Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

nyccarguy

@explorerx4 - congrats on the new MKC!  Let us know your initial impressions on Monday when you pick it up!

nyccarguy

nyccarguy

When talking about cars I like, there seems to be 3 categories:  "ain't bad," "like it a lot," & "I'm willing to take a large depreciation hit and a significant amount of new debt to acquire this automobile."

jayrider

Mr_Shiftright said:

That's right if I understand what you are asking. You can go to eBay right now and bid $150,000 on a used Ferrari, win the auction and just walk away. There are no legal consequences. Same goes for real estate on eBay--so you can also bid on the house that the Ferrari is parked at.

The only problem with a bid you don't honor is you will be marked as a non payer. Whenever I list anything, I restrict the bidders to those with a minimum of successful bids and zero non pays. It helps - not perfect. If the bidder doesn't pay in 24-48 hours, you can offer the item to the next bidder in a second chance feature.

stickguy

wishful thinking Bradd?

I still have the IS on the won't consider list, since I refuse to live with the goiter hump in front of the gas pedal.

stickguy

went up to mid 50s today, so got the RDX cleaned in and out. No longer looks like it has leprosy. also not gross to touch it. Even took out the all weather floor mats and hosed and scrubbed them down (a wonderful invention those things are!). Almost looks like new again. Wife commented that it is also probably happier!

stever

Quiet in here. Cross-posted this in Cars and Conversation:

Making a little progress locally. $30,200 OTD offer. My number is $26,706. (3% tax on cars here).

Here's the car. They'll swap the tires out for 17"s for me.

Same car in Ft. Worth is $25,570 plus tax.

No mop and glow but there's a Desert Protection Package for $1,495. Hey, if it keeps the rattlesnakes away and the kangaroo mice from nesting in the engine, maybe it'd be worth it.

qbrozen

I had no idea you could get a Soul up to that kind of money. Wow

nyccarguy

stickguy said:

wishful thinking Bradd? I still have the IS on the won't consider list, since I refuse to live with the goiter hump in front of the gas pedal.

I even like it in Black

stickguy

for that price, would also look at a Forester with eyesight.

stever

We did, she doesn't.

Like it. And we've been there, done that with Subaru. My sister is loving her Crosstrek though and she says she's getting good mpg.

Appreciate the suggestion though Stick. My slush fund is a bit over $40k, but I really don't want to max out over $35k OTD.

We've ruled the Prius out (also a $30k car). Next on the list is the Encore - better mpg, blind spot detection. Another lousy dealer though.

My wife also liked the Hyundai Elantra wagon, but I think I want a little higher seating position without going to a full blown SUV, compact or otherwise (but the Encore belies that comment).

My wife really, really wants a panoramic sunroof and preferably one that opens. I want all the bells and whistles.

Going to a lux brand like Volvo, Audi, and the rest is a problem because we don't have those dealers here. Driving an hour for service is a pain. My wife isn't a fan of Hondas either btw.

Maybe we should go to the Ford dealer and ignore the Transit Connects this time.

Mr_Shiftright

You can be sure that the Desert Protection Package is pure jive.

stever

Ya think?

tifighter

I like the color combo on that one @stever and given how long you keep them, I'd go for a loaded one too. You rarely read about people wishing they didn't get heated seats, pano roofs, smart keys etc on this forum.

stever

Even less black in the interior would be good, but oh well, not an option.

My wife says it reminds her of fine Corinthian leather.

Mr_Shiftright

stever said:

Ya think?

I forget--did you guys drive the new 2016 Hyundai Elantra? I hear it's quite impressive for its price class.

imidazol97

stever said:

Even less black in the interior would be good, but oh well, not an option.

My wife says it reminds her of fine Corinthian leather.

Speaking of that reminds me that I saw a Cordoba in white with a tan opera roof. It had
been a while since I'd seen on in the wild. I don't know what color the interior was
since I was having trouble remembering what it was from the profile--kept getting
memories of 77 era Grand Prix when I saw the taillights.

The plane. The plane.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x_QbVDlLbI

I saw several other classics out and about since it was nearly 70 on a Saturday
afternoon. Saw a 1955 2-door post Chevy in medium farmer robin egg blue.
Can't recall all the others I saw while doing errands on Saturday.

Thought I'd see several in the drive thru lane at ChickFilA, but that didn't happen.

stever

Mr_Shiftright said:

stever said:

Ya think?

I forget--did you guys drive the new 2016 Hyundai Elantra? I hear it's quite impressive for its price class.

