Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous

roadburner

I have a friend who was looking for a new TV and soundbar; I recommended a Sony TV and a Sony soundbar. I had it up and running in no time. It even controls his AT&T cable box. It sounds remarkably good for a 2.1 setup and the picture is very good as well.

nyccarguy

Do you guys remember the picture of the Ford GT I posted a few weeks ago? So it is a gorgeous day and I went to play pickle ball. I pull up and there’s the normal cars. A few Audi SUVs, Porsche Macans, Subarus, Toyotas, Mazdas… and then there is a stunning C5 Z06 Corvette in red. I’m trying to figure out whose car it is and say to myself, there’s only one guy. Turns out it is the same guy who owns the Ford GT. Red over Red/Black interior. 27K miles.

stickguy

I definitely got into the wrong line of work.

nyccarguy

@stickguy said:
I definitely got into the wrong line of work.

That makes 2 of us!

benjaminh

Detailed video about the making of Toyota trucks in Texas. A lot of it is quite similar to what I saw inside the Subaru factory in Indiana.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=En0Ft5GY-DU

breld

So I haven’t even made my punch for my EV replacement, but I have another pending punch to report.

We went to go check out this 2020 911 at a local Mercedes dealer last Saturday…



And somehow my wife is getting this to replace her wagon…

nyccarguy

@breld said:
So I haven’t even made my punch for my EV replacement, but I have another pending punch to report.

We went to go check out this 2020 911 at a local Mercedes dealer last Saturday…

And somehow my wife is getting this to replace her wagon…

Nice! Details on the MB and the Porsche and why you still have your ‘17

roadburner

Yesterday I received an email from Mercedes-Benz USA that announced that the E53 wagon is coming to America. I may not be able to resist.

jmonroe1

stickguy said:

I definitely got into the wrong line of work.

————————————————
Things will perk up after you retire and get hired on as a consultant.

jmonroe

jmonroe1

nyccarguy said:

@stickguy said:

I definitely got into the wrong line of work.

That makes 2 of us!

————————————————
Quit, then hire yourself on as a consultant.

jmonroe

stickguy

@jmonroe1 said:
————————————————
Things will perk up after you retire and get hired on as a consultant.

jmonroe

I would consider that for a year. A couple months in the fall at a high hourly rate might not
Be bad.

jmonroe1

stickguy said:

@jmonroe1 said:

————————————————

Things will perk up after you retire and get hired on as a consultant.

jmonroe

I would consider that for a year. A couple months in the fall at a high hourly rate might not
Be bad.

————————————————
That’s what I thought when I did my last stint of consulting with the company I retired from. Got to having so much fun I stayed for 8 years. Had to finally get off the candy before the cleaning crew found me slumped over my keyboard one night. That would not have been a good way to leave for either of us.

jmonroe

laurasdada

@breld and @roadburner: You. Are. Killing. Me.

Add me to the list of epic career failure folks...

Still can't get the Lucid Air, Lexus LC convertible, Porsche 911 and Aston Martin DB11 convertible off my mind. Or screen.

stickguy

stopped earlier to get corn at a local farm stand connected to a country store/homemade ice cream place. And treated the wife to ice cream in the middle of the afternoon. As a reward for being so nice, I stopped at the Porsche dealer up the road and coerced her into getting out to look at stuff. Nice 911 in the showroom (I know they have another name now, but will always be a 911 to me). maybe 175K? I suggested she sit in it anyway but she declined since she wasn't sure she would be able to get back out of it.

we did get to sit in and play wife a Macan (hot though, since it was outside on the apron). Pretty neat car. Lots of buttons and fun features. It was the chalk color. Base model 4 banger, with some options for an eye popping $76,700 sticker. Yowzers. Not even an S for that money. Would be hard to justify her Acura + $50k to trade up. But at least I got to sit in one, and know that something along those lines would be fine. Smaller and "sporty" as long as it sits up like she is used to.

stickguy

just out of curiosity I built a Q3 audi and X1 BMW on the websites, figuring from a size and functionality standpoint, they would be comparable Euro options. Audi was about $43k, and BMW $48k. Still not cheap, but a steal compared to the Porsche! For comparison, a new RDX would be about $48k also (the ADX $40-42k)

Cars got expensive while I was busy flipping houses and funding weddings!

for the upgrade price, might just be better buying a real sports car and just dealing with having 3.

