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Traditional Catholic Faith => The Catholic Bunker => Topic started by: Mark 79 on December 15, 2021, 12:31:44 AM

Title: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Mark 79 on December 15, 2021, 12:31:44 AM


2010s Tundras and Tacomas are pretty great actually, and with the price in used cars jumping buy now. I'm not convinced prices are ever coming down again.

Get a Tacoma first gen, if it is 99-04 make sure to check for rust and knock on the frame in a lot of places. If the owner will let you stab the frame with a screwdriver. If it punctures walk away. If not buy. Also check the suspension, leaf springs etc... People love to overload Tacos.

If you want a second gen Tacoma don't bother with a year below 2010. Go 2010-2014. These are fantastic and don't have the rust problems 2000s Tacos and Tundras have.

If you want a Tundra go 2013+ unless you go 2006+ with the 4.6L engine. The 5.7 has a fatal flaw in the cam tower where the factory doesn't seal it perfectly up until ~2013. It's fully fixed in the third gen (2014+) which are spendy but fantastic. Worth noting that the first gen have better payloads than the later ones but you are trading that for a frame that rusts more easily.

Between these options you should be able to get a decent vehicle for under 30 (lol prices these days) that will make it to 500k miles at least.
Any thoughts on diesel trucks? It seems that only the Colorado is available in diesel and its longevity is reputedly poor. So, what about full-size diesel pickups?
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: bodeens on December 15, 2021, 06:09:30 AM
Any thoughts on diesel trucks? It seems that only the Colorado is available in diesel and its longevity is reputedly poor. So, what about full-size diesel pickups?
2007-2012 Colorado (exact same as GMC canyon) is the exception to the rule here. Check electronics in particular, if there's anything weird then unless you're willing to work on it walk away. Also make sure it has a service history. The vaccuum seals do go bad on these but otherwise these years are great. (((they))) really started trying to make a bad truck after these years, no clue how you mess up this bad as the recent years. 

Used 90s F-series is great IMO but is getting expensive and you don't always want to deal with a 20+ year old vehicle, not even just from a comfort but from a practical standpoint (especially in salted areas). Unfortunately I never really pay attention to full size trucks... Sorry.
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Mark 79 on December 15, 2021, 11:05:55 AM
Thank you.

I couldn't find any 2008-2014 diesel Colorados.

Oh well.

It's quite clear the mandatory devices and crazy pricing is about control.
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: bodeens on December 15, 2021, 07:52:31 PM
Yes, I'd honestly lock into a car loan now in order to distill the usury via inflation, inflation's not going away any time soon. New cars due to the "Build Back Better" bill are going to be 100% Kosher, I'd find something used and solid sooner rather than later.

I'm looking into a diesel kit myself/running off canola or propane, I'm not convinced gas will be affordable for too long.
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: DigitalLogos on December 15, 2021, 08:04:10 PM
Yes, I'd honestly lock into a car loan now in order to distill the usury via inflation, inflation's not going away any time soon. New cars due to the "Build Back Better" bill are going to be 100% Kosher, I'd find something used and solid sooner rather than later.

I'm looking into a diesel kit myself/running off canola or propane, I'm not convinced gas will be affordable for too long.
We're looking at turning in my wife's stupid Wrangler to drop the ridiculous payment. I'll keep this in mind when we look for a cheap replacement.
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Cryptinox on December 16, 2021, 10:28:42 AM
Yes, I'd honestly lock into a car loan now in order to distill the usury via inflation, inflation's not going away any time soon. New cars due to the "Build Back Better" bill are going to be 100% Kosher, I'd find something used and solid sooner rather than later.

I'm looking into a diesel kit myself/running off canola or propane, I'm not convinced gas will be affordable for too long.
Just buy a used car so you don't have to deal with Jєω loans. I plan on switching to a Muslim bank to avoid usury.
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Mark 79 on December 16, 2021, 09:46:05 PM
Yes, I'd honestly lock into a car loan now in order to distill the usury via inflation, inflation's not going away any time soon. New cars due to the "Build Back Better" bill are going to be 100% Kosher, I'd find something used and solid sooner rather than later.

I'm looking into a diesel kit myself/running off canola or propane, I'm not convinced gas will be affordable for too long.

Yes, "100% kosher." Perfect description of new car mandates.


