Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous

qbrozen · September 2019

maybe I'll take a peek at an Exploder. Would rather the 4.6, but the only one I have found so far has 20k more miles than this one for the same price.
https://www.worldwideautonj.com/2009_Ford_Explorer_Hamilton_NJ_28443699.veh#

mb_enthusiast · September 2019

If you could buy a $56k used car for clean trade-in value ($48k), but you had to do it without an inspection, would you do it?

28firefighter · September 2019

mb_enthusiast said:
If you could buy a $56k used car for clean trade-in value ($48k), but you had to do it without an inspection, would you do it?

What kind of car? I don't think there is any used car I'd buy at that price without an inspection.

mb_enthusiast · September 2019

tifighter said:
Did someone say mean-looking SUV (lol)?

That's an interesting looking minivan.

qbrozen · September 2019

mb_enthusiast said:
If you could buy a $56k used car for clean trade-in value ($48k), but you had to do it without an inspection, would you do it?

It depends. $56k could represent a wide range of vehicles, ages, and mileage. As y'all know, I've bought cars with no inspection.

stickguy · September 2019

Not a bad looking exploder. Good option to consider.

tjc78 · September 2019

nyccarguy said:

28firefighter said:
@nyccarguy and @tjc78 - How old were your kids when you turned them forward facing in their car seat?
We followed the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations. We turned our boys around at 1. We waited until our daughter was 2.

My son was about 15-16 months when he went to front facing. My daughter was very tiny so she made it a bit longer but still before 2.

My daughter now turns 4 in October and is in a booster (she is skinny but tall). My son is 6 in March and is riding with just a belt. Yes I know that is not Kosher but he is nearly 60 lbs and tall enough the belt is in proper position.

IMO the car seat laws are a bit out of control. I remember riding in the front at 6 years old.

stickguy · September 2019

I probably rode home from the hospital in my mother’s lap.

28firefighter · September 2019

It is a little crazy. My wife wanted to keep him to the max rear facing and I'm just not sure I understand why...

thebean · September 2019

stickguy said:
I probably rode home from the hospital in my mother’s lap.

I’m pretty sure I was tossed into a beer case in the back of my fathers pickup.

tjc78 · September 2019

28firefighter said:
It is a little crazy. My wife wanted to keep him to the max rear facing and I'm just not sure I understand why...

It’s pretty uncomfortable for them as they get taller. My daughters legs were hitting the back of seat and scrunched.

xwesx · September 2019

tjc78 said:

IMO the car seat laws are a bit out of control. I remember riding in the front at 6 years old.

Agreed. It is all about moderating risk, so do what you're most comfortable doing in terms of timing of those things. IIRC, we had ours in rear facing for around first six months, then were front-facing in the two-piece "carrier" style car seat until they outgrew it, after which they were in the five-point front-facing seats to around four or five years old, then we removed the five-point harness and they used the vehicle's seat belt over the front of that seat.

We didn't stop using the full seats until we went on our transcontinental trip in 2013, at which time our daughter was just shy of six (son was nine). Those seats were both too bulky to haul all across the continent, so we bought them each a butt-booster and never looked back. I think they were each around nine or ten when they stopped using those.

28firefighter · September 2019

Sam’s have been that way for probably 6 months. He doesn’t complain and it seems every study says it’s safer. But sheesh it’s inconvenient.

nyccarguy · September 2019

Guy I’m friendly with has a V8 4 Runner like the ‘04 you posted @qbrozen. Mechanically very sound, but the last time he brought it in the mechanic warned him that it’s starting to rust.

I know it’s common in 4Runners & Tacoma’s of that vintage, but the brine they Pre treat the roads with can’t help matter either.

suydam · September 2019

My kids were way too tall to have ever been in rear seats that long. They were born wearing 6 or 9 month sizes! So if it works for you, I’m sure it’s a good idea.

qbrozen · September 2019

Rust seems to plague every 4x4 older than 10 yrs around here.

I went to check out the v8 exploder. Bumpers were painted by a toddler. I didn’t bother digging further than that. Walked amongst the many indy car lots on that stretch of road. Only thing that really caught my attention was a 2010 Equinox. Sharp little trucklet. This one had 140k miles so I did not inquire. But it is something I’ll keep an eye out for.

stickguy · September 2019

you obviously have way more knowledge than me in terms of inspecting cars, and dealing with potential problems.

