Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

js06gv

breld said:

If only they actually sold cars at the show.

Yup - glad @Michaell and I finally get to hit the show together.

I'm hoping to see:

• New CX-9
  
• New Audi A4
  
• Cooper Clubman
  

But not counting on the CX-9 being there. I give the new A4 a chance at being there since they should be hitting dealer lots soon, and I imagine a clubman will be there since they are on the lots already.

Hopefully the BMW exhibit is better than last year, when they only had a handful of cars. Being enamored with the wife's "new" MINI, we're interested in taking a renewed look at their line. Personally, I'm drawn to the Paceman for no logical reason. I'll probably take some time to crawl around the XC90 and Q7 a bit.

Not even joking, this may the first time in a few years I'm attending the show without just having bought a car for myself within a month or two prior. Maxda3 was purchased a couple weeks before the show last year; Passat was leased within a couple months prior two years ago; and the 335i was the same three years ago. My goodness - I am so due!

I'm headed to the Dallas car show in a few hours myself. It's one of the larger shows and I never miss it. I just checked their website and BMW isn't listed as an attendee this year. I remember back in 2008-09 when all the carmakers were struggling there were several absent from the show, BMW and I think Lexus included, but they seem to have all reappeared in recent years. I'll be curious to see if BMW is indeed there this year.

stickguy

the Philly show is much bigger than what some of you get. Nothing missing, and huge displays. BMW had at least a dozen cars, and MB probably had 20+.

breld

Had a great time this morning going around the Denver Auto Show with my family and @michaell.

My highlights:

• Miata - first time I've sat in one since I sold mine. It kinda renewed my yearning for one. I like this new one, but would be happy with a used previous gen example to play around with again. Love the manual top that can be flipped up or down with one hand in seconds.
  
• Cooper Clubman - love this car. About as roomy inside as a Golf, but lots of character. Those rear doors are cool - not necessarily any more functional than a traditional hatch, but very cool.
  
• Audi A4 - I like the subtlety of the exterior changes to the new model. A little sharper with some nice creases. Interior is definitely a nice update.
  
• VW Alltrak - I was surprised to see this here. The cosmetic changes to the exterior make it look much more substantial than a "base" wagon. It'll be interesting to see how it's priced when it finally makes it's way here.
  

Here's a pic of @michaell and I at the end of the visit - probably should've thought about taking a picture earlier in the morning around something more exotic than a Chevy Spark.

Sandman6472

Like the Mini Cooper and Clubman a lot but just afraid of the fit and finish problems I've been reading about. Besides the lumbar switch on the side of the drivers seat that came off a few times, no other trim pieces have fallen off and when washed and waxed, it looks brand new. Am due for a wax very soon and probably get it done sometime in the next couple of weeks. Glad I added the few trim pieces to make it look a bit better and funny thing is no one has noticed them...not my wife nor any of the kids. But maybe that's a good thing.

The Sandman

Sandman6472

Had to go to the local Hertz HLE right near our house Friday and spoke with the folks there about a possible transfer. It's only about 5 miles versus the 29 I'm driving each way now. Not holding my breath here because I'm in a different district right now and not sure my office would be willing to let me go since we are down on drivers at this juncture. The thought of cutting down my commute by 75% is very appealing though. I'd have no tolls like I pay now plus I'd be using so much less petrol. On the other hand, the usual 1/2 hour drive is when I get to listen to my XM radio which I definitely enjoy.
But, just have to wait and see how things play out here but think if given the opportunity, I would take it and not look back.

The Sandman

jpp75

I attended the Denver auto show a few years back when I was out there for work and stayed over to go snowboarding for the weekend. I remember it having a good layout and easy to navigate. We're too small to have one here but I did attend the Portland, OR show a couple of months back. It was a good show with almost everyone represented, but a bit of an odd layout as some manufacturers were on the second level in ballrooms instead of all being in the main space.

fintail

I'm going to the Vancouver auto show next weekend - I've always thought it was better than the Seattle show, somehow, and it will make a nice getaway for a few days. It's been a good experience in the past - more high end cars tend to be unlocked, etc.

stickguy

cars for everyone! Hope I got the right forum for these.

