Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

corvette

stickguy said:

I love watching the car ninja tear into some of those.

My favorite was when Hoovie pulled up in one of "the CHEAPEST" example of some BMW model in the country, and Ninja just gave him an exasperated look and said "why?"

ab348

Fallen into a YouTube rabbit hole thanks to Harry’s Garage and the saga of his Lancia Fulvia Zagato. Harry likes Italian cars and British cars so you can imagine some of the rust repair horrors he deals with. Thankfully he has deep pockets and a stiff upper lip. Very enjoyable.

https://youtu.be/rLxF2D3RveQ

stickguy

now for something completely different. this must be very rare, but it is kinda cool. I assume it went through the program/remediation updating.

https://www.subaruofcherryhill.com/used/Volkswagen/2013-Volkswagen-Beetle+Convertible-cherry-hill-nj-20d52b1d0a0e09af69981ba17c656574.htm

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

now for something completely different. this must be very rare, but it is kinda cool. I assume it went through the program/remediation updating.

https://www.subaruofcherryhill.com/used/Volkswagen/2013-Volkswagen-Beetle+Convertible-cherry-hill-nj-20d52b1d0a0e09af69981ba17c656574.htm

Didn’t those has a lot of electrical problems?

stickguy

a 10 YO VW? odds are.

qbrozen

A new-to-me rabbit hole:
https://carfromjapan.com/

oldfarmer50

qbrozen said:

A new-to-me rabbit hole:
https://carfromjapan.com/

I would worry that it would sit off the west coast for months waiting to be offloaded.

qbrozen

@oldfarmer50 said:
I would worry that it would sit off the west coast for months waiting to be offloaded.

I wouldn’t sweat that at all. Because I’m not on the west coast. ;b

jmonroe1

oldfarmer50 said:

qbrozen said:

A new-to-me rabbit hole:
https://carfromjapan.com/

I would worry that it would sit off the west coast for months waiting to be offloaded.

Talk about Russian Roulette.

jmonroe

breld

Just got word from the BMW dealership that my wife's 330i arrived and we can pick it up this afternoon.

So...we close on our new house at 1:30 and get her new BMW at 4:30. In the words of Bono..."It's a beautiful day..."

breld

Also, my wife walks into my office this morning after perusing the new Motor Trend and exclaims, "You need to get one of these," as she opens up the magazine to a picture of the new Integra in the bright yellow/gold color.

dad23

@breld, I've probably said this before, but she's a keeper!!!

explorerx4

At least you're saving getting an Integra until tomorrow. I thought you might be going for the hat trick.

au1994

breld said:

Also, my wife walks into my office this morning after perusing the new Motor Trend and exclaims, "You need to get one of these," as she opens up the magazine to a picture of the new Integra in the bright yellow/gold color.

The stars and moon really aligned with y’all two didn’t they?

stickguy

explorerx4 said:

At least you're saving getting an Integra until tomorrow. I thought you might be going for the hat trick.

Well, they don’t come out until the spring, so forced to wait.

xwesx

oldfarmer50 said:

qbrozen said:

A new-to-me rabbit hole:
https://carfromjapan.com/

I would worry that it would sit off the west coast for months waiting to be offloaded.

I found your wife's van! It is, perhaps, too understated, but that is offset by the incredibly low price tag....

Classy RHD

qbrozen

@xwesx said:
I found your wife's van! It is, perhaps, too understated, but that is offset by the incredibly low price tag....

Classy RHD

That is pretty fantastic. But $45k for a 1990? Oh hell no.

au1994

xwesx said:

oldfarmer50 said:

qbrozen said:

A new-to-me rabbit hole:
https://carfromjapan.com/

I would worry that it would sit off the west coast for months waiting to be offloaded.

I found your wife's van! It is, perhaps, too understated, but that is offset by the incredibly low price tag....

Classy RHD

🤮

mjfloyd1

@qbrozen said:

@xwesx said:
I found your wife's van! It is, perhaps, too understated, but that is offset by the incredibly low price tag....

Classy RHD

That is pretty fantastic. But $45k for a 1990? Oh hell no.

The man knows what he has…

stickguy

Nice wheels. But 5,000 miles in 30 years? Not buying that!

