Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

suydam

Akangl, that situation really sucks. Here you had a new car to enjoy and then BAM! Reminds me of when a friend hit a deer driving home from the dealership in his brand new car. Somehow I always think of that when I'm car shopping!

stickguy

What part Sandy? The USB adapter? Much cheaper off amazon, as in they go for about $3-$10.

akangl

suydam said:

Akangl, that situation really sucks. Here you had a new car to enjoy and then BAM! Reminds me of when a friend hit a deer driving home from the dealership in his brand new car. Somehow I always think of that when I'm car shopping!

Yeah, its been the most frustrating thing I've dealt with in a long time. I returned the rental today, trying to stretch out how much time I have with it since I only have a total of 30 days and I won't be getting the Focus back for probably another month. Hubby's Focus is here so I'm driving that, down side is daughter refuses to drive it so I'm stuck with it and being a stick shift I get tired of it really fast.

stickguy

I think Breld is spreading his CCB habit like a computer virus. The banner ads at the top of the page for me are advertising dealers out of Fort Collins, CO.

fintail

I'm looking at a Camry banner ad (no mention of "bold") - a fine car I'm sure, but I'm good with what I've got.

berri

The latest gen Camry gives me a bit of pause because of it's grill and bric-a-bat side styling excess. But I think it is a very reliable car given that most of it is just improvements from the 2007 design. The internal dimensions aren't all that changed, but the mechanicals are updated.

stever

You guys are a dying breed.

“The automobile just isn’t that important to people’s lives anymore,” says Mike Berger, a historian who studies the social effect of the car. “The automobile provided the means for teenagers to live their own lives. Social media blows any limits out of the water. You don’t need the car to go find friends.”

“And the way we live now, especially on the coasts, it’s a bother to own a car. For young people, and not just the urban elite, there’s not even a desire to drive.”

Americans drive fewer miles per year — down about 9 percent over the past two decades. The percentage of 19-year-olds with driver’s licenses has dropped from 87 percent two decades ago to 70 percent last year. Most teens now do not get licensed within a year of becoming eligible, according to a study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety."

America’s once magical – now mundane – love affair with cars. Cruising toward oblivion. (Washington Post)

kyfdx

Sounds just like what an East Coast elitist would say.. Come on out to flyover country. We still care about cars.

suydam

Agreed. And you don't need to bother owning a car -- on the west coast? Where do these loony ideas come from? Here's a contrary point of view:
http://www.autoblog.com/2015/09/03/car-culture-not-graying-washington-post-opinion/

laurasdada

My son just got his license. He most certainly wants my car! Gotta hide the keys. Bugattis are a part of his billionaire plan. Alas, supporting his dad is not.

Sandman6472

Stick, since we both have VW's, both 2015's, would think the part you got for yours should also work in mine. What is the part number and name of the one you got from amazon.com? I will call them to see if indeed it will work in my application...really hate to pay VW's inflated price on something I'm not really sure how much I will use it. Since the car charger I had blew the fuse in the car that works the outlets, haven't tried it again with another car charger as I don't want the same crazy result...not sure how many times the service department will give me a free pass to change out a bad fuse even though I'm still well within the 3 year/36k warranty period. Hate to get burned again!!!
T I A for any help here.

The Sandman

kyfdx

In the space of a couple of hours, yesterday.. saw two Domino's Pizza delivery drivers.

One was in an early '90s Corsica (in typical shape), and the other was in a Ford Focus ST!

Sandman6472

Looks like I need a micro usb to a 30-pin adaptor according to what I found online at amazon.com. Found a few at different price points so will proceed from here. Seems the easiest way to charge my cell directly without having to go through the power plugs that could short out a fuse again.

The Sandman

corvette

Planet Money: Why Buying a Car is So Awful

I guess we're all just gluttons for punishment...

corvette

It appears our local dealership kingpin just got bought by a United Arab Emirates-based company. This may be interesting.

