Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous

mjfloyd1

Corvette E ray AWD 655 hp hybrid

https://www.corvetteforum.com/articles/corvette-e-ray-debuts-as-a-655-hp-awd-monster/?utm_source=2023120&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=content

roadburner

I have to say that I have never had a problem with Best Buy. The closest thing to a glitch that I’ve experienced is a long wait for delivery on a recumbent bike and in that case I don’t believe it was the fault of Best Buy.
On a similar note, I once asked for a price match on a Sony BD player at Target and the lady at the service desk said “We price match Amazon but not Amazon Prime.” WTH?
So I decided to drive over to Best Buy to buy the BDP and another Target was located next door. Just for giggles I stopped and went to that store’s service desk. I asked about price matching and the lady said, “Sure! What is Amazon’s price?” I told her and she matched it without even asking for any further information. Crazy.

henryn

oldfarmer50 said:

“ I like to carry a few $2 bills to use for tips. When asked, I say they're considered to be lucky.”

I used to give $2 bills to nieces and nephews for gifts but over time that became not much of a gift. Now it’s $100s.

If you want a laugh give a $2 bill to the kid at the drive-thru and watch the confusion.

A few years back, I got a roll of $1 coins at the bank. They actually had to order them for me, they had none on hand. Much to my dismay, I found that merchants would not accept the $1 coins, they looked at me like I was trying to pass a $3 bill.

That roll of coins is still around here somewhere, I need to dig them up and take them back to the bank.

nyccarguy

mjfloyd1 said:

@nyccarguy said:

I don’t know what the color is, but this Taycan 4 Sport Turismo I saw this AM was drop dead gorgeous! Wow!

?neptune blue?

https://finder.porsche.com/us/en-US/details/porsche-taycan-turbo-new-M9ZVWM

Gentian blue is most common in Taycan.

There a a lot of great looking Porsche blues

https://www.gearpatrol.com/cars/a278854/definitive-ranking-blue-porsche-911/

Good eye. Looks like Neptune Blue is the winner.

henryn

kyfdx said:

henryn said:

I've never owned an iPad, never owned any Apple product, there's a long story behind that which I have told before and won't repeat. I have owned a couple of tablets, and never really got into using them. Give me a real computer, thank you.

I do have a Kindle for reading ebooks, and I like that.

I have an iPad Mini, and use the Kindle app to read. If you're a person that likes to scroll Twitter, etc, having the Mini is much easier on the eyes and fingers. The Kindle app is good, but of course, not as good as an actual Kindle.

I resisted ebooks for many years, but when I was laid up for a long period back in 2020, I finally got into them. The kindle is actually easier to use than a book, it's lighter than a hardcover, and no heavier than a medium sized paperback. And the lighting makes it much easier to read when you are laid up in bed, as I was.

I had one of those Amazon tablets which I initially tried to use for reading ebooks, but I found it to be too heavy to hold comfortably for long periods.

explorerx4

I usually am reading a book on my Kindle and paper book concurrently.

roadburner

I have a Kindle but I recently picked up an Amazon Fire so I can download magazines as well as do some light web surfing. And I also read paper books- currently Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow.

laurasdada

Email from the local mega-billionaire dealer group, BMW in this case: "Turn heads in one of our gorgeous electric vehicles."
Beauty is in the eye of the PR Department.

roadburner

None of BMWs new EVs are even remotely attractive. The i8 was handsome, but it was a PHEV.

corvette

The user experience on the Kindle Paperwhite (as well the higher end ones, I'm sure, although I've never used those) is wonderful, down to the textured screen that feels like paper. I don't think my mom's Paperwhite has been manually rebooted in years, and she recently complained about rapid battery drain. I talked her through rebooting it, and it's been fine ever since. The ability to carry multiple books in less than the space of one, as well as the convenience of being able to borrow without visiting a library, are wonderful. And I say all those things as someone who doesn't read nearly enough books.

jmonroe1

@roadburner said:
I have to say that I have never had a problem with Best Buy. The closest thing to a glitch that I’ve experienced is a long wait for delivery on a recumbent bike and in that case I don’t believe it was the fault of Best Buy.
On a similar note, I once asked for a price match on a Sony BD player at Target and the lady at the service desk said “We price match Amazon but not Amazon Prime.” WTH?
So I decided to drive over to Best Buy to buy the BDP and another Target was located next door. Just for giggles I stopped and went to that store’s service desk. I asked about price matching and the lady said, “Sure! What is Amazon’s price?” I told her and she matched it without even asking for any further information. Crazy.

