Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous

ab348 · November 23

corvette said:
The Big Dig was used as an example of the sunk cost fallacy in my undergrad macroeconomics course. No idea how I remember that all these years later, but my first time visiting Boston, it was long since completed.

Referring to an underground project as a sunk cost is economics prof humor at its best.

The NPR station in Boston, WGBH, did a lengthy podcast series looking back on the entire project a year or two ago. it's available on YouTube. It certainly had its share of mismanagement and poor planning, but once they got into it, it was kind of hard to get out of it. Thank goodness for federal money.

suydam · November 23

stickguy said:
got to ride in my friend's BMW i4 (we spent the night with them). my 2nd time ever riding in an EV (first was 2.5 years ago in a Mach E). very impressive overall. A bit lower than we are used to being a sedan (well, 5 door) but nothing like a sports car!

loved the interior. great seats, and seeing the big dash screen in action was impressive. And the surround view cameras and heads up display were addictive. Ride was comfortable. And typical quiet and operation. Even as an ICE version (so, a 3 series?) an impressive car. and the wife liked it (just would prefer it sits a bit higher).

I got to drive it too (first experience). That thing is quick, and you get going much faster than you should be without realizing it. The lack of engine roar feedback does not help.

the other difference was the regen braking. Took a while to get used to that. letting off the accelerator pedal felt like slamming on the brakes. after 10 minutes it was a bit better but still not really smooth. Probably something you quickly get adjusted to. At least for me, no clue how my wife will react to it. But will find out when we finally hit up the dealer for some test drives.

You don’t have to use regenerative braking if you don’t like it. My spouse never does. I have it set to very mild on the steering wheel and have gotten used to that.

stickguy · November 23

If I could get a tacoma lease for close to that without putting a bunch of money up front, I would take one and sell both current cars and buy outright something nice.

au1994 · November 23

sda said:
I saw this when browsing this morning. Was this an optional paint finish?

Wrap?

au1994 · November 23

ab348 said:
Watching the NFL today, I see Toyota is advertising (I believe nationally) $289/mo leases on base RAV4 penalty boxes (the old style, clearing out what inventory they still have) and $259/mo leases on Tacoma pickups. Don't remember seeing them promote like this in recent years.

Would have to see what the fine print on the Tacoma is but I wouldn’t think an SR 2WD would bee too far off that.

Sandman6472 · November 23

Drove through the big dig back in 2004 I believe. Very strange driving underground.

Wife came home Saturday night, had a nice time. Spoke with my daughter today and seems like she found a house! New construction which is great. Wife came in my office just before and asks me if it's a good idea her buying instead of renting another year? Replied let's be supportive and go along with whatever she wants to do. Best to start getting some equity I'd imagine at this point because paying rent is over the end of each month. Owning, she can build up equity in a place she chooses knowing she'll be there for a bit. I'm staying very optimistic here and have resolved to the fact that we'll be moving either by the end of 2026 or early 2027. We knew eventually we'd have to leave South Florida. Might as well do it when I'm holding my own because in a few years, who knows. And being near at least one of our kids is the right thing to do for her, Stan the dog & us.

It's going to be a very interesting year!!! But, I'm ready for the adventure!

stickguy · November 23

if she is doing it soon anyway, and that is what she wants, makes the most sense to do it now if she has the money available to do it.

I have been consulting with our daughter on her pending purchase (officially under contract, and going through the mortgage approval process) so seeing the costs. Putting 20% down, and all-in (mortgage, taxes and homeowners) their monthly outlay will be right about $2,000 compared to their rent in Boston. It is nuts.

28firefighter · November 23

Doing truck things today - donations and a dump run!

jmonroe1 · November 23

@28firefighter said:

Doing truck things today - donations and a dump run!