I was ignorant that the Swope dealerships in Elizabethtown were separate concerns from the Louisville area dealerships. The Cars of Yesteryear museum in E-town is pretty cool if you're ever in the area.

stickguy

sandman_6472 said:

Looks like I need a micro usb to a 30-pin adaptor according to what I found online at amazon.com. Found a few at different price points so will proceed from here. Seems the easiest way to charge my cell directly without having to go through the power plugs that could short out a fuse again.

The Sandman

sounds like what you need Sandy. won't do anything to the car. The part I got won't work for you because it was 30 pin to lightning (iphone) plug.

Just make sure to keep your males and females straight!

This is what you need (there are other brands, lengths, etc. too)


http://www.amazon.com/Black-Female-Charge-Adapter-iPhone/dp/B00B5T26OS/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1441506131&sr=1-2&keywords=30+pin+to+micro+usb&pebp=1441506146350&perid=0T2818J0G4R9YQW2W1QJ

roadburner

corvette said:

It appears our local dealership kingpin just got bought by a United Arab Emirates-based company. This may be interesting.

I hope the new owners don't screw up my BMW dealership...

stickguy

might have some shopping stories soon. no, not me. friend of my wife at work had an accident wednesday, and waiting to find out if her car is going to be totaled or repaired. it is a 2011 or 12 (I think) mazda 3 4 door. I never saw it in person, but I don't think it was a high end model. So likely the market value is low enough a total is not out of the running (I do know some airbags blew when she rear ended someone on the highway).

so, since she hates the car shopping process, and is single and unattached, I have been "volunteered" to help her through the process if it comes to that. Can't wait!

corvette

roadburner said:

corvette said:

It appears our local dealership kingpin just got bought by a United Arab Emirates-based company. This may be interesting.

I hope the new owners don't screw up my BMW dealership...

Yeah, a crappy dealer could become the final nail in the coffin for your interest in BMW, which seemed to be waning anyway. The new owner seems to be quietly buying dealerships in the US--the acquisitions aren't easy to see on its website, but I know Swope isn't the first.

roadburner

corvette said:

Yeah, a crappy dealer could become the final nail in the coffin for your interest in BMW, which seemed to be waning anyway. The new owner seems to be quietly buying dealerships in the US--the acquisitions aren't easy to see on its website, but I know Swope isn't the first.

On the bright side, I don't need a dealer to maintain my 318ti; still, I'd miss having the great parts and service departments. I guess all I can do is see how it all pans out.

Michaell

kyfdx said:

In the space of a couple of hours, yesterday.. saw two Domino's Pizza delivery drivers.

One was in an early '90s Corsica (in typical shape), and the other was in a Ford Focus ST!

One of our recent hires drives a late model GTI; another a ratty Ranger pickup; and a third a fairly new F150.

How the last guy makes any money driving that thing, I'll never know.

Michaell

Oh, and the spending on the new house continues ... ordered carpet and countertops today.

Not sure how my wife finds this stuff, but the carpet she chose is way, way, way more expensive than I've ever seen carpet sold for before. Supposedly this great new technology where the fibers don't hold a charge (either positive or negative) so the dust doesn't cling. 35 year warranty, and you don't use chemicals or soaps to clean it - just simple water. Professional cleaning (rinsing?) every 18-24 months.

In fact, we've been told that the Dyson vacuums aren't recommended, as they provide too much suction. An Oreck is what we should get.

Swell - another several hundred dollar purchase.

Ching, ching, ching.

But, looking forward to the final results in a few weeks.

qbrozen

My wife has made us go through a number of vacuums over the years. Dyson is #3 on our list. She deems the best to be a Rainbow, with our Kirby holding the #2 spot. Both of those were crazy expensive new but we bought them old and refurbed off ebay for a few hundred or so.

in our house news, we booked a renter today. A family being relocated from Chicago. Seem real nice and reliable, so fingers crossed. The kicker is: we gotta be out of here in 3 weeks! Yikes! I could spend that much time just cleaning out my garage.

