Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous

breld · December 2023

corvette said:
If I were in the market, I'd consider buying a used 4xe in the $30k range. A lot of vehicle for the money.

There seems to be a big spread between what dealers are giving on trade and what they’re asking retail for the same car.

Purely anecdotally, it seems to me the dealers are going to extremes in hedging their bets on a downward trend on used car prices, but they are holding on to the inflated asking prices from a year ago as best they can. The $3-5k spread between trade offers and retail (actual expected sale price) seems to be more like $8-10k these days.

laurasdada · December 2023

Happy with my M240 softie purchase earlier this year. Bought a car in each of the last 3 years, not sure how I can keep the streak going. Luckily, no snowstorm yet to make my heart break seeing the A7 or M240 having to be dug out!
If I am to remain living in my home, wife's X3 will not be left outdoors!

fintail · December 2023

roadburner said:
My loaner has what BMW calls Auto Hold. When it is enabled and you come to a complete stop you can take your foot of the brake pedal and the brakes will not release until you touch the accelerator.
Mercedes has the same feature but to use it you simply push the brake a bit harder once you have stopped. I like that approach better because you don't need to toggle the feature on or off.

I enjoy that feature a lot. It is also handy on steep hills, shades of the old Studebaker Hill Holder (the MB-Stude link continues). When I drive another car, I miss the ability to be lazy - also handy in a stop light race as you can hover above the accelerator.

jmonroe1 · December 2023

breld said:
Two more shopping days in the year (at lease in those states where dealers are closed on Sundays)…anyone gonna make a last minute punch?

Something tells me we’re not getting our Bronco Heritage Edition…

————————————————
C’mon man, think positive. You’ll probably get the first punch in 2024.

jmonroe

28firefighter · December 2023

Not here. We’re headed on a cruise next week out of Florida after seeing some family.

pensfan83 · December 2023

Nor here. I've been working on fleet reduction actually.

stickguy · December 2023

I skip car buying years when I’m buying a house so 2024 is not looking promising!

qbrozen · December 2023

I make no promises either way. I know I’ll SELL some.

Did I mention that I keep thinking, “hmmm… if I sell the Daihatsu, Alto, Charger, and Maserati, that would pay for a lightly used 20-21 Charger Scat Pack.” But then think how silly it is when I drive so little anymore. Besides, the Maser is just as capable (I think) as a new Scat.

corvette · December 2023

Made an appointment for Tuesday to get an estimate on repairing the Maverick. Hopefully they will be able to schedule the repair quickly once they've taken a look at it.

oldfarmer50 · December 2023

breld said:

corvette said:
If I were in the market, I'd consider buying a used 4xe in the $30k range. A lot of vehicle for the money.
There seems to be a big spread between what dealers are giving on trade and what they’re asking retail for the same car.

Purely anecdotally, it seems to me the dealers are going to extremes in hedging their bets on a downward trend on used car prices, but they are holding on to the inflated asking prices from a year ago as best they can. The $3-5k spread between trade offers and retail (actual expected sale price) seems to be more like $8-10k these days.

Considering on the total lack of care a good portion of the population give their cars I’m betting dealers are afraid of getting a trade-in with serious problems. Even here, what is the advice on what to do with a car that has serious problems….sell it!

mjfloyd1 · December 2023

corvette said:
Made an appointment for Tuesday to get an estimate on repairing the Maverick. Hopefully they will be able to schedule the repair quickly once they've taken a look at it. </blockquote

Is it worth filing a diminished value claim?

mjfloyd1 · December 2023

breld said:
Two more shopping days in the year (at lease in those states where dealers are closed on Sundays)…anyone gonna make a last minute punch?

Something tells me we’re not getting our Bronco Heritage Edition…

Autotrader, CarGurus…surely you can find one before years end😎

jmonroe1 · December 2023

mjfloyd1 said:

breld said:
Two more shopping days in the year (at lease in those states where dealers are closed on Sundays)…anyone gonna make a last minute punch?

Something tells me we’re not getting our Bronco Heritage Edition…

Autotrader, CarGurus…surely you can find one before years end😎

————————————————
Probably but if he gets the first punch in here in 2024, Edmunds waives his January 2024 dues.

jmonroe

28firefighter · December 2023

There is absolutely nothing out at the moment at a reasonable price point that would make me change. Thats almost depressing….what does one do here when we buy cars we like?

corvette · December 2023

mjfloyd1 said:
Is it worth filing a diminished value claim?

I will probably try to, assuming I can get an appraisal. I'm sure it's arguable on a bumper repaint and trim replacement, but "it will have to be disclosed when it's sold or traded." The fraudulent behavior of their insured is also a good talking point.

corvette · December 2023

28firefighter said:
….what does one do here when we buy cars we like?

