Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous

kyfdx

@sda I'm sure that S model (or GTS?) is a hoot to drive.

stickguy

Used car market must be spiking again. Carvana just sent me a new value offer for my maverick. Up $600 from a week ago.

Sandman6472

Lucky I guess in my career. Spent 31 years with Uncle Sam and the last 12 in the rental car business. Now we're contemplating our next move. My one daughter in St. Augustine wants to buy a place up here with us moving into it with her. And the other girl thinks a 55+ community would be the best thing for us. But we'd have to leave South Florida for North Florida, a place we're not familiar with. We've both been in our area since moving there in 1969 while still in high school. So this is a really big decision for us...a real big one! And she wants to buy up here within the next 6 months or so, a time frame we're not to keen on. We're focusing more on 2027 or so as the wife is still working for a guy she's not anxious to leave quite yet.

So, lots of big decisions to make in a short period of time. One thing I do know is I won't be rushed into something as big as this. Don't really know which area we want to be at, Orlando or St. Augustine/Jacksonville. So, think we're going to have to let the younger girl get a smaller place up here as that makes the most sense. But nothing set in stone yet as the subject has finally been opened. And think we'd be better off closer to our middle girl and her pup to be honest.

mjfloyd1

@Sandman6472 - I see a 2025 Golf R locally

https://www.royalontheeastside.com/new/Volkswagen/2025-Volkswagen-Golf-R-7d2435faac18081d7c6d18924e3771ab.htm

I also saw a review on TV of the GTI and R. He said there were now physical buttons but only on the steering wheel.

explorerx4

They put my daughter's old Escape for sale on the website.
Looks pretty good and the bacjup camera seems to be working correctly.
https://www.kayserford.net/used/Ford/2013-Ford-Escape-d73d1aa8ac181d81f9177e7193f3a437.htm

venture

My youngest daughter just got a 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe. Black with black leather. Nice rig.

jmonroe1

venture said:

My youngest daughter just got a 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe. Black with black leather. Nice rig.

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With that color combo that proves she’s not an old man.

jmonroe

stickguy

I would hope his daughter is not an old man. That would be weird.

Michaell

That's the second black on black SUV that's been bought by the child of one of our posters in the last couple of weeks.

suydam

It’s the most common color I see on lots. I didn’t particularly want black for my Kia but it was the one that was there equipped the way I wanted. And, like me, people don’t generally mind black, so they’ll take it.

stickguy

It would have to be one heck of a deal (and special car) to get me to buy a black over black anything. Actually would be tough sell to get exterior or interior in black.

Michaell

stickguy said:

It would have to be one heck of a deal (and special car) to get me to buy a black over black anything. Actually would be tough sell to get exterior or interior in black.

I agree. I can live with a black interior (as there are few alternatives), but I don't think I've ever owned a black car.

pensfan83

The MDX is the first car we've owned that didn't have a black interior. Acura calls the color 'Orchid' and I actually like it quite a bit since it brightens the interior up. I clean and condition it at least monthly and dye transfer is minimal to non-existent.

tjc78

Black is tough, especially on a pickup. I didn’t run my Ram through an auto wash until the last year of the lease. Amazing what a toll it puts on the paint. So many swirls that weren’t there.

I’m sure a good @jmonroe1 wax job would get 90% of it but that’s the next owner’s problem.

I really wanted a burgundy truck for my next one, but the dealer sold that unit I really liked and there aren’t many that color. I’d bet I end up in a white one… but stupid reason my upstairs neighbor at the shore has a new white Ram so it’s kinda weird matching him.

sda

@tjc78 said:
Black is tough, especially on a pickup. I didn’t run my Ram through an auto wash until the last year of the lease. Amazing what a toll it puts on the paint. So many swirls that weren’t there.

I’m sure a good @jmonroe1 wax job would get 90% of it but that’s the next owner’s problem.

I really wanted a burgundy truck for my next one, but the dealer sold that unit I really liked and there aren’t many that color. I’d bet I end up in a white one… but stupid reason my upstairs neighbor at the shore has a new white Ram so it’s kinda weird matching him.

Did you influence your neighbor to buy a Ram since you like yours so much? Agreed, I prefer not be matchy, matchy.

laurasdada

Cloudy, warmish Sunday. Popped the top on the BMW, headed north to walk some dealer lots; MB, Porsche, Audi and BMW/Mini.
MB had the largest selection of new cars, predominately black and white. Next was BMW, the Mini side of the lot seemed more populated. Again, lots of black, white and gray.
Porsche had basically (out front, more cars in back, but behind gates, not totally visible) one each Macan, electric Macan, Cayenne and Taycan.
Audi also had one or two of most models.

