Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

tifighter · June 2023

@tifighter said:

@breld said:
but we’re getting to a point where we appreciate….soft. 😀 I mean, for goodness sake, I just bought a Lexus!

Hey now.

In seriousness, my biggest complaint about the M2C is the VERY firm ride. Great if you live next to the track or twisties. But if you have to drive 90 minutes to get to those roads, as is the case in Seattle, it’s not so great. Must be getting old.

My name is Tifighter, and I bought a Lexus.

“Hello Tifighter.”

oldfarmer50 · June 2023

“ I suspect that I'll run out of courage long before I run out of grip...”

I never knew what that meant until I put those Michelin pilot sports on my car.

28firefighter · June 2023

@tifighter said:

@tifighter said:

@breld said:
but we’re getting to a point where we appreciate….soft. 😀 I mean, for goodness sake, I just bought a Lexus!

Hey now.

In seriousness, my biggest complaint about the M2C is the VERY firm ride. Great if you live next to the track or twisties. But if you have to drive 90 minutes to get to those roads, as is the case in Seattle, it’s not so great. Must be getting old.

My name is Tifighter, and I bought a Lexus.

“Hello Tifighter.”

Can I get you a pillow for your seat?

au1994 · June 2023

tifighter said:

@tifighter said:

@breld said:

but we’re getting to a point where we appreciate….soft. 😀 I mean, for goodness sake, I just bought a Lexus!

Hey now.

In seriousness, my biggest complaint about the M2C is the VERY firm ride. Great if you live next to the track or twisties. But if you have to drive 90 minutes to get to those roads, as is the case in Seattle, it’s not so great. Must be getting old.

My name is Tifighter, and I bought a Lexus.

“Hello Tifighter.”

I know what you mean. After cruising around for part of the week in an Expedition, jumping back into the Jeep was quite a change. Usually I take a miled up Taurus or Explorer but this was a fairly new Expedition so the difference was quite noticeable.

au1994 · June 2023

On another front, the Jeep is back to fully functional in hybrid mode. No idea why, just got in it yesterday afternoon and all was functioning normal.

I do still have the CEL.

Sandman6472 · June 2023

Tire icon went on last night on way home from dinner, indicated left front tire losing air. Since Goodyear where I bought the tires is a good distance away plus them telling me that after my initial purchase of four tires in 2019 were no longer covered by their "road hazard" warranty, paid the guy & went to the local Firestone and was out within a little over an hour. Found a nail which caused the pressure to escape. Cost me just over $32, but just glad it was repairable. Will no longer do any business with Goodyear due to that ludicrous reason they gave me about the length of their policy. It should be for the life of the tire and when they replaced the couple in the past, they charged again for their policy. Unfortunately, one of the original tires wasn't the one which got the nail puncture, it was one of the newer replacements.
Have tried to use Tires Choice for warranty work but they refused saying they're not a "company store" so they can't do an road hazard work for them. Another ludicrous statement because on your building, the word "Goodyear" is plainly marked for all to see. Just plain stupid as far as I'm concerned & will go back to Firestone/Tires Plus from now on.

corvette · June 2023

I understand your frustration. I think most road hazard warranties are for a fixed term—I think the Discount Tire one is for three years.

Sandman6472 · June 2023

Just checked on my phone and it seems that I've driven only 11,250 miles, give or take, since starting at Enterprise in early December of 2019. I bought the current set of Goodyear GT tires in September of that same year. Have had at least two replaced, maybe three, using the road hazard warranty if memory serves me. Funny, when working for Hertz south of me in Pembroke Pines, I'd drive around 13K per year, worked there for almost six years. So, by these figures, I've cut back my driving by like 2/3's by switching employment, not bad really.
I'm really happy I didn't have to replace any tires today to be honest. I had asked the guy this morning if that one tire was toast, would I have to purchase two so the axle would have the same tread on it. He said it would be dependent on the wear of the remaining tire on that axle. I figured worst case scenario, I'd be on the hook for two new tires today so, very glad I got off so cheaply here. Very thankful really!

roadburner · June 2023

laurasdada said:
Hot and very humid today. Took the 530 to Woods Hole for dinner, beautiful drive along the upper Cape Cod coast. The a/c seems insufficient.

