my farm business policy as well. You would think any company could add a rider for a few bucks.

isellhondas

When I was 17 years old and having a tough time finding a job, I landed a job delivering the L.A. Times in my beater '52 Chevy.

At the time a whopping 150.00 a month for two (or three) hours of miserable work every morning sounded pretty good.

After I realized I was spending 3.00 a day on gas not to mention the terrible
wear and tear on my car I suddenly knew why the District Manager ALWAYS had an ad for delivery people running in the paper.

I didn't get the tips either.

One morning, the old Chevy backfired and blew the muffler apart. I think I got 20 complaints that day as I woke up the entire neighborhood.

I can't remember now if I quit or ended up getting fired after I told the manager that 150.00 per month didn't make financial sense.

ohenryx

my wife thinks that getting paid just $.60/mile isn't worth it as the government rate is right around $.545/mile

Say what? In my experience, it’s rather uncommon for anyone to pay more than the standard government allowed amount per mile. This outfit was offering you a full 10% over the government standard, and your wife doesn’t think it’s enough?

So let me ask you a question: What do YOU think about the 60 cents per mile? It is your car, correct?

stickguy

if the .60 is in lieu of getting paid, then it is not such a good deal.

the gov't allowance is just intended to cover the use of the car. Not pay for your time.

ohenryx

if the .60 is in lieu of getting paid, then it is not such a good deal.


Was that stated anywhere up above? If so, I completely missed it. I was assuming the 60 cents per mile was in addition to being paid for your time. If that is indeed the only reimbursement, then I have to agree, not nearly enough.

On a side note, there are people here on the forums talking about delivering pizza as a part time job. Do you get paid mileage when you do that, or is it strictly wages and tips?

Michaell

On a side note, there are people here on the forums talking about delivering pizza as a part time job. Do you get paid mileage when you do that, or is it strictly wages and tips?

That would be me. I don't get "mileage", per se, but I do get a percentage of the delivery fee charged to the customer. The total of these delivery charges are added onto the tips I've earned as part of the cash I walk out of the store with.

My hourly wages are paid through a normal paycheck.

I'm pretty sure that the delivery fee paid to the driver varies by chain, and perhaps even by franchisee within the same chain.

As a point of reference, even though October is only half over, I've already earned $470 in tips and delivery fees in just over 39 hours worked.

payson

We bought a new '86 Accord LXi hatchback 5 speed too. Was a fun car for the 4 years we had it. We liked the retractable headlights too, I think it was a nice looking car for the times.

ohenryx

As a point of reference, even though October is only half over, I've already earned $470 in tips and delivery fees in just over 39 hours worked.

39 hours and how many miles driven? (If you don't mind my asking.)

oldfarmer50

"...a job delivering the LA Times..."

I delivered papers on my bike starting at 12. Even in the winter snow. When I got my license at 16 I ditched that loser job for the high-powered world of professional dishwasher at the local Howard Johnson's.

Worst job I ever held but I could DRIVE to it!

Michaell

39 hours and how many miles driven? (If you don't mind my asking.)

I don't mind ..

I can drive anywhere from 40-100 miles per shift, depending on how many runs I have for a shift and how far away they are from the store. The 39 hours is 10 shifts so far in October, so figure about 700 miles driven, give or take.

isellhondas

I hope you've done the math. ALL of the math including the depreciation from all of those extra miles.

As far as that pizza smell. I'm glad you like it because it'll stay fro a long time.

jayrider

The neuro-muscular parts of your body used for getting in and out of your car must be phenomenally well developed. That's the good news. The bad news is that you probably need a physical therapist to help you into the passenger side due to atrophy.

Michaell

I hope you've done the math. ALL of the math including the depreciation from all of those extra miles.

As far as that pizza smell. I'm glad you like it because it'll stay fro a long time.

We bought the ION new in June 2006 - 7 years 4 months (88 months). It just clicked over 97,000 miles a week or two ago. So I'm averaging 1100 miles per month, or just over 13K per year. I wouldn't expect it to be worth much in trade, and I figure there isn't much depreciation left in it, so any miles I put on won't affect the value all that much.

I plan to drive it as long as I keep delivering. In all the years I've been driving, I've never taken a car over 100K miles. I suspect I'll hit that before the end of the year.

kyfdx

Yeah.. all that free pizza probably isn't helping, either... ;-)

Michaell

The neuro-muscular parts of your body used for getting in and out of your car must be phenomenally well developed. That's the good news. The bad news is that you probably need a physical therapist to help you into the passenger side due to atrophy.

