Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous

jmonroe1

qbrozen said:

Panamera is out.
Salesman started texting me this morning and I wasn't getting a good vibe. He sent a video but only did one sweep of the outside and made sure to say "I want to stress this is as-is." Well, yeah, it is a 2011, so I had no doubt, but to stress it gave me pause. Like... you have a reason you are saying that. So I started asking questions. He wrote something like he was on a test drive with a customer yesterday in it and it drove really well. So I asked why the person didn't buy it. He then comes back with "well, like I said, it is as-is, and the AC on the driver's side is blowing warm. But it might just need a recharge." Sooooo... thanks for that, I'm going to pass. I didn't want to bog him down with details, but if it blows warm on just one side, that's not a recharge situation, not that I would ever assume that is the case. I always assume nonworking AC is going to cost at least $1k, and the car isn't priced well enough for that.

————————————————
That line about needing a charge is bad enough with a private seller but for a dealer to use it is even more pitiful. Sure, it only needs a charge but I’m too cheap to spend 30 bucks to prove it to you. Very easy to walk away from a car like that.

jmonroe

laurasdada

qbrozen said:

Panamera is out.
Salesman started texting me this morning and I wasn't getting a good vibe. He sent a video but only did one sweep of the outside and made sure to say "I want to stress this is as-is." Well, yeah, it is a 2011, so I had no doubt, but to stress it gave me pause. Like... you have a reason you are saying that. So I started asking questions. He wrote something like he was on a test drive with a customer yesterday in it and it drove really well. So I asked why the person didn't buy it. He then comes back with "well, like I said, it is as-is, and the AC on the driver's side is blowing warm. But it might just need a recharge." Sooooo... thanks for that, I'm going to pass. I didn't want to bog him down with details, but if it blows warm on just one side, that's not a recharge situation, not that I would ever assume that is the case. I always assume nonworking AC is going to cost at least $1k, and the car isn't priced well enough for that.

It's a 14 year old Porsche; any repair can't cost too much, right?

tjc78

@qbrozen said:
I got a golf-cart sized vehicle with your name on it.
No charging, fully enclosed, heat and AC. Can't beat it.

I don’t think that would pass the wife check!

tjc78

If the AC is blowing warm only on one side that’s a blend door or actuator in the dashboard. Who knows what you’d have to tear apart to fix it.

kyfdx

stickguy said:

I would never buy a 15 YO car, or an exotic like a

Porsche, with seeing and touching it in person first. Then Paying for a marque expert PPI. I’m a chicken.

Hmmm...

xwesx

corvette said:

If the Prelude is parked outside, I know Battery Tender makes a weather-resistant battery maintainer, although @xwesx 's suggestion of a permanently mounted one would also fit the bill. With either, I'd be worried about forgetting it's connected and driving off. When I put a maintainer on my Maverick, I have to leave the hood up for the wiring, which is a great visual cue to let you know a task needs to be completed before departure.

BTW, the Ariya (and I assume most other EVs/PHEVs--I think the Volt was the same way) won't let you take off with the EVSE connected.

Oh, that's funny! I didn't even consider that. For me, plugging in the car is so natural that checking for the cord before I drive off is just part of the standard pre-drive checks.

qbrozen

@stickguy said:
I would never buy a 15 YO car, or an exotic like a
Porsche, with seeing and touching it in person first. Then Paying for a marque expert PPI. I’m a chicken.

I have a 2008 Maserati I bought sight unseen. There is no word for my level of crazy.

qbrozen

@jmonroe1 said:
————————————————
I take it that it’s still available, so what’s your best price. Remember, he’s a poster buddy and pays taxes in the same state where you are.

jmonroe

nO low-ballerzZ I kNow whut I gOt

qbrozen

Watched that Xterra to the bitter end. Crackhead BaT bidders won.

corvette

@qbrozen - you dodged a bullet on that Poorsche. "A/C blows hot on one side" to me translates as "blend door issues that will require complete removal and disassembly of the dash, plus $2,000 in parts."

tjc78

@qbrozen said:

@stickguy said:
I would never buy a 15 YO car, or an exotic like a
Porsche, with seeing and touching it in person first. Then Paying for a marque expert PPI. I’m a chicken.

I have a 2008 Maserati I bought sight unseen. There is no word for my level of crazy.

Yeah that’s up there.

Almost as nuts as leasing an 85K Electric Mercedes without so much as a test drive!

Biggest difference is you fix your own stuff!

nyccarguy

qbrozen said:

Watched that Xterra to the bitter end. Crackhead BaT bidders won.