But, this is the issue I run into every time I try and come up with a cheap used car option. I start looking, and find out what the trash is like in the 7-10K price range, get frustrated, then just buy a new car.

stickguy · September 2019

saw a nice medium blue X3 today walking across a parking lot after dinner. so pointed out how nice looking a car it was. she agreed, but said it was too light a blue. Which it was, but otherwise nice.

then she pointed at a car across the street and said she liked the color. a gen 1 Edge, in a red/brown/bronze color. I usually love those, but she is not always a fan.

so, learned something today!

andres3 · September 2019

I know there's a car commercial forum on Edmunds, but I thought this was appropriate for here.

1) It makes me want a new 2020 Audi RS6 Avant badly.
2) It's an extremely well made 6 minute plus car commercial.
3) It tugs on the heartstrings, particularly for newer father's out there.
4) It speaks to your soul deep down for Audi enthusiasts out there.
5) All wagon lovers in the world can appreciate the effort that went into this.
6) The new RS6 is beautiful in my opinion, the way a wagon can be, aggressive, without being bold like a Toyota, but elegant and classy aggression the Audi designers do so well.
7) It gives Americans 600 reasons to buy a wagon, and they all go "neigh neigh!"

So well done! Bravo Audi.

https://youtu.be/g8gw8B939Eo

andres3 · September 2019

28firefighter said:
Sam’s have been that way for probably 6 months. He doesn’t complain and it seems every study says it’s safer. But sheesh it’s inconvenient.

The studies I found were very unconvincing and not really full-blooded studies in my opinion. I couldn't find the evidence I was hoping for to back up the conclusions and summaries.

It seems for the horrible to average driver in the US (which is a VERY LOW bar), it makes sense. For better drivers, it might not make sense. The idea is you'll crash into something yourself, front first, rather than more likely to be rear-ended (good drivers are more often rear ended than doing the rear ending). The benefits of rear-facing seem to assume you'll ram something from the front. Obviously, the stresses on the neck are the opposite if you are hit from behind first.

mb_enthusiast · September 2019

28firefighter said:

mb_enthusiast said:
If you could buy a $56k used car for clean trade-in value ($48k), but you had to do it without an inspection, would you do it?
What kind of car? I don't think there is any used car I'd buy at that price without an inspection.

qbrozen said:

mb_enthusiast said:
If you could buy a $56k used car for clean trade-in value ($48k), but you had to do it without an inspection, would you do it?
It depends. $56k could represent a wide range of vehicles, ages, and mileage. As y'all know, I've bought cars with no inspection.

It's a 2015 MB GL63 AMG with 37k miles and one-owner. Cosmetically beautiful. It's like 200 days past a major service. VSC 4yrs, 40k miles is $7800!

qbrozen · September 2019

mb_enthusiast said:

28firefighter said:

mb_enthusiast said:
If you could buy a $56k used car for clean trade-in value ($48k), but you had to do it without an inspection, would you do it?
What kind of car? I don't think there is any used car I'd buy at that price without an inspection.

qbrozen said:

mb_enthusiast said:
If you could buy a $56k used car for clean trade-in value ($48k), but you had to do it without an inspection, would you do it?
It depends. $56k could represent a wide range of vehicles, ages, and mileage. As y'all know, I've bought cars with no inspection.
It's a 2015 MB GL63 AMG with 37k miles and one-owner. Cosmetically beautiful. It's like 200 days past a major service. VSC 4yrs, 40k miles is $7800!

Oh, a 5-yr-old ridiculously complicated luxo-barge? Oh sure! I mean, what could POSSIBLY require inspecting? Not a worry in the world on that one.

