Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

breld

If I'm mocking anyone, it's myself, believe me! I have a healthy amount of self-awareness and humility when it comes to my lack of self-control.

It doesn't help (or hurt I suppose) that I have a spouse who not only encourages me in the habits, but also indulges herself!

xwesx

breld said:

If I'm mocking anyone, it's myself, believe me! I have a healthy amount of self-awareness and humility when it comes to my lack of self-control.

It doesn't help (or hurt I suppose) that I have a spouse who not only encourages me in the habits, but also indulges herself!

At the end of the day, it HELPS that your spouse is like-minded. That way, you two can discuss, worry, and argue about the things that are really important in your lives rather than fighting over each other's hobbies!

And, I didn't mean "mockery" in a bad way, if that's possible. Sort of like the "are you mocking me?" line I like to deliver in a joking way (I know it's from a movie or something, but I can no longer remember where) from time to time. It is no less appropriate to offer up a healthy guffaw regarding buying nine cars as it is to do so when a teen says, "I know what I'm talking about! I have a lot of experience," to someone well older than them.

Sandman6472

Did about 13K from 12/12/2014 to 12/12/2015. I do have a 58 mile round trip commute which went from four down to three days luckily and no longer do that ridiculous 76 mile round trip to my old gig in West Palm Beach. Went back there on the 24th of last month to get back on the rolls but since I didn't bring my ss card, told me I had to come back with it. Not sure I believed that they threw away all their old info but have never gone back with it yet, probably a sign from up above to just let it go. I know over dinner this past Sunday, the wife let me know what a bad idea she thought it was when I brought it up to her...she wants me to just keep what I got and not push myself as she remembers how my body just shut down back in March of 2014. Told me it's just not worth it and to try for more hours at Hertz. Did get up to 28.5 this week so maybe my talk with the boss did some good here.
Have seen a few 2 Series around the area and plan on going to take a test drive soon to see what's up. Probably not the smartest move on my part, but just want to see for myself what's up with them. Not planning on doing anything except look for the time being. Almost at 14.5 K on the Golf and will have the tires rotated within the next couple of weeks plus have the rear brakes adjusted/cleaned as the pedal is lower than I'd like. My three year alignment policy ends 3/16, so will have that done again after the rotation to see how straight the steering wheel is after wards. Right now it's a tad off center and know after the rotation, it could change a bit. Not sure if I will take out another policy, will only do it for the right price.

The Sandman

andres3

sandman_6472 said:

Bread, check out the Golf, it really is the perfect vehicle. Drove a couple of '16 Jetta S's at work and though nice, prefer my Golf. It does everything right, has the hatch which really comes in handy and getting great mpg's with the 1.8t engine. Very pleased and just wish VW had put all the goodies for '16 in the '15 models. Shame on you VW!!!

The Sandman

Whats the summary of goodies and changes the '16 have that the '15 didn't? I understand the main center screen may be larger; what else?

I agree, the Golf is one seriously nice car for the money, and the Golf R is hot. Too hot, one dealer I went to recently told me they don't do test drives!

laurasdada

breld said:

If I'm mocking anyone, it's myself, believe me! I have a healthy amount of self-awareness and humility when it comes to my lack of self-control.

It doesn't help (or hurt I suppose) that I have a spouse who not only encourages me in the habits, but also indulges herself!

You, sir, have married well.

Shamefully, I've purchased but 11 cars in my life. 7 for moi:
VW Scirocco (used, first car out of college)
Mitsubishi Mirage Turbo
Acura Integra
(And here is where I had co. cars for about 6 years)
Chrysler 300M
Acura TL
Jaguar XK
Jaguar XF

4 for the ex.:
Nissan Sentra SE-R
Saab 900s
Lexus RX300
BMW 535xi

I had 3 co. cars in the '90s, which I picked out from a list of dull, four door domestic sedans....does that count?

Still lovin' the XF, but it is over two years old!

suydam

I'm hardly in the CCBA crowd. I've only bought 8 new cars, and 8 more used ones.

