Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous

oldfarmer50 · October 2020

qbrozen said:
MB has a bad PCV, it would seem. CEL was on and that's what the code points to. Apparently common on these engines, as the PCV design is garbage. A new one is $100, though. Ouch. But, it may explain some things I have been seeing. For example, the oil dipstick keeps popping out of its tube. Not the whole stick, but the top of it. So it would seem like there is pressure pushing it out. The other thing is still the oil leak. I wonder if it isn't getting pushed out and maybe this fix would help that, too. I know, I know, wishful thinking.

On the good side of things, it passed state inspection. My lovely wife took it for me yesterday while I was working.

That might be a good guess. Years ago I had a truck that leaked from all the seals because of high crankcase pressure. The PCV worked fine but the rest of the engine was shot.

oldfarmer50 · October 2020

stickguy said:

mjfloyd1 said:
I think I saw the old Acura from @stickguy had a price drop?
yup. Dropped $400! at this point, they are not really making much on the deal, but that is their problem not mine.

I thought it was humorous that they sent me an Email about it this morning: "a car that you have been looking at had a price drop!"

According to one video I watched, used car prices have peaked and dealers are going to be in a bind trying to sell the inventory they paid too much for during the last few months.

How does it feel to have snookered a dealer for a change?

stickguy · October 2020

oldfarmer50 said:

qbrozen said:
MB has a bad PCV, it would seem. CEL was on and that's what the code points to. Apparently common on these engines, as the PCV design is garbage. A new one is $100, though. Ouch. But, it may explain some things I have been seeing. For example, the oil dipstick keeps popping out of its tube. Not the whole stick, but the top of it. So it would seem like there is pressure pushing it out. The other thing is still the oil leak. I wonder if it isn't getting pushed out and maybe this fix would help that, too. I know, I know, wishful thinking.

On the good side of things, it passed state inspection. My lovely wife took it for me yesterday while I was working.
That might be a good guess. Years ago I had a truck that leaked from all the seals because of high crankcase pressure. The PCV worked fine but the rest of the engine was shot.

car wizard recently did a diagnosis like this. Ridiculous high pressure causing all kinds of problems and leaks. Fixed the clog, and issues dissapeared.

stickguy · October 2020

oldfarmer50 said:

stickguy said:

mjfloyd1 said:
I think I saw the old Acura from @stickguy had a price drop?
yup. Dropped $400! at this point, they are not really making much on the deal, but that is their problem not mine.

I thought it was humorous that they sent me an Email about it this morning: "a car that you have been looking at had a price drop!"
According to one video I watched, used car prices have peaked and dealers are going to be in a bind trying to sell the inventory they paid too much for during the last few months.

How does it feel to have snookered a dealer for a change?

Weird. Might be the first time I was on this end of the deal.

stickguy · October 2020

actually hoping things in the market calm down, and by the spring time it will be more of a normal to buyers market. I figure once the weather starts getting nice, I will be antsy to add a car!

stickguy · October 2020

actually went out today and did some driving, running around doing errands. Happened to drive by the local auto mall, and from what I could see from the road, they had a ton of cars. Maybe they were faking it by putting all the cars up front, instead of the usually overflowing back lots. That operation (TJC will know it well) has a ton of cars, and even their own test track you get to drive on.

stickguy · October 2020

love the colors on this one. Nice lowish miles Florida car (AKA an Oldfarmer special). Probably "stately" performance with the 6 banger, but should be relatively cheap to maintain.

https://www.royaleasing.com/details-1995-mercedes~benz-sl_class-sl_class_2dr_roadster_3_2l-used-wdbfa63e4sf116821.html

stickguy · October 2020

they also have a 2003 50k mile SLK coming soon (no pictures yet) for $8,900. But that one has a 6 speed manual! Might have to go check that one out when it arrives.

corvette · October 2020

stickguy said:
actually hoping things in the market calm down, and by the spring time it will be more of a normal to buyers market.

Tax refund season, though.