Also stopped at the Toyota dealer across the street. They had a GR86 out front, and a GR Corolla. Wife would not want to drive the 86, and would complain about being low, but I could get away with it for me. Though I should test sit one first. Expensive though, it was the premium with an AT (sad) and the performance package options, running it up to $42k. The Corolla, also a premium (whatever they call the "nice" one) had a $48 sticker. Lot of money for a Corolla hatchback without a moonroof!

stickguy

oh, back to the Macan, dealer had no service loaners listed for sale. just a few older ones (2017, 18 and 2020)

breld

nyccarguy said:

@breld said:

So I haven’t even made my punch for my EV replacement, but I have another pending punch to report.

We went to go check out this 2020 911 at a local Mercedes dealer last Saturday…

And somehow my wife is getting this to replace her wagon…

Nice! Details on the MB and the Porsche and why you still have your ‘17

Well, the 2020 (992.1) improves upon my 2017 (991.2) in the ways I would expect it to…some more refinement overall. Plus, that blue over a light gray interior, plus the right options, makes it very appealing. But then I get back into my 2017 and realize the gap is marginal, and I have a darn fun color too. Would I trade straight across for it? Absolutely…but unfortunately that’s not how it works.

The MB is the GLE450e (PHEV). The GLE has always caught my wife’s eye, and they had a pretty one in the showroom that she started considering. Then she discovered there was a PHEV version and that really got her attention. Unfortunately, once she got going on options and colors, it snowballed into some very specific requirements, and there was nothing local. So our salesperson, who was awesome, did a search and found this white one (“moonlight white”) that hit all the right buttons for her. They were able to trade for it and will hopefully arrive in a week or two.

corvette

Congrats to Mrs. @breld! 2025 or 2026? I pulled up the configurator on the MB site, and I think white is a good choice, given the available 2026 colors. I really like Mystic Blue Metallic, but it wouldn't be worth the $6,500 cost to me. The available acoustic comfort package sounds nice... My build was right at $90k with the fancy paint.

28firefighter

Looks like spam…

ab348

stickguy said:

But at least I got to sit in one, and know that something along those lines would be fine. Smaller and "sporty" as long as it sits up like she is used to.

A Hyundai Venue would probably also meet those criteria.

stickguy

that would be a tough sell. and falls a smidge short on the fun car scale.

kyfdx

stickguy said:

oh, back to the Macan, dealer had no service loaners listed for sale. just a few older ones (2017, 18 and 2020)

Our Chalk Macan was a service loaner with a sticker of $81K

$68K purchase price, with CPO included

kyfdx

28firefighter said:

Looks like spam…

Exactly

28firefighter

The Edmunds Porsche Club Pacific NW chapter met up today and did a drive around Mt Rainier - beautiful day, awesome cars, fun driving, great views. Thanks to @tifighter for planning the route and for the invite!

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

stopped earlier to get corn at a local farm stand connected to a country store/homemade ice cream place. And treated the wife to ice cream in the middle of the afternoon. As a reward for being so nice, I stopped at the Porsche dealer up the road and coerced her into getting out to look at stuff. Nice 911 in the showroom (I know they have another name now, but will always be a 911 to me). maybe 175K? I suggested she sit in it anyway but she declined since she wasn't sure she would be able to get back out of it.

we did get to sit in and play wife a Macan (hot though, since it was outside on the apron). Pretty neat car. Lots of buttons and fun features. It was the chalk color. Base model 4 banger, with some options for an eye popping $76,700 sticker. Yowzers. Not even an S for that money. Would be hard to justify her Acura + $50k to trade up. But at least I got to sit in one, and know that something along those lines would be fine. Smaller and "sporty" as long as it sits up like she is used to.

