Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous

explorerx4 · December 2025

It looks like the MSRP on that Tacoma is about 40,560 before all the shennanigans that result in a 47039 final sticker price.

jmonroe1 · December 2025

@au1994 said:
We cut the cord several years ago for a nice monthly savings, now with rate increases and additional subscriptions, we are well over what we were paying with traditional cable.

Like, @tjc78 said, don’t get me started. AT&T internet was $64 when we started, over $120 now. Our services are:

Prime,
YoutubeTV
Paramount +(may be included with ATT)
HBOMax
Apple TV
Apple Music and Storage
Starz
Ring Camera
Netflix (probably the worst offender of rate increases)

I am very sure with an intro special, we’d be better off going back to traditional cable. Changing and canceling all of this is about number 287 on my to do list though.

——————————————————
You folks are a lot better off than me. I have Comcast cable with internet service. Can’t remember right now what it is but it’s got to be waaay less than what you guys are spending. However, one of the down sides is I have to watch black and white reruns of Perry Mason. But, on a good day I can watch color reruns of the original Matlock series. Honest, life ain’t as bad as I just described.

jmonroe

stickguy · December 2025

Bradd, I suspect when you do that analysis you will find that cars are the expense killing you!

I m iw I have access to some things using other peoples logins. I just forget what they are. When the kids stay my SIL logs into stuff on our tv so those are always active.

sda · December 2025

While the Arteon is being worked on, more on that later, I was provided a 26 Tiguan SE.

stickguy · December 2025

Pretty sharp looking. How does it drive?

imidazol97 · December 2025

@ab348 said:
Well, @tjc78 , you could be the poster child for the costs of being connected. Connected, and then having something to actually use that for. I know it is different when you have a family with different tastes and tolerances for content. I am at the opposite extreme in that I have a very low appetite for very much of that stuff, considering most of it as junk.

My iPhone 15 was free to me and costs $43/mo for unlimited data (I think I was beneficiary of a mistake on their part but I’m not telling). The only one of the services you pay for that I have is Prime, and that is because the $10/mo or whatever is a good deal for the free shipping given the amount of stuff I buy from Amazon. The content which I seldom look at is a bonus. But that’s it. Sometimes it’s good to be an old retired guy.

Good to be retired old guy....
X2🏖

corvette · December 2025

Sarah -n- Tuned reviews the all new Subaru Outback:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeZmV8bc5Iw

stickguy · December 2025

hoping to join you as x3 pretty soon!

corvette · December 2025

C&D's review of the 2026 Tiguan SEL R-Line Turbo. It weighs a bit more than my Maverick, but also makes a bit more power, however, sadly, the 0-60 is markedly slower than what I've clocked in the Maverick. I like the styling, but the Maverick with its steel wheels and lack of chrome is the perfect "sleeper" car that looks much slower than it is.

ab348 · December 2025

It's a shame that Subaru beat the new Outback so much with a very heavy ugly stick.

The Tiguan seems an unfortunate case - it is so much better than things like the RAV4 and other competitors in terms of style, interior, and performance, but has continually been very problematic for owners from what I gather. Those things don't matter much if it is always in the shop.

tjc78 · December 2025

sda said:
While the Arteon is being worked on, more on that later, I was provided a 26 Tiguan SE.

Maybe I'm grumpy this morning and to no disrespect of anyone who likes VW... but that vehicle is 3500 lbs of boring. There is no soul and the interior is as bland as Corn Flakes.

Not that I drive anything cool either, but man could they have at least tried to give a bit of style to the interior?

stickguy · December 2025

Watched a review yesterday on the Outback. Sarah n tuned actually liked it and it was only the base engine model. Plus quite capable off-road. Styling might grow on you, and not like the prior models were supermodels.

stickguy · December 2025

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SeZmV8bc5Iw&pp=ygUcc2FyYWggbiB0dW5lZCBzdWJhcnUgb3V0YmFjaw%3D%3D

suydam · December 2025

I don’t think people buy Subarus for their looks.

Michaell · December 2025

suydam said:
I don’t think people buy Subarus for their looks.

That may be, but our Outback, after almost 11 years of ownership, is still quite the handsome car to me. Nicely proportioned.

au1994 · December 2025

Michaell said:

suydam said:
I don’t think people buy Subarus for their looks.
That may be, but our Outback, after almost 11 years of ownership, is still quite the handsome car to me. Nicely proportioned.

