Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

oldfarmer50 · October 2023

Michaell said:
My last car-related transaction was August 2016, when I leased the Jetta.

And, I'm a moderator for this discussion, so if I can keep my membership, so can the rest of you.

We are, however, moving to a subscription model, so instead of paying your dues annually on the honor system, we'll be asking for a credit/debit card to charge your dues monthly.

Do you take cash?

stickguy · October 2023

I can get it to him. leave it in an envelope in your mailbox and I will swing by to pick it up.

roadburner · October 2023

sda said:

jmonroe1 said:

xwesx said:

Sandman6472 said:
While up in the Orlando area on Wednesday night with my one daughter, get a call at the hotel from my wife that her battery died. She's not home & at a restaurant nearby. She left the battery paperwork on the table at home but I had taken a pic on my phone of it before we left town. Called up the guy who said, yep, it's still under warranty, bought 8/15/22, and they could be at or house at 8 am the next day. Said fine but what about now as she ain't home! Told me to call roadside which I did. While filling out the info on my phone, wife calls and said she got it started so I told her to cancel her evening appointment & go home. Turns out battery was almost dead, so for $20, they popped in a new one & all is well. So strange that it finally goes out when I'm hundreds of miles away and the receipt is on the table in the kitchen!
I'm really curious as to whether the shop coded the new battery to the car. Audis are odd like that, in that while nearly every vehicle in the world operates just fine with a battery that is not monitored by the vehicle's computer system at all, Audi insists that it is better, somehow, if it is monitored and the alternator's output to the battery varies over the life of the unit. If you put a new battery into the car without coding it, you can expect about a year of use from it before it just up and dies.

In lieu of coding, you can just unplug the little connector on the negative battery terminal that allows the computer to monitor it, and then it behaves just like any other car in the world.
————————————————
FWIW, I had to put a new battery in my ‘15 Genny this past Friday. I knew the battery was in the trunk so I went on line to see what was involved in changing it. On the positive terminal there are 2 small connectors that have to be removed. The video, while pretty good, did not say what they were for and I was guessing one or both might have something to do with computer inputs of some kind.

I called the Interstate Battery outfit not far from me to get a price on the battery. Their price was the same for either carry out or for them to install it.

I wasn’t feeling all that great on Friday (recovering from groin hernia surgery last Tuesday), so Son #1 took the car in for the new battery to be installed. It made no sense installing it myself, plus didn’t have to go through taking the old battery back to get the old battery deposit back. A couple ticks over 300 bucks all in with tax.

BTW, that is one BIG battery, I never saw a battery that long before so glad no one had to schlep that sucker around.

jmonroe
I hope your recovery is going well and feeling better. You have to stay in shape for those laps around the dining table!

Agreed!

corvette · October 2023

You can also just PM me your card number, expiration date, CVV, billing zip code, and for security purposes, amount of available credit and mother's maiden name, and I'll see that it gets taken care of.

roadburner · October 2023

The Mini is traded and the 4xe is charging in the garage. My shop called about the 1999 Wrangler; it's not starting because some varmint chewed through multiple wires under the hood. It's sat outside for at least 10 years and this is the first time that has happened. Grrr.

qbrozen · October 2023

@roadburner said:
The Mini is traded and the 4xe is charging in the garage. My shop called about the 1999 Wrangler; it's not starting because some varmint chewed through multiple wires under the hood. It's sat outside for at least 10 years and this is the first time that has happened. Grrr.

So you are dumping 2 for 1?

jmonroe1 · October 2023

roadburner said:
The Mini is traded and the 4xe is charging in the garage. My shop called about the 1999 Wrangler; it's not starting because some varmint chewed through multiple wires under the hood. It's sat outside for at least 10 years and this is the first time that has happened. Grrr.

————————————————
Well, what would you do if you did nothing to deserve being shoved aside? Right, open all doors, windows and other access points and have a party for all the friends you lived with for 10 years.

jmonroe

stickguy · October 2023

worrying about rodents getting into the wiring worries me more about parking outside than having to scrape snow or deal with cold seats!

roadburner · October 2023

qbrozen said:

@roadburner said:

The Mini is traded and the 4xe is charging in the garage. My shop called about the 1999 Wrangler; it's not starting because some varmint chewed through multiple wires under the hood. It's sat outside for at least 10 years and this is the first time that has happened. Grrr.

So you are dumping 2 for 1?

Yep.

