Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous

stickguy

my default mode is to assume every used car for sale is available because it has potentially catastrophic issues, otherwise it wouldn't be! And proceed accordingly.

For a long time I went with my gut feeling when I looked at used stuff. Usually worked out OK. But I think cars these days have gotten too complicated for my gut to keep up. So I would need to find someone I trusted to do a solid PPI (which I don't have now).

Sandman6472

We have a mess load of Nissans at work and they're the perfect rental vehicle. An appliance to get one from Point A to Point B. The CVT tranny's have gotten much better especially in the Altima & the Sentra. Not a vehicle I'd want to own but if I had no other choice, a Sentra or a Kicks would work. I had planned to try a new 2025 Kicks before I pulled the trigger in July, but never got over there. I wanted the top of the line Kicks in the orange & gray color with the Bose audio system but actually couldn't find one anywhere in my area. Size was perfect for my situation to. But just wasn't meant to be.

Sandman6472

Daughter & son-in-law dropped off the new MacBook Air yesterday. Will get it up & running on Monday as I'll be off till Friday and will hav plenty of time. Shouldn't be that hard to do really...just think I'll need to hook both computers up to each other and have all my files & folders moved over. The new one has the "M4" chip instead of the "M1" which I have now so should see better performance. Really like the midnight color as I'm tired of the silver I have in most of my devices.

graphicguy

tjc78 said:

To be honest some of the best cables are Belden Coax and Canare RCAs. I have a few. They will last forever.

I like Belden. They can get pricey, though.

I follow this guy. He gets into some really high buck esoteric stuff, but he's a straight shooter with his reviews. I find him to be accurate.

https://youtu.be/0vNfHTJ6kyY?si=RdmrWp-L6wqcJv-C

jmonroe1

stickguy said:

my default mode is to assume every used car for sale is available because it has potentially catastrophic issues, otherwise it wouldn't be! And proceed accordingly.

For a long time I went with my gut feeling when I looked at used stuff. Usually worked out OK. But I think cars these days have gotten too complicated for my gut to keep up. So I would need to find someone I trusted to do a solid PPI (which I don't have now).

stickguy said:

my default mode is to assume every used car for sale is available because it has potentially catastrophic issues, otherwise it wouldn't be! And proceed accordingly.

For a long time I went with my gut feeling when I looked at used stuff. Usually worked out OK. But I think cars these days have gotten too complicated for my gut to keep up. So I would need to find someone I trusted to do a solid PPI (which I don't have now).

————————————————
I agree about buying used cars but when I was raising a family I didn’t think I could afford to buy a new car so I bought used. I guess I could have afforded new like most folks but maybe I was just cheap. I never bought a lemon because I never bought a car more than three years old or one that had more than 20/25K miles and I really gave them a good workout.

Fast forward to 2009 when I bought my first Genny. I traded in an ‘06 Sonata Limited 6 cylinder that just turned 13K miles on my trip to the Akron Ohio area to get it. I remember going out to check to see if the lot boy took everything out of the trunk and put it in the new car. He asked me how I liked the Sonata so I told him it was a nice car but I got an itch and decided to get a new car. He said it was one of the cleanest cars they ever took in while he was there and mentioned he didn’t think they’d do anything to it other than give it a quick wax job and then put it on the lot. I know someone got a very good car when they bought that one.

I’ll never forget Son #2 saying, “man, how you have changed in your old age. I remember when you’d be looking high and low for a car like you just traded in”. I told him things change when you don’t have to feed, cloth and educate 2 kids.

jmonroe

explorerx4

I have a Bose rechargeable speaker with Bluetooth. No cables.

ab348

explorerx4 said:

I have a Bose rechargeable speaker with Bluetooth. No cables.

You’ll never get that one perfect sound with one of those. Though neither will the guys with the gold-plated cables.

jmonroe1

explorerx4 said:

I have a Bose rechargeable speaker with Bluetooth. No cables.

————————————————
I’m not an audiophile but even I know that’s one step above squat.

jmonroe

oldfarmer50

nyccarguy said:

Thoughts? ‘16. Well under 100K miles. Same 2.5 from the Camry.

https://www.napolinissanct.com/commercial-used/Scion/2016-Scion-tC-176ded8fac181973ee880be6e603dc96.htm

Quite a step down from an Avalon but if it checks out it should give you at least another 100k miles of use. That’s more than some car brands will give you from brand new. Of course the price is high for a car that was only around $20k new but that’s the brave new world.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

my default mode is to assume every used car for sale is available because it has potentially catastrophic issues, otherwise it wouldn't be! And proceed accordingly.

For a long time I went with my gut feeling when I looked at used stuff. Usually worked out OK. But I think cars these days have gotten too complicated for my gut to keep up. So I would need to find someone I trusted to do a solid PPI (which I don't have now).

