Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous

stickguy · March 20

I still have one small pile of snow from the plow. Close though to being gone. Though we keep getting another dusting every time I think it is over.

ab348 · March 20

stickguy said:
this is shaping up to be one of the years up here where it seems like winter will never actually end, and some random day it will go from 45 to 80 and we will have summer.

Same here. I just looked at the 10-day outlook and it is not getting above mid-30s F at any point with Monday possibly offering 3" of snow. Been an ugly winter.

stickguy · March 20

This winter took a lot out of me. It was tiring.

Andres3333333 · March 20

Supposed to be very hot in Pahrump mid-April at Charleston Peak Motorsports. Mid 90's predicted. Maybe I'll take the Macan and give it a torture test; though the TTS hasn't been spared such hot torture tests for hot track weekends. I have a feeling I'd have to go down two student group grades to be allowed to drive the Macan.

This is sounding like a better idea knowing the tires are nearing their end...whereas the TTS really should probably get new shoes beforehand if I want to avoid cord.

xwesx · March 20

Take them both! Drive the Macan and trailer the TTS.

jmonroe1 · March 20

xwesx said:
Take them both! Drive the Macan and trailer the TTS.

——————————————————-
Use the Macan to tow the TTS. If the Macan can’t handle that, get a Chevy.

jmonroe

au1994 · March 20

Serious question from someone who has never lived up north…what happens to the huge piles of snow that pile up in retail establishments parking lots? Do they just let them melt? I would imagine they can take up a lot of space over the course of a winter.

laurasdada · March 20

au1994 said:
Serious question from someone who has never lived up north…what happens to the huge piles of snow that pile up in retail establishments parking lots? Do they just let them melt? I would imagine they can take up a lot of space over the course of a winter.

Generally, from my observation, Ma Nature giveth and then taketh; they melt away. They do become a bit unsightly in the interim.
Kinda like my net worth this year.

oldfarmer50 · March 20

au1994 said:
Serious question from someone who has never lived up north…what happens to the huge piles of snow that pile up in retail establishments parking lots? Do they just let them melt? I would imagine they can take up a lot of space over the course of a winter.

Yep, Spring is the cleanup crew. In case you forget how bad the winter was you can be reminded by looking at the melting mess in May.😩

xwesx · March 20

au1994 said:
Serious question from someone who has never lived up north…what happens to the huge piles of snow that pile up in retail establishments parking lots? Do they just let them melt? I would imagine they can take up a lot of space over the course of a winter.

What do you mean? It never melts.

xwesx · March 20

No, it just melts. Or, in some cases, it will get moved periodically by dump truck to "snow dumps," which are basically just massive mountains of snow. It will take through May, and sometimes even into as late as July, for the piles to fully melt. They turn into large black masses due to all the dirt, sand, and gravel hiding in the snow.

ab348 · March 20

It usually is left to melt in springtime, but if the piles get too big or in places that always get lots of snow, they use snow melters. One of the large shopping centers here hired one this year.

When I was young, it was common practice for Dad to take us kids down to the harbour piers one day in winter to see long lines of dump trucks dumping loads of snow into the harbor. The city stopped that practice for supposed environmental reasons. The melters burn fuel oil to melt the snow and as you can see in the pic, the water produced goes into the storm sewers. Which empty… into the harbor.

xwesx · March 20

Wow! That's an insane waste of energy. As if fuel wasn't expensive enough, now we're wasting it on this sort of thing? Unbelievable.

And, true about the irony of dumping into the harbor versus into the storm drain.

jmonroe1 · March 20

au1994 said:
Serious question from someone who has never lived up north…what happens to the huge piles of snow that pile up in retail establishments parking lots? Do they just let them melt? I would imagine they can take up a lot of space over the course of a winter.

——————————————————
I’ve lived up north my whole life except for 5 years when I lived in SC from early
‘92 until mid ‘97, so I’m qualified to answer your question.

