Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

roadburner

nyccarguy said:

I'm most definitely NOT in the market, but this 2013 Mustang GT looks mighty tasty with about 6,300 miles on it: http://stamfordford.com/Certified-2013-Ford-Mustang-2dr-Cpe-GT-Stamford-CT/vd/26281238

Acoording to the window sticker it is a stick with optional cloth, recaro seats, & equipment group 301A. $33,885 original MSRP

Weird; springs for the Recaros but not the Brembos or the Track Pack...

roadburner

This is tempting: 2015 Challenger R/T
Only 864 miles; MSRP new was $38,875. It's optioned pretty much how I would have done it except for the stripes and wheels. Nice interior with the 18 speaker H-K audio, heated/ventilated seats, heated wheel- not to mention HIDs, the Super Track Pack, and a standard locking diff(a $3000 option on the M235i). If I can get them down to $32k my bride has authorized me to jump on it...

roadburner

xwesx said:

......photos of the Forester!

As I warned previously: It is not pretty, but it is functional!

Nice!!!

corvette

roadburner said:

This is tempting: 2015 Challenger R/T Only 864 miles; MSRP new was $38,875. It's optioned pretty much how I would have done it except for the stripes and wheels. Nice interior with the 18 speaker H-K audio, heated/ventilated seats, heated wheel- not to mention HIDs, the Super Track Pack, and a standard locking diff(a $3000 option on the M235i). If I can get them down to $32k my bride has authorized me to jump on it...

15/23 EPA numbers, almost as bad as my Yukon! 

au1994

roadburner said:

This is tempting: 2015 Challenger R/T
Only 864 miles; MSRP new was $38,875. It's optioned pretty much how I would have done it except for the stripes and wheels. Nice interior with the 18 speaker H-K audio, heated/ventilated seats, heated wheel- not to mention HIDs, the Super Track Pack, and a standard locking diff(a $3000 option on the M235i). If I can get them down to $32k my bride has authorized me to jump on it...

Nice! I forget, would this be an addition to the fleet or replacing something?

nyccarguy

roadburner said:

This is tempting: 2015 Challenger R/T
Only 864 miles; MSRP new was $38,875. It's optioned pretty much how I would have done it except for the stripes and wheels. Nice interior with the 18 speaker H-K audio, heated/ventilated seats, heated wheel- not to mention HIDs, the Super Track Pack, and a standard locking diff(a $3000 option on the M235i). If I can get them down to $32k my bride has authorized me to jump on it...

Looks sweet! Will the 5.7 have enough grunt for you?

roadburner

au1994 said:

roadburner said:

This is tempting: 2015 Challenger R/T
Only 864 miles; MSRP new was $38,875. It's optioned pretty much how I would have done it except for the stripes and wheels. Nice interior with the 18 speaker H-K audio, heated/ventilated seats, heated wheel- not to mention HIDs, the Super Track Pack, and a standard locking diff(a $3000 option on the M235i). If I can get them down to $32k my bride has authorized me to jump on it...

Nice! I forget, would this be an addition to the fleet or replacing something?

I'm consolidating the RB Fleet; I hated leaving one car out in the weather, so I sold the '02 and whatever I get will replace the Mazdaspeed.

au1994

roadburner said:

au1994 said:

roadburner said:

This is tempting: 2015 Challenger R/T
Only 864 miles; MSRP new was $38,875. It's optioned pretty much how I would have done it except for the stripes and wheels. Nice interior with the 18 speaker H-K audio, heated/ventilated seats, heated wheel- not to mention HIDs, the Super Track Pack, and a standard locking diff(a $3000 option on the M235i). If I can get them down to $32k my bride has authorized me to jump on it...

Nice! I forget, would this be an addition to the fleet or replacing something?

I'm consolidating the RB Fleet; I hated leaving one car out in the weather, so I sold the '02 and whatever I get will replace the Mazdaspeed.

