Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

carnaught

jpp, I like the Q50 a lot. I've had a G37 Coupe in the past which was very reliable. Since it's essentially the same engine, does it still have the loud exhaust note when hitting the gas?

abacomike

@jpp5862 said:
I'd buy it again in a heartbeat. Well lease, but I wouldn't have regretted buying it.

I agree that Infiniti usually has limited color selections and they don't offer special order colors like Mercedes or BMW. I had the same problem selecting a color for my new car. I didn't want white again, and I have had enough silver cars, black was out of the running (learned my lesson well the last time I bought a black car - beautiful but impossible to keep "spotless"), dark gray was a bit too dark for me, beige was too "retiree" looking, so that left a light medium gray (Palladium Silver) which I really like.

I agree also that most of the bugs are fixed on the "touch". Just keep enjoying.

jpp75

@carnaught said:
jpp, I like the Q50 a lot. I've had a G37 Coupe in the past which was very reliable. Since it's essentially the same engine, does it still have the loud exhaust note when hitting the gas?

I have the hybrid so it has the 3.5 V6 but I did drive the gas model with the same 3.7 we have. They've definitely toned the exhaust note down on the new model, it's more refined and quieter. Still has plenty of pick up but not as "gruff" as the G.

jpp75

@abacomike said:

Thanks, I was originally looking for a silver car but they found this one and in the end I'm very happy with it. I can see why some reviews are down on the DAS but once you get used to it I really prefer it.

Mr_Shiftright

@roadburner said:
I don't want to go through learning about another European brand(except possibly Fiat/Abarth), but I found this charmer at my BMW dealer group...
1997 SL320: 33,219 miles

• $13,500

Kinda boring for you I would think. You'd be ready to trade in two weeks.

Mr_Shiftright

"Have to be careful with that - there are severe monetary as well as criminal penalties for turning back mileage."

IIRC, "clocking" the speedo is a FEDERAL offense--so that means jail time.

carnaught

@jpp5862 said:
I have the hybrid so it has the 3.5 V6 but I did drive the gas model with the same 3.7 we have. They've definitely toned the exhaust note down on the new model, it's more refined and quieter. Still has plenty of pick up but not as "gruff" as the G.<

Thanks for the reply. What do you think of your Q hybrid? I'm sure the performance is good but how much better is it's mpg?

jpp75

@carnaught said:

I love the Hybrid, it's much smoother. The MPG is much better than my G37, generally around town we get 28 and lower to mid 30's on the highway.

isellhondas

@MrShift@Edmunds said:
"Have to be careful with that - there are severe monetary as well as criminal penalties for

turning back mileage."

IIRC, "clocking" the speedo is a FEDERAL offense--so that means jail time.

At the store where I worked we didn't even joke about "clocking" cars.

I've told this story before but when I was in high school, a friend had a job doing flunky work in a small used car lot in Long Beach CA.

One day, he asked if I would pick him up after his shift ended. I got there a few minutes early so I waited in my car. I watched a guy carrying what looked like a doctor's bag going from car to car. He would consult a list and then go under the dashes of cars. Ten minutes later, he was off to the next car.

I asked my friend what, exactly he was doing and he told me.." Oh, that's the clock guy"

Huh..." Is he fixing the clocks in those cars?"

" Oh no, he's clocking those cars...that means turning back the odometers"

He went on to tell me that this guy worked that boulevard which had probably 20 small used car
lots. Kinda like the Dent Wizard does these days.

An old timer told me that ALL the stores used to do this.

I also remember when there were speedometer shops everywhere. These guys not only fized speedometers but they would "adjust" the odometers for around 10.00.

They also had a "radio guy" who would work the used car lots back in the days of tube radios. For 10.00 he would fix any car radio. He would only do the minimum required to make them work. He would install used tubes and vibrators whatever it took to make the radio work.

nyccarguy

@abacomike

Gotcha. I re-read your post. People think of it as a "victimless crime," but it is still highly illegal.

brian125

Nyccarguy, According to this report they make it seem like rolling back miles is still very easy

Rolled-back odometers cost Americans $760 million yearly

Jeff Rossen and Josh Davis

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Dec. 9, 2013 at 7:34 AM ET

When Ryan Barber turned 16, his father went online and bought him a Honda Civic that showed 42,000 miles on its odometer. But they later found out through records that it really had 140,000 miles.

