Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous

stickguy

There are lots of things I can splurge 10 grand on. Some HP that I won’t use and that would probably scare my wife isn’t too if the list though!

Actually my son would want the car more than the money. He test drove one before he got his palisades and he admitted that the power actually scared him a little. And at the time he drove an S4 and thought the big engine was overkill.

benjaminh

stickguy said:

I don’t really need the 6, but this is a gorgeous color combo and nicely equipped.

https://www.bmwoflatham.com/used/BMW/2024-BMW-X3--ea58f7ccac180759d81d4769e257bd61.htm

That's a good color combination.

If I'm reading this right the BMW certified warranty only adds 1 year of powertrain warranty beyond the regular 4 year warranty.

https://www.bmwusa.com/certified-preowned.html

benjaminh

BMW does have extended warranty plans. To get the 7 year 60k plan on that X3 M40i costs $3600.

Since c. 2 years of warranty on that X3 are already gone, it's actually more like a 5 year warranty from date of cpo purchase.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

@nyccarguy said:
@stickguy - that's a really sharp looking rig. You'll NEVER regret getting the six, especially a BMW inline 6. The exterior color is very pretty. Most of these I see are either Black, White, Grey, or Blue. That interior is drop dead gorgeous! It is in Ridgefield, not too far away from me. There is a phenomenal BBQ joint not too far up the road (Hoo Doo Brown BBQ).

I would regret it when I had to hand the dealer an extra $10,000 check then feed it extra premium (though at our usage level that isn’t really a big deal)

Get a membership to Sam’s club, the cheapest premium by far, $.40 to $.90 cents cheaper than most other stations. Use your new car to haul 6 months of toilet paper home too.😄

stickguy

If I get a car that has to use premium will likely get it at Stewart’s since that is ethical free.

I am fine (actually prefer) a used X3 but would like to stick with a 2025 so the cpo would basically reset the warranty year. Just posted the red 2024 because I liked the colors!

28firefighter

@Michaell that sounds more like a nightmare (to me).

tifighter

@stickguy said:
If I get a car that has to use premium will likely get it at Stewart’s since that is ethical free.

If there’s one thing that will ruin an engine, it’s ethics.

stickguy

Yeah that was supposed to be ethanol.

Autocorrect hates me.

oldfarmer50

“ If I get a car that has to use premium will likely get it at Stewart’s since that is ethical free.”

Why, what did Sam’s club do that wasn’t ethical?

BTW, Stewart’s is usually the most expensive gas in any location.

kyfdx

Last time I looked for Ethanol free, it was about 45 minutes away, and the premium was 90 Octane. Weird.

explorerx4

I think ethanol adds octane.

roadburner

stickguy said:

There are lots of things I can splurge 10 grand on. Some HP that I won’t use and that would probably scare my wife isn’t too if the list though!

Actually my son would want the car more than the money. He test drove one before he got his palisades and he admitted that the power actually scared him a little. And at the time he drove an S4 and thought the big engine was overkill.

Again, my philosophy is -in most cases- to buy the model one down from the top. M40i instead of an X3M or a C43 over a C63. Two down from the top is a bridge much too slow.

Michaell

@28firefighter said:
@Michaell that sounds more like a nightmare (to me).

Yeah I was wondering what was up with that.

andres3

stickguy said:

There are lots of things I can splurge 10 grand on. Some HP that I won’t use and that would probably scare my wife isn’t too if the list though!

Actually my son would want the car more than the money. He test drove one before he got his palisades and he admitted that the power actually scared him a little. And at the time he drove an S4 and thought the big engine was overkill.

As a former S4 owner (but the better B8.5 > B9), I wouldn't go so far as to call the BMW X3 M40i overkill. I would say however, that the X3M is overkill.

andres3

The X3 M40i is a good sleeper vehicle. If you get into stoplight races, you might just catch people with their pants down.

xwesx

andres3 said:

The X3 M40i is a good sleeper vehicle. If you get into stoplight races, you might just catch people with their pants down.

Sounds awkward in multiple ways!

xwesx

@Michaell said:
I think Subaru calls it Mahogany

jmonroe1

@stickguy said:
Yeah that was supposed to be ethanol.

Autocorrect hates me.

————————————————
It sounds better the way it was posted.

jmonroe

jmonroe1

@explorerx4 said:
I think ethanol adds octane.

