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Case in point: About six months before my 06 Avalon was to be turned in, my Grandfather's neighbor backed into it. The damage was minor, (a new fender, wheel-well lining, paint and blend) it was a pearl white so the body shop added a few hours to properly blend. All told I think the repair was a little under 2K. The repair was as close to flawless as I could see.
Fast forward to turning the car in. I spoke to rep about the mileage, and when someone could inspect it and pick it up. The rep asked about accidents and I mentioned the fender repair. She FLIPPED!!! "You didn't report this....." I said it was a minor incident that was under 2K to repair. She put me through hell stating the car now has diminished value, blah, blah, blah. I explained the car was fixed to factory specs and that was my only responsibility. I ended up having to scan in all the paperwork regarding the accident to her.
I saw my car for sale at Autolenders a couple of weeks later and it was priced a little lower than all the other Avalons of similar year and mileage (it couldn't have been for any other reason as my car didn't have a scratch, ding or anything and this is a no-haggle dealer that specializes in lease return sales)
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
So what exactly did you want him to say to the BMW dealer?
"While I really appreciate your offer of $32,000, since my car was in an accident you should really only offer me $23,500 - $24,000 tops. You know what, just give me $23K just to be safe. While you are at it, I insist on paying not a dime less than MSRP for the 335i X-Drive coupe. If it isn't too much trouble, I will take the $1000 Drive for team USA rebate. So that's MSRP minus $1000. Make sure to give me the $2500 maintenance plan & the extended warranty for $3000. Don't forget the $1800 tire & wheel protection package, a $799 documentation fee, $700 paint protection package, ... Let's see, what else did I forget? Do you guys sell insurance?"
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
If any of you guys are into car cleaning, give Griot's Garage a try. Every single one of their products works as advertised.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
BTW fezo - I loved your crack about gg being slimey having to do with the Zaino!
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
It sounds like advice from a very hungry Plaintiffs' attorney- the most dangerous kind...
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
BTW...I've got a well used 8 year old Hyundai Elantra that spent most of it's life being driven by a teenager. I would think that's all I'd have to disclose about that car and everyone would know the condition it's in.
Burner, I'd love to hear some of your court stories sometime. Those would have to be some great reading.
brentwood...different direction, buy how many of those Equs' (Equii?) has your store sold?
I keep looking at those orbital buffers. I like that Griot's garage web site, too.
I've just been pleased with Zaino and have had no reason to change. It's easy to use, makes my cars look good, and it lasts a long time.
Plus you can go over into Maintenance and Repair and find every little thing to make it work even better of why you have no brain if you use Zaino - depending on which topic you choose....
Until I entered the world of Edmunds - a good 14 years ago mind you - I had never heard of such things. I should be able to deduct this as a learning expense.....
Actually our real estate agent through whom we bought our house sued our neighbor AND the city when she tripped on the small expansion filler strip between blocks of sidewalk that had risen slightly from freezing and thawing--SUCCESSFULLY. She lived nearby and walked the blocks with her fibromyalgia problems.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Going back to SK tomorrow for test results and such.
While they were trying to land me on something that might spark my interest, the salesperson took me to their "delivery" lot...a lot in the back where all the delivery trucks drop off the new cars and the PDI staff does their thing.
Well, wouldn't you know it, they had about 6 cars in garage bays in differing states of painting, sanding, etc. These were new cars with MSRP stickers on them to boot.
When I inquired about them, the sales person explained that the cars had hail damage from a recent storm. Looking at some of them, the damage was pretty extensive (most had aluminum hoods which looked like someone took a ball-pine hammer to them).
Upon further questioning, he said they'd be repaired to good as new.
I don't deny that would happen, and that they would be sold as such, too.
Going through all kinds of testing brings back bad memories for me when you talk about that. I remember the worst week of my life that I spent one day going through all kinds of tests. Drinking two liters of barium or chromium or whatever compound it was for a CAT scan was awful. I hope your results are optimistic for you.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I'm a huge fan of Griot's Garage. If anyone ever gets a chance to visit their new headquarters store in Tacoma, WA, it's worth the trip.
Even if you never buy any products, the catalog is worth getting. And they are extending free shipping into October.