————————————————
You’re right, getting a Sony Blu-ray player for 35 bucks is crazy.

jmonroe

henryn

I wonder if this is for real? And if the deal is for real, do they actually have any trucks?

I may have to go check this out, this sounds almost like the good old days are back.

Well, no, we know that isn't true.

kyfdx

@henryn I've noticed increased incentives on the 2022 RAM. Not sure when they dropped in, but it might have been just this week.

tjc78

Pretty sure it is legit. Fun fact Lone Star trim is Texas exclusive and is equivalent to a Big Horn.

kyfdx

tjc78 said:

Pretty sure it is legit. Fun fact Lone Star trim is Texas exclusive and is equivalent to a Big Horn.

They have all the same lease and incentive programs, as well

jmonroe1

@henryn said:
I wonder if this is for real? And if the deal is for real, do they actually have any trucks?

I may have to go check this out, this sounds almost like the good old days are back.

Well, no, we know that isn't true.

————————————————
Yeah, go get. That way we’ll have 2 guys in here with a Ram and they’ll both be a 2022. That will make for some good notes comparisons. Just be sure you lease it like our poster buddy @tjc78 did, because you damn sure don’t want that beast in your garage after the warranty expires.

jmonroe

explorerx4

AutoNation Ram Houston Lonestar Editions
https://www.autonationchryslerdodgejeepramhouston.com/new-inventory/index.htm?gvBodyStyle=Truck&model=1500&trim=Lone Star

Sandman6472

My current iPad Air 2 does take the current updates from Apple but it's just a bit slow when going from page to page. Also, it only has 32 gigs and I'm using a good 75% of that now. And since it's probably a 2015 or 2016 model, thought it best to upgrade. And I did feel that they pulled a "bait & switch" on me. Did get the refund in my c c this morning and just did a test. Went to their website, B B's one, and put in for the blue iPad and again, after putting in my trade, got that same $120 discount on the smaller iPad Air 2. Very strange as obviously something isn't right here and since Apple only wants to give me $35 for my unit, know something is wrong here.
I've been using my iPad a lot more now so just wanted an upgrade, so thought the new iPad would be perfect. Think I will call Best Buy and see what's up with their online ordering figure. Maybe they can figure out what the issue is & correct it. Since this is just something I want, am in no hurry and if I really don't get satisfaction, can just go up to the Apple store & take my $35 for the old unit & be done with it. It's just the principle for me now. If I'm wrong, I'll be happy to admit it but first, show me I am. If not, and I'm doing the input correctly, please give me the $120 off and we can both move on.

au1994

I’ll take a silver or red if you’re buying.

Sandman6472

I always have a bundle of 100 $1 bills either in the backpack I use for work or in the house. come in handy for lottery tickets. Always carry one when we travel as I like to tip the housekeeping staff when we first arrive at the hotel so they know to leave extra towels & shampoos during our stay. Housekeeping staff seem to appreciate the gesture and do make sure to do the little extra I ask for.
I also at one time had a roll of $1 coinage & again, most places refused to take them which I found odd. Money is money, just is a bit of extra work I guess with the larger coinage. Do have a $20 bill in my wallet just in case he power is out & a credit card won't work. But charging everything is just so much easier plus, have a record of all charges for the month. Another issue is using money and today's kids. If the bill is either ending in a 3 or an 8, I give the three pennies with the rest of the exact change. Even the computer screen they see has the 3 or 8 in the change part but for some reason, they get confused and many times, get the pennies back. Once I explain to what I'm doing , many of them still have no clue what I'm talking about. many just don't know ow to make the correct change! They rely on the computer in front of them & basically, turn their minds off. Guess I come from a generation who can calculate things in my head and give the appropriate change when paying my bill in cash.

tjc78

For only $35 I’d keep it or attempt selling it on FB marketplace or CL. Has to be worth more than that.

corvette

I’ve used Sell My Mac or a similar third party site before and gotten better offers than trading a device in to Apple. For $35, I’d probably just keep the old one to have as a spare.

oldfarmer50

kyfdx said:

@henryn I've noticed increased incentives on the 2022 RAM. Not sure when they dropped in, but it might have been just this week.

For whatever reason production of Rams seems to be more than adequate. They are selling scores of them to rental companies.

sda

A nicely loaded Ram for $39k seems like a bargain these days but hardly cheap.

Michaell

sda said:

A nicely loaded Ram for $39k seems like a bargain these days but hardly cheap.

Isn’t the average transaction price bumping up against $50k?