(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2730/6454/products/etsy_image_new_best_now_1024x1024@2x.jpg?v=1553895799)
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Anne Evergreen on December 17, 2021, 03:11:16 AM
We're looking at turning in my wife's stupid Wrangler to drop the ridiculous payment. I'll keep this in mind when we look for a cheap replacement.
Uh oh, I have been wanting a Jeep for awhile because truck prices are through the roof. What is stupid about them? Prone to repairs? Over-priced? 
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Anne Evergreen on December 17, 2021, 03:24:01 AM
Vrrrrooom, vrrrrooom! :laugh1:
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: bodeens on December 17, 2021, 10:05:26 AM
Uh oh, I have been wanting a Jeep for awhile because truck prices are through the roof. What is stupid about them? Prone to repairs? Over-priced?
They just aren't that reliable is the big issue. What Jeep in particular are you looking at? The early 90s Wranglers are fine I think but are rare and you only want the manual model. You won't regret a truck, I almost guarantee it!

If you just need a small vehicle for going around town and doing some off-road tasks mini trucks are great actually... You can always get one used under 10k and they do have folding beds, which is a great feature. I don't know what your life looks like but after I retire (next 5-10 years probably) I'll work on getting a Suzuki Carry or something similar, maybe even do an electric conversion (I am energy independent except for gas so this would just save me money). A lot of people use mini trucks as hunting rigs and they get crazy fuel economy (40+mpg). Primary issue is they aren't the greatest for freeway driving at 70+ mph and they are right hand drive... If I remember correctly you were rural and if you're at home or are just getting to town and doing farm work they are ideal. 

 I would do some research though. I guess I really just need to know your needs before recommending something more conclusively. There are some other factors with mini trucks, namely if you are going hunting or doing serious off roading, which in that case you will need to lift it (which is not an issue, just something to factor in). They are almost exclusively 4WD so get your off road and snow tires. 
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: DigitalLogos on December 17, 2021, 10:17:08 AM
Uh oh, I have been wanting a Jeep for awhile because truck prices are through the roof. What is stupid about them? Prone to repairs? Over-priced?
Chrysler owns Jeep, which is now owned by Fiat, so they're just not reliable or even high quality vehicles for the price they hold. My wife has a 2020 JT Willy's, which looks really cool, but drives like crap and has a weak 4 cylinder engine which sounds like crap. I'm not impressed by the interior or the features of it for something that costs 45k. My 2010 Honda Pilot Touring has better features and quality (heated leather seats, DVD player, navigation, etc) and that was around the same price when it came out, which I got last year for 9k. The Jeep does fine in some off-roading, but, she uses it to go to clients and dog events. So its ridiculous and unnecessary and we're leasing it for $570/month, which is utterly retarded on our part for the vanity of it.

Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: DigitalLogos on December 17, 2021, 10:21:15 AM
My dream truck is an '89 Toyota Hilux, which I fell in love with when I watched Whistlin Diesel destroy one on his YT channel. But they're expensive and hard to find in the US, especially the one pictured. :laugh1:

https://youtu.be/Yl1FNX08HFc
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: bodeens on December 17, 2021, 01:36:07 PM
My dream truck is an '89 Toyota Hilux, which I fell in love with when I watched Whistlin Diesel destroy one on his YT channel. But they're expensive and hard to find in the US, especially the one pictured. :laugh1:

https://youtu.be/Yl1FNX08HFc
T100s aren't uncommon if you are an inlander, ISIS and all of these paramilitary groups got given 2nd gen Tacos and Tundras by Obama and the CIA so that speaks to their reliability ;) Part of why you still see Hiluxes and T100s out there though is the lack of water... Man I need to live in a desert. Good solar too.
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: DigitalLogos on December 17, 2021, 07:10:37 PM
T100s aren't uncommon if you are an inlander, ISIS and all of these paramilitary groups got given 2nd gen Tacos and Tundras by Obama and the CIA so that speaks to their reliability ;) Part of why you still see Hiluxes and T100s out there though is the lack of water... Man I need to live in a desert. Good solar too.
Yes, that is true. I'll have to keep an eye out for a T100 if I'm in the market for a small truck.