Sandman6472

For model year 2016 they added: usb port, aux input, Apple/Android radio connectivity for the infotainment center. Those three items I would've loved to have in my 2015 Golf. Mine came with the old style connector for my iPod and I went to Amazon to get a connector for my Android smartphone so got around that missing usb/aux input but wish it all came standard in the new '15 model since it was a brand new vehicle to the marketplace. Would have loved having the Android radio connectivity.
The other big thing is the push button start, something I didn't really care about until the 2015 Jetta loaner I got for a few days had it. Once having it for those few days, I really got used to it and the ease it brings to starting/stopping the vehicle. Again, with a brand new vehicle coming to the marketplace, made no sense to me as to why they put it in the second year model. Would think these major changes would've gone in the debut year of this model and for the second time, 2006 and 2015, I bought a first year model. That used to be a major rule for me, never buy the first year model but not only I broke this rule, so did the wife with her A3. But would never have looked at the VW if the wife hadn't bought her Audi as we'd never bought German before...we've only done domestic, Japanese and Korean. But am very happy how things have turned out even though I had a couple of hiccups in the beginning...am very very pleased now!

The Sandman

breld

If you count the van for our son's caretaker, which I personally don't but I suppose it came out of our pocketbook, we hit the ground running with 2 purchases this year.

Wait....make that 3. I'm at the VW dealer now closing the lease on a 2016 Jetta Sport.

I actually made an offer via email at the dealership that we visited yesterday - I was admittedly a little aggressive, but after a few hours, I got a response simply saying "we can't meet your numbers." I called the salesperson and just asked where we were off - cap cost, money factor? He said all the above. This is the same salesperson who quoted a money factor of .001 (vs. the .0002 "actual" rate provided by @Michaell). I just replied "fair enough."

Sent the offer to another dealership I've done business with, directly to the sales manager whom I've talked with many times, and within half an hour we had the deal done, at the same rate as I asked for at the first dealership. Obviously I should've just started there (and will from now on). Just trying to spread my business around!

xwesx

breld said:

If you count the van for our son's caretaker, which I personally don't but I suppose it came out of our pocketbook, we hit the ground running with 2 purchases this year.

Wait....make that 3. I'm at the VW dealer now closing the lease on a 2016 Jetta Sport.

I actually made an offer via email at the dealership that we visited yesterday - I was admittedly a little aggressive, but after a few hours, I got a response simply saying "we can't meet your numbers." I called the salesperson and just asked where we were off - cap cost, money factor? He said all the above. This is the same salesperson who quoted a money factor of .001 (vs. the .0002 "actual" rate provided by @Michaell). I just replied "fair enough."

Sent the offer to another dealership I've done business with, directly to the sales manager whom I've talked with many times, and within half an hour we had the deal done, at the same rate as I asked for at the first dealership. Obviously I should've just started there (and will from now on). Just trying to spread my business around!

When the master speaks, the wise listen. Here endeth the lesson.

Congrats on the punch! I hope your daughter enjoys (and appreciates) it as much as she did the A3!

--------

PS - The van absolutely counts: You bought it, so it's your punch.

Now, to contrast that, I cosigned a loan with my brother many years ago now on a car he was buying. I provided input to him and later negotiated with the dealership after they didn't want to come anywhere near a reasonable price on the car, but ultimately it was his money that paid for the car and his name on the title, so that did not count as my punch.

breld

I'm in the Volvo building to sign all the papers.  I kinda want this.

tifighter

Well I won't stop you...

Sandman6472

Is that an S60??

The Sandman

breld

I'm sure others can chime in on the details, but it's a limited "Polestar" edition of the S60. Sort of an S4 equivalent, I do believe, but on a much more limited basis.

corvette

breld, congrats on the punch! I had the van down as a 2015 punch, but it does look like you've bought three vehicles in the past month. Keep up the good work!