Funny you should make that observation - I am rarely a passenger in any car, but on the occasions where I am, I do notice a bit more difficultly getting in and out, even in the wife's CX-7.

The exercise certainly doesn't hurt.

breld

Regarding the potential Veloster replacement, my wife and I have made several short shopping trips over the past week to get some ideas. Top candidates at this point are:

Jettas - considering the new body style, 'cause there are a ton of them at good prices, but we are really liking the last generation. We drove a 2010 "Limited Edition" earlier today. Being the last year for that model, I think the "limited edition" part translates to some alloys, sunroof and a leather steering wheel. Definitely much higher quality on that generation versus the current one (GLI excepted, of course). There are a ton of these 2010's out there (lease returns I'm sure). Many CPO'd, listed around $15k-$16k - thinking maybe for around $14-$15k would be a good car.

The 2.5l VW engine is a bit course, but it has decent torque and I believe it's pretty bulletproof.

Also looked at a 2008 Jetta Wolfsburg (with the 2.0T) that only had 28k miles. Listed at $13.9k - would be a nice and fun car at around $12k?

TSX - we also looked at a 2005 TSX that only had 33k miles on it. Very nice condition. Listed for $16k - thinking $14k or so would be fair. Happens to be the same color as the 2004 I owned several years ago.

Civic - we've driven several Civics and have decided that if we got one, we'd want a 2013. So that's very limiting on used ones, and there doesn't seem to be great deals yet on new ones.

My gut tells me we're gonna end up with a previous gen Jetta - nicer quality, ride and sound insulation than most other compacts. And there are a lot of them out there, CPO'd, for reasonable prices.

xwesx

Sounds like you're doing pretty good with it, Michaell! We put that many miles per year on our cars without a delivery job to assist!

We returned home from our trip at nearly four years to the day from when I took delivery of our Forester in September of 2009, and we had 68,809 on the ticker. That's an average of over 17,000 miles per year, but, to be fair, we basically put a year's worth of miles on it in five weeks. So, average in a fifth "year" to be realistic, and that's still over 13K a year.

I also put about 17,000 on my Fiesta in the first year of my ownership. :sick:

Sandman6472

Nope, no additional pay but the $.60/mile so she said that's nuts. I already turned it down as it is not fair to just leave them hanging. I did send in my resume and a nice cover letter to that Hertz location where I am once a week and hopefully the manager will understand that they have a great employee within their place during the week and will grab me for the part time gig. less work for them because they already know me and seem to like my work. A win/win actually!

The Sandman

Sandman6472

Also called up on a red 2005 TSX locally but it has a bit over 78k on the clock. The pics look good but have not gone over yet. Was thinking of picking up another vehicle to keep the miles off my Civic so I can keep it that much longer. They are asking about $8500 for the TSX so I am assuming that maybe $7900 could bring it home but think the wife would have a fit if I did that but I have always loved that generation TSX, just small enough for me but nice interior trappings. Or my neighbor mentioned a Miata this morning as he knows I want "fun"...he just got the Porsche a month or two ago and he loves it, he doesn't use it too much yet but think that will change once the weather gets a bit cooler down here. Not really sure what I plan to do but I am leaning towards the Miata right now just to make myself happy! I deserve to be happy now!

The Sandman

stickguy

I like the gen 1 TSX too. Perfect overall package. But, in your case, can't possibly be cost effective. The Civic is such low miles, just drive it. You will never really use it up.

A Miata? Well, toys are a different story. But try it out carefully with your back. Not easy to get in and out. And make sure the wife can do it too! Honestly, from what you have written, I would peg you as more of a Chrysler convertible or a toyata.

