Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous

stickguy

My son found a fun weekend car for me at a local Ford dealer. A 2020 bmw Z4 M40. Only listed at $39,995. But he said they have had it for a while (a convertible in attic winter, who would have guessed that?) so might be willing to deal.

He must want me to spend his inheritance!

I told him that was out of budget for a toy to barely get used. Plus the 40 engine is overkill for us. We apparently also have different ideas about what overkill is.

stickguy

My latest plan is sell the Acura for a WRX. just pretty sure the wife would rather not have a choice between the truck and a manual. And I don’t want a CVT WRX. that seems wrong on every level. Maybe a new GTI. the DSG should be acceptable. Need to stop and check them out someday.

sda

Sadly, I read (not verified) that another sedan will bite the dust later this year. The Acura TLX.

explorerx4

Picture of the tailgate end.

corvette

Great color!

au1994

sda said:

Sadly, I read (not verified) that another sedan will bite the dust later this year. The Acura TLX.

Hate to hear that but they make what people buy.

cdnpinhead

And, in other news, people can't buy what isn't on display, as in manual transmissions. Go figure. Many people (present group excepted, as usual) only consider what's easily available. How many of the Honda/Acura dealers displayed and encouraged sedans?

Either way, it's looking like I'll be shopping used (as in old) vehicles if and when my TSX bites the dust before I do (the over/under is a possible thing to watch, or wager on). There's so very much about current vehicles that makes me want to go to the bathroom (or the parking lot) and heave.

But that's just me. YMMV

xwesx

explorerx4 said:

Picture of the tailgate end.

Snazzy! You have great taste in your pickup colors.

xwesx

As much as I would like to see sedans remain a viable part of the automotive landscape, I also have to admit that I've only ever purchased one sedan... and I spent $800 on it. And, it had a manual transmission.

stickguy

@cdnpinhead said:
And, in other news, people can't buy what isn't on display, as in manual transmissions. Go figure. Many people (present group excepted, as usual) only consider what's easily available. How many of the Honda/Acura dealers displayed and encouraged sedans?

Either way, it's looking like I'll be shopping used (as in old) vehicles if and when my TSX bites the dust before I do (the over/under is a possible thing to watch, or wager on). There's so very much about current vehicles that makes me want to go to the bathroom (or the parking lot) and heave.

But that's just me. YMMV

You can still get an Integra manual. And at least last year a civic sport with one. That should be a spiritual successor to the TLX. or a Jetta GLI if you don’t mind German. Those or a WRX should not be too much different than what you are used to. Just get one soon!

stickguy

I like Sedans. But it’s not some kind of cult thing to me. I actually love 5 doors (wagons or hatches) a lot more. So a small crossover with nice driving dynamics is not a big difference other than it’s easier to slide into !

jmonroe1

kyfdx said:

ab348 said:

Won in overtime. My country is overjoyed for a variety of reasons.

My comment was in reference to the AVs game that @Michaell and I attended in 2020.

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He knew that, just used it as an excuse to rub it in about the 4 Nations thingy.

jmonroe

jmonroe1

explorerx4 said:

Picture of the tailgate end.

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I’ve seen a lot of rear ends that look far better than that.

jmonroe

sda

stickguy said:

I like Sedans. But it’s not some kind of cult thing to me. I actually love 5 doors (wagons or hatches) a lot more. So a small crossover with nice driving dynamics is not a big difference other than it’s easier to slide into !

I really like the liftback aspect of the Arteon. It is the best of both worlds of a sedan and hatchback. The Integra needs rear ac vents to make it attractive to me. Otherwise I really like it. In manual form, ofcourse.

explorerx4

Maybe Jag's need better brakes. Check the Carfax.
https://www.hgreg.com/used-car/jaguar-f-pace-2017-for-sale-53545115?utm_medium=display&utm_source=criteo&utm_campaign=lf_similar&utm_strategy=acquisition-non-coop&utm_vehicle=used&utm_id=336320&cto_pld=EnOj2NFxAADlJW0C3SicDg

laurasdada

Looking forward to some topless motoring in the M240...
I've driven it during the winter, it's pretty tight.

jmonroe1

explorerx4 said:

Maybe Jag's need better brakes. Check the Carfax.
https://www.hgreg.com/used-car/jaguar-f-pace-2017-for-sale-53545115?utm_medium=display&utm_source=criteo&utm_campaign=lf_similar&utm_strategy=acquisition-non-coop&utm_vehicle=used&utm_id=336320&cto_pld=EnOj2NFxAADlJW0C3SicDg

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Even if they are Brembo the drivers have to be better.

jmonroe

roadburner

cdnpinhead said:

And, in other news, people can't buy what isn't on display, as in manual transmissions. Go figure. Many people (present group excepted, as usual) only consider what's easily available. How many of the Honda/Acura dealers displayed and encouraged sedans?

