Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

qbrozen · October 2023

Does driving through a state count as visiting?

nyccarguy · October 2023

This past weekend my wife and I took our son to take a tour of The University of Vermont. Beautiful school, campus, & city of Burlington (although there were an alarming number of homeless people). We ate some delicious food and drank at the brewery where they make Citizen Cider. 300ish miles from my house. Our tour was supposed to start at 11:00 AM. I wanted to leave by 6:00 AM in order to make it on time with a cushion. Well, I overslept and didn't wake up until 6:50 AM. Apparently there were a few other people that were in a BIG hurry on Saturday AM as well because I was able to drive behind a few different full backs. Our Highlander performed admirably on the open road while fracturing the speed limit enough, but not excessively. My house is less than 2 miles from the northbound entrance to the Merritt Parkway and the school was less than 2 miles off of I89 Northbound. Pretty much a straight highway drive. I averaged 24.5 mpg on the tank on the way up there.

venture · October 2023

qbrozen said:
Does driving through a state count as visiting?

Yes. Doubly so if you stopped to pee.

venture · October 2023

My insurance company sent me a refund check for $170 after I sold the BMW and bought the Subaru.

It was in the mailbox when we got home yesterday.

Michaell · October 2023

nyccarguy said:
This past weekend my wife and I took our son to take a tour of The University of Vermont. Beautiful school, campus, & city of Burlington (although there were an alarming number of homeless people). We ate some delicious food and drank at the brewery where they make Citizen Cider. 300ish miles from my house. Our tour was supposed to start at 11:00 AM. I wanted to leave by 6:00 AM in order to make it on time with a cushion. Well, I overslept and didn't wake up until 6:50 AM. Apparently there were a few other people that were in a BIG hurry on Saturday AM as well because I was able to drive behind a few different full backs. Our Highlander performed admirably on the open road while fracturing the speed limit enough, but not excessively. My house is less than 2 miles from the northbound entrance to the Merritt Parkway and the school was less than 2 miles off of I89 Northbound. Pretty much a straight highway drive. I averaged 24.5 mpg on the tank on the way up there.

Bradd, I have a HS classmate who lives in Boston, and her daughter attends Vermont. I think she's a junior or senior this year, and I can connect you if you'd like to talk to someone about their experiences.

kyfdx · October 2023

qbrozen said:
Does driving through a state count as visiting?

Definitely..

But, just changing planes in a state, does not.

nyccarguy · October 2023

Michaell said:

nyccarguy said:
This past weekend my wife and I took our son to take a tour of The University of Vermont. Beautiful school, campus, & city of Burlington (although there were an alarming number of homeless people). We ate some delicious food and drank at the brewery where they make Citizen Cider. 300ish miles from my house. Our tour was supposed to start at 11:00 AM. I wanted to leave by 6:00 AM in order to make it on time with a cushion. Well, I overslept and didn't wake up until 6:50 AM. Apparently there were a few other people that were in a BIG hurry on Saturday AM as well because I was able to drive behind a few different full backs. Our Highlander performed admirably on the open road while fracturing the speed limit enough, but not excessively. My house is less than 2 miles from the northbound entrance to the Merritt Parkway and the school was less than 2 miles off of I89 Northbound. Pretty much a straight highway drive. I averaged 24.5 mpg on the tank on the way up there.
Bradd, I have a HS classmate who lives in Boston, and her daughter attends Vermont. I think she's a junior or senior this year, and I can connect you if you'd like to talk to someone about their experiences.

Thank-you. I will let you know if it gets to that point. I will keep that in mind.

stickguy · October 2023

venture said:

qbrozen said:
Does driving through a state count as visiting?