Seems like a pretty good deal.

qbrozen

@sda said:
A nicely loaded Ram for $39k seems like a bargain these days but hardly cheap.

39 looks to be bottom of the barrel. Filter for 4x4 and the price jumps pretty dramatically.

corvette

Trying to update the Sync on Dad’s Ranger. Round 1: it timed out and went into low power mode even though the battery tender was connected. Downloaded maybe 10% in an hour. Round 2: connected it to the wifi extender which has a stronger signal but is usually slower. Now we wait (again)…

tjc78

@Michaell said:
Isn’t the average transaction price bumping up against $50k?

Seems like a pretty good deal.

Mine was 58 and change and is nicely equipped but far from loaded.

stickguy

corvette said:

Trying to update the Sync on Dad’s Ranger. Round 1: it timed out and went into low power mode even though the battery tender was connected. Downloaded maybe 10% in an hour. Round 2: connected it to the wifi extender which has a stronger signal but is usually slower. Now we wait (again)…

I gave up trying to update the Maverick. as long as the radio works, I am good to go!

I will just have the dealer do it next time it is there for something.

Michaell

OK, just a typical afternoon, answering questions from our members about various lease numbers.

In the LR Defender thread, I get a post asking about the Defender 110X; mentions the MSRP is $97K and the running boards are $11K.

I ask if that is a typo, and am told no, that's how it works.

I hope that the running boards are part of some larger package.

corvette

Ranger is now running the current Sync software. I gave up with the battery timeout issues and just let the engine idle while it completed.

Got my dad to solder the capacitor on the Prius combination meter, so that should be ready to go back together.

@stickguy - the Mavericks with Sync seem to be on a different release schedule than those without.

stickguy

oh, I know there is a new one out there. and once it found it and went into "download" mode. then just sat there without the counter moving for an extended time and I needed to give up. Have not gotten it to find the update again. wifi on that car is really weird.

tjc78

@Michaell said:
OK, just a typical afternoon, answering questions from our members about various lease numbers.

In the LR Defender thread, I get a post asking about the Defender 110X; mentions the MSRP is $97K and the running boards are $11K.

I ask if that is a typo, and am told no, that's how it works.

I hope that the running boards are part of some larger package.

That must include some other useless features.

How’s your job search going?

mjfloyd1

Michaell said:

OK, just a typical afternoon, answering questions from our members about various lease numbers.

In the LR Defender thread, I get a post asking about the Defender 110X; mentions the MSRP is $97K and the running boards are $11K.

I ask if that is a typo, and am told no, that's how it works.

I hope that the running boards are part of some larger package.

They must be aftermarket gold plated running boards.

Here is a screen shot from the LR defender build your own page

Michaell

tjc78 said:

@Michaell said:

OK, just a typical afternoon, answering questions from our members about various lease numbers.

In the LR Defender thread, I get a post asking about the Defender 110X; mentions the MSRP is $97K and the running boards are $11K.

I ask if that is a typo, and am told no, that's how it works.

I hope that the running boards are part of some larger package.

That must include some other useless features.

How’s your job search going?

Search is progressing. No bites yet, but I'm applying to a lot of jobs in my field.

Trying to work my LinkedIn network - found someone close by who works for a company I've applied to. Hoping to talk with him early next week about his experiences there.

I also have my first call with my outplacement coach on Monday.

jmonroe1

Michaell said:

OK, just a typical afternoon, answering questions from our members about various lease numbers.

In the LR Defender thread, I get a post asking about the Defender 110X; mentions the MSRP is $97K and the running boards are $11K.

I ask if that is a typo, and am told no, that's how it works.

I hope that the running boards are part of some larger package.

————————————————
Even if they are, unless Rovers are built better today I’d want the running boards to be better quality than older Rovers and they don’t fall off before it’s paid off.

jmonroe

corvette

@Michaell - good luck with the job search!

jmonroe1

corvette said:

@Michaell - good luck with the job search!

————————————————-
I don’t think he’ll need any luck but the downside is he might not get a luxo company car with his new job.

jmonroe

tjc78

@Michaell said:
Search is progressing. No bites yet, but I'm applying to a lot of jobs in my field.

Trying to work my LinkedIn network - found someone close by who works for a company I've applied to. Hoping to talk with him early next week about his experiences there.

I also have my first call with my outplacement coach on Monday.

Best of luck. I am kinda looking again as well. We just filed Chapter 11. They claim all will be fine, no layoffs, etc but keeping my options open.

henryn

qbrozen said:

@sda said:

A nicely loaded Ram for $39k seems like a bargain these days but hardly cheap.