Of course, there's actually a few for sale relatively nearby me too

https://www.carsforsale.com/vehicle/details/61844726
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Marion on December 17, 2021, 07:35:35 PM
My dream truck is an '89 Toyota Hilux, which I fell in love with when I watched Whistlin Diesel destroy one on his YT channel. But they're expensive and hard to find in the US, especially the one pictured. :laugh1:

https://youtu.be/Yl1FNX08HFc

Trying to not follow the curvature?
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: DigitalLogos on December 17, 2021, 07:39:29 PM
Trying to not follow the curvature?
Quit being a troll, this thread has nothing to do with that.
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: bodeens on December 17, 2021, 08:41:46 PM
Yes, that is true. I'll have to keep an eye out for a T100 if I'm in the market for a small truck.

Of course, there's actually a few for sale relatively nearby me too

https://www.carsforsale.com/vehicle/details/61844726
Thankfully the truck is extremely well docuмented at this point so there's a lot of weird sensor issues that are understood now that wouldn't be so well understood when they were new. That is a sick find... It has the 3.4 too buybuybuy
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: DigitalLogos on December 17, 2021, 09:06:06 PM
 buybuybuy
Yeah, I totally would if I were in the market. That plow would be a God-send in winter for my driveway :laugh1:
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: DigitalLogos on December 17, 2021, 09:13:42 PM
Dreaming aside, what I should start shopping around for is something that can fit 3 kids for less than 10k to replace our Wrangler.
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: bodeens on December 18, 2021, 01:16:14 AM
Dreaming aside, what I should start shopping around for is something that can fit 3 kids for less than 10k to replace our Wrangler.
There are 90s Camrys that are AWD. A Tercel in decent shape will work forever too and those are 4x4 as well (which is why they are hard to find in decent shape ;)). Both of those have dirt cheap parts too that aren't drying up for some reason either.

I always see Subys recommended but increasingly I think the head gasket issue is just a no-go because of the mileage on the things, when one is being sold they almost always need a new gasket (which requires machining, not just a simple swap).

Chevy Astros are absolutely amazing family vans AND are 4x4, they are super reliable to boot. You can find companies dumping multiples of these sometimes but they are getting rarer as they stopped getting produced in the mid 2000s. They are g2g but you will probably have to do some work on them as the ones out there are HIGH mileage. If I didn't have a 6 seater vehicle I would have bought one.
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Mark 79 on December 18, 2021, 01:56:33 AM
… they get crazy fuel economy (40+mpg). …
Which trucks are these?
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: bodeens on December 18, 2021, 02:13:24 AM
Which trucks are these?
Daihatsu Hijets, Suzuki Carries, Mitsubishi Minicabs etc all can get 40+ (30+ is easy even if you aren't driving for economy) if you aren't going too fast, which is why I say they are better in town, on slower roads or off road. You have to remember that mini/kei trucks have tiny engines. If you are driving on freeways they are not ideal, these are designed for Japanese highways and cities which have slower speed limits. This is also assuming you are actually taking care of the carbs in particular, as a lot of these are not injected and your mpg tanks like CRAZY if you get jetting etc. Grab some kits ;).

Worth noting also besides the folding beds a lot of these trucks have dump beds as well. I just really can't universally recommend these unless you can tolerate right hand drive, can deal with not going on freeways, or you live rurally. I can think of too many situations where I would want a pickup at least, when I retire though it's on!
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Mark 79 on December 26, 2021, 05:00:57 PM
Any thoughts about the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon diesels?
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: bodeens on December 26, 2021, 05:16:08 PM
Any thoughts about the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon diesels?
I can't recommend the post 2015 ones at all because of the steering issues and electrical issues. The power steering NHTSAs are scary lol. The steering system leaks cause crashes https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2015/CHEVROLET/COLORADO/PU%25252FEC/4WD#complaints
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Mark 79 on December 26, 2021, 05:18:32 PM
Yikes! Thanks for that heads up!
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: bodeens on December 26, 2021, 08:20:09 PM
Yikes! Thanks for that heads up!
NP! It's unfortunate it's a universal component between models so it's not like an engine where there are some good and bad, the entire well is poisoned by one part. I just don't understand how they stopped making a perfectly good vehicle.

Nissan Frontiers are nice after 2008 EXCEPT FOR THE CLUTCH PLASTIC, this component wears out all of the time and you will do multiple replacements. I think a Tacoma is a better investment because the fuel economy makes it a cheaper vehicle after a few years. The "Tacoma tax" is real though and is only getting worse.

