Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous

stever · March 2014

Yeah, you can get rid of Drafts in the laundry list under your Profile. Nothing called "Drafts" will show up over there unless you have one. Then you can click on Drafts and hover and find the X to delete it.

Semi intuitive.

carnaught · March 2014

When I was in the Silicon Valley of California a couple of weeks ago, I swear I saw more Teslas than Fords. I actually like the looks of the Fisker Karma better, but overall I think the Tesla is probably the better car, and not too shabby either.

28firefighter · March 2014

Michaell - Didn't your ION have a random intermittent problem with the ignition?

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/autos/gm-knew-defect-2004-feds-probe-recall-n40271

Michaell · March 2014

@28firefighter said:
Michaell - Didn't your ION have a random intermittent problem with the ignition?

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/autos/gm-knew-defect-2004-feds-probe-recall-n40271

Indeed it did. I spent $228 to replace the ignition switch a couple of years ago. Will look to get reimbursed from GM.

tommister2 · March 2014

I saw a headline yesterday about "old GM" not covering these due to the bankruptcy. I hope you get reimbursed (or at least get some money back). Good luck!

xwesx · March 2014

@Stever@Edmunds said:
Seeing ads like this makes me want to put $5,000 on my '97 Outback and see if I get any bites, especially now that winter is over. It's got just a bit over 95,000 miles on it now.

Steve, if you're event remotely serious, you should do it now before that UP salt chews the car up. Yours is a holy grail in that region!

nyccarguy · March 2014

The old saying has been repeated many a times on this board. Happy wife, happy life. I think my vehicular purchasing plan has been altered yet again. While September is still 6 months off, my plan as it stands now (according to the conversation I had with my wife this AM) is subject to change without notice.

My Mother In Law got rear ended last week in her 2011 Ford Flex. Fortunately, she was not hurt and the other driver, in a vehicle with out of state (PA) plates registered to his father admitted being completely at fault. "Big Red" as my MIL calls her Flex sustained $6,500 worth of damage. She is currently driving a "sedan" as a rental while "Big Red" is out of commission.

My wife has mentioned to me in the past that her Pilot is all too common. Many times she has come out to a parking lot with literally 3 - 5 Polished Metal Metallic Pilots, parked in the vicinity of hers, stood by the door, and tried to open the wrong truck. I've never had this problem, but who am I to argue? So this morning she tells me that it was so much easier installing the car seats (2 year old LATCHed in & almost 5 year old in a high back booster) and buckling the kids in the sedan. I can tell you from experience that it is really annoying putting the kids' seat belts on because of the Pilot's high ground clearance.

How does this tie into my Chronic Car Buying "habit?" My wife says she's really like to look at something smaller for her when the lease is up on my BMW. Truth is that the only time all 5 of us are in the Pilot is on the weekends. So as of now, the Pilot will become my DD with the Prelude pulling nice day, light traffic duty. We will most likely lease (since she really doesn't do a tremendous amount of driving) some sort of sedan for her. I might be tempted to buy if what we like has 0% financing attached to it. I know she likes blue, so I'll start from there.

stickguy · March 2014

3 kids across in a sedan. That will make you miss a 3rd row. Better get a big one like an impala. Actually a passat sounds perfect. Comes in a nice dark blue. Huge back seat and trunk. Not too common. Good mpg.

tjc78 · March 2014

NYC, no shortage of larger 4 door sedans that's for sure. I'd check out the Fusion, Impala and Accord. All great choices that can be pretty loaded up too. We love our LaCrosse as well, but it's essentially the same as the Impala.
I may be off the reservation, but how about something like a Venza? Sedan like ride height with lots of extra storage. AWD available too.

xwesx · March 2014

@tjc78 said:
I may be off the reservation, but how about something like a Venza? Sedan like ride height with lots of extra storage. AWD available too.

Well, if you're going to start talking AWD wagons, your MIL does have a Flex, carguy! Those things are cavernous on the inside, sit low, etc. I've actually considered considering one, despite my distaste for automatics.

qbrozen · March 2014

wait, DO you have 3 kids? You said 2-yr-old and 5-yr-old. Is there another? How old?