——————————————————
What size bed is that?

jmonroe

28firefighter · November 23

Small. 5ft.

stickguy · November 23

I love doing truck things. my "mini" bed is only 6" shorter than that one and holds a surprising amount of stuff.

also my post above was supposed to say $2,000 less per month.

stickguy · November 23

one thing I do plan to get is a bed extender. A net type that will let me put the tailgate down and still contain cargo, making the bed effectively about 6' long. Ford has a (pretty expensive IIRV) metal bar one that attaches to the bed wall and flips over when the bed is down. I just don't want to have to deal with it in the bed when I don't need it.

corvette · November 23

@stickguy - I think the Nissan Frontier first popularized the bed extender. I remember seeing a lot of them at auto shows with that equipment. I rarely use my bed for anything other than a giant trunk, although I will also say it excels at that function.

laurasdada · November 23

corvette said:
The Tesla universal wall mounted charger is the best from a usability standpoint, very easy to charge NACS or J-1772. I went another route because it was cheaper and I prefer not to give money to Tesla.

The Big Dig was used as an example of the sunk cost fallacy in my undergrad macroeconomics course. No idea how I remember that all these years later, but my first time visiting Boston, it was long since completed.

This is what is installed at Mohegan Sun. Quite simple to undock and charge the Audi (J-1772).
And, free (for player card holders above the entry level. Although that area was open to all Saturday, probably for the college basketball games at the arena)! Well, free if you exclude what happened inside the building...

Michaell · November 23

I ~~did~~ tried to do truck things with the Outback again, today.

I think my wife and daughter are single-handedly keeping Amazon and Wayfair in business, given the amount of cardboard we've accumulated.

Yes, I took a car load to the recycle bin a few weeks ago, towards the end of the basement project. I thought that would, at the very least, slow down the purchases.

Nope. Filled the Outback again today and went to the recycle bin, which was .... already full! Bother. Not sure when the bin gets emptied (it's behind the cooking studio we own and run, so it's shared with a number of other businesses).

I'm off tomorrow, so I may try again late in the afternoon, else it will be Thursday before I get another chance.

(and before anyone asks, yes, we have recycling pickup in our neighborhood every other Friday, but the boxes I broke down were 5-6' long, and I didn't want to fill our bin too quickly - plus, I have probably a couple dozen "regular" sized cardboard boxes that need to be broken down)

corvette · November 23

@Michaell - I was about to ask, lol. It's not uncommon for me to have a stack of cardboard or other bulky items that I dole out into the recycling pickup over several weeks. Granted, most of "recycling" ends up in landfills, from what I hear.

Michaell · November 23

corvette said:
@Michaell - I was about to ask, lol. It's not uncommon for me to have a stack of cardboard or other bulky items that I dole out into the recycling pickup over several weeks. Granted, most of "recycling" ends up in landfills, from what I hear.

Most of the "regular" Amazon boxes are small enough to collapse and put into our normal recycling bin, along with aluminum, plastic and inside cardboard (cereal boxes, etc).

But, at the moment, there are so many of them in the garage that I'm not sure that's where I want to put them. Recycling was just picked up last Friday, so it will be two weeks before they come back.

stickguy · November 23

I got rid of the ceiling fan boxes. Cardboard inserts did not collapse and overfilled my recycle bin. So will go out in the daylight and either put them in the neighbors pail or just stick them out the top.

ab348 · 6:17AM

It's odd how different municipal govts treat these things. Up here, corrugated cardboard is picked up bi-weekly and supposedly needs to be broken down/flattened and nested or taped together (though the neighbor 2 doors down who gets multiple Amazon deliveries every day never does that and just puts them all out in a big pile which they still pick up, grumble grumble). What they describe as boxboard (non-corrugated stuff like cracker boxes) goes in the green organic recycling bin with food waste, or in the bag with paper recycling.

Where it all goes after that is an open question. I know the food waste goes into a municipal compost facility (where the workers have to wear gas masks because of the stench) where the stuff created gets used on municipal parks and sports fields because it is otherwise unsellable. I have no idea if the cardboard and paper actually has a market or if it is just dumped.

Michaell · 6:42AM

I don't think this article will surprise many of us on this discussion, but it's a thorough look at the EV leasing market, and what happens when all these cheap (read: subisdized) EV leases are returned.