I don't know if you've looked at www.carcomplaints.com but they aggregate NHTSA complaints and visually tabulate the data and break it down. Unfortunately they don't have a lot of detail on certain years and cars but overall it's decent. The big thing about this site is that NHTSA complaints themselves never tell the full story and you have to dig deeper. It's a decent starting point for research though. It's also worth noting that the comments that are on the site aren't NHTSA complaints but rather user reported so while some are useful they need to be taken with a grain of salt. When I'm curious about a vehicle I always jump into forums after reviewing basic data to understand what people "on the ground" are saying about the vehicles. This is actually what scared me from Suzuki Grand Vitaras, NHTSA seemed to check out great but there are crazy timing chain problems around 115k miles that aren't reflected at all in NHTSAs or on carcomplaints but everyone on Suzuki forums complains. Buying a car is a nightmare and I dodged a bullet because I saw one locally with around 105k and it visually etc had 0 problems.

Just my 2c.
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Mark 79 on December 26, 2021, 08:50:32 PM
If I don't get a truck, my fall back is a 2014 VW TDI (the last year of the "no pee" diesels).
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Matthew on December 27, 2021, 05:04:14 AM
If I don't get a truck, my fall back is a 2014 VW TDI (the last year of the "no pee" diesels).

"no pee" diesel?
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Mark 79 on December 27, 2021, 02:00:30 PM
In 2015 VW went to the urea exhaust catalyst.  Urea—as in pee. The urea has to be maintained or the engine won't start.
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: bodeens on December 27, 2021, 02:09:49 PM
In 2015 VW went to the urea exhaust catalyst.  Urea—as in pee. The urea has to be maintained or the engine won't start.
Mind boggling why changes like this happen other than to get you into a shop and charge you. That in short is the electric scam but if you do your own conversion you get the last laugh.
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Mark 79 on January 04, 2022, 03:00:37 PM
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/2021-auto-sales-are-ford-shares-surge-f-150-demand-toyota-overtakes-gm-us

Really?  I can't imagine truck owners lusting for electric pickup trucks. Is that market segment really metrosɛҳuąƖ?
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: DigitalLogos on January 04, 2022, 03:46:55 PM
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/2021-auto-sales-are-ford-shares-surge-f-150-demand-toyota-overtakes-gm-us

Really?  I can't imagine truck owners lusting for electric pickup trucks. Is that market segment really metrosɛҳuąƖ?
There are a lot of Millennials and Gen Z-ers who want trucks as a vanity symbol more than for the practicality of it. Given that these generations tend to lean Left, these being electric "trucks" (golf carts with a truck body) feeds into the green virtue signaling as well.
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Dingbat on January 04, 2022, 07:53:37 PM
There are a lot of Millennials and Gen Z-ers who want trucks as a vanity symbol more than for the practicality of it. Given that these generations tend to lean Left, these being electric "trucks" (golf carts with a truck body) feeds into the green virtue signaling as well.
I mean, if you live in the city and do construction or something like that it makes sense in a way. A lot of places offer free charging. Free fuel for a big old pickup is lucrative, you have to admit. Away from the cities there is nowhere to charge but at your house, and the range is generally pathetic. It takes about a million years to charge most of these (unless you always lightning-charge them, which I believe damages the batteries over time) so it really only makes sense for people in the cities. Obviously most people in the cities do not need trucks but some do. I agree that the market for people where this is actually a good thing and not just a status symbol is pretty slim. 

To my understanding a lot of these electric vehicles are actually super powerful/torque heavy. Look into the electric vehicles from Rivian for instance. Super capable, very interesting, but the range is reportedly nowhere near what they claim. Rivian is insanely expensive too. Who knows about the long term reliability. 

As far as Ford goes, even if I had a good reason to own an electric truck I certainly wouldn't buy anything from them until it had been out on the market long enough for extensive testing. Who knows WHAT could go wrong with these new vehicles. If I have my way I will never buy a year model vehicle again. It's just a really good way to get ripped off with zero recourse when your new $30+k vehicle turns out to be a total lemon. 

Another thing to consider with electric is that they can just shut down the grid whenever they want, and then your range is what... 350 miles? Maybe? If you remembered to plug the car in after work? No thanks!