Michaell

qbrozen said:

My wife has made us go through a number of vacuums over the years. Dyson is #3 on our list. She deems the best to be a Rainbow, with our Kirby holding the #2 spot. Both of those were crazy expensive new but we bought them old and refurbed off ebay for a few hundred or so.

in our house news, we booked a renter today. A family being relocated from Chicago. Seem real nice and reliable, so fingers crossed. The kicker is: we gotta be out of here in 3 weeks! Yikes! I could spend that much time just cleaning out my garage.

Looks like your September will be as crazy as mine ... best of luck with the move!

qbrozen

Thanks, Michaell. Same to you.

Sandman6472

Definitely do not want to even think about moving for awhile. After 28 plus years, we have a lot of stuff we need to go through and probably discard 75%. Not something I'm looking forward to.
Just sat down and had "the discussion" about our goals and aspirations for the next few years, as the wife just turned 60 and I'm gaining on 61. I'm inclined to work till I reach 65 and then retire again while she wants to work till age 66 and her s s kicks in. Since my s s will be puny if I even get any, not figuring that into my retirement date. I really think that I will be able to keep my Hertz gig until that time if my health keeps up and though it's only minimum wage, I do like it and have a schedule that gives me time to rest up my spine. Since the other half only works part time also, think we can do this.
As for staying in this house, makes sense to stay until I stop work and that's the plan. Looking into extra insulation in the attic and maybe painting the interior as the only major jobs I want to do. The fridge and oven/stove will fail sooner rather than later but that's what savings is for and though the blinds on all windows are original, she's just not ready to swap 'em out yet though I said to go ahead if you want.

The Sandman

Sandman6472

Looking like my trip to New York might just happen after all! To be honest, it's difficult to travel alone as I usually need a wheelchair in the airport and turns out the wife can't go. My oldest has never been to N Y and has close friends there so the plan is for her to fly with me and do her own thing while I attend the reunion and then meet up to see relatives. Think it's the best solution since I'm just not sure I can do it all alone. Will find out by mid week if it's a go and if so, will make plane reservations into Westchester airport. The hotel is right there as is the compact rental I've already reserved. Being an employee, am hoping they give me something fairly new and nice as I don't expect to put more than 600 miles on it as we'll only be in the lower New York and Connecticut areas.
Driving up has been taken off the table and think I have to agree here...if I wasn't working, definitely would drive and make it a longer trip. But only taking 2 weeks off so just not viable when the flight is maybe a couple hours each way.

The Sandman

robr2

corvette said:

It appears our local dealership kingpin just got bought by a United Arab Emirates-based company. This may be interesting.

I was ignorant that the Swope dealerships in Elizabethtown were separate concerns from the Louisville area dealerships. The Cars of Yesteryear museum in E-town is pretty cool if you're ever in the area.

I think it's a different company. I believe this is the company that owns Deland Nissan and other south Florida dealerships.

Michaell

sandman_6472 said:

Definitely do not want to even think about moving for awhile. After 28 plus years, we have a lot of stuff we need to go through and probably discard 75%. Not something I'm looking forward to. Just sat down and had "the discussion" about our goals and aspirations for the next few years, as the wife just turned 60 and I'm gaining on 61. I'm inclined to work till I reach 65 and then retire again while she wants to work till age 66 and her s s kicks in. Since my s s will be puny if I even get any, not figuring that into my retirement date. I really think that I will be able to keep my Hertz gig until that time if my health keeps up and though it's only minimum wage, I do like it and have a schedule that gives me time to rest up my spine. Since the other half only works part time also, think we can do this. As for staying in this house, makes sense to stay until I stop work and that's the plan. Looking into extra insulation in the attic and maybe painting the interior as the only major jobs I want to do. The fridge and oven/stove will fail sooner rather than later but that's what savings is for and though the blinds on all windows are original, she's just not ready to swap 'em out yet though I said to go ahead if you want. The Sandman

Sandy I just finished a book called "Get What's Yours", which goes into great detail about how to maximize your social security benefits. Many folks leave thousands of dollars on the table when they file. 

