Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous

breld

Congrats @nyccarguy! The SE model is really sharp and I love that color.

And your negotiation approach is perfect! Well done.

au1994

Congrats @nyccarguy. I think you are going to be very happy with that!

ab348

stickguy said:

I think the Gray looks good on that car.

J/k @nyccarguy I hear nothing but good things about the Camry.

28firefighter

@nyccarguy how is the trade going to work? Are you going to try selling it elsewhere if they don’t give you what you want?

jmonroe1

oldfarmer50 said:

nyccarguy said:

“Things done changed” - Notorious BIG

I have a punch to report. This evening I took delivery of a 2025 Underground / Boulder Toyota Camry SE AWD. I leased the Camry for 36 months/10,000 miles per year.

I originally contacted this dealer because my best friend has bought a few of his Toyota Hybrid delivery vehicles from this one sales guy. I spoke to him on the phone and told him what car I wanted (LE AWD or SE AWD) with the cold weather package and convenience package. I also told him how I wanted to structure my lease. 1st payment & MSD due at signing. Sales tax (6.35%), Acquisition Fee ($650), Doc Fee ($999 - I know), and DMV rolled into the monthly payment. Before we hung up, he asked the “where do you want to be monthly?” I told him $400 per month. I knew he could t do this, because it would equate to about a 14.5% discount.

I don’t think he’s ever done a less with MSD, so he had to look into how it works. He called me back about a day & a half later. He offered me $500 per month (1st & MSD DAS). I called back, told him I was looking for $450 per month. He called me back this AM and said the best they could do was $475. I said I’d have to think about it, then got completely swamped at work. On my way home, I called, his VM was full. So I texted him:

“Good afternoon Jose. I can’t do the $474.09. My max budget is $450/month structured from my text message this morning. I don’t have the budget for anything higher. I appreciate the time you have been taking trying to put this together for me. If you can do the $450, I’ll take the car today.“

He called back 5 minutes later and said we’ve got a deal. I took a ride up there with my 18 year old. It was very busy. End of the month and a Saturday. Here are a few pics. I’ll take some more tomorrow.

My deal ended up being 6.5% off sticker before adding the fees back in.

Thank-you everyone for all of your support. @Michaell & @kyfdx thank-you for helping me navigate through the lease programs for so many different models.

My name is Bradd and I am a Chronic Car Buyer.

Nice. I’m hoping to buy a 2023 Camry SE from a coworker who frequently trades at the end of warranty. Maybe next year if I’m lucky. That will probably be the last car I buy.

———————————————-
Last car? With talk like that you’re gonna have to turn in your membership to this site. It’s sorta been nice knowing ya.

jmonroe

tjc78

The SE has historically been the best looking Camry model IMO.

My mom had an 09 SE white over grey with a sunroof and nice alloys. The grill and other things were black. Always thought that was a sharp car.

nyccarguy

@28firefighter said:
@nyccarguy how is the trade going to work? Are you going to try selling it elsewhere if they don’t give you what you want?

Yes. I’ll be happy if they give me what the buyout is there. If they can’t, then I’ll sell it to one of the other 3rd party places.

nyccarguy

Here are a few interior shots:

ab348

If the dealer gives you an acceptable sum for it, does it get structured as a trade-in? Could save some sales tax. Maybe @stickguy can come up with a devilishly clever scheme…

nyccarguy

The “Boulder” interior is definitely more of a medium gray than a light grey.

The light grey textured material
That’s on the door panel is also is on the inside seat cushion bolster. They also put it on that waterfall shelf that’s over the passenger side footwell.

The drilled out aluminum (I think) brake pedal & accelerator are a cool & sporty touch. The heated, leather wrapped steering wheel is very thick and feels great.

Overall 1st impressions are very positive. I do like the look of the car. The dark grey with black trim, black wheels, & the blackout emblems really came together. It looks sharp.

The seats are comfortable, all the materials are soft touch. There is plenty of room for the driver and passenger who don’t need to put the seat back anywhere near all the way in order for the back seat passenger Wireless CarPlay connects instantly and the touch screen is so much faster and more responsive than my Tacoma & Highlander. Everything is controlled by a physical button except the radio which is touch screen. However there is a knob that controls the volume as well as on/off.

It drives great. The suspension is composed and taut without feeling stiff. Everything is very smooth. The acceleration, steering, handling. While it won’t win any stop light Grand Prix, it accelerates with confidence.

stickguy

that is a really nice looking interior. very impressive for what amounts to an economy car these days. Plus with the hybrid it should easily average over 40 MPG just driving normally and no plugs required.