Yes. Doubly so if you stopped to pee.

changing planes though, does that count? I get a few extras that way!

explorerx4 · October 2023

@nyccarguy,
Does UVM have a specialty your son is interested in? 61k for tuition, room and board, plus misc expenses for out of states students.
I went to a small Catholic college in the same area(St Mike's) but it was so long ago, it might as well have been back in the Ice Age.

nyccarguy · October 2023

explorerx4 said:
@nyccarguy,
Does UVM have a specialty your son is interested in? 61k for tuition, room and board, plus misc expenses for out of states students.
I went to a small Catholic college in the same area(St Mike's) but it was so long ago, it might as well have been back in the Ice Age.

Actually they do have a specialty he's interested in. Tuition costs at every school are eye watering to say the least. Hmm. I never thought about a small catholic college. Maybe he would qualify for a full minority scholarship there

kyfdx · October 2023

stickguy said:

venture said:

qbrozen said:
Does driving through a state count as visiting?

Yes. Doubly so if you stopped to pee.
changing planes though, does that count? I get a few extras that way!

Absolutely not.. sorry, I don't make the rules

stickguy · October 2023

@nyccarguy said:
Actually they do have a specialty he's interested in. Tuition costs at every school are eye watering to say the least. Hmm. I never thought about a small catholic college. Maybe he would qualify for a full minority scholarship there

Navigating college costs. Brings back so many fond memories. But often state schools for out of state residents end up being a terrible $ deal.

U Conn not an option?

Just curious, What program is he looking at?

breld · October 2023

You all may have already seen this, but obviously thought of @roadburner when I saw it…

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a45441923/1995-bmw-318ti-archive-test/

breld · October 2023

Back when you could find a gem of a car on Craigslist and it was a fair purchase…

breld · October 2023

While I’m opening myself to other options for a fun car, what about this?

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/863d5983-46f4-4a4c-8988-abe9e0442965/

stickguy · October 2023

For the 3rd pedal I will overlook the exterior colors.

kyfdx · October 2023

breld said:
While I’m opening myself to other options for a fun car, what about this?

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/863d5983-46f4-4a4c-8988-abe9e0442965/

Yes

explorerx4 · October 2023

@breld,
I literally just got through watching C&D's 40K wrap up of their CT5V Blackwing.
Their larger car did 0-60 in 3.7 secs.

au1994 · October 2023

breld said:
While I’m opening myself to other options for a fun car, what about this?

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/863d5983-46f4-4a4c-8988-abe9e0442965/

Like it, but man, thats a lot of one color…

laurasdada · October 2023

UConn was my son's first choice, as a resident of MA, of course. We visited UMass (in February, 16 degrees and windy. He held that against the school), he nixed that. Of course, no glamour in staying in-state. He got wait listed at UConn, likely because the school looked up my tenure there...! He went to a private, business-oriented U quite close to home. And, like every school we looked at, shockingly $$$.

I lived in Burlington for a spell post-graduation. Wandered the UVM campus with raging jealousy of those enrolled undergrads, ruing the day that I graduated UConn. Lovely town, no memories of homeless, but that was a lifetime ago. And, a snowless winter, dashing my plans to ski-bum Stowe and the like that winter. But, I discovered Ben and Jerry's!

My advice, Bradd, visit UConn while the weather's still pleasant!

stickguy · October 2023

I visited the school I picked in NY on the most beautiful day I had ever seen. Place looked like a postcard. Little did I know then but I would not see another day close to that in my 4 years there, but did get lots of cold and gray!

Depending on filed if interest I can recommend a really good private school in NC

explorerx4 · October 2023

I was looking a scholarships at St Mike's to see if there was one close to what nyccarguy was looking for.

Didn't find one but found this pic, which cracked me up.
I guess if you want proof of climate change...

nyccarguy · October 2023

stickguy said:

@nyccarguy said:

Actually they do have a specialty he's interested in. Tuition costs at every school are eye watering to say the least. Hmm. I never thought about a small catholic college. Maybe he would qualify for a full minority scholarship there

Navigating college costs. Brings back so many fond memories. But often state schools for out of state residents end up being a terrible $ deal.

U Conn not an option?