I hear ya! I am checking into storage this weekend for whichever BMW I am not driving. Found a nice secure spot that is close to the house and on my route to work. The BMW's live inside and the MDX is living outside right now. That certainly won't work when the MDX is replaced and I'm getting tired of doing the vehicle do-si-do every morning when I leave!

slorenzen

au1994 said:

roadburner said:

au1994 said:

roadburner said:

This is tempting: 2015 Challenger R/T
Only 864 miles; MSRP new was $38,875. It's optioned pretty much how I would have done it except for the stripes and wheels. Nice interior with the 18 speaker H-K audio, heated/ventilated seats, heated wheel- not to mention HIDs, the Super Track Pack, and a standard locking diff(a $3000 option on the M235i). If I can get them down to $32k my bride has authorized me to jump on it...

Nice! I forget, would this be an addition to the fleet or replacing something?

I'm consolidating the RB Fleet; I hated leaving one car out in the weather, so I sold the '02 and whatever I get will replace the Mazdaspeed.

I hear ya! I am checking into storage this weekend for whichever BMW I am not driving. Found a nice secure spot that is close to the house and on my route to work. The BMW's live inside and the MDX is living outside right now. That certainly won't work when the MDX is replaced and I'm getting tired of doing the vehicle do-si-do every morning when I leave!

Time for that 4-car garage?

roadburner

au1994 said:

roadburner said:

au1994 said:

roadburner said:

This is tempting: 2015 Challenger R/T
Only 864 miles; MSRP new was $38,875. It's optioned pretty much how I would have done it except for the stripes and wheels. Nice interior with the 18 speaker H-K audio, heated/ventilated seats, heated wheel- not to mention HIDs, the Super Track Pack, and a standard locking diff(a $3000 option on the M235i). If I can get them down to $32k my bride has authorized me to jump on it...

Nice! I forget, would this be an addition to the fleet or replacing something?

I'm consolidating the RB Fleet; I hated leaving one car out in the weather, so I sold the '02 and whatever I get will replace the Mazdaspeed.

I hear ya! I am checking into storage this weekend for whichever BMW I am not driving. Found a nice secure spot that is close to the house and on my route to work. The BMW's live inside and the MDX is living outside right now. That certainly won't work when the MDX is replaced and I'm getting tired of doing the vehicle do-si-do every morning when I leave!

The sun had done a number on the top on my trusty Wrangler so I now have a new OEM sailcloth top on order. It should last for a very long time now that the Jeep is back under cover.

au1994

slorenzen said:

au1994 said:

roadburner said:

au1994 said:

roadburner said:

This is tempting: 2015 Challenger R/T
Only 864 miles; MSRP new was $38,875. It's optioned pretty much how I would have done it except for the stripes and wheels. Nice interior with the 18 speaker H-K audio, heated/ventilated seats, heated wheel- not to mention HIDs, the Super Track Pack, and a standard locking diff(a $3000 option on the M235i). If I can get them down to $32k my bride has authorized me to jump on it...

Nice! I forget, would this be an addition to the fleet or replacing something?

I'm consolidating the RB Fleet; I hated leaving one car out in the weather, so I sold the '02 and whatever I get will replace the Mazdaspeed.

I hear ya! I am checking into storage this weekend for whichever BMW I am not driving. Found a nice secure spot that is close to the house and on my route to work. The BMW's live inside and the MDX is living outside right now. That certainly won't work when the MDX is replaced and I'm getting tired of doing the vehicle do-si-do every morning when I leave!

Time for that 4-car garage?

Absolutely and the 4th car to go with it!!

au1994

roadburner said:

au1994 said:

roadburner said:

au1994 said:

roadburner said:

This is tempting: 2015 Challenger R/T
Only 864 miles; MSRP new was $38,875. It's optioned pretty much how I would have done it except for the stripes and wheels. Nice interior with the 18 speaker H-K audio, heated/ventilated seats, heated wheel- not to mention HIDs, the Super Track Pack, and a standard locking diff(a $3000 option on the M235i). If I can get them down to $32k my bride has authorized me to jump on it...

Nice! I forget, would this be an addition to the fleet or replacing something?

I'm consolidating the RB Fleet; I hated leaving one car out in the weather, so I sold the '02 and whatever I get will replace the Mazdaspeed.

