Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

28firefighter · June 2020

Car is actually in Vancouver BC. That complicates things. I know it’s possible to import from Canada, especially a car that was sold here as well, but not sure...

houdini1 · June 2020

stickguy said:
that GX does look nice. and is probably the perfect height (hip point) for you. I know from the past when I had lower lumbar issues that a low slung car is a killer to get in and out of.

for the winter car, depends where you are. Places up in NY (near OF, and a bit NW where it is even much worse) you can end up with a car coated in salt for 4 straight months. And you see a whole lotta cars rotted out completely (like Farmers plywood hooptie van). Plus it is colder than heck all the time. and of course the roads are bombed out. So for around town duty the real requirements are starting when cold out, good heater, and cushy ride. The Olds should hit the bill. Driving excitement is rarely appearing on the radar.

Apparently the GX is manufactured in S. Korea. I wonder how much is Buick and how much is Kia or Hyundai.

sda · June 2020

I believe Daewoo is now GM Korea.

mjfloyd1 · June 2020

corvette said:
At that age and price range, I don’t think paint work is a huge deduction.

I mainly wondered if the paint matches well because they only showed a picture of that fender with the driver’s door open

suydam · June 2020

I think the original Encore was produced in Korea or China, I’m not sure. We’ve had ours for 5 years now, and have replaced 2 tires and had 3 oil changes. Period.

kyfdx · June 2020

28firefighter said:
Someone put me out of my misery.

https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/d/los-angeles-series-bmw-wagon-manual/7149711212.html

Not as much fun as you would think. That might be the least inspiring 6 cylinder that BMW has ever wrought.

breld · June 2020

My wife’s 2010 wagon was quite fun to drive. The previous owner did put an aftermarket exhaust on it but I don’t imagine that added much to the performance.

The Msport package is a little more distinctive but then again it would then probably be in the overpriced BaT bucket.

I think that’s a great wagon - nice color combo. Having the Nav modernizes the interior. Off the cuff seems like it’s priced reasonably.

oldfarmer50 · June 2020

28firefighter said:
Someone put me out of my misery.

https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/d/los-angeles-series-bmw-wagon-manual/7149711212.html

Why is the left front fender brand new? I’d need a lot more info. And why so stingy with the exterior shots?

oldfarmer50 · June 2020

28firefighter said:
Car is actually in Vancouver BC. That complicates things. I know it’s possible to import from Canada, especially a car that was sold here as well, but not sure...

I always wondered about that too. I’ve heard it’s problematic to get them registered if built for the Canadian market.

stickguy · June 2020

28firefighter said:
Someone put me out of my misery.

https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/d/los-angeles-series-bmw-wagon-manual/7149711212.html

nice. even with AWD. wonder how bad the accident was that they had to replace the front fender?

I have watched too many YouTube videos lately by the guys the trade in these (Samcrac, JR, etc.) that I just assume it has, or is about to have, multiple error codes and chronic failures. But maybe this one was actually maintained and sorted out!

love the interior.

stickguy · June 2020

I actually went to the buick site and built a GX last night. Pricier than I thought ($31K for a FWD without the driving aid of sporty trim package). And it comes with a 1.2l engine and CVT?

suydam · June 2020

All Buicks have highly inflated MSRP. The real prices people pay are thousands less. Very stupid if you ask me, and no one does.

qbrozen · June 2020

Got a text that the AMG is on a truck, paperwork tucked under the floor mat.

fintail · June 2020

I don't think it's too hard to import a car from Canada, so long as it exists in US spec. There's red tape of course, and brokers exist to take care of it for you. Might be more difficult these days, with the ban on non-essential cross-border traffic (which will probably exist for some time with the way things are being managed in Murka).

If that BMW lived in Richmond or Burnaby, fender replacement is like tire replacement with the local driving skill set, no big deal.

stickguy · June 2020

I was looking at one of the recent auctions linked, and it was a car just over the border. someone asked about that, and the dealers said it was usually NBD, they took care of the paperwork and you drove it home. But with the new restrictions, they would drive it over the border to a warehouse they have on the US side, and you would do the paperwork and get the car there. But the legal aspect was supposed to be pretty straightforward, and they took care of it all.

28firefighter · June 2020

I’d have less concerns with a dealer but this was a private party. We passed. Too much hassle with the border closure.

ronsteve · June 2020

corvette said:
I think I've posted here before - Toyota dropped E85 support on the Tundra for 2020. I was curious as to whether this was a marketing change vs. a hardware / software change, so I ran the Tundra down to its reserve and filled up with E85. The drive home was uneventful, other than noticeably lower MPG.