But, overall, the sparsest lots I've seen in some time.

Michaell

sda said:

@tjc78 said:

Black is tough, especially on a pickup. I didn’t run my Ram through an auto wash until the last year of the lease. Amazing what a toll it puts on the paint. So many swirls that weren’t there.

I’m sure a good @jmonroe1 wax job would get 90% of it but that’s the next owner’s problem.

I really wanted a burgundy truck for my next one, but the dealer sold that unit I really liked and there aren’t many that color. I’d bet I end up in a white one… but stupid reason my upstairs neighbor at the shore has a new white Ram so it’s kinda weird matching him.

Did you influence your neighbor to buy a Ram since you like yours so much? Agreed, I prefer not be matchy, matchy.

I know I've mentioned this before, but back in the early 90's my (first) wife got a Mazda Protégé. Not long after it was my turn, and I found a similar Protege, only with a stick shift, in a different color. I passed for the same reason - didn't want two of the same car in the garage.

In hindsight, I should have got it, as it was better equipped than the car I ended up with ('91 Sentra SE).

stickguy

Michaell said:

stickguy said:

It would have to be one heck of a deal (and special car) to get me to buy a black over black anything. Actually would be tough sell to get exterior or interior in black.

I agree. I can live with a black interior (as there are few alternatives), but I don't think I've ever owned a black car.

when my son complains about his black Telluride always looking dirty (especially now that he is parking outside since the baby basically took over the small garage) I just kind of laugh and give him an "I told you so"

jmonroe1

tjc78 said:

Black is tough, especially on a pickup. I didn’t run my Ram through an auto wash until the last year of the lease. Amazing what a toll it puts on the paint. So many swirls that weren’t there.

I’m sure a good @jmonroe1 wax job would get 90% of it but that’s the next owner’s problem.

I really wanted a burgundy truck for my next one, but the dealer sold that unit I really liked and there aren’t many that color. I’d bet I end up in a white one… but stupid reason my upstairs neighbor at the shore has a new white Ram so it’s kinda weird matching him.

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You have to buy whatever is best for you, whatever color that may be. If anyone ever questions you, tell them that is YOUR corporate color so that’s why your neighbor had to get that color or walk.

jmonroe

tjc78

@sda said:

@tjc78 said:
Black is tough, especially on a pickup. I didn’t run my Ram through an auto wash until the last year of the lease. Amazing what a toll it puts on the paint. So many swirls that weren’t there.

I’m sure a good @jmonroe1 wax job would get 90% of it but that’s the next owner’s problem.

I really wanted a burgundy truck for my next one, but the dealer sold that unit I really liked and there aren’t many that color. I’d bet I end up in a white one… but stupid reason my upstairs neighbor at the shore has a new white Ram so it’s kinda weird matching him.

Did you influence your neighbor to buy a Ram since you like yours so much? Agreed, I prefer not be matchy, matchy.

Well … technically yes. Years ago he had one and when I got mine he went nuts for it and said he wants another one. A year later when his Acura went back he got one.

tjc78

Speaking of Rams …. My lunchtime duty was to find a suitable example and play the quote game.

I fill out the online inquiry for this unit:

https://www.ourismanchryslerdodgejeep.net/new/Ram/2025-Ram-1500-bba94c81ac1808a1f6a18bbe2456282e.htm

Type a full detailed note so they can quote me a lease.

Get this response:

To which I respond… just looking for quote as I put in inquiry.

Get this back:

To which I responded .. I put everything you needed to quote me on a lease for this vehicle into the inquiry. Did you not receive it? Please let me know if I need to resend.

I may cave in and go to a broker

tjc78

@jmonroe1 said:
————————————————
You have to buy whatever is best for you, whatever color that may be. If anyone ever questions you, tell them that is YOUR corporate color so that’s why your neighbor had to get that color or walk.

jmonroe

Good idea! He is a cool guy, we run the association together. He would probably get a kick out of it.

jmonroe1

tjc78 said:

Speaking of Rams …. My lunchtime duty was to find a suitable example and play the quote game.

I fill out the online inquiry for this unit:

https://www.ourismanchryslerdodgejeep.net/new/Ram/2025-Ram-1500-bba94c81ac1808a1f6a18bbe2456282e.htm

Type a full detailed note so they can quote me a lease.

Get this response:

To which I respond… just looking for quote as I put in inquiry.

Get this back:

To which I responded .. I put everything you needed to quote me on a lease for this vehicle into the inquiry. Did you not receive it? Please let me know if I need to resend.

I may cave in and go to a broker

————————————————
It looks like that dealer hasn’t gotten the word that we’re in the new millennium. But if that sales tactic of, “come on down and we’ll talk about it”, didn’t work they probably wouldn’t do it. Don’t feel bad, it’s in their DNA.