For Andre: Though I suspect he would not consider a Ford, this is loaded and looks sharp to me. Interestingly, I saw this in the freebie autoshopper magazine, listed for $22,750 ($1,200 less than on the website)

http://www.medfordford.com/used/Ford/2015-Ford-Taurus-aa1f5f0b0a0e0ae704465759b002a12c.htm?searchDepth=9:11

And Old Farmer wanted a C4 under $10k, and the 1996 is the best? This one is hard to miss (red over white? Very lipstickish!)

http://www.usedcarsmagnolia.com/1996-Chevrolet-Corvette/Used-Hatchback/Magnolia-NJ,SouthJersey,PA,DE/6736407/Details.aspx

or 1/2 the miles and more subdued colors, for a bit more money. and this one is a "collector edition"

http://www.usedcarsmagnolia.com/1996-Chevrolet-Corvette/Used-Car/Magnolia-NJ,SouthJersey,PA,DE/3316411/Details.aspx

Michaell

Greetings from Colorado!

I see where @breld has posted his impressions of the auto show - and the picture as well. The green car is a Spark, not a Sonic. We decided that @breld should trade in the S4 for 2 or 3 of these in different colors.

And, I'm waiting for part 2 of his review where he talks about the 3 row SUV's he looked at.

As noted in earlier posts, my reasons for hitting the show are a bit more, um, pedestrian. The Elantra GT lease is up in October / November, and it's never too early to think about a replacement. After wandering the halls, I think I've narrowed it down to the following:

• 2017 Elantra. Many have said that it looks like a scaled down Sonata, and I'll agree. Granted, the one on the showroom floor was a loaded up Limited, but I checked the website when I got home and I can get the SE trim with what I want (camera, keyless start) for about $21K.
  
• 2016 Jetta. Not sure what trim I would like - either a 1.4SE or the Sport. That's what test drives are for. Again, pricing on the VW website has the 1.4SE at $21K or so and the Sport around $23K
  
• 2016 Civic. It's amazing how much the Civic and new Elantra resemble each other. Not sure of trim level on these, either - could go with either an EX or an EX-T, depending on price and discounts.
  

Other cars of note, in no particular order.

• Buick Cascada. Pretty handsome car, and we were both impressed by the $37K price tag. Until we noticed that it was equipped with a 1.6T 4-cylinder. What?
  
• Jaguar XE. This has the possibility of seriously competing against the A4 and 3-series, in my mind. Handsome looking, decent engine family (the ubiquitous 2.0T, a V6 and a diesel). If you want to stand out in a crowd of entry level lux sedans, you could do worse than the Jag.
  
• 435i GC. The more I look at these, the more I like them. @breld and I both share an affinity for hatchbacks and wagons, so the GC appeals to us because of that. But, lord, can they get expensive.
  

A great time was had by all - here's hoping we can make this an annual excursion. And, get @tyguy to join us next year!

stickguy

the 1.4 SE Jetta is likely going to be a lot cheaper to lease than the 1.8 sport. Less aggressive tires too (more sidewalls). Moderately better MPG, but probably not a huge difference.

carnaught

Wow Michaell, you and the Grand Poobah! Looks like you were having a good time.....nice...

carnaught

Breld, how do the '17 A4 lease numbers stack up?

Michaell

carnaught said:

Breld, how do the '17 A4 lease numbers stack up?

 They are not all that terrible, given that it is a brand-new car.  If you tell me the trim level and whether you want front wheel drive or Quattro, I can give you the specific lease numbers 

Michaell

stickguy said:

the 1.4 SE Jetta is likely going to be a lot cheaper to lease than the 1.8 sport. Less aggressive tires too (more sidewalls). Moderately better MPG, but probably not a huge difference.

 It looked to be about 2 or 3 MPG difference around town 

henryn

Michaell said:

Buick Cascada. Pretty handsome car, and we were both impressed by the $37K price tag. Until we noticed that it was equipped with a 1.6T 4-cylinder. What?

I had not heard of that one, had to go look it up. I agree, very handsome. But 8.6 seconds for 0-60?
Who in the heck wants a s-l--o---w convertible?

iluvmysephia1

breld, you were standing behind the star of the show in your picture there with Michaell, the 2016 Chevy Spark. That would've been all I would have needed to see (I know, it takes all types, huh?)

