Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous

kyfdx

Do they not have an LX, any longer? The LX was always the LC clone, previously

Michaell

There is a 2025 LX600 an an LX700h.

breld

Someone else can surely provide a better history and explanation, but the "old" Land Cruiser and Lexus LX were a more luxurious, albeit capable, platform, whereas the new Land Cruiser and GX are on a platform based on the Land Cruiser "Prado", a cheaper Land Cruiser offered overseas. That platform is shared with the new 4Runner, Tacoma, Tundra and Sequoia.

Technically, the previous Lexus GX was on the Prado platform as well, closely related to the previous 4Runner.

explorerx4

@tjc78,
My concern with that Buick is, as you noted, the low quality pictures.
It's almost like someone with a cell phone took pictures of a random car they came upon.
And it's unlocked, so I'll take a quick interior pic, too.

28firefighter

Some of you will recall that my WRX has the STI Muffler option - Subaru uses the stock exhaust for the most part right up until the last mile mufflers where they swap these on. I'm sure you won't be surprised to hear that Subaru also has basically no sound deadening in the trunk. My wife expressed some concern that the backseat particularly is very loud with the STI Mufflers - I don't think it's that loud, but my opinion matters little in this case.

Decided to pull everything out of the trunk on the floor - rubber mat, carpet, and the foam inserts that hold the tire inflation kit. I ordered a bunch of KilMat sound insulation on sale from Amazon and lined the entire trunk tub and floor sides over the exhaust with it. Didn't bother with pulling out the side liners yet because I wanted to prove out if that was worth the added hassle. I'd say it reduced the cabin drone by about 30% or so - which isn't bad for an hour of my time.

I think if I pull the liners on the sides and put a bit more in, it'll really help but that'll be for another day.

corvette

The rule of thumb with aftermarket sound deadening used to be to try to deaden 1/3 of the panel. That may vary depending upon the material you're using, but I suspect there are diminishing returns trying to cover everything or add multiple layers. I plan to add some to the Maverick when I replace the speakers.

roadburner

A while back I mentioned that an acquaintance has a gorgeous 2023 Quadrifoglio that has been completely trouble free. Another friend has a Maserati Levante that has also been very reliable. I have to admit that I thought about finding a CPO 2023 Quadrifoglio more than once . Well, scratch going Italian; within the last week Bluegrass Motorsports (the Louisville dealer) dropped both brands. Bluegrass is now solely a Porsche, Audi, Jaguar and Land Rover dealer.
Jaguar will likely get axed next as I don’t think that their strategy of selling ugly $125,000 EVs will end well.

nyccarguy

roadburner said:

A while back I mentioned that an acquaintance has a gorgeous 2023 Quadrifoglio that has been completely trouble free. Another friend has a Maserati Levante that has also been very reliable. I have to admit that I thought about finding a CPO 2023 Quadrifoglio more than once . Well, scratch going Italian; within the last week Bluegrass Motorsports (the Louisville dealer) dropped both brands. Bluegrass is now solely a Porsche, Audi, Jaguar and Land Rover dealer.

Jaguar will likely get axed next as I don’t think that their strategy of selling ugly $125,000 EVs will end well.

Between @breld & @kyfdx the trend on the board here is to go for a Porsche. You won't be disappointed:)-

kyfdx

It’s a better investment than the stock market! 🙄

roadburner

@nyccarguy said:
Between @breld & @kyfdx the trend on the board here is to go for a Porsche. You won't be disappointed:)-

Perhaps someday. I still love the C43 and the Club Sport isn’t going anywhere. I currently have an empty slot in the detached garage but my next step is to get the S3 ready to sell and then find a nice dual sport.

28firefighter

corvette said:

The rule of thumb with aftermarket sound deadening used to be to try to deaden 1/3 of the panel. That may vary depending upon the material you're using, but I suspect there are diminishing returns trying to cover everything or add multiple layers. I plan to add some to the Maverick when I replace the speakers.