Do you get their emails, nyc? They offer discounts on occasion. I usually wait for the 15% off they offer a couple of times a year.
I'm too lazy to wax my car every 3 months so I clay it and use their Paint Sealant once a year. Then I use their Spray On Wax every time I wash it. Water still beads after a year and the shine still gets me compliments after 5 years and 94k miles.
The Interior Cleaner is unbelievable. (Which reminds me, my in-laws' Camry is waiting for me in the driveway.)
And no one has to get confused about Z this and Z that. :shades: But I can appreciate the Zaino fans out there.
I've sold plenty of $30-40k used cars. Last month a few CPO Genesis, used Escalade, ML, 5 series, E class, etc.
Then we just sold a 97 Civic for $3700.. so we kinda run the gamut.
Equus? 2 so far this month, with one sold and going out by the end of the week. Heck of a lot of car for the money....
Fezo, Gee I wonder who
I have heard of cars being damaged when coming off the delivery truck. They fix them up good as new and the customer never knows about it.
Does the dealer say, "We can discount your car $500 because we dinged it when it came off the truck"? Same in reverse,...if they really wanted to know about accidents they would have asked.
As for trade in value. They might have customers who have requested Accuras, they might be behind quota for the month, they might have a contest going on, they might have made enough profit on the new car to make less on the used car....lots of variables.
GG, you are not a sleaze ball...you played it better than most would.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Some have large body shops to fix all of the damage that occurs in transit or by the longshormen.
Just kidding.
Actually, I'm having a bit of a dilemma regarding my mother's car.
It's an '03 Malibu, with low mileage.
I'm trying to get her to move into something smaller.
If you saw the car, you would know why.
Last time she brought it in for service, the dealer said it needed intake gaskets.
Does it need it?, I don't know. I do know I want her to drive something smaller.
http://www.adamscountytravel.org/amish.html
GG, that is a beautiful car. I really like that interior.
I read the discussion on the TL trade accident damage and I think GG had no obligation to volunteer information that was not asked for. The dealer is the professional here and it seems his place to ask all pertinent questions about a trade in. The fact that only 1 in 10 dealers actually did this makes me think it was the dealers who were trying to pull something.
If a customer asked if GG's TL had been in an accident the salesman could say "not that I know of" because the question was never asked. THAT seems a bit slimy, sleazy or Zanio (take your pick). If I spent $35K on a used car and then found out later it had major repairs I would be more than upset. I guess this is why I prefer to buy brand new where one has a better chance of getting an untouched vehicle. Either that or buy an old clunker where the repairs don't matter.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
To be honest, might sound kinda arrogant but, well, with Elantras, Tucsons, Sonatas, Genesis Coupes, well... we don't need a service that tries to sell these as cheap as possible right now
But I run the used car department.. all I know about the new car department is that they basically won't discount an Elantra or a Tucson or a Sonata Hybrid and that all they do is complain about not having new cars.
Oh yeah, that and we usually order lunch from the same place
That's a really good point. I know when I take my car in for service the brief case I have in the trunk has been thrown all around the trunk. That doesn't happen when I drive it.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Oldfarmer, you have such great wisdom for a young man in these matters. Why didn't I think of that. If the car looks good and the next perspective buyer says was this car in an accident, the salesman just says, "Not that I know of".
I guess this is why I prefer to buy brand new where one has a better chance of getting an untouched vehicle.
That was what I was trying to say before. The savings aren't as great as people think for used cars, and their is risk involved too. Sometimes you win and sometimes you don't. I don't like to gamble when I spend $20,000 or more.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I've had a few relatives who worked on the waterfront and I've heard the stories of unloading cars from Japan. Very popular with the younger workers.
First of all, they are packed close together on the ships and lashed down. (I heard a story about one that came loose. Trashed itself and all those around it.)
The longshoremen have to climb in through the passenger side and then drive them off the ship to huge lots. Then they are trucked back to the ship to do it all over again. During that ride, some of the more aggressive types share stories of their mad driving skilz.
Someone mentioned the prospect of a tranny going south, and that's why I will usually pony up for an extended warranty on anything with an automatic and any real power.
Contemplating how far into its old age I want to drive the Volvo... its 6/100 extended warranty will expire next June.