Mr_Shiftright

stickguy said:

cars for everyone! Hope I got the right forum for these.

For Andre: Though I suspect he would not consider a Ford, this is loaded and looks sharp to me. Interestingly, I saw this in the freebie autoshopper magazine, listed for $22,750 ($1,200 less than on the website)

http://www.medfordford.com/used/Ford/2015-Ford-Taurus-aa1f5f0b0a0e0ae704465759b002a12c.htm?searchDepth=9:11

And Old Farmer wanted a C4 under $10k, and the 1996 is the best? This one is hard to miss (red over white? Very lipstickish!)

http://www.usedcarsmagnolia.com/1996-Chevrolet-Corvette/Used-Hatchback/Magnolia-NJ,SouthJersey,PA,DE/6736407/Details.aspx

or 1/2 the miles and more subdued colors, for a bit more money. and this one is a "collector edition"

http://www.usedcarsmagnolia.com/1996-Chevrolet-Corvette/Used-Car/Magnolia-NJ,SouthJersey,PA,DE/3316411/Details.aspx

Close on the '96 Vette, but it has the LT1 engine, not the optional LT4. (30 more HP, higher redline, lots of internal goodies).

Michaell

iluvmysephia1 said:

breld, you were standing behind the star of the show in your picture there with Michaell, the 2016 Chevy Spark. That would've been all I would have needed to see (I know, it takes all types, huh?)

There were two Sparks displayed next to one another.

We chose the Spark because:

a) the Chevrolet exhibit was right by the entrance
b) it was one of the few cars that was in a 'real' color - so many of the cars there were white, black, silver or a shade of grey

Sandman6472

The interior of the new Civic is very nicely done and the seats were pretty comfortable. The exterior is a bit too busy for me and prefer the Elantra if had to choose right now. So glad I'm not seriously in the market for the forseeable future as not sure what I'd want to do. As long as my Golf holds up, staying the course and not looking back.

The Sandman

ab348

henryn said:

Michaell said:

Buick Cascada. Pretty handsome car, and we were both impressed by the $37K price tag. Until we noticed that it was equipped with a 1.6T 4-cylinder. What?

I had not heard of that one, had to go look it up. I agree, very handsome. But 8.6 seconds for 0-60?
Who in the heck wants a s-l--o---w convertible?

Rental fleets. I suspect this is a fleet queen.

andre1969

stickguy said:

cars for everyone! Hope I got the right forum for these.

For Andre: Though I suspect he would not consider a Ford, this is loaded and looks sharp to me. Interestingly, I saw this in the freebie autoshopper magazine, listed for $22,750 ($1,200 less than on the website)

http://www.medfordford.com/used/Ford/2015-Ford-Taurus-aa1f5f0b0a0e0ae704465759b002a12c.htm?searchDepth=9:11

While I do have a preference for Mopar and GM, I wouldn't completely say no to Ford. I actually kinda like that Taurus. I'm not so crazy about them new, mainly because it's billed as a full-sized car, but they definitely feel more midsized to me....smaller inside than, say, a Charger/300 or Impala. The trunk is huge, but the passenger compartment is where it comes up a bit short, IMO. Still, as a used car, at the right price, I wouldn't say no to one. And that one seems pretty nice.

If I was to buy a car in Jersey, I wonder if there would be much hassle getting it transferred to Maryland?

ab348

Was out looking at new-car dealer lots today on the first day of spring. Spent most of my time at the M-B lot. The local dealer is overrun with CLAs and GLAs, no surprise really, but rather typical of this dealer ownership group in going after the low-priced volume buyer. I don't care for the CLA at all, and the GLA looks OK inside but I don't like the styling much. There was one AMG version there and that was cool. They had a new GLC there and man, that is a nice midsize SUV. I could see myself in one of them.

The car that caught my eye was a C300, dark blue metallic with light gray inside, very handsome. They had a number of other C-series cars on the lot including a C63AMG with red or orange seat inserts that was just incredible.Also a nice E400 coupe, white with tan leather, very nice. Big sign on an E250 out front - "Lease for only $839/month!". That seems really high.