Good call out. I don't have anything on the side panels right now and I think that's where a lot of the resonance is coming from - it's basically 3-4" of open air space between the side panel of the car, above each exhaust, and the liner. Same went for the area in the tub - about 3-4" of dead open space between the foam insert and the tub.

tjc78

@explorerx4 said:
@tjc78,
My concern with that Buick is, as you noted, the low quality pictures.
It's almost like someone with a cell phone took pictures of a random car they came upon.
And it's unlocked, so I'll take a quick interior pic, too.
@explorerx4 said:
@tjc78,
My concern with that Buick is, as you noted, the low quality pictures.
It's almost like someone with a cell phone took pictures of a random car they came upon.
And it's unlocked, so I'll take a quick interior pic, too.

It’s close to me so running over to check it out wouldn’t be a hassle.

qbrozen

So I finally got a “quote” from that one dealer where I clicked the “get special price” button or whatever it said. This was an HGreg dealer in FL. Maybe some of you know of them. Anyway, the special price was the already advertised price of 16198 plus $1995 “HGreg difference” (that’s a funny thing to call random markup), $795 Inspection, $1299 pre delivery service fee (apparently the HGreg difference doesn’t include service), and $899 electronic reg filing fee. With tax and tags, the total is $23,048.

That’s the most insane set of fees I have ever seen. I kept it professional and simply replied I was a buyer at $17k OTD, so we are obviously too far apart and good luck with the sale.

28firefighter

I don't think I'd enjoy the sub 5k buying experience at this point. Too leary of who is behind it.

stickguy

I just know in my bones I would get Barney Fifed

kyfdx

I would never shop a Florida dealer.

stickguy

@kyfdx said:
I would never shop a Florida dealer.

Same from the horror stories I have heard. NY is actually pretty good since they still cap doc fees I think.

ab348

28firefighter said:

Decided to pull everything out of the drunk on the floor - rubber mat, carpet, and the foam inserts that hold the tire inflation kit.

Good idea removing the drunk that was on the floor of the trunk. When they sobered up and got out you'd have to do that work all over again.

jmonroe1

kyfdx said:

It’s a better investment than the stock market! 🙄

————————————————
I guess that’s why you bought 2. The next time you’re out get me a half dozen and charge it to my Edmund’s account.

jmonroe

jmonroe1

kyfdx said:

I would never shop a Florida dealer.

————————————————
Seems to still be the same snake pit we’ve all heard about for years.

jmonroe

nyccarguy

28firefighter said:

I don't think I'd enjoy the sub 5k buying experience at this point. Too leary of who is behind it.

It is scary. There are just too many variables and things that can go wrong and be covered up. My biggest fear is that one or many codes get cleared or a transmission failure due to lack of changing transmission fluid. I don't want to buy a sub $5K car and have to put $3K into it to get it running and make it right.

stickguy

It’s nice to be in a position of not actually needing one now. I feel bad for people that have to have a car they can depend on but have that tight of a budget. Not as big an issue for a spare car to being used to keep miles off the fancy ones.

xwesx

Yeah, ignorant people cause all sorts of problems. You can't have your cake and eat it, too, so either you pay up front or you pay down the road. If the most important thing is having a machine that can move you from place to place quickly, and you don't want to spend a lot to have it in the driveway, then you better be willing and able to put the work into making sure it delivers! Or, spend a lot to get it and let future maintenance be someone else's concern.

The folks that buy cheap cars, don't want to put anything into it, and want it reliable are far more likely to spend quite a bit just moving from car to car sucking the last bit of life out of them like a locust on grass.

explorerx4

There are some clapped out Chrysler minivans delivering packages in my neighborhood.
Those must be cheap.
I posted this this one that lost a wheel a while back.

jmonroe1

explorerx4 said:

There are some clapped out Chrysler minivans delivering packages in my neighborhood.
Those must be cheap.
I posted this this one that lost a wheel a while back.

