Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

stickguy

I don't really have anyone close enough to borrow from, so I have never been on that end. But I hate letting anyone drive my car, so I likely would not be the guy to keep hitting up, especially if it was a nice truck!

fintail

My brother is/was one of those friends. It eventually didn't work out well - but maybe it did, as although the Toyota was kind of cooler, the new rig is probably an upgrade.

kyfdx said:

I have a friend with a pickup truck.

nyccarguy

I don't know what it is about a pickup, but the more of them I see on edmunds long term that get those nifty body color spray on bedliners, the more I want one:)

stickguy

I know it is irrational. The amount of actual use I would get out of it probably won't support the cost. But, it still sounds like fun. Would have come in real handy the last few months, since my Dad decided to sell the house and move to a retirement place, so I have been getting rid of (or transporting) a lot of stuff. But, that is done after this weekend.

what I really need first though is more parking. I have no place off the street to put it where it won't be in the way. I already know though when I finally get the wife to downsize/move south, the new place will have a parking area that does not block the garage or main driveway!

I actually had a PU briefly, when we bought our first single family house. A new Nissan extended cab. 4 cyl, RWD, stick. It was fun, and handy. And short lived, since shortly after moving kid #1 was conceived, and the truck went when he was born, since no car seats in the side jump seats!

Michaell

stickguy said:

I know it is irrational. The amount of actual use I would get out of it probably won't support the cost. But, it still sounds like fun. Would have come in real handy the last few months, since my Dad decided to sell the house and move to a retirement place, so I have been getting rid of (or transporting) a lot of stuff. But, that is done after this weekend.

what I really need first though is more parking. I have no place off the street to put it where it won't be in the way. I already know though when I finally get the wife to downsize/move south, the new place will have a parking area that does not block the garage or main driveway!

I actually had a PU briefly, when we bought our first single family house. A new Nissan extended cab. 4 cyl, RWD, stick. It was fun, and handy. And short lived, since shortly after moving kid #1 was conceived, and the truck went when he was born, since no car seats in the side jump seats!

As previously noted, I had an Isuzu P'up when I lived in CA. Actually, it belonged to my first wife, who bought it not long after we started dating. Basic transportation - 5-speed manual, no AC, crank windows, cassette stereo (hey, it was the 80's). I ended up driving it after we bought our Trooper when the kid came along. I spent a summer commuting to LA in it (50-60 miles one way) - those gear throws were long!

We sold it and got a Mazda Protege.

slorenzen

I certainly got good usage out of my truck this afternoon.

Went and picked up approx 1500 lbs. of building materials to start a new project.

Rides very nice with all that weigh in the bed...

xwesx

And he doesn't even share what the project is.... STINGY! I know who not to ask to borrow a truck!

stickguy

Michael, that's interesting. We sold our PU and got our Mazda 626.

kyfdx

http://forums.edmunds.com/discussion/33226/lincoln/mark-vii/what-exactly-is-this-car#latest

henryn

I like trucks, I enjoy driving a big truck like my 2013 F150 crew cab. I just can't fit it into parking spaces!

nyccarguy

Hey guys. I just wanted to extend an invitation to all of you who I consider my friends here and also on Buying and Selling: If any of you plan on travelling to New York this spring or summer and would like to see the 27 time world series champion New York Yankees play, please let me know. I have season tickets through my company and it would be my honor to send someone (and a guest) to a game.

slorenzen

xwesx said:

And he doesn't even share what the project is.... STINGY! I know who not to ask to borrow a truck!

OK, OK!

It's a chicken coop, but it's more like a chicken Taj Mahal.

I told my wife there will NEVER be a ROI on this project...

I already picked out names, too!

KFC, Chick-Fil-A, Soup, etc...

You get the idea.

roadburner

nyccarguy said:

Hey guys. I just wanted to extend an invitation to all of you who I consider my friends here and also on Buying and Selling: If any of you plan on travelling to New York this spring or summer and would like to see the 27 time world series champion New York Yankees play, please let me know. I have season tickets through my company and it would be my honor to send someone (and a guest) to a game.