My guess is she'll hate a sedan. My wife now won't go below wagon as her 2nd car and insists the primary will continue being a minivan for the foreseeable future.

nyccarguy · March 2014

@stickguy

If she needs the Pilot when she does need to transport all 3 kids at once, it will be at her disposal. Son #1 will be in 3rd grade & Son #2 will be in Kindergarten next year. So most days it will be my wife driving to work or my wife and my daughter. She might like the Passat.

@xwesx

Flex is out of the question. We don't need 2 huge vehicles with 3 rows of seats.

@tjc78

I'll have to price them up and see what they come out to

stickguy · March 2014

a 1.8t passat sounds good then.

the other problem is the storage, mainly wrestling a stroller around, though it sounds like you are just dealing with a single seater now. generally easier to toss in the back of a wagon.

qbrozen · March 2014

Here you go.

stickguy · March 2014

@qbrozen said:
Here you go.

perfect. other than only 2 seats across in the 2nd row.

tjc78 · March 2014

@qbrozen said:
Here you go.

I wonder where the other one they built like that is?

laurasdada · March 2014

I played around with a Fisker Karma, local Jag/LR dealer was a Fisker dealer (for a few weeks, at least!), too. Beautiful design, interesting interior. But, very, very snug especially in back. Small trunk. But, did I mention it was beautiful? Dealer seemed quite relieved to sell off the remaing inventory and remove the Fisker banner from the showroom, well in advance of the marques disappearance. Although, didn't I read that it my be resurrected with Chinese owners?

graphicguy · March 2014

Bradd...what about this since you're going to lease?

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1090776_2015-mercedes-benz-c-class-first-drive/page-1

stickguy · March 2014

I saw this in the write-up, and have no clue what it means. Can anyone explain this alien concept to me?

"glass smooth strips of asphalt"

fintail · March 2014

Something that exists in places that value first world infrastructure. A socialist conspiracy that doesn't appeal to many on this side of the pond, those people who are too busy building things, not taking vacations, and buying ELRs

I really like the new C with those zillion spoke wheels, and pano. A mini S-class, with an apparently hugely improved interior - which was a weak point on the W204 which aged well otherwise.

Note S-MB 9003 is a "Bluetec Hybrid", a powertrain I am very curious about, but have a sad feeling won't be sold in NA, at least not for some time. Twin gassers for the US launch, no wagon either (don't want to cannibalize GLA and GLK sales, no doubt).

@stickguy said:
I saw this in the write-up, and have no clue what it means. Can anyone explain this alien concept to me?

"glass smooth strips of asphalt"

nyccarguy · March 2014

@stickguy

Passat 1.8 TSI seems like an ideal candidate. Stroller in the trunk of that thing won't be a problem. We used to put the double stroller in the TSX when it was hers before it became mine;)

@qbrozen

Ha! Perfect except for the fact that she doesn't drive stick. It definitely fits into the "don't see one around every corner" category!

@graphicguy

I'm also trying to cut down my monthly expenses. That new C is pretty for sure, but there would have to be some crazy "fire sale lease" on some executive demo leftover 2014s for me to even consider it. Never say never though:)

stickguy · March 2014

you can get a pretty well equipped Passat these days (SE with connectivity/sunroof has pretty much the key stuff) for 25k I think. or less. Leases will be strong at the end of the summer if you are going that way. Nice car too if you want room.

breld · March 2014

I can certainly vouch for the Passat and its roominess. The trunk is one of those so large that it's challenging to even reach to the back of it. The SE w/sunroof is indeed a nice model (the one I wish I had got) - my Wolfsburg got me leatherette, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and decent 17" wheels. But the SE adds the touchscreen/back up camera and rear vents; the sunroof model also adds nice 18" wheels and, uh well, a sunroof. The sunroof/nav model obviously adds the nav, but also the "smart key" feature.