I am off grid, so that doesn't affect me, but these vehicles take so much power that we would have to upgrade our set-up substantially in order to be able to even use one. Even then you still have to worry about the car batteries degrading which is super expensive. There are a lot of problems overall with electric. 
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Mark 79 on January 04, 2022, 08:41:29 PM
Send shekels, goyim!

The push to electric vehicles and ever more stringent vehicle mandates seems designed to ensure the ongoing profitability of political donors. Likely, in order to herd us into public transport, including controlled/surveilled "autonomous" vehicles.

Green? Hardly when the pollution is simply at the power plant instead of the vehicle exhaust. And the "strategic metals" necessary for batteries are incredibly polluting (and often mined in deadly conditions by children and the impoverished).

I'd like to buy a vehicle without the kill switches and always-on microphones, but I have only been able to find "other peoples' problems" (super-high mileage and decades old used vehicles) at outrageous prices. In "normal" times, the "sweet spot" was 2-3 year old vehicles, but in 2022 a 2-3 year old vehicle still has all the kill switches/mikes and is so over-priced that I see little to lose in buying a new vehicle (relatively speaking).
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Mark 79 on January 04, 2022, 08:46:06 PM
Any comments on the diesels that Jeep is putting in their Gladiator trucks?

As a preliminary foray into the marketplace, we looked at a diesel Gladiator.  With its thin plastic roof it promised to be as noisy as a string of aluminum cans clanking behind the "Just Married" car. At least it looked like a safe ham radio installation was possible.

Here's a pet peeve. Nobody has a factory option for navigation that will overlay USGS topo maps. All that's necessary is to upload the map files and a toggle for the street and topo functions.
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: DigitalLogos on January 04, 2022, 09:12:36 PM
Any comments on the diesels that Jeep is putting in their Gladiator trucks?
Not much beyond the fact that Jeep is owned by Chrysler-Fiat, so it's bound to be a crappy engine anyway.

Also, your concerns about the roof are valid. My wife's Wrangler is noisy as all hell, but, my father-in-law's Gladiator is a bit less noisy and a smoother ride than the Wrangler. It probably has much to do with it being a V6 as opposed to an I4 Turbo *barf*
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: DigitalLogos on January 04, 2022, 09:16:49 PM
To my understanding a lot of these electric vehicles are actually super powerful/torque heavy. Look into the electric vehicles from Rivian for instance. Super capable, very interesting, but the range is reportedly nowhere near what they claim. Rivian is insanely expensive too. Who knows about the long term reliability.
Yes, EV's can output an insane amount of torque (nowhere close to steam engines, but still a lot) but that torque takes power, meaning the battery life of these "trucks" is going to reduce drastically when towing anything substantial.

I am off grid, so that doesn't affect me, but these vehicles take so much power that we would have to upgrade our set-up substantially in order to be able to even use one. Even then you still have to worry about the car batteries degrading which is super expensive. There are a lot of problems overall with electric.
It's a pretty terrible means of transportation on the front of cost and longevity. The technology still isn't there yet, especially compared to tried-and-true combustion engines. And it's not just a personal, home setup needing an overhaul to handle the extra kilowatts; California recently asked its residents to refrain from charging their EV's because of the risk to the power grid. The infrastructure isn't even there yet to handle widespread ownership of EV's.
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Mark 79 on January 04, 2022, 09:30:51 PM
Not much beyond the fact that Jeep is owned by Chrysler-Fiat, so it's bound to be a crappy engine anyway.