28firefighter

Le sigh. BMW needs a bunch of little, but important, safety stuff done (took in for oil change, coolant flush, and brake fluid flush). My wife is irritated and again suggested it needed to go.

stickguy

Didn’t you just buy her a Tesla? Some gratitude there.

Michaell

stickguy said:

Didn’t you just buy her a Tesla? Some gratitude there.

3 cars for 2 drivers = extra money needing to be budgeted for maintenance / insurance / registration.

28firefighter

stickguy said:

Didn’t you just buy her a Tesla? Some gratitude there.

Surely you jest.

Michaell said:

stickguy said:

Didn’t you just buy her a Tesla? Some gratitude there.

3 cars for 2 drivers = extra money needing to be budgeted for maintenance / insurance / registration.

Yes. She knows logically. But it isn't something she appreciates or likes.

au1994

28firefighter said:

stickguy said:

Didn’t you just buy her a Tesla? Some gratitude there.

Surely you jest.

Michaell said:

stickguy said:

Didn’t you just buy her a Tesla? Some gratitude there.

3 cars for 2 drivers = extra money needing to be budgeted for maintenance / insurance / registration.

Yes. She knows logically. But it isn't something she appreciates or likes.

What kind of needs are we talking about?

28firefighter

PS return hose is leaking - I can probably defer this to the spring.

Front and rear brake hoses are cracked and leaking.

Hood struts are blown (I already knew that).

kyfdx

28firefighter said:

Le sigh. BMW needs a bunch of little, but important, safety stuff done (took in for oil change, coolant flush, and brake fluid flush). My wife is irritated and again suggested it needed to go.

It's funny. It never bothered me to spend money on the ZHP.

28firefighter

I consider it an investment in the car and it really doesn't bug me. It's 17 years old, of course it needs stuff.

My wife does not see it the same way.

stickguy

Michaell said:

stickguy said:

Didn’t you just buy her a Tesla? Some gratitude there.

3 cars for 2 drivers = extra money needing to be budgeted for maintenance / insurance / registration.

and? I fail to see the problem here?

Better than having 1 car for 2 people.

stickguy

28firefighter said:

I consider it an investment in the car and it really doesn't bug me. It's 17 years old, of course it needs stuff.

My wife does not see it the same way.

Use my solution.

Don't tell her what she doesn't need to know.

28firefighter

stickguy said:

28firefighter said:

I consider it an investment in the car and it really doesn't bug me. It's 17 years old, of course it needs stuff.

My wife does not see it the same way.

Use my solution.

Don't tell her what she doesn't need to know.

The last time I took that approach I found a receipt for a deposit with Closets by Design...

sda

28firefighter said:

PS return hose is leaking - I can probably defer this to the spring.

Front and rear brake hoses are cracked and leaking.

Hood struts are blown (I already knew that).

You can probably buy the hood struts inexpensively on eBay or Rock Auto. I replaced them on the TL about 2.5 years ago and they are still fine. I watched a quick tutorial on U tube. Easy repair, took less than 10 min.

au1994

28firefighter said:

PS return hose is leaking - I can probably defer this to the spring.

Front and rear brake hoses are cracked and leaking.

Hood struts are blown (I already knew that).

2 of the 3 look like a DIY with some help from YouTube and maybe an extra set of hands. Wouldn’t jack around with the brake hoses but if you do it now it will be fine for another 17 years.

I too took pride in doing things like this and other deferred maintenance on my ZHP. Admittedly when it became my DD it wasn’t as amusing.

stickguy

order the parts from FCP Euro, and at least replace the easy ones. I agree, don't mess with brake lines.

explorerx4

I went to Rock Auto. Hood struts are between $7-$13 each.
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/bmw,2004,330i,3.0l+l6,1423617,body+&+lamp+assembly,lift+support,1404

stickguy

so, had some fun today before the latest terrible Nor'easter weather rolled in.

stopped at a local dealer to do a fellow poster a solid, and looked at a 2012 BMW 328i convertible for rny421. Found it parked in the front row, so easy to look at. Was interesting to drive one (I have not driven a 6 cylinder NA BMW in ages, or a manual trans one). Quite the trip back in time (as was the very old school dash and tech). Fun car, but just one that gave off a hard life vibe (this was not your rich guy, spoiled garage queen, unit from what I could tell).

while I was there I asked about the new BRZ . Seems they have a couple allocated so I could order on if I really wanted to. Scheduled to build in December (hopefully) so maybe get it in January/February? Great time to have a car arrive running on summer performance tires (at least the limited has those). So I got a brochure and moved on.