Sandman6472

Yes, the best thing to do is just drive the Civic until it gets to be 10 or 11, as by then, I will be really bored and want to upgrade. And yes, a Sebring or 200 drop top is probably the best way to go because egress and ingress will be too difficult with a Miata but they are really sporty and the perfect size...and would fit on my side of the garage! But this is all talk right now because I am not doing a thing until the wife gets her new vehicle, whenever that will be. I have driven a few 2013 3 I's at work and though not as quick as her S model, they drive very similarly to hers so if she goes for another Mazda3, I think she'll find the familiarity comforting...she says it is the easiest vehicle she has ever driven so why not just do a repeat here. I have a feeling she won't like the Accent as much and I prefer the styling of the Rio personally. I also know she wants to stay under the $20k price point and doubt the S model will slip in under her preferred price point though the sub-compacts will. But as long as her a/c continues to work, she's staying put in it and even if it breaks, I think she'll just have me repair it and soldier on. Her call here!
Drove an Elantra over to Ft. Myers from Miami yesterday and truth be told, the seat wasn't that comfortable for my back...hoping the Limited's power seat would solve this issue as it can be positioned in an infinite ways. All I know is that I definitely want...and need, a power drivers seat in whatever I end up with eventually as I don't see me getting any better, just possibly worse. Many times, a few of my co-workers will save a vehicle with a power seat for me which is very nice...they all see how I suffer some days and do try to help me get through. Especially on lot to lot, which is constant in and out, they have been very kind because after a few hours of that, my limp gets noticeably worse and I tend to slow up dramatically. I do it because I have to unlike a few others who refuse out right to do lot to lot but I prefer a trip as it is easier on my spine. Am just happy that I can do any kind of work because honestly, we never thought I would ever go back to work...and that became a sore spot at home. I definitely have done a 180 since I started last January and am a happier guy...the old "me" is back and many folks who haven't seen me in awhile have mentioned this fact...I am not the same person as I was when I was in the thick of my chronic pain a few years back. The mindset is a very powerful thing I've found and since I decided to not let the pain rule my life, life has gotten so much better and happier for all of us here. I thank G-d every morning for it all and am very blessed!

The Sandman

stickguy

Getting a little old/miley, but conceptually, this is absolutely the perfect car for me. Useful, fun, compact, style, etc. Just right for what I like and need.

http://torchlightmotors.com/2001-BMW-3SeriesSportWagon/Used-Wagon/Parlin-NJ/5241- /3456908/Details.aspx

Michaell

Earlier this year Carmax opened two stores in the Denver area. One of them happens to be just a few miles from where my wife is teaching a Saturday class, so I took the CX-7 down for an appraisal. Just to see - no plans to sell or trade, just wanted to know how the process is done.

Consider it on the job research now that I'm a host here. :-)

Here are the car details, using the format seen in Real World Trade in Values.

Location - Denver CO
Vehicle - 2010 Mazda CX-7 Grand Touring
Miles -41000
Equipment - fully loaded with Bose stereo, nav and backup camera
Condition - a few small door dings, but otherwise in really good shape. New tires with only 5K on them

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to guess the value placed on it by the good folks at Carmax. I'll entertain guesses until Monday morning, at which point I'll reveal the answer.

Good luck!

stickguy

$16,178 Drew

stever

Hm, TMV as a trade-in for my zip code is $16,884 and CarMax supposedly hasn't been paying "good" numbers for a few years now.

So....$15,250.

stickguy

Darn, I was pretty close.

I just pulled my guess out of thin air.

stever

Well, we may both be low (or high, lol). Just not sure I trust CarMax to go with TMV (but it's a new store, maybe they want some good inventory).

breld

Spent a good portion of the day shopping yesterday. Michael, if you were at the carmax on Broadway, we probably passed you a few times on test drives - we were down at McDonald VW and Courtesy Acura most of the afternoon.

Anyhow...

We showed my stepdaughter the 2005 TSX. She liked it okay but said she preferred the Jetta. Fine by us. But this Acura dealership also had an '08 Audi A3 - FWD, DSG, premium package with the pano sunroof. And, only 37k miles. We drove that, loved it, but since the daughter said she liked that and the Jetta about the same, we thought we should go work on a Jetta. More on this later....

Went to the VW dealership where we had bought our GTI - the salesperson we used and liked is now a manager and we ended up dealing mostly with him. A 2010 Jetta "Limited Edition" with a sunroof in the color combo we like most, 29k miles, CPO.

Over at RWTIV, Q had pegged the Jetta at a $10.5k trade, maybe $14k retail on a CPO. $15k for our Veloster. Pretty much exactly what I had thought. So, I was shooting for $2k difference (to us), anything worse than $1k we'd walk. The best we got to was our car PLUS $1,500. They came to $15k for the Hyundai (which I think is the right number), but stuck to $16.5k for the Jetta. Seemed way too much for the 3 year old Jetta, which is pretty much a base model with alloys and a sunroof.

Kindly thanked the manager at VW and decided to try to deal on the A3 down the road.

So, on the A3, I was shooting for a straight across trade, figuring the trade value of the Audi to be around $13k (guessing based on on-line sources). Long story short, after some back and forth, they got to their best number of our Hyundai plus $1,000. Thought it was a pretty good deal and we were ready to accept it, but I thought I'd double check with our daughter one more time - "I think this is going to happen - just want to make sure you like this car at least as well as the Jetta." To which she replied, "Can we just do a Jetta?" :confuse: :mad: :confuse:

Apparently my wife didn't talk to her the whole way home (we had driven separately).