Was that Hayner Farm you stopped at?

breld

corvette said:

Congrats to Mrs. @breld! 2025 or 2026? I pulled up the configurator on the MB site, and I think white is a good choice, given the available 2026 colors. I really like Mystic Blue Metallic, but it wouldn't be worth the $6,500 cost to me. The available acoustic comfort package sounds nice... My build was right at $90k with the fancy paint.

It’s a 2025. They’re discounting it a few thousand and then there’s a $9,500 lease credit, so we’ll lease it and then likely “convert” it to a financing deal. The credit makes it the same cost as a GLE 350, so seems like a good way to go.

She really liked the Twilight Blue, but it was pretty hard to find, and once she started looking at all the options, she found she preferred the white colors with the “night” package.

stickguy

oldfarmer50 said:

stickguy said:

stopped earlier to get corn at a local farm stand connected to a country store/homemade ice cream place. And treated the wife to ice cream in the middle of the afternoon. As a reward for being so nice, I stopped at the Porsche dealer up the road and coerced her into getting out to look at stuff. Nice 911 in the showroom (I know they have another name now, but will always be a 911 to me). maybe 175K? I suggested she sit in it anyway but she declined since she wasn't sure she would be able to get back out of it.

we did get to sit in and play wife a Macan (hot though, since it was outside on the apron). Pretty neat car. Lots of buttons and fun features. It was the chalk color. Base model 4 banger, with some options for an eye popping $76,700 sticker. Yowzers. Not even an S for that money. Would be hard to justify her Acura + $50k to trade up. But at least I got to sit in one, and know that something along those lines would be fine. Smaller and "sporty" as long as it sits up like she is used to.

Was that Hayner Farm you stopped at?

yup. right around the corner from the transfer station I visit almost every week, and just down the street from the Porsche dealer!

stickguy

breld said:

corvette said:

Congrats to Mrs. @breld! 2025 or 2026? I pulled up the configurator on the MB site, and I think white is a good choice, given the available 2026 colors. I really like Mystic Blue Metallic, but it wouldn't be worth the $6,500 cost to me. The available acoustic comfort package sounds nice... My build was right at $90k with the fancy paint.

It’s a 2025. They’re discounting it a few thousand and then there’s a $9,500 lease credit, so we’ll lease it and then likely “convert” it to a financing deal. The credit makes it the same cost as a GLE 350, so seems like a good way to go.

She really liked the Twilight Blue, but it was pretty hard to find, and once she started looking at all the options, she found she preferred the white colors with the “night” package.

I should probably stop looking at cars because I'm not even sure I know how to buy one at this point.

benjaminh

stickguy said:

...we did get to sit in and play wife a Macan (hot though, since it was outside on the apron). Pretty neat car. Lots of buttons and fun features. It was the chalk color. Base model 4 banger, with some options for an eye popping $76,700 sticker...

And I'm guessing that in the next several months the new tariffs will raise the price to 85k or so.

stickguy

probably. And sales will really dry up.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

oldfarmer50 said:

stickguy said:

stopped earlier to get corn at a local farm stand connected to a country store/homemade ice cream place. And treated the wife to ice cream in the middle of the afternoon. As a reward for being so nice, I stopped at the Porsche dealer up the road and coerced her into getting out to look at stuff. Nice 911 in the showroom (I know they have another name now, but will always be a 911 to me). maybe 175K? I suggested she sit in it anyway but she declined since she wasn't sure she would be able to get back out of it.

we did get to sit in and play wife a Macan (hot though, since it was outside on the apron). Pretty neat car. Lots of buttons and fun features. It was the chalk color. Base model 4 banger, with some options for an eye popping $76,700 sticker. Yowzers. Not even an S for that money. Would be hard to justify her Acura + $50k to trade up. But at least I got to sit in one, and know that something along those lines would be fine. Smaller and "sporty" as long as it sits up like she is used to.

Was that Hayner Farm you stopped at?

yup. right around the corner from the transfer station I visit almost every week, and just down the street from the Porsche dealer!

