Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

Sandman6472

Anyone off hand know the oil change intervals with the A3 and Jetta? Since they both use synthetic, thinking 10k swaps are the norm...hell, even my Tucson has a 7.5k schedule and I use dino oil in it. Right now, we're at $29k plus her vehicle but the wife is holding firm at $28k and the '05 Mazda3. Went over to look at the Jetta's and Mazda's after having our turkey and to be honest, we both like the S Grand Touring better and fell in love with the dash of the 6. But right now, it's down to the Audi and the Mazda3. They offered her the deal on a white unit only and even not the best color, for South Florida it would be fine actually!!!

The Sandman

stever

Audi and VW make it hard to download an owner's manual.

Audi is on a 15,000 mile service interval per their website.

VW asks for a VIN to see the good stuff so I didn't try too hard there.

corvette

10k / 1 year on the Jetta and all the other current VW models.

stever

Hm, looks like the first scheduled maintenance service is at 5,000 miles or 12 months for the A3. Geeze, and here's another schedule (links to a pdf file) that goes, 5, 15, 25, etc. but doesn't mention the A3. Bit confusing.

stickguy

my son's Jetta was 10K or 1 year. And will be free (hasn't done it yet, as he is at about 7.5K and 9 months).

stickguy

Sandy, if you are willing to pony up for an A3, might as well go with the Mazda S instead. the 2.5 is quite the hot rod. And there are even more techie goodies on the S.

explorerx4

@stever. Just go on ebay and find one for sale. The vin is usually listed.

fintail

Yesterday I got a call from a relative asking for car advice - she founds something she wants, a Juke. CPO 2013 model with 5K on it, I think the asking price was 17.9K. I told her those aren't known to be troublesome, and to proceed if she wants it. Funny thing, to me, she seems like the perfect Juke admirer - she's an animal lover and has had many pet reptiles - iguanas, a crocodile (seriously), cayman, turtles, frogs, other weird things - matches Juke styling. Her current car is a 1990 Suburban she's extremely attached to, has had it for years and will keep it. She finally succumbed to the bad mileage and age of it as a daily driver.

stever

@explorerx4, mostly it just irritates me that the automakers don't make it simple to find this stuff. When I got my '99 Quest, I borrowed the owner's manual and read it before buying it. For a while there you couldn't an owner's manual online from Toyota and it's still a pain with Scion. Actually it's a pain with Toyota - I got a Prius V manual a while back and had to download it chapter by chapter.

Audi (and many others) irritate me because they want to feed you the info via videos. I'm a text guy.

Mr_Shiftright

Can you fit a crocodile into a Juke or do you have to use the roof rack?

jayrider

Mr_Shiftright said:

Can you fit a crocodile into a Juke or do you have to use the roof rack?

Depends on the size of the croc.

ab348

Speaking of reptilian vehicles, a local food truck that sells Mexican food created this:




Not a fan of the look but their food is wonderful.

stever

Wonder if Geico insures 'em. I see this motel owner's van around town occasionally

jpp75

@sandman_6472‌

I'd go with the Mazda 3 as well, the A3 is nice but not worth the premium IMO. The Mazda is as much, if not more, car for less money.

jpp75

Finally sold the Fusion Energi Wednesday. Great guy who has run a biodiesel Mercedes for 10+ years bought it and drove it home. Glad it went to someone who will appreciate it. It was a good car, but just not the one for me. I won't have another punch this year due to a pending home purchase, but I'm already thinking about what to buy next.

nyccarguy

Nice! So we'll put you down for a 2015 punch! Congrats on the sale! Did you get close to the buyout?

Sandman6472

Well, Audi came down to $28.5k plus our vehicle but she's holding out at $28k plus hers...I knew they'd call today and even though they say this is the lowest they can go, I suspect we'll be getting another call within a short period of time. Proud that she's drawn her line and won't go an inch over...sometimes the price you want to pay is the price you want to pay. She saw the Jetta today but thought it was a bit too big so tomorrow it's off to drive a Forte. The dash of the Mazda is a big issue for her but we'll see what happens the next couple of days. My money's on them caving and saying come on in and sign the papers!

The Sandman


(P.S. This really isn't going like I planned!!!)

nyccarguy

@roadburner‌

So? Inquiring minds want to know

jpp75

nyccarguy said:

Nice! So we'll put you down for a 2015 punch! Congrats on the sale! Did you get close to the buyout?