28firefighter · October 2023

It heard you were trying to sell it, that’s why.

explorerx4 · October 2023

My brother in law bought a 22 GMC Denali. Nice truck.
It was originally purchased in Canada so everything is in French.
I'm working on translating the window sticker.

stickguy · October 2023

Leave the Speedo in kilometers just to mess with him.

corvette · October 2023

I have been dodging careless drivers left and right this entire trip, including one who turned left in front of me from my right hand side—they were in a “go straight” lane. Then this happened this afternoon. Hyundai in front of me stopped. I also stopped. He threw it into reverse. I had no time to do anything other than sound my horn before he hit me.

I really did not need another stressor on my plate, but it is what it is.

kyfdx · October 2023

Bummer

explorerx4 · October 2023

Probably no way to prove they backed into you.
It got the painted and lower part of the bumper.

corvette · October 2023

explorerx4 said:
Probably no way to prove they backed into you.

Right... I haven’t yet installed the dashcam, might have been helpful here.

And he gave me an expired insurance card. Assuming I have to file under my own carrier, my word that he backed into me should be good enough that it's considered not-at-fault and (I think) in that case, they waive the deductible.

oldfarmer50 · October 2023

corvette said:

I have been dodging careless drivers left and right this entire trip, including one who turned left in front of me from my right hand side—they were in a “go straight” lane. Then this happened this afternoon. Hyundai in front of me stopped. I also stopped. He threw it into reverse. I had no time to do anything other than sound my horn before he hit me.

I really did not need another stressor on my plate, but it is what it is.

What was his excuse for backing into you?

I once had the same thing happen with a power company boom truck. Just stopped and reversed right into me. Called the police and the driver admitted fault. The company couldn’t send me a check fast enough. I guess they didn’t want me lawyering up and claiming a back injury.

corvette · October 2023

oldfarmer50 said:
What was his excuse for backing into you?

Screaming kid in the back seat (which I didn't see nor hear).

roadburner · October 2023

What an idiot. That truly sucks.

nyccarguy · October 2023

Sorry you got backed into!

jmonroe1 · October 2023

corvette said:

explorerx4 said:
Probably no way to prove they backed into you.
Right... I haven’t yet installed the dashcam, might have been helpful here.

And he gave me an expired insurance card. Assuming I have to file under my own carrier, my word that he backed into me should be good enough that it's considered not-at-fault and (I think) in that case, they waive the deductible.

————————————————
I would have called the police as soon as I saw an expired insurance card. That’s deceitful and I have no patience for stuff like that.

Where I live the police won’t let you drive your car with any expired documents and you’d be lucky not to be towed to the local police pound.

jmonroe

corvette · October 2023

IDK... a lot of police departments stopped responding to non-injury accidents during COVID. I didn't notice the expired insurance card until later.

Michaell · October 2023

corvette said:
IDK... a lot of police departments stopped responding to non-injury accidents during COVID. I didn't notice the expired insurance card until later.

Here in Colorado, in times of bad weather and emergency services are overwhelmed with serious injury accidents, cities and counties can go on "accident alert" - if you're in a minor accident with no injuries, simply exchange information and go on your way. Report the incident to the police at a later date.

oldfarmer50 · October 2023

jmonroe1 said:

corvette said:

explorerx4 said:
Probably no way to prove they backed into you.
Right... I haven’t yet installed the dashcam, might have been helpful here.

And he gave me an expired insurance card. Assuming I have to file under my own carrier, my word that he backed into me should be good enough that it's considered not-at-fault and (I think) in that case, they waive the deductible.
————————————————
I would have called the police as soon as I saw an expired insurance card. That’s deceitful and I have no patience for stuff like that.

Where I live the police won’t let you drive your car with any expired documents and you’d be lucky not to be towed to the local police pound.

jmonroe

I was thinking the same thing. There’s no telling how his story will change once he has time to think about it. And yes, in my state too your registration is void if you don’t have insurance.

Some years ago my niece was negligent and pulled out from a stop sign without looking both ways. She hit a car in cross traffic. When the police came they found the other party had no insurance and cited him then towed his car. They let her go without a ticket.

xwesx · October 2023

corvette said:
IDK... a lot of police departments stopped responding to non-injury accidents during COVID. I didn't notice the expired insurance card until later.

Well, that could work for you. Generally, if you're dealing with an uninsured motorist, the credibility of anything the other party has to say is immediately called into question, and your insurance company will take your version of events as true.

qbrozen · October 2023

@oldfarmer50 said:
I was thinking the same thing. There’s no telling how his story will change once he has time to think about it.