Just curious since I’ve never dealt with a broker but is there any negotiating that you can do with those guys? 3 out of the last 4 cars I’ve bought were from out of state dealers so I had to do all the negotiating via phone calls and the internet to confirm the final price before I left my house.

jmonroe

au1994

"When can you come in?" has to be the most infuriating tactic still in use today. My response is when we have decent enough numbers to discuss.

stickguy

Jip him. You know what you want. And sales are tanked.

Only 3 numbers matter. Tell him $700/month, $1,000 DAS on 36/36000 and you will pick it up this weekend (of course I made these up so whatever your bottom line is) take it or leave it. Pretty simple since you are doing all the work for them.

stickguy

That is nice looking. Better in a real color though! How long is the bed on that beast?

tjc78

@stickguy said:
Jip him. You know what you want. And sales are tanked.

Only 3 numbers matter. Tell him $700/month, $1,000 DAS on 36/36000 and you will pick it up this weekend (of course I made these up so whatever your bottom line is) take it or leave it. Pretty simple since you are doing all the work for them.

Exactly what it will come down to!

I thought the listing was wrong and all Laramie were the 5’7” but looking closer it is the 6’4” bed. Current one is the 5’7”

No wonder it’s been on the lot forever.

Well … for the right deal I’d take it. It’s not like my current one fits in the garage anyway

xwesx

stickguy said:

That is nice looking. Better in a real color though! How long is the bed on that beast?

How long is the bed on the "1500 LARAMIE CREW CAB 4X4 6'4 BOX?" Tough to say.

After having the ~6.5' bed on the F250, I feel like that's a pretty reasonable compromise on utility vs. being unwieldy. I love me an 8' box, but it's a whole different game when you're carrying around an extra 3' of space just for the rear portion of the cab.

stickguy

that Ram in the specs was listed as 241". They just don't mention the bed. That is way too long.

a 6.5' bed is very useful. Just needs a short cab to go with it!

tjc78

It’s about 9” longer than my current truck. I’ve driven my cousins 2500 with a long bed and it feels good basically the same.

Probably a moot point anyway. Dealer is either playing games or the lease program tanked …

I just told them they were substantially higher and to give me the money factor they used etc. lets see what happens.

tjc78

Funny thing the window stickers make no note of the bed length anywhere.

The dealer either has to say it in their listing or you have to know what to look for. In the Ram’s case it’s longer behind the rear doors

jmonroe1

stickguy said:

that Ram in the specs was listed as 241". They just don't mention the bed. That is way too long.

a 6.5' bed is very useful. Just needs a short cab to go with it!

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For most people that is the case. However, when I lived in SC, I just happened to live in a fairly heavily populated retirement community although I was still a working stiff at the time. Golfing and horses were a big thing there. I lost track trying to count how many 8 foot bed tandem dual wheel pickups with third wheel jobs I saw. I’d be willing to bet most were diesels. Those things are beasts.

jmonroe

explorerx4

With the longer bed on the full size 4 door, you get a longer chassis.
Ford Super Crew's with a 5 1/2 foot bed has a 145 in wheelbase.
If you go with the 6 1/2 foor bed you get a 157 in wheelbase.

oldfarmer50

tjc78 said:

Black is tough, especially on a pickup. I didn’t run my Ram through an auto wash until the last year of the lease. Amazing what a toll it puts on the paint. So many swirls that weren’t there.

I’m sure a good @jmonroe1 wax job would get 90% of it but that’s the next owner’s problem.

I really wanted a burgundy truck for my next one, but the dealer sold that unit I really liked and there aren’t many that color. I’d bet I end up in a white one… but stupid reason my upstairs neighbor at the shore has a new white Ram so it’s kinda weird matching him.

Most base model trucks are white or black from my experience. At first I thought my F-150 XL was black but it’s actually dark blue. A lot of the company’s rental trucks are black which must be slow sellers that get sold to rental fleets.

oldfarmer50

tjc78 said:

@stickguy said:

Jip him. You know what you want. And sales are tanked.

Only 3 numbers matter. Tell him $700/month, $1,000 DAS on 36/36000 and you will pick it up this weekend (of course I made these up so whatever your bottom line is) take it or leave it. Pretty simple since you are doing all the work for them.

Exactly what it will come down to!

I thought the listing was wrong and all Laramie were the 5’7” but looking closer it is the 6’4” bed. Current one is the 5’7”

No wonder it’s been on the lot forever.

Well … for the right deal I’d take it. It’s not like my current one fits in the garage anyway

I drove a Ram Rebel trim today up to Vermont. Electric blue with an over abundance of faux louvers and black accents meant to look aggressive. Lots of screens and displays that would have put me in a ditch if I tried to play with them while driving. It had large knobby “off road” type tires which whined just enough to be annoying. Otherwise it was a nice ride.