28firefighter · September 2019

That definitely needs an inspection and possibly an exorcism.

mb_enthusiast · September 2019

qbrozen said:

mb_enthusiast said:

28firefighter said:

mb_enthusiast said:
If you could buy a $56k used car for clean trade-in value ($48k), but you had to do it without an inspection, would you do it?
What kind of car? I don't think there is any used car I'd buy at that price without an inspection.

qbrozen said:

mb_enthusiast said:
If you could buy a $56k used car for clean trade-in value ($48k), but you had to do it without an inspection, would you do it?
It depends. $56k could represent a wide range of vehicles, ages, and mileage. As y'all know, I've bought cars with no inspection.
It's a 2015 MB GL63 AMG with 37k miles and one-owner. Cosmetically beautiful. It's like 200 days past a major service. VSC 4yrs, 40k miles is $7800!
Oh, a 5-yr-old ridiculously complicated luxo-barge? Oh sure! I mean, what could POSSIBLY require inspecting? Not a worry in the world on that one.

28firefighter said:
That definitely needs an inspection and possibly an exorcism.

I once purchased a pre-owned $20k Mercedes diesel without my own inspection that ended up needing over $30k worth of work (essentially a new engine, new suspension, and diesel particulate filter). I traded it in when I got the Q8. Lost so much money, but did win a small judgment against the dealership. Illinois law is now such that I could have returned the vehicle.

28firefighter · September 2019

I think you just made my point.

Michaell · September 2019

Not in the market, but hoping to convince @breld to go on a test drive with me tomorrow...

28firefighter · September 2019

Famous last words

benjaminh · September 2019

Lincoln has yet another 30 second advertisement with Matthew McConaughey....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbhFKTQkf3A

tjc78 · September 2019

Michaell said:
Not in the market, but hoping to convince @breld to go on a test drive with me tomorrow...

Wonder what he will buy....

qbrozen · September 2019

Michaell said:
Not in the market, but hoping to convince @breld to go on a test drive with me tomorrow...

“So my AA sponsor and I walk into a bar...”

roadburner · September 2019

nyccarguy said:

28firefighter said:
@nyccarguy and @tjc78 - How old were your kids when you turned them forward facing in their car seat?
We followed the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations. We turned our boys around at 1. We waited until our daughter was 2.

The BMW car seat I had smuggled in was designed to be forward facing from 12-months up.

graphicguy · September 2019

Had a 4 Runner years ago. I put 50K on it with no issues. Only did required maintenance and nothing failed. Sold it to a neighbor who was communing back and forth to Columbus every day (around 180 miles/day). He put another 100K miles on it. Only did a battery replacement, tires, brakes, required maintenance. Nothing really broke on it.

He gave it to his son, who proceeded to put another 50K on it (while doing dubious maintenance, if any at all) before selling it. No issues at all.

It was rusting, but at 200K miles, I’d say it was/is a great vehicle. You can’t kill them.

Not sure about the current ones, but mine was a tank. Body on frame. An honest to goodness low range, which I used on the deepest snows and to yearly camping vacations to the Smokies.

Slow, relatively thirsty by today’s standards. Still, comfortable and wouldn’t have hesitated to drive it cross country to off road in it.

marcogallo1986 · September 2019

@ ondryas3. Nice on the above!

qbrozen · September 2019

graphicguy said:
Had a 4 Runner years ago. I put 50K on it with no issues. Only did required maintenance and nothing failed. Sold it to a neighbor who was communing back and forth to Columbus every day (around 180 miles/day). He put another 100K miles on it. Only did a battery replacement, tires, brakes, required maintenance. Nothing really broke on it.

He gave it to his son, who proceeded to put another 50K on it (while doing dubious maintenance, if any at all) before selling it. No issues at all.

It was rusting, but at 200K miles, I’d say it was/is a great vehicle. You can’t kill them.

Not sure about the current ones, but mine was a tank. Body on frame. An honest to goodness low range, which I used on the deepest snows and to yearly camping vacations to the Smokies.

Slow, relatively thirsty by today’s standards. Still, comfortable and wouldn’t have hesitated to drive it cross country to off road in it.

I wouldn’t mind finding a preserved ‘80s 4runner with 22RE engine and 5-spd. I rather liked the one I drove through my college years.

andres3 · September 2019

mb_enthusiast said:

qbrozen said:

mb_enthusiast said:

28firefighter said:

mb_enthusiast said:
If you could buy a $56k used car for clean trade-in value ($48k), but you had to do it without an inspection, would you do it?
What kind of car? I don't think there is any used car I'd buy at that price without an inspection.

qbrozen said:

mb_enthusiast said:
If you could buy a $56k used car for clean trade-in value ($48k), but you had to do it without an inspection, would you do it?
It depends. $56k could represent a wide range of vehicles, ages, and mileage. As y'all know, I've bought cars with no inspection.
It's a 2015 MB GL63 AMG with 37k miles and one-owner. Cosmetically beautiful. It's like 200 days past a major service. VSC 4yrs, 40k miles is $7800!
Oh, a 5-yr-old ridiculously complicated luxo-barge? Oh sure! I mean, what could POSSIBLY require inspecting? Not a worry in the world on that one.

