Tamarack
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Ancient Citizen
Posts: 9,390
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Post by Tamarack on Sept 29, 2023 10:28:54 GMT -5
Dawn and I are facing the unpleasant task of finding a new vehicle (some people love shopping for cars, not us)
Our 2016 Buick Regal, Dawn's daily driver, has served us well but Dawn is finding it too low to the ground and the back seat is too small for growing granddaughters. We have talked for a couple of years about getting a larger vehicle, now is the time before we sink more money into the Buick (needs new tires, shocks and struts - no complaints because we got 66,000 miles out of the tires and the shocks are original 82,000 miles. With an investment of about $3,000 the Buick is good for at least another 100,000 miles; we will let someone else make that investment)
The unpleasant part of shopping is the prices of used vehicles, which soared during the pandemic and have not fallen. Our preference would be a larger SUV with a third seat (Chevy Traverse, GMC Acadia, Honda Pilot, etc.) The prices are atrocious - $40,000+ for a vehicle with less than 100,000 miles. For vehicles with 100,000+ miles, they still get $30,000 or more. Practical but boring minivans are only a little less expensive - a 2018 Honda Odyssey Touring (leather seats and stuff) with 117,000 miles has a price tag of $25,000.
I am assuming the days of bargaining over the price of a vehicle are long gone. I wonder if dealers will negotiate on trade-in value. Still contemplating the advantages and disadvantages of buying from a private party vs a dealership, and trading in vs selling privately.
Mostly I am just venting and thinking out loud. I would welcome wisdom from SoundHooligans.
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Post by majorminor on Sept 29, 2023 10:53:50 GMT -5
I don't have any wisdom as the prices kinda are what they are. I will say I'm a life long big truck guy living in harsh winter areas and I love our Chevy Traverse. Much more than the Pilot but that had more to do with leg and shoulder room for a big tall guy. I'm seeing lots of 2020 Traverses sub 100K miles in the 25-29K range. Here's a nice one in Wisconsin www.cars.com/vehicledetail/a2f3955c-2087-460b-a8b4-bbdb70ba0cea/
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Post by dradtke on Sept 29, 2023 10:55:57 GMT -5
I grit my teeth, know it will be unpleasant and that I'll most likely get reamed, then close my eyes and go for it hoping for the best. Kind of like a proctology exam. Wishing you luck.
(PS: our credit union recommended we shop with Truecar.)
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Post by david on Sept 29, 2023 11:30:49 GMT -5
They are all crazy expensive. If I needed passenger space, didn't do off-road stuff and didn't need to pull a trailer, I would likely shop for a mini-van. They have a bunch of room, are easier on gas, and because they are not as popular as SUVs and pickups, might be less expensive. Maybe a Toyota Sienna.
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Post by epaul on Sept 29, 2023 11:57:27 GMT -5
I've been car tracking, also. I just bought a Civic for Gus and Anna (part of keeping the pot square after helping Anna and Josh with their house purchase). And I am envisioning the day, which may be a year or more, when I replace the Sorrento.
So...
The price to value ratio of used cars is so crappy right now, there is a good argument for biting the bullet and buying new. For instance, you could get a new Hyundai Tucson/Kia Sportage for just under $33,000. That's a new SUV that comes with a 5yr/60,000 bumper to bumper warranty and a 10 yr/100,000 powertrain warranty. Instead of paying $25,000 for a late model Honda or Toyota, for 6K more you get a new car with tremendous protection against issues and you will get free oil changes and routine service at nearest Hyundai/Kia dealer for as long as you own the car.
And, if used is deal, keep in mind that car warranties are transferable. So, if you find a used Kia or Hyundai (and they come in all sizes) with, say 40,000 miles on it, 20,000 miles of bumper to bumper and 60,000 of powertrain warranty will come with it.
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Post by Marshall on Sept 29, 2023 12:06:36 GMT -5
Wisdom ?
When I bought my Civic 8 years ago, I looked at used ones. A 2 or 3 YO was going for 16.5k. A new one was 22k. Didn’t make sense to me to go used.
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Post by epaul on Sept 29, 2023 12:11:44 GMT -5
Another avenue to explore...
the Major has been thinking that a new Land Rover would best reflect his "I've made it and I deserve it" status. You could drive out to Montana, do a little hiking and sightseeing, get a few free meals, and then make Steve an offer on his Chevy Traverse. The Traverse is a solid, roomy vehicle... but it's no Land Rover. He's vulnerable.
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Post by billhammond on Sept 29, 2023 12:46:59 GMT -5
Speaking of vehicles, this is from a Cartalk column I edited this morning:
I’ve taken many road trips, but the first one that comes to mind happened around 1985. My younger son was 22 months old, and he was a toddling time bomb, always threatening to detonate into a shrieking meltdown.