I have to agree with you. Despite having done pretty well with numerous hoopties over the years my faith in humanity has sunk to the point where I would only buy a used car from someone I knew or from a dealer. I’m even suspicious of dealers after finding out the truck AC I bought from one last year didn’t work. Luckily it was fixed under warranty but that’s might not have been the case at every dealer.

sda

This caught my eye. What great fun at at relatively modest price.

sda

Not many of these around. Too bad they were so unreliable. They were cool cars if optioned correctly.

sda

I could learn to like one of these.

roadburner

stickguy said:

my default mode is to assume every used car for sale is available because it has potentially catastrophic issues, otherwise it wouldn't be! And proceed accordingly.

For a long time I went with my gut feeling when I looked at used stuff. Usually worked out OK. But I think cars these days have gotten too complicated for my gut to keep up. So I would need to find someone I trusted to do a solid PPI (which I don't have now).

That was the argument that my mom always made. Since 2005 I've bought a half dozen late model used cars sans a PPI and none of them suffered from an even remotely serious issue. Depreciation continues to be one of my best friends.

explorerx4

Went to look at a new truck today.
I liked it but it has max tow, so large side mirrors.
Other than that, I like it.
Similar to what what I have now but next trim level up.
Would be swapping the V8 for a hybrid.

stickguy

you might flip trucks quicker than Breld flips, well, everything. Do you even get to the 1st oil change?

stickguy

I really must be doing something wrong. I can't seem to find time over 6 months to actually stop at a few dealers to browse. Maybe next year after year-end implementation season ends for both of us!

explorerx4

@stickguy,
I haven't done anything yet.
Did have the first oil change/tire rotation done in June.
Guessing a 15/85 chance anything will happen.
Have to do some closer financial analysis.

corvette

The Ariya hit 8,100 miles today. The OE tires are looking like they will be good for 30k miles or so, which will probably be towards the end of my intended ownership period. Although I may put more miles on it going forward, once I get an L2 charger at my house.

oldfarmer50

explorerx4 said:

Went to look at a new truck today.
I liked it but it has max tow, so large side mirrors.
Other than that, I like it.
Similar to what what I have now but next trim level up.
Would be swapping the V8 for a hybrid.

I’ve driven a few F-150 hybrids recently and they seem to perform just like a regular truck. As I recall they got 5 or 6 miles better gas mileage on the highway but should do better than that in city driving.

stickguy

For the F150 I thought the big benefit was the onboard charging capability.

explorerx4

Carmax wouldn't give me a quote, I would have to go to their local location to get one.

andres3

roadburner said:

stickguy said:

my default mode is to assume every used car for sale is available because it has potentially catastrophic issues, otherwise it wouldn't be! And proceed accordingly.

For a long time I went with my gut feeling when I looked at used stuff. Usually worked out OK. But I think cars these days have gotten too complicated for my gut to keep up. So I would need to find someone I trusted to do a solid PPI (which I don't have now).

That was the argument that my mom always made. Since 2005 I've bought a half dozen late model used cars sans a PPI and none of them suffered from an even remotely serious issue. Depreciation continues to be one of my best friends.

All it takes is one to bring you back to the starting line again though. Still, at a half dozen you can afford to have a catastrophic problem and still come out on top.

My used car history is shorter as I was a believer in "new!" originally:

• 1992 Honda Civic DX Auto Hatchback - Minor repairs from 165,000 to 200,000 miles. Cheapest transportation ever. Sold for $800 less than I bought it for originally in 2002.
  
• 2015 A4 - CPO - used the CPO for an evaporator/AC job so no $$$ out of pocket besides the deductible. Reliable besides the AC issue. Sold to Vroom after about 2 years; think I took about $7,500 depreciation over 25K miles.
  
• 2015 S4 - 31K miles about $33K out the door - The disaster story - could have bought a new S4 and spent about the same as the HPFP sabotaged the motor. At sale, got $20,500 back at 75,000 miles with a motor with only 30K miles on it - however, a newer B9 S4 would have depreciated more and isn't nearly as good of a car to drive.
  
• 2021 X3 m40i with 65K miles, about $35K out the door - no issues, no problems, other than wasting money on an extended warranty - I did have to replace the front brakes/rotors which was expensive as I was fooled by the dealership claiming it had "new brakes" when they should had said it had new rear brakes only. It did have new tires though. Traded at $28K with 71K miles (commute really shortened up).
  