And I'm seeing my local dealer advertising the SE w/sunroof models between $22k-$23k for those models (I believe that's the cap cost for a lease).

So, how painful would it be if I walked into the dealership and wanted to trade in my Wolfsburg lease on a higher model Passat lease?

breld · March 2014

So, tomorrow morning, I am picking up a buyer at the airport who is flying in from California to buy the 530i. The last of the three BMWs is gone now (the 530i technically being my MIL's). It's kinda rewarding to have privately sold the 330ci, the 335xi and now the 530i over the last couple months. Only the 'vert was a local sale, and I attribute that to its automatic trannie. The manual trannie ones needed a wider audience.

qbrozen · March 2014

@stickguy said:
perfect. other than only 2 seats across in the 2nd row.

If you were the one who had to sit between 2 carseats, you'd think that 3rd row is a bonus.

nyccarguy · March 2014

Passat SE w/ Sunroof: MSRP $27,815 (including destination). Invoice: $26,421. Last month had $2500 worth of lease cash plus money factors damn near zero make for some attractive lease payments.

graphicguy · March 2014

@nyccarguy said:
stickguy

Passat 1.8 TSI seems like an ideal candidate. Stroller in the trunk of that thing won't be a problem. We used to put the double stroller in the TSX when it was hers before it became mine;)

qbrozen

Ha! Perfect except for the fact that she doesn't drive stick. It definitely fits into the "don't see one around every corner" category!

graphicguy

I'm also trying to cut down my monthly expenses. That new C is pretty for sure, but there would have to be some crazy "fire sale lease" on some executive demo leftover 2014s for me to even consider it. Never say never though:)

NYC....I know the Accord the GF just bought is a super nice car. It's all loaded up, too. Her's is an EX-L with Navigation. I think she bought it somewhere under $28K. I don't know if you can find a better car for the price (unless you go used).

nyccarguy · March 2014

@graphicguy

Thanks for the suggestion. I haven't bought used yet (except for the E30 project car which actually turned me into a Chronic Car Buyer). With cheap financing and lease rates, I'd rather put her in something new. One of my favorite ways of researching new cars is by reading owner reviews.

Many of us here have similar taste in cars and the majority of us scrutinize thoroughly when test driving, so I know if one of you guys picks out a car that it should be on my radar. @breld and @driver100 both have Passats and are happy with them, your girlfriend and @tifighter seem to dig the Accords in your household. I know my E90 is the right choice because @roadburner bought one for his wife and says "he tolerates it." <----- That's a ringing endorsement from a hard core car nut.

jayrider · March 2014

@breld said:
So, tomorrow morning, I am picking up a buyer at the airport who is flying in from California to buy the 530i. The last of the three BMWs is gone now (the 530i technically being my MIL's). It's kinda rewarding to have privately sold the 330ci, the 335xi and now the 530i over the last couple months. Only the 'vert was a local sale, and I attribute that to its automatic trannie. The manual trannie ones needed a wider audience.

Breld, I forget, how did you sell your cars ? What online seller did you use ? Thanks

breld · March 2014

I used cars.com to list the cars, and also had the two older ones on the local craigslist.

I think autotrader.com is more widely used for private sales, but from what I could tell, cars.com has better pricing for their packages.

I also listed the two manual tranny cars on some BMW forums on their "classifieds" section, but I didn't get any hits this time through those.

breld · March 2014

I am very intrigued by this car in Montana of all places:

2005 ZHP

It's priced more than reasonable, which either means 1) there's some issues with the car or 2) this place in Montana that carries mostly utility trucks doesn't know, or care, about what they have.

No carfax available, so tough to tell at this point. The "M" badge on the rear obviously needs to go. This listing was actually forwarded to me from one of the interested buyers of the 530i - he offered less than I wanted, but we've kept in touch e-mailing BMW listings back and forth.

If I could get comfortable with the car, I'd seriously consider a trip this weekend - a mere 10 hour drive from here in Denver!

tifighter · March 2014

Is that 10 hours drive counting any snow, RWD and performance tires?