I really need to hit a few dealers. I am having major car shopping withdrawal symptoms. We actually have not shopped since we looked at options before getting the RDX in 2020, right before Covid. I did get the Mavericks since then but there was no shopping involved. Just some looking online and ordering via email, then going to pick it up.

maybe this fall. Since 6 weeks from today we will be at the start of our annual shore vacation, and we have another wedding in between (3 weeks from yesterday). But finally, once we hit August, we might not have much to do since all the kids will be married off, and I think the house projects mostly wrapped up.

stickguy

speaking of the RDX, it hit 5 years old with us before turning over 28K miles.

The Maverick just turned 2 before hitting 9k miles.

we don't really drive that much it seems.

Michaell

stickguy said:

speaking of the RDX, it hit 5 years old with us before turning over 28K miles.

The Maverick just turned 2 before hitting 9k miles.

we don't really drive that much it seems.

So, why spend the cash on something new? Your current fleet has plenty of life in them.

(Wait, was that my out loud voice?)

stickguy

because I am bored, and like new stuff! This would not be an issue if I had managed to find a house design with 3 bays. Then I could fill one with something I don't need. I could of course park something outside. I actually did some googling and discovered I could get a custom fit cover for about $220 to keep the truck from getting trashed by the trees.

maybe a sports type car that can live outside. I can figure out something. I still think the utility trailer is the key to unlocking all my dreams!

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/carry-on-trailer-5-ft-x-8-ft-wood-floor-utility-trailer-5x8gw2k-pc

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/dk2-power-5-ft-x-7-ft-utility-trailer-kits-galvanized-with-drive-up-gate-mmt5x7g-dug

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

because I am bored, and like new stuff! This would not be an issue if I had managed to find a house design with 3 bays. Then I could fill one with something I don't need. I could of course park something outside. I actually did some googling and discovered I could get a custom fit cover for about $220 to keep the truck from getting trashed by the trees.

maybe a sports type car that can live outside. I can figure out something. I still think the utility trailer is the key to unlocking all my dreams!

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/carry-on-trailer-5-ft-x-8-ft-wood-floor-utility-trailer-5x8gw2k-pc

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/dk2-power-5-ft-x-7-ft-utility-trailer-kits-galvanized-with-drive-up-gate-mmt5x7g-dug

I use some cheap Harbor Freight loading ramps. If you back up to a slope you can drive right into the bed. Under a $100 and you don’t have to worry about registration and plates.

stickguy

At ford dealer for the mavericks annual oil change and state Inspection. So did some looking. Sat in a restyled maverick. Basically same truck with updated dash screens. And a new ranger. They seemed decent. Saw a bronco sport with a sticker of $45k. Ouch.

My favorite oddly enough was an F250. Anti matter blue (gorgeous color). Odd part is that it is a standard cab long bed. Actually 3” shorter wheelbase than the F150 next to it with the short bed. Great visibility out the back with your head 6” from the rear window. All kinds of heavy duty stuff (including snowplow prep) and the big gas V8. Quite the beast but if you need to do work, and are tall enough to reach the bed, a real truck! Also about $52k, so 8 grand less than the low option 150 XLT

ab348

This review of the new Camry just appeared in my feed. Might be the same paint color as @nyccarguy ’s though it is a XSE trim so the interior is rather different.

https://youtu.be/qXsol2W-rmU?si=L4-qpwPlm59EP_9g

xwesx

tjc78 said:

All vehicles in my household are now white!

...again...? I thought there was a time passed that involved all white cars, too. Was that the Volvo twins?

tjc78

@xwesx said:
...again...? I thought there was a time passed that involved all white cars, too. Was that the Volvo twins?

Haha .. yes I forgot while we had the matching Volvos my Mom had the white Murano as well.

28firefighter

So did they buy the Tacoma, @nyccarguy ?

explorerx4

Congrats on the new rides.
At this point in my life, I'm pretty much looking at taller stuff.

explorerx4

@stickguy,
I think you've figured out why Ford is probably selling more Super Duty's than F-150's.

qbrozen

@explorerx4 said:
Congrats on the new rides.
At this point in my life, I'm pretty much looking at taller stuff.

I hear you. BUT, I have found height alone isn’t everything. Honestly, I can’t explain it, but getting in and out of my Alfa and Maser is far easier than the Volvo and Opel. It must be something about the shape of the door opening and/or position of seat in relation to the opening. The Maser is super easy. The Alfa is definitely not EASY, but easier than those others.

stickguy

that baby was really high off the ground though. I bet my wife would love having to clamber up into that. But I think that size wise other than height, the 250 and 150 are the same footprint. So, why not get the tougher model.

explorerx4

@qbrozen,
I'm a lot older than you are, although also not as tall.
Way easier to step up into my truck than in and out of the Mustang.

qbrozen

Oh, so stealership strikes again. I’ve previously complained about the Volvo dealer’s service pricing. Wife asked about her 60k service. They quoted $900. I figured they must be giving her their BS suggested services. They sent over a detailed list. Oil change, cabin filter (which I just changed for her a few months ago), and spark plugs. That’s it. Manufacturer does say spark plugs are due. So this $900 is strictly factory specified maintenance.