That adds up to the $2000 a year I said it could cost to run a used car. I count tires and alignment as expenses because you don't have to do that for 3 years for a new car.
Usually extended warrantys are not recommended. But on a used car electronics, and transmissions can really add up. I guess you are paying for insurance, so if those things happen you won't be out $4000 or $5000 which would mean you would have been better off buying new.
I have had used cars and I have had new cars....I have had much better results with new cars and I don't think I paid that much more to drive them. I would say it was worth it!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Add even more common cars to that list as well. My 06 Avalon needed tires at 27K (Bridgestone Turanza EL400) and the brakes were awful close at 35K.
The tires on my 09 Genesis are at 23K and I doubt that I will to be able to turn it in at around 30K on the original Dunlops (and be in spec anyway)
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
My Volvo is 5 years old and had tires at 45k, then tires and brakes at 78K. Haven't had anything else other than routine maintenance.
That said, I think the new vs. used question comes down to your comfort level with your finances. How much of a repair "budget" do you want to figure for a car that you're still paying on?
Had I known that I would have the Volvo paid off at 4 years/64k miles, I probably would not have dropped the $$ for an extended warranty.
I run Pirelli P-Zeros on the Jag.. they grip really well but as a result they wear quickly. I could buy something horrible like Michelin MXV4s which would wear better, but then the car would drive like garbage.
It would have included "The feel of the Road".
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I have 36000 miles on the 3 Series BMW and the tires and brakes are fine. Of course, using snow tires for 5 months of the years helps the regular tires last longer. Some people think snow tires are an unnecessary expense...they actually cost less because your regular tires last longer.
Brakes....it might depend on traffic conditions a lot and whether you do lots of city driving.
Used cars need a fair about of things done at around 50k miles, but when you get through that barrier they are good again for another 50k.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
My 328 bimmer goes about 10k a year and I will make it to 45k on the original tires because I use snow tires for 5 months of the year. I am at 36k miles and I think the brakes will make it to 45k too...just because I do about 50% highway driving and not too many fast stops.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
It seems like when I go away for awhile that’s when you decide to buy a car. IIRC, you bought your TL around January of 2010 when I took some time off when we did a kitchen redo. This time it was when I went on vacation during Memorial Day week and didn’t keep up on the posts after that like I usually do. Anyway, I know how to keep you in new sheet metal but it will also keep you broke. Just let me know when you want me to go away again but remember the consequences.
It was really hot when I put it on (even in the shade).
You don’t have to wax a car in the heat. Do like I have done for years. I put a discharge vent in the duct that passes through the garage. Then I turn the A/C down a little and put a 20 inch fan in the door leading to the garage from the basement and turn it on high. Might as well take advantage of the coolest air in the house that is in the lowest part of the house. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not as pleasant as being in the family room with a brewsky but it sure beats working in the heat.
I don’t want to hear from people that say it’s illegal to put a vent there because if it’s left open you could asphyxiate everyone in the house if you let the car running. I don’t let the car run in the garage just like I don’t eat ribs without napkins. I also leave myself a note on the steps leading up to the kitchen to check the vent just in case a senior moment sets in when I’m done working in the garage (summer or winter). Just as a backup I tell Mrs. j to remind me to close the vent but I’m not doing that anymore because of what happened about a year ago.
One night, around midnight, I finished doing whatever I was doing in the garage (I remembered to close the vent). I go upstairs, take a shower, Mrs. j is watching TV in the office, I say good night and I go to bed. At 2:30 AM she wakes me and asks if I closed the vent. :sick: I marched her right down to the garage. I’m in my skivvies, didn’t even bother to grab a robe and I showed her AGAIN that it is marked “open” and “closed” so if she checked she would have known. :mad: :mad: I know you won’t have that problem now but you might someday.
For a while there I thought I was going to be single again too.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Hate to tell you, they are run flats so cost a lot.
But they have come down in price since I bought them.
Your probably curious, so I will tell you $1500 for 4 with totes.
Snows won't last as long if you use them on the highway, but they do extend the life of summer tires.