Authorities say it's a growing problem. According to a new report from Carfax, 190,000 cars have their odometers rolled back every year, bilking Americans out of $760 million in lost value and unexpected repairs.

Criminals have been tricking customers for years by rolling back the mileage on the odometer, then selling the car for more money. But now the scam has gotten so profitable, investigators say it's become organized crime.

Want a scam, rip-off or issue investigated? Email Rossen Reports.

Ryan and his father, Troy Barber, say they've already had to shell out hundreds for expensive repairs, all for a car worth half what they paid for it. "A wheel could fall off," Troy said. "(I) just didn't want to put my son in that kind of a predicament."

"This has turned into a real nightmare," Ryan said. His dad said they felt "ripped off, lied to, betrayed ... they're thieves, and it's not fair."

"This is a safety concern for everyone, because people are buying cars that have 300,000 miles on (them) and believing they only have 70,000 miles on (them)," said Tom Wilson, central area commander, California DMV Investigations. "Anything can fail. And the concern is, usually they won't find out until it's too late."

TODAY's team went undercover to watch a sting set up by investigators from California's DMV, posing as the buyer of what was advertised as a great luxury sedan with 85,000 miles. That's what the odometer showed too, but the Honda Accord had a secret: According to state records, it had 250,000 miles, nearly triple the number advertised.

With no idea he was about to be arrested, the seller showed off the Honda. Then police moved in.

The seller's name was Murad Alrawashdeh. Authorities say he's been part of a major odometer rollback ring. He denied rolling back the odometer, saying "This is when I bought it, how many miles on it."

But this wasn't the first time Alrawashdeh was arrested for rolling back odometers; he was convicted just months ago of felony theft. He pleaded not guilty to the new charges, including odometer tampering.

Investigators say it's easier than ever for crooks to do it. The reason: Most newer cars have digital displays, simple to hack with little devices widely available online. "You plug it into the car, select the vehicle make and model, and then change the odometer to whatever you want," Wilson explained.

A video posted online shows a car going from over 200,000 miles to 37,000 miles with just a click of the device. "It overrides the entire computer," Wilson said.

So how do you avoid becoming a victim? Before you buy, always ask for the car's service records. Also, have a certified mechanic inspect the car; they can even check the internal computer to see if the odometer has been tampered with.

And finally, there's a way to check the odometer history for free, on Carfax. All you need is the car's Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), the 17-digit code generally printed at the bottom corner of your vehicle’s dash on the driver's side. (Carfax also has helpful information on finding your VIN.)

nyccarguy

I went to an auto show at a community college about 45 minutes away today. It's never too crowded & they have a good selection of cars to sit in and check out. With my lease expiring in about 8 months, this gives me a good chance to feel the cars out. I can tell a lot about a car by sitting in it with the door closed for about a minute.

The MB dealer had 2 CLA 250s. One was red with a lot of options and had a sticker price of $41K, the other was White with an MSRP of $31K. The Xenon lights, upgraded wheels, & different grill definitely make the CLA look upscale. The interior is nicely finished. There are some hard surfaces where the non car nut lunatics won't notice them. Someone else mentioned this here, but I don't like the screen sticking up out of the dashboard. The White one looks like it was built to a price point.

They had a really nice C300 4Matic there. Silver with Black interior (like my BMW). I think the current C is the last of the "old school Mercedes." It is handsome (not gorgeous like @abacomike's CLS) & flawlessly finished. Nice materials & the doors THUNK shut. The 2015 C will be pricier and much more modern. Very elegant looking split 5 spoke wheels.

Honda had "the usual suspects." The Accord really stands out when compared to the rest of the lineup. The EXL they had there had a great interior & super comfortable seats. I like the projector beam headlights. The Civic wasn't bad, but I'd hate to see the 2012 model tat had the evident cost cutting. I found myself very comfortable in a CRV. I'd love to see one with an interior as nice as the Accord.