I hear ya! I am checking into storage this weekend for whichever BMW I am not driving. Found a nice secure spot that is close to the house and on my route to work. The BMW's live inside and the MDX is living outside right now. That certainly won't work when the MDX is replaced and I'm getting tired of doing the vehicle do-si-do every morning when I leave!

The sun had done a number on the top on my trusty Wrangler so I now have a new OEM sailcloth top on order. It should last for a very long time now that the Jeep is back under cover.

I am always amazed at what UV rays can do. Back of my house gets a ton of sun and it just beats up the paint, caulk etc. Inside I have noticed significant fading on the Oriental rug, hardwood and paint on the wall that takes the most exposure.

I shudder to think of the countless hours I spent in the sun as a kid with no sunscreen.

xwesx

roadburner said:

If I can get them down to $32k my bride has authorized me to jump on it...

I wonder if that spousal attitude is transferable. I could provide you with a USB jump drive... ? :

stickguy

W, she let you have a lumpy cheap Sube. isn't that pretty much the same?

RB, won't be hard to find in a parking lot. Quite the barge though, compared to the MS3.

stickguy

well, took Roberto (the S40) in for its annual oil change and check over. Just to troll me more, for the first time ever, the Volvo dealer did not find one extra thing to recommend. that has never happened before! So, clean bill of health, bring it back in 7,500 miles.

the way the car looking is going, with princess getting grumpy, I may just give her her wish and just keep it (that is coming from her getting hooked on the nice stuff, and she would rather do nothing than settle!).

planning to throw it on CL this weekend, with a fair but not cheap price, to see what happens. If I sell it, that obviously changes the dynamics. if not, well, can always send her back with one of the current fleet!

ab348

nyccarguy said:

I'm most definitely NOT in the market, but this 2013 Mustang GT looks mighty tasty with about 6,300 miles on it: http://stamfordford.com/Certified-2013-Ford-Mustang-2dr-Cpe-GT-Stamford-CT/vd/26281238

Acoording to the window sticker it is a stick with optional cloth, recaro seats, & equipment group 301A. $33,885 original MSRP

Which reminds me that last weekend I swung by a Ford dealer after they closed to look at a row of Mustangs they had parked out front. Interesting. They had an orange 2015 GT there with the performance package and Recaros - did not particularly grab me as the seats appeared not very practical for normal use with the heavy bolstering and I did not like the shade of orange - looked almost faded, sort of like the color on Carl Edwards' NASCAR racer this year sponsored by Arris. It had the black wheels the GT is afflicted with this year which I did not like. $45K Cdn sticker. There was a yellow GT without those options and which had leather inside which I thought looked much better despite the same black rims. There was also an Ecoboost there which I liked best of all on the outside thanks to wheels that were not all black, but the inside let it down as the cloth used on the seats was very cheap and rough-looking. I did not bother to check after I got home if leather or a different upholstery choice is an option on those. They also still had a couple of leftover 2014 V6 coupes, both in silver with manual transmissions, which must be bargains by comparison now.

jpp75

@xwesx Congrats on the Forester, the damage really doesn't look that bad. I'll definitely consider a Forester when it's time to replace my Pathfinder.

stever

You should see all the home roof problems out here, and we typically get less than 10" a year rain. The sun just kills 'em so there's lots of leaks around town when it does rain.

There's a '69 C-10 for sale a mile away. Will have to grab the camera. It looks showroom and the sign notes that it has a NOS radio in it. No price.

stickguy

Drove an escape SE today. Surprisingly nice to drive. Quick with the 1.6. Great seats. Kid like how it drive. Weird center stack and tiny little hard to see screen. She did find the titanium with navi much better!

SE lease quote way out of range (guess I didn't get the "neighbor" rate!). Not sure I feel like haggling with that though. Functionally, it would work fine. So we shall see.

corvette

au1994 said:

I am always amazed at what UV rays can do. Back of my house gets a ton of sun and it just beats up the paint, caulk etc. Inside I have noticed significant fading on the Oriental rug, hardwood and paint on the wall that takes the most exposure.