Either way, it's looking like I'll be shopping used (as in old) vehicles if and when my TSX bites the dust before I do (the over/under is a possible thing to watch, or wager on). There's so very much about current vehicles that makes me want to go to the bathroom (or the parking lot) and heave.

But that's just me. YMMV

I will try to drive a coupes, sedans or wagons for my enthusiast cars as long as possible. I'll only take a CUV if there is absolutely no other alternative.

qbrozen

@laurasdada said:
Looking forward to some topless motoring in the M240...

So, just you? Or will your passenger also be topless?

Sandman6472

Drove a brand new Range Rover yesterday, had 8 miles on it. Not a fan to be honest...a bit complicated to work the HVAC system. Got the a/c working but couldn't figure out how to re-circulate the inside air. There are no physical buttons , only using ones fingers and had no time to learn things. Luckily the Apple Car Play worked the minute I attached the USB-C cable, thank goodness. Listening to my music is one of the best parts of driving all these vehicles around.

Comfy seats though but just too fancy for me. At the end of the day, still want physical knobs and buttons to work things, too distracting to have to use one's fingers on the touch screen! And could be a real safety hazard if one isn't paying attention.

Stopped on the way home to get a USB-C to aux charging port adapter for my iPhone. There's one lady who works the weekend shift with me that basically can not shut her mouth for even 2 minutes! It's very annoying so decided to get this device so I can just shut her out when it gets too loud. Another lady joined the crew last weekend and between the both of them screaming like magpies, went home with a headache both days! Figured Five Below might have what I was looking for as we no longer have Amazon Prime after the free month ended on the 19th. Luckily they had the adapter I was looking for so all is good.

stickguy

PSA to be careful with cheap knock off cables and chargers. Some can damage your phone.

nyccarguy

Sandman6472 said:

Drove a brand new Range Rover yesterday, had 8 miles on it. Not a fan to be honest...a bit complicated to work the HVAC system. Got the a/c working but couldn't figure out how to re-circulate the inside air. There are no physical buttons , only using ones fingers and had no time to learn things. Luckily the Apple Car Play worked the minute I attached the USB-C cable, thank goodness. Listening to my music is one of the best parts of driving all these vehicles around.

Comfy seats though but just too fancy for me. At the end of the day, still want physical knobs and buttons to work things, too distracting to have to use one's fingers on the touch screen! And could be a real safety hazard if one isn't paying attention.

Stopped on the way home to get a USB-C to aux charging port adapter for my iPhone. There's one lady who works the weekend shift with me that basically can not shut her mouth for even 2 minutes! It's very annoying so decided to get this device so I can just shut her out when it gets too loud. Another lady joined the crew last weekend and between the both of them screaming like magpies, went home with a headache both days! Figured Five Below might have what I was looking for as we no longer have Amazon Prime after the free month ended on the 19th. Luckily they had the adapter I was looking for so all is good.

Good thing you don't like the Range Rover. It doesn't meet your side of the garage size requirements. Now if Mrs Sandman is looking to get out of her Kona and into a Range Rover...

All kidding aside. Have you driven a current generation Sentra at your job? I'm curious about your thoughts.

nyccarguy

I’m going to see if my son’s goalie equipment fits in the trunk of the Sentra after work today.

oldfarmer50

Sandman6472 said:

Drove a brand new Range Rover yesterday, had 8 miles on it. Not a fan to be honest...a bit complicated to work the HVAC system. Got the a/c working but couldn't figure out how to re-circulate the inside air. There are no physical buttons , only using ones fingers and had no time to learn things. Luckily the Apple Car Play worked the minute I attached the USB-C cable, thank goodness. Listening to my music is one of the best parts of driving all these vehicles around.

Comfy seats though but just too fancy for me. At the end of the day, still want physical knobs and buttons to work things, too distracting to have to use one's fingers on the touch screen! And could be a real safety hazard if one isn't paying attention.

Stopped on the way home to get a USB-C to aux charging port adapter for my iPhone. There's one lady who works the weekend shift with me that basically can not shut her mouth for even 2 minutes! It's very annoying so decided to get this device so I can just shut her out when it gets too loud. Another lady joined the crew last weekend and between the both of them screaming like magpies, went home with a headache both days! Figured Five Below might have what I was looking for as we no longer have Amazon Prime after the free month ended on the 19th. Luckily they had the adapter I was looking for so all is good.

We have a few chatterboxes in our organization too but the real annoying ones tend to get sent on solo runs quite often. Personally, I can tolerate almost any personality but some characters seem to generate a large number of “I don’t want to work with that guy” requests.