Sandman6472

Looked like a S40 for a second there but I know they no longer make those. Still kick myself sometimes that I didn't get the S40 I saw back in 2009. But it was so similar to the Mazda3 that we had that made no sense. And the Civic was running nicely so just passed after considering it.

The Sandman

stickguy

what terms did you get on the lease (payment)? Curious how it compared to my 2015.

Not really surprised you went for the sport, even though the 1.4t was probably a more logical choice.

why the lease? I figured you would buy this, so she could take it all the way through college. Not that you mind shopping, but this way, 1/2 way through will be needing a new one.

Mr_Shiftright

Use your caveman voice: man....WANT.....

( a proven method for manifesting various human needs).

Mr_Shiftright

Oh, man, I'm really stuck on this one.

Been looking for a Porsche 911, and I found one with these various positive attributes:

1. color I want (dark blue)
2. excellent service records
3. new and improved IMS bearing
4. recent brakes, shocks, suspension work
5. serviced by Porsche specialist of excellent reputation
6. really good price
7. complete PPI report
8. very clean car top to bottom
9. clean CARFAX

So? What's not to like? The miles-----150K !!

tjc78

Mr_Shiftright said:

Oh, man, I'm really stuck on this one. Been looking for a Porsche 911, and I found one with these various positive attributes: 1. color I want (dark blue) 2. excellent service records 3. new and improved IMS bearing 4. recent brakes, shocks, suspension work 5. serviced by Porsche specialist of excellent reputation 6. really good price 7. complete PPI report 8. very clean car top to bottom 9. clean CARFAX So? What's not to like? The miles-----150K !!

You would tell any of us posters to RUN!!

stickguy

to heck with that. Use the miles scaring away the other buyers, and snap it up cheap, and enjoy.

Mr_Shiftright

No, not necessarily. Depends on the car and the price. Porsche engines are extremely long-lived (even Forbes says so!). My truck has 236K and my Mini 126K and they both run great.

I tell people to run when the odds look really bad. But when there's some evidence of good care, and a low price---well, it at least gives one pause.

KBB prices this car out (it's a 2003) at $12,500.

stickguy

so what can you get it for? Could be the one. Not really going to depreciate at this point.

stickguy

OK. Now this, I like. Rubber band tires be damned. RWD and a stick (7 speeds? really?), just like God intended.

http://www.cherryhillvw.com/used/Porsche/2013-Porsche-911-a1b499010a0e0adf3cd072cc07c61d18.htm

breld

corvette said:

breld, congrats on the punch! I had the van down as a 2015 punch, but it does look like you've bought three vehicles in the past month. Keep up the good work!

Oh yeah - you're right about the van. It was in 2015, just before x-mas.

breld

stickguy said:

what terms did you get on the lease (payment)? Curious how it compared to my 2015.

Not really surprised you went for the sport, even though the 1.4t was probably a more logical choice.

why the lease? I figured you would buy this, so she could take it all the way through college. Not that you mind shopping, but this way, 1/2 way through will be needing a new one.

$0 down, 10k miles/year for 3 years, $166/month plus tax ($178). Cap cost was about $4,600 off sticker (well, before the acq fee). And they "took care" of the first payment through incentive money.

I would have no problem with the 1.4t itself, but all the extra aesthetic touches on the sport model made it worth it to us.

And we went with the lease route to take advantage of the lease incentive of $1,250. Plus the money factor equates to virtually no interest, so we figured this was a good way to "finance" it, with the intention of buying it out. Never say never of course, but I really do think this will take her through college and maybe beyond.

stickguy

good deal. less than we are paying (though for 12K).

wonder what I could get if I went back tomorrow? Not that I need another one!

nyccarguy

stickguy said:

OK. Now this, I like. Rubber band tires be damned. RWD and a stick (7 speeds? really?), just like God intended. http://www.cherryhillvw.com/used/Porsche/2013-Porsche-911-a1b499010a0e0adf3cd072cc07c61d18.htm

@stickguy - that's gorgeous!  How much is that car new?  $120K?  $130K?