Yeah, and that happens even with modern low-E glass!

roadburner

stickguy said:

W, she let you have a lumpy cheap Sube. isn't that pretty much the same?

RB, won't be hard to find in a parking lot. Quite the barge though, compared to the MS3.

It's no lightweight, I'll admit- but compared to a BMW 650i it's only six inches longer and weighs about 200 pounds less. Performance-wise it trails the automatic 6er by one-half second in both the 0-60 sprint as well as the 1/4 mile. The 6er also has a slight edge in handling and braking, which I believe is due in large part to the tires each sled wears. But when all is said and done, the R/T is $60K less- and doesn't need a new battery to be installed at EVERY Oil Service.

stickguy

plus, if you need a medivac, they can land the chopper on the hood!

stickguy

so, my daughter seems to be confused by the concept of a fungible short list (with cars coming and going, at my whim). She has just decided that anything nice will not be within the budget, so why look?

she has so much to learn!

after this latest round of looking, decided to put the Forte EX (with all the goodies) back on the list to try. will also test drive the Mazda 6, since that is on the list but we have never taken one out (sadly, that means visiting the local mazda store again).

the Kia and mazda stores are right next to each other. so I put in on the list for tomorrow after she gets out of work, if I am still ambulatory from yard and pool boy work!

should also call the Honda dude back. He keeps call, grovelling about how they really want to get a car off their lot and into my driveway. I suppose would not hurt to give him a number to shoot at!

though being that tomorrow is the last day of the month, probably not time to pull anything together. So, I expect that I will end up waiting for next months programs, get quotes on the couple of units I like, and wait until later in the month. While trying to sell the old car.'

unless I get a punch Saturday. You never know!

short list, right now, seems to be:

Escape SE (hit another dealer for a quote), Sonata Sport, Kia Forte EX premium, mazda 6 touring and Accord sport.

not a dud on the list.

roadburner

Thought about a CX-5?

stickguy

I did. and checked with my new BFF the mazda sales guy (he is great!). he confirmed what I suspected, that the support is nothing special. would be significantly more on a lease than the 6. so, not going there.

stickguy

if I do hold off for now (can always monitor this on a semester by semester basis), can also look at some of the new small CUVs. the HR-V is neat, if putt puttish, and I am pretty sure I am going to fall in love with the CX-3. Hope that comes out soon.

fezo

I can aim you at a couple of decent Mazda dealers from my adventure with the 5 but it sounds like you're happy with your guy. Who's the dealer?

Given where your head seems to be I'd be thinking the 6. Were it my daughter it's be the Volvo. Hey, how much you want for that thing? They're calling the Camry a total loss. I'm aiming to get enough to fix it at a cheaper shop but I need a backup plan.

I've second guessed myself on both the CX5 and the 6 but the 5 is a very nice family vehicle, can still surprise you when you look at the speedometer and realize you thought you were going a good 10 mph slower and is a Mazda in every real sense of the word.

Give me a little more than 2 years when the "twins" will get their permits. I think a nice Miata for myself and let them share the 5. Or it may be Tesla III time... By then my solar will be long established so the power for the car would be free.

stickguy

well, if I get ambitious enough to go to the other PC and find the pictures, I am publishing the CL ad tonight. Same price I had it last September. Now has new suspension, but it is a CY later. but I am firmer now, especially since I don't have to sell any time soon. if it moves quick, we will just share the Sonata for a while.

I have been working with the Faulkner dealers. fantastic experience with my Sonata, and they all (every brand) been excellent to work with via email. And I have not been able to beat their prices anywhere.

stickguy

oh, your electricity will not actually be free. if you are sending back to the grid, you won't be sending as much, so not collecting the same amount .

qbrozen

roadburner said:

This is tempting: 2015 Challenger R/T Only 864 miles; MSRP new was $38,875. It's optioned pretty much how I would have done it except for the stripes and wheels. Nice interior with the 18 speaker H-K audio, heated/ventilated seats, heated wheel- not to mention HIDs, the Super Track Pack, and a standard locking diff(a $3000 option on the M235i). If I can get them down to $32k my bride has authorized me to jump on it...

