Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see May lease deals!
Options
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Ram 1500 Bighorn, Built to Serve
Stupid college tuition...
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
The manual claims "lifetime" for it, no servicing, but it seems like an awfully big gamble to pit a $10,000 transmission against a $300 fluid change. With 85,000 miles on the vehicle, I figured it was a good time.
The problem is, with the unit not intended for service, it was a hella-PITA to do the job without specialized equipment. The good news is that I'm rather creative, so I was able to cobble together about $20 worth of parts and pieces to fashion my own fluid pump to quickly, securely, and cleanly add the new fluid to the transmission. All told, I probably spent four hours on the job, but I think it was worth it considering the amount of metallic goo in the bottom of the pan. VAG built it with a large perimeter magnetic area to hold that stuff, but I'm not sure it could have gone more than another 20-30,000 miles worth of accumulation before the magnetic field was weak enough on new material to allow it to start circulating through the fluid. Now that it is reset to zero miles, it should be "lifetime" for all practical purposes THIS time around!
Why have rear seats at all if they don't match or fit the car? Get a 2-seater then!
You've never been in a hot climate if you think rear vents are optional in 2019, LOL!
2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech, 2006 Acura TL w/nav
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-2021 Sahara 4xe-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-2021 Sahara 4xe-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
https://jalopnik.com/heres-the-2021-acura-mdx-and-tlx-way-before-youre-suppo-1836309374
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Today, installed the wire shelves in the main bedroom closet, and got the entire kitchen floor (nasty wood) ripped out, all cleaned up and cat pee corner treated, rolled out underlayment pad and got the first row of snap together vinyl tiles laid. then I was too gassed to continue so called it a day. But even better, electrician came and finished the big projects (main line into the house to a new meter), and put in new box for the new light and cleaned up an outlet in the bathroom, and installed a new dining room light (that wiring was odd). Also replaced a few switches while he was at it. so the place is slowly being modernized. and smelling way less stinky!
tomorrow, finish installing the rest of the kitchen floor, then get the new vanity and faucet installed, and my big projects will be done. just some smaller odd jobs left (caulking, stuff like that). The end, might be in sight!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
'17 Chevy Volt Premiere
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
For most of my auto transmissions, I flush the fluid by pulling the return hose from the radiator, adding a clear stub hose and place that in an empty gallon container, then place the return line in a gallon container with fresh fluid. Start the car and let it pump as you run it through the gears. I have to stop for each gallon swap out (it's fairly fast), but usually 2-3 gallons and you flushed the old stuff out (which is noticeable as dark red or brown fluid vs. bright red fluid). Again, the only reason I did not do this exact technique on the Q7 was because of its design (I had to pull the pan as noted previously) and universal advice to not flush the 8ZF or 6ZF VAG transmissions.
Another fluid often overlooked is power steering. This is another easy one to do: Pull the low pressure return hose off the reservoir (usually it comes in at upper end of reservoir, which is desirable; if you have a design that puts it in at the bottom, take a small section of hose, pinch the end by folding and securing with tape, hose clamp, zip tie, etc, and put it over the connector for the low pressure return). Then, add a stub of hose to the end of this (if needed) and route it to an empty container. Get a new container of fluid ready, turn the key to an unlocked position (acc or on, depending on vehicle, but do not start the engine), and turn the wheel from lock to lock (slowly) while another person adds fluid to the reservoir as it drains out. Once the fluid is bright red / clear/ etc. depending on required PS fluid, you're fully flushed and then just put it back together and top off the tank per indicators.
Finally, differential and transfer case: Again, often overlooked but easy to change. Usually there will be a fill hole and a drain hole. Always pull the plug on the FILL hole first (as they can often be a real PITA to remove, and you don't want to drain without knowing you can fill later). If an older model, like your T-Bird, it probably does not have a drain hole, so you need to remove the cover and replace the gasket afterward. Still easy, just be ready for more of a mess on the drain end of things. For re-fill, I HIGHLY recommend easy-fill pouches. Amsoil came out with these a couple years ago or so, so I don't know if other manufacturers are using them yet, but they make the job so simple I have to wonder why... WHY were these not in use decades ago?!
