Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous

jmonroe1 · August 30

andres3 said:
I could go for a Macan EV as the one negative of the Macan Turbo is that it likes to guzzle gas (though my commute is much less these days). The negative of the Macan EV is that I could get three '18 Macan Turbos for how much they were asking in the showroom.

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Doing a little bit of every day math, that difference could buy a tank truck of gas.

jmonroe

oldfarmer50 · August 30

jmonroe1 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

roadburner said:

graphicguy said:

benjaminh said:
The CX-50 hybrid sounds like a good choice from my pov. Toyota hybrid system without the Toyota price. And iirc your daughter got a loaded one for a couple of thousand off of msrp. Mazdas have nicer interiors than a RAV4.

2020 RDX length: 187 inches, width 74.8

2025 CX-50 length: 186 inches, width 73

Since she seems happy with the size of the RDX this is a nice match up.

But the CX-90 plug in hybrid with the big lease incentive sounds like it might be a nice deal on a bigger and more powerful vehicle.

CX-90 length: 200, width 77.6

nyccarguy said:

fintail said:

nyccarguy said:
My 16 year old son who plays Forza on XBox and always asks me questions about the cars before he modifies the daylights out of them snapped a few pics of this MK4 Supra on our way home from one of his 4 hockey games this weekend.

I like those for the nostalgia and wacky styling - not pretty, but pretty wild at the time. I'd want it to look 100% stock, and IMO a LHD car has more cred as it has survived and is not a new private import. Maybe get a TT Targa with automatic just to upset the shift-yourselfers (probably also a car with a high theft rate).
It is the Bullitt Mustang for late gen X/millennials. The Autos get a lot of hate for sure. Check out the comments on THIS 1995 Toyota Supra Turbo There is a company in TX (I think) that buys Supras, does all the deferred maintenance, fixes and restores broken interior bits & seats, then resells. They will also manual swap the car for a price as well.

The funny thing about all these halo Japanese sports cars from the early - mid 90's (Supra, RX7, 300ZX, 3000 GT) is that for the most part they were driven hard, crashed, modified within an inch of their life. People changed the wheels, lowered the suspensions, installed giant spoilers, gaudy body kits, bigger turbos, and freer flowing exhausts. The ones that have been barely driven and kept in relatively stock form are worth a lot of money.

Guess which cars from that era were maybe not as sexy from a technology standpoint, but were lightweight, RWD, V8 powered, laughed at by the press and most import enthusiasts? Parts are easily available, the cars have been generally well cared and have low miles for because their owners only drove them on Sundays and used diapers to polish them. Late model C4s and C5 Corvettes are reasonably priced in today's market given their condition a miles as well as availability of the 6 Speed Manual Transmission. I dig the C5 Z06!

Here is a 2004 Corvette Z06 that is 9 years newer, has a 6-Speed Stick, less miles, and ends in 2 days just like the Supra I linked above.
Excellent points. I think the popularity of the 2 fast-2 furious movies had something to do with it. Not a good reason, but a reason nonetheless.

Most of the Japanese modded Supras, Zs, 300GTs, etc that I've seen modified were not done well. And, their condition proves it.

Gimme a 'vette or a Mustang any day of the week vs the JDL counterparts. Most 'vettes are or have been owned by "geez.....er....mature drivers". As such, they aren't ratted out and generally well cared for.
Just remember that as a Corvette owner you must budget for the purchase of jorts and Keds or New Balance sneakers.
Big no on New Balance. They got so cheap my toes would wear through. Sketchers is the new cool shoe.😎
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Did you ever think about trimming your toenails?

jmonroe

Yes but then how would I attract women?🤣

venture · August 30

corvette said:
I liked the Frontier I had as a rental, other than the extremely firm steering.

That's one feature that sold her.

nyccarguy · August 30

@Michaell - looks like your nephew picked a fantastic car! I love the sleek, modern look of the current Accord. The urban grey is a sharp color, very similar to our Camry’s underground. He made an excellent choice going with the Hybrid that will net him phenomenal fuel economy and lower maintenance costs. Just tell him to make sure to have the CVT fluid drained and filled. As others have pointed out, it was good he was able to pivot away from the Black one given its imperfections.