Your vintage is quite attractive. The new ones have spent too much time in the “lets throw some black plastic cladding on to make it look tough” school of design.

graphicguy · December 2025

I know I've got 6 months left on my EV6 lease, but looking around for what will grace the GG Estate next. Surprised they are already discounting the new model Camry....

Michaell · December 2025

graphicguy said:

I know I've got 6 months left on my EV6 lease, but looking around for what will grace the GG Estate next. Surprised they are already discounting the new model Camry....

I test drove one of those over the summer, and was very impressed by it.

Michaell · December 2025

au1994 said:

Michaell said:

suydam said:
I don’t think people buy Subarus for their looks.
That may be, but our Outback, after almost 11 years of ownership, is still quite the handsome car to me. Nicely proportioned.

Your vintage is quite attractive. The new ones have spent too much time in the “lets throw some black plastic cladding on to make it look tough” school of design.

Mine has the black cladding over the wheels, but body colored bumpers, which I agree helps a lot.

Sandman6472 · December 2025

We turned down the one free cell phone line from Xfinity as we just ported over to Consumer Cellular last month. We like it, lower price & same AT&T towers so it took maybe 20 minutes to get it all done. Don't want or need 3 cell phone lines especially if after year one it'll cost us. That's just plain ridiculous. Turns out we didn't need to get the new smart tv but since it was here and it had more capabilities, decided to keep it. Getting a $200 gift card from Xfinity anyways and it only cost us $129 out the door. So it's like we got it for free. I'll either give the kids their old Insignia televisions back or go on Freecycle and give them away. Sure someone could use them. Hate throwing good equipment away when it can still be used.
After all the issues we're having and having to wait another week to port our fax line, said they'd give us $30 so we shall see. For all the wasted hours on the phone, people lying to our faces or just giving us wrong information & staying at home waiting for the tech to come & them canceling it at the last minute, $30 ain't going to cover it. And seems like it'll take another week to get all sorted out, more issues that should never have happened! It's past frustrating now!!!

Sandman6472 · December 2025

I felt like I knew Adam The Woo, now, like I lost a friend, that makes it all so strange. So sad that no one knows when G-d will take them from the earth. Best though that it happens quickly with no suffering but sad, still the same. But these are just part of the mysteries of life and there are things we're just meant to understand. But moving ahead, I will definitely miss the guy!
So, rest in peace Adam and thanks for all the enjoyment you gave to me & others out there!!!

Sandman6472 · December 2025

Drove a couple of new 2026 Camry's at work that are hybrids and I was extremely impressed with the acceleration and mpg's it delivered. If not for my size constraint, I'd look at one as they drive so much better then the Corolla does. But if I were looking in that market, probably would get a Honda Civic Touring model. Have driven a few and in that segment, it's still the benchmark by far.
Did see a new 2026 VW Taos and like the new looks of it. They freshened up the front/rear facsia's so it looks more modern. I do like the upscale interior of my GTI SE also as it's not that plain black all over. They use grey & orange with the black to lighten things up a bit. So tired of plain black interiors honestly. Our Hyundai Kona uses both black & grey and did a good job with it too.

28firefighter · December 2025

Tell us how you really feel, @tjc78 hahahaha

oldfarmer50 · December 2025

graphicguy said:

I know I've got 6 months left on my EV6 lease, but looking around for what will grace the GG Estate next. Surprised they are already discounting the new model Camry....

Do you want to have to pay a subscription for every tech gizmo? I don’t even use that stuff but it takes Toyota off my list just on principle.

tjc78 · December 2025

28firefighter said:
Tell us how you really feel, @tjc78 hahahaha

Probably a little harsh...

ab348 · December 2025

suydam said:
I don’t think people buy Subarus for their looks.

No risk of that happening now, though.

Michaell · December 2025

ab348 said:

suydam said:
I don’t think people buy Subarus for their looks.
No risk of that happening now, though.

Is Subaru turning into the Saab of the 2020's?

ab348 · December 2025

tjc78 said:

sda said:
While the Arteon is being worked on, more on that later, I was provided a 26 Tiguan SE.

Maybe I'm grumpy this morning and to no disrespect of anyone who likes VW... but that vehicle is 3500 lbs of boring. There is no soul and the interior is as bland as Corn Flakes.

Not that I drive anything cool either, but man could they have at least tried to give a bit of style to the interior?

Whatcha talking about? That multi-tone interior looks fantastic compared to the dingy single-tone coal mine black plastic fantastic ones found in most rentals.

explorerx4 · December 2025

That No Smoking pictogram to the left of the screen is unusual.

sda · December 2025

Has anyone heard from Mike in FL?

