Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

nyccarguy

@robr2 - I deal with a salesman who reps quite a few lines. Like you he carries binders, samples, & even makes deliveries. His vehicle of choice is a Lexus RX. His 1st was an '02 that he drove for 450K miles until the transmission failed, then he bought a CPO 2010 RX350. The other day he pulls up in front of my store with a newer RX350. I ask him what happened. He tells me somebody pulled out of a gas station, wasn't looking, & smashed into his front left bumper & 1/4 panel. He wasn't hurt. The 2010 RX had 235,000 miles on it. The insurance company totaled it. He was shocked when they gave him a check for $11,000. The guy at the Lexus dealer where he buys and services his cars (they lease an ES for his wife) told him they wouldn't give him any more than $6-$7K on a trade in. With his 2010 RX totaled, he bought a CPO 2013 RX350.

fintail

The RX might be the ultimate comfortable durable high quality commuter. You won't have any fun in it or looking at it but if you just want to relax and get to work/get home or take a trip to grandma's house, it's as good as it gets.

robr2

@nyccarguy - I know that a small CUV would be the best vehicle for me. One reason that I leaned toward a sedan was that I've driven a wagon, minivan, or CUV for the past 15 years. I kind of wanted a trunk. In 3 years I may change my mind.

Also, I've notice that I was carry everything I use for work with me all the time. Nothing like an extra 400 lbs. in the back of the vehicle to kill fuel economy and handling. With the sedan I've already figured out that instead of filling one crate with 10 binders for one manufacturer, I can fit two manufacturers in one crate. When I come home at night I can restock from the supply I have at home.

kyfdx

This guy needs some advice.. Thanks!
http://forums.edmunds.com/discussion/38024/chevrolet/impala/caring-for-a-car-not-being-driven?new=1

nyccarguy

@robr2 - I wasn't suggesting you get an RX (although as enthusiasts we loathe their existence, everyone who owns one swears by them).  I was just saying because you were saying how you were shocked at how much they gave you for your Passat.

Mr_Shiftright

Done, but pile on everybody if you have any other ideas.

slorenzen

Mr_Shiftright said:

Done, but pile on everybody if you have any other ideas.

You beat me to it, Shifty...

Mr_Shiftright

I'm sure I forgot something though.

robr2

nyccarguy said:

@robr2 - I wasn't suggesting you get an RX (although as enthusiasts we loathe their existence, everyone who owns one swears by them).  I was just saying because you were saying how you were shocked at how much they gave you for your Passat.

Ah - got it.

I think the reason they gave me what I think was a lot was that they knew that a tech of theirs would buy it. I wouldn't surprise me that the used car manager has a list of things the techs will jump at and with a ball park price.

qbrozen

I did not go car shopping today after all. Too much going on. Good thing because the wife came home today and declared she wants something higher up. She says driving the volvo at night hurts her eyes bs the van. So I guess I'll be focusing on SUVs like that SRX. Also have my eye on a CX7 Touring and a couple of X3s.

nyccarguy

Grrrrrrrrrrr

nyccarguy

Obviously from the picture I posted above, my right front tire needs to be replaced. The tires have about 40K miles on them. Should I replace 2 and keep the left front tire for a "rainy day?"

corvette

How much tread left on them? You may be able to buy one and have a specialty shop put it on a tire lathe and shave it down to the same depth as the others.

robr2

nyccarguy said:

Obviously from the picture I posted above, my right front tire needs to be replaced. The tires have about 40K miles on them. Should I replace 2 and keep the left front tire for a "rainy day?"

Buy two and put the new ones on the back.

If you are at 4/32 or less, replace all 4.

stickguy

I'll 2nd what Rob said.

I hate having mismatched tires. Different brands would freak me out totally. Even having 2 new and 2 older bugs me!

stickguy

Q, so now you want an older SUV? She might as well just drive the van!

But, I can work with that. Here is another option, still nice and loaded up. This place (close to me, my "go to") had an older SRX not long ago that probably would have been perfect. And some Nissans.

http://www.royaleasing.com/detail-2006-mercury-mountaineer-4dr_luxury_awd-used-14288907.html

This one also has 3rd row seats if you care.

nyccarguy

Thx.  You guys confirmed what I was thinking.  2 new shoes (same exact tires, I'd NEVER mismatch brands).  I can see Costco already has them cheaper than tire rack.  Monday I'll call a couple of Honda dealers.  

qbrozen

Thanks, Stick, but I showed her a mountaineer premium with far fewer miles and she turned her nose up at it. 