Even with CPO cars, it is buyer beware. My best friend bought his CPO Lexus LX570 a few years ago. I think he’s had it for 4 years already. Yikes that’s a long time for him. He started to notice some imperfections in the paint on the front bumper and one of the front quarter panels. Then he said the paint was flaking off in spots. He took it to a body shop to get looked at. Sure enough, they put it on a lift and there was evidence the car had been in an accident. Parts of the bumper were literally zip tied to the mounting points.

nyccarguy · August 30

@venture - the Frontier is a nice looking truck. A good customer of mine is on the third one of this body style. He had a few of the older body styles as well. He gets the Pro 4X. He says they hold their value well, because he leases them and they always have equity and he turns them in early. I like how it is powered by a naturally aspirated V6 as well. I can’t imagine the current generation Tacomas are holding their value as well as the 3rd generations did,

I’m so snobby when it comes to Toyotas. I’d totally get another pickup truck. I’d be happy with a cheapo payment, low optioned SR5. I don’t even think I’d even consider a frontier that wasn’t a Pro4X.

@stickguy - those 18 month leases were killer.

Michaell · August 30

Yep, 99% residuals in some cases.

I’ll pass along the thoughts about CVT servicing.

stickguy · August 30

got curious so watched a video on the Accord hybrid trans fluid change. Did not realize the ECvt called for that too, but looked very easy to do.

stickguy · August 30

I think the residual was more than the cap cost or some weird thing. I should have pulled the trigger when they first popped up on that online lease site (name escapes me at the moment) because they did not last long.

jmonroe1 · August 30

Michaell said:
Shopping update!

Nephew is still a bit undecided about the white or black accord. White is non-CPO but the priced dropped to $26k. Black is CPO and is priced at $27.1k

Family is split - his brothers like the white but his dad likes the black.

I think he’s going to the Mazda dealer first to look at the white one. Told him to threaten to go to the other dealer if he’s not getting what he thinks is fair.

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Why not get both? It never hurts to have a rolling spare.

jmonroe

Michaell · August 30

@jmonroe1 said:
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Why not get both? It never hurts to have a rolling spare.

jmonroe

You need to read the rest of the discussion before replying. He ended up with a grey one.

😉

jmonroe1 · August 30

xwesx said:

andres3 said:
But the Earth is Flat and Speed Kills! If you just drive the speed limit nothing bad can happen to you
Haha! Well, I'm a big fan of "driving the speed limit" in most situations, as I generally find that number to be reasonable for the area. My "rule" is within 5 mph or 10%, whichever is less. However, I am also a fan of being attentive and adjusting speed to the situation as well as using all options for evading a potential conflict (brake, swerve, accelerate). So, whether I'm driving 40 or 80, there's probably a real good reason for it!

In that particular situation (with the F250 on Wednesday), I definitely popped north of 100 for a brief moment, but I just hit the cruise and settled back to 73 as soon as I was clear of the danger. I hadn't done a legitimate evasion in that truck before, and boy, oh boy, can it scoot! I surely added 50% to my cruising speed in only a couple seconds. My wife only had time to say, "whoa!," before I was already decelerating.

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I’d be willing to bet @roadburner never had a reason of any kind to be going 40.

jmonroe

ab348 · August 30

jmonroe1 said:
<
I’d be willing to bet @roadburner never had a reason of any kind to be going 40.

Don’t be silly. That’s what he does when pulling into a parking spot.

jmonroe1 · August 30

Michaell said:
@oldfarmer - my sister said the same thing about the windshield and CPO status. But yeah, I'm proud of him for being open minded about color.

When he started this endeavor last weekend, he spotted a new Accord Hybrid in white over black, and that color combo captivated him. I was hesitant about the black/black combo because of how hot it gets where he lives (even though I say San Diego, where they live is probably 15-20 miles inland, and it gets hot in the summer). The Urban Grey is a sharp color, and eminently suitable for a 20-something youngster.

I think he'll keep this car a good long time. He's got a steady girlfriend who I suspect he will marry some day (she's still in school getting her masters degree, and he's got one more year of college, but has landed a nice internship at a company). The Accord is big enough to get them through the early stages of having a family.

Regarding the Frontier, I think they are quite handsome, unlike the redesigned Tacoma, which looks like a Tonka truck. And, the Nissan still has an old school NA V6 under the hood. Congrats on that new purchase as well.