I believe the incentives given to manufacturers for building flex fuel vehicles changed from year to year, and it's probably no longer attractive for most. With that, it seems like the flex-fuel experiment in the US is coming to an end, although most newer vehicles (including the Tundra) do appear to support E15. It looks like GM and Ford are the only makes still selling flex-fuel vehicles which support E85.

Here in Louisville the delta is very small between unleaded ($2.39/gal) and E85 ($2.19), and has been too small to make up for the difference in energy density for quite some time. About the only reason to run E85 in a compatible vehicle around here is to conserve crude. Don't know if places like Iowa have a more favorable balance, but if it doesn't pay to use E85, there's not much reason for manufacturers to support it.

pensfan83 · June 2020

Starting to ebb closer to a punch than we planned or wanted to. We both wanted to see and drive the new TLX but we're both a little put off by a car that has roughly the same exterior dimensions as a 5 series so I think that's all but out. Ran some numbers that reflect current RDX programs and an admittedly aggressive, but not impossible dealer discount and it makes for a very good to excellent lease relative of course to the Acura brand. It's always a gamble but I'm wondering if programs will really get any better in a few months.

breld · June 2020

@pensfan83 - I can't recall...would this be a replacement for the TLX?

pensfan83 · June 2020

Yes

tjc78 · June 2020

pensfan83 said:
Starting to ebb closer to a punch than we planned or wanted to. We both wanted to see and drive the new TLX but we're both a little put off by a car that has roughly the same exterior dimensions as a 5 series so I think that's all but out. Ran some numbers that reflect current RDX programs and an admittedly aggressive, but not impossible dealer discount and it makes for a very good to excellent lease relative of course to the Acura brand. It's always a gamble but I'm wondering if programs will really get any better in a few months.

Great car and probably about as good a time as any. They really haven't leased well since their introduction.

xwesx · June 2020

corvette said:
I think I've posted here before - Toyota dropped E85 support on the Tundra for 2020. I was curious as to whether this was a marketing change vs. a hardware / software change, so I ran the Tundra down to its reserve and filled up with E85. The drive home was uneventful, other than noticeably lower MPG.

I plugged in my BlueDriver to see whether there were any pending codes, and all hell broke loose. Trailer brake error, pre-collision error, visit dealer, etc. was popping up on the instrument cluster. It appears the scan tool is not yet compatible with 2020 models. I didn't try to clear the codes with the BlueDriver, just pulled the negative battery cable for 30 seconds or so, and all seems to be fine. It was also showing pending codes for Bank 1 / Bank 2 too lean, so I'm going to assume I will get a check engine light soon.

I believe the incentives given to manufacturers for building flex fuel vehicles changed from year to year, and it's probably no longer attractive for most. With that, it seems like the flex-fuel experiment in the US is coming to an end, although most newer vehicles (including the Tundra) do appear to support E15. It looks like GM and Ford are the only makes still selling flex-fuel vehicles which support E85.

It may just be marketing stuff regarding E85, but one issue could be with component compatibility. Ethanol is highly corrosive on many types of plastics and rubbers. Running E85 through a single tank in fairly short order will probably do no harm, but it could cause problems over a longer timeline.

explorerx4 · June 2020

When vehicles first became E85 compatible, the fuel delivery system had to be upgraded for the reasons xwesx mentioned.
One of my kids filled up their Escape with E85 by mistake. Check engine light popped on, but went away after they topped it off with E10 a few times.

xwesx · June 2020

tjc78 said:
RE: “beaters”

Who has actually had one? A real one anyway.

Mine was from 1999 to 2001 or so. Gas was cheap so I bought a 79 -Continental Town Coupe for $700. Dull paint, rusty, low oil pressure but ran well. Fixed the AC and added dual exhausts with CAT delete. Bumped the timing till right before it pinged on premium and then beat the ever loving snot out of it (would do a nice burnout, factory trac lok still held) Put 40k on it before I junked it. Never once let me down despite having zero oil pressure hot idle in drive. I ran straight 40 oil in it.

Several here that would probably fit the bill of a "beater." 1998 Escort, 2008 Forester, 1969 Econoline, 1976 F250, 1998 Grand Caravan.... I'm sure there's more. 2008 Focus (though I actually bought that one for a friend).

28firefighter · June 2020

I was going to say that it is hard to argue with the RDX from a utility perspective, but you do already have the Tacoma...