The women drivers are generally good people who get along well with the guys but there are exceptions.😂

nyccarguy

5 sedans (Protege, TSX, 328xi, Legacy, Q40)
3 Coupes (Beretta, 325i, Prelude)
1 Hatchback (9-3)
5 SUVs (2 Door Explorer, '11 Pilot, '17 Pilot, Highlander, Wrangler 4Xe)
2 Pickup Trucks ('19 Tacoma, '23 Tacoma)

stickguy

Bradd, don't you worry about some of that gear blowing out of the bed without a cover?

stickguy

I'm lucky I can remember all the cars now without pulling out a spreadsheet. But off top of my head, 4 door sedans were a Mazda 323, Accord, Volvo S40, my son's contour and TL, a Mystique, a TLX, Elantra sport, Maxima, and a Sonata. So 10, more than I thought. Though the Contour I never used myself and we did not have too long.

kyfdx

Just thinking of my daily driver..

The only 4-door sedan I've ever had was a two year lease on an '08 Impreza. Even my first car, '70 Galaxie, was a coupe.

Plenty of them for my wife, but not for me.

stickguy

I was married before I got my first 4 door. once we had kids the family car (usually the "good" car) was never a sedan.

laurasdada

qbrozen said:

@laurasdada said:

Looking forward to some topless motoring in the M240...

So, just you? Or will your passenger also be topless?

All who enter shall share the topless experience.
Wear sunscreen.

nyccarguy

stickguy said:

Bradd, don't you worry about some of that gear blowing out of the bed without a cover?

It doesn't move.

oldfarmer50

Whenever I think I made a poor car buying choice I watch this guy.

https://youtu.be/TFmdPqFts38?si=J1WG69MEtns1K_JR

Any guesses on what baby daddy did for a living?

jmonroe1

oldfarmer50 said:

Whenever I think I made a poor car buying choice I watch this guy.

https://youtu.be/TFmdPqFts38?si=J1WG69MEtns1K_JR

Any guesses on what baby daddy did for a living?

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One more made for the internet movie I don’t believe.

jmonroe

roadburner

stickguy said:

PSA to be careful with cheap knock off cables and chargers. Some can damage your phone.

I only use Anker or Monoprice phone cables. I kept one at BMW when I worked there to isolate problems with phone charging or other issues.

nyccarguy

Ok. I know I'm all over the map and have most likely been hanging around @stickguy too long. Certain 2020-2021 Civic LX & 2019-2022 HRV LX True Certified Honda models have asking prices in the high teens. Obviously 1 is a FWD sedan and the other is an AWD CUV. The HRV is powered by a 1.8L 4cyl and the Civic a 2.0 4cyl. Both powered by CVT transmissions.

Here is a 2020 Civic LX with 55K miles. Dealer Serviced. Looks like it has new pads, rotors, & trans fluid.

Here is a 2022 HRV LX with only 32K miles.

roadburner

6 Sedans: Bavaria, 535is, 744T, 528i, 328i, C43
5 Coupes: Monte Carlo, Skylark T-Type, M6, 2002, M235i
5 Hatchbacks: Arrow GT 2.6, Scorpio, 318ti (x2), Mazdaspeed 3
5 SUVs: Bronco, Wrangler TJ, X3, X1, Wrangler JLU 4xe

oldfarmer50

nyccarguy said:

Ok. I know I'm all over the map and have most likely been hanging around @stickguy too long. Certain 2020-2021 Civic LX & 2019-2022 HRV LX True Certified Honda models have asking prices in the high teens. Obviously 1 is a FWD sedan and the other is an AWD CUV. The HRV is powered by a 1.8L 4cyl and the Civic a 2.0 4cyl. Both powered by CVT transmissions.

Here is a 2020 Civic LX with 55K miles. Dealer Serviced. Looks like it has new pads, rotors, & trans fluid.

Here is a 2022 HRV LX with only 32K miles.

I always felt that there was something just not right with leasing a used car but that’s just me. How do those lease rates compare with the new Sentra lease? Putting $3k+ down would turn me off.

I would be less concerned with Honda CVTs than Nissan but even a Nissan should make it through the lease period.

breld

Speaking of sedans, here’s the G70 that was delivered to us as the loaner while the GV60 went in for routine maintenance. With some snow that came in Friday, the Genesis dealer isn’t coming by to swap out vehicles until Monday.

breld

The G70 is a 3.3T Sport, so I was actually intrigued to give it a try.

It’s…competent. More comfy than sporty, which isn’t a bad thing depending on what you’re after. I’d take even a 4 cylinder 3-series over it.

It feels like an old car that has been made to look pretty and more modern than it really is. Which, is mostly true.

What’s funny to me is that I’m in the Phoenix area this weekend for some college baseball games, and I have a Camry rental. 2025 LE model, so pretty basic, but I guess they all have the hybrid powertrain now. I’m more impressed with this Camry than I was with the G70. Not that the Toyota is objectively a better car (maybe it is), but it surprised me on how nice it drives. I haven’t driven a Toyota hybrid in quite awhile, and it seems they’ve come a long way.