Thanks!!!

stickguy

Got to drive my old car today for the first time in a few months. My daughter is home from college for break, and drove home (long scenic route, from NC to Penn State then back to home outside Philly). The Volvo seemed to do just fine (and trust me, if there were any issues, the Princess would have let me know!)

I also got smart before she left, and had her get a Bluetooth unit (since in 2007 that was not a feature). $35 off amazon, and worked quite well. Used it a lot on the trip, since she called me often to verify the directions the Garmin was giving her!

but man, after getting used to much nicer new cars, I could not live with the S40 as my DD. Fine for a short girl, but it seems like time left it behind. But, as long as it is running good, might as well keep using it. Though it is about to turn over 110K, and I still worry a little having her driving it long distance! Will see how it goes, and decided in the summer if I want to replace it with something newer before she goes back for sophomore year. At that point, a killer 3 year lease would time out just right.

au1994

nyccarguy said:

Hey guys. I just wanted to extend an invitation to all of you who I consider my friends here and also on Buying and Selling: If any of you plan on travelling to New York this spring or summer and would like to see the 27 time world series champion New York Yankees play, please let me know. I have season tickets through my company and it would be my honor to send someone (and a guest) to a game.

Thanks! That's an incredibly generous offer! Go Braves btw

xwesx

slorenzen said:

It's a chicken coop, but it's more like a chicken Taj Mahal.

That's the way to do it! Go big, or go home.

Michaell

slorenzen said:

xwesx said:

And he doesn't even share what the project is.... STINGY! I know who not to ask to borrow a truck!

KFC, Chick-Fil-A, Soup, etc...

You get the idea.

Years ago, my wife was the director of a child care program in a semi-rural area. One day, one of her kids was telling her about the turkeys Mom and Dad had on the property. Wife asked what their names were ...

... and the kid replied "Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter".

True story.

stever

I once owned a cow we called GB for short. You can imagine the full name. Never ate it.

Speaking of trucks, saw a '59 Apache this morning, complete with the suicide doors.

Michaell

I know some of you have thought about taking over a lease; perhaps you can chime it with a word or two of wisdom....

http://forums.edmunds.com/discussion/33232/general/x/lease-swapping-newbie-here#latest

Sandman6472

Coming into Westchester for the Columbus Day weekend at this point for a high school reunion. Plan to fly into Westchester airport and stay at the hotel in Mt. Kisco or the Hampton Inn in Elmsford I was at in 2004 and 2006. Hoping my health lets me go this time and plan to spend a week as I have family to see in the city and Staten Island. We get a pretty good discount as Hertz employees and can also use my Gold Club discounts on top so I've been told.
Would like to do a Broadway show if the wife decides to come along but doubt she'll want to go and talk with folks I haven't seen in a really really long time! I definitely get where she's coming from here!

The Sandman

stever

Couple of PR requests if anyone knows of someone. TIA!

If you are under 35 and don't have your drivers' license because driving-related costs are too high for your budget at present, please email PR@edmunds.com before Monday, March 30. 2015 to be interviewed.

If you are under 35 and recently bought a car to accommodate your growing family, please email PR@edmunds.com before Monday, March 30. 2015 to be interviewed.

sda

nyccarguy said:

Hey guys. I just wanted to extend an invitation to all of you who I consider my friends here and also on Buying and Selling: If any of you plan on travelling to New York this spring or summer and would like to see the 27 time world series champion New York Yankees play, please let me know. I have season tickets through my company and it would be my honor to send someone (and a guest) to a game.