What did it end up going for?

stickguy

I ordered my first Maverick before ever seeing one. But I did luck into a test drive at a different dealer while I was waiting for it. Just enough to have an idea what to expect.

qbrozen

nyccarguy said:

qbrozen said:

Watched that Xterra to the bitter end. Crackhead BaT bidders won.

What did it end up going for?

$8300.

Honestly, I was willing to go $7k, which I thought was A LOT. Would have been $7500 if not for the BaT fee. Anyway, $8300 is right out. At least in my case, that winds up being over $9k with fee and shipping. Then $10k by the time I'm done with the MVC.

breld

Here's how the six-figure EVs will move...

stickguy

I could not imagine paying anything to have to drive that monstrosity. Especially being such a barge.

qbrozen

Query:

Any reason to rule out a Q5 3.0 TDI, which I just now found out even exists?

breld

qbrozen said:

Query:

Any reason to rule out a Q5 3.0 TDI, which I just now found out even exists?

That’s a nice vehicle. My brother still has his older previous-gen Q5 with the 3.0T along with the newer Q5 he got last year. He has a friend with one of the 3.0 TDIs who absolutely adored it.

breld

stickguy said:

I could not imagine paying anything to have to drive that monstrosity. Especially being such a barge.

I don’t disagree. I’m just interested to see what they’re gonna have to do to move these off the lots.

The Escalade IQ is more mainstream and arguably practical, but ranges from $130k-$150k. I know the ICE Escalade seems to sell well and can be in the low six figures…but will those buyers migrate to the EV version?

28firefighter

qbrozen said:

Query:

Any reason to rule out a Q5 3.0 TDI, which I just now found out even exists?

I have one. We love it - have had it for year, no issues.

My dad has had a 2014 for almost 4-5 years now and swears by it - he's getting ready to trade it along with his 2011 S5 - has like 102k miles on it.

qbrozen

@28firefighter said:
I have one. We love it - have had it for year, no issues.

My dad has had a 2014 for almost 4-5 years now and swears by it - he's getting ready to trade it along with his 2011 S5 - has like 102k miles on it.

You have a diesel Q5? How did I miss that?

28firefighter

You have a diesel Q5? How did I miss that?

Probably because you have too many vehicles of your own to keep track of?

Seriously though, we bought it as a 3rd car when we had our Model Y for doing mountain runs. Wife liked it more than the Tesla, so we flipped the Tesla and she's been DDing this for a year now. Loves it. Feels like it could pull our house.

xwesx

That it could!

It is essentially the same vehicle as my Q7, except with a shorter cargo bay. These can have a few issues, the most significant swirling around the EGR system, but they're generally a pretty good bet... and definitely a good buy on the TDI's due to the scandal about a decade ago now.

What is the mileage on the one you are considering, Q?

qbrozen

@xwesx said:
That it could!

It is essentially the same vehicle as my Q7, except with a shorter cargo bay. These can have a few issues, the most significant swirling around the EGR system, but they're generally a pretty good bet... and definitely a good buy on the TDI's due to the scandal about a decade ago now.

What is the mileage on the one you are considering, Q?

Less than 70k. But I very much doubt the ad is legit. We’ll see. But it got me looking.

From what I read when considering the Cayenne diesel, most of the problematic emissions controls can be programmed out of the car.

nyccarguy

@kyfdx or @Michaell - do the ‘24 Subaru Crosstrek or Impreza have good lease programs or is it not even worth inquiring about?

Michaell

nyccarguy said:

@kyfdx or @Michaell - do the ‘24 Subaru Crosstrek or Impreza have good lease programs or is it not even worth inquiring about?

Average, I'd say.

MF under .00200 and RV's in the upper 50's to low 60's.

I dunno if you'd call that "good"; I spew out so many numbers in a day that none of them really stick with me.

28firefighter

@qbrozen said:

@xwesx said:
That it could!

It is essentially the same vehicle as my Q7, except with a shorter cargo bay. These can have a few issues, the most significant swirling around the EGR system, but they're generally a pretty good bet... and definitely a good buy on the TDI's due to the scandal about a decade ago now.

What is the mileage on the one you are considering, Q?

Less than 70k. But I very much doubt the ad is legit. We’ll see. But it got me looking.

From what I read when considering the Cayenne diesel, most of the problematic emissions controls can be programmed out of the car.