Make sure it's not in Eco Pro mode and that the Start/Stop is off.

laurasdada · June 2023

I programmed the eco pro not to use the eco pro climate settings. But, I may have to apologize, the wife, whose body temp fluctuates every 90 seconds or so (I'm hot, turn the ac all the way on! 90 seconds later, she covers herself in a jacket and turns the heat on. And, gets too hot, so...), had, unbeknownst to me, closed the two center vents.
Opened them up for today's 82 degree excursion, better. If not arctic.
I'm still not overly moved by the car, it's very nice, but not sure of its USP, at least to me. But, keeping miles off the A7 while I continue to have the 530 loaner.

roadburner · June 2023

laurasdada said:
I programmed the eco pro not to use the eco pro climate settings. But, I may have to apologize, the wife, whose body temp fluctuates every 90 seconds or so (I'm hot, turn the ac all the way on! 90 seconds later, she covers herself in a jacket and turns the heat on. And, gets too hot, so...), had, unbeknownst to me, closed the two center vents.
Opened them up for today's 82 degree excursion, better. If not arctic.
I'm still not overly moved by the car, it's very nice, but not sure of its USP, at least to me. But, keeping miles off the A7 while I continue to have the 530 loaner.

As I said, it's not a terrible car, but it's clearly not a sports sedan in any sense of the word.

au1994 · June 2023

roadburner said:

laurasdada said:
I programmed the eco pro not to use the eco pro climate settings. But, I may have to apologize, the wife, whose body temp fluctuates every 90 seconds or so (I'm hot, turn the ac all the way on! 90 seconds later, she covers herself in a jacket and turns the heat on. And, gets too hot, so...), had, unbeknownst to me, closed the two center vents.
Opened them up for today's 82 degree excursion, better. If not arctic.
I'm still not overly moved by the car, it's very nice, but not sure of its USP, at least to me. But, keeping miles off the A7 while I continue to have the 530 loaner.
As I said, it's not a terrible car, but it's clearly not a sports sedan in any sense of the word.

Unfortunately the 5 Series hasn’t been in a couple of generations.

laurasdada · June 2023

As noted, the 530 is generically handsome with the same sausage, different length BMW interior. Big center iPad screen, comfy Sensatec sport seats (but ~$66k and Sensatec?), roomy and well built. Quiet at speed, nice ride, but I still think the A7 has it bested in the highway star department. Nicer IP/infotainment setup and much better graphics in the A7. Like that BMW has more buttons, though. And, roomier backseat, not that that is my domain (Ich bin eine driver!). Perhaps the excessive weight of the batteries makes the A7 feel more "planted!" I guess they're both GTs, not sportsters. Nothing wrong with that, as previously mentioned, I'm just not sure of the 530 unique selling proposition.
Only a 200 mile review, of course.

nyccarguy · June 2023

We took my 2 younger kids (11 & 14) and dropped them off at sleep away camp for a month. Their camp is a little more than an hour away with no traffic. We took the Highlander. It really eats up highway miles. I had the cruise set at 80 (65 mph speed limit) with zero issues. The 3.5 L V6 has plenty of passing power and I'd argue it is as smooth as an inline 6.

As noted in the dealership's multipoint inspection, all brake pads are currently at 7mm. When I touch the brakes at highway speeds, they shudder. With close to 30K miles, I'll bet the front rotors are shot. 3 Tires are at 5/32" and 1 is at 7/32" (I've replaced 1 tire due to a road hazard).

Jeep deals are starting to look great. I'm going to rejoin tread lightly just in case I decide to make a move. If (a big if) I can get out of my '22 Sahara clean and get a scorching deal on a '23 Rubicon with a Hard Top and Cold Weather Package I'd be happy.

Drove past a Ford dealer in Madison, CT near where my kids go to camp and saw they had a white Maverick with Steelies prominently displayed out front. I came home and check their website and didn't see it listed. Hmmm.