————————————————
I’ve heard that too. I can’t remember where I heard it but it’s like buying a cheap drunk. If too much is used, rubber like components can be harmed. I don’t think Shell higher octane gasoline uses ethanol. I saw that myself on a Shell pump awhile back in my area but I haven’t checked lately.

jmonroe

explorerx4

@jmonroe1,
Pretty much every pump has a sticker that reads "Contains up to 10% Ethanol".

jmonroe1

@explorerx4 said:
@jmonroe1,
Pretty much every pump has a sticker that reads "Contains up to 10% Ethanol".

————————————————
Not the Shell pump I saw awhile back. But I’ll have to check again.

jmonroe

stickguy

What model year was the X3 redesign? Did that happen with 2025 or 2026?

kyfdx

stickguy said:

What model year was the X3 redesign? Did that happen with 2025 or 2026?

2025

kyfdx

stickguy said:

What model year was the X3 redesign? Did that happen with 2025 or 2026?

Didn't start until almost November of 2024 for the new 2025 model

stickguy

Thanks. I need to go see them in person. From the listings I browsed they don’t look all that much different.

benjaminh

Since stickguy often enjoys getting into a new car after three years or so, just wondering if you've considered a lease instead of a purchase? But what about a Lexus instead of a BMW for long-term reliability even beyond the regular warranty, just in case you end up keeping it longer?

I wonder if given the low miles of the RDX if the trade-in is around 25k or so...

kyfdx

stickguy said:

Thanks. I need to go see them in person. From the listings I browsed they don’t look all that much different.

2025 and 2026 should be identical.

2024 would be the last model for the last generation

Michaell

kyfdx said:

stickguy said:

Thanks. I need to go see them in person. From the listings I browsed they don’t look all that much different.

2025 and 2026 should be identical.

2024 would be the last model for the last generation

And, if you were to see them side by side, they look quite different. And not in a good way.

tifighter

As the year closes, I realized that we did a full fleet flipover at Chez Tifighter for 2025.

Beginning of the year
--------------------------
Sienna
Model Y
Type R
Montero


End of the year
-----------------------
TX 550
NX 450
Boxster

I know better, but I'll say it for comedy's sake anyhow - I don't foresee any changes for 2026.

jmonroe1

@tifighter said:
As the year closes, I realized that we did a full fleet flipover at Chez Tifighter for 2025.

Beginning of the year

Sienna
Model Y
Type R
Montero

End of the year

TX 550
RX 450
Boxster

I know better, but I'll say it for comedy's sake anyhow - I don't foresee any changes for 2026.

————————————————
I’m sure you said that just to challenge yourself.

jmonroe

au1994

I'd like to see the list just for @breld and @28firefighter this year.

stickguy

When life finally calms down a little wife and I will visit the dealer and look at all the bmws at the same time. Lexus is fine I just don't remember what they even offer at this point. We would prefer to just buy the nice car and keep it long term but I have nothing against a killer lease deal. I actually might lease a different truck as part of the fleet makeover. Let it rot for 3 winters and give it back.

And that is about what Carvana keeps offering me for the RDX

xwesx

stickguy said:

When life finally calms down a little wife and I will visit the dealer and look at all the bmws at the same time. Lexus is fine I just don't remember what they even offer at this point. We would prefer to just buy the nice car and keep it long term but I have nothing against a killer lease deal. I actually might lease a different truck as part of the fleet makeover. Let it rot for 3 winters and give it back.

And that is about what Carvana keeps offering me for the RDX

You don't? @tifighter has been sharing most of the lineup in his "I bought a new car" posts....

tifighter

My dealer told me I need a LC. Bad dealer.

benjaminh

stickguy: you've mentioned that you don't think your spouse needs fast acceleration. Any chance she'd consider the Mazda CX-50 hybrid? Same size as a BMW X3 but about 20k less and higher mpg on regular gas. It's possible to lease a CX-50 hybrid for around $450 a month, compared to c. 750 a month for an X3. Savings might even allow you to lease or buy a sporty car of some kind. Just a thought.

https://www.mazdausa.com/shopping-tools/special-offers-and-incentives

In terms of Lexus SUVs there's the RX, which is the luxe RAV4, and then the TX, which is a luxe Highlander 3-row.