39 looks to be bottom of the barrel. Filter for 4x4 and the price jumps pretty dramatically.

------------------end quoted material-----------------------------

Which makes it a good thing that I don't want 4x4, even if it was included for free.

henryn

jmonroe1 said:

@henryn said:

I wonder if this is for real? And if the deal is for real, do they actually have any trucks?

I may have to go check this out, this sounds almost like the good old days are back.

Well, no, we know that isn't true.

————————————————

Yeah, go get. That way we’ll have 2 guys in here with a Ram and they’ll both be a 2022. That will make for some good notes comparisons. Just be sure you lease it like our poster buddy @tjc78 did, because you damn sure don’t want that beast in your garage after the warranty expires.

jmonroe

You forget that I'm in Texas. No one in Texas leases a car. (tax reasons)

nyccarguy

“ They claim all will be fine, no layoffs”

You know what that translates to in corporate-ese

No layoffs in upper management

jmonroe1

henryn said:

jmonroe1 said:

@henryn said:

I wonder if this is for real? And if the deal is for real, do they actually have any trucks?

I may have to go check this out, this sounds almost like the good old days are back.

Well, no, we know that isn't true.

————————————————

Yeah, go get. That way we’ll have 2 guys in here with a Ram and they’ll both be a 2022. That will make for some good notes comparisons. Just be sure you lease it like our poster buddy @tjc78 did, because you damn sure don’t want that beast in your garage after the warranty expires.

jmonroe

You forget that I'm in Texas. No one in Texas leases a car. (tax reasons)
————————————————-
No, I didn’t know that. How badly do they screw you on a lease?

jmonroe

henryn

jmonroe1 said:

henryn said:

jmonroe1 said:

@henryn said:

I wonder if this is for real? And if the deal is for real, do they actually have any trucks?

I may have to go check this out, this sounds almost like the good old days are back.

Well, no, we know that isn't true.

————————————————

Yeah, go get. That way we’ll have 2 guys in here with a Ram and they’ll both be a 2022. That will make for some good notes comparisons. Just be sure you lease it like our poster buddy @tjc78 did, because you damn sure don’t want that beast in your garage after the warranty expires.

jmonroe

You forget that I'm in Texas. No one in Texas leases a car. (tax reasons)

————————————————-
No, I didn’t know that. How badly do they screw you on a lease?

jmonroe

The state of Texas requires full payment of the sales tax up front. That would mean 6.25% of whatever, say $50k for example, that would run you $3,125. If you roll that into the lease, for 36 months, that would be an additional $87 per month. Actually a little more, as you would be paying interest on that along with the rest of the amount financed.

In most states, if you had a $500 lease payment, you would only be paying sales tax on the monthly payment, or about $30. Huge difference? No, but enough to make most leases unattractive by comparison. No one I know has ever leased a car here in Texas. Corporations do, company cars are almost always leased, but individuals don't.

jmonroe1

henryn said:

jmonroe1 said:

henryn said:

jmonroe1 said:

@henryn said:

I wonder if this is for real? And if the deal is for real, do they actually have any trucks?

I may have to go check this out, this sounds almost like the good old days are back.

Well, no, we know that isn't true.

————————————————

Yeah, go get. That way we’ll have 2 guys in here with a Ram and they’ll both be a 2022. That will make for some good notes comparisons. Just be sure you lease it like our poster buddy @tjc78 did, because you damn sure don’t want that beast in your garage after the warranty expires.

jmonroe

You forget that I'm in Texas. No one in Texas leases a car. (tax reasons)

————————————————-
No, I didn’t know that. How badly do they screw you on a lease?

jmonroe

The state of Texas requires full payment of the sales tax up front. That would mean 6.25% of whatever, say $50k for example, that would run you $3,125. If you roll that into the lease, for 36 months, that would be an additional $87 per month. Actually a little more, as you would be paying interest on that along with the rest of the amount financed.

In most states, if you had a $500 lease payment, you would only be paying sales tax on the monthly payment, or about $30. Huge difference? No, but enough to make most leases unattractive by comparison. No one I know has ever leased a car here in Texas. Corporations do, company cars are almost always leased, but individuals don't.
————————————————
I’ve heard about that kind of taxation. It’s a wonder the new car dealers association lobby or whatever they’re called in Texas haven’t stopped that.