28firefighter said:
That definitely needs an inspection and possibly an exorcism.
I once purchased a pre-owned $20k Mercedes diesel without my own inspection that ended up needing over $30k worth of work (essentially a new engine, new suspension, and diesel particulate filter). I traded it in when I got the Q8. Lost so much money, but did win a small judgment against the dealership. Illinois law is now such that I could have returned the vehicle.

Speaking of suspensions, my TTS is getting a new rear suspension assembly. I took it in for a seat heater button not lighting up correctly in the left side vent, and the tech said the TSB on the rear suspension mounts applied to my car (he heard noises that shouldn't be there), so they ordered that as well. Bring in my car a week later, and they call the next day to confirm the need a whole rear shock assembly (from Germany). They said to get comfortable with my old loaner, the '16 A7 TDI that's black on black that I'm borrowing, it could be up to 3 weeks.

While I'm upset they tried to get away with just the mounts, I'm happy to get a fresh set of shocks for the rear. I was just thinking KW Variant 3 Coil-overs might be a nice upgrade. I asked about the fronts and they said they were fine. Apparently the rear threw a code (they are magnetically adjustable). Interestingly, the TSB included a suspension software update (who'd of known, but I guess I should have since they are adjustable electronically and magnetically), I believe it has ended my train of "don't ask don't tell" policy regarding my tune. They will cover this one, but the younger newer service adviser (I knew I should have stuck with my old veteran guy), said that Audi USA was getting terrible about paying warranty claims for tuned cars, and he'd likely have to pay for this through his own "account" or something like that. I mentioned how the shocks had nothing to do with the tune (though he just gave the tuners another idea to "tune" the suspension with software for the track). He said while he didn't agree with Audi USA, that's what they are doing now.

Should have stuck with the adviser that turns a blind eye. Maybe my tech got mad for calling him out on changing fresh Motul 600 brake fluid for the normal dealership stuff, or maybe mentioning the odd brake fluid raised too many flags.

ab348 · September 2019

qbrozen said:
Eh. I don’t think the design of the Ridgeline has aged well at all (if you were even one of the few who liked it before).
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/share/245545448

I was in traffic today next to a 1st-gen Ridgeline. I will freely admit that I hated the styling when they first came out. But I guess time heals all wounds, even to the eye, and now that it is just a used car it isn't particularly offensive to me. Certainly not as bad in that way as several other Asian models, not to mention the Aztek. Looking at it objectively, it seems the perfect solution to the set of needs you posted. If you could find a decent one that isn't rusty within in your budget I think that is what I would go for. I would feel much more confident with a decade+ old Honda than some other makes. Were their transmission woes over by the time this one came along?

andres3 · September 2019

benjaminh said:
Lincoln has yet another 30 second advertisement with Matthew McConaughey....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbhFKTQkf3A

That would certainly be cheaper to play during the 2020 Superbowl then Audi's 6:40 second spot I linked above. I'd love to see a 6:30 second version at the Superbowl, but how many RS 6's would that cost?

ab348 · September 2019

I saw one of these in traffic today. Was surprisingly cute and in looking up what it was, it is remarkably civilized inside. Seemed to keep up well with traffic though I wouldn't want to drive it on a windy day.

It's a Honda Vamos, made up until 2016. The one I saw looked almost brand-new and was in well cared-for condition, even had wind deflectors on the side windows. Maybe the ideal solution for @qbrozen if he can handle RHD... :laughing:

marcogallo1986 · September 2019

Nice on all of the above

stickguy · September 2019

happened to pass the local Jag dealer today. It used to also have the SAAB dealer in the same building, but since they went under, was just Jag. New to me, they now have the Land Rover store (formerly about 3-4 miles down the road, also in a stand alone store) in there too. Not sure what is going on with that building (renovating or selling something else out of it, or just selling it) but it was in a spot with lousy access.

they are all I believe part of the group that owns the VW/Audi/Porsche stores (those are all together) and the MB palace just up the street.

thebean · September 2019

ab348 said:
I saw one of these in traffic today. Was surprisingly cute and in looking up what it was, it is remarkably civilized inside. Seemed to keep up well with traffic though I wouldn't want to drive it on a windy day.