One last note - since my sisters oldest son moved back home last month, they now have, let's see, the following cars at their house:

2019 Volvo XC40
2026 BMW i5
2015 VW Jetta (oh, BTW, the oil leak was nothing more than an improperly seated drain plug)
2018 Kia Forte
2023 Honda Accord Hybrid
1998 Toyota 4Runner 2WD (which is getting prepped for sale)
2003 Hyundai Sonata (this, too, is going to a new home, but details shall remain confidential, for now)

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How do you improperly seat a drain plug? Or does that mean it wasn’t tightened properly? No excuse with either screwup . That oil change kid will probably retire in that job along with a few damaged engines to his credit.

jmonroe

roadburner · August 30

jmonroe1 said:

xwesx said:

andres3 said:
But the Earth is Flat and Speed Kills! If you just drive the speed limit nothing bad can happen to you
Haha! Well, I'm a big fan of "driving the speed limit" in most situations, as I generally find that number to be reasonable for the area. My "rule" is within 5 mph or 10%, whichever is less. However, I am also a fan of being attentive and adjusting speed to the situation as well as using all options for evading a potential conflict (brake, swerve, accelerate). So, whether I'm driving 40 or 80, there's probably a real good reason for it!

In that particular situation (with the F250 on Wednesday), I definitely popped north of 100 for a brief moment, but I just hit the cruise and settled back to 73 as soon as I was clear of the danger. I hadn't done a legitimate evasion in that truck before, and boy, oh boy, can it scoot! I surely added 50% to my cruising speed in only a couple seconds. My wife only had time to say, "whoa!," before I was already decelerating.
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I’d be willing to bet @roadburner never had a reason of any kind to be going 40.

jmonroe

Possibly in a corner with a 15 mph posted advisory speed.

roadburner · August 30

I looked at the new Frontier Pro 4x; it's a very nice truck but I thought the 4xe suited our needs better.

jmonroe1 · August 30

Michaell said:

@jmonroe1 said:

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Why not get both? It never hurts to have a rolling spare.

jmonroe

You need to read the rest of the discussion before replying. He ended up with a grey one.

😉

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Yes, I saw that but continuing to look for a rolling spare couldn’t hurt other than the driveway seems to be a little over stuffed already.

jmonroe

Michaell · August 30

@jmonroe1 said:
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Yes, I saw that but continuing to look for a rolling spare couldn’t hurt other than the driveway seems to be a little over stuffed already.

jmonroe

Yeah the 4Runner is gone as soon as it’s sold, and the Sonata will be around another week.

graphicguy · August 31

Michaell said:
Shopping update!

Nephew is still a bit undecided about the white or black accord. White is non-CPO but the priced dropped to $26k. Black is CPO and is priced at $27.1k

Family is split - his brothers like the white but his dad likes the black.

I think he’s going to the Mazda dealer first to look at the white one. Told him to threaten to go to the other dealer if he’s not getting what he thinks is fair.

I'm biased, but Honda/Acrua's white is a metal flake version. It's really quite nice.

Ooops....just see deal was closed on a grey one. Nice!

tjc78 · August 31

@graphicguy said:
I'm biased, but Honda/Acrua's white is a metal flake version. It's really quite nice.

Ooops....just see deal was closed on a grey one. Nice!

My favorite pearl white was Toyota’s Blizzard Pearl. Just enough flake to not look ivory. My 2006 Avalon had it

roadburner · August 31

So today I was driving the C43 on another fun on-ramp; downhill right, uphill left sweeper transition into a downhill left followed by a right into the merge lane. A G80 M3 was following me pretty closely until the road started to turn. About 5 seconds after I merged the M3 came roaring past in a textbook loser flyby. The funny thing was that I wasn't pushing hard at all. My wife didn't even look up from her Kindle until the M3 passed. She did say she didn't think the M3 looked that bad, but I reminded her that she hadn't seen the atrocious beaver tooth grille- a deal breaker for me.

fintail · September 1

roadburner said:
So today I was driving the C43 on another fun on-ramp; downhill right, uphill left sweeper transition into a downhill left followed by a right into the merge lane. A G80 M3 was following me pretty closely until the road started to turn. About 5 seconds after I merged the M3 came roaring past in a textbook loser flyby. The funny thing was that I wasn't pushing hard at all. My wife didn't even look up from her Kindle until the M3 passed. She did say she didn't think the M3 looked that bad, but I reminded her that she hadn't seen the atrocious beaver tooth grille- a deal breaker for me.