Sandman6472 · June 2023

We used to go to Camp Hadar in Clinton Ct., it was on Carter Hill Rd. Exit 63 on the turnpike and within 5 minutes, there she'd be! Went there for 9 continuous summers until I got my drivers license & then, I stayed home in Florida. Started when I was 6 years old so the time had come. Used to take the folks about 90 minutes to get from our casa in Briarcliff up to Clinton, getting on the turnpike down near Greenwich as I recall. Was always cool on the trip up but on the trip home after 56 days, not so much. Having a lot more freedom the whole summer made it difficult to come home & have rules to live by. Especially my last summer in 1970 when I was a waiter, had plenty of free time after my meals were served.
Did the kids go to Camp Laurelwood by any chance? They were our big rival back in the day. Think it was over near Madison. Used to go to Mystic Seaport, a lot plus other places in Connecticut. Went to Cape Cod twice which was super cool. Even saw a few concerts at the Yale Bowl like The Lovin' Spoonful, Simon & Garfunkel & Perter, Paul & Mary. Great times back then which are still fresh in my mind & possibly some of the best times of my life!

nyccarguy · June 2023

Sandman6472 said:
We used to go to Camp Hadar in Clinton Ct., it was on Carter Hill Rd. Exit 63 on the turnpike and within 5 minutes, there she'd be! Went there for 9 continuous summers until I got my drivers license & then, I stayed home in Florida. Started when I was 6 years old so the time had come. Used to take the folks about 90 minutes to get from our casa in Briarcliff up to Clinton, getting on the turnpike down near Greenwich as I recall. Was always cool on the trip up but on the trip home after 56 days, not so much. Having a lot more freedom the whole summer made it difficult to come home & have rules to live by. Especially my last summer in 1970 when I was a waiter, had plenty of free time after my meals were served.
Did the kids go to Camp Laurelwood by any chance? They were our big rival back in the day. Think it was over near Madison. Used to go to Mystic Seaport, a lot plus other places in Connecticut. Went to Cape Cod twice which was super cool. Even saw a few concerts at the Yale Bowl like The Lovin' Spoonful, Simon & Garfunkel & Perter, Paul & Mary. Great times back then which are still fresh in my mind & possibly some of the best times of my life!

Camp Laurelwood is exactly where they go!

jmonroe1 · June 2023

@nyccarguy said:
We took my 2 younger kids (11 & 14) and dropped them off at sleep away camp for a month. Their camp is a little more than an hour away with no traffic. We took the Highlander. It really eats up highway miles. I had the cruise set at 80 (65 mph speed limit) with zero issues. The 3.5 L V6 has plenty of passing power and I'd argue it is as smooth as an inline 6.

As noted in the dealership's multipoint inspection, all brake pads are currently at 7mm. When I touch the brakes at highway speeds, they shudder. With close to 30K miles, I'll bet the front rotors are shot. 3 Tires are at 5/32" and 1 is at 7/32" (I've replaced 1 tire due to a road hazard).

Jeep deals are starting to look great. I'm going to rejoin tread lightly just in case I decide to make a move. If (a big if) I can get out of my '22 Sahara clean and get a scorching deal on a '23 Rubicon with a Hard Top and Cold Weather Package I'd be happy.

Drove past a Ford dealer in Madison, CT near where my kids go to camp and saw they had a white Maverick with Steelies prominently displayed out front. I came home and check their website and didn't see it listed. Hmmm.

————————————————
Hot cars go quick.

jmonroe

roadburner · June 2023

au1994 said:

roadburner said:

laurasdada said:
I programmed the eco pro not to use the eco pro climate settings. But, I may have to apologize, the wife, whose body temp fluctuates every 90 seconds or so (I'm hot, turn the ac all the way on! 90 seconds later, she covers herself in a jacket and turns the heat on. And, gets too hot, so...), had, unbeknownst to me, closed the two center vents.
Opened them up for today's 82 degree excursion, better. If not arctic.
I'm still not overly moved by the car, it's very nice, but not sure of its USP, at least to me. But, keeping miles off the A7 while I continue to have the 530 loaner.
As I said, it's not a terrible car, but it's clearly not a sports sedan in any sense of the word.