EV leasing - what happens next?

tjc78 · 6:54AM

ab348 said:
It's odd how different municipal govts treat these things. Up here, corrugated cardboard is picked up bi-weekly and supposedly needs to be broken down/flattened and nested or taped together (though the neighbor 2 doors down who gets multiple Amazon deliveries every day never does that and just puts them all out in a big pile which they still pick up, grumble grumble). What they describe as boxboard (non-corrugated stuff like cracker boxes) goes in the green organic recycling bin with food waste, or in the bag with paper recycling.

Where it all goes after that is an open question. I know the food waste goes into a municipal compost facility (where the workers have to wear gas masks because of the stench) where the stuff created gets used on municipal parks and sports fields because it is otherwise unsellable. I have no idea if the cardboard and paper actually has a market or if it is just dumped.

I don't break down my Amazon boxes... and we have sometimes a dozen a week or more. I crush some and put into the larger boxes and make it as small a pile as I can. I pay over 16K a year in property tax which includes trash and recycle pickup, I'm not doing it. Call me lazy, whatever, but it is how I feel.

tjc78 · 7:01AM

Michaell said:
I don't think this article will surprise many of us on this discussion, but it's a thorough look at the EV leasing market, and what happens when all these cheap (read: subisdized) EV leases are returned.

EV leasing - what happens next?

Yeah, it is a problem. I think the leasing companies will foot the majority of this bill especially the captive ones. I agree the EV's will sell for less than residuals..... but the $7500 credit kept the money factors close to prime rate and most captives had $500 or even $1000 acquisition fees plus dispo fees.

They are crying, yes, but I don't think every EV coming off lease is a total loser like the article is making it out to be.

What they should do is double down... "1.9% financing on all used 2022 or newer EV's" or "extended battery warranty to 5 years/100K miles from in-service date"

Didn't this happen with all the cheap SUV leases around the time gas sky rocketed?

corvette · 7:50AM

@tjc78 - most EV manufacturers already offer a pretty significant battery warranty. I know the Ariya is 5 years, 60k on the powertrain and 8 years, 100k on the battery, including that the battery will retain at least 75% of its capacity.

Michaell · 7:52AM

tjc78 said:
and we have sometimes a dozen a week or more.

Amatuer!

Between the stuff for the house, and the packages for the business, we've probably got 2 or 3 dozen boxes a week. I think there were 2 or 3 boxes and a similar number of envelopes delivered just yesterday.

tjc78 · 8:01AM

corvette said:
@tjc78 - most EV manufacturers already offer a pretty significant battery warranty. I know the Ariya is 5 years, 60k on the powertrain and 8 years, 100k on the battery, including that the battery will retain at least 75% of its capacity.

Yeah, didn't think of that... well then maybe extend it even longer or offer a free charger install credit of $1000 or something then.

tjc78 · 8:02AM

Michaell said:

tjc78 said:
and we have sometimes a dozen a week or more.
Amatuer!

Between the stuff for the house, and the packages for the business, we've probably got 2 or 3 dozen boxes a week. I think there were 2 or 3 boxes and a similar number of envelopes delivered just yesterday.

Haha ... well Christmas is coming so all bets are off now!

ab348 · 8:20AM

I always wondered if the high MSRPs for EVs were created to give manufacturers a big chunk of the govt incentives on offer or if the costs were truly that high.

Michaell · 8:51AM

ab348 said:
I always wondered if the high MSRPs for EVs were created to give manufacturers a big chunk of the govt incentives on offer or if the costs were truly that high.

I think the costs are that high, and that most EVs are sold or leased at a loss to the manufacturer.

nyccarguy · 8:51AM

tjc78 said:

corvette said:
@tjc78 - most EV manufacturers already offer a pretty significant battery warranty. I know the Ariya is 5 years, 60k on the powertrain and 8 years, 100k on the battery, including that the battery will retain at least 75% of its capacity.
Yeah, didn't think of that... well then maybe extend it even longer or offer a free charger install credit of $1000 or something then.

Or think outside the box and offer FREE LIFETIME OIL CHANGES!

corvette · 8:51AM

And sometimes at a loss to the dealer, as well.

jmonroe1 · 9:31AM

@ab348 said:
It's odd how different municipal govts treat these things. Up here, corrugated cardboard is picked up bi-weekly and supposedly needs to be broken down/flattened and nested or taped together (though the neighbor 2 doors down who gets multiple Amazon deliveries every day never does that and just puts them all out in a big pile which they still pick up, grumble grumble). What they describe as boxboard (non-corrugated stuff like cracker boxes) goes in the green organic recycling bin with food waste, or in the bag with paper recycling.