If you want an 8’ bed you could get what I think used to be called the Classic trim with a single cab. Although they may have discontinued that too.

stickguy

If I ever did move up to a full sized truck my preferred config would be the cab and a half (still have clamshell doors?) with the penalty box back bench seat, and a 6.5' bed. A single cab is just a little bit too limiting (not so much for the back seat people room, but for inside storage).

corvette

I'd do the cab and a half with a 5.5' bed, but I think that was only offered on the first-gen Raptor.

stickguy

5.5 would be nice instead of the 4.5 I have now. That basically means moving up to a midsized truck like a ridgeline.

stickguy

The other BOF models only have a 5’ bed. So a foot longer overall and 1/2 foot longer bed. Not worth the extra length and worse mileage!

sb55

We have a 2021 Toyota Venza with about 45,000 miles. We test drove a 2025 Toyota Crown Signia in January. After the tariffs started, the list prices became the norm and any discounts went away so we decided to wait. Fast forward to now and I was noodling around online. A small dealer in New Hampshire had an inbound one with colors we wanted listed with about $3800.00 off sticker. Most important to us was no black interior. The saddle brown is the only other choice and they are rare. I got in touch and had a few emails with a salesman. That one became unavailable so he offered to do a search. They found another inbound one in the colors we wanted and will honor the discount. Plus, the trade number has gone up 10% since January.
So, maybe by the end of June we will have a punch.

kyfdx

I'm not sure any full-size pickups have clamshell doors, any longer. Just shorter back doors?

tjc78

The Ram in the quad cab has shorter regular doors not clamshells

Who feels like some math?

Can someone check my calcs? I sent this to the dealer this morning:

Here is how I'm calculating the lease:
MSRP - $74,155
Sell Price - $66,000
MF - .00010
Res (12K) - 54%
Acquisition Fee - $595
Doc and DMW (est) - $1,000
Loyalty Rebate - $2,000 (taxed)
Aged Unit Rebate - $2,000 (taxed)
Tax Rate in NJ including .4% surcharge - 7.025%

Using these numbers I yield a payment of $618 (42/12k) with just first payment due at signing.

kyfdx

@tjc78

A chance that the big discount from MSRP is not compatible with the lease program. Does RAM have some sort of employee pricing thing going on?

42 month lease?

I get $621/mo, but I probably had a different sales tax number.

Other than the caveat above, looks good.

tjc78

Close enough! Thank you

The dealer discount is exactly what I need to nail down.

On the website I see no disclaimer about the selling price, and it specifically has that number before any rebates are applied.

There are brokers who are advertising 12.5% off Ram with their leases without the $2000 aged inventory rebate so to me this seems possible.

Question is how skinny will they work.

tjc78

Oh and yes the best incentives for the last few months have been the 42 month program. Not ideal but for the right deal I’ll roll with it

kyfdx

tjc78 said:

Close enough! Thank you

The dealer discount is exactly what I need to nail down.

On the website I see no disclaimer about the selling price, and it specifically has that number before any rebates are applied.

There are brokers who are advertising 12.5% off Ram with their leases without the $2000 aged inventory rebate so to me this seems possible.

Question is how skinny will they work.

I don’t have any info on the discount, it just seems unusually large..

nyccarguy

sb55 said:

We have a 2021 Toyota Venza with about 45,000 miles. We test drove a 2025 Toyota Crown Signia in January. After the tariffs started, the list prices became the norm and any discounts went away so we decided to wait. Fast forward to now and I was noodling around online. A small dealer in New Hampshire had an inbound one with colors we wanted listed with about $3800.00 off sticker. Most important to us was no black interior. The saddle brown is the only other choice and they are rare. I got in touch and had a few emails with a salesman. That one became unavailable so he offered to do a search. They found another inbound one in the colors we wanted and will honor the discount. Plus, the trade number has gone up 10% since January.
So, maybe by the end of June we will have a punch.

Very cool that you found a dealer willing to work with you on an inbound unit and give you a healthy discount. Very curious as to what they offered you on your Venza.

Michaell

kyfdx said:

I'm not sure any full-size pickups have clamshell doors, any longer. Just shorter back doors?

I thought Ford still offered the SuperCab configuration.

kyfdx

Oh, that's right. On the lower trims only. Forgot that one

tjc78

@kyfdx said:
I don’t have any info on the discount, it just seems unusually large..

Indeed it does…. But when I leased the current one it was 11.7% off MSRP and $4750 in rebates.

I don’t think they are biting on this .. but if you don’t ask ..