Also, your concerns about the roof are valid. My wife's Wrangler is noisy as all hell, but, my father-in-law's Gladiator is a bit less noisy and a smoother ride than the Wrangler. It probably has much to do with it being a V6 as opposed to an I4 Turbo *barf*
I can't get past the start-stop-on-braking with the gas engines.
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: DigitalLogos on January 04, 2022, 09:44:08 PM
I can't get past the start-stop-on-braking with the gas engines.
I usually turn it off when driving my wife's. It's there to help with fuel economy, supposedly, but all I see is a means to wear out the starter and cost us hundreds down the road for a special part.
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Mark 79 on January 04, 2022, 10:15:18 PM
You might say that's a… "non-starter." :laugh1:
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Mark 79 on January 15, 2022, 10:50:41 PM
Hidden in $1.2 Trillion Infrastructure Bill is a Law Requiring “Kill Switches” in All New Cars https://www.activistpost.com/2022/01/hidden-in-1-2-trillion-infrastructure-bill-is-a-law-requiring-kill-switches-in-all-new-cars.html
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: bodeens on January 16, 2022, 09:34:42 PM
Hidden in $1.2 Trillion Infrastructure Bill is a Law Requiring “Kill Switches” in All New Cars https://www.activistpost.com/2022/01/hidden-in-1-2-trillion-infrastructure-bill-is-a-law-requiring-kill-switches-in-all-new-cars.html
They already have the backdoor with Onstar, entertainment systems etc but it's unsurprising they want to formalize it.
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Mark 79 on January 16, 2022, 10:08:57 PM
I thought that a kill switch was planned as part of OBD III.
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: bodeens on January 17, 2022, 08:42:18 PM
They're gonna get them in no matter what at this rate lol
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Viva Cristo Rey on January 18, 2022, 10:04:32 AM
Uh oh, I have been wanting a Jeep for awhile because truck prices are through the roof. What is stupid about them? Prone to repairs? Over-priced?
My friend had Jeep. Her computer system was hacked so bad, they bought Chevy. 
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Viva Cristo Rey on January 18, 2022, 10:05:37 AM
Onstar is not worth it.  Also, they can listen to you. 
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Mark 79 on January 18, 2022, 08:45:02 PM
They're gonna get them in no matter what at this rate lol
You were right again. IT'S NOW THE LAW.

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/bidens-infrastructure-bill-now-signed-law-mandates-vehicle-kill-switches-2026
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Mark 79 on September 18, 2022, 10:07:48 PM
Well, some young guy in a truck read-ended and totaled my car.  I burned out in shopping for a replacement. It is not a buyer's market these days. I suppose that the silver lining is that used car prices have so skyrocketed that the insurance settlement meant that I drove the car 50,000 miles in 4 years for free—but now I am looking at inflated prices for either a new or used vehicle.

Interesting news:
Man Scraps Modified Diesel Truck After Gov't Determines It's Illegal Through Facebook Marketplace Listing
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/man-scraps-modified-diesel-truck-after-govt-determines-its-illegal-through-facebook


Other interesting tidbits. I was at the sushi bar last week and chatted with the gent seated next to me. He is a computer chip broker and he mentioned that the "supply chain" problems have caused auto manufacturers to buy washing machines with chips that can be re-programmed to serve the car functions. Not sure that I believe that, but still interesting.

I had three VW dealers tell me they had particular new cars (Golf GTI) to test drive, but when I arrived I was told the new cars were inoperable "due to computer chip needs replacing."  A fourth dealer had a new Golf GTI but "can't sell it." That one had a… you guessed it… computer chip problem that would unexpectedly open the sun roof. The Sales Manager let me borrow  the car for a day to see if I liked it (I did like it). Maybe there was truth in my sushi companion's claim. Lucky that I didn't get an unwanted wash and rinse while test driving the GTI.


 

Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: DigitalLogos on September 19, 2022, 06:32:25 AM
Yeah, it's a pretty terrible market right now. The lease for one of our vehicles is finally coming to an end in November, so we've been looking. And there's just not a lot out there that's worth the asking price.
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Mark 79 on September 19, 2022, 12:54:59 PM
I test drove a used 2018 Golf R for which the asking price was more than the MSRP for a new Golf R. It's gone, proof of "the greater fool" premise. Similarly I found a tuned 2018 Golf SE (380 h.p. and was as fast as a bat out of Hell) with 60,000 miles on the odometer and an asking price more than a new Golf SE. It too is gone. Even more proof of "the greater fool" premise.

They were fun to drive, but no way would I pay such crazy prices. At such prices, you can buy a jen-you-wine sports car.

Though I think the USA worker makes lousy vehicles, the "supply chain" problem seems a long-term problem, so I am leery of buying anything manufactured overseas… and all the VW Golfs are now manufactured in Wolfsburg, Germany. That problem was compounded when a cargo ship sank in February. The ship was carrying 4,000 mostly high-end cars.  https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/02/business/felicity-ace-car-ship-sunk/index.html


Yeah, it's a pretty terrible market right now. The lease for one of our vehicles is finally coming to an end in November, so we've been looking. And there's just not a lot out there that's worth the asking price.

