Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

abacomike

qbrozen said:

Yes, we hammered out a deal. It was more of a challenge than I hoped. Havent signed anything just yet. Car stickers at $61,385 and I am paying $49,000.

What a hot car, qbrozen.  Enjoy - and the color is perfect.  I knew you would pass on the Jaguar - not fast enough.  But your new Caddy will rip the roads up.  I am very happy for you.

abacomike

Just heard on TV that Volkswagen is recalling some cars for some fuel leak problem.  The 2015 Golf and GTI and a few Bugs.  I think a few of these were bought this year recently By fellow posters - if you did, check to see if yours is included on the recall list with your dealer.

jayrider

New Years Eve is here -- get shopping !

Sandman6472

Recall??? Oh nooooooooooooooooooo!!!!


The Sandman :@

abacomike

sandman_6472 said:

Recall??? Oh nooooooooooooooooooo!!!! The Sandman :@

The recall was just announced today.  You might want to watch the news at 6:00 PM and/or 6:30 PM.  I've seen it on FOX News Channel several times today.  Something about a fuel leak in the engine compartment.  If you see a warning light you are supposed to bring it to the dealer immediately.

Sandman6472

Just spoke with the service department, they asked my name to look up my vin number and great news, mine is not among those in the recall! Very relieved here because to be honest, I really really love this vehicle, a lot!! Besides the mediocre sound system, I'm loving this little runabout especially the blue color. Was getting so tired of silver and gray and was considering white but since the A3 is white over black, wanted a different color combo. Tried to get blue over black but none were available at that time and using Truecar, decided to jump on the 12th instead of waiting until yesterday which was Plan A. I guess I got caught up in the excitement of getting the Audi that I wanted something similar and not sure if I'd have pulled the trigger if I had waited another couple of weeks.
So glad I'm in the clear here and on another note, didn't see the Tucson in the used car area today...probably sold already as it was a nice looking vehicle plus with the added stuff on it, knew it would be an easy sell for them!

The Sandman


(P.S. Just went on the Gunther VW website and both the Santa Fe and my Tucson are no longer listed so they were probably both sold within the last couple of days since they were both there a couple days ago. I knew both would go fast as they had low miles in the 16's and looked brand new. Plus, with the upgrades I put on it, the Tucson looked better than stock so am glad someone else is enjoying that fine vehicle!)

abacomike

@sandman_6472‌

I saw the recall notice again on TV.  If an owner smells an odor of gasoline or if the  Electronic Power Control Light illuminates, they advise to take car to VW dealer to have it checked out.

Sandman6472

Like I just said, called Gunther and service put my vin into the system and mine is not an affected one. I picked my vehicle up about 2 p m from service, so hopefully they knew about the recall before this and either fixed it or found out that mine was not in the affected vin numbers. Will have to go out and look at my build date as not really sure when it was built...all I know is that it starts with a "3" for Mexico. My '03 Sentra had a "3" also and just hope that my VW is a whole lot better than that piece of, well, you know!


Sandman

qbrozen

Thanks guys! It is home now, so it is a punch! Thats 3 this year for me. Yikes! Just under the wire. It is a damned nice car. And fierce! Love the track mode.

stever

Guess we need a contest now for "last one under the wire" and "first punch of the new year".

Congrats @qbrozen!

venture

qbrozen said:

Thanks guys! It is home now, so it is a punch! Thats 3 this year for me. Yikes! Just under the wire. It is a damned nice car. And fierce! Love the track mode.

Way to go! Nice cars.

graphicguy

qbrozen said:

Thanks guys! It is home now, so it is a punch! Thats 3 this year for me. Yikes! Just under the wire. It is a damned nice car. And fierce! Love the track mode.

Way to go, Q!

rayainsw

qbrozen - Congratulations - the Vsport is a bit out
of my price range - enjoy!
Pics? Link?
- Ray
Not gonna make a 2014 punch...

ab348

And CADILLAC for the win! Congrats! Some pics when convenient please. They are gorgeous cars.

roadburner

Congrats, Q!

Sandman6472

Congrats to all us new car owners this year...2014 was a good year to purchase a 2015 model it seems!
Happy New Year all!!!

The Sandman

gouldn

I purchased my used TSX from a Caddy/GMC dealer this summer, and I didn't trade in a car, so I had two cars to get home. We car shuttled, and I drove back in a new CTS. I was stunned at the quality of the interior, nice ride, and smooth power. Mind you this was the garden variety V6 model. I imagine that the V-sport is worlds better! If I was to do a sedan, this one would be at the top of the list to try. It's funny because I would have NEVER even looked at a GM product except for this car shuttle arrangement.
Congrats!

nyccarguy

@qbrozen‌

Mazel-Tov & Congrats on the Caddy punch! I had NO IDEA what a CTS V Sport was until I looked it up. YIKES! 420 hp twin turbo V6 - Magnetic Ride Control - sounds like a winner in my book. I look forward to your write up of the car as well as the "blow by blow" with the dealer. Happy New Year!

qbrozen

So far, so good.