The Camry delivers on its comfy, family-sedan, mission much better than the G70 does as an attempt at a sport sedan.

nyccarguy

@oldfarmer50 said:
I always felt that there was something just not right with leasing a used car but that’s just me. How do those lease rates compare with the new Sentra lease? Putting $3k+ down would turn me off.

I would be less concerned with Honda CVTs than Nissan but even a Nissan should make it through the lease period.

I wouldn’t lease a used Honda. The payment to buy it is reasonable with low-ish interest for 48 months. Then I look and say to myself, do I really want to finance a 2020 car which is already 5 years old for another 4 years? The answer is no.

I think the Nissan CVT will last the life of the lease as well.

nyccarguy

So the goalie gear does fit. The bag and pads fit in the trunk and the sticks go in the back seat.

oldfarmer50

nyccarguy said:

So the goalie gear does fit. The bag and pads fit in the trunk and the sticks go in the back seat.

Does the Sentra have a fold down rear seat? Both my Ford and Kia have that for extra room but I never thought to look to see if the Sentras at work were so equipped.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

I was married before I got my first 4 door. once we had kids the family car (usually the "good" car) was never a sedan.

My first car was a two door (69 Plymouth) but i didn’t get another until 2008.

nyccarguy

@oldfarmer50 - yes it does have a split folding rear seat!

Michaell

@nyccarguy - is it too late to have him switch to another position?

laurasdada

Just for me, no family members:

7 Sedans: Olds 88/Mercury Sable/Dodge Intrepid, all (boring, maybe the Intrepid less so) company cars. My dime: Chrysler 300M, Acura TL, Jaguar XF, Audi A7 PHEV
1 Coupe: Jaguar XK (or is that a hatchback? Jag called it a Coupe)
1 Convertible: BMW M240
3 Hatchbacks: VW Scirocco, Mitsu Mirage Turbo, Acura Integra

My lifetime = a breld/qbrozen slow year.

stickguy

for hockey sticks you really need one of those ski pass through hatches in the middle seat so you don't have to fold the whole seat down.

I would not worry about the Nissan CVT at all on a lease. Even longer than that, if you are willing to do some routine maintenance and change the CVT filter and fluid every 30-50K or whatever makes sense age wise. I saw that done on the internet and it really did not look to be a big project. Not much more complicated than an oil change.

stickguy

nyccarguy said:

Ok. I know I'm all over the map and have most likely been hanging around @stickguy too long. Certain 2020-2021 Civic LX & 2019-2022 HRV LX True Certified Honda models have asking prices in the high teens. Obviously 1 is a FWD sedan and the other is an AWD CUV. The HRV is powered by a 1.8L 4cyl and the Civic a 2.0 4cyl. Both powered by CVT transmissions.

Here is a 2020 Civic LX with 55K miles. Dealer Serviced. Looks like it has new pads, rotors, & trans fluid.

Here is a 2022 HRV LX with only 32K miles.

I like to think of it as being smart and doing due diligence. And not having problems making decisions.

Used Hondas always seemed to me to be bad buys. At least in the old days prices stayed up so much it made more sense to just buy a new one instead of slightly used.

How many years do you need this for to get through the 3 kids? will you be able to get away with 1 spare car for the kids or is there going to need to be overlap at some point?

28firefighter

And so you came home with it, @nyccarguy ?

Sandman6472

The new Nissan Sentra. For your purposes, couldn't think of a better vehicle. It's a perfect vehicle for new drivers and they've done wonders with the CVT transmission. I remember the 1st generation of CVT tranny's in my oldest's 2008 Versa hatchback and it was truly awful! The newer Nissan CVT's are not as perfected as those from Toyota or Honda, but doubt your kids would even notice. Interior isn't the worst I've seen and like I said, for your family's purposes, almost perfect. A 3 year lease would be just right and with Nissan struggling like they seem to be, betting there are deals to be had. I watch "CarEdge" videos on YouTube daily and the father and son duo have started to educate me on the current status of the auto industry. And with Nissan's current backlog of unsold vehicles, this might be the right time to strike a killer lease deal while putting the kids in a brand new vehicle with no issues to worry about. To me, the peace of mind would let me sleep at night.

You can also ask OF and think he'll agree with my assessment of leasing a new Sentra for the kids to drive. Won't break the bank, definitely reliable & no long term commitment. And trust me, the kids will be happy driving a brand new vehicle at such a young age. My folks, who could've gotten each of us new cars without even thinking about the costs, didn't go that route. They always put themselves first, even before us kids for some reason I never understood. Instead, I ended up in my deceased grandpa's 1967 Olds Cutlass Supreme 4-door when he passed in the beginning of my senior year of high school. My folks bought it for them. I was happy to have it though.