I did, I had to make up about $1,500 difference which isn't great but it was worth it to be rid of the car, and definitely cheaper than making the next 19 payments.

nyccarguy

$1500 really isn't THAT bad. Ideally you'd have loved to get out with an even swap, but you did OK. More time driving your Q50:)

jpp75

nyccarguy said:

$1500 really isn't THAT bad. Ideally you'd have loved to get out with an even swap, but you did OK. More time driving your Q50:)

Exactly, I do love driving the Q50. I'm 2 weeks away from the one year anniversary and it just hit 20,000 miles.

This does mean the Pathfinder will be put back into more daily use for the time being, but I enjoy driving it as well so not a loss there.

@sandman_6472‌

Can't wait to hear how things play out.

slorenzen

stever said:

Wonder if Geico insures 'em. I see this motel owner's van around town occasionally

The condition of that van is IMPRESSIVE!

stever

From a chat I had with the owner on a scouting trip out here a couple of years ago, he wouldn't take it out of town. Not overly reliable.

Sandman6472

Houston, we have lift off!!! Long story...long story but we signed, she signed, papers on a vehicle due off the truck before midnight. Came down to two dealers, one had white on black and the other had black on black. Another punch for 2014 but since we haven't taken actual physical possession, I'm gonna hold off on any more details but...papers have been signed and a credit card deposit has been put down!!! Finally!!!


The Sandman

stickguy

congratulations. When do you pick it up, Sunday? Still seems odd to me having dealers open Sunday. Makes a ton of sense since that is when people are free to shop, but just not something you can do in Jersey.

fintail

Congrats, Sandman. So, either wifey decided to live a little and get something somewhat fun, or frugality took over, and she ordered a Mirage with a 3 speed column shift manual, vinyl seats, and roll up windows.

I got plates for my car today, finally no paper sticker in the window, makes me feel like a target somehow.

stickguy

I felt the same way when I got my plates Tuesday. I always notice temp tags. Makes you feel very conspicuous.

roadburner

nyccarguy said:

@roadburner‌

So? Inquiring minds want to know

Had UL-UK football tickets today- plus... another shiny thing caught my interest- and it's not a BMW or Mazda.

fintail

Especially on a MB, even if it was my bargain end of year lease special. But in the area where I live, it's not too unusual I guess. WA now runs a 3 letter 4 number standard, issued in sequence. I was hoping for "AS S", but I think they skipped that. I got an OK number though.

I am thinking about running this plate (yes, I watch lots of dashcam videos)

stickguy said:

I felt the same way when I got my plates Tuesday. I always notice temp tags. Makes you feel very conspicuous.

Sandman6472

Have to go back and sign papers tomorrow as the sale needs to be recorded for the salesman to reach his number for his bonus. With our sale, he was two away with another customer due in right after we left and he knows he'll make a sale tomorrow. The store had people, actually both stores were super busy with people and at the farther away store, the guy working with us was closing a sale as we waited around sitting on our thumbs. The economy must be doing well as folks are buying things, cars, t v's, computers/tablets and cellphones. I saw this today at both dealerships and Audi's ain't cheap!

The Sandman

stickguy

so, I think you just spilled the beans! I was guessing that was the winner anyway.

nyccarguy

YES! Mazel-Tov @sandman_6472‌! Can't wait to hear details & see pics:)

corvette

Congrats to Sandman's wife! I've tended to receive more personal attention at higher end dealerships, but I'm sure it was a busy weekend. Let me know the year and model and I'll update the list.

roadburner

Congrats, Sandman!!!

stever

stickguy said:

I always notice temp tags. Makes you feel very conspicuous.

I dunno, I didn't like driving here ~3 months with my Michigan plates. Felt like an interloper or worse, an aging snowbird. (Being an aging "local" is okay though).

Congrats Sandy!

graphicguy

Good job, Sandman! Congratz!

Sandman6472

Still waiting on call to go sign the papers but looked online in their inventory and the vin number matches our initial paperwork so think we're good to go here. Even if they prep it today and deliver it to us tomorrow, we're thrilled!!! I drove a similar A3 yesterday afternoon and it really is a sweet little vehicle, very sweet! Impressive acceleration for a small turbo engine and didn't even notice the sport button! I can't wait to get some street time behind the wheel. The wife is beyond happy and she said she really was waiting for me to step in and just get 'er done and that's exactly what I did! It definitely was time to make a decision on something before she added the Kia Forte into the mix. We've never spent this much on a vehicle before but it has everything she wants and it's a few inches shorter than her old Mazda3.

