Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous

stickguy · October 29

@tjc78 said:
The more I drive our electric, the more I like it.

I do agree a home charger is a must. Not sure how we lived without it for almost two years.

Putting aside tradition, and range/recharging fears (a reasonable consideration) functionally EVs seem to offer a lot of benefits. No gas being one, but they are quiet and smooth usually, great for stop and go around town type driving, and have tons of torque and most are obscenely fast. All things which are big pluses for most drivers.

stickguy · October 29

Watched this recently. Yes he is in Europe but he relates to US models also. Really good breakdown of the benefits to all the powertrain choices. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JSVAV6_kG3k&pp=ygUZQ29tcGFyZSBldiB0byBpY2UgdG8gbWhldg%3D%3D

tjc78 · October 29

Haven't been to a car show in 3-4 years now, maybe this year depending how many are participating in Philly

corvette · October 29

Even the big auto shows (Chicago, NY, LA, Detroit) seem to have a lot of major brands missing anymore. I think it was Chicago that had a Mazda booth which was very clearly branded "Chicagoland Area Mazda Dealers" or similar, making it very clear that Mazda corporate was not willing to pay for a booth and hadn't planned to have a presence there.

ab348 · October 29

An EV would be ideal for my use case these days. It’s unfortunate they’re so pricey.

The Motormouth couple in Vancouver recently bought a 3 or 4 y-o Chevy Bolt for their newly licensed son to drive to school or work, not sure. Even with depreciation supposedly being steep on EVs, they still paid about $30K in worthless Canadian dollars. That seems a lot for an electric econobox.

carnaught · October 29

@ab348 because of depreciation I personally think it is better to find a good EV leasing deal

roadburner · October 29

Lunch stop at Tapoco Lodge:

Next up: My impressions of the Tail of the Dragon. Spoiler alert- my wife and I were underwhelmed.

corvette · October 29

@roadburner - on my last TOTD visit, the Civic in front of me, which was moving glacially, finally pulled off so I could pass them in my Prius.

The Cherohala Skyway is less crowded... The Prius sounded like it was about to throw a rod on some of the hills, but we made it.

suydam · October 29

Sandman6472 said:
Drove a 2025 Chevy Equinox electric vehicle yesterday and liked the way it drove. Very smooth acceleration and good brakes when needed. Infotainment system was a bit complicated and took a bit to figure it all out. Would've been so much easier if it was labeled properly. Can see how good it would be to have one EV and one gasser in the garage. But a home charger would be a must. There was 279 miles when I started at our office and when I got to Palm Beach airport, was down to 242 miles which wasn't that bad. Much better then other EV's I've driven. A bit too big for my tastes but can see why Chevy sells a lot of them!

Did the one you drove have google assistant? I don’t use the actual buttons much anymore. I just say, “Play Sirius channel 31”. Same with heat and AC. Makes driving much easier when you aren’t having to take your eyes off the road to hit the right button.

28firefighter · October 29

@corvette said:
@roadburner - on my last TOTD visit, the Civic in front of me, which was moving glacially, finally pulled off so I could pass them in my Prius.

The Cherohala Skyway is less crowded... The Prius sounded like it was about to throw a rod on some of the hills, but we made it.

That Prius would have kept going, rod through the block and everything.

roadburner · October 29

On to Tail of the Dragon...
The temperature was around 50F and there was a light drizzle. The wet pavement was covered with leaves in places. The conditions ensured that no motorcycles would be seen and in addition it likely scared off the inept drivers who are paralyzed with fear at the terrifying prospect of driving on wet pavement. Not counting our contingent there were very few performance cars out there. Aside from the BMW CCCA contingent I only saw a BRZ, a Mustang GT, a Supra, a WRX and a 911.

The good: I never encountered another car in front of me or following me on either run. The pavement had reasonable grip and there was little to no standing water.

The bad: My wife and I both thought that the course was just a heavily condensed amalgamation of several stretches of road in my home county. With a speed limit of 30 mph I just kept the Club Sport in either first or second 99% of the time and I don't think that I used the brakes more than six times on either run.