————————————————
It would be interesting to know if that was a hub problem or lug nuts that weren’t tightened properly after a safety inspection or a flat tire/tire rotation.

jmonroe

sda

Some years ago visiting the corporate office in St Louis, I noticed a lot of Chrysler minivans doing Taxi service. I asked one driver about that. He said they loved them. They did the job well, were comfortable and were cheap to repair.

oldfarmer50

tjc78 said:

IDK guys - I think the $1000 driver is more like $2500-$3000 today based on what I’m seeing

Here is the Park Avenue. It’s the standard 3800 and has cold AC.

Terrible pics but it doesn’t look all that bad for $2450.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1FfmpDad7E/?mibextid=wwXIfr

If it checks out mechanically and isn’t rusted out I’d say grab it. The only thing that can go wrong with the 3800 are intake manifold gaskets. I’m surprised it’s still available.

oldfarmer50

I keep telling you guys…buy the dip.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

I just know in my bones I would get Barney Fifed

jmonroe1

oldfarmer50 said:

stickguy said:

I just know in my bones I would get Barney Fifed

————————————————
I think you could get more folks in the front seat if the steering wheel was a teensy bit smaller.

jmonroe

tjc78

Another thing I am finding is there are lots of curbstoners .. you check their marketplace profile and you can tell they sell a lot of cars.

nyccarguy

@stickguy said:
It’s nice to be in a position of not actually needing one now. I feel bad for people that have to have a car they can depend on but have that tight of a budget. Not as big an issue for a spare car to being used to keep miles off the fancy ones.

I also feel like there is a difference if you are using the car to run errands around town, a station car, or if you need to jump on the highway every day to get to work or school.

Now this could happen to anybody, but a young woman in Florida (early 20s) had an older Jeep that broke down very late at night (early AM). The police came and helped her get to the side of the road. She was in the Jeep, unbuckled for a short time when BAM! A drunk driver in (an Altima I believe) hit her going over 100 mph. She didn’t make it. The guy was so drunk he didn’t even realize he hit another car.

corvette

oldfarmer50 said:

If it checks out mechanically and isn’t rusted out I’d say grab it. The only thing that can go wrong with the 3800 are intake manifold gaskets. I’m surprised it’s still available.

I remember Car Wizard mentioning something about the coolant elbows, as well. I think the plastic ones crack, but you can get aftermarket ones that are metal. On a car that old, surely it's failed and been repaired by now? Then again, my Gen2 Prius had its original water pump belt at 200k+ miles and ~15 years, and it was super crunchy, but still going.

Michaell

Member needs help evaluating a used car

tifighter

@roadburner said:
. Well, scratch going Italian; within the last week Bluegrass Motorsports (the Louisville dealer) dropped both brands. Bluegrass is now solely a Porsche, Audi, Jaguar and Land Rover dealer.
Jaguar will likely get axed next as I don’t think that their strategy of selling ugly $125,000 EVs will end well.

Better make sure on the Jaguar part too…

nyccarguy

Ok Volvo fans. (Say it in your Seinfeld voice) What’s the deal with this 2016 Volvo S60 T5 Inscription?

https://www.volvocarswhiteplains.com/used/Volvo/2016-Volvo-S60+Inscription-elmsford-ny-b040a33eac1825ad0f20837cbf02ed36.htm

corvette

The T5 doesn’t have any enthusiast appeal and people tend to overlook Volvo as a brand, anymore. It could work well for your purposes, though!

qbrozen

@nyccarguy said:
Ok Volvo fans. (Say it in your Seinfeld voice) What’s the deal with this 2016 Volvo S60 T5 Inscription?

https://www.volvocarswhiteplains.com/used/Volvo/2016-Volvo-S60+Inscription-elmsford-ny-b040a33eac1825ad0f20837cbf02ed36.htm

MMR is in the low-mid 7000 range, so the markup is appropriate but with room to negotiate.

nyccarguy

@qbrozen said:

@nyccarguy said:
Ok Volvo fans. (Say it in your Seinfeld voice) What’s the deal with this 2016 Volvo S60 T5 Inscription?

https://www.volvocarswhiteplains.com/used/Volvo/2016-Volvo-S60+Inscription-elmsford-ny-b040a33eac1825ad0f20837cbf02ed36.htm

MMR is in the low-mid 7000 range, so the markup is appropriate but with room to negotiate.

