Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous

jmonroe1 · October 5

xwesx said:
When C&C invades CCBA. 🤣

Well, here you go. Hit a fun milestone in the Crosstrek several hours ago:

I couldn’t get a good shot (from passenger seat!) due to a rough road that caused too much movement in the dark.

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I saw enough to see your MPG is close to zero. That’s kinda familiar territory for me.

jmonroe

corvette · October 5

@ab348 - it's a bit hard to make out, but it's at 111,111 miles.

Sandman6472 · October 6

Well, that seems to be what's going to happen. Not sure if my wife is going to go back to TurboTax in January at this point. If she doesn't, our timetable could be moved up a bit. But I know that she's o k with doing all this sometime in 2027 at this point. Again, it's all dependent on what our daughter does. If she does buy, think we'd move sooner as we'd have a place to stay, depending on what she does buy. We've discussed this so much lately and us all living together could work. As long as we all have a bedroom/office to go into so we're not on top of each other. I think that's why she'd rather get a 4/2 so her mom & I would each have an office to spend some private time/work time in. Some private time is healthy to be honest & I like mine.
So, I'm at the point where I'm ready to make a move. Sure, I'll miss South Florida after all these years but think the time has come where we need to go. Our other daughter would still be a bit over 2 hours away but think we'd see them more as I won't be working once we move so we'll have more time. And my wife will keep her current clients if they choose to stay. Think it'll be a good thing to explore a new area.

Sandman6472 · October 6

Finally got to drive a new Chevy Trax & a Equinox yesterday and was very impressed with both! The Equinox felt smaller then it is and like how Chevy redid the interior. Made it more modern if you will, as I always thought their older interiors were really plain. The Trax was almost the perfect size for me. Great interior & also liked the new dash treatment. Using Apple Car Play was super easy in both. Only issue with the Trax is that when I hit the Start/Stop button, I must've not hit it hard enough. Thought I did & got out. Other guys came over to check the car out and co-worker said the engine was still on. I couldn't hear it as it was super quiet. Checked inside & sure enough, it was still running. Turned it off and watched as the dash went dark. Amazed at how quiet the engine was and liked the acceleration in both. Both drove smoothly & vehicles I could see me with on a daily basis.
Confused about one thing though. I know Chevy also has a Trailblazer vehicle. Looks to be similar in size to the new Trax so what really is the difference? Only thing I could come up with is maybe the Trax is small SUV while the Trail blazer being a small CUV. Haven't driven a Trailblazer yet so nothing to compare here. Also curious if both vehicles have a 4-cylinder engine or does one of them have a 3-cylinder one. Don't understand why they'd go with a 3-cylinder like the Mitsubishi Mirage? Just too small I think for any vehicle to drive on a major highway. In the city with all the stop & go traffic, sure. But on an interstate? Would not want one.

imidazol97 · October 6

Both are 3 cylinder. Low models of Trailblazer are 1.2 L./ higher models have 1.3 L, optional on lower models.!

Michaell · October 6

Trax is FWD only, while the TB can be either FWD or AWD.

andres3 · October 6

corvette said:
@ab348 - it's a bit hard to make out, but it's at 111,111 miles.

Would have been a better photo at 111 MPH then.

xwesx · October 6

@andres3 said:
Would have been a better photo at 111 MPH then

And in first gear! I know, but could only do what I could do. I was just happy that my wife was willing to let me take the photo.

Also, yeah, we were going up a hill at the time, so the economy meter was letting us know…

ab348 · October 6

imidazol97 said:
Both are 3 cylinder. Low models of Trailblazer are 1.2 L./ higher models have 1.3 L, optional on lower models.!

"Yeah, I got the one with the big engine!"

au1994 · October 7

The Jeep did something strange this morning. After starting up and leaving the driveway it wouldn't up shift and I noticed the outside temp gauge was reading in C. I restarted at a stop sign and all was well.

Then, as I was commenting to myself that this was the problem with everything being controlled by a computer, I shook my fist at a cloud.

jmonroe1 · October 7

au1994 said:
The Jeep did something strange this morning. After starting up and leaving the driveway it wouldn't up shift and I noticed the outside temp gauge was reading in C. I restarted at a stop sign and all was well.

Then, as I was commenting to myself that this was the problem with everything being controlled by a computer, I shook my fist at a cloud.

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Bad move. Now it’s going to rain on you.

jmonroe

corvette · October 7

Long beds just look awkward to me.

explorerx4 · October 7

That picture is not to scale.

au1994 · October 8

corvette said:

Long beds just look awkward to me.

agree

oldfarmer50 · October 8

corvette said:

Long beds just look awkward to me.

I think they look just right. It’s the double cabs that look weird to me.

ab348 · October 8

With the popularity of fullsize 4-door pickups regardless of bed size, it is disquieting to pull into a parking lot in a normal size car and come out later to find yourself bracketed by a pair of Peterbilts on either side towering over you and leaving little space on either side.

tjc78 · October 8

ab348 said:
With the popularity of fullsize 4-door pickups regardless of bed size, it is disquieting to pull into a parking lot in a normal size car and come out later to find yourself bracketed by a pair of Peterbilts on either side towering over you and leaving little space on either side.