Unfortunately the 5 Series hasn’t been in a couple of generations.

Precisely.

roadburner · June 2023

nyccarguy said:

Jeep deals are starting to look great. I'm going to rejoin tread lightly just in case I decide to make a move. If (a big if) I can get out of my '22 Sahara clean and get a scorching deal on a '23 Rubicon with a Hard Top and Cold Weather Package I'd be happy.

I almost have the C43 paid off; still debating whether to get a JK Sahara or Rubicon to replace the Cooper and Wrangler or whether to go all in and get a new Sahara or Rubicon to take the place of the Cooper, Wrangler and X1.

Sandman6472 · June 2023

Go with choice #2 at this point. If you can afford it...why not? Why have so many just sitting there not being used?

Sandman6472 · June 2023

I noticed on FB, the day camp I went to for two years in Shrub Oak New York is still up & running. Think I went there in 1959 & 1960 as I have slight memories of being quite young and being in the pool...terrified! It was called Camp Nabby.

jmonroe1 · June 2023

@nyccarguy said:
We took my 2 younger kids (11 & 14) and dropped them off at sleep away camp for a month. Their camp is a little more than an hour away with no traffic. We took the Highlander. It really eats up highway miles. I had the cruise set at 80 (65 mph speed limit) with zero issues. The 3.5 L V6 has plenty of passing power and I'd argue it is as smooth as an inline 6.

As noted in the dealership's multipoint inspection, all brake pads are currently at 7mm. When I touch the brakes at highway speeds, they shudder. With close to 30K miles, I'll bet the front rotors are shot. 3 Tires are at 5/32" and 1 is at 7/32" (I've replaced 1 tire due to a road hazard).

Jeep deals are starting to look great. I'm going to rejoin tread lightly just in case I decide to make a move. If (a big if) I can get out of my '22 Sahara clean and get a scorching deal on a '23 Rubicon with a Hard Top and Cold Weather Package I'd be happy.

Drove past a Ford dealer in Madison, CT near where my kids go to camp and saw they had a white Maverick with Steelies prominently displayed out front. I came home and check their website and didn't see it listed. Hmmm.

————————————————
I’m beginning to think my parents actually liked me. They never sent me away for a month.

jmonroe

Michaell · June 2023

jmonroe1 said:

@nyccarguy said:

We took my 2 younger kids (11 & 14) and dropped them off at sleep away camp for a month. Their camp is a little more than an hour away with no traffic. We took the Highlander. It really eats up highway miles. I had the cruise set at 80 (65 mph speed limit) with zero issues. The 3.5 L V6 has plenty of passing power and I'd argue it is as smooth as an inline 6.

As noted in the dealership's multipoint inspection, all brake pads are currently at 7mm. When I touch the brakes at highway speeds, they shudder. With close to 30K miles, I'll bet the front rotors are shot. 3 Tires are at 5/32" and 1 is at 7/32" (I've replaced 1 tire due to a road hazard).

Jeep deals are starting to look great. I'm going to rejoin tread lightly just in case I decide to make a move. If (a big if) I can get out of my '22 Sahara clean and get a scorching deal on a '23 Rubicon with a Hard Top and Cold Weather Package I'd be happy.

Drove past a Ford dealer in Madison, CT near where my kids go to camp and saw they had a white Maverick with Steelies prominently displayed out front. I came home and check their website and didn't see it listed. Hmmm.

————————————————

I’m beginning to think my parents actually liked me. They never sent me away for a month.

jmonroe

Mine, either. I really wanted to go to baseball camp for a week, one summer, but the folks nixed that idea.

My sister, however, got to go to soccer camp.

Admittedly, my sister was much better at soccer than I was a baseball.

sda · June 2023

For multiple summers I went to Boy Scout summer camp for a week. Camp Salmen north of New Orleans, near Slidell and camp Kickapoo in MS. When we lived in France, the highlight was two weeks at Camp Freedom in Germany. Salmen Brick conducted timbering operations for many years on the site until the property was donated to the Boy Scouts of America in 1924, which used the property as a regional camp reservation for the Greater New Orleans area. Camp Salmen is now a nature park.

roadburner · June 2023

@Sandman6472 said:
Go with choice #2 at this point. If you can afford it...why not? Why have so many just sitting there not being used?