Mazda. These guys look like they brought an aircraft carrier to a knife fight. The CX5 & Mazda 3 are really nice looking cars. The interiors are gorgeous. Leather wrapped steering wheel, red stitching on the thickly bolstered seats, really high quality dash materials & interior plastics. Available Xenon headlights on the GT models. The red paint looked fantastic and body panels fit perfectly.

Subaru impressed me too. They offer AWD on an Impreza 5 door that stickers in the low to mid $20s. Seats felt well padded & comfortable. Interior wasn't as nice as the Mazdas, but it was a step up from the CRV. The Radio looks like a compete afterthought. I'm going to give the Impreza Sport a serious look when I test drive over the summer.

BMWs are great as always, but can someone pleas tell me why they feel there is a need for an X3, 328i Wagon, & 328i GT (grand tourismo)?

Infiniti had a Q50S blacked out (wheels, trim, grill) and it looked amazing. They did such a greAt job with the Q50

Sandman6472

Mazda3 is a great vehicle and have been pushing the idea of a new 2014 on the wife even though she prefers the size of the Accent. I just feel that she will miss her current '05 Mazda3 so much so why not just get the new one. I think if it drives very closely to what she has now she might just give in and get another one as she says hers is the easiest vehicle she's ever driven. I will be happy with either truthfully since I only service her vehicles now but I'd hate for her to get something and really hate it down the line. Going with another Mazda3 would be the smart play here so time will tell. Hers is working fine right now and since it's been very cool here, there's no need for any a/c. I feel that if we're going to keep it another year, then we need to just fix her a/c and be done with it since we usually go straight from winter into summer down here with almost no spring to speak of.

The Sandman

jayrider

@MrShift@Edmunds said:
"Have to be careful with that - there are severe monetary as well as criminal penalties for turning back mileage."

IIRC, "clocking" the speedo is a FEDERAL offense--so that means jail time.

If clocking cars was a capital crime with execution 1 hour conviction, people would still do it. Criminals like this have no sense that any action they take will have consequences.
Up until the early 60's, my uncle routinely rolled back speedometers to 00000 on every used car he had on his lot.

fintail

Oh, I like it - easier to maintain than a V8, and those later run cars don't have the amount of electrical issues as early 90s 129s.

But yeah, it's not a sporty car. Boulevardier.

@MrShift@Edmunds said:
Kinda boring for you I would think. You'd be ready to trade in two weeks.

au1994

Great news @breld. 1 down, 1 to go, then the shopping can begin in earnest!

robbieg

@brian125 said:
Robbie

Check out the new 2014 mdx not as big inside as enclave but early reviews on this new mdx are; great ride, and handling, Fun to drive, with 2nd row seats sliding back and fourth with pwr button . With the mdx interior room within 1 to 2 inches of the buick you wont feel cheated in space.. MDX is a better resale vehicle. Might want to check out the Q60 nice size decent write up

We have sat in one. Thought it was very nice. Was trying to pay a little less. The problem is that the MDX is pretty good car to lease especially they base model which is what my wife really wants. We priced the MDX, Pathfinder (Platinum) and the Explorer and they all came back pretty close. Our thinking was we would rather have a MDX.

My wife really wants the QX but we haven't seen one in person yet. We only have two dealers around and they aren't close at all. Her concern is that it would appear too flashy in the parking lot. An Acura is okay though.

She feels that the Buick is an old person's car. I still like the Volvo XC 90 even thought I know it as a lousy car that is going to be replaced soon.

breld

@au1994 said:
Great news breld. 1 down, 1 to go, then the shopping can begin in earnest!

Wait a minute - I'm supposed to wait until the car sells before shopping?

breld

Drove my old 530i (now my Mother-in-Law's) to our mechanic this morning to get any required maintenance/repairs done before we sell it. I forgot how nicely that car drives - just a bit more comfort than the 3, but still plenty sporty.

Interestingly enough though, I must have gotten used to the relatively tight space in the driver's seat during my ownership of it. When I got into it last night, I kept trying to move the seat back more, feeling like I was too close to the steering wheel. There's plenty of room behind the driver's seat, but the travel of the seat simply stops. Don't have that problem with the E46 coupe/convertible or the E90 sedan. Makes me think the E46 ZHP sedan I passed on may have similarly been tight. Will definitely have to try one out if I end up going that way.

breld

So, I may be heading up to the Northeast in many of your guys' parts this weekend.