I haven’t seen him in years but Harvey and I drove school bus at the same school. Interesting story, he became a bus driver in 1954 when he discovered he was allergic to his cows and had to give up dairy farming. When he started the district was literally one room school houses scattered about the town. Drivers had no radios and made up their own routes. Before he retired in 2000 he was the longest tenured bus driver in NYS. His son was a semi-pro baseball player and owns The Sports Barn just up the road. If he’s still alive he’d be 92.

But the best part is he grows his own corn (unlike a lot of other farm stands) so it’s always fresh.

benjaminh

Tire Rack says that Dutch tire company Vredestein makes their top rated touring tires. The Michelin CC2 is a close second, while Goodyear's new WeatherReady2 is a close third.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_O8nGiMs5E

stickguy

I was thinking about those tires if I ever have to put new ones on the Acura.

graphicguy

@breld ...nice pick up for the Mrs. I like it. 'Grats!

jmonroe1

stickguy said:

I was thinking about those tires if I ever have to put new ones on the Acura.

————————————————
Save your money and put them on the Porsche you’ve been salivating over lately the first time you burn up the OEMs it came with.

jmonroe

corvette

I think Consumer Reports likes the Vredesteins as well.

nyccarguy

@breld said:
It’s a 2025. They’re discounting it a few thousand and then there’s a $9,500 lease credit, so we’ll lease it and then likely “convert” it to a financing deal. The credit makes it the same cost as a GLE 350, so seems like a good way to go.

She really liked the Twilight Blue, but it was pretty hard to find, and once she started looking at all the options, she found she preferred the white colors with the “night” package.

You are the CPA, but as long as you can live within the mileage constraints which you can given your plethora of vehicles what’s the point of converting it to a trad finance? It’s not like you are going to keep the car beyond 3 years.

Congrats! Nice rig!

roadburner

I put the Quatracs on the Clubman; they are excellent tires- if you don't plan to push them too hard.

nyccarguy

Ok Porsche sleuths, what is this? The license plate says 01 OF 1. It is either a RUF or one of those that that Japanese guys makes?

corvette

@nyccarguy - looks like one of the later air cooled 911s, heavily modded, but I’m not one of the resident Porsche experts here.

corvette

Went for a hike today and was surprised to find this Bel Air in the parking lot (at the end of a gravel road). The stickers on it were related to caving and bats, but I saw a group there rappelling from one of the cliffs, so I suspect this was one of them.

I was hangry after the hike, so decided to head towards the nearest McDank, which was not on the way back to my house. There is also an Arby’s at that exit, so I made an executive decision to go there… when did they start serving hamburgers? Skipped my usual brisket sandwich and got a chicken bacon sandwich combo with curly fries. It was over $12(!), and was decent enough, but I can’t imagine trying to feed an entire family on a road trip. That’s about 3x my normal McD tab, but I use their app and deals, and usually bring my own soda water. (The McD app is also not great for families on road trips, because you can only redeem one freebie or deal per order per account.)

$9 DC fast charger stop because I drove further out from home. My favorite car wash (Unrivaled in Springhurst) was closed, so I went to Moby’s Auto Spa and my car is somewhat cleaner, but not clean.

venture

corvette said:

Went for a hike today and was surprised to find this Bel Air in the parking lot (at the end of a gravel road). The stickers on it were related to caving and bats, but I saw a group there rappelling from one of the cliffs, so I suspect this was one of them.

I was hangry after the hike, so decided to head towards the nearest McDank, which was not on the way back to my house. There is also an Arby’s at that exit, so I made an executive decision to go there… when did they start serving hamburgers? Skipped my usual brisket sandwich and got a chicken bacon sandwich combo with curly fries. It was over $12(!), and was decent enough, but I can’t imagine trying to feed an entire family on a road trip. That’s about 3x my normal McD tab, but I use their app and deals, and usually bring my own soda water. (The McD app is also not great for families on road trips, because you can only redeem one freebie or deal per order per account.)

$9 DC fast charger stop because I drove further out from home. My favorite car wash (Unrivaled in Springhurst) was closed, so I went to Moby’s Auto Spa and my car is somewhat cleaner, but not clean.