28firefighter

Correct - I'm not messing with the brake lines - someone else can do that.

Going to defer the PS stuff until spring and then look into it myself. Hood struts I'll let them do because its just parts cost basically - labor is next to nothing and I don't feel like dealing with it.

xwesx

stickguy said:

order the parts from FCP Euro, and at least replace the easy ones. I agree, don't mess with brake lines.

I disagree. Mess with the brake hoses! It's no big deal to bleed the system when you're done.

That said, I don't think this is about $ for your wife; she's just looking for another excuse to strengthen her argument.

kyfdx

Even OEM hood struts aren't that bad... Under $100 for two.

stickguy

next stop, the Ford dealer that called me late yesterday to say they had gotten a Maverick. Luckily it was still there. and even better, turns out it was not a customer order, so it was available. So not only did I get to eyeball and sit in in, I got to drive it. No companion, just had to sign a paper to let me go solo, and said I could take 1/2 hour. Not enough time to run it home though, but I am sure the wife would be OK enough with it to give me the usual "it's fine it that is what you want" line. Generally unless it is completely embarrassing to be seen in, or way too low with bolsters that squish her, she won't complain.

So I got the key (and yes, this model had an actual key where you had to push the fob button to open it, then insert the key and twist to turn the car on). Odd build. It was a base XL, AWD, but had a moonroof. No bed liner, but did have the 360 safety package. With limited visibility to the rear (typical PU) and smallish mirrors, BLIS was very handy for judging cars off your flanks. Sticker was about 26,500 for a car with 250HP, AWD, safety stuff and a moonroof. Really pretty cheap for what you get.

overall impressions, no, it is not a lexus interior. But the seats were big enough and there was tons of room up front in every direction (including up). Great visibility to the front and sides. easy to maneuver (did not feel big or bulky). firm steering, and responsive handling. Very much felt like a crossover. Felt fine on in town local streets and zipping around a neighborhood. Other than being long, it felt like a moderate sized car. Ride was fine. Some tire noise, but not bad, and I didn't have the radio on to drown it out.

Stereo (base) was surprisingly powerful. No worries there. And I did not hammer it, but it got up to speed quite quickly and cruised along nicely on the highway (probably only got up to about 62). Bed did not seem bad. Not super long, but decently wide and pretty high sides. Can put a lot in there if you want, and could always get the bed extender gizmo.

so overall, I liked it. Seems like a really good value for the price. and the XL was missing a few features (like cruise) but still did not feel like a car that starts at 20K. I just wish I had the hybrid. And the lariat will have nicer seats, and push button start, 2 nice features.

going to run back with the wife tomorrow maybe. I did see they had a bright blue model around the side (I drove silver) but that could have been spoken for.

28firefighter

Also for those suggesting DIY, I recently took on an expanded role at work - which has been great but lots more hours and random meetings. At least in the short term, I'm prioritizing my time with the family and on stuff around the house. So, I'm going to rely a bit more heavily on my indy for now for the ZHP.

explorerx4

You can tell your wife you are reallocating the gas money budget from the Subie to ZHP maintenance.

breld

We came to pick up the 330i and pivoted.

nyccarguy

I had to pick up some new batteries for the Pilot’s key fobs as well as some cleaning attachments for my drill (which I think died in the flood, so now I need a new one). I saw this cool Supra with an awesome vanity plate:

stickguy

breld said:

We came to pick up the 330i and pivoted.

I believe anything at this point. But sharp looking.

enjoy it for the 3 months that you have it.

stickguy

Bradd, thought of you today. While test driving the used BMW and chatting with the salesman he mentioned that he had (mostly unused in the garage) a 1999 Prelude. I think he said 99.

28firefighter

“But she preferred the 330i when we test drove.”

• said no one whose driven an M340 ever.

andres3

I have a hard time keeping the TTS under 80 MPH!!!!!!

I can't drive 55!

Happy Halloween!

28firefighter

ZHP is spending the weekend at the shop waiting for parts.

Good company:
E30 M3
E24 M6
E52 Z8

benjaminh

breld said:

We came to pick up the 330i and pivoted.

Congrats!

Hoping to hear some details of the purchase and how it drives.