Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

Michaell

stickguy said:

it is a nice car. I was very impressed with the one at the car show. pretty much a "right sized" Sonata (quite roomy inside). And your model has a ton of good stuff for $21,085! only things I actually want/need/require that it is missing are a moonroof (can be done on the limited) and a power driver's seat (ditto). I am happy to have cloth seats. And 16" wheels. I would be interested in trying the Eco, to get the turbo engine and DCT. Looks like that one is about $1k more comparably equipped. Probably much rarer. I assume of course you are looking at 2017s?

My dealer is out of 2016's

stickguy

just looked at my local guy. Ton of 2017 SEs with both packages (seems almost like the default standard). Listed on the web at ~ $1,800 off (19.5 vs. 21.3)

nyccarguy

@Michaell - I know you @stickguy are happy with your Hyundais & I hate to sound like the Happy Honda Guy, but I say ride out your EGT lease until it is up & look into getting a Civic EX-T.

stickguy

not doing that one on a key swap and $200/month or less.

Michaell

nyccarguy said:

@Michaell - I know you @stickguy are happy with your Hyundais & I hate to sound like the Happy Honda Guy, but I say ride out your EGT lease until it is up & look into getting a Civic EX-T.

stickguy said:

not doing that one on a key swap and $200/month or less.

Trust me, I had plenty of cars that I wanted to test drive and evaluate. But, as @stickguy says, there's no way I can get into that car for $200 a month without something out of pocket.

fintail

Good luck, hopefully it checks out. I don't have a real connection per se, but my indy is very popular and is known to be honest, and doesn't do unnecessary work. .

The only 211 I would want would be a fully loaded (P030) final run E63, very rare car. The 12 mpg at best those get in the constant gridlock city driving here would also be irksome. I probably won't ever go that route.

eriknorcal said:

Oh okay, gotcha. IMO unless you're rich, you have to have A) a good Indy mechanic or know people in the business. I honesty couldn't even afford to pay for labor from my local Indy shops, my Benz friend charges me $50 an hour, and he can also get me OEM parts for nearly cost. Otherwise I wouldn't be able to afford to run something like a 210, and no way I could afford a 211.. The airmatic is ludicrously expensive when it breaks.

ill be updating when I see that particular car hopefully this weekend, and I'll bring my friend along to give me the go ahead.

eriknorcal

fintail said:

Good luck, hopefully it checks out. I don't have a real connection per se, but my indy is very popular and is known to be honest, and doesn't do unnecessary work. . The only 211 I would want would be a fully loaded (P030) final run E63, very rare car. The 12 mpg at best those get in the constant gridlock city driving here would also be irksome. I probably won't ever go that route.

Oh okay, gotcha. IMO unless you're rich, you have to have A) a good Indy mechanic or know people in the business. I honesty couldn't even afford to pay for labor from my local Indy shops, my Benz friend charges me $50 an hour, and he can also get me OEM parts for nearly cost. Otherwise I wouldn't be able to afford to run something like a 210, and no way I could afford a 211.. The airmatic is ludicrously expensive when it breaks.

ill be updating when I see that particular car hopefully this weekend, and I'll bring my friend along to give me the go ahead.

They 63s are nice. I almost went for a C63 until I learned they have potential head bolt issues.. I guess the head bolts can actually pull out of the block and cause some well... Problems. But the noise and power of those 6.2 V8s in intoxicating! The newer Bi-turbo V8s just can't match the sound of the 6.2

fintail

Early C63s are getting fairly cheap, too. As you say, there's a risk - definitely something that needs a good PPI and devoted maintenance. I saw a RennTech C63 for sale locally a while ago - that would meet my desire for rarity.

The Biturbo engine isn't as raw as the 6.2, but it is remarkably economical for its performance, and really just as fast. A final run E550 sedan is a used car I would consider, as the W212 is proving to be pretty solid too. That engine can be tuned a lot, and the car is a sleeper.

eriknorcal said:

They 63s are nice. I almost went for a C63 until I learned they have potential head bolt issues.. I guess the head bolts can actually pull out of the block and cause some well... Problems. But the noise and power of those 6.2 V8s in intoxicating! The newer Bi-turbo V8s just can't match the sound of the 6.2

Sandman6472

Yes, there was a TSB with the '06 and beyond Civic's because the visors would come apart in pieces like mine did. Had one of them replaced this way with the other one never needing it done. The bad one was the drivers side as I recall. I'd give it a try because since you do your service thee, they'd probably fix it as a good will gesture to keep one of their customers happy.
Hey, ya don't ask...ya don't get! Worth a shot, ain't it??