I wish everyone a Healthy and Happy New Year.

tjc78 · December 2025

ab348 said:

tjc78 said:

sda said:
While the Arteon is being worked on, more on that later, I was provided a 26 Tiguan SE.

Maybe I'm grumpy this morning and to no disrespect of anyone who likes VW... but that vehicle is 3500 lbs of boring. There is no soul and the interior is as bland as Corn Flakes.

Not that I drive anything cool either, but man could they have at least tried to give a bit of style to the interior?
Whatcha talking about? That multi-tone interior looks fantastic compared to the dingy single-tone coal mine black plastic fantastic ones found in most rentals.

Yeah, there is a little deviation in color on some parts but it isn't enough to make it less boring. The dash is just a big wide unit with two screens. It's like they were trying to be a Tesla.

benjaminh · December 2025

Michaell said:

Is Subaru turning into the Saab of the 2020's?

Sort of. Saab was quirky, and Subaru today is quirky.

But at the height of Saab's popularity in the US in the 1990s Saab only sold around 60,000 or so cars a year in America. This year Subaru will sell around 650,000 in the US.

As recently as 2009 Subaru only sold 210,000 in the US, and so sales have tripled in the last 16 years.

Here are some slightly quirky or unusual features in our Outback: steering-directional headlights, symmetrical awd, standard roof rack with built-in crossbars, 8.7 inches of ground clearance, x-mode, flat boxer engine, and perhaps most of all the fact that it's a station wagon.

stickguy · December 2025

I plan to look at the new outback. See if the wife likes it.

jmonroe1 · December 2025

@benjaminh said:
Sort of. Saab was quirky, and Subaru today is quirky.

But at the height of Saab's popularity in the US in the 1990s Saab only sold around 60,000 or so cars a year in America. This year Subaru will sell around 650,000 in the US.

As recently as 2009 Subaru only sold 210,000 in the US, and so sales have tripled in the last 16 years.

Here are some slightly quirky or unusual features in our Outback: steering-directional headlights, symmetrical awd, standard roof rack with built-in crossbars, 8.7 inches of ground clearance, x-mode, flat boxer engine, and perhaps most of all the fact that it's a station wagon.

——————————————————
That X-Mode sounds like the cat’s meow. I’d like to see how that works compared to the driving skills I’ve acquired over the years of driving in the snow. The write-up I saw of that system looks eerily familiar. I wouldn’t be surprised if Subaru somehow hacked into my technique and is now selling it as an option. I otta get a cut of those sales.

jmonroe

jmonroe1 · December 2025

Before I forget, I want to wish all my poster buddies a healthy Happy New Year.

I’m at my brothers getting ready for the official celebration. Just to be sure I’ll get it right I’m warming up…I’ve already had a few glasses of champagne chased with some bourbon or was it the other way around. Anyway, I just hope when the official time comes I don’t forget why I’m practicing.

jmonroe

benjaminh · January 1

stickguy said:
I plan to look at the new outback. See if the wife likes it.

The styling of the new Outback is tough to really like from my pov, and it's still more or less a station wagon. My guess is she won't go for it given her dislike of station wagons.

Have you considered the Hyundai Santa Fe? Your wife won't go for a station wagon, but my wife says no thanks when it comes to Hyundai or Kia. But the Santa Fe is a lot of vehicle for the money, and currently there's 0% financing, although supposedly that expires on Jan. 2nd. A hybrid is available on the Santa Fe, which isn't an option for the Outback.

https://www.hyundaiusa.com/us/en/offers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xIdeg9oS_M

ab348 · January 1

tjc78 said:

Yeah, there is a little deviation in color on some parts but it isn't enough to make it less boring. The dash is just a big wide unit with two screens. It's like they were trying to be a Tesla.

Well, in that case, don't go looking at any new M-B, BMW or Audi models. They're now mostly all wall to wall screens like that.

The Motormouth couple reviewed the new Audi Q5 this week. The test vehicle was not the top line model, so on the passenger side of the dash where yet another screen would live if you hadn't cheaped out and bought a lower trim, there was a big trapezoidal piece of black plastic so shiny that it looked like it was a vanity mirror. Just awful. No idea what Audi were thinking.

stickguy · January 1

I saw the Santa Fe in a couple of colors I actually liked. Sort of grew on me. My wife thinks they are weird looking. So no dice. I also don’t feel like getting involved in long term Hyundai ownership now.

stickguy · January 1

Without looking yet, the sort of short list to stop at for her car replacement is Subaru, BMW, Lexus (they probably have something suitable). Maybe Toyota to see a Land Cruiser. Though I guess Lexus has a version of that. And Mazda. Porsche we have already been to.