Well, they all are driven weekly at least. I hate to part with the X1 as it’s in perfect shape and nice to drive. Plus, with my BMW Rewards card maintenance and repairs are essentially free.

qbrozen · June 2023

got this "offer" through ebay. Sigh. Does someone out there really expect a seller to say "oh, what a nice story. I'll take a hit of thousands of dollars for you." ?

Good evening,

My name is XXXXX, and I’m a rising Sophomore at XXXX studying Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Philosophy and I’m in love with this E36. From the fact that it is a hardtop, its lovely color, incredibly preserved sideskirts, the NA straight-six engine, and the exhaust note captured in the video included on your website.

I’m working at an internship over this summer and have been saving up for a car of my own. With this, I will have saved up $7,744.

My family and I live in XXXXX, and I would like to ask if you would be interested in my offer and if you would like to meet in person.

My phone number is: XXXX
My email: XXXX

Thank you,
XXXXX

jmonroe1 · June 2023

@qbrozen, what are you asking and what was the offer? I assume it was insulting or it’s just that you don’t have the heart you were born with.

jmonroe

28firefighter · June 2023

That's gotta be at least 5k off his asking price. But kudos for politely and articulately writing a letter.

kyfdx · June 2023

When I was selling my uncle's house, this fall, one of the prospective buyers insisted on writing a letter. Thank you, that was very nice, but you're $50K short...

laurasdada · June 2023

Same when I sold my condo a few years back; a lovely letter, but as with most, since I was buying again soon, needed the $. So, highest bidder. Still undersold, should have listened to the realtor and said, "I see your point. Now, add $10k to the ask."

Michaell · June 2023

The folks who bought our last house wrote a letter, as well.

And, they offered full asking price....

corvette · June 2023

Some of the thinking now is that it's better not to open or otherwise electronically access any "offer letters" in a real estate transaction because buyers almost inevitably reveal something which might cause them to be in a protected class (disability, familial status, etc.), and as a seller, you don't want to be accused of discrimination.

qbrozen · June 2023

@jmonroe1 said:
@qbrozen, what are you asking and what was the offer? I assume it was insulting or it’s just that you don’t have the heart you were born with.

jmonroe

Offer is there. 7744. Gotta wonder how he’d pay taxes and fees. And next obviously would have been “so you can hold it for me till end of summer.” Current asking is 11750.

28firefighter · June 2023

Update on my Vroom experience - I was paid on Friday afternoon via direct deposit and received fedex tracking for the loan payoff for the Hyundai at the same time. Payment was received today by the credit union and the account is showing as paid off.

Other than the initial hiccup getting the contracts, it was fairly straightforward.

Thankfully, @breld was correct!

Sandman6472 · June 2023

Turns out I was wrong...the road hazard policy is only good for 3 years. So, not sure if the tire with the nail is one of the two newer ones as they've been rotated a few times since. So I really could not prove that indeed, this tire was covered under it's newer road hazard policy. It's really 50/50 and I'm sure they'd say the bad tire was one of the originals. The other two old ones are still on but only one is showing wear on the outside of the tread. Guessing this could be an alignment issue but think it's time to re-up my 3-year four wheel alignment policy and get it done. The last one expired 11/10/21 according to my records. I tend to keep every receipt to be honest but today, ripped up the receipt for the tires I had before the Goodyears as I no longer need it.
Must admit, I do like the Goodyear tires but next time, will buy from a shop close to the house just in case I need tire work. Will try not to put another set on the Golf if I can help it. Figuring it'll be gone within a couple of years and once I have the current fronts on the rear, I should be good to go for that time. With my low miles per year now, this should not be a problem. Unless I decide to keep the Golf over ten years, but hoping not to. From the pics I've seen of the forthcoming 2024 Kona, think it'll check every box for me. So, anxious to see it once it hits the marketplace to really see if it'll be the one!