Bottom line: I'm glad that I was finally able to drive that stretch of road, but I can't say that I found it all that challenging.

Michaell · October 29

@tjc78 - please go to the white courtesy phone...

Member has a question about a used Avalon for their mother

explorerx4 · October 30

@roadburner
Of course there is also this, which happened recently on the TOTD.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/q9y_QfzH5o8?feature=share

tjc78 · October 30

Michaell said:
@tjc78 - please go to the white courtesy phone...

Member has a question about a used Avalon for their mother

.02 Given.

I think that poster may be onto something. That generation of Avalon is not well loved and is most likely cheaper to buy than a Camry of same era.

Michaell · October 30

tjc78 said:

Michaell said:
@tjc78 - please go to the white courtesy phone...

Member has a question about a used Avalon for their mother
.02 Given.

I think that poster may be onto something. That generation of Avalon is not well loved and is most likely cheaper to buy than a Camry of same era.

Much appreciated!

I think my cousin owned an Avalon hybrid of that era (or perhaps the one that followed). Nice car.

nyccarguy · October 30

So my next vehicle search started out quite differently than how it ended up. I posted many links to you guys with well used Camrys, Avalons, ES', Accords, CRVs, & RAV4s. I looked at these cars for their durability and reliability. However, even at 15-20 years old and reasonably cheap they would require some sort of major repair in the next 12 months. Also, it is a gamble. Whether you buy from a dealer or a Facebook flipper.

Next I started seeing some 8-10ish year old cars with high miles, but not high miles for the year if that makes any sense. A few Avalons and Lexus RXs which also included blind spot monitors. These newer cars had prices that crept up into the mid-teens.

Once I started looking at those cars in the mid teens, I saw that more modern 5-6ish year old cars were in the high teen to low $20K range. Previous generation Camrys and 4th generation RAV4s. At that point, even CPO cars are just used and I'd have to finance, so I wasn't too keen on financing something more than 5 years old.

I came back to the idea of leasing. Giving the almost paid off and somewhat banged up 80K mile highlander to my 16 year old when he gets his license in December. Having my wife to continue to driver her Camry. I'll drive the Prelude once the spring hits. My 19 year old college sophmore son will now have a car to drive to work over the summer and possibly to school next year as a Junior.

I was looking for something on the cheap side. I didn't want to go full electric because of the high rates in my area as well as the property tax I'd have to pay my city each year for the next 3 years. As many of us know, the cheapest cars don't always lease the cheapest. I started my search by pestering @Michaell & @kyfdx and scouring the broker deals on Lease Hackr. A Corolla LE FWD is a nice car at it's $24K MSRP, but not when it leases for $330 per month. Even outgoing RAV4 LEs, XLEs, & XLE Hybrids still have lease payments that realistically start in the $420ish - $490ish range which is more than I am willing to spend. I really like the styling of the Civic Sedan. The LX doesn't have blind spot monitors, so then you step up to the Sport. Once you step up to the Sport, it isn't that much more of a jump to get the Sport Hatchback. Since we are on the subject of the Sport Hatchback, why not go for the Sport Hybrid Hatchback? The Sport Hybrid Hatchback gets phenomenal gas mileage and has an amazing 75% residual value after 2 years an 69% after 3 years. Unfortunately the money factor equates to 5.88%. They aren't discounted all that much and just under $30K Hybrid Hatchbacks have leases that start in the low $4s.

One of the brokers on LH had a few very cheap Rogue S AWDs listed for very cheap. Once you back in all the taxes and fees, it didn't seem like a bad deal at $320 per month all in. Until I was searching through this broker's page through some of the other brands he sells and I stumbled upon...

corvette · October 30

Way to leave everyone hanging, @nyccarguy!

tjc78 · October 30

I truly haven't looked at Bradd's post history, so this is a true guess. I'm going with some sort of Mazda here. I know I was able to get a good deal on my Mom's CX-50 that was over $100 less than any comparable Yota.

tifighter · October 30

That’s it. I’m canceling my subscription.

nyccarguy · October 30

It will be the 2nd vehicle I punched my card with from this particular brand. The last time I purchased a vehicle from this brand was way back in 2009 as a 2010 model.

au1994 · October 30

Acura.