I ordered OEM oil filter, 6 qts of their suggested expensive oil, and OEM plugs. Cost shipped to my house, with tax = $150. Doing both of those tasks and rotating tires should take a shop 1 hour. Let’s say they mark up the parts beyond retail prices that I paid, and add the filter, that’s like $250 max. And let’s say they overcharge at 2 hrs labor at a crazy $200/hr. I simply can’t reasonably arrive at $900.

stickguy

you forgot the 127 points of inspection at $5 per point.

tjc78

@qbrozen said:

@explorerx4 said:
Congrats on the new rides.
At this point in my life, I'm pretty much looking at taller stuff.

I hear you. BUT, I have found height alone isn’t everything. Honestly, I can’t explain it, but getting in and out of my Alfa and Maser is far easier than the Volvo and Opel. It must be something about the shape of the door opening and/or position of seat in relation to the opening. The Maser is super easy. The Alfa is definitely not EASY, but easier than those others.

My S60 was not easy to get in or out of. It’s not just you.

nyccarguy

@28firefighter said:
So did they buy the Tacoma, @nyccarguy ?

So I now have 4 vehicles. 1 Honda in the garage. 3 Toyotas in the driveway.

stickguy

nyccarguy said:

@28firefighter said:

So did they buy the Tacoma, @nyccarguy ?

So I now have 4 vehicles. 1 Honda in the garage. 3 Toyotas in the driveway.

so going Carmax or Carvana soon?

corvette

ZR1 review from Hagerty. Apparently, Ferrari refused to loan them any vehicles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StWSpZHF998

nyccarguy

@stickguy said:
so going Carmax or Carvana soon?

Yes. The dealer offered me $26K for it. My painted bumper caps will be here soon. I can have the windshield either fixed or replaced and give it a thorough detail.

stickguy

Carvana offers a lot better than the dealer? They keep offering me silly money on my Maverick. Though I guess it has such low miles 2 Model Years old may not matter that much.

nyccarguy

@roadburner - I saw this A35 AMG and thought you’d spit your coffee out!

nyccarguy

28firefighter said:

So did they buy the Tacoma, @nyccarguy ?

No. They did not.

tjc78

@nyccarguy said:
@roadburner - I saw this A35 AMG and thought you’d spit your coffee out!

Say hello to my little friend ….

jmonroe1

tjc78 said:

@nyccarguy said:
@roadburner - I saw this A35 AMG and thought you’d spit your coffee out!

Say hello to my little friend ….

————————————————
That is his BIG friend. His little friend is in his pocket.

jmonroe

tifighter

I’m late to report a punch from Friday.

Boxster GTS 4.0

I couldn’t let @breld and @kyfdx have all of the fun.

nyccarguy

tifighter said:

I’m late to report a punch from Friday.

Boxster GTS 4.0

I couldn’t let @breld and @kyfdx have all of the fun.

Wow! Congrats! I love the color combo & those wheels are perfect! I'm assuming you traded in either the Montero or the Sienna?

qbrozen

@tifighter said:
I’m late to report a punch from Friday.

Boxster GTS 4.0

I couldn’t let @breld and @kyfdx have all of the fun.

Really? Wow. Look at you! I’m still waiting for my lottery numbers to hit.

tjc78

@tifighter
Wow! Congrats. Love it.

We’ve had a good run going the last few weeks!

kyfdx

@tifighter What year?

tifighter

2021. Forgot to mention it’s a manual. 3900 miles.

breld

Congrats @tifighter! What a perfect find!

kyfdx

Very cool

pensfan83

Sharp car, enjoy! Did anything leave the stable?

jmonroe1

tifighter said:

I’m late to report a punch from Friday.

Boxster GTS 4.0

I couldn’t let @breld and @kyfdx have all of the fun.

————————————————
Looks great, good luck with it.

The only thing that stops me from getting one of those is that it would mess up my hairdo.

jmonroe

jmonroe1

tifighter said:

2021. Forgot to mention it’s a manual. 3900 miles.

————————————————
3900 miles!! Don’t you just hate it when you have to break-in cars all the time?

jmonroe

kyfdx

tifighter said:

2021. Forgot to mention it’s a manual. 3900 miles.

It's a shame.. you could have bought mine for 1/3 the cost..

nyccarguy

qbrozen said:

@tifighter said:

I’m late to report a punch from Friday.

Boxster GTS 4.0

I couldn’t let @breld and @kyfdx have all of the fun.

Really? Wow. Look at you! I’m still waiting for my lottery numbers to hit.

That makes 2 of us. Although that would require me actually playing the lottery.