It's a Honda Vamos, made up until 2016. The one I saw looked almost brand-new and was in well cared-for condition, even had wind deflectors on the side windows. Maybe the ideal solution for @qbrozen if he can handle RHD... :laughing:

To me, that’s great looking. I would definitely buy one of those were it offered in the US. Van-like space that fits in your garage. Never seen one before.

stickguy · September 2019

stopped to lot shop at Hyundia today. Oh, noticed a lot of new signage for Genesis on the building too (they have always been in there) which is surprising, since last fall I was talking to them and they were supposedly redoing the old CPJ location about a mile or 2 away (huge place that they were already using the service area from). Seemed to make a lot more sense to move Hyundai store up there since it is bigger. So who knows?

plenty of Genisii around. And I saw a delivery happening on a Kona Electric (said electric in big letters on the back).

they did have a couple nice Santa Fes parked out front. They are really growing on me. Nice styling in and out and well equipped. Need to get the wife out to drive one. They had a 2.0t in Lava Orange I loved. sent her a pick, but she wasn't convinced. But she liked the blue one next to it. Daughter thought they looked snappy too.

so we shall see! Today is our anniversary but she got a dozen roses instead of a new car.

ab348 · September 2019

thebean said:

ab348 said:
I saw one of these in traffic today. Was surprisingly cute and in looking up what it was, it is remarkably civilized inside. Seemed to keep up well with traffic though I wouldn't want to drive it on a windy day.

It's a Honda Vamos, made up until 2016. The one I saw looked almost brand-new and was in well cared-for condition, even had wind deflectors on the side windows. Maybe the ideal solution for @qbrozen if he can handle RHD... :laughing:
To me, that’s great looking. I would definitely buy one of those were it offered in the US. Van-like space that fits in your garage. Never seen one before.

Here you go, just waiting for you to buy it.

https://www.japanesevehicles.com/vehicle_details.php?vid=199778

Odd thing about that site, it told me that vehicles had to be 15 years of age or older to be imported into Canada (and for the US, it basically said forget it). The one I saw is a late model and was registered here with local plates, so I wonder how that was done.

qbrozen · September 2019

I have a confession to make. My little one and I glanced at a last-gen Jeep Liberty and thought it wasn’t all that bad looking. May even consider the right one. I am also thinking of test driving a Nitro.

Nothing good today. Visited 2 dealers that had all garbage cars. Not worth my time. Would have liked to shop more but I have a couple guys here putting up fence at the slowest pace I have ever witnessed.

mjfloyd1 · September 2019

andres3 said:

mb_enthusiast said:

qbrozen said:

mb_enthusiast said:

28firefighter said:

mb_enthusiast said:
If you could buy a $56k used car for clean trade-in value ($48k), but you had to do it without an inspection, would you do it?
What kind of car? I don't think there is any used car I'd buy at that price without an inspection.

qbrozen said:

mb_enthusiast said:
If you could buy a $56k used car for clean trade-in value ($48k), but you had to do it without an inspection, would you do it?
It depends. $56k could represent a wide range of vehicles, ages, and mileage. As y'all know, I've bought cars with no inspection.
It's a 2015 MB GL63 AMG with 37k miles and one-owner. Cosmetically beautiful. It's like 200 days past a major service. VSC 4yrs, 40k miles is $7800!
Oh, a 5-yr-old ridiculously complicated luxo-barge? Oh sure! I mean, what could POSSIBLY require inspecting? Not a worry in the world on that one.