The reining philosophy is; nature put it there so nature will get rid of it. That has always worked. Sometimes sooner than others but its always worked. On rare occasions trucks can haul away heavy early snow falls to the river. No problem doing that around here since the Burgh has 3 large rivers. Sounds like fun, huh? And we don’t even get a bump in mother nature taxes.

jmonroe

ab348 · March 20

xwesx said:
Wow! That's an insane waste of energy. As if fuel wasn't expensive enough, now we're wasting it on this sort of thing? Unbelievable.

And, true about the irony of dumping into the harbor versus into the storm drain.

When questioned about the rationale for not dumping it into the harbour, the city blamed the federal govt, which has jurisdiction over the harbour. Then the too-clever spokesperson said it was because the snow could be contaminated with road salt. A reporter then asked, “Isn’t the ocean salt water already?”. They then pivoted to oil and road debris… all of which goes into the storm sewers.

My favorite example of this is the City of Montreal. They get much more snow than Halifax does most years, and they attack it like a military operation. There are lots of YT videos of Montreal snow clearing that are quite entertaining to watch. They will attack a snow-clogged street with sidewalk plows, big wheel loader plows, road graders, and giant snow blowers. The snow pushers make multiple passes to get all the snow into large neat rows that the snow blowers then shoot into a conga line procession of dump trucks. Those then go to a few different disposal sites, some of which are large openings directly into the storm sewer system, but most seem to go to a giant abandoned quarry where it gets dumped into the depths to melt eventually.

The videos are addictive to watch. I hate to think how much the city spends on it.

xwesx · March 20

Yep! They want to use the crap, but then they want to pretend like it doesn't all go to the waterways anyway. I'd far prefer all that stuff to be outlawed. Just sand the surfaces when appropriate and require the use of winter tires.

explorerx4 · March 22

I checked Carmax and Carvana and the value of my Explorer went up $200 since last month.

oldfarmer50 · March 23

xwesx said:
Yep! They want to use the crap, but then they want to pretend like it doesn't all go to the waterways anyway. I'd far prefer all that stuff to be outlawed. Just sand the surfaces when appropriate and require the use of winter tires.

Sand can be almost as bad a salt because it basically blasts the paint off the metal allowing rust to set in. Sand sure helps a cleared road when it ices up after being cleared but doesn’t do that much for the road right after the snow storm.

I drive a lot between salt crazy NY and low salt VT and there’s quite a difference in drivability.

Andres3333333 · March 23

Anyone out there know if there are any cars that use two small compressors for AC rather than one? The 2017 ATS-V I test drove the other hot day was blowing nice and cold on the right half, but super hot on the left half... something may have happened just then and there I think while it was warming up because I don't remember it blowing "HOT" on the left side when it was first turned on; was more room temp at first. Both sides were definitely on Auto LO/COLD so that wasn't the issue.

stickguy · March 23

Problem with the blend doors?

nyccarguy · March 23

@Andres3333333 said:
Anyone out there know if there are any cars that use two small compressors for AC rather than one? The 2017 ATS-V I test drove the other hot day was blowing nice and cold on the right half, but super hot on the left half... something may have happened just then and there I think while it was warming up because I don't remember it blowing "HOT" on the left side when it was first turned on; was more room temp at first. Both sides were definitely on Auto LO/COLD so that wasn't the issue.

It is a 9 year old GM car. You expect the AC to function perfectly?

jmonroe1 · March 23

stickguy said:
Problem with the blend doors?