That reminds me of my AMGs (now considered old school cars) - it seemed like every other day someone acted like they wanted to race, where all I could think was "I'm just driving". I think the W202 C43 got it more, as the E55 maybe via a more muted color blended in to the background more.

stickguy · September 1

detoured to the rabbit hole. this is really cool. Always liked these. I assume it shouldn't be a problem titling if it has been certified and has a clean Texas title. Maybe it's one of those antique 25 YO deals. Are there usage restrictions with that?

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1983-alfa-romeo-gtv/

Michaell · September 1

Sarah 'n' Tuned review of the CRX made me shop for some 90's Radwood classics.

Found exactly 1 Sentra SE-R - 101K, asking almost $17K

A few Preludes, too. And a Celica GT.

All with stick shifts.

Man, those interior fabrics were pretty luxurious for the times.

stickguy · September 1

the problem with giving myself a nice retirement present of something I had back in the old days and miss, or really wanted but couldn't afford, is that now they are ancient. Mostly worn out except for the odd ones that were either restored or time capsules which are going to be quite expensive. Complete with old tech and unobtanium parts!

nyccarguy · September 1

@stickguy said:
the problem with giving myself a nice retirement present of something I had back in the old days and miss, or really wanted but couldn't afford, is that now they are ancient. Mostly worn out except for the odd ones that were either restored or time capsules which are going to be quite expensive. Complete with old tech and unobtanium parts!

There is a 34K mile 2000 Base Prelude in Red on BaT.

nyccarguy · September 1

Got this text from a relative yesterday (Monday):

“So I’m looking into trucks for our 16/17 year old. (Ford Ranger is top choice but open to Nissan Frontier, GMC Canyon and Chevy Canyon).

Curious on your thoughts of owning a pick up truck and if you have any insights? Our problem is we’re trying to be “out the door” at $21 K and they’re SO DAMN EXPENSIVE!!!”

The relative lives in Charlotte, NC.

Michaell · September 1

nyccarguy said:

@stickguy said:

the problem with giving myself a nice retirement present of something I had back in the old days and miss, or really wanted but couldn't afford, is that now they are ancient. Mostly worn out except for the odd ones that were either restored or time capsules which are going to be quite expensive. Complete with old tech and unobtanium parts!

There is a 34K mile 2000 Base Prelude in Red on BaT.

I’m gonna guess that’ll be out of my budget by the time the auction ends.

Nice looking car, however.

stickguy · September 2

nyccarguy said:
Got this text from a relative yesterday (Monday):

“So I’m looking into trucks for our 16/17 year old. (Ford Ranger is top choice but open to Nissan Frontier, GMC Canyon and Chevy Canyon).

Curious on your thoughts of owning a pick up truck and if you have any insights? Our problem is we’re trying to be “out the door” at $21 K and they’re SO DAMN EXPENSIVE!!!”

The relative lives in Charlotte, NC.

I hope they are not looking at new ones!

Cheapest truck is probably still a Maverick XL. Also seems like something that would not be a bad 1st car for a teen.

stickguy · September 2

Prelude looks brand new. Not going cheap. Not far from QB, though he is still out of commission for checking out cars.

saw a few others that I like. This would be a way cool "dump runner". Just not a fan of the lowering and frame notching.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1967-gmc-c1500-8/

Semi-beater Boxster. Black paint IMO is not right for this car, and short a pedal. wonder what this ends up going for?

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2012-porsche-boxster-5-2/

I am not an expert on these, but this looks really nice for the money.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2011-bmw-128i-convertible-5/

and don't judge, but I absolutely love this one.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1989-volkswagen-cabriolet-29/

ab348 · September 2

nyccarguy said:

@stickguy said:

the problem with giving myself a nice retirement present of something I had back in the old days and miss, or really wanted but couldn't afford, is that now they are ancient. Mostly worn out except for the odd ones that were either restored or time capsules which are going to be quite expensive. Complete with old tech and unobtanium parts!