Michaell · October 2020

stickguy said:
love the colors on this one. Nice lowish miles Florida car (AKA an Oldfarmer special). Probably "stately" performance with the 6 banger, but should be relatively cheap to maintain.

https://www.royaleasing.com/details-1995-mercedes~benz-sl_class-sl_class_2dr_roadster_3_2l-used-wdbfa63e4sf116821.html

That's sharp!

oldfarmer50 · October 2020

stickguy said:
love the colors on this one. Nice lowish miles Florida car (AKA an Oldfarmer special). Probably "stately" performance with the 6 banger, but should be relatively cheap to maintain.

https://www.royaleasing.com/details-1995-mercedes~benz-sl_class-sl_class_2dr_roadster_3_2l-used-wdbfa63e4sf116821.html

I really like that. Nice mileage for 25 years old. Price not too bad if everything works. Wonder what kind of problem you’d have getting parts? 6cyl wouldn’t be a problem since leisurely cruising is what convertibles are for.

As to my fixation with a Florida cars, I present the following:

Florida car

NY car

Florida car

NY car

andres3 · October 2020

mjfloyd1 said:
I sold four Audi wheels to a guy in Las Vegas. Only three wheels made it. They were in BBS boxes and shipped by FedEx.

Do the people of Phoenix not like me (since that box tracking says it has been in Phoenix since 10/5) or is it a FedEx conspiracy? Maybe they don’t like BBS boxes?

Thankfully I paid the filthy greedy scummy company for insurance so that I will be reimbursed.

I’m glad that I have the FedEx receipt and a picture of the wheel...

Don't count your chickens before they hatch.

Did you get reimbursed, and was it for 100 cents on the dollar?

andres3 · October 2020

cdnpinhead said:

andres3 said:
I might just be saying that because I haven't got a ticket since that Alltrack incident.
This person seems to have more and more lengthy disputes with the assembled here than most. I can't keep track of the various people he carries on with. Some of you are pretty careful with tracking those of us on here. Is it my imagination, or are there several? It used to do with how all speed limits were unacceptable, but now we've moved on.

Oh boy.

Some people get irked by the truth. It happens.

28firefighter · October 2020

Don’t know if I shared, but about a week ago my home EV charger kicked the bucket. Every time I plugged it into the car, I got an error on the dash saying “insufficient grid power.” Long story short, the manufacturer was able to remote into my EVSE and determined it needed a warranty replacement. Why? I’m sure I’ll find out.

Replacement EVSE arrived via UPS overnight EXCEPT that because it’s hardwired (vs plugged into a 240 outlet), it needs an electrician to install it. So, they can’t come out until Friday.

I can charge via a Level 1 cord I have but it takes a looooong time, so the i3 has largely been parked. I could go find a level 2 or level 3 public station, but I have two other cars I can drive. Just annoying.

stickguy · October 2020

can't you just let the REX charge it?

on the bright side, at least you don't have to pay for it.

28firefighter · October 2020

I could if I let it run down. But it is far from refined and at that point, I’d just drive one of the other cars.

stickguy · October 2020

interesting. So you can't just turn on the engine to start charging any time you want to?

28firefighter · October 2020

Nope! You can modify it with special coding to be able to turn it on once range is below 75%, but I don’t have that.

28firefighter · October 2020

This would be a fun daily.

https://seattle.craigslist.org/skc/cto/d/kent-rare-2007-acura-tl-type-kbp-6-speed/7215975738.html

corvette · October 2020

Is warranty covering the cost of the electrician, as well? I'd probably DIY if it didn't. Has to be pretty unusual for one of those to fail, I don't think there are very many things to break.

28firefighter · October 2020

Yes, they are, thankfully. I don’t futz with electricity beyond outlets, light switches, and light fixtures.

corvette · October 2020

I think every component on JR's 350z drift car was torqued just shy of the point where the head would break off the bolt... The rear calipers laughed at his giant impact wrench, then he had to hit the rotors with a hammer to get them loose.

Edited to add: The oil pan, too! *facepalm*

oldfarmer50 · October 2020

28firefighter said:
Don’t know if I shared, but about a week ago my home EV charger kicked the bucket. Every time I plugged it into the car, I got an error on the dash saying “insufficient grid power.” Long story short, the manufacturer was able to remote into my EVSE and determined it needed a warranty replacement. Why? I’m sure I’ll find out.

Replacement EVSE arrived via UPS overnight EXCEPT that because it’s hardwired (vs plugged into a 240 outlet), it needs an electrician to install it. So, they can’t come out until Friday.