Trade it for another model of the same car with different trim level/options... Did you really have to ask?!?

Michaell · December 2023

corvette said:

28firefighter said:
….what does one do here when we buy cars we like?

Trade it for another model of the same car with different trim level/options... Did you really have to ask?!?

@breld has done it, several times.

@stickguy sold his first Maverick for another one.

Sandman6472 · December 2023

Have been in bed since late Monday night with a bad cold/cough/sore throat plus a case of vertigo thrown in to add a bit of spice! Called out from work Tuesday and Friday but, they got me for tomorrow it seems. Still waiting to hear about Sunday and Monday. Hate getting sick so often but luckily they let me make it up as I have offered to stop completely as I never know exactly when the vertigo is going to show itself. Or even tried for a very flexible schedule as I hate to let them down on certain days. But one thing I do know is not to drive when having a vertigo attach! Don't want to hurt anyone else plus myself!! Just want it to go away & never ever come back!!!

imidazol97 · December 2023

Sorry to hear you're having the vertigo still again.

nyccarguy · December 2023

@Sandman6472 said:
Have been in bed since late Monday night with a bad cold/cough/sore throat plus a case of vertigo thrown in to add a bit of spice! Called out from work Tuesday and Friday but, they got me for tomorrow it seems. Still waiting to hear about Sunday and Monday. Hate getting sick so often but luckily they let me make it up as I have offered to stop completely as I never know exactly when the vertigo is going to show itself. Or even tried for a very flexible schedule as I hate to let them down on certain days. But one thing I do know is not to drive when having a vertigo attach! Don't want to hurt anyone else plus myself!! Just want it to go away & never ever come back!!!

Feel better sandy!

nyccarguy · December 2023

So tonight I went on sort of a wild goose chase for my kids. They wanted these 3lb weighted dinosaur stuffed animals from Target (I’d rather them play with stuffed animals than scroll). Our target here in town didn’t have, none of the closer ones had any in stock either. I drove to a target by my store in the Bronx (an experience for sure) and they didn’t have any. I went on the target website and found the target in Mt Kisco, NY had plenty in stock. Driving back to Stamford was on a road that wasn’t exactly paved. Apparently these ultra rich people like this. Good thing I had the Tacoma.

Sandman6472 · December 2023

Guess where we lived in Briarcliff Manor had all paved roads. Drove around the area in 2006 as I was staying in Westport with family. Did like our little village of Briarcliff but must admit, Westport is a much nice place to live. But got used to playing or "fort" as we called it, old abandoned train tracks from the Putnam Valley line weaving in and out of Briarcliff on the Pocantico River, down by Long Hill Rd. East and South State Road. So much living history that we didn't take for granted as kids as we always had something to explore. Or, we'd take the bus down to Ossining or west to White Plains. Once we had our bar mitzvah's, we could take the train in Grand Central Station which was cool as "the company" had box seats at Madison Square Garden and remember celebrating the start of 1969 after a game in Times Square. Too many folks doing things I'd only seen in magazines...a big wake up call for shy kid of just 14 years of age. My three other siblings were so grown up compared to little ole' me, something made abundantly clear to me this particular evening. And didn't even have any idea that within the next year, we'd of packed up the only house I'd ever known and be living to a place called Plantation Florida, just due west of Ft. Lauderdale Florida. Amazing how life changing decisions can be made for others, by others, which changed the whole trajectory of the rest of our lives without a say in the matter. A few life changing events happened in those early months of 1969 that led me to a place I'm still living in today! And out of the whole family of twelve, I'm the last one to tell the tale and make a new life in a brand new area. It's been a wild ride I'll say & have it enjoyed it mostly though there are a few things I wish I had more decision making as it was my life to be honest! But, here we are about 68 years later and the "beat still goes on"!

jmonroe1 · December 2023

nyccarguy said:
So tonight I went on sort of a wild goose chase for my kids. They wanted these 3lb weighted dinosaur stuffed animals from Target (I’d rather them play with stuffed animals than scroll). Our target here in town didn’t have, none of the closer ones had any in stock either. I drove to a target by my store in the Bronx (an experience for sure) and they didn’t have any. I went on the target website and found the target in Mt Kisco, NY had plenty in stock. Driving back to Stamford was on a road that wasn’t exactly paved. Apparently these ultra rich people like this. Good thing I had the Tacoma.

————————————————
Isn’t this where the fun starts for a Jeep owner?

jmonroe

Sandman6472 · December 2023

Which today has led me to think about what would've happened to us all if my folks waited a few years to move south or at least until I graduated high school. Leaving schools in early 10th grade wasn't nearly as rough as it was for my older brother who was in eleventh grade and eventually graduated as valedictorian. Was more like a do over for my twin & myself and turned out to be the best thing my folks ever did for us, truth be told. And would I change any part of it? Well, maybe just a couple of things but over all, it turned out pretty good!

nyccarguy · December 2023

@28firefighter said:
There is absolutely nothing out at the moment at a reasonable price point that would make me change. Thats almost depressing….what does one do here when we buy cars we like?