Yes, my wife and I really liked the A3 and that was part of it, but the frustration was that she could've let us in on her preference an hour earlier BEFORE we started the negotiation.

At the end of the day, the Jetta is probably the better choice for her over an Audi, and she herself stated as much. So it's probably the right thing. But dang - that A3 was nice and at 37k miles, thought that was a great deal. I mean, not that we were going for the Jetta at that price, but the two deals on the table - our car plus $1,500 for the Jetta, or plus $1,000 for the A3. Duh! :P

stickguy

Man, how do you ever get anything else done in life, when you spend all day car shopping? Is your house a mess and lawn overgrown? Hair 1/2 way down your back?

But, at least you have your priorities straight!

breld

By the way - sorry for the long post.

Our next target is probably a 2008 Jetta Wolfsburg. Only 28k miles at a Nissan dealership. We were thinking the 2.0T is a bit much, but somehow we got okay with it on the A3, so why not on a Jetta?

I really wanted to stick with a CPO for the VW, and may still do that, but based on our experience yesterday, some of these VW dealerships may be holding their CPO Jettas a bit dear. If you end up saving $1-2k on a non-CPO, it may be worth it. We'll see.

stickguy

well, I would have been all over that A3. I love those, and that is a perfect configuration for me. Low miles. CPO? Dang, sounded like a deal.

what color was it?

Oh, of course I am talking about me. Your daughter is probably right, a 2.5l Jetta is a much better car for a teenager starting out, taking to park at HS, etc.

So you should have bought the A3 for yourself, and worked out the logistics later. Of course, the logical thing would have been that instead of the GTI, since a FWD A3 like that is basically an Audi GTI anyway.

breld

LOL!

Perhaps with the 4 kids, we've just become really efficient with our time. We're both somewhat OCD - our house pretty much looks like a showhome most of the time, I do the lawn once a week, and the hair - well I try to get a trim here and there. : )

breld

It was a dark blue with beige leather. No CPO, but with the low miles I felt pretty good about it. And frankly, I think if it was at an Audi dealer CPO'd, it wouldn't have even been close to a deal.

And yes, you and I are thinking alike - do the trade on the Veloster for the A3 for ME. The daughter can "suffer" through it until next Spring, when it's convertible market again. Then we trade in the 330ci for her Jetta.

I don't know - the wife and I are still considering it. She said she almost stopped me from going to have that last talk with the daughter - just should've done the deal and it'd be fine. While I do think the Audi is "a bit much" for her, the fact of the matter is the cost was pretty much in line with a Jetta, or a GTI - like you said - an "Audi GTI."

Sandman6472

Thought the point here was to get the daughter a vehicle? Seems to me, the Veloster was a toy you wanted, so y'all bought it. The original Beetle was the perfect vehicle but as I recall, y'all bought a stick which if y'all did...did you even ask her if she wants a stick? Right now, she's told y'all what she wants...a Jetta...so go buy a Jetta! Seems that this is taking way more time and effort than necessary. Personally, I agree that the A3 was the way to go, most definitely, but this is not a vehicle for the family. Time to cut to the chase here...get a Jetta and move on!

The Sandman

jayrider

You can do better on a cpo Jetta. Check cargurus to see prices nationally.

stickguy

Damn. That is my favorite color combo. I think that would have followed me home, and I would have figured out how to pay for it later.

and I would bet that if you bought it, and she got some seat time, she might learn to accept it!

Michaell

Michael, if you were at the carmax on Broadway, we probably passed you a few times on test drives - we were down at McDonald VW and Courtesy Acura most of the afternoon.

I was, and we probably did.

I'm kinda with sandy on this one. I know you and the wife love cars, and you love to trade them out on a fairly regular basis. However, you can't project that love onto your kids.

She wants the Jetta, you should get her a Jetta. Find a nice one, do the deal, and she'll be happy.

Like I pointed out in an earlier post (and sandy reiterated in his), your daughter doesn't even have her license yet and she's had two cars - almost three - bought for her because of your likes and desires.

I went through the same thing when the daughter got the MINI. I had negotiated a deal (over the phone) for a Kia Forte sedan with a decent amount of equipment, but she really wanted the MINI.

No other guesses on the CarMax value of the CX-7? The only two I've got so far are stick at $16,178 and steve and $15,250.