Exactly. That happened to me once and I will never let it happen again. I will always call the cops on the spot.

In my case, as I’m sure I shared before, it didn’t become my fault but the fault of the poor kid who was 3rd in line. Person in the middle of us, who was the true culprit, got away with it. She said on the scene it was her fault for not seeing me stopped waiting to turn, and the kid behind her hit her after because she was stopped so abruptly. I figured I was hit in the rear so didn’t sweat the whole no cop thing. Then later when insurance called, they said lady in middle was claiming she was pushed into me. Poor kid. I talked to him after and expressed my disappointment in the other party and said this was a lesson for both of us to always get a report on the spot.

kyfdx · October 2023

Even if you called the police, they aren't going to enter a finding of fault on an accident they didn't witness. Your only hope is for the other driver to admit fault in front of the police.

If he denies fault, the insurance company will surely require you to pay your deductible.

oldfarmer50 · October 2023

kyfdx said:
Even if you called the police, they aren't going to enter a finding of fault on an accident they didn't witness. Your only hope is for the other driver to admit fault in front of the police.

If he denies fault, the insurance company will surely require you to pay your deductible.

True but if an officer takes statements at the scene, the other driver can’t change their story later. Also the chance exists that the presence of a cop would make the at-fault backer tell the truth.

sda · October 2023

Years ago I got hit in the rear bumper of my new Jetta GLX. Minor damage. The dude who hit me gave me his card and said he'd take care of it. The card said he was an attorney. Mistake. Never paid. Later my wife had a truck back into the front of her car. The hood and bumper badly dented. The person who hit her begged not to call the police. She called me asking what to do. I insisted she call for a police report. Lesson learned.

qbrozen · October 2023

yup, my thinking is with OF. In my case, woman admitted to fault on the scene. After having time to think, she (and/or husband) decided they were pushed into me.

qbrozen · October 2023

Auction madness continues. Came across this Dakota last night and was interested in bidding for myself. Not great condition, but low miles and a great color, as well as the V8 option. As you can see, dealers just got plain stupid on it.

xwesx · October 2023

Wow; good luck making money on that one!

explorerx4 · October 2023

I a quick search on Autotrader and I think there's some meat on the bone with that Dakota based on the low mileage.

qbrozen · October 2023

CEL is on and some rust starting on the rear fenders. After all is said and done with the fees, transport, and repairs, that's a loser, I'm sure.

stickguy · October 2023

Easy retail price without rust though.

explorerx4 · October 2023

Now that some of the details are filled out, the auction price seems high.

oldfarmer50 · October 2023

qbrozen said:
yup, my thinking is with OF. In my case, woman admitted to fault on the scene. After having time to think, she (and/or husband) decided they were pushed into me.

Even if that were true, as I understand it, she still holds liability for hitting you. She can then go after the third driver for damage to her car and for the cost she accrued from paying you.

When it comes to money I wouldn’t trust my own grandma to tell the truth.

oldfarmer50 · October 2023

qbrozen said:
Auction madness continues. Came across this Dakota last night and was interested in bidding for myself. Not great condition, but low miles and a great color, as well as the V8 option. As you can see, dealers just got plain stupid on it.

Those smaller pickups are going for every bit as much as the full size. A rust free Ford Ranger with that mileage goes for $12,000 which is probably what the dealer will ask for that Dakota.

https://maine.craigslist.org/ctd/d/gardiner-2008-ford-ranger-4x-miles/7670999155.html

oldfarmer50 · October 2023

stickguy said:
Easy retail price without rust though.

Bondo cures all.

kyfdx · October 2023

oldfarmer50 said:

qbrozen said:
yup, my thinking is with OF. In my case, woman admitted to fault on the scene. After having time to think, she (and/or husband) decided they were pushed into me.
Even if that were true, as I understand it, she still holds liability for hitting you. She can then go after the third driver for damage to her car and for the cost she accrued from paying you.

When it comes to money I wouldn’t trust my own grandma to tell the truth.

She owes for him, but she can't collect from the driver that pushed her into him, except for her own damage.

oldfarmer50 · October 2023

Bad couple of days for me.

As I prepare to put the convertible away for winter I open up the trunk and find wetness. I pull out the spare and the well has got about an inch of water sitting in it. It seems the top had delaminated at the base of the rear glass and recent rain had run right inside the car and down into the trunk.

I bailed as much as I could and the set up a fan to try and dry everything. I left the trunk lid up to help with evaporation. By this morning it seemed pretty dry and I set out to patch the gap where the water was entering. I tried to move the seat up so I could climb in and found the battery was dead.