I can charge via a Level 1 cord I have but it takes a looooong time, so the i3 has largely been parked. I could go find a level 2 or level 3 public station, but I have two other cars I can drive. Just annoying.

Maybe you were the victim of one of those rolling blackouts. Can you imagine what’ll happen when all the cars are electric.

28firefighter · October 2020

...rolling blackouts? In Seattle? Not a thing...

oldfarmer50 · October 2020

28firefighter said:
...rolling blackouts? In Seattle? Not a thing...

Just wait......

Michaell · October 2020

28firefighter said:
This would be a fun daily.

https://seattle.craigslist.org/skc/cto/d/kent-rare-2007-acura-tl-type-kbp-6-speed/7215975738.html

Yes, it would.

stickguy · October 2020

that is a pretty nice looking one. Just don't think I want to spend that much on it. But could be market correct. Wonder what that would do on cars and bids?

corvette · October 2020

I didn't realize that was a factory color. I know they offered a royal looking blue when that generation debuted in 2004, and it looked really nice with the ivory interior.

tifighter · October 2020

stickguy said:
love the colors on this one. Nice lowish miles Florida car (AKA an Oldfarmer special). Probably "stately" performance with the 6 banger, but should be relatively cheap to maintain.

https://www.royaleasing.com/details-1995-mercedes~benz-sl_class-sl_class_2dr_roadster_3_2l-used-wdbfa63e4sf116821.html

This sorta reminds me of the one that I won on BaT, well, until I didn't.

tifighter · October 2020

28firefighter said:
Don’t know if I shared, but about a week ago my home EV charger kicked the bucket. Every time I plugged it into the car, I got an error on the dash saying “insufficient grid power.” Long story short, the manufacturer was able to remote into my EVSE and determined it needed a warranty replacement. Why? I’m sure I’ll find out.

Replacement EVSE arrived via UPS overnight EXCEPT that because it’s hardwired (vs plugged into a 240 outlet), it needs an electrician to install it. So, they can’t come out until Friday.

I can charge via a Level 1 cord I have but it takes a looooong time, so the i3 has largely been parked. I could go find a level 2 or level 3 public station, but I have two other cars I can drive. Just annoying.

I had a Clipper Creek unit go out on me a few years back and they sent me a replacement under warranty. Also hardwired. I have all thumbs, but removed the old one and installed the replacement in under an hour. But even with the breaker switched off, you better believe I used the voltage tester every minute or two just to test my anxiety.

28firefighter · October 2020

tifighter said:

28firefighter said:
Don’t know if I shared, but about a week ago my home EV charger kicked the bucket. Every time I plugged it into the car, I got an error on the dash saying “insufficient grid power.” Long story short, the manufacturer was able to remote into my EVSE and determined it needed a warranty replacement. Why? I’m sure I’ll find out.

Replacement EVSE arrived via UPS overnight EXCEPT that because it’s hardwired (vs plugged into a 240 outlet), it needs an electrician to install it. So, they can’t come out until Friday.

I can charge via a Level 1 cord I have but it takes a looooong time, so the i3 has largely been parked. I could go find a level 2 or level 3 public station, but I have two other cars I can drive. Just annoying.
I had a Clipper Creek unit go out on me a few years back and they sent me a replacement under warranty. Also hardwired. I have all thumbs, but removed the old one and installed the replacement in under an hour. But even with the breaker switched off, you better believe I used the voltage tester every minute or two just to test my anxiety.

Good for you. Maybe if labor weren’t covered I’d be more likely to try. But as-is, nah.

I think I’m mostly just disappointed. It is quite literally the last electronic item we have that I would have thought would break after 10 months of relatively light use...

sda · October 2020

In error I posted this yesterday in the wrong forum.