I think the challenge with the TLX is (1) the dimensions (and this bothered me on the Accord, too), and (2) it likely will not lease well for the first MY.

28firefighter · June 2020

Hoovie's Camaro Z28 is up:
https://carsandbids.com/auctions/92X6Qgy4/1993-chevrolet-camaro-z-28

benjaminh · June 2020

Was at the Acura dealer for an oil change in my TLX and saw this new MDX PMC. msrp 60k....

benjaminh · June 2020

pensfan83 said:
Starting to ebb closer to a punch than we planned or wanted to. We both wanted to see and drive the new TLX but we're both a little put off by a car that has roughly the same exterior dimensions as a 5 series so I think that's all but out. Ran some numbers that reflect current RDX programs and an admittedly aggressive, but not impossible dealer discount and it makes for a very good to excellent lease relative of course to the Acura brand. It's always a gamble but I'm wondering if programs will really get any better in a few months.

I think the driving dynamics on the new TLX are going to be excellent. But like you I have some concerns about the size. On the other hand, it's only about 2 inches wider and about 3 inches longer than the current TLX. And so it's a bit bigger than the current model, but not by much.

I think the Acura loyalty incentives on the RDX right now are outstanding. I don't expect them to be this good for long. Next month my guess is that they'll be reduced.

tjc78 · June 2020

benjaminh said:
Was at the Acura dealer for an oil change in my TLX and saw this new MDX PMC. msrp 60k....

Gorgeous except the wheels would be an absolute deal breaker for me

stickguy · June 2020

I suspect deals really aren’t getting much better. Especially if inventory is getting thin. So if the numbers work and you can pull ahead, lock it in.

corvette · June 2020

Made an appointment for the 5k tire rotation on the Tundra. I thought I'd give Oxmoor Toyota a try since it's close to me and really, it's impossible for them to screw up a tire rotation, right? Went to their website to schedule, and they wanted to sell me a "premier" service package (adding only an oil change) for $116. When I backed out of that menu and selected the 5k "complimentary service," the website told me it would cost $35. Sounds about right for "free."

I made an appointment with Wyler Toyota with no issues. I will pay the toll and go across the river to Clarksville before I deal with the clowns at Oxmoor.

stickguy · June 2020

28firefighter said:
Hoovie's Camaro Z28 is up:
https://carsandbids.com/auctions/92X6Qgy4/1993-chevrolet-camaro-z-28

Needs a manual.

I’m waiting for the DB7 to go up!

tjc78 · June 2020

Just called to make the one year appointment for the Volvo. I was told service was busy and they would call me back.

That was an hour ago, never had that happen at any dealer.

oldfarmer50 · June 2020

28firefighter said:
Hoovie's Camaro Z28 is up:
https://carsandbids.com/auctions/92X6Qgy4/1993-chevrolet-camaro-z-28

I just saw his video on that. Unusual marketing to beat the car up while he’s selling it to you. Bid is up to $5000 with 7 days to go. Already near my limit for a hooptie but probably as well fixed up as any used car out there. Really, think about it, you could see him get everything wrong with it fixed.

If it was a convertible I’d definitely trade my Sebring for it. Both have the same miles. He admits to being the dumbest car buyer on the planet. Might work.

oldfarmer50 · June 2020

benjaminh said:
Was at the Acura dealer for an oil change in my TLX and saw this new MDX PMC. msrp 60k....

Did they steal that paint from Mazda? Agree, the wheels look so out of place.

fintail · June 2020

For the sporting parent with extra shout and aggression?

With 90s cars being a new darling, and Hoovie maybe taking care of problem issues, that Z28 might not fare too poorly. Just enough miles where it shouldn't be too rotten, and at the same time you can drive it a little and not devalue it. Most of those cars were ruined by eventual owners.

pensfan83 · June 2020

28firefighter said:
I was going to say that it is hard to argue with the RDX from a utility perspective, but you do already have the Tacoma...

I think the challenge with the TLX is (1) the dimensions (and this bothered me on the Accord, too), and (2) it likely will not lease well for the first MY.

The utility is a little redundant but the wife loves the RDX and she has certainly indulged my fun car purchases over the past 18 months. I didn't realize AA was now available (thanks @benjaminh!) so the only thing that it's missing is a wireless charger, which isn't a dealbreaker.

28firefighter · June 2020

pensfan83 said:

28firefighter said:
I was going to say that it is hard to argue with the RDX from a utility perspective, but you do already have the Tacoma...