Also Toyota and Nissan to check out their mid sized pickups. Wife actually really liked a frontier we sat in at the car show and I’ve never been inside a new Tacoma.

oldfarmer50 · January 1

This kind of intrigued me. It would have been better if it was a Cobra but one of those would be out of my flight of fancy budget.

https://albany.craigslist.org/cto/d/schenectady-97-mustang-gt-convertible/7905149948.html

stickguy · January 1

Looks ok. The mods, broken odometer and automatic are 3 strikes to me.

sda · January 1

ab348 said:

tjc78 said:

Yeah, there is a little deviation in color on some parts but it isn't enough to make it less boring. The dash is just a big wide unit with two screens. It's like they were trying to be a Tesla.
Well, in that case, don't go looking at any new M-B, BMW or Audi models. They're now mostly all wall to wall screens like that.

The Motormouth couple reviewed the new Audi Q5 this week. The test vehicle was not the top line model, so on the passenger side of the dash where yet another screen would live if you hadn't cheaped out and bought a lower trim, there was a big trapezoidal piece of black plastic so shiny that it looked like it was a vanity mirror. Just awful. No idea what Audi were thinking.

I’m not impressed either. I believe the interior quality and appearance of our 2016 Q5 exudes quality, restraint, and good taste.

Michaell · January 1

stickguy said:
Without looking yet, the sort of short list to stop at for her car replacement is Subaru, BMW, Lexus (they probably have something suitable). Maybe Toyota to see a Land Cruiser. Though I guess Lexus has a version of that. And Mazda. Porsche we have already been to.

Also Toyota and Nissan to check out their mid sized pickups. Wife actually really liked a frontier we sat in at the car show and I’ve never been inside a new Tacoma.

That's not a bad shortlist. Lexus has a couple of models you might be interested in, depending on your size requirements and budget - NX, specifically. Gas, hybrid, or PHEV models available.

au1994 · January 1

Happy New Year all! Time to roll the drum on 2025 totals and picks for ‘26!!

I will go with 47 for ‘26. I’ll have 1 as the Audi lease matures in December.

stickguy · January 1

I really liked the smaller NX back around 2019. Almost got that instead of my TLX.

Michaell · January 1

au1994 said:
Happy New Year all! Time to roll the drum on 2025 totals and picks for ‘26!!

I will go with 47 for ‘26. I’ll have 1 as the Audi lease matures in December.

I'm going to guess 42 punches for 2026. I've chronically underestimated my totals the past few years.

benjaminh · January 1

Don't remember what I guessed last year, but probably it was on the high side. This year my guess is 36.

fintail · January 1

Sandman6472 said:
I felt like I knew Adam The Woo, now, like I lost a friend, that makes it all so strange. So sad that no one knows when G-d will take them from the earth. Best though that it happens quickly with no suffering but sad, still the same. But these are just part of the mysteries of life and there are things we're just meant to understand. But moving ahead, I will definitely miss the guy!
So, rest in peace Adam and thanks for all the enjoyment you gave to me & others out there!!!

He was one of the pioneer moving filming location vloggers. Pour yourself a piping hot caffeinated beverage in his memory.

sda · January 1

stickguy said:
Pretty sharp looking. How does it drive?

It drove well, good handling, nice brake pedal feel, decently quiet. The ride is firmer and not as supple as our Q5, but still good. The driver’s seat is very comfortable and had 4 way lumbar support. The gear selector took some getting used to, but intuitive. Twist forward for drive, reward for reverse, tap the button on the end of the stalk for park. Decent power, certainly fine for suburban driving. It had a very solid feel. No rattles or squeaks. It’s a good vehicle.

sda · January 1

My appointment to have a back ordered battery for the SOS emergency system ended up more involved than I anticipated. I shared with the advisor that I complained on the test drive and subsequent service visits that the car vibrated over 60, and the front suspension made noises, especially when the temperature was below 60. I was told the vibration was tire related and they could not duplicate the suspension noise. I had the tires replaced, road force balanced, some reduction of the vibration but still there. They found the left driveshaft to be defective and the sway bar needed to be replaced. I didn’t expect the rear brakes needing to be replaced, but new pads and rotors needed at 43k. Front pads are still thick and in good order. I had a $50 deductible for the CPO work, and the advisor reduced the bill by $100 without me asking. I appreciated that. $722 out the door. All seems fine and it drives great.

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