Sandman6472 · June 2023

I never looked at sleep away summer camp that way to be honest. It was just something we did every summer & there usually was no discussion about it. Think it was the summer of '68 that my older sister stayed home to work at her friend's day camp & my twin was ill and in the hospital much of that summer. I was the first to actually refuse to go in 1971 & my folks were none to pleased with me. Really the first time I had ever done that and the first of many battles over the next few years I might add!

stickguy · June 2023

Sandy, they put the serial number of the tire in the warranty. So it does not matter wher you rotate it to.

oldfarmer50 · June 2023

sda said:
For multiple summers I went to Boy Scout summer camp for a week. Camp Salmen north of New Orleans, near Slidell and camp Kickapoo in MS. When we lived in France, the highlight was two weeks at Camp Freedom in Germany. Salmen Brick conducted timbering operations for many years on the site until the property was donated to the Boy Scouts of America in 1924, which used the property as a regional camp reservation for the Greater New Orleans area. Camp Salmen is now a nature park.

As kids we didn’t get camp, we were just told to come home when the street lights came on.

oldfarmer50 · June 2023

kyfdx said:
When I was selling my uncle's house, this fall, one of the prospective buyers insisted on writing a letter. Thank you, that was very nice, but you're $50K short...

A coworker buying his first new home was told to write a letter to the seller stating the reasons he and his wife deserved to pay full asking price for the home. The sellers “prayed on it” and chose them over other offers.

Personally, I’d rather live in a cardboard box than grovel to pay sticker price for anything, but that’s just me.

stickguy · June 2023

My recent sell and buy involved no letters. Just many over asking bids made quickly.

tjc78 · June 2023

@stickguy said:
My recent sell and buy involved no letters. Just many over asking bids made quickly.

From someone who bought and sold two homes during 2020 and 2021, that’s all you could do.

Heck .. sometimes just being able to see something you like felt like a win.

We luckily didn’t get into a bidding war with either one, but they were priced fairly high and we came in at asking. On the shore house, we knew we were going to get them to replace the AC or we were lowering our ask by 5K once the inspection condemned it.

The homes we sold were a total bidding war to the point where we cut it off. I probably could have eeeked out a few more bucks on each but just wanted to wrap it up.

The campground place literally blew my wife’s phone up with over 100 messages in a few hours.

nyccarguy · June 2023

Good morning everyone. I have a completely non-car related question for the board. Has anybody switched from an iPhone to a Samsung and been happy with it? If you went to Samsung and then switched back, why? If the mods don't want us to clog up the board, please feel free to PM me. I've been dropping my iPhone XR without a case on a regular basis for at least the past year. Last night I sat on it while in my back pocket. There are 2 small black blotches on the screen now. It is time for a new phone. Thanks in advance.

Michaell · June 2023

nyccarguy said:
Good morning everyone. I have a completely non-car related question for the board. Has anybody switched from an iPhone to a Samsung and been happy with it? If you went to Samsung and then switched back, why? If the mods don't want us to clog up the board, please feel free to PM me. I've been dropping my iPhone XR without a case on a regular basis for at least the past year. Last night I sat on it while in my back pocket. There are 2 small black blotches on the screen now. It is time for a new phone. Thanks in advance.

Probably better in the "Cars and Conversations" thread.

roadburner · June 2023

"better" in C and C is a relative term...

Michaell · June 2023

Member needs help with an extended warranty...

jmonroe1 · June 2023

@roadburner said:
"better" in C and C is a relative term...

————————————————
All depends on how many relatives he has on each board.

jmonroe

rayainsw · June 2023

New car in the fam.
Daughter just picked up a new 2023 Subaru Forester Limited.
Had her previous car [ 2013 Impreza ] for 10 yrs.
- Ray
She LOVES it!

laurasdada · June 2023

Congrats to la nina, Ray.
We tested the Forrester against the CX-5, while more practical the Forrester came in a distant second in a true field of one.

stickguy · June 2023

My sister has that model forester and really likes it. I drove it once and it was nice.

Sandman6472 · June 2023

Go with the iPhone! Have had both but the iPhone is far superior.

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