Finally sitting down at a computer at home rather than trying to post on my phone. Wife actually wanted to go out in it, so we went to dinner and some shopping with the kids in tow. Everybody enjoyed the car. I let the wife do most of the driving so she'd feel better about spending near $49k on a car, our most expensive to date. I'll post the whole dealership experience over on the buying/selling board.

Nice bonus at the end of the whole thing was the finance guy shopped me and my credit rate around a bit and scored 2.49% for 72 mos. I did reward him by opting into the wheel/tire protection package. For $720 for 4 years, I deemed it a pretty good deal. They are REALLY nice wheels, too. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have bothered. And the 275 wide P zero rear tires cost $345 each at tire rack. So, yeah, sign me up!

This thing has features I will likely never use. Its got the self park crap, lane departure, driver alert thing, collision warning thing, etc, etc. No adaptive cruise, which is just fine by me. All passive systems, I believe. I have a ton of reading to do to figure it all out. I'm wanting to turn off the auto high beams for starters. I was using the voice command system all the way home only because I couldn't figure out an easy way to change XM stations otherwise. haha.

Pretty bizarre that it does not have a moonroof, although my preference is no moonroof anyway, so fine by me. Just a strange thing to leave off a car that has so much. Maybe that's why it was still hanging around.

ab348

@qbrozen - Just gorgeous. Well done! Now be sure to update your signature line...

Did you buy this from Holman?

houdini1

Stunning car, great price, and I love the color. Congrats Q, and Happy New Year !

abacomike

qbrozen said:

So far, so good. Finally sitting down at a computer at home rather than trying to post on my phone. Wife actually wanted to go out in it, so we went to dinner and some shopping with the kids in tow. Everybody enjoyed the car. I let the wife do most of the driving so she'd feel better about spending near $49k on a car, our most expensive to date. I'll post the whole dealership experience over on the buying/selling board. Nice bonus at the end of the whole thing was the finance guy shopped me and my credit rate around a bit and scored 2.49% for 72 mos. I did reward him by opting into the wheel/tire protection package. For $720 for 4 years, I deemed it a pretty good deal. They are REALLY nice wheels, too. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have bothered. And the 275 wide P zero rear tires cost $345 each at tire rack. So, yeah, sign me up! This thing has features I will likely never use. Its got the self park crap, lane departure, driver alert thing, collision warning thing, etc, etc. No adaptive cruise, which is just fine by me. All passive systems, I believe. I have a ton of reading to do to figure it all out. I'm wanting to turn off the auto high beams for starters. I was using the voice command system all the way home only because I couldn't figure out an easy way to change XM stations otherwise. haha. Pretty bizarre that it does not have a moonroof, although my preference is no moonroof anyway, so fine by me. Just a strange thing to leave off a car that has so much. Maybe that's why it was still hanging around.

RIGHT COLOR!  RIGHT MODEL!  RIGHT CAR!  That is one GORGEOUS car!

fintail

Sharp car, the new CTS is a looker and has presence on the road. The lack of roof very well might have helped your deal.

ab348

We have the BMW and Benz boys here, and now we have the Cadillac Crew!

corvette

Nice, qb! I love the color, as well. GM seems to make the sunroof optional on a lot of higher end trims/vehicles.

I read somewhere that if a certain percentage of vehicles are sold with the sunroof, the EPA rating has to be set based on a vehicle with a sunroof.

abacomike

corvette said:

Nice, qb! I love the color, as well. GM seems to make the sunroof optional on a lot of higher end trims/vehicles. I read somewhere that if a certain percentage of vehicles are sold with the sunroof, the EPA rating has to be set based on a vehicle with a sunroof.

If I could have gotten my new car without a moon/sun roof, I would have.  I almost NEVER open the roof up.  Why have something that you never use?

steine13

qb, that is one good-looking car.

Congratulations from mid-Michigan, where it's made... Lansing Grand River plant.
You're very welcome

I have no eye for art or design, but I think it's great that you can tell it's a Cadillac from 50 yards away. The car has presence.