I think the challenge with the TLX is (1) the dimensions (and this bothered me on the Accord, too), and (2) it likely will not lease well for the first MY.
The utility is a little redundant but the wife loves the RDX and she has certainly indulged my fun car purchases over the past 18 months. I didn't realize AA was now available (thanks @benjaminh!) so the only thing that it's missing is a wireless charger, which isn't a dealbreaker.

I probably would not wait, in that case.

stickguy · June 2020

I thought the advance package Came with wireless. But apparently not. So thing I did not care much about since I would likely not use it. Plus the wife wouldn’t be able to keep that lower tray full of junk!

mjfloyd1 · June 2020

corvette said:
Made an appointment for the 5k tire rotation on the Tundra. I thought I'd give Oxmoor Toyota a try since it's close to me and really, it's impossible for them to screw up a tire rotation, right? Went to their website to schedule, and they wanted to sell me a "premier" service package (adding only an oil change) for $116. When I backed out of that menu and selected the 5k "complimentary service," the website told me it would cost $35. Sounds about right for "free."

I made an appointment with Wyler Toyota with no issues. I will pay the toll and go across the river to Clarksville before I deal with the clowns at Oxmoor.

The local Audi dealer serviced my friend’s A6. He drove out out the dealership turning left and one of his wheels went straight. Awkward

tifighter · June 2020

For today's random craigslist posting, let's just do a green Volvo, three owners old.

28firefighter · June 2020

Very close to me if anyone is interested....

mb_enthusiast · June 2020

Mini rant: Not understanding how on Earth Porsche can be considered a highly reliable brand when my 2017 Cayenne S with 27k miles seems to lose fuel pressure on a 1/4 tank. This car has been at the dealer service center 5 times (across two dealerships) in the past several months for this issue that results in an extended crank time after sitting for several hours. The fuel pumps have been replaced multiple times. This past weekend, I was given the car back with the rear bench clips broken (like I wouldn't notice). The seat now makes a metal on metal sound when driving over rougher roads. The dealer is very apologetic. But come on, just get this car fixed. :@

benjaminh · June 2020

pensfan83 said:

28firefighter said:
I was going to say that it is hard to argue with the RDX from a utility perspective, but you do already have the Tacoma...

I think the challenge with the TLX is (1) the dimensions (and this bothered me on the Accord, too), and (2) it likely will not lease well for the first MY.
The utility is a little redundant but the wife loves the RDX and she has certainly indulged my fun car purchases over the past 18 months. I didn't realize AA was now available (thanks @benjaminh!) so the only thing that it's missing is a wireless charger, which isn't a dealbreaker.

If your wife loves the RDX imho consider getting that gift asap!++

stickguy · June 2020

Love that 1800. Out of my price range though.

Michaell · June 2020

I live in a pretty average, but new-ish, neighborhood. However, someone around the corner from me has money (or, knows someone who does).

AM Rapide parked on the street. Wow, is that thing gorgeous.

I'll try to get pix the next time I see it.

Speaking of used Volvos, I found a 2010 V50 T5 AWD with a 6-speed manual. 80k, give or take, for $11,995.

It's at Volvo of Manhattan.

stickguy · June 2020

You live near Hoovie?

stickguy · June 2020

Michaell said:
I live in a pretty average, but new-ish, neighborhood. However, someone around the corner from me has money (or, knows someone who does).

AM Rapide parked on the street. Wow, is that thing gorgeous.

I'll try to get pix the next time I see it.

Speaking of used Volvos, I found a 2010 V50 T5 AWD with a 6-speed manual. 80k, give or take, for $11,995.

It's at Volvo of Manhattan.

That’s a great car. Budget S3!

corvette · June 2020

mb_enthusiast said:
This car has been at the dealer service center 5 times (across two dealerships) in the past several months for this issue that results in an extended crank time after sitting for several hours.

@mb_enthusiast How have you been? How's your dad?

As to the problem with the Cayenne - how long does it take to turn over when that happens?

Michaell · June 2020

stickguy said:

Michaell said:
I live in a pretty average, but new-ish, neighborhood. However, someone around the corner from me has money (or, knows someone who does).

AM Rapide parked on the street. Wow, is that thing gorgeous.

I'll try to get pix the next time I see it.

Speaking of used Volvos, I found a 2010 V50 T5 AWD with a 6-speed manual. 80k, give or take, for $11,995.

It's at Volvo of Manhattan.
That’s a great car. Budget S3!

The V50 is the wagon...

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