I agree with you. There is nothing that I’m drooling over. There are a lot of nice cars, fast cars, & cars that handle well, but nothing jumps out at me.

stickguy · December 2023

I don’t know what I would get either. Even harder when you aren’t sure what type of vehicle you need!

sb55 · December 2023

nyccarguy said:
So tonight I went on sort of a wild goose chase for my kids. They wanted these 3lb weighted dinosaur stuffed animals from Target (I’d rather them play with stuffed animals than scroll). Our target here in town didn’t have, none of the closer ones had any in stock either. I drove to a target by my store in the Bronx (an experience for sure) and they didn’t have any. I went on the target website and found the target in Mt Kisco, NY had plenty in stock. Driving back to Stamford was on a road that wasn’t exactly paved. Apparently these ultra rich people like this. Good thing I had the Tacoma.

I grew up in South Salem, NY. We lived on a dirt road. But that was the 60's and 70's before it became trendy to live in upper Westchester. I now live on a dirt road in Vermont. Since it still hasn't been cold, we are in perpetual "mud season" until the road freezes. Then it will be mud for while until the dust season begins. Keeping a car clean is close to impossible.

kyfdx · December 2023

Dreaming about swapping the Cayman for something else...

oldfarmer50 · December 2023

Sandman6472 said:
Have been in bed since late Monday night with a bad cold/cough/sore throat plus a case of vertigo thrown in to add a bit of spice! Called out from work Tuesday and Friday but, they got me for tomorrow it seems. Still waiting to hear about Sunday and Monday. Hate getting sick so often but luckily they let me make it up as I have offered to stop completely as I never know exactly when the vertigo is going to show itself. Or even tried for a very flexible schedule as I hate to let them down on certain days. But one thing I do know is not to drive when having a vertigo attach! Don't want to hurt anyone else plus myself!! Just want it to go away & never ever come back!!!

Funny you mention being sick. Half my team was out sick Thursday. Must be from customers sneezing on the steering wheel.

Thursday was also a day of excitement in our division. One chase driver wrecked the van when he hit a deer in the fog. Another drifted into a guardrail on the NYS Thruway and as I was sitting in my chase van talking to the boss I saw one of our more elderly drivers turn too sharply and drag a pickup truck along a big steel support beam.

Just another day at the office.

mjfloyd1 · December 2023

@kyfdx said:
Dreaming about swapping the Cayman for something else...

Paging @breld??😂

oldfarmer50 · December 2023

“ was on a road that wasn’t exactly paved. Apparently these ultra rich people like this. Good thing I had the Tacoma.”

Yes, yes we do.

laurasdada · December 2023

Reminds me of the way back days of making beer runs from Wilton, CT (dry town) to Vista, NY (less dry). IIRC, some were dirt roads. No Jeeps or Tacos then, I drove a '71 Saab 99! Other cars in my group: when engine not on fire, my best friend had a '73 Vega, an Olds Cutlas convertible (might have been a 442), a Mazda Cosmo! and a Monte Carlo. An occasional Vista Cruiser, same family as the Cosmo (as well as a Bavaria).

Part of Newtown Turnpike in Weston, again IIRC, remained unpaved (To the lovely and perpetually between owners Cobbs Mill Inn).

cdnpinhead · December 2023

I like the snow poles. When I was very young I lived near Mammoth Lakes on the East side of the Sierra, and there were six-foot orange snow poles all over the place. They were very necessary the winter of '51-'52.

qbrozen · December 2023

@oldfarmer50 said:
“ was on a road that wasn’t exactly paved. Apparently these ultra rich people like this. Good thing I had the Tacoma.”

Yes, yes we do.

Looks exactly like my parents’ driveway. NJ has public roads in worse condition.

oldfarmer50 · December 2023

cdnpinhead said:
I like the snow poles. When I was very young I lived near Mammoth Lakes on the East side of the Sierra, and there were six-foot orange snow poles all over the place. They were very necessary the winter of '51-'52.

If this was a normal winter those poles might be buried by now.

qbrozen · December 2023

Daihatsu is gone. Made a few bucks but not much. Lowest sale to date.

jmonroe1 · December 2023

cdnpinhead said:
I like the snow poles. When I was very young I lived near Mammoth Lakes on the East side of the Sierra, and there were six-foot orange snow poles all over the place. They were very necessary the winter of '51-'52.

————————————————-
Now here’s a poster buddy with a problem. He likes 6 foot snow poles.