Where it all goes after that is an open question. I know the food waste goes into a municipal compost facility (where the workers have to wear gas masks because of the stench) where the stuff created gets used on municipal parks and sports fields because it is otherwise unsellable. I have no idea if the cardboard and paper actually has a market or if it is just dumped.

——————————————————-
I stopped playing the garbage/recycle game about a year ago because it’s all going to the same place. Even the garbage/recycle guys told me that. But, they still want you to separate the stuff.

If I see the recycle can will overflow and I’ll have to put out another recycle can, I’ll put the plastic stuff in the regular garage. I’m not schlepping another can to the curb with my knees acting up like they have been for the last few years. The down side of this is, it was bad enough having to look over my shoulder to see if the IRS was coming to get me, now I have to look over my other shoulder to see if the garbage/recycle folks are coming to get me. I just hope the municipality doesn’t enact an ordinance limiting how much you can put down the garbage disposal. I don’t have anymore shoulders to look over.

jmonroe

qbrozen · 10:07AM

I can’t remember if we count these as punches or not. But, after 4 trips to the MVC, I finally titled and registered this little gem. It was a non-runner when I got it, but a new petcock and air filter fixed her right up. Had it up to 65mph. That’s more than enough for me. Supposedly it will touch 75 given enough road. Did I mention I have my motorcycle license, too? Came close to not passing the course, to be honest, but managed. My son and I took it together. So that was fun and a good memory. And, yes, I’ve just noticed a reflector has come loose.

Oh, right, and this now makes 4 “Italian” vehicles in our current collection.

stickguy · 10:17AM

Do you need a motorcycle license for a scooter like that?

au1994 · 10:26AM

Saw an Alfa Tonale at lunch today. That’s a rare occurrence to see one in the wild.

jmonroe1 · 10:26AM

@qbrozen said:
I can’t remember if we count these as punches or not. But, after 4 trips to the MVC, I finally titled and registered this little gem. It was a non-runner when I got it, but a new petcock and air filter fixed her right up. Had it up to 65mph. That’s more than enough for me. Supposedly it will touch 75 given enough road. Did I mention I have my motorcycle license, too? Came close to not passing the course, to be honest, but managed. My son and I took it together. So that was fun and a good memory. And, yes, I’ve just noticed a reflector has come loose.

Oh, right, and this now makes 4 “Italian” vehicles in our current collection.

——————————————————
Thanks for the update. Now we know where you’ve been…practicing for your motorcycle license.

Some of us were beginning to think the fall you had kept you away from your keyboard. Glad we were wrong.

jmonroe

xwesx · 11:40AM

qbrozen said:
I can’t remember if we count these as punches or not. But, after 4 trips to the MVC, I finally titled and registered this little gem. It was a non-runner when I got it, but a new petcock and air filter fixed her right up. Had it up to 65mph. That’s more than enough for me. Supposedly it will touch 75 given enough road. Did I mention I have my motorcycle license, too? Came close to not passing the course, to be honest, but managed. My son and I took it together. So that was fun and a good memory. And, yes, I’ve just noticed a reflector has come loose.

Well, congrats on getting the endorsement! How did your son do on his exam? Also, how are you feeling after your "adventure" this summer?

corvette · 11:50AM

Our waste collection people have gotten pretty aggressive. A few weeks ago, I got a note chiding me for putting a few fallen branches in the waste bin since we have separate yard waste pickup. Today, my neighbor got a note, although I didn't snoop to see what it was for.

xwesx · 11:54AM

I don't think the waste folks in Ohio would ever slow their pickup route down enough to do that, though I suppose they might if someone was overly egregious about it. If I do have cause to need to do something like throwing stones or branches or whatever in the garbage, I just cut it up well and pace myself. It may take a few weeks to dispose of something, but at least I disposed of it!

When it came to getting rid of the forty or so paint cans abandoned by previous owners in my basement, it took me two years to finally dispose of them all.

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