There is a 34K mile 2000 Base Prelude in Red on BaT.

Didn’t you have an issue last year with yours needing some unobtainium obsolete part?

I think unless you get an older mass market car like a Camaro or a Mustang, that will be a problem. And then, if you get a nice one, you won’t want to drive it in snow or rain. I’d stick to something modern.

qbrozen · September 2

@stickguy said:
detoured to the rabbit hole. this is really cool. Always liked these. I assume it shouldn't be a problem titling if it has been certified and has a clean Texas title. Maybe it's one of those antique 25 YO deals. Are there usage restrictions with that?

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1983-alfa-romeo-gtv/

No problems or restrictions since it is already titled. If you INSURE it as historic, you may be restricted. The problem might come with inspection, if your particular state doesn’t have an exemption for age.

HOWEVER, I would never buy one of those with the 2.0 of that generation. It would be painfully slow. You really want the GTV6.

qbrozen · September 2

@nyccarguy said:
Got this text from a relative yesterday (Monday):

“So I’m looking into trucks for our 16/17 year old. (Ford Ranger is top choice but open to Nissan Frontier, GMC Canyon and Chevy Canyon).

Curious on your thoughts of owning a pick up truck and if you have any insights? Our problem is we’re trying to be “out the door” at $21 K and they’re SO DAMN EXPENSIVE!!!”

The relative lives in Charlotte, NC.

Yes, they are expensive. Frontier is probably the bargain of the bunch. Another outside shot is a clean Dakota. Would be older but definitely cheaper. I actually tagged one just this past weekend that looks pretty good:
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/share/425600525

And here is a pretty neat Frontier I saw:
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/link/425683463

nyccarguy · September 2

qbrozen said:

@nyccarguy said:

Got this text from a relative yesterday (Monday):

“So I’m looking into trucks for our 16/17 year old. (Ford Ranger is top choice but open to Nissan Frontier, GMC Canyon and Chevy Canyon).

Curious on your thoughts of owning a pick up truck and if you have any insights? Our problem is we’re trying to be “out the door” at $21 K and they’re SO DAMN EXPENSIVE!!!”

The relative lives in Charlotte, NC.

Yes, they are expensive. Frontier is probably the bargain of the bunch. Another outside shot is a clean Dakota. Would be older but definitely cheaper. I actually tagged one just this past weekend that looks pretty good:
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/share/425600525

And here is a pretty neat Frontier I saw:
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/link/425683463

That Frontier is way cool.

oldfarmer50 · September 2

stickguy said:
detoured to the rabbit hole. this is really cool. Always liked these. I assume it shouldn't be a problem titling if it has been certified and has a clean Texas title. Maybe it's one of those antique 25 YO deals. Are there usage restrictions with that?

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1983-alfa-romeo-gtv/

I had no trouble titling a MA car in NY but I’d check with DMV first. NYS sometimes will throw you a curveball.

oldfarmer50 · September 2

stickguy said:
the problem with giving myself a nice retirement present of something I had back in the old days and miss, or really wanted but couldn't afford, is that now they are ancient. Mostly worn out except for the odd ones that were either restored or time capsules which are going to be quite expensive. Complete with old tech and unobtanium parts!

Depends on what you want. I’ve found reasonably priced domestic cars with low mileage that were in the 15-18 year old range. Parts were generally available. But if your looking at low production foreign vehicles I’d check parts availability first.

oldfarmer50 · September 2

nyccarguy said:
Got this text from a relative yesterday (Monday):

“So I’m looking into trucks for our 16/17 year old. (Ford Ranger is top choice but open to Nissan Frontier, GMC Canyon and Chevy Canyon).

Curious on your thoughts of owning a pick up truck and if you have any insights? Our problem is we’re trying to be “out the door” at $21 K and they’re SO DAMN EXPENSIVE!!!”

The relative lives in Charlotte, NC.

I’d go with an old style Ranger as even a first year of the new ones (2019?) would have to be pretty miled up to go for under $21k. Frontier pre 2020 would be your next bet. I like the V6 motor. Colorado for under $21k would have to be 10 years old or older.

au1994 · September 2

I like that Dakota. And that price.

stickguy · September 2

@oldfarmer50 said:
Depends on what you want. I’ve found reasonably priced domestic cars with low mileage that were in the 15-18 year old range. Parts were generally available. But if your looking at low production foreign vehicles I’d check parts availability first.