Visited my Cadillac dealer, surprised to see 3 CTSs there, 2 black, one red, all with black inside. While I was there a guy pulled in driving another black/black CTS4 2.0T. I talked to him, he loves it, had an ATS before this but wanted a bigger car. He expressed the same frustration I did with this dealer - he wanted a white or red CTS with a tan interior and they had none, so he ended up being talked into the black/black one he now has 4 months ago. Why they won't bring in cars for inventory in colors inside and out remains a mystery.

ab348

While I was at the GM dealer my best buddy pulled in driving his Regal GS. He wanted to see a new Camaro SS they had outside. We looked at it together and I was fairly underwhelmed with the styling. Looks too much like the previous model and the visibility has to be just awful inside. Black/black of course. Black wheels too. Sure it goes like the dickens but the look did nothing for me.

The other reason he was there was to see if the new GMC Canyon SLT he ordered had arrived (it had not). This is replacing a Ford Ranger he had a lot of trouble with over the past 6-7 year of ownership. He went whole hog on this - double cab, long box, V6, leather. He didn't say what it cost but did say they wouldn't deal much on it because of the demand being so high. Ordered metallic gray outside with "Dune" leather. This succeeds two different Rangers he had over the last 10 years but after a sour experience with the last one he says he is done with Ford.

He should be a member here - between him, his wife and their son, they have 7 vehicles at home.

tjc78

Yeah, he would fit right in! 

stickguy

AB, I saw a C300 in that color combo today too. Really sharp looking.

Andre, not really an issue. They just put a 15 (I think) day transfer tag on it, and you have to register in your home state.

stickguy

I think I wore my wife out. I was talking about cars earlier while we were driving to the store, and commented how we were going to be busy looking and driving next summer, and that I was going to have to do up a matrix to keep it all straight (car, where/when seen and driven, etc.). She just shook her head and asked if I could do that all by myself, and take her when I had it narrowed down to a final 3! Silly woman. Just told her I guess she did not want to see much of me next summer.

saw a couple of nice things. She pointed out a BMW (plain Jane 328i in black) and said she liked those. Then while we were loading the groceries in the car, someone pulled out with "my" MB. New style C300, in dark blue with a tan interior. Very nice looking. Wife commented that one of those would be fine. She apparently has developed much better taste.

Hopefully the budget supports more than just a base level Hyundai Accent!

js06gv

js06gv said:

breld said:

If only they actually sold cars at the show.

Yup - glad @Michaell and I finally get to hit the show together.

I'm hoping to see:

• New CX-9
  
• New Audi A4
  
• Cooper Clubman
  

But not counting on the CX-9 being there. I give the new A4 a chance at being there since they should be hitting dealer lots soon, and I imagine a clubman will be there since they are on the lots already.

Hopefully the BMW exhibit is better than last year, when they only had a handful of cars. Being enamored with the wife's "new" MINI, we're interested in taking a renewed look at their line. Personally, I'm drawn to the Paceman for no logical reason. I'll probably take some time to crawl around the XC90 and Q7 a bit.

Not even joking, this may the first time in a few years I'm attending the show without just having bought a car for myself within a month or two prior. Maxda3 was purchased a couple weeks before the show last year; Passat was leased within a couple months prior two years ago; and the 335i was the same three years ago. My goodness - I am so due!

I'm headed to the Dallas car show in a few hours myself. It's one of the larger shows and I never miss it. I just checked their website and BMW isn't listed as an attendee this year. I remember back in 2008-09 when all the carmakers were struggling there were several absent from the show, BMW and I think Lexus included, but they seem to have all reappeared in recent years. I'll be curious to see if BMW is indeed there this year.

As expected, no BMW. Other than that, a good show as usual. One thing I found interesting was the placement of Buick in the building. The Dallas convention center isn't two story, but there is an elevated section to the main floor accessed by stairs. It has become the norm to place all the "high end" cars there in recent years. This year Buick was in this section. Nice cars for sure, albeit a limited lineup, but looks out of place to me sandwiched between Acura, Mercedes, Jaguar etc.

corvette

ab348 said:

The other reason he was there was to see if the new GMC Canyon SLT he ordered had arrived (it had not)... He didn't say what it cost but did say they wouldn't deal much on it because of the demand being so high.