The Sandman

carnaught

SM, you'll love a German car. My family has had multiple Audi's, all great ownership experiences.

ab348

Congrats on the A3, Sandy. Big step up from the Rio that was under consideration!

slorenzen

ab348 said:

Congrats on the A3, Sandy. Big step up from the Rio that was under consideration!

Rio= tuna sandwich

A3= filet mignon

Methinks the wife will never look back at HyunKia again...

stickguy

take my word for it (especially as it relates to the spouse_). Once you bite the bullet and go upscale, you won't be going back.

we went out today to a wine tasting and took my car. For the first time, I programmed the Navi to take us home (until now I just have the map up split screen). Not because I needed directions, but just to see how it worked. Very slick, and I think more features than our Garmin. I like having the next move displayed on the IP (the little configurable screen between the main instruments). Very nicely done.

but after playing with it, my wife comes out with "I need this on my car". I think I created a monster! I am also starting to think that in 3 years when this goes back, she is getting something new with all the latest goodies, and I am inheriting a 5 YO RDX! Not a bad consolation prize I guess. Key is that the travel car is the nice one. The 2nd car, the way we use it now, does not matter that much.

sda

Great choice. I know both of you will enjoy! I was kind of pulling for the Mazda. I've had several in the past and really liked them. Waiting for more detail after you take delivery. Congrats!

sandman_6472 said:

Still waiting on call to go sign the papers but looked online in their inventory and the vin number matches our initial paperwork so think we're good to go here. Even if they prep it today and deliver it to us tomorrow, we're thrilled!!! I drove a similar A3 yesterday afternoon and it really is a sweet little vehicle, very sweet! Impressive acceleration for a small turbo engine and didn't even notice the sport button! I can't wait to get some street time behind the wheel. The wife is beyond happy and she said she really was waiting for me to step in and just get 'er done and that's exactly what I did! It definitely was time to make a decision on something before she added the Kia Forte into the mix. We've never spent this much on a vehicle before but it has everything she wants and it's a few inches shorter than her old Mazda3.

The Sandman

houdini1

sandman_6472 said:

Still waiting on call to go sign the papers but looked online in their inventory and the vin number matches our initial paperwork so think we're good to go here. Even if they prep it today and deliver it to us tomorrow, we're thrilled!!! I drove a similar A3 yesterday afternoon and it really is a sweet little vehicle, very sweet! Impressive acceleration for a small turbo engine and didn't even notice the sport button! I can't wait to get some street time behind the wheel. The wife is beyond happy and she said she really was waiting for me to step in and just get 'er done and that's exactly what I did! It definitely was time to make a decision on something before she added the Kia Forte into the mix. We've never spent this much on a vehicle before but it has everything she wants and it's a few inches shorter than her old Mazda3.

The Sandman

Congrants sandman. Your wife works hard and she deserves the best. You did good !

jayrider

That Audi is sure a surprise but getting what you really want is nice. Did you get the rear camera ?

jpp75

Congrats Sandman! Glad to see she splurged and got what she wanted!!

rayainsw

Congrats Sandman!
Having driven a couple of new S3s recently,
I can certainly see the attraction...
Enjoy!
= Ray
Still no 2014 punch for me......

breld

Another congrats from me, Sandman!

You all certainly splurged, but I think you're getting a lot of car for that $30k. Sadly, $30k is around average for a new car these days, but the A3 is anything but average!

The Mazda3 is by all means a nice car, but you can literally load those up to close to the A3 cost. I think when my wife test drove one, it was a loaded "S" model that stickered close to $30k. Personally, I think a Touring model for right around $20k is a great buy - but once you start loading it up to the larger engine and other options, it's hard not to ignore what else you could get for that money - which is exactly what you did. Well done!

breld

I splurged a bit over the holiday weekend, but not on cars.

We went crazy at Costco and bought not one, but two new televisions. We replaced a 55" in our main living room with a 65", just to fill in the built-in cabinet space better.

But the real fun was the 80" TV that went into our basement. Spent the entire day and evening down there with my boys, watching football! Nice way to end the weekend!

breld

I don't know if I'd want to deal with the headaches of the 8 cylinder, but this is quite the rare beast.

540i Wagon Sport

graphicguy

breld said:

I splurged a bit over the holiday weekend, but not on cars.

We went crazy at Costco and bought not one, but two new televisions. We replaced a 55" in our main living room with a 65", just to fill in the built-in cabinet space better.

But the real fun was the 80" TV that went into our basement. Spent the entire day and evening down there with my boys, watching football! Nice way to end the weekend!

Ooohhhh....me likey. What makes/models?