After a week with the Passat and about 180 miles,yes, I’ve been finding reasons to drive it, it’s a good car. The interior quality is the same or slightly better than the 13 Accord EX it replaced. The top of the dash, upper door panels are soft touch, hard plastic below similar to the Accord. The carpet is thicker than the almost paper thin excuse of carpet Honda used. It has a nicely shaped and leather covered steering wheel, shift lever, hand brake which the Accord didn’t have. The VW has decent power, sport mode makes it feel more lively. My major beef with sport mode in most cars, and this one is no exception, is that it keeps the revs up once cruising speed is reached. The engine tone is muted and under hard acceleration sounds good and not strained. The car is quiet overall except the tires seem to provide noticeable feedback in noise from different road surfaces which is a little annoying. From what I’ve read the Bridgestone tires are a reason for this. However they still have plenty of tread and seem to been fine otherwise so replacement will not happen anytime soon.

nyccarguy · October 2020

The new normal for this year is the kids have to get dressed before they get to the rink. Saturday AM my 14 year old (pictured) had an away game, my 11 year old son had an away game (my wife took home) and my almost 9 year old daughter had a soccer game in town. We sent my oldest with another family to the game. While he was waiting to get picked up, he got dressed in the parking lot.

stickguy · October 2020

wait, your son is a transformer, and turned into a Corvette?

ab348 · October 2020

I guess if you remove the T-top you can get a hockey stick into a Corvette.

xwesx · October 2020

I missed the C8 association.... did he get a ride to his game in that?

stickguy · October 2020

That low rider fiero auction is up to $10,000 now.

mjfloyd1 · October 2020

Maybe the hockey stick would fit in the “frunk”

qbrozen · October 2020

stickguy said:
That low rider fiero auction is up to $10,000 now.

I just don't get it. People should have better things to do with their money. Like burn it for warmth.

nyccarguy · October 2020

xwesx said:
I missed the C8 association.... did he get a ride to his game in that?

Whoops! Nope. That C8 was just parked in the parking lot of the diner we were meeting his teammate at.

tifighter · October 2020

28firefighter said:

Good for you. Maybe if labor weren’t covered I’d be more likely to try. But as-is, nah.

I think I’m mostly just disappointed. It is quite literally the last electronic item we have that I would have thought would break after 10 months of relatively light use...

Which EVSE was this, anyhow?

fintail · October 2020

Rinks are doing the same here, I hate putting on gear in the parking lot, one of the last times I did it, it was raining - the tailgate of the wagon can act as a roof of sorts, anyway.

nyccarguy said:
The new normal for this year is the kids have to get dressed before they get to the rink.

28firefighter · October 2020

tifighter said:

28firefighter said:

Good for you. Maybe if labor weren’t covered I’d be more likely to try. But as-is, nah.

I think I’m mostly just disappointed. It is quite literally the last electronic item we have that I would have thought would break after 10 months of relatively light use...
Which EVSE was this, anyhow?

EnelX Juicebox

ab348 · October 2020

mjfloyd1 said:
Maybe the hockey stick would fit in the “frunk”

Only if it was one of those collapsible sticks.

xwesx · October 2020

fintail said:
Rinks are doing the same here, I hate putting on gear in the parking lot, one of the last times I did it, it was raining - the tailgate of the wagon can act as a roof of sorts, anyway.

nyccarguy said:
The new normal for this year is the kids have to get dressed before they get to the rink.

Raining?! In the Seattle area? No way....

mjfloyd1 · October 2020

That’s a Ferrari. I wonder how big the C8 frunk is?

May not need the frunk. The rear trunk will hold a golf bag.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/gmauthority.com/blog/2020/04/heres-how-much-stuff-you-can-fit-in-the-2020-corvette-c8s-two-trunks-video/amp/

That yellow is interesting on the C8. I don't know if I could do it

ab348 · October 2020

I picked the wrong Google result, edited to fix it. The C8 frunk is smaller than that of the Ferrari.

A golf bag isn’t as long as a hockey stick unless you’re Happy Gilmore.

Michaell · October 2020

ab348 said:
A golf bag isn’t as long as a hockey stick unless you’re Happy Gilmore.

"The Price is Wrong, Bob!"

mjfloyd1 · October 2020

ab348 said:
I picked the wrong Google result, edited to fix it. The C8 frunk is smaller than that of the Ferrari.

A golf bag isn’t as long as a hockey stick unless you’re Happy Gilmore.

I have no idea how long a hockey stick is 😁 but looks like it needs to be a collapsible hockey stick.

explorerx4 · October 2020

Just bungee the stick to the rear wing.
Here's a picture show the length of a hockey stick.

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