What a nice invite. Question for you? Wife noticed the Pilot making frequent clunking noises coming from the front left. Visit to the dealer, said left strut failed. Thankfully the $600 job was covered by an extended warranty. Still clipped us for over $200 for filters and a power steering flush, which I would have declined and replaced the filters myself. Wife called me to ask if they should replace both struts, smart girl. I called the dealer and the tech said unless the right side was leaking, leave it alone. I think both should be replaced even if I have to pay for the right side. They replaced the entire assembly which includes the spring and all. What is your thought..replace the other side? I guess we could take our chance and the right side fails too and have it covered by the warranty that is good for another 2 years to 125k. 67850 miles, not holding my breath.

stickguy

the strut really should not have gone that early. So it is possible the other side is still fine, but they do degrade over time. I always do things like that in pairs so that they are "even". Tough call though at that mileage.

I had a shock fail on the rear of our Odyssey, but that was at about 25K so I only did the one. Other than that, the ones I have changed have been on cars over 100K, and no question that I was doing them all.

xwesx

I would do both at the same time. At that mileage, they are getting worn for sure. Struts are something that degrade *slowly* over time, such that you never notice the degradation. At nearly 70K miles, you will probably notice an improvement in the ride after replacing, though! Plus, they'll have to align the vehicle after replacement of one, so you get a free alignment off it doing the other side at the same time.

Another benefit of regular replacement of struts is that when they operate at their best, they offer better protection to the rest of the suspension components. Many of those parts will last the life of the car unless they suffer undue wear (such as from worn struts).

The springs are probably fine, but there's much less labor involved in replacing the whole unit. If I was doing it myself, I'd keep the springs and only replace struts. With someone else doing it, the incremental cost of the full unit replacement is most likely offset in part (or full) by the labor savings.

nyccarguy

@sda - I agree. At 5 years & close to 70K miles, I'd replace both front struts even if the tech said it is fine. I have read on the piloteers website (just read, didn't join) about various strut problems (mostly rear) from 2009 - 2011. So it isn't common, but its not uncommon.

stickguy

I am strangely attracted to this. Not rational I know, but something about it... These things were impossible to sell when new, but seem to sell for silly money now (or at least they are asking it).

http://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/625712351/overview/

xwesx

Yeah, isn't that funny? The Baja is one of those niche vehicles that has a small following, but a loyal one. They have the advantage of sharing all (nearly all?) their parts with the Impreza, so don't have the same stigma as other orphaned models.

stickguy

those are just Legacy wagons (well, outbacks) with the trunk cut off and a bed installed I thought. But it does seem that only the special body parts are likely to be unique.

corvette

I thought the Baja was a Legacy/Outback with the hatch cut off. Any used Subaru is worth crazy money. One weird thing I have noticed is that most of the tires Subaru uses as OEM are rated very poorly for snow/ice traction on Tire Rack. Weird since they sell a lot of vehicles in snow country.

sda

nyccarguy said:

@sda - I agree. At 5 years & close to 70K miles, I'd replace both front struts even if the tech said it is fine. I have read on the piloteers website (just read, didn't join) about various strut problems (mostly rear) from 2009 - 2011. So it isn't common, but its not uncommon.

Thanks all for your advice. I am of the same thought, that they both need to be replaced for the reasons stated. What threw me off is that I suggested to go with both struts and I'd pay for the right side that wasn't defective and thus not covered by warranty, yet was told not to do so. I think at our next oil change in about 2k mi, I will replace the right strut. I asked about needing an alignment and was told it wasn't needed. Replacing the assembly didn't disturb the alignment. Hope they're right so I don't chew up the tires.

stickguy

I would not trust that. especially if the strut had failed, who knows how good the alignment really is at this point. IMO, any time you have suspension work done, you should check the alignment. heck, most places do it for free anyway!

xwesx

If it was rear, yes, no align necessary. Front? Mmm..... I would never replace struts, ball joints, or tie rod ends and not follow that up with an alignment. Yes, you can get that stuff darn close when you're done, but not likely perfect.

And, I guess for struts it may depend on the design. I am not familiar with the Pilot.

xwesx

Regarding the Baja: The dealer back in 2004 told me it was Impreza-based, but Wikipedia agrees with you guys. At any rate, there's very little "original" about it in terms of parts, so not overly expensive to maintain.