It's like ink carteridges in the printer. I said to our IT guy, it's expensive paying $80 for a red cartridge. He said, not really, if you are using red you aren't using black, so the actual cost is not any more...it's just spread over more colours.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
If you get a 2 door BMW and get the feel of the road, stoop down and lean over and throw yourself into the bucket seats, get out by putting your hand on the doorsill and push yourself up and out, get a 6 speed....you will feel about 10 years younger mentally.
Physically, not so much because you will have aching muscles from doing all that.
But, just limp away from the car and act like you are fine. Friends, neighbors and strangers on the street will be impressed.
They'll say "I wonder why that nice young man walks around all hunched over in pain like that?"
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Houdini: I'm sorry that we didn't get a chance to meet. We turned south to Santa Fe. The day after that terrible storm, we had great weather. You live in a beautiful state. We really enjoyed the scenery.
GG: I'm so glad that your new purchase turned out to be exactly what you wanted. Your pictures indicated one beautiful automobile. I know that you will love it.
Jmonroe: Welcome back. We missed you.
Michael: We loved Colorado. You live in a place where there is so much to do. Sorry we arrived a day late and missed your visit. Not to worry. We plan to return!
Driver: New or used, it's important to love what you drive. We love the SRX; it's paid for; and it still has over a year of warranty. I'm sure that there are arguments for both sides. Either side requires homework and careful decisions about what you need and want. BTW, the SRX is doing great. I'm so pleased.
Imid: Oil monitor is at 45%, down from a beginning 77%. I continue to watch it, as well as tire pressure. We've been about 4,700 miles at this point.
Have to help the wife do laundry. More in a day or two.
Richard
Those "cab forward" Chryslers turned out to be pretty reliable cars. Brake longevity wasn't the best feature on my Chrysler Cirrus (30-40K) but overall it performed very well. I bought it used in 2002 and put 100K miles on it before selling it to my son. Not bad for a car that only cost about 7 grand.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
The good news is that this new bone marrow test was better than the last. They look for an item called blasts. The more there are the more likely this thing turns to a leukemia that is darn near incurable. Two years ago the number was 14. Now it is 2. This is excellent but the marrow still doesn't make good blood and my iron is about 10 times what it should be due to the transfusions.
OK - here's the deal. They still very much recommend the transplant. My brothers will be tested and in three weeks I go back again. They are saying sooner is better than later because I am in relatively good shape at the moment, but not such good shape that they'd skip it. People with this condition that get the transplant frequently have the condition come back but this should buy me a lot of good years without what I'm going through all the time now so this is good.
They had better darn well have Internet in my room as we are talking a hospital stay of 100 days minimum. This is more than my combined stays combined and I've been in hospitals way more often than the average bear. After the hospital stay I'm still on watch out o six months before I'm pretty well clear with a whole new blood system.
They will have me meeting with a social worker to figure out the logistics of disability and such. Add to that basic financial concerns (of course I'm the check writer in the house... swell....) and more to the point how my wife deals with things and four kids (older two are more or less grown at 22 and 19 well 19 in a matter of days) but the younger two are 9!
Will keep you posted. Anyone want to pay my parking? That alone has cost me $50 already!
What kind of tire life do you expect to get out of those? I was thinking of getting summer performance tires for the Eclipse but worried that since it's not set up as a true sports car I might be wasting my money. I wouldn't want to get tires that wore out quickly and didn't give any real improvement in handling.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
After unloading it and going into the house, the SRX says to the Sebring, 'What have you been up to for the last month?'
Sebring, 'Not much, keeping the dust off the garage floor'.
SRX, 'Well, I've been to xxx, yyy, and zzz. It's good to be a Cadillac.'
Sebring, 'Well, your oil life monitor is down to 23% and mine is a 95%, so it's going to good to be a Sebring starting tomorrow'.
I agree. I am going with my friend to see Dealer B tomorrow. My friend told me Dealer B were hustlers that work on deals.
I am a bit ambivalent. I think I'll try a 5 Series just to make sure that isn't what I want. I'll see what they think my car is worth. I'll ask if he can find a 335 Cabriolet in white with red interior.
Maybe I'll buy a used car who knows. I'm not very motivated to buy, but there are business considerations...write off while still working.
I was thinking about you today. One of the guys who plays tennis has a TC. He didn't go for coffee after playing today but if he did I was going to ask him if I could drive his car around the block. I'll ask him next time if it can work out.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250