All depends on Super Bowl ticket prices - I actually made travel arrangements a couple of months back, in hopes that Denver could break through. Unfortunately, I'm one of many season ticket holders who weren't offered the opportunity to buy game tickets, so I'm subject to the secondary market. Prices are dropping, but still not to the point of my budget.

We'll see - if the weather keeps up like it has been, those prices may indeed plummet. But would I still want to go?

stickguy

Go. Never know when or if you will have chance again. Plus not supposed to be overly cold.

Head south 1.5 hours on the turnpike and come visit.

breld

True - it's been 15 years since my team was in the big game, which is why I booked the travel a couple months ago. And I did sit through a frigid single digit game last year in the playoffs here in Denver. I'd be taking my 10 year old son, who is a serious fan. Apparently when you tell a 10 year old that we MAY go IF we can get tickets, all he hears is "we're definitely going."

isellhondas

They have been selling some counterfeit tickets here in Seattle for 800.00 each so be careful!

breld

Yeah - I'm hoping to get some tickets through a legitimate secondary market (like NFL Ticket Exchange) so I don't have to worry about it. Thanks for the warning.

abacomike

@breld said: "it's been 15 years since my team was in the big game..."

For what it's worth, I've always been a Denver fan from way back when Elway first started as quarterback. I hope they tear the field up this weekend. Manning is one awesome quarterback.

For one thing, playing outdoors in the colder weather should be an advantage to Denver. Should be a great game!

laurasdada

D'OH!!! First door ding on the Palladium Silver XF, courtesty, I belive of my parking neighbor's black Camry. But, got a nice compliment on the XF style from a woman with beautiful eyes this morning...

Although my first color choice was the Indigo Blue (like abacomike, a bit tired of silvers and grays, wanted a bit o' color), this winter has just confirmed how the lighter colors hide the filth a bit better. With the blue, I'd be going bonkers every day looking at the car. The silver ain't clean (well, I did get it washed Saturday as temps climbed into the upper 30s), but it hides the filth a bit.

Bradd, Xenon headlamps I do belive. The low beams just seem to have a very short range/cutoff. I've read that this is an XF fault, but I'll give the dealer a call, see if they'll review the adustment. My son said he needs more passenger seat time in the XF, but he said it is definitely more stylish than Mom's 535. Good boy.

stickguy

A teenager girl is like that. But much worse

stever

Advantage for Denver, except that Peyton grew up in New Orleans, played in a dome in Indy and UT-Knoxville isn't usually all that cold. That said, one of the coldest afternoons I've ever experienced was in Memphis at a Liberty Bowl back in the 70s. Hope you get tix Breid - maybe you can tweet to us during the game.

Mr_Shiftright

I hear they're calling it the Stoner Bowl, because both teams come from the only two states in the US to legalize weed. Now there's a great example of correlation over causation.

fintail

A co-worker of mine and her husband are 10 year season ticket holders - they didn't win the lottery for Bowl tickets. If someone is stupid enough to think they can get tickets for under face, and get conned in the deal, they deserve it.

The bandwagon here is amusing right now, not unexpected or evil, but funny. A friend of mine who never spoke a word about football before this season is now nuts for it. My grandpa on the other hand had season tickets from the first year for over 20 years later, until it was just too stressful to attend. If there's an "up there", he's looking down and loving it, he was insane about local sports.

Car related, Russel Wilson's loaner E63 is for sale at MB of Tacoma, I guess that was a perk of doing those dopey commercials.

Regarding the new C, it will need to move up a little - not enough distance between the W205 and CLA right now. For my money, I would buy the C, even if it is kind of old school. The design has aged well and it's known to be a solid car. I am awaiting the new one though, looks very impressive - like the S is now head and shoulders above the other luxobarges, the C might be the clear entry lux leader.

@isellhondas said:
They have been selling some counterfeit tickets here in Seattle for 800.00 each so be careful!

stever

Funny, my mom is a huge football fan and loves Peyton and Eli both (we grew up watching Archie, and we know who Olivia and Cooper are). She can't stand to watch either of them play any more - too stressful if they aren't blowing the opponents out.