On a completely unrelated note, wife and I spent last weekend shopping for and ultimately buying 2 'stressless' chairs. I think buying a car is easier...

jayrider · March 2014

@breld said:
I am very intrigued by this car in Montana of all places:

Breld, ever consider getting a dealers license ? The you can buy everything wholesale at auctions -- keep them for 4 months and flip.

corvette · March 2014

@breld said:
I am very intrigued by this car in Montana of all places:

No heated seats, I'm guessing it hasn't lived in Montana all its life.

Sandman6472 · March 2014

I think y'all should also check out a smaller cuv like I bought...mine's the same size as the Elantra, just a few inches higher up. Recently I've driven the CX-5, the Rav4, the X1 and of course my d d, the Tuscon and a cuv might just be the ticket. I do like the Passat and the Jetta in the sedan department. I know back in the day when my three were youngin's, we had a Cutlass Supreme sedan and we fit all the car seats and boosters in the back with no issues whatsoever.

Luckily, there are many choices out there to choose from. Oh, the "happy wife, happy life" motto of which you speak, I learned that within the first year of marriage and have tried to live by that rule. Going on our 33rd year here so must be doing something right!

The Sandman

au1994 · March 2014

@breld said:
I am very intrigued by this car in Montana of all places:

2005 ZHP

It's priced more than reasonable, which either means 1) there's some issues with the car or 2) this place in Montana that carries mostly utility trucks doesn't know, or care, about what they have.

No carfax available, so tough to tell at this point. The "M" badge on the rear obviously needs to go. This listing was actually forwarded to me from one of the interested buyers of the 530i - he offered less than I wanted, but we've kept in touch e-mailing BMW listings back and forth.

If I could get comfortable with the car, I'd seriously consider a trip this weekend - a mere 10 hour drive from here in Denver!

Not bad, but yeah, the price does raise the hackles a bit. Wonder if there is a local shop that would do a PPI? On the other site we frequent there is a few that have retrofitted heated seats. I don't think its all together easy, but can be done.

tjc78 · March 2014

@sandman, that size of SUV really isn't any roomier than a midsize car. That class just wouldn't cut it for a family of five with car seats IMO. I'm saying you need something huge, but Highlander/Edge size is pretty nice.

nyccarguy · March 2014

@tjc78

We are keeping the Pilot. It is going to become my commuting sled. The new car will be my wife's. If she does need the truck on a certain day it will be hers to use.

@sandman

No need for 2 SUVs (even if 1 is smaller than the Pilot). She says she wants a sedan.

Michaell · March 2014

@au1994 said:
Not bad, but yeah, the price does raise the hackles a bit. Wonder if there is a local shop that would do a PPI? On the other site we frequent there is a few that have retrofitted heated seats. I don't think its all together easy, but can be done.

When I bought my '03 Saturn L300, it came with cloth seats. I wanted leather, so I had them added. The shop that did the work also added heating elements as well and installed switches onto the center console. So, I know it can be done.

suydam · March 2014

Yes I had leather and heated seats installed on my '04 Mazda Wagon. Negotiated as part of the price and done by the dealership (they contract it out). It's done all the time.

graphicguy · March 2014

@Michaell@Edmunds said:

I remember dealers adding things like leather and sunroofs as an aftermarket item all the time. I had a sunroof put into a Datsun Z (before they offered T-Tops. It leaked like a sieve and the dealer kept bouncing me back to the installer, even though they were the ones who contracted the installer and billed me as part of the deal.

What a nightmare.

suydam · March 2014

Sunroofs are a totally different add-on than leather and seat heaters. Much more can go wrong.

breld · March 2014

Regarding the sedan vs. SUV comments, I went with the Passat after realizing how much room these larger sedans offer. Like NYC mentioned, to get comparable room in an SUV, you have to go to a mid or full-size one, and obviously the cost goes way up. So, if roominess is the primary objective (as opposed to high seating position, AWD, etc.), the current crop of family sedans fits the bill nicely.

breld · March 2014

That ZHP in Montana - found out it was in an accident last year. So unfortunately, it's priced well for a reason, and no longer on my radar.

breld · March 2014

Had a free afternoon yesterday. That Hot Tub shopping last weekend turned into Hot Tub Buying, and I was at home while our landscapers prep'd the yard for the Spa. But, since they were done early in the afternoon...