The nice thing is most of these cars ended up decently maintained because of the extended emissions warranty. About 6 months before we got ours the PO had NOx sensors replaced, EGR, and a DEF service done - like $4-$5k of work covered by Audi. When I took it to Audi after purchasing they said there was nothing left to do it other than normal wear and tear items. PO traded it for an MB EV.

It’s going in for an oil change Friday so I’ll let you know what they say.

roadburner

stickguy said:

I ordered my first Maverick before ever seeing one. But I did luck into a test drive at a different dealer while I was waiting for it. Just enough to have an idea what to expect.

I had test driven a new 1995 318ti Sport and I liked it but didn't love it. However, when my friend at Fields BMW faxed me the Dealer Ordering Information sheet (I still have it) I figured it was worth a shot. 30 years later I guess I made a good choice...

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

@oldfarmer50 said:

“ A few pics of what I looked at today…surprised at how many six-figure EVs they have on the lot!”

How many average people can afford cars at those prices? I guess it will end up like it started where only the wealthy can afford to drive.

What we need is a modern Henry Ford.

That would be china without tariffs.

I’m sure the Uyghurs would be glad to get even $5 a day.

oldfarmer50

qbrozen said:

@stickguy said:

I would never buy a 15 YO car, or an exotic like a

Porsche, with seeing and touching it in person first. Then Paying for a marque expert PPI. I’m a chicken.

I have a 2008 Maserati I bought sight unseen. There is no word for my level of crazy.

I can’t decides between “stunning and brave” or “more dollars than sense”.🤣

stickguy

I really feel like going to do some test drives. Have only done 1 in the almost 3 years since I moved up here and that was to try out a CRV 2 years ago when my DIL was looking at them.

The weather being permanently crappy doesn’t lend itself to doing it though. And generally being swamped at work. And the minor detail of not wanting to spend any money with all the economic uncertainty (and of course the boss pointing out that we don’t need a new car).

Someday I will get ambitious and stop. Just need to make a short list of dealers to visit!

Michaell

stickguy said:

I really feel like going to do some test drives. Have only done 1 in the almost 3 years since I moved up here and that was to try out a CRV 2 years ago when my DIL was looking at them.

The weather being permanently crappy doesn’t lend itself to doing it though. And generally being swamped at work. And the minor detail of not wanting to spend any money with all the economic uncertainty (and of course the boss pointing out that we don’t need a new car).

Someday I will get ambitious and stop. Just need to make a short list of dealers to visit!

I've given up visiting car dealers - it's just depressing.

ab348

stickguy said:

@oldfarmer50 said:

“ A few pics of what I looked at today…surprised at how many six-figure EVs they have on the lot!”

How many average people can afford cars at those prices? I guess it will end up like it started where only the wealthy can afford to drive.

What we need is a modern Henry Ford.

That would be china without tariffs.

Retail pricing is something I thought I understood, but now I'm not so sure. More and more often now it seems pricing is what the market will bear and is only loosely related to the wholesale cost of the item. A recent example: I've mentioned here that I sometimes watch the YouTuber Adam the Woo. He is a complete and utter Disney fanatic, which I do not understand either, but that is a separate question.

Anyway, a month or two back he and his mom visited Ecuador for a couple of weeks to visit relatives and tour the country. Those videos were mostly interesting, and one of them had him doing some shopping in a mall in Quito where he spotted a Mickey Mouse watch. He was familiar with it from his encyclopedic knowledge of what the official Disney souvenir shops were selling them for at the theme park in Florida. At the store in Quito he got the same exact thing, not a knockoff, for the equivalent of $50 USD. That was anywhere from 1/2 to 1/3 of what the same item goes for in Florida.

That makes me wonder - does the manufacturer/distributor sell them wholesale to the retailers for the same price? Do the Disney shops mark them up much more? From where did the Quito shop source them? As a general thing, retail prices of most common things in Ecuador were far less than what we would pay here. It strikes me that one could live there very inexpensively. I gather that the country is becoming popular as a destination for ex-pats to move to.

qbrozen

@oldfarmer50 said:
I can’t decides between “stunning and brave” or “more dollars than sense”.🤣

My dollars are definitely limited.

It is more of a “jump off the roof and flap your arms hard enough you’ll land easy” kind of vibe.

qbrozen

On the cheaper side, I have found a couple of XC60s with 3.0T engine for ~$10k with <70k miles. Very much on the fence.