As you are a lot closer to collecting benefits it's worth the read. 

stever

Part of the fun of getting pared down and tossing stuff is that you have an excuse to get new stuff. And boy, it doesn't take long to get loaded up again.

"Stuff" sometimes means cars too.

Sandman6472

Will check it out. I get my pension from the government as I was a civil service employee. I have heard from retired postal buds that we can only make so much from s s before they take a portion away due to our government pension. Don't think I'll have any issues here when the time comes for me to apply. Don't have the required 40 quarters yet but hopefully will be getting a statement in the mail from them telling me how many I do have. The wife mentioned earlier about us both going to the nearest office just to see where we stand and at what age we can start to take it. She says 66 and I think it's 65...I was born in '54 and she in '55 so my figures could be wrong.
Anyhow, hoping to work till I reach 64 or 65 and would like to stay at Hertz if possible. Also hoping for some additional hours once season kicks in but who knows since they've kept us close to 24 since March of 2014. I want to stay part time and would gladly take on a few more hours, which I let them know every so often.

The Sandman

henryn

qbrozen said:

My wife has made us go through a number of vacuums over the years. Dyson is #3 on our list. She deems the best to be a Rainbow, with our Kirby holding the #2 spot. Both of those were crazy expensive new but we bought them old and refurbed off ebay for a few hundred or so.

in our house news, we booked a renter today. A family being relocated from Chicago. Seem real nice and reliable, so fingers crossed. The kicker is: we gotta be out of here in 3 weeks! Yikes! I could spend that much time just cleaning out my garage.

Back around 1971, while I was still in college, I sold Kirby vacuum cleaners door to door. Very interesting experience, in many ways. The markup on those things was unbelievably high. The asking price was $329 (in 1971 dollars), I paid $179 to the dealer, he paid $129 to the wholesaler, and the rumor (not substantiated) was the wholesaler paid about $80 to the manufacturer.

Q, good luck on getting moved out in 3 weeks. Do you even have a new house yet?

suydam

Full Retirement age is 66 until birthdates in 1960, when it moves to 67.

corvette

robr2 said:

corvette said:

It appears our local dealership kingpin just got bought by a United Arab Emirates-based company. This may be interesting.

I was ignorant that the Swope dealerships in Elizabethtown were separate concerns from the Louisville area dealerships. The Cars of Yesteryear museum in E-town is pretty cool if you're ever in the area.

I think it's a different company. I believe this is the company that owns Deland Nissan and other south Florida dealerships.

That would make more sense.

kyfdx

suydam said:

Full Retirement age is 66 until birthdates in 1960, when it moves to 67.

It's different for every birth year until you hit the 67 mark..

1958 = 66yr, 8 months
1956 = 66yr, 4 months

Etc, etc..

Not that everyone has the same situation, but in general, you are better off spending down other retirement funds and delaying SS until 70, if possible.

Michaell

sandman_6472 said:

Will check it out. I get my pension from the government as I was a civil service employee. I have heard from retired postal buds that we can only make so much from s s before they take a portion away due to our government pension. Don't think I'll have any issues here when the time comes for me to apply. Don't have the required 40 quarters yet but hopefully will be getting a statement in the mail from them telling me how many I do have. The wife mentioned earlier about us both going to the nearest office just to see where we stand and at what age we can start to take it. She says 66 and I think it's 65...I was born in '54 and she in '55 so my figures could be wrong. Anyhow, hoping to work till I reach 64 or 65 and would like to stay at Hertz if possible. Also hoping for some additional hours once season kicks in but who knows since they've kept us close to 24 since March of 2014. I want to stay part time and would gladly take on a few more hours, which I let them know every so often. The Sandman

Sandy the book specifically states not to get advice from the local office. Folks aren't trained to get you the most money, just how to file. 

If if your wife can wait until she's 70, you'll get a lot more money. 

suydam

It's not always advantageous to defer. Everyone's situation is different. 