So all day I was running a charge on the battery hoping it would at least be able to start the car to put it away. Finally I got it to start, ran it for an hour, climbed in and glued the fabric back to the glass. Now it’s in the driveway on a trickle charger and I hope I can finish my patch job and put it away for winter.

I don’t know if I should chance taking it to the mechanic to get the battery swapped and risk it getting rained on or just keep it in the barn on trickle until next spring. I’d do the battery myself but this car has the battery inside the fender and I don’t relish the idea of laying on gravel in the cold taking the inner fender off. I understand the process is a pain. I also have to consider that it’s time for a new top ($1200) next spring.

Maybe I should just sell it to Stickguy.

jmonroe1 · October 2023

oldfarmer50 said:
Bad couple of days for me.

As I prepare to put the convertible away for winter I open up the trunk and find wetness. I pull out the spare and the well has got about an inch of water sitting in it. It seems the top had delaminated at the base of the rear glass and recent rain had run right inside the car and down into the trunk.

I bailed as much as I could and the set up a fan to try and dry everything. I left the trunk lid up to help with evaporation. By this morning it seemed pretty dry and I set out to patch the gap where the water was entering. I tried to move the seat up so I could climb in and found the battery was dead.

So all day I was running a charge on the battery hoping it would at least be able to start the car to put it away. Finally I got it to start, ran it for an hour, climbed in and glued the fabric back to the glass. Now it’s in the driveway on a trickle charger and I hope I can finish my patch job and put it away for winter.

I don’t know if I should chance taking it to the mechanic to get the battery swapped and risk it getting rained on or just keep it in the barn on trickle until next spring. I’d do the battery myself but this car has the battery inside the fender and I don’t relish the idea of laying on gravel in the cold taking the inner fender off. I understand the process is a pain. I also have to consider that it’s time for a new top ($1200) next spring.

Maybe I should just sell it to Stickguy.

————————————————
You can try but I didn’t think he was looking for a top down Winter beater.

jmonroe

explorerx4 · October 2023

@!oldfarmer50,
Can you tape up the repair are temporarily until you get a new battery?
I'd put it in the barn with a cover on it until next spring.

stickguy · October 2023

I'll give you $400 for it and take care of the battery myself.

oldfarmer50 · October 2023

explorerx4 said:
@!oldfarmer50,
Can you tape up the repair are temporarily until you get a new battery?
I'd put it in the barn with a cover on it until next spring.

I glued it back from the inside so it should be waterproof but I need to lay a bead on the outer edge to make sure nothing can leak.

Yeah I think I’ll wait until next spring to do all the real work.

oldfarmer50 · October 2023

stickguy said:
I'll give you $400 for it and take care of the battery myself.

No low ballers, I know what I got!😤

jmonroe1 · October 2023

stickguy said:
I'll give you $400 for it and take care of the battery myself.

————————————————
Does that mean you want @oldfarmer50 to replace the top?

jmonroe

stickguy · October 2023

oldfarmer50 said:

stickguy said:
I'll give you $400 for it and take care of the battery myself.
No low ballers, I know what I got!😤

a dead 25 YO Chrysler that leaks like a sieve?

Make that $300, and you deliver it.

qbrozen · October 2023

kyfdx said:

oldfarmer50 said:

qbrozen said:
yup, my thinking is with OF. In my case, woman admitted to fault on the scene. After having time to think, she (and/or husband) decided they were pushed into me.
Even if that were true, as I understand it, she still holds liability for hitting you. She can then go after the third driver for damage to her car and for the cost she accrued from paying you.

When it comes to money I wouldn’t trust my own grandma to tell the truth.
She owes for him, but she can't collect from the driver that pushed her into him, except for her own damage.

That's not what the adjuster told me. She said that since the woman in the middle claimed he pushed her into me, he's on the hook for both vehicles (well, 3 including his own) because there is no way to prove otherwise and he was at the rear so he gets all the blame. I don't recall now who the insurance even was (this was '04 or '05), but they came out, took a look at my wife's Pacifica, and cut us a check for a couple grand for the misaligned bumper.

qbrozen · October 2023

Haven't had time to go test drive anything yet, but I may as well check out full-size trucks, too. If the numbers I've found are correct, it looks like Silverados are leasing pretty well right now. Crew Cab LT 4wd with the turbo engine and $55k price tag comes to roughly $465 effective for 36/10 (this is sans tax since my trade would mean $0 net tax).

I likely don't want something that size but will have to drive to make sure.

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