Thanks! What do you think of the engine/transmission/platform in general?

Looks like they did the following (according to the CarFax) before they put it on their lot at the end of January:

Brake fluid flushed/changed
Cabin air filter replaced/cleaned
Computer reprogrammed
Four wheel alignment performed
Front brake pads replaced
Front brake rotor(s) replaced
Emissions or safety inspection performed
Oil and filter changed
Rear brake caliper(s) replaced
Rear brake pads replaced
Rear brake rotor(s) replaced
Tire(s) balanced
Tire(s) mounted
Two tires balanced
Two tires mounted
Wiper(s) replaced

I didn’t see the following in the carfax:

Transmission Fluid Flush (or drain/fill) or a Coolant Flush.

sb55

When my daughter got married in 2020, she had a 2014 Kia Soul. She bought it in 2017 with maybe 80K miles. 3 years ago, my not into cars son in law was driving it and it was making a racket and it died on the side of the road with around 140K miles on it. A good Samaritan stopped and found no oil on the dipstick! He put oil in it and got it going. Anyway, now 3 years and 2 kids later, they need a new car because it eats spark plugs and burns oil, when it runs! I wonder why???
Their parameter is a 3 row SUV, less than 60K miles, around $30,000.00 and about 50 miles from Albany. My daughter asked me to look for her, so I sent her listings for a CPO 2023 Mazda CX9, CPO 2022 Hyundai Palisade, 2021 CPO Kia Telluride, 2020 non CPO Highlander, non 2021 CPO Pilot with 85K miles all.
I'll leave the final decision to them, but now they really need something fast.

nyccarguy

@sb55 said:
When my daughter got married in 2020, she had a 2014 Kia Soul. She bought it in 2017 with maybe 80K miles. 3 years ago, my not into cars son in law was driving it and it was making a racket and it died on the side of the road with around 140K miles on it. A good Samaritan stopped and found no oil on the dipstick! He put oil in it and got it going. Anyway, now 3 years and 2 kids later, they need a new car because it eats spark plugs and burns oil, when it runs! I wonder why???
Their parameter is a 3 row SUV, less than 60K miles, around $30,000.00 and about 50 miles from Albany. My daughter asked me to look for her, so I sent her listings for a CPO 2023 Mazda CX9, CPO 2022 Hyundai Palisade, 2021 CPO Kia Telluride, 2021 non CPO Highlander, non 2021 CPO Pilot with 85K miles all.
I'll leave the final decision to them, but now they really need something fast.

I’m not sure what the pricing looks like, but our 2022 Highlander is a phenomenal vehicle. Last year of the Toyota V6. Find one with a bench seat and it will be well worth it. With 2 kids and the occasional need to use the 3rd row, a Highlander would be ideal. I think my ‘22 is better than a ‘21. ‘21 might have had some transmission issues.

sb55

nyccarguy said:

@sb55 said:

When my daughter got married in 2020, she had a 2014 Kia Soul. She bought it in 2017 with maybe 80K miles. 3 years ago, my not into cars son in law was driving it and it was making a racket and it died on the side of the road with around 140K miles on it. A good Samaritan stopped and found no oil on the dipstick! He put oil in it and got it going. Anyway, now 3 years and 2 kids later, they need a new car because it eats spark plugs and burns oil, when it runs! I wonder why???

Their parameter is a 3 row SUV, less than 60K miles, around $30,000.00 and about 50 miles from Albany. My daughter asked me to look for her, so I sent her listings for a CPO 2023 Mazda CX9, CPO 2022 Hyundai Palisade, 2021 CPO Kia Telluride, 2021 non CPO Highlander, non 2021 CPO Pilot with 85K miles all.