Something tells me that those dealers who'd normally be open may as well shut down for the day. On the other hand, it might be a good day for solo test drives since everyone will be gathered around the tube.

kyfdx

I don't know what it is, but I don't really have a desire to go to the Super Bowl, even if my team is in it.. I sort of wanted to go the last time (1988), but now... not so much.. And, definitely not in a winter weather city... Must be getting old.

breld

Yeah, if you're standing in front of the stadium five minutes after game start, there may be some tickets available at face value, but probably not before then.

I've held season tickets here in Denver for 20 years now, so have lived through many ups and downs. Never attended a Super Bowl though. It's fun to be able to share in that experience with my 10 year old son, who is obsessive with the Broncos and the NFL in general (my 8 year old doesn't care all that much). I've told him to treasure these two weeks before the game - it's a fun time for a fan and generally does not happen very often.

stickguy

If the giants aren't in it I can take or leave the sb. I consider that day a good time to go to the Philly auto show since usually on that weekend( but not this year).

Absolute best was the year the eagles were in the Super Bowl. Car show was empty that day!

Michaell

@breld said:
Yeah, if you're standing in front of the stadium five minutes after game start, there may be some tickets available at face value, but probably not before then.

I've held season tickets here in Denver for 20 years now, so have lived through many ups and downs. Never attended a Super Bowl though. It's fun to be able to share in that experience with my 10 year old son, who is obsessive with the Broncos and the NFL in general (my 8 year old doesn't care all that much). I've told him to treasure these two weeks before the game - it's a fun time for a fan and generally does not happen very often.

As a resident of Colorado for the past 20 years, I've been to exactly two Broncos games - to work a concession stand for my son's high school fund raising efforts.

I am a big fan, and remember fondly the wins in Super Bowl XXXII and XXXIII ("This one's for John!"). Sadly, I won't be able to watch the game Sunday, as it's all hands on deck for pizza delivery. I will listen on the radio, however - both in the car and in the store.

isellhondas

@kyfdx@Edmunds said:
I don't know what it is, but I don't really have a desire to go to the Super Bowl, even if my

team is in it.. I sort of wanted to go the last time (1988), but now... not so much.. And, definitely not in a winter weather city... Must be getting old.

I KNOW I'm getting old! My team IS in it and even if they were playing here I would still rather have a front row seat right in front of our 55 inch high def TV. No traffic, nice warm room, comfortable recliner, cheap eats and I can watch the replays!

laurasdada

Without the Pats playing, I feel it is not really a "Super" Bowl...
But, the best AFC team will be playing...

stickguy

@laurasdada said:
Without the Pats playing, I feel it is not really a "Super" Bowl...
But, the best AFC team will be playing...

Yup. Nothing like the giants beating the pats in January to brighten up a winter

stickguy

Speaking of leftovers thanks to a teaser ad in yesterday's paper I looked up 2013 civic inventories. Tons of them. One dealer had 20 ex sedans alone and I think 94 total. No wonder the advertised leases keep getting cheaper and cheaper.

Toyota too. Crazy cheap to lease a 2014 corolla or Camry LE. Ditto for Hyundai with sonata and élan tars GLS models.

isellhondas

A lot of stores do a really lousy job of updating their inventories so don't assume those numbers are very accurate in all cases. As the 2013's continue to age the residuals will continue to drop making the 2014's a smarter car to lease.

laurasdada

@stickguy said:

No Ferrari Italia for you!!!!

qbrozen

@jpp5862 said:
I have the hybrid so it has the 3.5 V6 but I did drive the gas model with the same 3.7 we have. They've definitely toned the exhaust note down on the new model, it's more refined and quieter. Still has plenty of pick up but not as "gruff" as the G.

I just read an ad for that yesterday and thought "damn, that sounds interesting." 360hp, 0-60 in 4.9s, and 29/36 mpg is impressive! (infiniti site says 5.2 and 28/35 for AWD version)

nyccarguy

I have absolutely no desire to attend a Super Bowl. For a true fan, I think the conference championship would be the ultimate game to go to. To me, the Super Bowl is such a corporate event. So few tickets are actually sold to the 2 winning teams' season ticket holders. So many people are there just to say "I went to the Super Bowl." They work for a major sponsor, advertiser, ad agency... And could care less about the actual outcome of the game.

