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Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)
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I never use them. My wife and I never open them on the three cars we own that have them. I also don’t want extra weight added to the highest point on the car.
For high school graduation from my parents I got a Sanyo bi-amp AM/FM auto-reverse cassette with 2 6x9 Sanyo bi-amp compatible tri-axial speakers for my Vega. It rocked ( at least compared to what was available then, 1978). I transferred the ‘system’ to my 76 Sunbird when I gave the Vega the boot.
Sorry, attached to wrong post.
2021 VW Arteon SEL 4-motion, 2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
My kids are old. I just care for resale purposes.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
If you have hundreds of cassettes you’re way ahead of me. I probably only have about 60 or 70.
Before the cassette era, I installed a Motorola reverberation unit in my new ‘66 Bonneville and added 2 speakers under the rear shelf. That was the cat’s meow back then. So much so that my late middle brother wanted to use my car on a date to impress the girl he eventually married. She still talks about that date to this day. Mrs. j wasn’t all that impressed with that thing but she did like the car. Even back then the best I could do with her was 50/50.
jmonroe
'18 Legacy Limited with 3.6R (Mrs. j's)
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
My last 4 cars have had the moon/sun roof and I barely use them except to let the heat out on hot Summer days. I’d rather keep them closed and enjoy the A/C without hearing the road noise. Every time I use it I just pray it closes when the car is purged of the heat.
jmonroe
'18 Legacy Limited with 3.6R (Mrs. j's)
When I got my 1990 Civic Si, we did not opt for the factory stereo, so it simply had a blank faceplate in the console. It was cheaper to add a cassette player after the fact - and it even had auto-reverse!
2024 Audi Q8 e-tron - 2017 911 C4S - 2025 BRZ - 2023 A6 Allroad - 2024 Genesis GV60 - 2019 Cayman
The Bavaria got an Alpine deck and amp with Pioneer Speakers. The current owner recently told me it still sounds good.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
2024 Audi Q8 e-tron - 2017 911 C4S - 2025 BRZ - 2023 A6 Allroad - 2024 Genesis GV60 - 2019 Cayman
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
25 NX 450h+ / 24 Sienna Plat AWD / 23 Civic Type-R / 21 Boxster GTS 4.0 / 03 Montero Ltd
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2021 VW Arteon SEL 4-motion, 2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Lousy video, but he seems to like it. And good MPG!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Granted, he drove from Bend to Stayton, Oregon, which is generally a decrease in elevation, but that does include driving over a significant mountain pass. To contrast, I was with my brother, who was driving a 2017 Elantra, and he was not able to equal that!
I’m averaging 32.2 in the Jeep so far.
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited Velvet Red over Wicker Beige
2024 Audi Q5 Premium Plus Daytona Gray over Beige
2017 BMW X1 Jet Black over Mocha
I had a Blaupunkt pull out stereo at one point and then upgraded to a detachable face.
I did lots of stereo upgrades in the mid-90s, so much easier to do back then.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
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89 Beretta got the treatment though. Started out with a Kenwood head unit, JVC amp and Clarion speakers. Skipping on the Kenwood got progressively worse and it was replaced by a Clarion head unit. Even added an eq that I had gotten for free.
Alpine, Nakamichi and Blaupunkt were the really expensive brands we all lusted after.
Of course I had to have the Clifford alarm. Man those things were annoying when they went off. Which was often in a college apartment parking lot.
The Beretta was replaced by a Tacoma SR5 which had BOTH cassette and CD. Wow! I’ve been OEM since then although I did add a Bluetooth adapter to the Land Cruiser.
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited Velvet Red over Wicker Beige
2024 Audi Q5 Premium Plus Daytona Gray over Beige
2017 BMW X1 Jet Black over Mocha
Same, that’s why I didn’t get a sunroof on the Tundra.
Our Crosstrek is the 6-speed manual (not sure whether it is supposed to be better or worse economy than the auto), and we generally get about 35 mpg in mixed driving. Pretty darn good, to be honest, considering that I never really did any better with my Escort or my Fiesta, which were much smaller cars (space wise).
If I put the crossbars on top, those alone will rob about 3 mpg, so I try to take them off if we're not actively using.
Our Crosstrek was the CVT and if I recall from shopping, it was actually a couple of MPGs better than the 6 spd. And yes, can confirm, cross rails and the cargo basket cost you about 3-4 mpgs and a lot of noise.
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited Velvet Red over Wicker Beige
2024 Audi Q5 Premium Plus Daytona Gray over Beige
2017 BMW X1 Jet Black over Mocha
Sounds like something a dope would do.
jmonroe
'18 Legacy Limited with 3.6R (Mrs. j's)
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
You guys are going to have to show me the ins and outs on how to set up the Jeep. Since my wife will be driving it, it will be up to me to configure.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD, 2025 Toyota Camry SE AWD
Max regeneration while in town is helpful. You can essentially drive with one foot line a Tesla (sadly the brake lights don’t automatically come on though)
So that way the battery charges while driving with regenerative braking?
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD, 2025 Toyota Camry SE AWD
Yes
They do. I just took notice of this the other night since I could see the third brake light shining on the spare. It take a couple secs. You lift off completely and it doesn’t grab 100% right away. It starts at maybe 50% deceleration and then ramps up in a few secs. I would say maybe 2 secs into the process, the brake lights illuminate.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Some folks always surprise me.
jmonroe
'18 Legacy Limited with 3.6R (Mrs. j's)
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
I had my wife drive to check it out. Brake lights only came on when she hit the brake pedal. I guess I’ll have to try and have her watch while I don’t hit the brake pedal
Brake lights illuminate for me, but are on a slight delay depending on how much slow down is occurring.
Just for kicks, I plugged in the wife’s van to get values.
Vroom, $12k
Autonation, $12.5k
ALGO, $13k
Carvana, $15k!
Just to refresh memories, this is almost 8 yrs old and has 76k miles. Works out to about $307/mo depreciation cost on a $48k MSRP.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
Yes.
Also got offers on the Benz. $11.3k is the top and from Vroom and ALGo. I think it could pull $15k at C&B or BaT after the mechanic is done with it, but is it worth the hassle for a few grand?
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Yes
Works for me!
56 cars and counting…
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
There are some videos on youtube of dealers who explain how the ordering process works for Mavericks, or for Subarus, but it seems like Ford, Subaru, Honda, GM, and others should do more to advertise that ordering is now the new normal during this crisis. I feel like some advertising and videos explaining how your previous expectations of test driving your vehicle and driving that one home that day will need to be altered for at least a while, and maybe long term. And so, here are the steps for ordering your vehicle—test drive a similar new or used vehicle that is on the lot, work with your salesperson and at home to "build your own," put down a small deposit if needed to secure your order, wait 2-3 months, and then take delivery of your custom-made vehicle. I feel like they should explain the steps and play up the positives of this—that you get the exact options and color you want, and avoid any dealer-installed options you don't want, and so on. Maybe that's happening, but so far I haven't seen much of it. Sales are constrained by production for now, but it seems like a la Ford with the Maverick those who encourage and make transparent the custom-ordering process might gain some market share.