Despite that, I somehow duped my family into taking a road trip from Boston to Montreal to do some sightseeing. So, we set out in my 1976 Ford LTD with a bazillion miles on it.
When we got there, I dragged the whole family around all day. We managed to escape dinner just as one of my son’s tantrums was erupting, and we got back to our hotel absolutely exhausted.
The room’s phone rang, and there was a man speaking with a heavy French accent: “Zees is Henri, ze concierge at zee hotel. Meester Mag-lee-oo-zee, deed you used to own a green Ford LTD?”
“Used to?”
“I am very sorry, but zere haz been a terrible fire in zee hotel garage. Unfortunately, zee car has been totally destroyed. Burned to crisp! Car-bon-i-zay!”
My heart sank. No car. No way home. A 22-month-old terrorist in a crib. And then I heard the suppressed laughter on the other end of the line. It was my brother, Tom, playing a trick on me.
And, I must admit, it was a pretty good trick. So that was forever known as the Great Montreal Hotel Fire trip.
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Post by majorminor on Sept 29, 2023 13:07:08 GMT -5
Another avenue to explore... the Major has been thinking that a new Land Rover would best reflect his "I've made it and I deserve it" status. You could drive out to Montana, do a little hiking and sightseeing, get a few free meals, and then make Steve an offer on his Chevy Traverse. The Traverse is a solid, roomy vehicle... but it's no Land Rover. He's vulnerable. I hope I don't have to arm wrestle him for it.
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Post by majorminor on Sept 29, 2023 13:11:16 GMT -5
Cars are different these days IMO. Used to be 100K miles and it was over. Now they often go 200K+ without major issues. Even the American ones in my experience. So I'm less afraid these days buying something with 60K miles etc. Take that Traverse I linked to above. 3 years old, visually clean, 33K miles for 27K. They'd probably take a 25K-26K offer for it. It probably still has some factory warranty on it. Why wouldn't you buy that over 45K for a new one?
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Post by John B on Sept 29, 2023 15:34:16 GMT -5
We're looking to get a car for a new driver. Starting to look for used, but we could practically get a new car for the price of some of the used ones.
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Post by jdd2 on Sept 29, 2023 15:47:06 GMT -5
Actually buy a used car?--just carry a usb cable, and pick up a kia/hyundai from wherever you might be.
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Tamarack
Administrator
Ancient Citizen
Posts: 9,390
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Post by Tamarack on Sept 29, 2023 19:17:41 GMT -5
Actually buy a used car?--just carry a usb cable, and pick up a kia/hyundai from wherever you might be. Too much competition around here.
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Post by millring on Sept 29, 2023 19:23:11 GMT -5
I'm facing the daunting task of buying a vehicle to use for mail, knowing I will be trashing it, but also knowing that it has to be dependable. And right hand drive.
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Post by billhammond on Sept 29, 2023 19:26:54 GMT -5
I'm facing the daunting task of buying a vehicle to use for mail, knowing I will be trashing it, but also knowing that it has to be dependable. And right hand drive. Would this work?
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Post by millring on Sept 29, 2023 19:34:30 GMT -5
I'm facing the daunting task of buying a vehicle to use for mail, knowing I will be trashing it, but also knowing that it has to be dependable. And right hand drive. Would this work? Perfect. I'll just pull a trailer for the packages.
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Post by billhammond on Sept 29, 2023 19:37:11 GMT -5
I'm facing the daunting task of buying a vehicle to use for mail, knowing I will be trashing it, but also knowing that it has to be dependable. And right hand drive. Look to the British-made car market for the best right-hand-drive cars. Be sure to specify Lucas ignition parts!
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Post by epaul on Sept 29, 2023 20:32:14 GMT -5
There must be a used market for converted mail vehicles. Mail carriers retire and if they have their own converted vehicle, they must sell it to another carrier. In the same vein, if you buy a good one, it will have value when you retire. When farmers retire, they sell their tractor to another farmer. If it is a John Deere, they get a good price for it.
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Post by epaul on Sept 29, 2023 21:02:15 GMT -5
If a Kia/Hyundai has a push button start (no keyed ignition), it has the same theft protection as any other car. If it has a keyed ignition there is a free fix (plus a window sticker indicating the fix). I had mine fixed last winter. I was in and out in 15 minutes. Quicker than an oil change. The fix is available at every dealer, they get you right in, and it is free.
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Post by billhammond on Sept 29, 2023 21:18:02 GMT -5
If a Kia/Hyundai has a push button start (no keyed ignition), it has the same theft protection as any other car. If it has a keyed ignition there is a free fix (plus a window sticker indicating the fix). I had mine fixed last winter. I was in and out in 15 minutes. Quicker than an oil change. The fix is available at every dealer, they get you right in, and it is free. Tell that to Marty and Cheri!
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