Other consideration is a JGC. I’ve seen a couple with the 4.0 and low miles, which is kind of interesting more from a reliability and cheapness angle. Also some hemi, but I feel like that’s not worth it from a cost/performance perspective until 2014 when they finally got the 8-spd.

imidazol97

About markups some items...
Long ago I was shopping the furniture books of some furniture items in store. The markup was listed as double wholesale price then add on 120 or 140% of that to get the ficticious list price.

I had won a contest and had maybe $3000 in my choice of stuff but at their list prices.

stickguy

Get the jeep. Will be good practice for your wire tracing skills.

stickguy

With current options even without worrying about paying (since I could and have plenty of equity to use in the exiting units) there is really very little I am interested in. And even a lot of the expensive and out of budget stuff isn’t what I would want to drive if I had the extra to blow on a car

qbrozen

stickguy said:

Get the jeep. Will be good practice for your wire tracing skills.

I've got enough of that to deal with on the Alfa right now.

Something is up with the cooling fan. Initially touching the relay to the connector snaps the fan on for a second, then it disengages again. Both the temp sensor (which I needed anyway and now the temp gauge on the dash works. Yay.) and the resistor on the radiator are now new, as is the aforementioned relay, and I have checked the one fuse.

stickguy

I’m addicted to watching the pine hollow auto diagnostic channel on YouTube. It’s cool what that guy can do to sort out weird electrical issues.

qbrozen

I guess I’m getting a sign about that Q5. No response to email and I even tried calling just now and it went to voicemail after about 6 rings.

oldfarmer50

ab348 said:

stickguy said:

@oldfarmer50 said:

“ A few pics of what I looked at today…surprised at how many six-figure EVs they have on the lot!”

How many average people can afford cars at those prices? I guess it will end up like it started where only the wealthy can afford to drive.

What we need is a modern Henry Ford.

That would be china without tariffs.

Retail pricing is something I thought I understood, but now I'm not so sure. More and more often now it seems pricing is what the market will bear and is only loosely related to the wholesale cost of the item. A recent example: I've mentioned here that I sometimes watch the YouTuber Adam the Woo. He is a complete and utter Disney fanatic, which I do not understand either, but that is a separate question.

Anyway, a month or two back he and his mom visited Ecuador for a couple of weeks to visit relatives and tour the country. Those videos were mostly interesting, and one of them had him doing some shopping in a mall in Quito where he spotted a Mickey Mouse watch. He was familiar with it from his encyclopedic knowledge of what the official Disney souvenir shops were selling them for at the theme park in Florida. At the store in Quito he got the same exact thing, not a knockoff, for the equivalent of $50 USD. That was anywhere from 1/2 to 1/3 of what the same item goes for in Florida.

That makes me wonder - does the manufacturer/distributor sell them wholesale to the retailers for the same price? Do the Disney shops mark them up much more? From where did the Quito shop source them? As a general thing, retail prices of most common things in Ecuador were far less than what we would pay here. It strikes me that one could live there very inexpensively. I gather that the country is becoming popular as a destination for ex-pats to move to.

Could have been a knock off.

But to your main point, price tends to stabilize at an equilibrium where a willing buyer and willing seller agree to the transaction. Somebody is willing to pay for these cars. I’m not one of them.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

I’m addicted to watching the pine hollow auto diagnostic channel on YouTube. It’s cool what that guy can do to sort out weird electrical issues.

Eric O. at SMA seems to have a knack for that stuff. I have trouble following some of it because of the complexity.

qbrozen

For your consideration, here are some things I've saved, starting with cheapest.

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inventorylisting/vdp.action?listingId=386805652#listing=386805652

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inventorylisting/vdp.action?listingId=405457288#listing=405457288

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inventorylisting/vdp.action?listingId=409542638#listing=409542638

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inventorylisting/vdp.action?listingId=410638290#listing=410638290

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicle/730031189

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inventorylisting/vdp.action?listingId=406126768#listing=406126768

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inventorylisting/vdp.action?listingId=408446634#listing=408446634

xwesx

Car Gurus is obnoxious. It won't let me see any of your links because... of course it won't!

qbrozen

ah. Try again. I added some code that might help.

explorerx4

@qbrozen,
Skip the first Jeep, was reported as a total loss.

au1994

14 Jeep or Edge look ok to me.

All old Euro’s scare me but I can’t turn a wrench like you can.

Really everything at this age and mileage is going to be a gamble.

xwesx

qbrozen said:

ah. Try again. I added some code that might help.

That worked! Thanks!

explorerx4

The 2016 Edge has a max towing capacity of 3,500 lbs, less than the max on a Mav.