Well, you'll easily find it in a dark parking lot.

roadburner

The color is a pearlescent version of a '70s color- both are called "Sublime." When my father saw it for the first time on an AAR Cuda back in 1970 he said the color should be named "Gangreen."

fezo

I'll likely send the grid more than I'll need to take from it. I'm on line for a Tesla house battery at which point if I want to disconnect from the grid it should be no big deal. The only reason I'd do that is if you're connected to the grid under normal circumstances and their power goes out so does yours. I'm looking fir a way around that and the battery might be the answer.

stickguy

so, not particularly surprising to me, I seem to have had an epiphany and changed my plans. After going around and around with something that makes sense for the kid, I have decided to heck with that. I'm out for myself.

so unless we just roll the dice longer on the S40, my new plan is to sell that (step A of the current plan), give the princess the Sonata, and find myself something else interesting. I think the 6 would work way better for me than her. Can't wait to drive one!

the moving parts a few years down the road I have worked out too. Seems like a solid plan. Even the wife thought it made sense, and she never likes my plans!

stever

fezo said:

I'll likely send the grid more than I'll need to take from it. I'm on line for a Tesla house battery at which point if I want to disconnect from the grid it should be no big deal.

They're going to start charging you for your connection to the grid, and the amount they pay you for the power is small (.02 cents a kwh here). Totally off-grid is fine, but "one" battery may not do it. Our off-grid friends in Taos forgo some stuff, like a microwave and dishwasher. They aren't into TV so no issue there. When they decided to swap from a propane fridge they added another panel or two.

The '69 truck has moved to the corner house right down the street. Not sure if he's the seller or if he bought it. He always has old iron around, although he did sell his tractor collection this Spring.

fezo

Here they have to pay retail for power from me. 7kw system. A 7kw battery is $3K. 10 kw $3.5K. PLus whatever installation is.

stever

Until they change the rules. That's what we're going through here. Just saying....

A 10 kw battery may run your house for 5 hours, depending on a lot of other factors (like whether you are running the dishwasher or whatever). (Wired)

fezo

It will only make sense to run things like dishwashers and such when the sun is out and I'm generating the electricity. We'll see how this goes once we're talking reality.

stickguy

so, did some looking today. even got the wife to come along (surprised me too!). first took a Forte EX for a spin (they just gave us the keys and sent us on our way, always nice). not a bad little car. certainly lots of goodies. on a short drive, seemed OK, but nothing I got hot and bothered about. certainly worth a look though for basic transport.

then we popped next door and took a mazda 6 touring for a spin. base touring. very nice car. comfy, well designed. drives nice. definitely on the sporty side. scoots right along. Trans shifts crisply. excellent steering feel, great on the twisties. ride on the firm side, but not rough of uncomfortable. well bolstered seats.

Wife liked it too. pretty sure if I gave one to the kid, she wouldn't complain about it. Pretty sure if I keep one for myself, I won't complain about it either.

if just for her, a touring base. I would splurge and get the moonroof/XM package, because I am worth it.

the other interesting feature is the navi system. The controller gizmo has a navi button, even though the car doesn't. according to the salesguy, you just need to buy the sim card ($400), and pop it in the slot, and navi is up and running. Much cheaper than upgrading to the top of the line model, though I would like to see it in action first.

corvette

fezo said:

I'll likely send the grid more than I'll need to take from it. I'm on line for a Tesla house battery at which point if I want to disconnect from the grid it should be no big deal. The only reason I'd do that is if you're connected to the grid under normal circumstances and their power goes out so does yours. I'm looking fir a way around that and the battery might be the answer.