Just curious as to how many other states do this?

jmonroe

Michaell

jmonroe1 said:

henryn said:

jmonroe1 said:

henryn said:

jmonroe1 said:

@henryn said:

I wonder if this is for real? And if the deal is for real, do they actually have any trucks?

I may have to go check this out, this sounds almost like the good old days are back.

Well, no, we know that isn't true.

————————————————

Yeah, go get. That way we’ll have 2 guys in here with a Ram and they’ll both be a 2022. That will make for some good notes comparisons. Just be sure you lease it like our poster buddy @tjc78 did, because you damn sure don’t want that beast in your garage after the warranty expires.

jmonroe

You forget that I'm in Texas. No one in Texas leases a car. (tax reasons)

————————————————-
No, I didn’t know that. How badly do they screw you on a lease?

jmonroe

The state of Texas requires full payment of the sales tax up front. That would mean 6.25% of whatever, say $50k for example, that would run you $3,125. If you roll that into the lease, for 36 months, that would be an additional $87 per month. Actually a little more, as you would be paying interest on that along with the rest of the amount financed.

In most states, if you had a $500 lease payment, you would only be paying sales tax on the monthly payment, or about $30. Huge difference? No, but enough to make most leases unattractive by comparison. No one I know has ever leased a car here in Texas. Corporations do, company cars are almost always leased, but individuals don't.

————————————————
I’ve heard about that kind of taxation. It’s a wonder the new car dealers association lobby or whatever they’re called in Texas haven’t stopped that.

Just curious as to how many other states do this?

jmonroe

Maryland and Virginia both tax the entire selling price on a lease.

I get a lot of requests for lease numbers from Texas, nonetheless.

Some dealers are able to offer "tax credits", which lowers the tax rate to 1.25% of the selling price, making leasing more palatable.

28firefighter

My wife and I work for the same company. She was laid off this week and I lost 50% of my org including my manager, his peers, and all of mine. We’ll be fine, but man, what a blood bath.

jmonroe1

Michaell said:

jmonroe1 said:

henryn said:

jmonroe1 said:

henryn said:

jmonroe1 said:

@henryn said:

I wonder if this is for real? And if the deal is for real, do they actually have any trucks?

I may have to go check this out, this sounds almost like the good old days are back.

Well, no, we know that isn't true.

————————————————

Yeah, go get. That way we’ll have 2 guys in here with a Ram and they’ll both be a 2022. That will make for some good notes comparisons. Just be sure you lease it like our poster buddy @tjc78 did, because you damn sure don’t want that beast in your garage after the warranty expires.

jmonroe

You forget that I'm in Texas. No one in Texas leases a car. (tax reasons)

————————————————-
No, I didn’t know that. How badly do they screw you on a lease?

jmonroe

The state of Texas requires full payment of the sales tax up front. That would mean 6.25% of whatever, say $50k for example, that would run you $3,125. If you roll that into the lease, for 36 months, that would be an additional $87 per month. Actually a little more, as you would be paying interest on that along with the rest of the amount financed.

In most states, if you had a $500 lease payment, you would only be paying sales tax on the monthly payment, or about $30. Huge difference? No, but enough to make most leases unattractive by comparison. No one I know has ever leased a car here in Texas. Corporations do, company cars are almost always leased, but individuals don't.

————————————————
I’ve heard about that kind of taxation. It’s a wonder the new car dealers association lobby or whatever they’re called in Texas haven’t stopped that.

Just curious as to how many other states do this?

jmonroe

Maryland and Virginia both tax the entire selling price on a lease.

I get a lot of requests for lease numbers from Texas, nonetheless.

Some dealers are able to offer "tax credits", which lowers the tax rate to 1.25% of the selling price, making leasing more palatable.
———————————————
Thanks for the reply. I was wondering how dealers dealt with that. I guess where there’s a will there’s a way.

jmonroe

stickguy

28firefighter said:

My wife and I work for the same company. She was laid off this week and I lost 50% of my org including my manager, his peers, and all of mine. We’ll be fine, but man, what a blood bath.

harsh.

welcome to the party. My crap company decided being too short staffed to get work done meant RIF some more people. Including me. No wonder the unit is circling the drain. They also offer the worst separation package out there.

but good news, I hear that companies out there are beating down the doors to offer great positions for unemployed guys that are 60+!

Unfortunately the sports car looking is going to be on hold. As much as I would love to retire early, not really quite ready to do it (we can, but not really fair making my wife work longer if I am not!) Was really hoping to just be left alone for 2 years or so to make the decision then but no such luck.

28firefighter

So sorry to hear that, @stickguy. Seems to be the theme of the season.