Edmunds.com has an email list for car purchase and lease discounts, but everything I have seen so far is junk.
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: DigitalLogos on September 19, 2022, 03:12:39 PM
Edmunds.com has an email list for car purchase and lease discounts, but everything I have seen so far is junk.
I've been browsing Craigslist for vans and using edmunds for reviews, but nothing that really sticks out. I've found a few sedans though. So I've been thinking about buying a decent beater for work/Mass and leaving the Pilot home.
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: 2Vermont on September 19, 2022, 03:22:14 PM
It's tough getting a new car as well.  Most new cars coming to dealers are already spoken for before they get there.
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: DigitalLogos on September 19, 2022, 03:57:26 PM
It's tough getting a new car as well.  Most new cars coming to dealers are already spoken for before they get there.
Right, I was just browsing some newer cars and most of them make you custom-order directly from the manufacturers. :facepalm:

I don't know about anyone else, but, I'd really like to be able to test drive the car and see it in-person. Which is why I avoid "Carvana" listings like the plague.
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Ladislaus on September 19, 2022, 06:33:41 PM
Yeah, it's a pretty terrible market right now. The lease for one of our vehicles is finally coming to an end in November, so we've been looking. And there's just not a lot out there that's worth the asking price.

Well, if you have a lease, don't you have a payoff clause where you could purchase it for a reasonable amount (as perhaps the prices were more reasonable when you initiated the lease)?
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: DigitalLogos on September 19, 2022, 06:47:37 PM
Well, if you have a lease, don't you have a payoff clause where you could purchase it for a reasonable amount (as perhaps the prices were more reasonable when you initiated the lease)?
Yes, we can finance it for 28k and some change. That's about 8k more than I want to spend, especially finance, for our next vehicle. And I'd rather get something that may be older, but we can buy outright, especially since my wife doesn't really drive a lot anymore. So, I have been thinking about that. But, since we close on selling our house next week, and we can pay off virtually all of our debt including my Pilot (praise God!); our credit wouldn't yet be where it needs to be for us to get a good rate by November.

And when we assume the mortgage for her parent's home (they have about $100k left on it at 3-3.5% interest, much better than the 5.5-6.5% right now), that'll be an increase of about $500/month. So I don't really want to be paying another $400-500 for this Jeep on top of that. When I still had by Silverado lease the monthly payment to finance was almost $500/month, which was more than the lease payment I originally had.
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Mark 79 on September 19, 2022, 08:22:22 PM
I've been browsing Craigslist for vans and using edmunds for reviews, but nothing that really sticks out. I've found a few sedans though. So I've been thinking about buying a decent beater for work/Mass and leaving the Pilot home.

It would be hard to do better than our 2015 VW Passat TDI that was totaled. I bought it with very low mileage and kept it pristine. I was planning on getting 300k miles out of it, but "man proposes…."  I looked for a similar car, but almost all of them have over 100k on them already and have been through multiple owners—something that concerns me more than the mileage itself. We were getting 40mpg on the diesel. Never a hiccup.

The irony? We needed a fourth car because the family goes in 4 different directions on irregular schedules, so it isn't practical to share a car. We had just bought another VW— a Jetta TDI and drove it off the lot when the kid plowed into my rear-end— We had four vehicles for about 10 minutes :-( Now back to three vehicles, but our oldest is lending us his truck indefinitely, so there is no pressure on buying. I can shop for the car I want at the right price.
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: DigitalLogos on September 19, 2022, 09:07:27 PM
It would be hard to do better than our 2015 VW Passat TDI that was totaled. I bought it with very low mileage and kept it pristine. I was planning on getting 300k miles out of it, but "man proposes…."  I looked for a similar car, but almost all of them have over 100k on them already and have been through multiple owners—something that concerns me more than the mileage itself. We were getting 40mpg on the diesel. Never a hiccup.