——————————————————
FWIW, I agree. Just because a selection is made doesn’t mean the system is responding. Warm air on one side and cold on the other is a classic case that the doors didn’t get the memo.

jmonroe

roadburner · March 23

I took the C43 in for its annual service. It received a clean bill of health except for an obligatory bent wheel. The dealer recommended new air filters, but -like windshield wipers- I'd have to surrender my man card if I paid someone to perform that onerous task.
This time my loaner was a GLA 250. It was very pleasant and competent, but the only thing remotely sporty about it were the 19" AMG wheels. I'm sure that a GLA 35 or GLA 45 would be a lot more fun, but at the end of the day if I'm having to drive a CUV I'd at least want a rear biased AWD system.

oldfarmer50 · March 24

nyccarguy said:

@Andres3333333 said:

Anyone out there know if there are any cars that use two small compressors for AC rather than one? The 2017 ATS-V I test drove the other hot day was blowing nice and cold on the right half, but super hot on the left half... something may have happened just then and there I think while it was warming up because I don't remember it blowing "HOT" on the left side when it was first turned on; was more room temp at first. Both sides were definitely on Auto LO/COLD so that wasn't the issue.

It is a 9 year old GM car. You expect the AC to function perfectly?

Every GM vehicle I ever owned back to the 1980s had AC problems. To be fair so did my Ford truck but that was an easy fix.

I suspect a blend door problem too.

nyccarguy · March 24

oldfarmer50 said:

nyccarguy said:

@Andres3333333 said:

Anyone out there know if there are any cars that use two small compressors for AC rather than one? The 2017 ATS-V I test drove the other hot day was blowing nice and cold on the right half, but super hot on the left half... something may have happened just then and there I think while it was warming up because I don't remember it blowing "HOT" on the left side when it was first turned on; was more room temp at first. Both sides were definitely on Auto LO/COLD so that wasn't the issue.

It is a 9 year old GM car. You expect the AC to function perfectly?

Every GM vehicle I ever owned back to the 1980s had AC problems. To be fair so did my Ford truck but that was an easy fix.

I suspect a blend door problem too.

Your honor, I rest my case

Andres3333333 · March 24

Speaking of rear biased AWD, the Macan is VERY rear-biased, you can tell/feel that letting up on the throttle in the middle of a high speed turn is probably not in your best interest.

sda · March 24

Speaking of a

Hybrid with a manual, I present this very clean example I saw last Saturday when I had mom's CR-V serviced.

nyccarguy · March 24

@sda

Wow! Talk about rare!

tjc78 · March 25

60s & 70s Luxo barges would appreciate those rear fender skirts!

fintail · March 25

sda said:
Speaking of a Hybrid with a manual, I present this very clean example I saw last Saturday when I had mom's CR-V serviced.

A friend of mine has one of those as a DD, and I saw one parked on the street just this afternoon. Gotta love the PNW.

Michaell · March 25

I had the Outback in at the dealer today - minor issue, resolved in just a few minutes - and took the opportunity to get a "buy bid" from their "acquisition specialist".

2015 Outback, 81,xxx miles, 3.6R Limited, green over tan. Overall, pretty good condition, he noted - commented specifically on the Michelin CC2 tires. It does have a door ding here and there.

His price? $10,500. Good for 30 days.

This Subaru dealer is part of a group here in Denver - they also have Mazda, Ford, Hyundai, Nissan, MINI, Honda, and BMW stores in town. The bid would be valid at any of them.

Thinking about what to get, though getting the wife on board would be a major deal. But, I know our favorite game here is "what if", so I'll turn it over to you for your opinions.

Only restrictions are 1) has to be new; and 2) $35K or under

www.schomp.com is the master website for all the dealers.

benjaminh · March 25

https://schomp.com/inventory/New-2026-Subaru-Outback-Premium-JF2BUPAD6TY492029-358

nyccarguy · March 25

“acquisition specialist"

Fancy title for Used Car Manager

stickguy · March 25

go get into a Mazda CX5 if you wanted something other than a Subaru.

benjaminh · March 25

https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/subaru/outback-4-door-suv/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHCIrigZPs8

Michaell · March 25

nyccarguy said:
“acquisition specialist"

Fancy title for Used Car Manager

Not exactly- he was the general sales manager for the used car side of the Subaru store. This role is more focused on obtaining quality used cars, usually through service department leads, which is how he contacted me.