Good luck to my Denver & Seattle fan friends here on edmunds. I'll be rooting for The Broncos. Their QB is my team's QB's older brother;)

brian125

I picked up a new toy in Nov. 2013 R-spec Genesis. 430 hp... 0-60 in 4.2 sec. This car is so fast its scary. Gas mileage is 17/ 24 doubt it comes close when driven fast.

I seen the new Genesis that was previewed in the Detroit auto show and with a new redesign, chasis, and so many upgrades safety and tech features it looks like hyundia may have another contender on there hands in the 40 to 50 k segment

The 2015 front grill looks like a jag or the front of the fusion.. With its new front and side crash braking system it wont be long before all higher end vechicles have this feature.. This new Senseory surround system even alerts you when vehicles from behind are comming up very fast.
Fog and rain sensors , heads up display, co2 sensors, lane departure system, auto pw train modes,. stand behind the truck it auto pops up with fob, 1100 watts 7.1 surround sound with amp..pandora , and the list goes on . i was impressed. dont care for the new look..

The question is how many people will spend that kind of money on a Hyundai????

Michaell

@nyccarguy said:
I have absolutely no desire to attend a Super Bowl. For a true fan, I think the conference championship would be the ultimate game to go to. To me, the Super Bowl is such a corporate event. So few tickets are actually sold to the 2 winning teams' season ticket holders. So many people are there just to say "I went to the Super Bowl." They work for a major sponsor, advertiser, ad agency... And could care less about the actual outcome of the game.

Good luck to my Denver & Seattle fan friends here on edmunds. I'll be rooting for The Broncos. Their QB is my team's QB's older brother;)

Eli won his second SB in Indy (Peyton's old home field). It would be fitting for Peyton to win his second SB in NY/NJ, Eli's home field.

OTOH, this is the fifth time the #1 offense has met the #1 defense in the SB - and the #1 defense has won 4 out of the 5 meetings.

I think it's going to be a great game!

graphicguy

I usually view the SB as just a reason to throw a party. Normally just don't care (unless my beloved Bengals would so happen to get in again).

That said, NYC I agree that the Championship game was the one I was really looking forward to (Brady v Manning). But, as Micheall points out, #1 offense v #1 defense. Hoping this will be a good game, too.

Plus, someone else is throwing the party, making it all the better for me.

qbrozen

Damn, that looks like a mint interior

Man trans, sport pack, and pretty much nothing else. Just about the way I'd want it, although I have been missing seat heaters lately with the cold snap we are in.

Michaell

@qbrozen said:
Damn, that looks like a mint interior

Man trans, sport pack, and pretty much nothing else. Just about the way I'd want it, although I have been missing seat heaters lately with the cold snap we are in.

Nice car.

My E-GT has heated seats even though they are cloth. Hasn't been as cold as on the East Coast, but it's still nice to warm the buns.

Oh, I cut the ION from the pack yesterday - "sold" it to my stepson. He will move it to his insurance policy in the next couple of weeks. Step-daughter is doing the same with her MINI. Overall, I'll save about $100/mo on my insurance premium between the two.

And on a non-car related note, the stepson and DIL moved their phones to their own plan, which will save me another $60/mo.

At 27 and 25, it was past time to get them off the parental dole!

oldfarmer50

Re: THIS AND THAT

Regarding odo turn back. I recently posted a local CL ad from the cars section from some sleaze offering to cancel out CEL and rollback odos along with a bunch of performance enhancement services. Amazing the police don't check these people out but then again, that's not as profitable as writing tickets.

Regarding SB tickets I just heard about some guy in New York city who was busted for making counterfeit super bowl tickets so good that the bar code would pass the scanner.

stickguy

@qbrozen said:
Damn, that looks like a mint interior

Man trans, sport pack, and pretty much nothing else. Just about the way I'd want it, although I have been missing seat heaters lately with the cold snap we are in.

Looks nice. Seems like a fair price. And the dealer looks to carry nice stuff.

Just don't think I could buy a car without a moonroof. Though I do like that one.