The new Canyons / Colorados are really nice. I don't know how they structure the incentives in Canada, but in the US, there isn't much price delta between them and a Sierra / Silverado, once you take incentives into account.

ab348

corvette said:

The new Canyons / Colorados are really nice. I don't know how they structure the incentives in Canada, but in the US, there isn't much price delta between them and a Sierra / Silverado, once you take incentives into account.

It's the same here - I think if you time it right you can probably buy a Sierra/Silverado for less, actually. They offer huge incentives on some of those at times, none on the Canyon/Colorado so far. He said that the one he ordered is about the same length as a Sierra, but is narrower and lower.

They had a Silverado SS on the lot that baffled both of us. We had not heard of that one before. It was a regular cab, short box, short wheelbase truck in LT Z71 trim. Black/black of course, but at least it didn't have black wheels. Can't be too many Silverados built in that size. Even though it was short, it was still really bulky in width and height.

Michaell

Calling @nyccarguy - got a guy who has been all over the place on the lease boards, trying to find a good deal. He had a question about rebate taxes I'm hoping you can address.

He lives in MA (no tax on rebates) but wants to lease from a dealer in CT (where they do tax the rebates). Any thoughts?

http://forums.edmunds.com/discussion/20204/kia/optima/2015-kia-optima-lease-questions#latest

I thought he'd have to pay the tax then file paperwork for a refund ...

iluvmysephia1

There were two Sparks displayed next to one another.

We chose the Spark because:

a) the Chevrolet exhibit was right by the entrance
b) it was one of the few cars that was in a 'real' color - so many of the cars there were white, black, silver or a shade of grey

Yeah, I do understand your reasoning on the color thing, Michaell. I am watching one in Salsa Red at a local dealer. I like bright colors for very small cars, and you don't get much smaller than the Spark from Chevrolet. I like how they offer the 5-speed stick and Android Auto.

Michaell

iluvmysephia1 said:

There were two Sparks displayed next to one another. We chose the Spark because: a) the Chevrolet exhibit was right by the entrance b) it was one of the few cars that was in a 'real' color - so many of the cars there were white, black, silver or a shade of grey Yeah, I do understand your reasoning on the color thing, Michaell. I am watching one in Salsa Red at a local dealer. I like bright colors for very small cars, and you don't get much smaller than the Spark from Chevrolet. I like how they offer the 5-speed stick and Android Auto.

 It's actually quite a lot of car for the money.  There was a gentleman on another discussion who was able to snag one for under $10,000 when he applied his GM points 

breld

Okay - so as @michaell pointed out, 3 row SUVs were another point of focus for me at the auto show:

• Durango - nice white R/T version on the floor that we liked quite a bit (well, Michael and I did; my wife is still less than impressed)
  
• XC90 - every bit as nice as the reviews suggest. Pricey of course.
  
• Q7 - I may like this a bit better than the Volvo, if only for the understated styling.
  
• MB GL (GLS) - I like the traditional boxy look. Price most definitely pushes this into the "used" category without question.
  

Overall, I left the show feeling the same way I felt after cross-shopping minivans and SUVs a year and a half ago. None of them do the job as well as a minivan.

Wife and I actually had a good discussion this morning where we may just hold on to the van for the family hauling duty. The cargo space behind the 3rd row, ease of entry, sliding doors, etc. - it's just hard to replace with any SUV, particularly at any sort of reasonable price.

Her suggestion is she likes her MINI so much that the minivan can be her "second" car for when she occasionally needs more space or for snow duty, and I can have the X5 and S4 at my disposal. It feels a bit indulgent on my part, but she's the one suggesting it. She's a keeper.

breld

Typical Colorado weather.  6-8 inches on my driveway Friday morning, freezing temperatures yesterday and this morning, then by this afternoon, I was in a t-shirt washing and waxing our cars.  

The wife's "new" MINI.

suydam

Love the color! Looks really sharp.

Michaell

breld said:

Typical Colorado weather.  6-8 inches on my driveway Friday morning, freezing temperatures yesterday and this morning, then by this afternoon, I was in a t-shirt washing and waxing our cars.  

The wife's "new" MINI.

 Tell us again how it's equipped? What packages, etc. 

breld

It's pretty basic - I'm not all that familiar with the packages that were offered, but I think the only major option is the panoramic sunroof. Otherwise, manual a/c, no heated seats, six-speed manual.