We both had TSXes at the same time. Fine, fine car btw.

oldfarmer50 · October 30

explorerx4 said:
@roadburner
Of course there is also this, which happened recently on the TOTD.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/q9y_QfzH5o8?feature=share

Yanked by the copyright lawyers.

nyccarguy · October 30

And the epic conclusion. Without further ado. My 2025 Performance Red/Black Acura Integra:

More details to follow. I’m currently cleaning up from dinner while my son drove my wife to hockey practice.

cdnpinhead · October 30

Welcome back.

corvette · October 30

Congrats, @nyccarguy! Awesome color. You weren't tempted by the G-wagens parked next door?

au1994 · October 30

Love it

jmonroe1 · October 30

nyccarguy said:
And the epic conclusion. Without further ado. My 2025 Performance Red/Black Acura Integra:

More details to follow. I’m currently cleaning up from dinner while my son drove my wife to hockey practice.

————————————————
Nice looking car, good luck with it.

I couldn’t help but notice your weather is just as crappy as what we had all day today.

jmonroe

roadburner · October 30

nyccarguy said:
And the epic conclusion. Without further ado. My 2025 Performance Red/Black Acura Integra:

More details to follow. I’m currently cleaning up from dinner while my son drove my wife to hockey practice.

Beautiful!

xwesx · October 30

nyccarguy said:
And the epic conclusion. Without further ado. My 2025 Performance Red/Black Acura Integra:
More details to follow. I’m currently cleaning up from dinner while my son drove my wife to hockey practice.

Congrats on the Integra.

I had no idea that your wife is playing hockey now!

nyccarguy · October 30

@xwesx said:
Congrats on the Integra.

I had no idea that your wife is playing hockey now!

I should clarify my son drove my wife to his hockey practice.

nyccarguy · October 30

A big thank-you to our hosts @kyfdx & @Michaell for getting me all the information I needed numbers wise. 2026 Integras are on the lots already. 2025s had $2,000 in conquest cash and a money factor that equated to somewhere in the 3% range. I checked out one of the brokers pages on LH and used his discount as a guide.

Saturday afternoon I walked into the local Acura dealer about 45 minutes before closing. They had a ‘25 A-Spec in the showroom that I just wanted to sit in to check out. After a few minutes, I got up and the manager introduced himself and asked if I wanted to take it for a test drive. I told him, not today since it is too close to closing on a Saturday and I don’t want to be “the guy” that’s holding people up. He told me they are there until closing and I was there, so why not? Ok. I took a short test drive just to get a feel for the car. I liked it. Came back. Told the salesman I was looking for a 2025 Base model and not an A-Spec. He said they have 1 left that the manager wants to get rid of. It is red on black.

Fast forward to Monday morning. I email the sales guy a few minutes before they open with an offer that’s low enough that I was pretty sure they wouldn’t do, but you don’t know if you don’t ask.

15 minutes later the manager calls me. He says he appreciates my offer, but it is on the low side. He asks if I could do a 48 month lease and then he could get close to what I offered. I said no thanks and said let me know your last and final so I can give you a deposit and pick the car up this week. He asks a few more questions and then says that he’s impressed with the research I did. $477 due at signing (1st month plus taxes on the rebate). 38 more payments of $350 with 6.35% sales tax, acq fee, doc fee, & DMV rolled into the payments.

My name is Bradd and I am a Chronic Car Buyer.

stickguy · October 30

good looking deal.

au1994 · October 31

thats a really solid deal.

stickguy · October 31

Great color too

ab348 · October 31

So, a lease? I am easily confused.

nyccarguy · October 31

Thank-you all for your kind words. I'm happy with the way the car looks. I do love the Performance Red. This would drive @tjc78 nuts, but I now have 3 red cars in my stable that are 3 different colors.