If I saw even one of those where I live, I’d go South permanently. No visiting, no snow birding, PERMANENTLY.

jmonroe

kyfdx · December 2023

Big DIY car maintenance day:
Replaced the rear wiper blade on the GTI.
$12 Bosch part via Amazon
Approx. one minute

laurasdada · December 2023

kyfdx said:
Big DIY car maintenance day:
Replaced the rear wiper blade on the GTI.
$12 Bosch part via Amazon
Approx. one minute

So, you are "The Guy!"

kyfdx · December 2023

laurasdada said:

kyfdx said:
Big DIY car maintenance day:
Replaced the rear wiper blade on the GTI.
$12 Bosch part via Amazon
Approx. one minute
So, you are "The Guy!"

Yeah, if he wasn't closed on the weekend, then who knows?

jmonroe1 · December 2023

kyfdx said:
Big DIY car maintenance day:
Replaced the rear wiper blade on the GTI.
$12 Bosch part via Amazon
Approx. one minute

————————————————
Some folks are looking for credit doing anything.

jmonroe

sb55 · December 2023

laurasdada said:
Reminds me of the way back days of making beer runs from Wilton, CT (dry town) to Vista, NY (less dry). IIRC, some were dirt roads. No Jeeps or Tacos then, I drove a '71 Saab 99! Other cars in my group: when engine not on fire, my best friend had a '73 Vega, an Olds Cutlas convertible (might have been a 442), a Mazda Cosmo! and a Monte Carlo. An occasional Vista Cruiser, same family as the Cosmo (as well as a Bavaria).

Part of Newtown Turnpike in Weston, again IIRC, remained unpaved (To the lovely and perpetually between owners Cobbs Mill Inn).

Here's my wife and I in around 1982 at Cobb's Mill Inn when my sister got married there. Wish I still had that car.

.

jmonroe1 · December 2023

sb55 said:

laurasdada said:
Reminds me of the way back days of making beer runs from Wilton, CT (dry town) to Vista, NY (less dry). IIRC, some were dirt roads. No Jeeps or Tacos then, I drove a '71 Saab 99! Other cars in my group: when engine not on fire, my best friend had a '73 Vega, an Olds Cutlas convertible (might have been a 442), a Mazda Cosmo! and a Monte Carlo. An occasional Vista Cruiser, same family as the Cosmo (as well as a Bavaria).

Part of Newtown Turnpike in Weston, again IIRC, remained unpaved (To the lovely and perpetually between owners Cobbs Mill Inn).
Here's my wife and I in around 1982 at Cobb's Mill Inn when my sister got married there. Wish I still had that car.
.

————————————————
Good looking couple and car. I hope Mrs. @sb55 didn’t scratch your car with any sequins.

jmonroe

nyccarguy · December 2023

@kyfdx said:
Big DIY car maintenance day:
Replaced the rear wiper blade on the GTI.
$12 Bosch part via Amazon
Approx. one minute

I forgot you had that car still. How many miles are on it?

28firefighter · December 2023

@kyfdx said:
Big DIY car maintenance day:
Replaced the rear wiper blade on the GTI.
$12 Bosch part via Amazon
Approx. one minute

You could’ve been killed!

mjfloyd1 · December 2023

@kyfdx said:
Big DIY car maintenance day:
Replaced the rear wiper blade on the GTI.
$12 Bosch part via Amazon
Approx. one minute

Impressed that you didn’t need “the guy”😇

mjfloyd1 · December 2023

@breld - I see two east coast places with Broncos (even Raptors) at invoice. You could be the talk of the neighborhood for at least a couple of months

au1994 · December 2023

sb55 said:

laurasdada said:
Reminds me of the way back days of making beer runs from Wilton, CT (dry town) to Vista, NY (less dry). IIRC, some were dirt roads. No Jeeps or Tacos then, I drove a '71 Saab 99! Other cars in my group: when engine not on fire, my best friend had a '73 Vega, an Olds Cutlas convertible (might have been a 442), a Mazda Cosmo! and a Monte Carlo. An occasional Vista Cruiser, same family as the Cosmo (as well as a Bavaria).

Part of Newtown Turnpike in Weston, again IIRC, remained unpaved (To the lovely and perpetually between owners Cobbs Mill Inn).
Here's my wife and I in around 1982 at Cobb's Mill Inn when my sister got married there. Wish I still had that car.
.

I bet you do! Retirement = Funded!

tifighter · December 2023

@sb55 said:
Wish I still had that car.

.

Me too.

roadburner · December 2023

Just so you don’t think I’ve totally turned my back on BMW, I sent one friend who was tired of dealing with the local dealer Audi to my salesperson for an M440i and just yesterday I met another friend at my dealer and gave him a ride in a used 330e as well as my loaner. I now think he’s going to order a new 330e if BMW can build one- apparently battery availability is a big problem.
The NCM also asked when I was coming back to work at my old job…

Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous

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