I tend to park my truck at the back of the parking lot. It is longer than your typical parking spot and I either end up sticking out past the spot or over the line reducing the space for the spot behind me. The longer bed on this truck makes it even worse than my 2022.

tjc78 · October 8

corvette said:

Long beds just look awkward to me.

Is that real? A long bed double cab (that is not a crew cab).... can't be very popular.

stickguy · October 8

Turning radius of an oil tanker on that baby

tjc78 · October 8

Curiosity got the best of me.... yep, it is a thing. Truck looks so much better as a crew cab 6.5' bed

stickguy · October 8

I could probably deal with a standard cab 6.5’ bed half ton. Other than being so wide with an overly tall hood.

tjc78 · October 8

stickguy said:
I could probably deal with a standard cab 6.5’ bed half ton. Other than being so wide with an overly tall hood.

You would hate my truck! I don't find it that tall...

I actually kind of miss the 3" lift my 2022 had.

stickguy · October 8

Rude height doesn’t matter. I just hate cars with long, tall hoods.

oldfarmer50 · October 8

ab348 said:
With the popularity of fullsize 4-door pickups regardless of bed size, it is disquieting to pull into a parking lot in a normal size car and come out later to find yourself bracketed by a pair of Peterbilts on either side towering over you and leaving little space on either side.

I have the same problem parking a sedan next to high profile SUVs. I’ve been nearly clipped several times because my view was obstructed.

au1994 · October 8

oldfarmer50 said:

corvette said:

Long beds just look awkward to me.

I think they look just right. It’s the double cabs that look weird to me.

Yes, that's what I meant. The double cab is what makes it look ungainly.

explorerx4 · October 8

I didn't know Toyota made an 8 ft bed. I've never seen one.

nyccarguy · October 8

tjc78 said:

ab348 said:
With the popularity of fullsize 4-door pickups regardless of bed size, it is disquieting to pull into a parking lot in a normal size car and come out later to find yourself bracketed by a pair of Peterbilts on either side towering over you and leaving little space on either side.
I tend to park my truck at the back of the parking lot. It is longer than your typical parking spot and I either end up sticking out past the spot or over the line reducing the space for the spot behind me. The longer bed on this truck makes it even worse than my 2022.

My 2023 short bed Tacoma was infinitely easier to drive and park than the 2019 long bed Tacoma I had.

jmonroe1 · October 8

oldfarmer50 said:

corvette said:

Long beds just look awkward to me.

I think they look just right. It’s the double cabs that look weird to me.

————————————————
I’ve mentioned this before but it still applies.

I talked to 2 contractor guys, one at each of the big box lumber yards a few years ago. I told them their truck looked out of place these days and they both asked me why. I said, “your truck only has two doors”. They both replied, “ I need the bed space (8 feet) more than I need 2 more doors”. Since they both said the same thing, I’m inclined to believe they’re right.

jmonroe

tjc78 · October 8

I'm always running stuff between the two houses ... I like the extra bed space. Was it a must have, no, but it is nice. The larger gas tank that comes with the longer bed is a nice plus as well.

nyccarguy · October 8

Had “my” 1st not so great experience at the Toyota dealer’s service department. My service advisor is out on personal leave indefinitely. I called up Monday to make an appointment for the Camry on Wednesday (1st service/radio issue) and the Highlander Thursday (oil/tire rotation/ slow leak on. Tire they installed last time). Got a call today saying the service (tire rotation) was performed, but they couldn’t replicate the issue I was having with the radio. Ok fair enough.

Since my wife was on the other side of town with the Highlander, I figured I’d just have her pickup the Camry & Drop Off the Highlander. Figured since I called up and made the appointment this would be simple. I should have known better. The service advisor (not my regular guy) is telling my wife that the car needs an alignment, the tires need to be rebalanced, the ac drains and sunroof drains need to be cleaned out. She called me. I said, just the tire rotation and the tire with the slow leak. Then it took them forever to pull the Camry up.

Again. Just a slight blemish on an otherwise stellar record since 2019.

stickguy · October 8

my wife must be losing her marbles. Sunday we went to the market (taking her car, since it was the Acura's turn to move), and when we got there, she out of the blue made another comment about getting something new. Now that she is driving by herself a bit more, the touchy iPhone/carplay connection is really bothering her (since I think she could get lost on our driveway)

though on the way home she did pivot back to I should just get whatever I want because she does not drive much, and could always drive the truck if needed, but I would need to make her use that a bit first to make sure! will probably be nice and if we finally get something new, I will make it something she doesn't mind driving. And she did say she didn't care about it being a manual since she does know how to drive one.

explorerx4 · October 8

My wife won't set foot in a service department.

qbrozen · October 8

@ab348 said:
With the popularity of fullsize 4-door pickups regardless of bed size, it is disquieting to pull into a parking lot in a normal size car and come out later to find yourself bracketed by a pair of Peterbilts on either side towering over you and leaving little space on either side.