As most of us have said, a positive, efficient dealership experience makes a big difference. My wife dropped me off at 5:55 PM. I was home by 6:35 PM. No hard sell from F&I. Just asked if I was interested in the wheel & tire package.

The base model comes very nicely equipped. Aside from a thicker rear anti-roll bar, the A-Spec Package (would it have killed them to call it a GS-R?) is basically just an appearance package. Larger diameter wheels with lower profile tires, a few sporty black accent pieces here and there. To me it just does not seem worth $5K. Now if you want a 6-Speed stick, which is only offered with the A-Spec Tech Package it is even more money, and your only choice.

Also back to why I wasn't comfortable with buying a used car. There just seems like too much deception out there. Odometer roll backs, mileage blockers, computers that can reset check engine lights, transmission fluid that is never changed...

au1994 · October 31

I'd be happy with a base model. I don't mind a package that is almost exclusively appearance, but for some reason the A-Spec just never did it for me.

oldfarmer50 · October 31

nyccarguy said:
And the epic conclusion. Without further ado. My 2025 Performance Red/Black Acura Integra:

More details to follow. I’m currently cleaning up from dinner while my son drove my wife to hockey practice.

Sharp looking car. Great color.

“Also back to why I wasn't comfortable with buying a used car. There just seems like too much deception out there. Odometer roll backs, mileage blockers, computers that can reset check engine lights, transmission fluid that is never changed...”

Boy, do I ever share your paranoia. I know I’ve watched too many YT videos but the stories they tell about terminally clueless car owners neglecting their cars into the ground is truly frightening. Then there’s the deliberate scammers with fraudulent mileage. I’m to the point where I don’t want to buy a car from somebody I don’t know.

28firefighter · October 31

Congrats @nyccarguy !!

dbeck · October 31

Need some advice from you Porsche folks, and anyone else for that matter

My kid's been on the hunt for a new toy, came across this not too far from us. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2005-porsche-911-carrera-coupe-47/

jmonroe1 · October 31

nyccarguy said:

@xwesx said:

Congrats on the Integra.

I had no idea that your wife is playing hockey now!

I should clarify my son drove my wife to his hockey practice.

————————————————
I’m sure most of us knew what you meant. But there’s always that 1% that needs spoon fed.

jmonroe

tjc78 · October 31

Congrats Bradd!! Great car and color!!!

Well done on that lease.

Guess I was very wrong on the Mazda.

andres3 · October 31

roadburner said:
On to Tail of the Dragon...
The temperature was around 50F and there was a light drizzle. The wet pavement was covered with leaves in places. The conditions ensured that no motorcycles would be seen and in addition it likely scared off the inept drivers who are paralyzed with fear at the terrifying prospect of driving on wet pavement. Not counting our contingent there were very few performance cars out there. Aside from the BMW CCCA contingent I only saw a BRZ, a Mustang GT, a Supra, a WRX and a 911.

The good: I never encountered another car in front of me or following me on either run. The pavement had reasonable grip and there was little to no standing water.

The bad: My wife and I both thought that the course was just a heavily condensed amalgamation of several stretches of road in my home county. With a speed limit of 30 mph I just kept the Club Sport in either first or second 99% of the time and I don't think that I used the brakes more than six times on either run.

Bottom line: I'm glad that I was finally able to drive that stretch of road, but I can't say that I found it all that challenging.

30 MPH speed limit? Is their a school every other mile? The 15 MPH advisory on highways where there's a sharp 180 is where 30 MPH is appropriate for fun.

andres3 · October 31

oldfarmer50 said:

nyccarguy said:
And the epic conclusion. Without further ado. My 2025 Performance Red/Black Acura Integra:

More details to follow. I’m currently cleaning up from dinner while my son drove my wife to hockey practice.