I forget too - may have been a 2015? But yeah, a bit low for the seating position iirc but a nice ride. We did a head to head comparison with the new Tucson, which was even more loaded with features for not much more money. Didn't drive the Tucson but Hyundai has some nice stuff on their lots. There's a good one-price dealer here too for them.

Mr_Shiftright

I think the 2016 is much improved IIRC.

(Oops! Michael has corrected me---it's 2017)

stever

I think we're down to the Soul ! Premium Umber. Cream or blue, cream is winning out today. Just got to get a bit closer on price.

iluvmysephia1

Cream, stever? Did you post a pic of that? I might like the Cream over that blue, for some reason that blue just= blah ta me. Nice combo a goodies packed in to it, though!

Michaell

 I think the new Elantra is the 2017 model year 

stever

@iluvmysephia1, no, we just happened to see one in traffic yesterday and my wife liked it. More "interesting" that your brighter white in her opinion.

Talked to an old Forums friend up in Chicago this morning. Back in 2014 he traded his Quest that was identical to ours for a Alien 2 Soul Plus. Couple of recalls but no mechanical problems. Was a bit rough riding to him at first but either the car mellowed or he got used to it (can't believe that Chicago streets got better since he purchased it).

carnaught

deleted

Mr_Shiftright

Michaell said:

 I think the new Elantra is the 2017 model year 

Yes! 2017---you are correct!

Mr_Shiftright

Steve---here's your NEXT CAR.

Sandman6472

Have seen a new 2017 Elantra on the lot and from the outside, they did a good job of making it a 3/4 Sonata. Didn't get to see the inside but think it'll mimic the Sonata also. Out earlier today and drove past the local Hyundai store and saw a new Tucson out for a test drive...looked good actually and think Hyundai has a hit on their hands here. Definitely looks like a smaller Sante Fe which is a good thing and waiting for Hertz to add them to our fleet. Will be anxious to drive one to see how it compares to the last generation I had.

The Sandman

stickguy

I sat in one at the car show. It is a baby Sonata inside. Same basic dash and features.

breld

After several weeks of no interest in the A3, I had two showings today and the second person is going to buy it. Being a Sunday, he didn't have funds with him, so we're meeting back up tomorrow. He's a life-long Audi enthusiast, so he knew the product well and asked a lot of relevant questions. Fortunately, since we put a decent amount of money into it recently, I had good answers for him.

Just to get a baseline, I got a Carmax offer last night for $7,500; a separate dealership solicitation yielded $8,000, and we agreed on a price of $9,750 for the private sale. So, definitely worth the little time and effort to sell it ourselves.

Happy to have the two sales (the ZHP and now the A3) complete.

corvette

Congrats on the sale. Hope everything goes smoothly tomorrow.  

breld

corvette said:

Congrats on the sale. Hope everything goes smoothly tomorrow.  

Thanks! I know a sale's not done until it's done, but I feel good about this one. Very legitimate buyer who wanted to write me a check to hold it, but I didn't think that was necessary.

On another note, I met him at a Lexus dealership that was in between us so the wife and I browsed around a bit.

I have to say I do like the IS (and RC). Even the NX seems like a nice package, and my wife liked the lines on the new RX.

May have to just try one out one of these days. I do find myself attracted to the very "japanese" styling (overstyling?) of the RC, but I think the practicality of the IS would win out.

Sandman6472

Like the IS, neighbor has one, drove one at work and was comfortable and ergonomically, things were right at hand. Just see a Camry whenever I see one though, a very very nice Camry. Wonder if I'm the only one who sees that also? I know when I drove it, felt like I was in a super nice Camry. Do see a lot of them down here so suspect it has been well received.

The Sandman

Michaell

sandman_6472 said:

Like the IS, neighbor has one, drove one at work and was comfortable and ergonomically, things were right at hand. Just see a Camry whenever I see one though, a very very nice Camry. Wonder if I'm the only one who sees that also? I know when I drove it, felt like I was in a super nice Camry. Do see a lot of them down here so suspect it has been well received. The Sandman

 The Lexus ES is the one based off of the Camry; the IS is rearwheel drive 

iluvmysephia1

Here ya go stever - 'cept you'll need ta install an A/C unit! This pup's goin' to auction soon.

Sandman6472

No matter, it still screams "Camry" to me whenever I see one. Maybe the size is closer to Corolla as I do prefer the smaller sized vehicle...anything smaller than 170" is fine by me and the other half. Doubt we'll ever buy a vehicle bigger than that again if we can help it and if so, it'll have to be a pretty spectacular one.