The idea of extra cars for us is to keep miles off the expensive vehicles. We drive ALOT. I dread 24k/year on the van. 

stickguy

well, then you should just get an almost new, slightly used cheap, high mpg, new car.

Say, a 2014 or 2015 Fit?

stickguy

anyway, this was always my favorite midsize SUV from back in the day. Never liked the new style that came out in 2005.

http://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/653134818/overview/

roadburner

I loved my '93 PF- just not as much as the Wrangler which joined- and then replaced it.

jpp75

stickguy said:

anyway, this was always my favorite midsize SUV from back in the day. Never liked the new style that came out in 2005.

http://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/653134818/overview/

My favorite vehicle, obviously since I owned own and then bought another one 3 years ago. I toy with the idea of getting rid of it now and then since it mostly sits...but I feel I'd regret it if I did. It just turned 152,000 miles. It needs tires but otherwise is in great condition and is perfect for dog/beach/Lowe's duty.

The only real negatives are MPG, which wasn't a big consideration when these were being built, and the lack of some modern safety features. I can tell the ABS isn't as advanced as the modern systems but it does have side airbags.

graphicguy

qbrozen said:

I did not go car shopping today after all. Too much going on. Good thing because the wife came home today and declared she wants something higher up. She says driving the volvo at night hurts her eyes bs the van. So I guess I'll be focusing on SUVs like that SRX. Also have my eye on a CX7 Touring and a couple of X3s.

Q...setting aside my Cadillac woes, I do know quite a few CRX owners. All of them love them with no problems they've ever brought to my attention.

kyfdx

roadburner said:

I loved my '93 PF- just not as much as the Wrangler which joined- and then replaced it.

So how was the thing at Jake Sweeney, yesterday?

Wanted to make it up there, but I was tied up during those hours, unfortunately.

sda

My favorite vehicle, obviously since I owned own and then bought another one 3 years ago. I toy with the idea of getting rid of it now and then since it mostly sits...but I feel I'd regret it if I did. It just turned 152,000 miles. I

The only real negatives are MPG,

A good friend of mine took in a clean 2001 as a donation to the charity that he worked for. It had 250000 miles on it but ran and drove very nicely. He drove it himself for about a year before the charity found a owner for it. He said he would have bought it for himself if he could. Only real complaint was that it was not to thrifty on gas.

sda

sda said:

My favorite vehicle, obviously since I owned own and then bought another one 3 years ago. I toy with the idea of getting rid of it now and then since it mostly sits...but I feel I'd regret it if I did. It just turned 152,000 miles. I

The only real negatives are MPG,

A good friend of mine took in a clean 2001 as a donation to the charity that he worked for. It had 250000 miles on it but ran and drove very nicely. He drove it himself for about a year before the charity found a owner for it. He said he would have bought it for himself if he could. Only real complaint was that it was not too thrifty on gas.

cdnpinhead

roadburner said:

I loved my '93 PF- just not as much as the Wrangler which joined- and then replaced it.

My wife has been driving a 2004 PF we bought new, and it's been bulletproof. Has 165K miles on it and is somewhat dinged up, but mechanically sound.

jpp75

sda said:

My favorite vehicle, obviously since I owned own and then bought another one 3 years ago. I toy with the idea of getting rid of it now and then since it mostly sits...but I feel I'd regret it if I did. It just turned 152,000 miles. I

The only real negatives are MPG,

A good friend of mine took in a clean 2001 as a donation to the charity that he worked for. It had 250000 miles on it but ran and drove very nicely. He drove it himself for about a year before the charity found a owner for it. He said he would have bought it for himself if he could. Only real complaint was that it was not to thrifty on gas.

Yeah, I get around 14 mpg around town, maybe 19 on the highway. Of course when you look at the price of a new vehicle you can buy a lot of gas for that amount of money.

I really only drive it about 6 - 7,000 miles per year so it's a moot point.

graphicguy

kyfdx said:

roadburner said:

I loved my '93 PF- just not as much as the Wrangler which joined- and then replaced it.

So how was the thing at Jake Sweeney, yesterday?

Wanted to make it up there, but I was tied up during those hours, unfortunately.

I'd be curious, too. I had planned on going, but seemed to be running behind all day!

roadburner

kyfdx said:

Wanted to make it up there, but I was tied up during those hours, unfortunately.

Very nice! The Cincinnati Orchestra played inside, a mobile DJ outside, all with a very nice catered spread. I met the GM Robert Sabbagh, who is a really good guy AND a true car nut. We ended up talking Bimmers for nearly 15 minutes while he checked out my ti. I waited too late to nab a drive in the i8; I could have taken out a new 7er or X5M but I wasn't all that interested in either one. Overall I had a great time.