Michaell

stickguy said:

I am strangely attracted to this. Not rational I know, but something about it... These things were impossible to sell when new, but seem to sell for silly money now (or at least they are asking it).

http://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/625712351/overview/

Stick, there is a Baja parked in the garage of a house around the corner from mine. Looks to be in decent condition.

I, too, am strangely attracted to them. Just enough of a pickup bed to use occasionally, plus 4 doors if I need to haul people instead of stuff. Standard AWD.

Stupid money for them here in Colorado .... but then, most Subarus hold their value extremely well around here.

au1994

Baja...I too (three?) had a hankering for them when they came out. The ex quickly put that to rest though! Neat little trucklets that are rarely seen in my part of the country.

kyfdx

Do they come in turbo? That's the only way I'd want it.. a WRX pickup!

Michaell

kyfdx said:

Do they come in turbo? That's the only way I'd want it.. a WRX pickup!

Why, yes, they do! Not sure how many of them survived, but I know they existed.

And, probably off the radar of the fanboi set, so any that are available aren't modded to heck and back.

(though it would be cool to paint one that Subaru WRC blue with the gold wheels....ha!)

qbrozen

I was interested in a turbo model when they came out, but for some reason they came up quite a bit slower than their Forester turbo counterparts, so my interest quickly faded.

ab348

Was the Baja available in any other color combo than the yellow/silver as pictured? I don't think I have ever seen one different (not that I ever saw very many).

breld

Oh yeah, the Baja came in several colors, mostly the same as the corresponding Legacy models of the day. I think that Yellow/Silver combo was their "promotion" color that they advertised a lot.

A quick look on cars.com in my area shows 8 Bajas available, from as low as $7k for a turbo with 174k miles, all the way up to $16k for a non-turbo (!!!) with 100k miles. Crazy - that's at a CarMax too.

xwesx

There was a late-run one here that must have sat on the dealer's lot for over three years. I remember it being there when we purchased our Forester in 2009, and they still wanted full MSRP for it.

Scratch that. I think it was in late 2007 that I last saw it, when we bought our 08 Outback. Damn memory. LOL

laurasdada

I had a strange thing for the Baja's father, the Subaru Brat. My father talked me out of that one...

Mr_Shiftright

Not without a cylinder head pressure test, I wouldn't buy it at 140,000 miles. That's the notorious 2.5L engine.

stickguy said:

I am strangely attracted to this. Not rational I know, but something about it... These things were impossible to sell when new, but seem to sell for silly money now (or at least they are asking it).

http://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/625712351/overview/

kyfdx

laurasdada said:

I had a strange thing for the Baja's father, the Subaru Brat. My father talked me out of that one...

Living near Cincinnati, we called it the "braht", not the brat... You know, like the sausage!

laurasdada

IIRC: BidriveRecreationalAllTerrain

2016 Jaguar XF has been unveiled: Looks like a very nice evolution of my driveway eye candy. And, from interior shots, retained the magic rotating vents. Which, yes, at 15 months are still rotating! A bit tidier and reportedly lighter, looking forward to checking it out. Perhaps I'll drive/hop Amtrak and attend the NYIAS. I wonder if Chrysler will still be giving away cheap, white plastic key chains...

xwesx

laurasdada said:

I had a strange thing for the Baja's father, the Subaru Brat. My father talked me out of that one...

The Brat was an incredibly versatile machine! Extremely rare these days, but they can fetch pretty decent money.

stickguy

Oh if I bought one, unless it had papers to show it done, I would budget a head gasket replacement or whatever exactly the preventive maintenance plan is.

qbrozen

I seem to recall they were a tough sell when new. Maybe I'm not remembering correctly.

Mr_Shiftright

stickguy said:

Oh if I bought one, unless it had papers to show it done, I would budget a head gasket replacement or whatever exactly the preventive maintenance plan is.

Maybe $1200 or so for head gaskets, yeah. But of course while your at it, might as well do timing belt and clutch.

stickguy

Terrible sales. They expected to sell 24k per year, and sold about 30k total in 5 years.