The Sandman

Sandman6472

Saw a new Elantra on the way home from graduation this afternoon and it looks like a mini Sonata...just the perfect size really. In this case, if swapping out the old GT for a new SE would mean no out of pocket cash, seems like a no-brainer really. Especially in this case with the situation as it is, makes the most sense. I think if the situation was different, going for the Civic or something else would be the right thing but sometimes, life throws us a curve ball which has a domino effect on other parts of it and we have to do things we don't really want to, but have to.
And honestly, getting a new Elantra isn't like buying a bare budget vehicle with no extra's. It happens to be a very very nice car! I wouldn't mind owning one myself, and think my oldest will end up with a 2018 model if things go as planeed.

The Sandman

nyccarguy

I wish I could register a punch for one of these:

Michaell

nyccarguy said:

I wish I could register a punch for one of these:

You want a CX-5? Or a Murano?



Oh, the Porsche.

Love the parkway.

nyccarguy

Lol!  I knew I'd hear something to that effect from the peanut gallery.  The Merrit Parkway is a lot of fun (when there is no traffic).

ab348

Michaell said:

nyccarguy said:

I wish I could register a punch for one of these:

You want a CX-5? Or a Murano?



Oh, the Porsche.

Love the parkway.

What is that road? Looks rather narrow and very busy.

nyccarguy

The Merrit Parkway.  It is one of 2 major highways I can take to get home.  That traffic is typical for a Thursday or Friday afternoon.  It actually wasn't THAT bad last night.  Usually it backs up for miles & I have to get off at sone point to take the back roads through Greenwich.  I pass houses that make "Wayne Manor" look like a pool house.

Michaell

nyccarguy said:

The Merrit Parkway.  It is one of 2 major highways I can take to get home.  That traffic is typical for a Thursday or Friday afternoon.  It actually wasn't THAT bad last night.  Usually it backs up for miles & I have to get off at sone point to take the back roads through Greenwich.  I pass houses that make "Wayne Manor" look like a pool house.

Parkways are unique to the greater NY area - mostly developed in the 30's and 40's, they were a precursor to full on highways but were developed in such a way to prevent commercial traffic from using them. Most of them are narrow and have the center medians as you see in the picture.

stickguy

scenic yes. And loads of fun when you have to merge, uphill, from a stop sign or a ramp the length of your driveway. That is one time I would agree, too much HP is probably not enough.

nyccarguy

@stickguy - one of the southbound entranced by my house is exactly that.  Don't forget the traffic barreling downhill at speeds in excess of 75 mph while trying to merge from a stop sign uphill.

This is where the Legacy's 0-60 mph time stretches from 9 to about 15 seconds.  Great car, no grunt.

nyccarguy

I am going to have to stay far away from a Honda dealership when the new Civic Si comes out.  It's going to be turbocharged.  Will it gave the DCT from the TLX?  I think a plain Civic EX-T gets to 60 in the high 6 second range. 

rayainsw

I need to retract a statement I made here earlier about pricing of the 2016 Q50.
[ Now, at least ] I can configure a 300HP version without the 'required'
Options \ Packages that were previously showing on the web site.
That means a 300HP version, with what I'd actually want, is about $50K,
and the 400HP version [ only 350TQ ?? ] is about $54K.
[ Both with the Premium Plus Package @ $2,250 &
Driver Assistance Package @ $2,250 ]
Worth further investigation, for me...
- Ray
Did not drive one - but spoke with a reasonable sales person at length...

stickguy

a Civic SI with that DCT would be a much nicer ILX for less money. I should probably stay away too.

Sandman6472

Remember using the Merritt when we lived in Westchester. We summered in Connecticut as kids, a place called Clinton right off Exit 63 on the Connecticut Turnpike or I-95 to most of us. Many times my folks would take the Merritt going up because it was pretty scenic and eventually get us over to camp, just not sure how. But that was many many years ago. I know I was on the Merritt last time I was in Westport and had to get over to Briarcliff Manor. Luckily I had a brand new Chevy Impala LTZ so had plenty of get up and go to merge quickly. That must've been early June 2006. Looking like the next trip up will be for our 50th in 2022.

The Sandman

28firefighter

I drove on the Merritt once on my way to Boston with my Dad. I found out just how particular they were/are about speeding on clear traffic days...whoops. 

stickguy

I don't know if I ever drove on the Merritt, but the sprain and the saw mill are pretty much the same thing.

andres3

I can't take credit for the wash and wax job on the new car, I paid the highest rated local car wash outfit to do the work for me. Ready to glide through the wind.

Sandman6472

Stick, now you're talking about my neck of the woods. Add the Taconic in there and I'm home! Can't afford it anymore but it'll always be home to me!

The Sandman

rayainsw

Very sharp looking TT !

stickguy

@michaell, not sure if you got it too, but yesterday I got an Email from Hyundai with latest promotions, including the Elantra. >9% financing for 60 months, and waive 1st 6 payments. Plus $500 owner loyalty.

so even using my local dealer's web price (19.5K), that drops to 19 with the loyalty. For me, OTD becomes just about 21K. So put down my normal 1K, and finance an even 20K

that becomes $341/mo, vs. ~$200 on a lease. But, 6 payments free! Not sure fine print (max amount) but that is close to 2K. that knocks it down to about $308.

tough call which way to go. But at least in 5 years, you own it.