The Sandman

nyccarguy

@breld

breld

Yup - I like it. Wife and I were thinking that while the IS was certainly a sportier offering in the Lexus lineup, we assume it still offers a very quiet comfortable ride as would be expected. And...I'm at a point where that could be a welcome thing.

Not that I've actually driven one - has anyone here taken a closer look and drive?

stever

Old cars are fun to look at @iluvmysephia1, but I don't want to have to drive one.

Getting serious though - actually went out and washed the van at sunset. Must have been the full moon coming up over the mountain that did it....

iluvmysephia1

Thinkin' of washing my Soul tomorrow...'Take Me To the River' by Al Green just came to mind. Finished our taxes online early this morning after a marathon session overnight...complicated return with layers and layers - we're thinkin' H&R Block would've charged us $400 for this year's ones.

They're all done and on the way ta the dry cleaners now. Whoo-hoo!

corvette

Popular day to do taxes... As it happens, one of my relatives and I both did ours today, as well. Mine wasn't as complicated as expected. Got a large federal and state refund and adjusted my withholdings in hopes of avoiding giving the government such a large interest-free loan this year.

28firefighter

corvette said:

Popular day to do taxes... As it happens, one of my relatives and I both did ours today, as well. Mine wasn't as complicated as expected. Got a large federal and state refund and adjusted my withholdings in hopes of avoiding giving the government such a large interest-free loan this year.

Washington doesn't have state or local income tax, but we are getting a large enough refund that I've adjusted our withholding for the same reason - no reason to be floating that money. 

Michaell

Argh - I've owed big the last couple of years. Keep adjusting the withholdings to make it less painful the following year. Guess we will see when I sit down to do them.

stickguy

somehow my fed refund keeps going down every year. managed to actually owe $19 this year (hard to get much more break even than that!) A bit bummed that I am not getting a nice little unexpected bonus next month, but better than having to write a big check. Gonna really hurt in a couple of years when I can't claim the princess and get a tuition credit any longer (though not paying to support her or tuition bills will more than offset that!)

tjc78

Looking for a decent refund this year as we added another dependent.  It's funny how you look for changes in your financial outlay.... You are looking to end college payments and I'm looking to end day care!  Over $1400 month would support a nice car habit! 

Michaell

tjc78 said:

Looking for a decent refund this year as we added another dependent.  It's funny how you look for changes in your financial outlay.... You are looking to end college payments and I'm looking to end day care!  Over $1400 month would support a nice car habit! 

$1400/mo? Ouch .. but, it's infant care, which is insanely expensive no matter how you look at it.

ab348

28firefighter said:

Washington doesn't have state or local income tax, but we are getting a large enough refund that I've adjusted our withholding for the same reason - no reason to be floating that money. 

To a Canadian that statement is mind-boggling. Our provincial (state) income taxes are something like 20% of the federal amount.

sda

With the exception of not having a sunroof, my 98 Catera was identical, color, wheels, as this. Too bad it was a shop queen. It had a very nice interior, was very solid feeling and fairly quick, and rode and drove well.

iluvmysephia1

Washington doesn't have state or local income tax, but we are getting a large enough refund that I've adjusted our withholding for the same reason - no reason to be floating that money.
Turns out Washington state sort of "protected" one of our withdrawals in 2015 and saved us from writing Uncle Sam, Kansas or New Mexico a big check for 2015 taxes. Thank goodness for the TaxAct Online tutorials. We're getting a refund, too.

iluvmysephia1

sda - a buddy of mine down in Alamogordo, NM, has a late 90's Cadillac Catera just like this one. Rode nice, I like its body design, too. He used to go on and on about how much better his RWD Catera goes on snow and ice than our FWD rigs will!

tjc78

Michaell said:

Looking for a decent refund this year as we added another dependent.  It's funny how you look for changes in your financial outlay.... You are looking to end college payments and I'm looking to end day care!  Over $1400 month would support a nice car habit! 

$1400/mo? Ouch .. but, it's infant care, which is insanely expensive no matter how you look at it.

That's for a 2 year old and a 4 month old only 3 days a week!  While not the most expensive in my area it's darn close!  

Thank goodness I put a ton down when I bought the house 10 years ago which keeps our mortgage low. Daycare is actually more than my mortgage and taxes!

@Stickguy

I was in your neck of the woods yesterday heading down Kresson and saw a political sign that read "Keep taxes low", wow if our taxes are low as they are I would hate to see high taxes!