I drove through Arby's last week and ordered 2 classic roast beef. The girl said she would tell me the total at the window. When I got there, she said it would be $12.28. I told her, "Never mind."

ab348

Forgot to post this, but on Friday afternoon I was out front at my house and was amazed to see a beautifully restored-to-original ‘58 Plymouth 2-door HT going up my street. It might have even been a Fury. Just eye-popping. Had never seen it before.

28firefighter

I gave the 911 its first real bath since I bought it. Rinse, clay bar, polish, a ceramic coat, plus a deep clean of the convertible top. It isn’t perfect by any stretch but it is in great shape. Minimal issues, paint shines, etc.

I also checked the oil by hand this afternoon since I’ve put just over 1000 miles on it now. Shockingly, no consumption. The quart of oil will remain in the Frunk though, just in case. Don’t want to tempt fate.

stickguy

decided to spec out a GTI just for the heck of it. See what all Sandy's fuss is about. They are quite loaded now (in SE form). But disappointed that only all black interiors for the cloth. seats, dash and carpets. Must be a cave in there.

the leather package seems lighter, with gray outer parts. But would need to see them in person. Though I might get that anyway just to get the 12 way adjustable seat and power on the passenger side. Plus they are ventilated so as much as I love the classic cloth, that would be a fine alternative!

trickier part might be getting the wife to try one out and agree to drive one!

qbrozen

Had our trip to Dallas this weekend. I believe I may have mentioned it. It was to go see Phillies play the Rangers.

On the car topic, our Uber to the hotel was a Lexus NX. Wow! What a piece of junk! Now, I know this thing was beat on and not cared for, but the ride, seat comfort, and road noise were all atrocious. Lexus should be ashamed. If you blindfolded me for that ride, then told me after it was a Nissan Versa with leather, I would have believed it.

The Lyft ride back to the airport this morning was a fairly recent RDX. Appropriately felt like a top-trim Honda. While not impressive in any way, it was WORLDS better than the NX.

suydam

venture said:

corvette said:

Went for a hike today and was surprised to find this Bel Air in the parking lot (at the end of a gravel road). The stickers on it were related to caving and bats, but I saw a group there rappelling from one of the cliffs, so I suspect this was one of them.

I was hangry after the hike, so decided to head towards the nearest McDank, which was not on the way back to my house. There is also an Arby’s at that exit, so I made an executive decision to go there… when did they start serving hamburgers? Skipped my usual brisket sandwich and got a chicken bacon sandwich combo with curly fries. It was over $12(!), and was decent enough, but I can’t imagine trying to feed an entire family on a road trip. That’s about 3x my normal McD tab, but I use their app and deals, and usually bring my own soda water. (The McD app is also not great for families on road trips, because you can only redeem one freebie or deal per order per account.)

$9 DC fast charger stop because I drove further out from home. My favorite car wash (Unrivaled in Springhurst) was closed, so I went to Moby’s Auto Spa and my car is somewhat cleaner, but not clean.

I drove through Arby's last week and ordered 2 classic roast beef. The girl said she would tell me the total at the window. When I got there, she said it would be $12.28. I told her, "Never mind."

Wait. You ordered something (prices are posted, aren’t they?) that someone went to the trouble to make and then didn’t pay for it?

corvette

Since we're talking about GTIs, here's Sarah -n- Tuned's review of the Golf R:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NCbo5MMbVg

laurasdada

nyccarguy said:

Ok Porsche sleuths, what is this? The license plate says 01 OF 1. It is either a RUF or one of those that that Japanese guys makes?

It appears that Old Farmer has been holding out on us...

tifighter

@qbrozen said:
Had our trip to Dallas this weekend. I believe I may have mentioned it. It was to go see Phillies play the Rangers.

On the car topic, our Uber to the hotel was a Lexus NX. Wow! What a piece of junk! Now, I know this thing was beat on and not cared for, but the ride, seat comfort, and road noise were all atrocious. Lexus should be ashamed. If you blindfolded me for that ride, then told me after it was a Nissan Versa with leather, I would have believed it.

The Lyft ride back to the airport this morning was a fairly recent RDX. Appropriately felt like a top-trim Honda. While not impressive in any way, it was WORLDS better than the NX.

I do love me a good piece of junk…