I think I need to find something more productive to do with my time!

abacomike

stickguy said:

@michaell, not sure if you got it too, but yesterday I got an Email from Hyundai with latest promotions, including the Elantra. >9% financing for 60 months, and waive 1st 6 payments. Plus $500 owner loyalty. so even using my local dealer's web price (19.5K), that drops to 19 with the loyalty. For me, OTD becomes just about 21K. So put down my normal 1K, and finance an even 20K that becomes $341/mo, vs. ~$200 on a lease. But, 6 payments free! Not sure fine print (max amount) but that is close to 2K. that knocks it down to about $308. tough call which way to go. But at least in 5 years, you own it. I think I need to find something more productive to do with my time!

Nah!  Anything more productive won't be as much fun!  Getting a great deal on a new addition to the fleet is productive enough, stick! 

Michaell

stickguy said:

@michaell, not sure if you got it too, but yesterday I got an Email from Hyundai with latest promotions, including the Elantra. >9% financing for 60 months, and waive 1st 6 payments. Plus $500 owner loyalty.

so even using my local dealer's web price (19.5K), that drops to 19 with the loyalty. For me, OTD becomes just about 21K. So put down my normal 1K, and finance an even 20K

that becomes $341/mo, vs. ~$200 on a lease. But, 6 payments free! Not sure fine print (max amount) but that is close to 2K. that knocks it down to about $308.

tough call which way to go. But at least in 5 years, you own it.

I think I need to find something more productive to do with my time!

Hmm, wonder if it's a regional offer .. I haven't seen anything like that in my inbox.

But, no way can the budget withstand a $100+ increase in the car payment.

I'm applying to jobs left and right, but not much in the way of responses.

So, it's looking more and more probable that for the first time since graduating college, I'll be without a primary source of income.

The pizza stuff is nice, but not nearly enough. I'll be filing for unemployment on 6/1.

stickguy

good luck. I was wondering how the part time gigs impact UI.

back to the Elantra. Too tired to fire up a spreadsheet, but if the calculator in my head is working right, buying and holding for 6 years would cost just about the same as leasing for 3 and then leasing a replacement.

the difference of course, being that at the end of year 6, you own outright a 6 YO Elantra, instead of nothing. Assuming of course, you want a 6 YO Elantra!

Michaell

stickguy said:

good luck. I was wondering how the part time gigs impact UI.

back to the Elantra. Too tired to fire up a spreadsheet, but if the calculator in my head is working right, buying and holding for 6 years would cost just about the same as leasing for 3 and then leasing a replacement.

the difference of course, being that at the end of year 6, you own outright a 6 YO Elantra, instead of nothing. Assuming of course, you want a 6 YO Elantra!

Yeah, a 6 year old Elantra with 90,000 miles on it that may be worth about $1.98.

But, trying to find the positive here, it would be under warranty the whole time.

I have no idea how the part time income would affect unemployment. I guess I'll be finding out.

Been working with my manager the last couple of days on termination issues:

In addition to my one month's severance, I'll get a check for 10.5 unused vacation days.

I'll be getting some shipping materials soon to send my laptop back - guess I should clean off anything that isn't work related. I've already put any files that could be of any use in the cloud and shared the location with my boss.

Corporate AmEx card gets cancelled. I've already cancelled my VOIP service that I used as my office phone.

More stuff to deal with this week.

sda

Michaell, I wish you luck and success in finding your next position. It isn't easy and can be very frustrating, especially the lack of response or the amount of time that goes by as the company that you're working with slowly navigates thru the interviewing and hiring process. Stay positive! After working with a company for 28 years, the department where I worked was merged with another and my position was eliminated. I am currently in the search as well. One chapter closed and a new opportunity I will find.

tommister2

@Michaell have you applied for any jobs at Anthem? They have a big presence in Coloeado plus lots of work at home jobs.

Michaell

sda said:

Michaell, I wish you luck and success in finding your next position. It isn't easy and can be very frustrating, especially the lack of response or the amount of time that goes by as the company that you're working with slowly navigates thru the interviewing and hiring process. Stay positive! After working with a company for 28 years, the department where I worked was merged with another and my position was eliminated. I am currently in the search as well. One chapter closed and a new opportunity I will find.

Thanks for the encouragement. I may reach out via PM so we can compare notes. I worry that maybe I'm not doing something right, or I'm leaving something on the table.

Michaell

tommister2 said:

@Michaell have you applied for any jobs at Anthem? They have a big presence in Coloeado plus lots of work at home jobs.