Sandman6472

Funny thing is I love my sunroof and have been using it almost daily on the ride home. It's been dark and a bit cooler so it feels great to just open it up and see the stars. The wife vents hers as she's not to keen on opening it the whole way but funny we both have one. Read somewhere today that the A3 and new Golf share the same platform so I feel like I got an A3 on the cheap...luckily we're both thrilled.
Gorgeous Caddy but thought it was an ATS at first. Do y'all keep the same plates like we do in Florida or does each vehicle have plates specific to the vehicle? I like our way and we get the option of paying for two years or one. Since I paid for two in November of 2013, hoping to be getting a smallish refund any day now...the wife did hers in August of last year and got some money back already. She also got her title from Tallahassee while mine has yet to arrive but there also was a 10 day span on our purchase dates.

The Sandman

qbrozen

Thanks, guys.
Yup, that was from Holman.

Sandy - here in NJ, it is optional. I just renewed this month on the mustang, so we carried my plates over to save paying new registration cost.

breld

Wow! That is sharp - enjoy!

Anxious to hear your impressions after some real seat time.

Funny thing - we were at a repair shop today with my in-law's X-Type, and they had a little booklet on the Macan. My wife asked if that was what "Q" was gonna get and I replied, "yes." How quickly things can change.

stickguy

very sharp. And knowing the roads around here, I would get the tire/wheel protection too on those puppies.

you were at my local guys. I have been in all 3 of the dealers you mentioned.

love the color. No roof well that would have been a deal breaker!

so, a luxo 4 door that can run with if not spank the Mustang? Hard to argue with that.

28firefighter

Now THAT is a hot car, Q - congrats!  Really a steal all things considered given its competition. 

Happy New Year, all!

rayainsw

I believe that the only way to have a sunroof on
a CTS Vsport is to step up to the Premium trim.
Includes a bunch of other stuff [ some nice, but
I would not want to pay for ] at about a $10,000
increase in MSRP.
- Ray
Looked - did not buy...

qbrozen

Happy new year!


wife and I were talking last night over dinner. She wanted to know more about these folks I chat with online. I explained our little club to her and how we're a bunch of addicts with no sponsors. She wondered how everybody's spouses respond to their crosses compared to her: she has simply given up; its just a car; whatever. We had some chuckles. She isn't thrilled with the payment but when I explained the Macan would have been at least $150 more, she felt a little better.

rayainsw

Currently no spousal unit in the picture...
- Ray
Been there, done that....

tommister2

qbrozen said:

Happy new year!


wife and I were talking last night over dinner. She wanted to know more about these folks I chat with online. I explained our little club to her and how we're a bunch of addicts with no sponsors. She wondered how everybody's spouses respond to their crosses compared to her: she has simply given up; its just a car; whatever. We had some chuckles. She isn't thrilled with the payment but when I explained the Macan would have been at least $150 more, she felt a little better.

My wife's come to the same conclusions as yours. Basically I'm crazy but I'm hers. Similar to you, I buy the best deal I can find on cars that hold their value well. She also gets to drive them while we own them which she does enjoy. I did have one year where I didn't buy or sell anything per her request - that was brutal. However the year before I bought a car, truck and motorcycle so at least I was set with some variety for the year. I try to only buy one car a year now. This year I went for 2 but one was the 97 Wrangler my neighbor has had in his garage for years. Can't help the timing of when he decided to sell, right

carnaught

My wife at first tried to "change" me. When she realized it was a hopeless cause she decided to join me, and over the years has become a mild enthusiast, and virtual member of the CCBA.

Happy 2015 all!

stickguy

my wife just thinks I am odd I guess to be so car obsessed. But, she figures it is better (and cheaper!) than going out partying or getting a girlfriend. Plus she knows I am too cheap to do anything really stupid.

The line she did draw (thanks to the most recent purchase) is that she won't go to the dealer to talk deals unless it is 100% settled. She did not mind going for some test drives (hey, empty nesters have to fill the time somehow) but she has no desire to be involved in any negotiations. Just let her know when I need a ride to the dealer to pick it up!

tommister2

@stickguy Same for my wife. She just wants to be in and out. She doesn't even want to drive the new car until it's ours.

28firefighter

My wife accepts it. My two obsessions are cars and firefighting. She tells her friends that I'm more likely to turn my head for a cool car or a siren than I am for another woman - she knows me well.

Her line is that whatever I buy, it can't put us into a troublesome financial situation. Other than that, she has no interest in shopping, negotiating etc for a car unless it is going to be for her.  On the flip side, I've helped her friends and family buy cars which makes her happy. 