I’m thinking 1980s Toyota or Nissan stuff.

stickguy · September 2

Both those trucks look nice.

roadburner · September 2

stickguy said:
the problem with giving myself a nice retirement present of something I had back in the old days and miss, or really wanted but couldn't afford, is that now they are ancient. Mostly worn out except for the odd ones that were either restored or time capsules which are going to be quite expensive. Complete with old tech and unobtanium parts!

The solution is to buy the car when you're in your thirties and hold on to it. That worked for me.

nyccarguy · September 2

@ab348 said:
Didn’t you have an issue last year with yours needing some unobtainium obsolete part?

I think unless you get an older mass market car like a Camaro or a Mustang, that will be a problem. And then, if you get a nice one, you won’t want to drive it in snow or rain. I’d stick to something modern.

I love my Prelude. I wouldn’t get another one. Parts are getting harder and harder to come by. One day something is going to break or need replacement and it’s going to be very difficult and or expensive to source the part I need.

If I have the financial resources to purchase another fun, old car, it would probably be a C5 or C6 Corvette. There are plenty around that have been driven and parts are plentiful if needed.

New. I think the only answer would be a Civic Si.

oldfarmer50 · September 2

roadburner said:

stickguy said:
the problem with giving myself a nice retirement present of something I had back in the old days and miss, or really wanted but couldn't afford, is that now they are ancient. Mostly worn out except for the odd ones that were either restored or time capsules which are going to be quite expensive. Complete with old tech and unobtanium parts!
The solution is to buy the car when you're in your thirties and hold on to it. That worked for me.

I tried that but they all rusted away.😢

stickguy · September 2

I’m good with a newer fun car.

explorerx4 · September 2

Since my F-150 is just sitting there waiting for the rim to be repaired, I've been thinking about what I like/don't like about it.
It looks great, sounds great and fuel mileage is great(21+ lifetime).
My wife doesn't like the seats, I'm not a fan of the steering or steering wheel or the 3.31 rear gear.
Found a black(not my favorite color) XLT Powerboost with 302A that has me thinking.

oldfarmer50 · September 2

explorerx4 said:
Since my F-150 is just sitting there waiting for the rim to be repaired, I've been thinking about what I like/don't like about it.
It looks great, sounds great and fuel mileage is great(21+ lifetime).
My wife doesn't like the seats, I'm not a fan of the steering or steering wheel or the 3.31 rear gear.
Found a black(not my favorite color) XLT Powerboost with 302A that has me thinking.

It would be cheaper to just swap in a 3:73 rear end. My truck has a towing package that includes that. Probably only cost a thousand or so. I know it makes a difference in off the line for my little V6.

benjaminh · September 3

Although this Motor Trend reviewer says that the new Juniper Model Y is better, he did not like the long-term 2023 Model Y the magazine had...

https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/2023-tesla-model-y-long-range-yearlong-review-update-14-two-year-check-in

"Our 2023 Tesla Model Y Two-Year-Long Test Is Over. I’ll Never Understand How It Became the Most Popular EV. The flaws are obvious, yet buyers keep lining up.
Alex Leanse, MotorTrend, Sep 02, 2025

...The chassis tuning eliminates any notion that this is a precise or premium vehicle. Its ride quality alone is reason enough to disqualify it. Our car's suspension, which feels like it’s filled with hard rubber, reacts nervously to slight road imperfections and pounds across large ones...

Aside from how it drives, the Model Y is riddled with problems that make life worse. First of all, this and the Model 3 share the auto industry’s worst door handles. Slim and lacking power extension, they require a specific hand movement and grip to open. Doing it while holding things is difficult. Additionally, because there’s no illumination around the handles, locating them in the dark is difficult (especially on our Deep Blue Metallic car). This design adds needless complexity to an essential car function (and makes emergency egress difficult, too)...

That’s even before factoring in the infuriatingly inconsistent phone-as-key feature. I can't estimate how many times the Model Y left me yanking its door handle over and over and over again before it detected my presence...