• 2018 Macan Turbo with 18,667 miles, about $43K out the door. Bought 3 year 36K Lexus platinum warranty extension with $0 deductible - haven't had to use it yet in 4 months (knock on wood). Up to nearly 22K miles. No, I'm not planning on paying for $200/quart Porsche motor oil.
  

suydam

With 3 kids we bought used for them several times. Always had them thoroughly checked out. MOST of them were real gems, very reliable: a ‘90 Mazda 626 hatchback MT, a ‘95 Honda Civic MT, ‘a ‘95 Camry, an ‘88 LeSabre.

roadburner

In 2011 my son's first car was a 1975 2002; some hand- wringing bed wetters thought I should be reported to Child Protective Services.

suydam

Not the income level we were working with. And back then, each kid had to pay at least half. Probably not possible now.

sda

My first car in 1977 was a tired 62 Ford Galaxie 2 dr sedan that I bought for $100. No power assist, 292 V8, 3 speed manual, no seat belts, back up lights, door review mirror, no washers, one speed wipers, metal dashboard, three different size worn tires and brakes that pulled hard to the right. I survived without incident.

andres3

I blame my father for the new Dodge Neon in High School. His "matching funds" contribution was contingent upon the car being "new" and the amount of funds available to match kept me out of the good car realm cost wise for "new." There wasn't anything much cheaper. A 3 year old Civic would have been perfect, but no, it had to be new or the funds wouldn't be doled out.

suydam

Sometimes new is not the best!

stickguy

I covered the cost of the car through college. Once they graduated and got a real job it was up to them to buy something on their own.

jmonroe1

sda said:

My first car in 1977 was a tired 62 Ford Galaxie 2 dr sedan that I bought for $100. No power assist, 292 V8, 3 speed manual, no seat belts, back up lights, door review mirror, no washers, one speed wipers, metal dashboard, three different size worn tires and brakes that pulled hard to the right. I survived without incident.

————————————————
I can honestly say I never had a problem with any used car I ever bought. Most were private sales but I did buy a couple from dealers. The best one was a private sale ‘80 Park Ave. It had a 350 V8 that provided nice power for that beast. I bought it in ‘83 for around 8 grand with just under 18K miles on it. Sold that gem after we moved back to the Burgh from South Carolina in the fall of ‘97 with around 120K miles on it. My sons still talk about how comfy that car was when we went on numerous vacations.

I’ve said it before, it was a real sleeper but not in the traditional car guy sense. You needed a box of NoDoz to get you back and forth when going to the grocery store.

jmonroe

sda

jmonroe1 said:

sda said:

My first car in 1977 was a tired 62 Ford Galaxie 2 dr sedan that I bought for $100. No power assist, 292 V8, 3 speed manual, no seat belts, back up lights, door review mirror, no washers, one speed wipers, metal dashboard, three different size worn tires and brakes that pulled hard to the right. I survived without incident.

————————————————
I can honestly say I never had a problem with any used car I ever bought. Most were private sales but I did buy a couple from dealers. The best one was a private sale ‘80 Park Ave. It had a 350 V8 that provided nice power for that beast. I bought it in ‘83 for around 8 grand with just under 18K miles on it. Sold that gem after we moved back to the Burgh from South Carolina in the fall of ‘97 with around 120K miles on it. My sons still talk about how comfy that car was when we went on numerous vacations.

I’ve said it before, it was a real sleeper but not in the traditional car guy sense. You needed a box of NoDoz to get you back and forth when going to the grocery store.

jmonroe

Oh by the way, I drove that Ford from Farmville, Va, to the Fox Chapel area of Pittsburgh to visit my best friend and back without breaking down. Driving 55-60, the speed limit was 55, it was getting around 20 mpg. Powers Run Rd near Blawnox gave it challenge. I think I was lucky to do 35.

nyccarguy

Happy New Year to all who celebrate! And even if you don’t, Happy New Year!

Sandman6472

After some hiccups with the old computer needing an update, the transfer went fine today. Apple tech support really helped as the YouTube videos I watched really didn't help at all. All I need now is a new mouse as I can't find the little piece to sync it with the new computer. Thought I saved it but not in the places I thought it would be. One shouldn't be that pricey at either Walmart or Office Depot. Will stop by in the next couple of days. Prefer a wireless mouse.
New Mac is so much faster then the old one, but guess things change after 8 years.

Sandman6472

And yes, Happy New Year all!!! Took off work tomorrow.

stickguy

you mean the little piece that plugs into the USB port? If so, look in the port on the old one!

28firefighter

Shana Tova to those who celebrate!

laurasdada

Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.

Happy Sunday Laurasdada 🤗
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graphicguy

Sandman6472 said:

After some hiccups with the old computer needing an update, the transfer went fine today. Apple tech support really helped as the YouTube videos I watched really didn't help at all. All I need now is a new mouse as I can't find the little piece to sync it with the new computer. Thought I saved it but not in the places I thought it would be. One shouldn't be that pricey at either Walmart or Office Depot. Will stop by in the next couple of days. Prefer a wireless mouse.
New Mac is so much faster then the old one, but guess things change after 8 years.