Just curious, What program is he looking at?

He's looking to major in International Relations. There are a few things about UCONN. 1st off, it is a HUGE school. 2nd, it is extremely competitive because of the reasonable cost of in state tuition. It is actually easier to get in as an out of state student. Most likely they would have him attend UCONN Stamford for a year or 2, then have him transfer to the Storrs campus.

In state or out of state tuition, public or private, costs are staggering. I know quite a few of you have been through it already and have come out the other side.

stickguy · October 2023

This what he’s looking for?

https://www.elon.edu/u/academics/arts-and-sciences/international-global-studies/

breld · October 2023

My younger son is halfway through his first semester at University of Colorado and is having a blast, but he has brought up a couple times a little regret over not going to San Diego (he was strongly considering USD or SDSU).

I’m letting it play out a bit, but if he gets any more serious with the consideration, we’ll have to break it to him the difference in cost, particularly now that the scholarships that were offered to him are not there any more.

Even the in-state cost at CU is higher than the cost for either of his older siblings (one went to CSU and the other is still in school in Illinois).

qbrozen · October 2023

Not sure I could list all the states. It isn’t much but when recalling them I’m sure I would neglect some.

I can say I have definitely NOT been to:
Maine
N Dakota
S Dakota
Minnesota
Michigan
Nebraska
Idaho
Iowa
Kentucky
Arkansas
Mississippi
Illinois
Indiana
Missouri
Oklahoma
Montana
Louisiana
Oregon
Washington
Alaska
Hawaii

laurasdada · October 2023

529, 401k, HSA, FSA, insurance premiums; my net pay was more than enough for a Costco food court dinner for many years!

jmonroe1 · October 2023

nyccarguy said:

stickguy said:

@nyccarguy said:

Actually they do have a specialty he's interested in. Tuition costs at every school are eye watering to say the least. Hmm. I never thought about a small catholic college. Maybe he would qualify for a full minority scholarship there

Navigating college costs. Brings back so many fond memories. But often state schools for out of state residents end up being a terrible $ deal.

U Conn not an option?

Just curious, What program is he looking at?

He's looking to major in International Relations. There are a few things about UCONN. 1st off, it is a HUGE school. 2nd, it is extremely competitive because of the reasonable cost of in state tuition. It is actually easier to get in as an out of state student. Most likely they would have him attend UCONN Stamford for a year or 2, then have him transfer to the Storrs campus.

In state or out of state tuition, public or private, costs are staggering. I know quite a few of you have been through it already and have come out the other side.
————————————————
Yeah, but with a LOT of holes. Some of which may never heal.

jmonroe

nyccarguy · October 2023

jmonroe1 said:

nyccarguy said:

stickguy said:

@nyccarguy said:

Actually they do have a specialty he's interested in. Tuition costs at every school are eye watering to say the least. Hmm. I never thought about a small catholic college. Maybe he would qualify for a full minority scholarship there

Navigating college costs. Brings back so many fond memories. But often state schools for out of state residents end up being a terrible $ deal.

U Conn not an option?

Just curious, What program is he looking at?

He's looking to major in International Relations. There are a few things about UCONN. 1st off, it is a HUGE school. 2nd, it is extremely competitive because of the reasonable cost of in state tuition. It is actually easier to get in as an out of state student. Most likely they would have him attend UCONN Stamford for a year or 2, then have him transfer to the Storrs campus.

In state or out of state tuition, public or private, costs are staggering. I know quite a few of you have been through it already and have come out the other side.

————————————————
Yeah, but with a LOT of holes. Some of which may never heal.

jmonroe

I know all too well already with 2 kids in private school. Somehow when your name is on the door of the business, they (meaning the people in charge of dishing out financial assistance) just know you are hiding something.

au1994 · October 2023

We are in the throes of the college application/visit process as well. Here in GA we have what is called the Hope Scholarship which is funded by the lottery. It has 2 components but if you are a good enough student, tuition etc at a state school is essentially free.