Michaell

suydam said:

It's not always advantageous to defer. Everyone's situation is different. 

 The book make that point very clearly.  it also covers situations like Sandy's, where you don't have enough quarters to qualify. lots of information about survival and disability benefits as well as ex-spouse benefits 

Sandman6472

Yes, I did go online and read several articles and my take is it depends upon one's situation. I plan on reading the book and going from there but as of now, continuing to work, both of us, while letting the retirement accounts grow with no withdraws, only deposits. Luckily, we live below our means while wanting for nothing. Sure, we all want things...new flat screens, nicer vehicles, but do we need them? No, as long as our needs are met, all is good. I do feel that every once in awhile, we need to spoil ourselves a bit...and we do, we just keep things within reason.
60 is a nice age especially when folks are healthy. Sure, we have a few issues but all in all, can not complain...thank G-d!

The Sandman

stever

Die broke. Go buy another car.

Michaell

stever said:

Die broke. Go buy another car.

 Perhaps you should follow that advice! 

fintail

You can't take it with you, and hearses don't have luggage racks

stever

Hey, I got a new table saw Friday. It's not all piling up in the bank.

Did see a nice Renegade today.

stickguy

interesting, I was hanging out in the pool with the wife today, and brought up the idea of moving. She said that could work. Just so many variables. Actually, the house itself is easy (we know what we want there). Tricky part is figuring out where to go!

doesn't help that we have no real ties to where we live now (no family here, 1 kid already gone, and who knows where the 2nd ends up!).

thinking now that unless a job change comes up, that requires moving, may hold tight until the princess graduates and settles someplace. No way I am spending the money to move to a new place locally. though the idea of getting close to the shore (not a beach town, but just off island) is intriguing.

so much to think about.

fezo

I had the easy thing and has the Social Security thing decided for me when they disabled me out. More money than retiring at 62 but less than at 66. Closer to the 66 number than the 62. I have a state pension, too, so we manage. Summer's been crazy because my wife's company got bought up and after a bit she lost that job in the process. She's per diem with who she'll eventually be in full time with.

Not a beach town but just off island..... I know that one!

ab348

Growing up in Nova Scotia you get the need to be near the ocean in your blood. Where I live in Dartmouth is maybe a half-mile from Halifax Harbor and maybe 5 miles from open ocean. I took the '68 for a drive today and since it was a hot day I went for an oceanside route. Some of those properties for sale where I went were tempting, since it was significantly cooler there today and the smell of the ocean was wonderful. But up here, most of the year those spots are cold, the wind blows to make it colder, and part of the area I was in today was underwater when we had a hurricane a few years ago. Not sure there is any perfect location.

corvette

ab348 said:

Not sure there is any perfect location.

Indeed. Louisville is pretty good. But of the many places I've visited, Spartanburg, SC, Omaha, NE, and Colorado Springs and Denver, CO were notably good to the point I would seriously consider living there.

stickguy

I visited the Spartanburg area once, and went into Greenville for dinner and hanging out one day. really liked it. was a cool town.

I always wanted to go check out Colorado someday.

Parts of Tenn (Nashville/Knoxville) are nice too.

one thing though is with family on the east coast, it is tough to convince the wife to go too far away. NC or VA is probably about as far south as I can pull off! She would take going north (New Hampshire or Saratoga area) but I don't want to go back to NY, and I hate being cold!

hopefully one of the kids lands someplace we like, and looks like they will stay, so we can just follow them.

berri

Relocating is always a tough decision. Especially if your friends and family remain behind. Lots of retirees move and end up moving back. And you really can't follow your kids around the country. If you do decide to try it, I'd strongly recommend renting for a year or two before you lock into buying a house. Selling a house can be an expensive proposition, particularly if you haven't been in it all that long.

stickguy

we don't have anyone really keeping us around here. so leaving is not an issue.

I would not go someplace just because the kids were there, but it could factor into general location.

we need to make a list and travel around to explore different areas to see what we like. No real rush.