Michaell · March 25

benjaminh said:
https://schomp.com/inventory/New-2026-Subaru-Outback-Premium-JF2BUPAD6TY492029-358

I can’t say I’m surprised by your suggestion. Not 100% certain I want another Outback, but the new look is starting to grow on me.

I realize that in my price bracket, I’ll likely have to downgrade the engine, but I think I’d be ok with that if gas prices stay where they are - I’m getting in the low 20’s for MPG in my current car.

Sandman6472 · March 25

Seems like your current Outback is worth more to y'all then the $10,500 offer for it. Since nothing is wrong with it. Are there any big ticket items due by 100K miles? Honestly, I would've kept my 2015 Golf SE as it had just hit 80K on the clock the day I traded it but there were a couple of pricey things it would've needed before 100K and after almost 11 years, didn't want to go that route. Should I have waited another year? Possibly but think at the time, I was just ready to move on already. Everything worked perfectly and it really needed nothing but after a couple of months of thinking about it after my first test drive, decided to just do it! Luckily I had the funds saved in HYSA so I wouldn't need to finance it. I would've if they had a 0% rate at the time and just written a check each month. But since that wasn't the case, just bought it outright. Was even able to put half on my Visa card, so got some extra cash thrown in.

And now at just over 2500 miles on the clock, am very happy with it! It was the right move at the time and have no regrets. Needs a good bath inside & out right now and will have that done sooner than later. Will probably do it before we drive to St. Augustine in May to see Stan & our daughter. The time has come to give it a good workout on I-95!

oldfarmer50 · March 26

nyccarguy said:
“acquisition specialist"

Fancy title for Used Car Manager

I should call myself that when I go to the grocery store.🤣

Just for giggles I plugged the Mustang into Carvana today and got a bid of $26,800 vs the $22,000 a few months ago. I was thinking of getting a buy bid from my Ford dealer anyway and if they can match that figure I might let it go.

benjaminh · March 26

For the same $35k it's possible to get a Forester Hybrid, which also includes a moonroof that you don't get on the Outback. Gas savings would be around $500 a year with the hybrid at $4 a gallon compared to a 2015 Outback 3.6 when driving 8k miles a year. But the Forester has the old generation infotainment, which is slow for the first minute after startup. Only the 2026 Outback has Subaru's new system that's gotten better reviews.

Here's what Car and Driver says about the Forester hybrid:

"On the drag strip, though, the hybrid isn't liable to be much quicker than the nonhybrid. That's because most of its horsepower advantage is negated by the powertrain's extra weight. (Our 3937-pound test car weighed 281 pounds more than the last nonhybrid version we tested, which makes it almost a draw when you do the power-to-weight calculation.) But the electric motor gives the Forester Hybrid far more motivation moving off from a stop. You won't see it at 60 mph, where its 8.6-second effort actually trails the nonhybrid by 0.3 second, but it is quicker to 20, 30, and 40 mph by 0.4, 0.6, and 0.5 second. Passing acceleration from 30 to 50 mph is two-tenths better as well, and the run from 50 to 70 mph is a significant 0.7 second quicker."

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a64352235/2025-subaru-forester-hybrid-drive/

A 2015 Outback 3.6 has a 0-60 time of about 7 seconds. Since you're used to that kind of acceleration, my guess is you'll be disappointed by the slower pace of the Outback without the turbo and even the Forester hybrid.

My Acura TLX also had a 0-60 of 7 seconds, but I'm okay with my Outback being slower since it's quieter, more comfortable, has much more cargo room, AWD, wireless AndroidAuto, etc.