It’s a great program for sure but as a result, admissions to UGA (1st choice) are incredibly competitive. So much that Jr with his 4.3 GPA and 1370 SAT is not a shoe in.

I graduated HS with a solid B average and average test scores and had no problem getting into various big state schools. Times have changed for sure.

It’s a fun, if not nerve wracking process. He wants the big SEC football school experience and I can’t begrudge him that. He will get a good education and have some fun. He just doesn’t need to have as much fun as I did my freshman year. After which the university asked me to reconsider whether or not college was for me.

corvette · October 2023

Ya'll are making me feel really well traveled. Looking at the map, I have visited every state except:
Vermont
Rhode Island
Delaware
Idaho
Alaska
Hawaii

I took enough road trips in the two and a half years I had the Tundra that it visited 28 states.

qbrozen · October 2023

The dealership "who shall not be named" keeps bugging me. Interwebs person trying to suggest a '22 CPO unit they have on hand. It is priced well, I'll admit. Of course, now that I asked questions, the price will probably go up. Anyway, after some back and forth to warm her up, I hit her with the unrealistic numbers I'd want. Comms have gone silent. lol.
Thing is, if it wasn't for crazy interest rates, it would work just fine.

And, so far, no bites on the lease route. Wait... did I mention the least route? hmmm... anyway, yeah, I'm pondering leasing. Again, rates are ridiculous, but they have 69% RV for 36/10, so that helps, as does 0 interest since I'm trading in. Hardest part is finding any in stock.

corvette · October 2023

@qbrozen - you're looking at Colorados, right? If you'd be leasing a 2023, that is the redesigned model. Are there still lease deals on Frontiers?

qbrozen · October 2023

corvette said:
@qbrozen - you're looking at Colorados, right? If you'd be leasing a 2023, that is the redesigned model. Are there still lease deals on Frontiers?

Correct on the '23.

And "ew!" on the Nissan. Takes some real talent to have the most horsepower in your class and yet be the heaviest and slowest.

nyccarguy · October 2023

qbrozen said:
The dealership "who shall not be named" keeps bugging me. Interwebs person trying to suggest a '22 CPO unit they have on hand. It is priced well, I'll admit. Of course, now that I asked questions, the price will probably go up. Anyway, after some back and forth to warm her up, I hit her with the unrealistic numbers I'd want. Comms have gone silent. lol.
Thing is, if it wasn't for crazy interest rates, it would work just fine.

And, so far, no bites on the lease route. Wait... did I mention the least route? hmmm... anyway, yeah, I'm pondering leasing. Again, rates are ridiculous, but they have 69% RV for 36/10, so that helps, as does 0 interest since I'm trading in. Hardest part is finding any in stock.

The interest rates KILL everything. 7% interest rate on a $30K 2024 Camry nets a payment of over $600 per month.

stickguy · October 2023

@nyccarguy said:
I know all too well already with 2 kids in private school. Somehow when your name is on the door of the business, they (meaning the people in charge of dishing out financial assistance) just know you are hiding something.

One good thing about paying for daycare and fancy summer camp, I barely noticed when college came along since I was conditioned for it!

I also would add as a payment source bank of your house. I had a HELOC that I used to float cash flow during the college years. Worked great especially when rates were super low!

corvette · October 2023

Didn't realize that. According to the Google, some trims of the 2023 Colorado appear to weigh even more than the Frontier.

28firefighter · October 2023

I went to a small private school for middle and high school. I was one of 60 in my entire grade - average class size was 10-12. After that experience I wanted to go to a big school where I could disappear. Ended up at Pitt, but at 5.5 hours away from Philly, I felt like I got the best of both worlds - in-state tuition but a good distance from home. Would still be in Pittsburgh if the job market hadn't been awful when I finished grad school.

corvette · October 2023

@stickguy - the HELOC trick does not work as well right now since they (generally) have variable interest rates. Mine is 9.24% right now--thankfully, I don't have a balance on it!

stickguy · October 2023

Yeah used to be nice and low. But still convenient when you only need the money for a few months.