28firefighter said:
That definitely needs an inspection and possibly an exorcism.
I once purchased a pre-owned $20k Mercedes diesel without my own inspection that ended up needing over $30k worth of work (essentially a new engine, new suspension, and diesel particulate filter). I traded it in when I got the Q8. Lost so much money, but did win a small judgment against the dealership. Illinois law is now such that I could have returned the vehicle.
Speaking of suspensions, my TTS is getting a new rear suspension assembly. I took it in for a seat heater button not lighting up correctly in the left side vent, and the tech said the TSB on the rear suspension mounts applied to my car (he heard noises that shouldn't be there), so they ordered that as well. Bring in my car a week later, and they call the next day to confirm the need a whole rear shock assembly (from Germany). They said to get comfortable with my old loaner, the '16 A7 TDI that's black on black that I'm borrowing, it could be up to 3 weeks.

While I'm upset they tried to get away with just the mounts, I'm happy to get a fresh set of shocks for the rear. I was just thinking KW Variant 3 Coil-overs might be a nice upgrade. I asked about the fronts and they said they were fine. Apparently the rear threw a code (they are magnetically adjustable). Interestingly, the TSB included a suspension software update (who'd of known, but I guess I should have since they are adjustable electronically and magnetically), I believe it has ended my train of "don't ask don't tell" policy regarding my tune. They will cover this one, but the younger newer service adviser (I knew I should have stuck with my old veteran guy), said that Audi USA was getting terrible about paying warranty claims for tuned cars, and he'd likely have to pay for this through his own "account" or something like that. I mentioned how the shocks had nothing to do with the tune (though he just gave the tuners another idea to "tune" the suspension with software for the track). He said while he didn't agree with Audi USA, that's what they are doing now.

Should have stuck with the adviser that turns a blind eye. Maybe my tech got mad for calling him out on changing fresh Motul 600 brake fluid for the normal dealership stuff, or maybe mentioning the odd brake fluid raised too many flags.

It would have been flagged TD1 no matter who your service advisor was. When they hook up to your OBD2 port they know how many flashes the ECU has received vs how many it should have. They can also check an actual vs spec on multiple parameters and see that you are outside of the factory parameters on multiple specs.

You have to pay to play.

28firefighter · September 2019

Test drove a Bolt EV Premier today. Really fun car - quick, excellent interior, nice layout. The cabin was very quiet and the backseat was big. Probably the same size inside as the i3 but with regular doors it was much more accessible.

The big problem? The seats are horribly uncomfortable. My back was hurting after all of 2 miles driving it. The manual adjustments simply don’t do enough and there is no lumbar adjustment.

I really wanted to love it but it just didn’t work for me.

ab348 · September 2019

qbrozen said:
I have a confession to make. My little one and I glanced at a last-gen Jeep Liberty and thought it wasn’t all that bad looking. May even consider the right one. I am also thinking of test driving a Nitro.

A former co-worker had a Liberty for 3 years (a lease). Guzzled gas, and was troublesome. He was glad to turn it back in. I have not heard many people sing their praises (or that of the Nitro which is the same under the skin). Lots of problems it seems.

Here's a good deal on a Ridgeline (hint hint):
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inventorylisting/viewDetailsFilterViewInventoryListing.action?sourceContext=untrackedExternal_false_0&newSearchFromOverviewPage=true&inventorySearchWidgetType=AUTO&entitySelectingHelper.selectedEntity=c2083&entitySelectingHelper.selectedEntity2=c21833&zip=08608&distance=200&searchChanged=true&modelChanged=true&filtersModified=true&sortType=MILEAGE&sortDirection=ASC#listing=245545448

Michaell · September 2019

I took my test drive today. I convinced @breld to accompany me to a Mazda dealer where I drove a 2018 Mazda 3 GT sedan with a stick shift. CPO with only 1100 miles on it, and a price tag under $21,000.

Blue over black leather, pretty well-equipped with the Bose stereo. I liked the way it drove - the lack of a turbo was more than made up by for the row-your-own transmission.

Could be a contender - if I was in the market

stickguy · September 2019

the big If.

I was really smitten by the Santa Fe's I saw today. really gotta drive one. Might hit the sweet spot of cost, features, size, and a biggie, wife being comfortable with it.

Recently I think she is going backwards being able to handle tech stuff (work PC, phones, etc.). An X3 or new RDX (even an XC60) might put her over the edge. Santa Fe does all the same stuff, but just simpler (more like a "normal" car)!

stickguy · September 2019

oh, the Outback would probably be even more perfect, if she can get over it being a "wagon"

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