I’ll field the other side. It is disquieting to pull a truck into a parking lot full of normal size cars who can’t seem to center themselves in the lines.

ab348 · October 8

qbrozen said:

@ab348 said:

With the popularity of fullsize 4-door pickups regardless of bed size, it is disquieting to pull into a parking lot in a normal size car and come out later to find yourself bracketed by a pair of Peterbilts on either side towering over you and leaving little space on either side.

I’ll field the other side. It is disquieting to pull a truck into a parking lot full of normal size cars who can’t seem to center themselves in the lines.

Easy fix - just park where the other big rigs park.

qbrozen · October 8

The worst is Citizens Bank Park. I hate taking my truck there but have not always had a choice. A lot of pickups and the spots are narrow. I always have to fold in my mirrors.

stickguy · October 8

my wife has never dealt with a service department or any kind of car service (at least in the last 40 years). And has no desire to. I assume if I stopped existing suddenly, my son would inherit handling anything automobile related.

roadburner · October 8

My wife is happy with both the BMW and M-B service departments and she's taken cars in for maintenance with no issues.

oldfarmer50 · October 9

nyccarguy said:
Had “my” 1st not so great experience at the Toyota dealer’s service department. My service advisor is out on personal leave indefinitely. I called up Monday to make an appointment for the Camry on Wednesday (1st service/radio issue) and the Highlander Thursday (oil/tire rotation/ slow leak on. Tire they installed last time). Got a call today saying the service (tire rotation) was performed, but they couldn’t replicate the issue I was having with the radio. Ok fair enough.

Since my wife was on the other side of town with the Highlander, I figured I’d just have her pickup the Camry & Drop Off the Highlander. Figured since I called up and made the appointment this would be simple. I should have known better. The service advisor (not my regular guy) is telling my wife that the car needs an alignment, the tires need to be rebalanced, the ac drains and sunroof drains need to be cleaned out. She called me. I said, just the tire rotation and the tire with the slow leak. Then it took them forever to pull the Camry up.

Again. Just a slight blemish on an otherwise stellar record since 2019.

I just made two service appointments without much hassle. The Kia goes to the dealer for a recall to inspect the brake lines for rust (seems Kia never heard about salt) and the Mustang goes into the Ford dealer for THREE recalls, two of which I wasn’t aware of.

The Kia dealer has always been easy to work with. The Ford dealer was ok when my son’s Fusion needed work but very expensive. Thankfully this is all warranty work.

oldfarmer50 · October 9

Has anyone made use of the new $10k interest deduction on cars made in the US? Would that tip the balance in favor of domestic brands for anyone?

https://www.caranddriver.com/shopping-advice/a65617729/auto-loan-interest-tax-deduction-how-it-works/

stickguy · October 9

Farmer, which ford dealer do you use for service?

nyccarguy · October 9

@oldfarmer50 said:
Has anyone made use of the new $10k interest deduction on cars made in the US? Would that tip the balance in favor of domestic brands for anyone?

https://www.caranddriver.com/shopping-advice/a65617729/auto-loan-interest-tax-deduction-how-it-works/

Interesting. Does it only apply to loans or leases as well?

kyfdx · October 9

oldfarmer50 said:
Has anyone made use of the new $10k interest deduction on cars made in the US? Would that tip the balance in favor of domestic brands for anyone?

https://www.caranddriver.com/shopping-advice/a65617729/auto-loan-interest-tax-deduction-how-it-works/

Pay interest?

stickguy · October 9

What’s a car loan?

ab348 · October 9

oldfarmer50 said:
Has anyone made use of the new $10k interest deduction on cars made in the US? Would that tip the balance in favor of domestic brands for anyone?

https://www.caranddriver.com/shopping-advice/a65617729/auto-loan-interest-tax-deduction-how-it-works/

I thought you just dug up as many coffee cans of cash from the back 40 as as you would need to pay for the new vehicle in $100 bills.

tjc78 · October 9

nyccarguy said:

@oldfarmer50 said:

Has anyone made use of the new $10k interest deduction on cars made in the US? Would that tip the balance in favor of domestic brands for anyone?

https://www.caranddriver.com/shopping-advice/a65617729/auto-loan-interest-tax-deduction-how-it-works/

Interesting. Does it only apply to loans or leases as well?

Loans only!

tjc78 · October 9

explorerx4 said:
My wife won't set foot in a service department.

Neither will my wife.

Michaell · October 9

tjc78 said:

explorerx4 said:
My wife won't set foot in a service department.
Neither will my wife.

Nor mine.

jmonroe1 · October 9

tjc78 said:

explorerx4 said:
My wife won't set foot in a service department.
Neither will my wife.

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Let me introduce you to her twin sister who was separated from her at birth.

jmonroe

au1994 · October 9

Michaell said:

tjc78 said:

explorerx4 said:
My wife won't set foot in a service department.
Neither will my wife.
Nor mine.

Me three. Or four...

jmonroe1 · October 9

stickguy said:
What’s a car loan?

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Until you can say this, you have no idea how nice that is. It’s only bettered when you no longer have a home mortgage.

jmonroe

Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous

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