For my new house (the 10% deposit to start building) I did not want to clean out cash reserves, or sell stock for a CG (though now, might regret that!) so I ended up taking a loan off one of my chase CCs. Instant cash, no application or fees. 1 year term and I think the rate was about 7%. Very convenient and I can pay off T any time. Depending on logistics next year might do it again to avoid needing a real mortgage.

au1994 · October 2023

Haven’t visited:

WA
OR
ID
AK
HI
ND
WY
NM
WV
ME
NH
VT
VA
DE
NE

au1994 · October 2023

qbrozen said:
The dealership "who shall not be named" keeps bugging me. Interwebs person trying to suggest a '22 CPO unit they have on hand. It is priced well, I'll admit. Of course, now that I asked questions, the price will probably go up. Anyway, after some back and forth to warm her up, I hit her with the unrealistic numbers I'd want. Comms have gone silent. lol.
Thing is, if it wasn't for crazy interest rates, it would work just fine.

And, so far, no bites on the lease route. Wait... did I mention the least route? hmmm... anyway, yeah, I'm pondering leasing. Again, rates are ridiculous, but they have 69% RV for 36/10, so that helps, as does 0 interest since I'm trading in. Hardest part is finding any in stock.

That 69% for a 36/10 could be interesting. The redo on the Colorado/Canyon twins is quite attractive.

kyfdx · October 2023

There are better MFs and residuals on a Tacoma

qbrozen · October 2023

@kyfdx said:
There are better MFs and residuals on a Tacoma

Odd because the leases from the broker aren’t looking so great. Huh. What’s the 36/10 MF and RV on a 4-door SR5 v6 4x4?

breld · October 2023

Speaking of rates, Ford is offering 2.9% on the new Mustang. That’s for 36 months, but 3.9% for 48 and 4.9% for 60 isn’t bad.

I think Acura has some lower rates on CPO MDX’s too - almost enough to make me swap the Lexus for one.

Michaell · October 2023

qbrozen said:

@kyfdx said:

There are better MFs and residuals on a Tacoma

Odd because the leases from the broker aren’t looking so great. Huh. What’s the 36/10 MF and RV on a 4-door SR5 v6 4x4?

.00255 and 70%

roadburner · October 2023

Filled up the Wrangler today; 37.3 mpg; not too shabby for a 5,000 pound SUV with the aerodynamics of a brick.

mjfloyd1 · October 2023

kyfdx said:

stickguy said:

venture said:

qbrozen said:
Does driving through a state count as visiting?

Yes. Doubly so if you stopped to pee.
changing planes though, does that count? I get a few extras that way!
Absolutely not.. sorry, I don't make the rules

What about changing planes and peeing in the airport?😂

mjfloyd1 · October 2023

breld said:
Speaking of rates, Ford is offering 2.9% on the new Mustang. That’s for 36 months, but 3.9% for 48 and 4.9% for 60 isn’t bad.

I think Acura has some lower rates on CPO MDX’s too - almost enough to make me swap the Lexus for one.

Would the rate savings on the MDX be enough to cover the depreciation of the Lexus?

Why am I even asking @breld this question?😇

Michaell · October 2023

mjfloyd1 said:

breld said:
Speaking of rates, Ford is offering 2.9% on the new Mustang. That’s for 36 months, but 3.9% for 48 and 4.9% for 60 isn’t bad.

I think Acura has some lower rates on CPO MDX’s too - almost enough to make me swap the Lexus for one.
Would the rate savings on the MDX be enough to cover the depreciation of the Lexus?

Why am I even asking @breld this question?😇

As we've discussed many, many times before - you can make the numbers say anything you want to justify a lease or purchase.

Given that he's an accountant, I don't doubt his knowledge...

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