28firefighter

We started the year with:
Q5 TDI
WRX

Ending the year with:
Type R
Tacoma
Forester
Jeep

In between we had the:
GLI
911 C4S
BMW i5

tjc78

benjaminh said:

stickguy: you've mentioned that you don't think your spouse needs fast acceleration. Any chance she'd consider the Mazda CX-50 hybrid? Same size as a BMW X3 but about 20k less and higher mpg on regular gas. It's possible to lease a CX-50 hybrid for around $450 a month, compared to c. 750 a month for an X3. Savings might even allow you to lease or buy a sporty car of some kind. Just a thought.

https://www.mazdausa.com/shopping-tools/special-offers-and-incentives

In terms of Lexus SUVs there's the RX, which is the luxe RAV4, and then the TX, which is a luxe Highlander 3-row.

From what I understand unless things have shifted the NX is the RAV4 platform and the RX and TX is the Highlander platform.

My Mom has a CX-50 and it is a decent vehicle, but I don't see it replacing an RDX. The refinement is not there IMO.

tjc78

Having said all that above about the Lexus SUVs... at the end of the day nearly everything Camry and above that is FWD based in the Yota lineup is the same basic starting platform stretched as needed.

au1994

28firefighter said:

We started the year with:

Q5 TDI

WRX

Ending the year with:

Type R

Tacoma

Forester

Jeep

In between we had the:

GLI

911 C4S

BMW i5

Forgot about the WRX.

stickguy

Our daughter actually has a CX 50 hybrid. Nice car but we would not get one. Wife did like the cx5 we sat in but that was not the updated interior. Will check that out. Sadly for 2026 can only get it with the base engine that I do t think we want. But worth a look. The 5 is a bit more upscale than the 50.

explorerx4

@benjaminh,
I think the NX is based on the RAV4. RX used to be based on the Highlander.

laurasdada

tifighter said:

My dealer told me I need a LC. Bad dealer.

LC500 convertible has been on my radar for a while. Looks a bit awkward with the top up, but stunning when down. Of course, nowhere near as practical (!?) as the M240.

M240 does have a rattle somewhere in the passenger-side dash, only noticeable with the top up. I didn't buy an earlier 2 for just that reason, wonder if it's a known issue? Time for the google machine...

benjaminh

The Mazda CX-90 has an ok lease offer for a six-cylinder turbo vehicle of around $500 a month. According to one review I read the kinks of the first couple of years have been worked out, making the CX-90 a good value.

https://www.mazdausa.com/shopping-tools/special-offers-and-incentives

https://www.bmwusa.com/special-offers-new.html#/


This reviewer who is also an engineer likes the new Subaru Outback. Lease offer on it is around 500 a month as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo4hRmxqeDc&t=1632s

tjc78

explorerx4 said:

@benjaminh,
I think the NX is based on the RAV4. RX used to be based on the Highlander.

Our neighbor at the shore has an NX is steel grey color, good looking small SUV.

Michaell

tjc78 said:

explorerx4 said:

@benjaminh,
I think the NX is based on the RAV4. RX used to be based on the Highlander.

Our neighbor at the shore has an NX is steel grey color, good looking small SUV.

I’ve always liked the NX. Looked at them when my sister was shopping a few years ago. My neighbor across the street has one for his wife.

tjc78

Michaell said:

tjc78 said:

explorerx4 said:

@benjaminh,
I think the NX is based on the RAV4. RX used to be based on the Highlander.

Our neighbor at the shore has an NX is steel grey color, good looking small SUV.

I’ve always liked the NX. Looked at them when my sister was shopping a few years ago. My neighbor across the street has one for his wife.

It's funny... I have always liked Lexus and yet have never owned one. Twice I was pretty close on the ES but the larger Avalon just appealed to me more at that time for a similar price. The LS unfortunately was always out of budget.

benjaminh

Edmunds compares the Honda Passport and the Subaru Outback. Both have thick C-pillars that reduce visibility. Overall they like the Outback slightly better, but lots of strengths with both of them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDq4pkDAVJg

Michaell

benjaminh said:

Edmunds compares the Honda Passport and the Subaru Outback. Both have thick C-pillars that reduce visibility. Overall they like the Outback slightly better, but lots of strengths with both of them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDq4pkDAVJg

I think the biggest difference is in the engine - turbo 4-cyl for the Subaru, naturally aspirated V6 for the Honda.

stickguy

I like the 70/90 Mazda but don’t really want something that big.

I came close on an NX a while back. Got the TLX instead I think.

Will go look at the new outback out of curiosity.

stickguy

Also the Honda dealer remembered me. Called yesterday to say they have a prelude in the showroom to look at.