But for you it might be better to get something even faster than your Outback so that you don't have regrets, which would be a Civic hybrid Touring. 0-60 of 6.4 seconds, which is faster than the Camry hybrid, and also faster than the Civic Si. Plus mpg is close to 50, and so gas savings would be about $700 a year at current prices. Since it's the touring model it's loaded. That's another recommendation. Plus at $34k it's slightly less, even without a discount from msrp. But with the Civic you don't get AWD, cargo room is less, etc.

https://schomp.com/inventory/New-2026-Honda-Civic_Sedan_Hybrid-Sport_Touring_CVT-2HGFE4F81TH327590-351

Here's a test of the Civic hybrid, with the acceleration test at 17.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adJN888Qo7g

For convincing your spouse maybe consider pitching safety, reliability, better tech, and mpg.

benjaminh · March 26

Here's a good site to see about mpg costs...

https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbsSelect

You can put in your own local gas prices as well as change the miles per year. This is at $4 a gallon and 8k miles a year. The Civic hybrid cuts gas costs by more than half, saving more than $700 a year at $4 a gallon.

The Civic hybrid touring seems like a good choice. It's the luxury Civic Si, but with better performance, and better reliability since it avoids the 1.5 turbo. The Civic today is the same size as the Accord from the mid-1990s, and so really a midsize car.

If you'd consider a Toyota Camry LE or SE those are also good choices.

benjaminh · March 26

Gas prices in California are now around $6 a gallon. Here's what gas costs are at that price if you drive 10k miles a year...

benjaminh · March 26

Theoretically it is possible to get a Camry XLE for $35k if you avoid options. Although can you avoid the dealer mark up? For us getting more than $3k off list with a Subaru + 0.9% financing was a much better deal. But the Camry XLE is loaded even without options. I might pick that, or even a Camry LE, over the Civic hybrid.

kyfdx · March 26

@Michaell

For $14K-$15K, the Outback would sell privately in a day..

tjc78 · March 26

@Michaell
Did you do the major repair that you talked about recently? I think it was an oil leak? If so, I'd roll with it another year. If not... maybe the time is now.

@benjaminh
That's an awesome color combo on that XLE.

ab348 · March 26

stickguy said:
go get into a Mazda CX5 if you wanted something other than a Subaru.

All that dealers have are leftover old-design models which are tight on room inside. The new bigger model is slower and has a giant screen controlling most functions which Mazda cultists hate, though it may be popular with the mainstream market. It is getting very mixed reviews.

stickguy · March 26

If you want old school the CX 50 is pretty roomy and has the classic knob and screen. And comes in a hybrid.

ab348 · March 26

Michaell said:

I can’t say I’m surprised by your suggestion. Not 100% certain I want another Outback, but the new look is starting to grow on me.

I realize that in my price bracket, I’ll likely have to downgrade the engine, but I think I’d be ok with that if gas prices stay where they are - I’m getting in the low 20’s for MPG in my current car.

Be thankful for your good luck having so many people posting here telling you how to spend your money!

Truthfully though, @benjaminh had a couple of good suggestions in the Civic hybrid and the Camry. Rumors are that the Camry is not selling particularly well so you might be able to avoid the pirate-like sales tactics that many Toyota dealers practice on their low-supply/hot-selling CUVs. And the Civic hybrid is generally regarded as a very good choice too. Maybe shop it at both Toyota and Honda dealers to get a trade-in value from them too.

stickguy · March 26

I can’t imagine not having at least one vehicle that can carry bulky stuff. Though I guess their daughter has a CUV (shortage?) to use.

Not an issue for us. My wife won’t go back to something that low riding anyway.

nyccarguy · March 26

kyfdx said:
@Michaell

For $14K-$15K, the Outback would sell privately in a day..

I agree 100%. You'll find someone very quick that will pay good money for your 6 Cyl Outback. Did you get a bid from Carmax or Carvana? @Michaell

For $10,500, I'd probably buy it from you and have it shipped to CT:)-

@tjc78 - I freakin LOVE that Ocean Gem color on the Camry. It gives off vibes of those early '90s Accords.

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