I haven't looked specifically at them, but I will now. Thanks for the tip!

Mr_Shiftright

As I understand it, you can earn up to 1/3 of your unemployment benefits from part time employment; after that 1/3 plateau, you lose dollar for dollar. Check my facts on this but I think that's right.

corvette

Regarding the unemployment benefits, they are administered by each state and eligibility may vary from one state to the next.

Mr_Shiftright

That is true, and thanks for the caveat Corvette. My data wasn't from Colorado.

sda

Michaell said:

sda said:

Michaell, I wish you luck and success in finding your next position. It isn't easy and can be very frustrating, especially the lack of response or the amount of time that goes by as the company that you're working with slowly navigates thru the interviewing and hiring process. Stay positive! After working with a company for 28 years, the department where I worked was merged with another and my position was eliminated. I am currently in the search as well. One chapter closed and a new opportunity I will find.

Thanks for the encouragement. I may reach out via PM so we can compare notes. I worry that maybe I'm not doing something right, or I'm leaving something on the table.

I replied to your e-mail and will be happy to---just name the time and date.

tommister2

Michaell said:

tommister2 said:

@Michaell have you applied for any jobs at Anthem? They have a big presence in Coloeado plus lots of work at home jobs.

I haven't looked specifically at them, but I will now. Thanks for the tip!

Oh geez. Wish I had just typed CO instead of mis-spelling Colorado.

imidazol97

tommister2 said:

Michaell said:

tommister2 said:

@Michaell have you applied for any jobs at Anthem? They have a big presence in Coloeado plus lots of work at home jobs.

I haven't looked specifically at them, but I will now. Thanks for the tip!

Oh geez. Wish I had just typed CO instead of mis-spelling Colorado.

Just tell everyone that's the British spelling.

Mr_Shiftright

Taking a look at this in the next few days. It's not the Honda S2000 I really like, which is more attractive than this goofy looking roadster, but this BMW has a 6 cylinder (aka "torque") and heated seats. And...ahem...$10,000 less. Low miles, too, under 70K.

I really wanted an M roadster but I can live with this for a better price. It has just a touch more HP than my Mini and is just a touch faster 0-60. The M is a whoppin' 315 HP and a full 2 seconds faster 0-60 than the regular Z3. It's under 5 seconds.

I dunno...I never felt the Mini lacked power at about 6.9 seconds. It might be enough. Maybe I can just make it SOUND faster...

nyccarguy

Z3 3.0i?  Respect

stickguy

now that I really want. Bad. how much and what year?

I saw an M roadster many years ago, in that color. It was at an odd place (local used place that churns a ton of off lease stuff. If you need 30 Altimas, give them a call). Only a few years old and low miles. Thinking it was maybe 25K? I really would have loved that one! Just the view from the rear (wide tires, fat hips and 4 tailpipes) was worth it.

stickguy

I'm thinking that getting my next car might be a bit of a problem. And may end in a divorce.

just today in the 1 trip out (to the supermarket) I noticed and pointed out as liking an A5, a Sierra, a Mustang convertible, a 4 door GTI (that was really sharp in dark gray), and a Lexus ES350.

Not really narrowing things down much.

Michaell

stickguy said:

I'm thinking that getting my next car might be a bit of a problem. And may end in a divorce.

just today in the 1 trip out (to the supermarket) I noticed and pointed out as liking an A5, a Sierra, a Mustang convertible, a 4 door GTI (that was really sharp in dark gray), and a Lexus ES350.

Not really narrowing things down much.

Yeah, but that's the fun in the process! All the looking at what could be ...

One of these things is not like the others .... a Sierra?

Dude, you're strange.

tifighter

I had one of those with the smaller 2.5 inline-6. Even with that engine, it felt pretty strong. I think the tests for that motor at the time were getting 0-60 runs in the high sixes to low sevens. So I think the bigger 2.8 or later 3.0 would be plenty. I liked the S2000 but couldn't fit in one. Z3 (and NC Miata), no problem.

tommister2

Mr_Shiftright said:

Taking a look at this in the next few days. It's not the Honda S2000 I really like, which is more attractive than this goofy looking roadster, but this BMW has a 6 cylinder (aka "torque") and heated seats. And...ahem...$10,000 less. Low miles, too, under 70K.

I really wanted an M roadster but I can live with this for a better price. It has just a touch more HP than my Mini and is just a touch faster 0-60. The M is a whoppin' 315 HP and a full 2 seconds faster 0-60 than the regular Z3. It's under 5 seconds.

I dunno...I never felt the Mini lacked power at about 6.9 seconds. It might be enough. Maybe I can just make it SOUND faster...

Don't think I have ever seen that color on that car before. Beautiful!

kyfdx

The early M Roadsters only had 240 HP. Those should be a lot cheaper and still faster than the 2.8 or 3.0