The economics don't make sense here (cheap TVA-subsidized electricity area). Also, I can easily see using more than 10 kwh to keep a house cooled off on a very hot day, even though the wind/solar may not generate enough to replenish the battery. It'd be even worse if you have an electric clothes dryer or heat pump with electric heat strips that kick on during a defrost.

js06gv

stickguy said:

so, did some looking today. even got the wife to come along (surprised me too!). first took a Forte EX for a spin (they just gave us the keys and sent us on our way, always nice). not a bad little car. certainly lots of goodies. on a short drive, seemed OK, but nothing I got hot and bothered about. certainly worth a look though for basic transport.

then we popped next door and took a mazda 6 touring for a spin. base touring. very nice car. comfy, well designed. drives nice. definitely on the sporty side. scoots right along. Trans shifts crisply. excellent steering feel, great on the twisties. ride on the firm side, but not rough of uncomfortable. well bolstered seats.

Wife liked it too. pretty sure if I gave one to the kid, she wouldn't complain about it. Pretty sure if I keep one for myself, I won't complain about it either.

if just for her, a touring base. I would splurge and get the moonroof/XM package, because I am worth it.

the other interesting feature is the navi system. The controller gizmo has a navi button, even though the car doesn't. according to the salesguy, you just need to buy the sim card ($400), and pop it in the slot, and navi is up and running. Much cheaper than upgrading to the top of the line model, though I would like to see it in action first.

Do you give up a lot of features going from a a Sonata Ltd to a 6 Touring? It would seem like a Grand Touring would be closer to what you have.

stickguy

not really too much if I add the Navi. basically the heated/ventilated seats and heated steering wheel are the biggies. And the regular moonroof instead of a pano.

a GT comes closer, but is too much extra money.

brian125

Mazda Nav system uses Tom Tom. (not a fan there.) I like my My $189 Garmin nuvi. Best bang for the buck. . I keep it in my glove box in my X-5 and use it instead of the bmw system. I also like Garmin better than my Genesis Nav. The new apps can be done from your phone save your money.

So I drove my neighbors kid new 2016 mazda6 touring today .. w 19' wheels and leatherette seats . The sport model w / 17' tires rode better hands down on the terrible nyc roads. (imho). The leatherette seats were hard and hurt my back in my 10 min drive with his dad.

stickguy

question for Breld. how much of an upgrade is the interior of the 3 GT vs. the touring? One thing I hate is manual seats, and looks like the GT has the power leatherette (heated) ones instead (6 way, so probably just like the 6). also with the auto CC probably looks classier.

just my mind wandering down tangents again. Just thinking that a GT 3 might have that little extra pizzazz to put it over the top.

stickguy

Brian, I told the sales guy yesterday that I wanted the 6 touring features, but riding on the sport wheels. I suppose if you wanted to bad enough, could work out a swap. though that would not really fly on a lease.

this trend toward overly large wheels with stiff sidewalls bugs me. The sport handles just fine on 17s.. the small incremental handling bump IMO is not worth the ride tradeoff. Not in the north east, with our crappy roads!

brian125

Very true. I don't blame my neighbors kid for getting the red touring model it looks great and one way or the other he could care less what we told him. I hope he has a blast with it.

I would think living outside of Philly the roads to be almost as good a NJ. making the touring model manageable for a every day drive.

stickguy

no, we have plenty of crappy roads down here too. might not be quite as bad as some of the NYC highways, but it is still a white knuckle adventure much of the time.

Michaell

Another poster in need of help .....

http://forums.edmunds.com/discussion/34438/ford/expedition/trying-to-decide-how-to-sell-fix-up-or-as-is#latest

nyccarguy

@sda - I just realized that you live in Indian Lakes, SC. I have an Aunt & Uncle (wife's side) that I will be visiting this summer:). Maybe we can get the Pilots together for an edmunds family photo:)

graphicguy

roadburner said:

The color is a pearlescent version of a '70s color- both are called "Sublime." When my father saw it for the first time on an AAR Cuda back in 1970 he said the color should be named "Gangreen."

RB...I'm digging it.....a lot! Don't like the dealer. They are nortorious grinders. You know the drill, though. I'm betting it's a trade on a Mustang. If it's straight, should be a good deal to be had.

stickguy

Gotta love Craigslist. Got one of the classic responses to me car ad. No preamble, not questions. just a "Hi there. $xxx cash".

impossible to take stuff like this seriously. even if they aren't that far off from what I would take on a "cash on the trunk" real offer.