Sandman6472

Spousal unit has gotten used to my passion over the past 30 something years and just lets me be. But when the vehicle is for her, she's actively engaged and I basically just come in when needed. Was shocked that she didn't put up a big stink a few weeks ago when I purchased the Golf when I had just purchased like 380 days earlier...once I explained the reasons, she was like , o k, and that was that. But knowing how much I really liked her new A3 helped me here big time and truthfully, if she had bought anything else she was looking at, I'd still have the Tucson in the garage. But once she put a german make on the table, all bets were off and considering I basically got the same car as she did, her interior is definitely nicer, that was that. She also knows that I'm set now and won't be looking for a long while so all is good, And best thing is that if she needs to drive mine at all, she knows she can...she only drove the Tucson twice after I forced her to just in case she really had to take it out on the road sometime. Guess the size intimidated her a bit and looking back, though not that big, can not believe I bought something like the Tucson in the first place! Am I unhappy I did...no way, as I did like it, just didn't love it...and there is a big difference there as y'all know big time in here!!!

The Sandman

graphicguy

Q.....beautiful car. Love it. Given my own choice, I think the CTS is the best looking car in the segment.....in and out.

Ray....You're disappointing us.....LOL!

roadburner

My wife found my first BMW for me back in 1983 when we were dating. Like me she is less than enamored with the direction BMW is going and-like me again-she has little use for the local Mini and Audi dealers.

That said, I was still surprised that she has encouraged me to look at the Charger R/T and Challenger SRT.

ab348

I think some spouses encourage partner's bad habits so they can indulge in their own bad habits.

stickguy

RB, she knows you won't pull the trigger. Probably just doing it to keep you occupied.

Sandman6472

Being our first time owning an Audi or even a luxury vehicle, we're both very impressed with the level of service they have provided so far, they seem to be a step above, if you will, the VW store in many ways. Not that the VW place is bad, it's just the little extra's like the free car washes whenever or the computer knowing your name when driving into the service bay, little things like these that just make it more personal. It's like they are trying to turn the car buying experience into something more fun for the customer, more of an "experience" going back and there's the key, the "going back" part of the equation. If the vehicle they sold you is just right, there's a good possibility that next time you buy, you'll start at their store but making it all more personal just increases the chances of a repeat sale if they still have products you'd want to own and if the ownership experience so far has exceeded your expectations, and that's the bottom line, has the whole experience exceeded your expectations. The extra services they provide give them a better shot here.
From what I've heard from relatives and people I know and especially folks in here, M B, BMW, Audi and other such dealerships have beautiful stores and give their customers more, more than say the local Chevy or Ford store for example. Sure, their vehicles cost more so they are going after a different demographic in many cases, but the give more it seems to their customers and are looking to make a lifetime connection or commitment, if you will, and in many cases it is working. It is working as long as their products continue to be innovative and exciting and as long as their customers see value in servicing their vehicles there!

The Sandman

qbrozen

A whole 24 hrs later and the CTS continues to impress. I really like the thought they put into most details. We were marvelling at the interior this morn. So much high-quality materials nearly everywhere. Its a bit of a mix though. For example, nice dark wood on the glovebox and door tops but high-gloss black throughout the center console; or the small few strips of alcantara here and there but nowhere else. The only part that looks cheaped out is the headliner. Otherwise, the interior is really gorgeous. Nicest I've ever had. I also love the seating position. Everything falls nicely to hand and I can rest my elbows while still holding the wheel and having enough room for my legs. Thats uncommon for my 6'5" frame.

the extras are pretty cool. Starting the car with my phone and setting nav points via phone from inside the house are cool features.

so I found that it uses a BMW bolt pattern and I have a nice set of wheels that fit. I just have to put on a 3/16 spacer to clear the massive Brembos, throw snow tires on them, and I'm good to go.

stickguy

I was wondering what you were doing about tires, since I thought you said it came with summer rubber. Convenient to have a set of wheels laying around.

This is RWD, right? Around here with snows, all you need.

rayainsw

'Ray....You're disappointing us.....LOL! ' - graphicguy
Disappointing myself at least as much.
- Ray
Still waiting......

xwesx

Congrats, Q! That was surprisingly quick, but quite the car you brought home.

As for the "habit," I rarely buy and I rarely even mention cars to my wife. If I do, we end up having a long talk about all the reasons I shouldn't consider a different car, etc., etc., so I reserve any mention of cars for after I've already decided what I'm going to do. Then, my focus is simply on getting her opinion of the car itself. If she has strong reservations about the vehicle, I'll reconsider.

We're both rather practical from a financial standpoint, so I've already run through every conceivable scenario fifty times before settling on a direction. Sadly, we're also rather practical on the cars we buy, too, which means any excitement behind the wheel has to come from my driving of the car, not from the car itself. Perhaps there is a silver lining there....