I'll leave the final decision to them, but now they really need something fast.

I’m not sure what the pricing looks like, but our 2022 Highlander is a phenomenal vehicle. Last year of the Toyota V6. Find one with a bench seat and it will be well worth it. With 2 kids and the occasional need to use the 3rd row, a Highlander would be ideal. I think my ‘22 is better than a ‘21. ‘21 might have had some transmission issues.

Edit. I just looked again and the Highlander in their range is 2020 (not 2021)

kyfdx

sb55 said:

nyccarguy said:

@sb55 said:

When my daughter got married in 2020, she had a 2014 Kia Soul. She bought it in 2017 with maybe 80K miles. 3 years ago, my not into cars son in law was driving it and it was making a racket and it died on the side of the road with around 140K miles on it. A good Samaritan stopped and found no oil on the dipstick! He put oil in it and got it going. Anyway, now 3 years and 2 kids later, they need a new car because it eats spark plugs and burns oil, when it runs! I wonder why???

Their parameter is a 3 row SUV, less than 60K miles, around $30,000.00 and about 50 miles from Albany. My daughter asked me to look for her, so I sent her listings for a CPO 2023 Mazda CX9, CPO 2022 Hyundai Palisade, 2021 CPO Kia Telluride, 2021 non CPO Highlander, non 2021 CPO Pilot with 85K miles all.

I'll leave the final decision to them, but now they really need something fast.

I’m not sure what the pricing looks like, but our 2022 Highlander is a phenomenal vehicle. Last year of the Toyota V6. Find one with a bench seat and it will be well worth it. With 2 kids and the occasional need to use the 3rd row, a Highlander would be ideal. I think my ‘22 is better than a ‘21. ‘21 might have had some transmission issues.

Edit. I just looked again and the Highlander in their range is 2020 (not 2021)

$40K is the new $30K...

stickguy

At that price for age and miles maybe stretch out payments a couple years and get something new instead?

They must be in my area, but family hauler SUVs are one of the few things not on my radar. But my son loves his telluride.

oldfarmer50

tjc78 said:

Another thing I am finding is there are lots of curbstoners .. you check their marketplace profile and you can tell they sell a lot of cars.

What I would do when I suspected a curbstoner is do a search on the phone number. Usually a bunch of listings and sometimes a business would pop up. Saved me from wasting a lot of time.

stickguy

@nyccarguy said:
Ok Volvo fans. (Say it in your Seinfeld voice) What’s the deal with this 2016 Volvo S60 T5 Inscription?

https://www.volvocarswhiteplains.com/used/Volvo/2016-Volvo-S60+Inscription-elmsford-ny-b040a33eac1825ad0f20837cbf02ed36.htm

I like it. Great color and that one is loaded. Even has AWD which is not really needed. I think that drivetrain is pretty bulletproof. It was the early 2.0l engines that had issues. And they did just do a lot of expensive maintenance items. Heck if I needed a replacement now and winter beater I would not mind that!

au1994

The Volvo is nice. That body style has aged well.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

@nyccarguy said:

Ok Volvo fans. (Say it in your Seinfeld voice) What’s the deal with this 2016 Volvo S60 T5 Inscription?

https://www.volvocarswhiteplains.com/used/Volvo/2016-Volvo-S60+Inscription-elmsford-ny-b040a33eac1825ad0f20837cbf02ed36.htm

I like it. Great color and that one is loaded. Even has AWD which is not really needed. I think that drivetrain is pretty bulletproof. It was the early 2.0l engines that had issues. And they did just do a lot of expensive maintenance items. Heck if I needed a replacement now and winter beater I would not mind that!

That actually looks nice.

Michaell

Inscription is the top level trim, as well. Should be pretty well loaded.

explorerx4

My next door neighbor in CT has a Volvo S60 that looks like that but I'm not sure what year it is.
He had his engine replaced under factory campaign.
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2023/MC-10231933-9999.pdf