Mr_Shiftright

nyccarguy said:

stickguy said:

OK. Now this, I like. Rubber band tires be damned. RWD and a stick (7 speeds? really?), just like God intended.

http://www.cherryhillvw.com/used/Porsche/2013-Porsche-911-a1b499010a0e0adf3cd072cc07c61d18.htm

@stickguy - that's gorgeous!  How much is that car new?  $120K?  $130K?

$81,000 the ad says.

Mr_Shiftright

stickguy said:

so what can you get it for? Could be the one. Not really going to depreciate at this point.

I was thinking of offering $11,5K, something like that, if the PPI checks out. But I dunno....them miles....

roadburner

breld said:

If you count the van for our son's caretaker, which I personally don't but I suppose it came out of our pocketbook, we hit the ground running with 2 purchases this year.

Wait....make that 3. I'm at the VW dealer now closing the lease on a 2016 Jetta Sport.

I actually made an offer via email at the dealership that we visited yesterday - I was admittedly a little aggressive, but after a few hours, I got a response simply saying "we can't meet your numbers." I called the salesperson and just asked where we were off - cap cost, money factor? He said all the above. This is the same salesperson who quoted a money factor of .001 (vs. the .0002 "actual" rate provided by @Michaell). I just replied "fair enough."

Sent the offer to another dealership I've done business with, directly to the sales manager whom I've talked with many times, and within half an hour we had the deal done, at the same rate as I asked for at the first dealership. Obviously I should've just started there (and will from now on). Just trying to spread my business around!

Congrats!!! I'd buy a Golf R yesterday if any of the Louisville VW dealers hired techs with opposable thumbs.

nyccarguy

@breld - congrats on the new Jetta! We look forward to hearing your impressions

nyccarguy

My random CCBA plan of the day involves the following: pay off the Pilot (May), double up on my Legacy payments until it is paid off. Add a 4th car to the fleet since I know my wife drives the Pilot out of necessity. The 2 most recent punches were mine (Legacy - BMW). The 3 previous punches were hers (X3, TSX, Pilot). I'm thinking a used 2 year old V6 Accord would be a nice addition to the stable.

breld

nyccarguy said:

My random CCBA plan of the day involves the following: pay off the Pilot (May), double up on my Legacy payments until it is paid off. Add a 4th car to the fleet since I know my wife drives the Pilot out of necessity. The 2 most recent punches were mine (Legacy - BMW). The 3 previous punches were hers (X3, TSX, Pilot). I'm thinking a used 2 year old V6 Accord would be a nice addition to the stable.

Gotta be a good feeling to be that close to paying off the Pilot!

Accord would certainly be a nice "extra" car - then, next step...WRX!

stickguy

My current fascination is a 2014 MB C class. I just really like those. though will be nice to sit in a new version in 2 weeks at the auto show. By the time I am buying (10/2017) the 2015s will be flooding the market off of short leases. So probably would step up to the current generation. at that point, though a late run 2014 could be a really good buy!

Though by then, I will likely be 10 cars down the line in terms of current fascination.

breld

nyccarguy said:

@breld - congrats on the new Jetta! We look forward to hearing your impressions

Thanks! Impressions will likely be the same as @stickguy's and his daughter's. Apparently the Jetta Sport is the new princess mobile!

breld

roadburner said:

breld said:

If you count the van for our son's caretaker, which I personally don't but I suppose it came out of our pocketbook, we hit the ground running with 2 purchases this year.

Wait....make that 3. I'm at the VW dealer now closing the lease on a 2016 Jetta Sport.

I actually made an offer via email at the dealership that we visited yesterday - I was admittedly a little aggressive, but after a few hours, I got a response simply saying "we can't meet your numbers." I called the salesperson and just asked where we were off - cap cost, money factor? He said all the above. This is the same salesperson who quoted a money factor of .001 (vs. the .0002 "actual" rate provided by @Michaell). I just replied "fair enough."