Try the track pad for a few days. You might be surprised how much you like it....maybe save a nickel or two instead of buying a mouse.

tjc78

@graphicguy said:
Try the track pad for a few days. You might be surprised how much you like it....maybe save a nickel or two instead of buying a mouse.

I’ve been using laptops forever and still hate the trackpad except for a quick task or two. Having a touchscreen certainly helps too… but generally I always have a wireless mouse with me.

tjc78

I found you one Q….

https://www.facebook.com/share/17HpkqacMa/?mibextid=wwXIfr

qbrozen

@tjc78 said:
I found you one Q….

https://www.facebook.com/share/17HpkqacMa/?mibextid=wwXIfr

$9500 for that is madness.
He could drop $2k off and it will still be sitting around waiting for the perfect person to discover it.

qbrozen

I imagine most of us have been through something similar to this.

A friend texted me yesterday to start discussing his next vehicle purchase. He’s looking for a three row SUV, and wants it to be certified, under 30,000 miles, and under $40,000. I start throwing out some suggestions, and he tells me he wants either an explorer or a Durango. He tells me he drove an explorer ST and really liked it.

I asked him if he is looking for a V8 Durango to compare it with. He says he doesn’t wanna deal with that gas mileage so the V6 would be OK. I explained that it won’t compare to the ST. He points out the ST had a four-cylinder. So now I am confused and I go to the website of the dealership he was at to find out it was actually an ST line, not a true ST so I explain that difference to him.

I then go on to find a certified grand Cherokee L and send that to him. He replies that he doesn’t trust Jeep… ummm… do you understand the Durango is the same thing? I’ll save you some time: if you don’t want the Jeep, then, by extension, you don’t want the Durango. So we are down to one choice.

I find him a couple of certified Explorers and send those along. Nope, he prefers the one he drove. So, that one is at a private dealer and therefore not certified. He asked me if certified is necessary. I point out that’s what he told me in the first message. so then he says, “well, This one still has some factory warranty so I think that’s OK.”

As you’ve guessed by now, in the end, after all of this back-and-forth, he simply wants to buy the one that he already drove and did not need Any input from me whatsoever. Sigh.

kyfdx

All that to find out you're buying a 4 cyl turbo..

corvette

Happens all the time. They've already made their mind up and just want validation.

Michaell

corvette said:

Happens all the time. They've already made their mind up and just want validation.

I'm batting .750 with my sisters family.

My BIL is very brand and image conscious, so the idea of him getting a loaded Camry hybrid wasn't going to fly with him - hence, the need to lease the BMW i5.

But, I found their XC40 that they now have, and two of my nephews followed my advice and found cars that suit them well - the Kia Forte GT-Line and the new (to him) Accord Hybrid Sport.

I still have one nephew who may need a new (or newer) car in the near future - here's hoping he listens to me, as well.

stickguy

I can’t function without my mouse.

au1994

Tahoe rental this week. Once again I am impressed how something so large drives a lot smaller. Super comfortable and powerful. I completely see how Chevy sells a ton and rarely, if ever, has to offer a lot of incentives or propped up residuals for lease deals.

breld

I've evolved over the years with my car purchase advice because of that situation happening over and over.

I'm happy to offer out advice and suggestions, but it tends to be more of a validation of what they are already looking at, 'cause that's what they really want. Even on pricing, if they're totally getting hosed, I may suggest they could do better, but more often than not, I'm more like, "if you like the car, that's the important thing."

Plus, I don't need to hear about someone being dissatisfied with a choice if it was my suggestion. That definitely applies to referring contractors and vendors to friends and family.

Sandman6472

I already got a new Logitech mouse so good to go. I also prefer a mouse honestly so just got one yesterday. Plan to keep the old machine and use it when we travel now that it's updated. Told my wife she could take it but she's waiting on her new Dell machine which is coming this afternoon. It's a business model as she needs it for her business. She wanted an HP like she's always had but the one she needed was out of stock...until last week after she had ordered her new Dell unit. But from talking with her colleagues, they all told her to go with Dell this time as she'll be much happier. Now, she'll need her IT guy to come over, set it up & move all her programs over from the old unit. Usually takes a goof 4 hours to get her up & running and I disappear for that time. I get the brunt of her frustration if things don't work, so best if I just go out util she's up & running. So glad my issues yesterday were resolved pretty quickly once we figured out my old Mac needed a software update to mitigate the transfer of data. Once that issue was fixed, it was quite easy to do and a couple hours later, running just like the old Mac, just quicker!
So, worth it to me to get a new mouse for my new MacBook Air. Office Depot had a bunch to choose from so got the mid version as it fit my needs at a decent price point. Don't need the top model or the bottom one for that matter. Like what I got.