Sharp looking car. Great color.

“Also back to why I wasn't comfortable with buying a used car. There just seems like too much deception out there. Odometer roll backs, mileage blockers, computers that can reset check engine lights, transmission fluid that is never changed...”

Boy, do I ever share your paranoia. I know I’ve watched too many YT videos but the stories they tell about terminally clueless car owners neglecting their cars into the ground is truly frightening. Then there’s the deliberate scammers with fraudulent mileage. I’m to the point where I don’t want to buy a car from somebody I don’t know.

how do you feel about cars with an electronically chronicled maintenance history>? Another way to resolve the fear is to buy one with 35K miles or less so it doesn't matter if it hasn't had the automatic transmission fluid/oil changed.

It would be very difficult for a car that has 100K miles to pass for one with less than 20K. The wear and tear usually shows in the form of chips, scratches, abrasions, and so forth, on all materials, plastic, metal, and glass.

breld · October 31

Congrats @nyccarguy - what a fun choice!

xwesx · October 31

andres3 said:

how do you feel about cars with an electronically chronicled maintenance history>? Another way to resolve the fear is to buy one with 35K miles or less so it doesn't matter if it hasn't had the automatic transmission fluid/oil changed.

It would be very difficult for a car that has 100K miles to pass for one with less than 20K. The wear and tear usually shows in the form of chips, scratches, abrasions, and so forth, on all materials, plastic, metal, and glass.

Meh. It's the same shenanigans that have always been out there... just more known in the modern age of media. The good news is that many of the tricks are much more difficult to pull off than they were in the "old days!"

xwesx · October 31

breld said:
Congrats @nyccarguy - what a fun choice!

Yeah, no doubt! As I get ready to hand over our Forester to my daughter (she's eighteen now and still not driving!), I think about how fortunate your kids should feel!

Sandman6472 · October 31

Love that Integra! I'd have looked at one but it was just too large for my needs. Great color to.

oldfarmer50 · October 31

andres3 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

nyccarguy said:
And the epic conclusion. Without further ado. My 2025 Performance Red/Black Acura Integra:

More details to follow. I’m currently cleaning up from dinner while my son drove my wife to hockey practice.

Sharp looking car. Great color.

“Also back to why I wasn't comfortable with buying a used car. There just seems like too much deception out there. Odometer roll backs, mileage blockers, computers that can reset check engine lights, transmission fluid that is never changed...”

Boy, do I ever share your paranoia. I know I’ve watched too many YT videos but the stories they tell about terminally clueless car owners neglecting their cars into the ground is truly frightening. Then there’s the deliberate scammers with fraudulent mileage. I’m to the point where I don’t want to buy a car from somebody I don’t know.
how do you feel about cars with an electronically chronicled maintenance history>? Another way to resolve the fear is to buy one with 35K miles or less so it doesn't matter if it hasn't had the automatic transmission fluid/oil changed.

It would be very difficult for a car that has 100K miles to pass for one with less than 20K. The wear and tear usually shows in the form of chips, scratches, abrasions, and so forth, on all materials, plastic, metal, and glass.

I’m not sure what you mean by electroniclly chronicled. You mean like CarFax? Yes a good CarFax would make for an easier decision but CarFax doesn’t record everything. If like me you use independent shops all your maintenance might not appear on the report. That’s why I save all my records. If a seller had all records I would be more willing to buy.

I do resolve my fear by buying low mileage (or new) cars. My truck for example only had 30k miles and the Fusion I bought for my son had 29k miles.

28firefighter · October 31

Treated the 911 to an oil change and manual transmission fluid change today. They said they went over it top to bottom and that it’s unbelievably clean. Like new. I’m not winterizing it yet in hopes I can get a bit more driving in.

The Tacoma is a winner so far - my wife took it from me today and declared it drives better than the Jeep (which seems more an indictment of the Jeep than the driving quality of the Tacoma). Also getting shockingly good fuel economy on it. Full thoughts coming soon.

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