CPO 2015 Audi A4 quattro 8-speed with tech and premium packages, including B&O Audio.
Midnight Blue Metallic (very dark blue). Tan/Beige/Brown interior leather and headliner, aluminum accents (as opposed to wood which is popular and good match in beige interior cars, but I don't mind the aluminum.
16,4XX miles for just under $22K, $24,090 out the door.
9.5 out of 10 condition, easily and solid. Brand new rotors and pads (sat too long I guess since so low mileage for 4 year old car).
The CPO is only good till January 2020, but that's good enough for me to work the kinks out.
Congrats! Really like the color combo.
2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Ram 1500 Bighorn, Built to Serve
2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech, 2006 Acura TL w/nav
Is this car to replace the maturing lease on your Kia?
2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Ram 1500 Bighorn, Built to Serve
I *think* it’s a little long in the tooth and wondering if (as much as I hate it) the new RAV4 may be the better choice.
2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Ram 1500 Bighorn, Built to Serve
Just worked out a few sample builds and leases on the 2019. Doesn’t work out to be that great a deal.
Using a local dealers “one price” model (the one near you @stickguy) the lease on a 32K MSRP worked out to be $389 with 2K OOP. Um, no.
2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Ram 1500 Bighorn, Built to Serve
Was a cheap lease though - $290/month with $1k OOP for 24 months.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
Today when we finished he came up to me and said “I like washing cars with you, Daddy.” Cue heart melting.
So.... I saved a lot of money today, and will continue to save via lower insurance, maintenance, and gas usage as a daily commuter for the next 2 to 3 years, and then I'll hopefully be able to get something extra special (delayed full gratification). And I finally got my first beige interior car in my lifetime that I've long desired from Audi since my A3 (got it in gray but would have preferred beige). My Dad's Lexus ES300H was making me jealous of the interior color!
I also miss a DSG transmission somewhat; I just love them for their more natural feel. A more mechanical and aggressive feel, with snappy/sporty shifts, whereas the 8-speed tiptronic is buttery smooth, but just not as snappy, different personality. I believe the B9 generation A4's get the upgraded transmission, whereas the new S4 doesn't, in a opposite reversal of roles from the B8 generation ('09-'16).
Edmund's is making pics difficult. Can no longer attach them easily. Advise on setting an easy hub for photos without cost for a "URL?"
Carvana was cool smooth and fast!!! Their business model seems to fit this forum thread to a T. They are like CCBA adrenaline. I liked trading a VW w/ black interior for an Audi with half the mileage for about $6,500 all in all out the door.
They had a VIRTUALLY identical car!!!!
Differences were limited to only the list below as follows:
Mine:
'15 16K miles, aluminum accents condition solid 9.5 out of 10 $21,890 (lowered multiple times on the lot over 50 days!) .
Mission Viejo's:
'16 28K miles, wood accents (nice!), condition 9 out of 10, rear windows tinted darker (seemed like a good job), but asking $25,000 and didn't seem very interested or motivated in going lower (talked about dealers in area going to Carmax price model). Only on the lot less than 2 weeks.
My balancing act intuitively said the mileage and model year difference effectively cancelled out as a tie. Do you all agree? So it came down to price and condition. Of course, the '16 also gets about another 10 months of warranty I think (not quite a year due to sale date).
LOL... in my sick twisted mind I know where to go to replace my A4 if someone totals it on my way home.... fortunately, no collisions to report
My wife didn't want the Alltrack back at the end of the Kia Lease on Labor Day weekend. Therefore, another punch coming soon (but not soon by @breld standards).
The TTS will continue to serve as my speedy toy.
2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech, 2006 Acura TL w/nav
What is on the short list to replace the Kia?
2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Ram 1500 Bighorn, Built to Serve