Here's a shot of my car:


A friend's Euro 2002tii:


One of several i8s:


A 458; I forgot I had summer tires on the ti and almost spun out pacing the Ferrari:

Mr_Shiftright

Antone here driven the Fiat Abarth?

roadburner

I have; not very quick(obviously) but a lot of fun. Nimble handling and a giggle-inducing exhaust note. The seating position is subjective- I was OK with it but some hate it. I gave the car a lot of thought but ultimately decided that I didn't want another FWD car- especially one with less than 300 hp.
I monitored a couple of Fiat 500 forums and Abarth reliability seemed to be pretty decent. Mostly minor trim issues. As is always the case, dealer quality has a huge influence on owner satisfaction.

28firefighter

Another punch pending a dealer trade, but not for me. Been helping my BIL and SIL find the perfect 7 seat vehicle for their expanding family. 

Contenders were Ford Flex with EcoBoost, Honda Odyssey Touring Elite and the Kia Sedona SXL. 

Any guesses which won?

stickguy

Kia

Mr_Shiftright

Odyssey

28firefighter said:

Another punch pending a dealer trade, but not for me. Been helping my BIL and SIL find the perfect 7 seat vehicle for their expanding family. 

Contenders were Ford Flex with EcoBoost, Honda Odyssey Touring Elite and the Kia Sedona SXL. 

Any guesses which won?

houdini1

Flex

stickguy

well, one of us is going to win!

Mr_Shiftright

Well the Flex is pretty darn nice with all that power but I was thinking if he's shopping price, he'd pick one of the other two. If his choice isn't price dependent, he'd pick the Flex. If he is price dependent and he needs a REAL 9 seat capacity, he'd pick the Odyssey.

There, did I cover all my bets?

28firefighter

Well. I won't spoil it just yet, but pricing across the Odyssey and Flex were within $1000 of each other after the standard Ford rebates.  The Sedona was significantly less. 

Without a doubt, my favorite was the Flex. It easily had as much space as the Sedona and way more cool looking and fun to drive. That 365 HP really hauls. But, alas, not my car!

Kia has come a really long way, for sure. I'd almost consider buying one if we needed the space. Honda on the other hand feels like it has stagnated - a rolling bubble of reliability. 

Mr_Shiftright

I'm surprised the Odyssey and Flex were so close in price. You can really load up the Flex and come up with a pretty fat sticker price. I really don't know much about the new Sedona, but the older ones did not enjoy the best reputation. Also, those rear seats in the Sedona seem awfully small.

28firefighter

Mr_Shiftright said:

I'm surprised the Odyssey and Flex were so close in price. You can really load up the Flex and come up with a pretty fat sticker price. I really don't know much about the new Sedona, but the older ones did not enjoy the best reputation. Also, those rear seats in the Sedona seem awfully small.

Dealers up here are doing $4500 discounts on top of the Friends and Family discount and other rebates. Makes it a lot more comparable to the Ody. 

stickguy

oh, you can get an Odyssey up quite high these days. Same thing with a Pilot.

stever

There's a Sedona in the Edmunds' fleet.

Mr_Shiftright

Bid deal. Does it have a built-in vacuum? Nooooooo...............Odyssey does. Of course I see the appeal of the Sedona...it doesn't look like a (insert MV word here).

28firefighter

The salsesman and sales manager actually made it a point to call it a "multi-purpose vehicle" and corrected me when I called it a minivan. My BIL thought the "distinction" was hysterical as he opened and closed the sliding doors...

Mr_Shiftright

Yes, they are not allowed to say the M word anymore....that's pretty funny!

stickguy

well, Mazda actually named their 1st Van the MPV. though the initial one had normal doors, the later model MPV was just another traditional minivan (though smaller, much better size IMO)

breld

Well, FWIW, we're coming up on our one year anniversary with our Sedona SX, and after about 14k miles, including a road trip to California and back, we'd buy it again.

The Odyssey's powertrain is a bit better, the third row folding mechanism is clunky, and the second row is more difficult to fold forward than it should be, but for us, the styling inside and out, combined with the more traditional front console and overall dash layout make it more appealing than its competitors.

stever

I'm pretty sold on the Stow and Go seats in my Dodge. We rarely haul people though.

qbrozen

stickguy said:

well, then you should just get an almost new, slightly used cheap, high mpg, new car.

Say, a 2014 or 2015 Fit?

If she would learn to drive stick, I probably could have kept it.