Checked out an '08 535xi wagon with the sport package. Nice wagon, but having had an E60, it just didn't do much for me. Checked out some newer F10 5-series at the BMW dealer - despite them growing more toward luxury than sport, they're really growing on me - particularly as a commuting car. Just need to wait until they come down more in price.

For kicks, looked at the Hyundai Santa Fe, curious if it could be an alternative to the minivan. They didn't have a Limited with the second row captain's chairs, and on the bench seat model, I couldn't find any lever that would fold the seats and move them forward for 3rd row access (it was a two step process). Thought that was quite inconvenient - as if they didn't think the 3rd row would be used much. Am curious to check out an Infiniti JX35 (or QX60 now), as they are supposed to have nice entry to the 3rd row.

Finally, stopped by the Mini dealer to see if they hard any new 2014 hardtops - nope, not until next month. But there was a very friendly knowledgeable salesperson who relayed his impressions from his recent test drive event for the new models. He certainly spoke highly of the new model, praising the new engines and interior quality. I'm finding I have a soft spot for the quirky Paceman model - by all means an answer to a question no one asked.

robbieg · March 2014

@nyccarguy said:
tjc78

We are keeping the Pilot. It is going to become my commuting sled. The new car will be my wife's. If she does need the truck on a certain day it will be hers to use.

sandman

No need for 2 SUVs (even if 1 is smaller than the Pilot). She says she wants a sedan.

I think you should ignore the 3rd row in the Pilot to see if you can really live with a sedan. We only have two kids and it is much more enjoyable in our two larger cars than our smaller one (RX) since they have a little more space between them.

As far as sedans, my brain would pick the Accord, my heart would pick the Passat or the Mazda6. However, most likely I would chicken out from buying new and end up with a used ES350.

suydam · March 2014

With 3 kids, we always had a minivan plus a compact car like a Honda Civic or Mazda 323 back in that day. That worked fine and wasn't so hard on fuel costs. The small car was for whoever wasn't towing kids around that day. And not just our own -- their friends are sometimes part of the package too!

nyccarguy · March 2014

@robbieg

All 3 kids actually fit "3 across" in the second row. When we load up the Pilot and head to the beach in the summer, it is just easy to throw everything in the back on top of the Honda cargo mat. When we've gone on a road trip vacation from CT to Charlotte, NC the past 2 summers we also keep all 3 kids in the second row.

We do get good use out of the 3rd row. When we pick my Grandma (she'll be 97 on April 22), she rides shot gun. My wife sits in the 2nd row with our daughter. The boys sit in the 3rd row. If we are coming home from somewhere and it is close to or past the kids' bedtime, we put the boys in the 3rd row because 1 of them will usually fall asleep (my almost 5 year old). If our daughter is awake and one of them is asleep, she'll call their name out and start whacking whoever is asleep next to her.

The sedan will be for my wife to drive during the week. Both boys will be going to the same school next year on the bus. So she'll drive the new car to work Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & use it to run errands with our daughter on Wednesdays. Since her commute is something like 6 miles round trip, it will allow us to lease and keep our payment low. She'll obviously take the Pilot on Saturdays when she's got all 3 kids. I'll take the new car (Passat, Accord, Legacy...) on Saturdays and will drive my Prelude weather and traffic permitting.

VW must really being trying to move metal. I see they are offering 0% for 72 months plus $750 bonus cash on Passat. Same deal on Jettas except only $500 bonus cash.

nyccarguy · March 2014

@suydam

You've got the right idea! You've got an Accord, right?

suydam · March 2014

Yes. Now that we no longer need a minivan . . . The first car we bought once most of them moved out or were driving themselves was a Nissan Maxima -- the un-minivan! Replaced last year by the new Accord.

Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous

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