Michaell

breld said:

It's pretty basic - I'm not all that familiar with the packages that were offered, but I think the only major option is the panoramic sunroof. Otherwise, manual a/c, no heated seats, six-speed manual.

 My daughters first MINI was pretty basic as well – sport package, automatic transmission, cold weather package – which included heated seats – and I think that was about it.  It did have the connection for her iPod as well  

iluvmysephia1

It's actually quite a lot of car for the money. There was a gentleman on another discussion who was able to snag one for under $10,000 when he applied his GM points

Rear view camera, Android Auto with 7-inch screen - that is a lot of car for $10,000, no doubt. 98 hp...flooring it to get on the freeway, probably.

rayainsw

I received my Jaguar XE brochure [ tome ] and it is, indeed,
the most impressive such document I have seen in quite a while...
- Ray
Still waiting to see & drive the actual car.

xwesx

stever said:

Fine for you but what happens when the idiots turn their nanny gizmos off?

The same thing that happens now, and yet we're all still here!

ab348

Last night I spent some time on both the GM Canada website and then on the US Chevy site, trying to find what I could about that Silverado SS pickup I saw at the dealer yesterday. I found zilch. Even Google had nothing to help. All I know it was a regular cab, standard box Z71 LT model with SS badging on the doors. A mystery. I may have to go inside and ask them about it just to satisfy my curiosity.

xwesx

Last word on my Forester is that we're up to $6,500. Seriously!

xwesx

ab348 said:

Last night I spent some time on both the GM Canada website and then on the US Chevy site, trying to find what I could about that Silverado SS pickup I saw at the dealer yesterday. I found zilch. Even Google had nothing to help. All I know it was a regular cab, standard box Z71 LT model with SS badging on the doors. A mystery. I may have to go inside and ask them about it just to satisfy my curiosity.

I'm not sure that they're still in active production, but the SS was Chevy's sport truck (competed with the Ford Lightning F150 back like 10-15 years ago). I have never seen one with a single cab and short bed combo, but they made them in a variety of cab/bed configurations. GM also had the Trailblazer SS; those things could sure move! Hahah.

stickguy

If it was new, might just be a decal special the dealer created.

slorenzen

xwesx said:

Last word on my Forester is that we're up to $6,500. Seriously!

Is that including all previous damage as well?

Is it worth it?

stickguy

This is the rollover forester right, not the good one?

Is insurance footing the bill? Sounds like a lot to pour into a former roller.

xwesx

slorenzen said:

xwesx said:

Last word on my Forester is that we're up to $6,500. Seriously!

Is that including all previous damage as well?

Is it worth it?

Hahaha, well, I'd say "no" and "no."

This is just the "new" damage, but apparently it really did a number on stuff, albeit not horribly so. For example, the radiator, which still functions, is on the replacement list because the connector studs on it are broken. The A/C condenser is bent (again, still works as far as I can tell). It's really quite amazing how many little parts and pieces these manufacturers can shove behind the front corner of a car!

So, no, I definitely don't think it is worth it to repair/replace everything as per the quote, which is to insurance standards (yes, I made a claim once it was quite obvious that the damage was well north of $1K, my deductible, in parts alone). My current plan is to work with the shop after the insurance settlement to repair it reasonaby (e.g., factory-spec paint? I don't think so!) well and move forward from there.

xwesx

stickguy said:

This is the rollover forester right, not the good one?

Is insurance footing the bill? Sounds like a lot to pour into a former roller.

Yeah, the rollover. It's been one heck of a month for that poor car! I am so very glad it is this one, though. Doing this type of thing to our 2010 would have literally made me cry.

ab348

xwesx said:

I'm not sure that they're still in active production, but the SS was Chevy's sport truck (competed with the Ford Lightning F150 back like 10-15 years ago). I have never seen one with a single cab and short bed combo, but they made them in a variety of cab/bed configurations. GM also had the Trailblazer SS; those things could sure move! Hahah.

This was new I think, or at least newish. It was the current design for sure and looked brand-new. No window sticker but that is meaningless here as they are not required by law and this dealer always removes them from new vehicles on their lot.

As for @stickguy 's thought that it might be a dealer special, I doubt it. They don't do that at this place. Hell, they won't bring in anything but black-interior cars because they are afraid nothing else will sell. They are not great risk-takers.