Tesla’s hallmark monolithic center screen constantly demands attention away from the road. Simply checking speed in the upper left corner was annoying, but how adjusting the air temperature or media settings need long glances and precise taps makes focused driving harder. This setup proves why people want real buttons back...

Perceived quality is far worse than any vehicle in our long-term fleet. Materials are decent; the rubbery faux leather and strips of wood veneer suffice for the price point. Assembly and durability are of greater concern—our Model Y has become preposterously creaky. The sound of various pieces vibrating and rubbing persists through every drive from the first press of the accelerator...

Full Self-Driving (FSD) is a dangerous farce. I quit using FSD after it drove me across solid double yellow lane lines into the oncoming lane of traffic. That was my breaking point after thousands of miles of testing filled with erratic, inexplicable maneuvers..."

tjc78 · September 3

oldfarmer50 said:

explorerx4 said:
Since my F-150 is just sitting there waiting for the rim to be repaired, I've been thinking about what I like/don't like about it.
It looks great, sounds great and fuel mileage is great(21+ lifetime).
My wife doesn't like the seats, I'm not a fan of the steering or steering wheel or the 3.31 rear gear.
Found a black(not my favorite color) XLT Powerboost with 302A that has me thinking.
It would be cheaper to just swap in a 3:73 rear end. My truck has a towing package that includes that. Probably only cost a thousand or so. I know it makes a difference in off the line for my little V6.

You would also need access to Forscan to tune the computer. The speedo would be off and most likely the transmission wouldn't shift correctly without inputting the proper rear end spec.

tjc78 · September 3

Good thing for me is my classic car tastes of 70s and 80s land yachts are more or less still reasonable and were made in enough quantities that parts aren't too much of a problem.

tjc78 · September 3

explorerx4 said:
Since my F-150 is just sitting there waiting for the rim to be repaired, I've been thinking about what I like/don't like about it.
It looks great, sounds great and fuel mileage is great(21+ lifetime).
My wife doesn't like the seats, I'm not a fan of the steering or steering wheel or the 3.31 rear gear.
Found a black(not my favorite color) XLT Powerboost with 302A that has me thinking.

21+ is great. The new Ram has seen a high of 20 and right now is at 18.9. That's about 1.5 MPG better than my 2022 with the 5.7.

The expense of that is a transmission and programming that causes some really odd low speed drivability issues. It really is clunky at partial throttle and then lifting off. Shifts to second way too soon and third even sooner. When you back off it jerks and sometimes bangs back to 1st. I have to say I'm not utterly happy at this point. Even my wife said the other night "what is wrong with this truck"

I need to get it to the dealer and see if there is a re-flash available or if there is something wrong. I called my local dealer about 2 weeks after I got it and they gave me a bunch of crap about not wanting to deal with it since it was so new and the selling dealer should handle it. Now that it is nearly 4 months old and 4K miles maybe they will take it without a song and a dance.

It is really a shame about the low speed issues, because when you get into it that beast really scoots. It never feels low on power.

Sandman6472 · September 3

Wife is quite pleased with her 2023 Hyundai Kona Limited. She had to get an AWD unit as that's what was left at the end of the model run when she bought. She loves the size as she was very unhappy with how big the Buick Encore GX had become. Personally, I thought the Buick wasn't that big at all though it had grown from the previous Encore model. But, she's very happy with her Kona which is all that matters. She doesn't drive that far, farthest she goes is probably about 10 miles down I-95, if that. She prefers staying around the house mostly though.
Still discussing our planned move to St. Augustine some time in 2027. I've decided to let her decide when to go as I don't want to rush her into leaving one of her current jobs. But she has mentioned leaving sometime in 2027 which would work. I'm ready to leave sooner if necessary as I don't plan to work when we go. Think I'll be busy enough with learning a whole new area I have no clue about. I had no idea where north or south was last time we were there so let our daughter drive us around. We'll know by spring if she's going to purchase a new house or continue her lease. Bus if she continues her lease, she wants to get a 2 bedroom/2 bath unit so we can come up more often. We'd be staying with her once we do move temporarily until we find a new place. We'll just put our stuff in storage for a bit like we did back in 1987, our last move. Plan is to sell the current place before we buy something else. A lot of plans right now so will be interesting to see how this all plays out!

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