Sent the offer to another dealership I've done business with, directly to the sales manager whom I've talked with many times, and within half an hour we had the deal done, at the same rate as I asked for at the first dealership. Obviously I should've just started there (and will from now on). Just trying to spread my business around!

Congrats!!! I'd buy a Golf R yesterday if any of the Louisville VW dealers hired techs with opposable thumbs.

That is too bad, since the Golf R would be such a great fit.

Whatever happened to the new Mazdaspeed3 rumors?

28firefighter

Congrats, Breld!

That is an excellent car for a young driver. And I've been thrilled with my GTI.

roadburner

breld said:

That is too bad, since the Golf R would be such a great fit.

Whatever happened to the new Mazdaspeed3 rumors?

Just that- rumors. The story the car mags floated was that the new Mazdaspeed 3 would be introduced at Munich in 2015. There was even a rumor that a two door Mazdaspeed 6 Coupe was under consideration.
So much for all of that...

graphicguy

Good job, Breld. My son is thinking of parting with his Fiesta. I recommended he go to the VW showroom, given the deals that can be made right now.

fintail

Congrats, looks like some here are doing their part to keep VW sales going.

Michaell

If the deals are as good later this year, I could see myself in a VW when my Elantra lease is up.

Sandman6472

Still loving mine after 13 plus months of ownership, drives as nice as when I drove it home from the dealership. After driving that GLA the other day, can definitely see myself in that somewhere down the line if I ever go the CPO route. Liked it better than the C and the GLK but I have a thing for hatchbacks. It looks good in either the white or the black but living with all the heat in South Florida, I'd probably go with the white. There's a newish MB store right next to my VW dealer so very close to Casa Sandman. But then again, I still have the 1 Series bug deep down but they are becoming old now so think the GLA is a better candidate...like the CLA also but only with the right alloys.
I've been putting more funds into the new vehicle account so should have a substantial amount come 2017 or 2018. Planning to not get a first year model, again, if possible...we've done that 3 times already and it's something I always do try to avoid, if possible. Part of me is kicking myself for not waiting till 2016 to get the Golf but the timing was right when I did it being as the wife got her A3 just 10 days earlier. Once I explained my logic to her, she didn't put up any resistance which really shocked me. Hey, my middle child gave me the most flack for some reason, but the wife just said go ahead if you want. Didn't hesitate long after that!

The Sandman

Sandman6472

Yes, glad to see that we are helping VW stay in business. But yes, they do make a good product and at least at my dealership, the service department isn't too awful. I mean they finally found that loose wire in the starter that brought up that error code...it took a few days because it was an intermittent thing. But after having the car for 3 days, they finally found it which I was glad to hear. They had put me in a new Jetta loaner so I was o k with that part of the deal and they told me to keep it as long as necessary. I did get a nice chance to drive it and did like it, just like the Golf more. Have seen the Sport model and do like what they did with the interior though not crazy about that particular alloy design. Prefer my Jetta SEL alloys.

The Sandman

nyccarguy

Sandy - did VW ever fix your seat lever?

nyccarguy

I know there are quite a few of you Jersey & Virginia guys out there.  Be safe this weekend!

Michaell

nyccarguy said:

I know there are quite a few of you Jersey & Virginia guys out there.  Be safe this weekend!

+1 from here in Colorado. Looks to be a bad one shaping up.

graphicguy

nyccarguy said:

I know there are quite a few of you Jersey & Virginia guys out there.  Be safe this weekend!

+1

28firefighter

graphicguy said:

I know there are quite a few of you Jersey & Virginia guys out there.  Be safe this weekend!

+1

+2

My folks in Philly are expecting a foot and a half of snow. 

stickguy

I'm not looking forward to the shoveling. Good thing supposed to be warmer starting Sunday, and push 50 by midweek.

tjc78

stickguy said:

I'm not looking forward to the shoveling. Good thing supposed to be warmer starting Sunday, and push 50 by midweek.

Bah.. hate snow. Looks like we are gonna get hit pretty good! I can use the exercise, but wish I had a blower!

Hopefully it doesn't stick around too long.