The irony? We needed a fourth car because the family goes in 4 different directions on irregular schedules, so it isn't practical to share a car. We had just bought another VW— a Jetta TDI and drove it off the lot when the kid plowed into my rear-end— We had four vehicles for about 10 minutes :-( Now back to three vehicles, but our oldest is lending us his truck indefinitely, so there is no pressure on buying. I can shop for the car I want at the right price.
I'm pretty skeptical of Passat's. My mother had an '06 Passat when I was a teenager and it had nothing but problems. But that also was not a diesel. They look sharp though, like most VW's.
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: DigitalLogos on September 19, 2022, 09:15:38 PM
Okay, if this doesn't exemplify the inflated used prices, I don't know what does. I came across a used 2022 Ford Maverick for $38k, and out of curiosity went to the Ford site to "build" a custom one, which comes out to be $11k cheaper for a new one, same features and everything as the used. :laugh1:

Also, the ad straight out lies. That truck does not have a supercrew cab. You can't even get that as an option on a Maverick, unless bench seats constitute "super crew" seating these days. :laugh2:
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Mark 79 on September 20, 2022, 12:31:42 AM
As the VW dealers tell it, the Passats were not selling, hence are out of the product line this model year. Now there is no sedan between the Jetta and the Arteon. Supposedly heated/ventilated/massage front seats are available, but the dealers say they aren't seeing any so equipped—"supply chain" is the excuse. I no longer have a long commute so am in no need of a massage seat anyway.

The Toyota dealers have been real price gougers. The JMFs must be circuмcising the Latinx car salescreatures. I had one tell me that I could order a Tacoma TRD PRO "at $15,000 over MSRP." I used polite language, but was quite clear that I would not patronize his ѕуηαgσgυє… ever.

Years ago I hoped for the promised Indian Mahindra diesel compact trucks—that—never—materialized. Mahindra made lots of enticing design and performance claims, but failed miserably. Their promised 35mpg tested at about 18mpg and they broke lots of promises to their incipient dealer network. Indian JMFs! > http://judaism.is/perpetrators.html#india
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Mark 79 on September 20, 2022, 02:36:15 PM
In today's email a JMF car salesman mentioned that he had some VW Golfs on the way. I told him I won't pay any premiums over MSRP, but usually pay invoice + $200. (((His))) response was, "We don't charge over MSRP… but we do charge $3,600 for dealer accessories [the usual fabric protection and clearcoat scams]."   (((Thieves))).
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Yeti on September 20, 2022, 04:42:43 PM
I'm coming at this conversation from left field since I haven't read the whole thing, but there was another car buying advice thread on here a while ago (from SimpleMan, I believe), and a lot of people (including me) suggested getting a Toyota or Honda from the first decade of this century. Corolla, Civic, Camry, or Accord. Those things will run forever, so age is irrelevant, and so is mileage. And most of the value has long since depreciated, so they should be available for a couple grand at the most.

I have a feeling this is not going to be helpful to you :laugh1:
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: DigitalLogos on September 20, 2022, 04:44:15 PM
I'm coming at this conversation from left field since I haven't read the whole thing, but there was another car buying advice thread on here a while ago (from SimpleMan, I believe), and a lot of people (including me) suggested getting a Toyota or Honda from the first decade of this century. Corolla, Civic, Camry, or Accord. Those things will run forever, so age is irrelevant, and so is mileage. And most of the value has long since depreciated, so they should be available for a couple grand at the most.

I have a feeling this is not going to be helpful to you :laugh1:
Honda and Toyota are the way to go
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Mark 79 on September 20, 2022, 07:57:25 PM
…they should be available for a couple grand at the most.…

Should be, but are not:

Honda 2000-2010 a random sample



Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: DigitalLogos on September 20, 2022, 08:44:53 PM
Maybe last spring you could get a decent Honda for that price, I know I had my eye on an '06 Accord EX V6 for $3k before I got my Pilot. Now you can't find a comparable Accord for under $5k.
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Yeti on September 20, 2022, 10:07:43 PM
I don't know where you're getting these crazy ads. I just typed similar vehicles into my local Craigslist's search engine and got equivalent cars for about half the price these things are going for.

Here's a 2009 Accord with 85k for $8600 (https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/7535489552.html). Here's a 2004 Accord with 131k for $5900 (https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/pts/7530833678.html). Here's a 2004 Civic for $3500 (https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/7529308760.html). The last one has 246k but as I said, these things last forever so that isn't a huge deal. Here's a great 2002 Camry with only 132k for only $3600 (https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/7535047769.html).

I found this with only a few minutes' search, but similar vehicles are available in my area in great abundance at similar prices. If I were in the market for a car, I'd look pretty hard at any one of those. They'll all be good for at least another decade and will all go over 300k if you change the fluids at the proper intervals.
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Ladislaus on September 20, 2022, 10:18:13 PM
Honda and Toyota are the way to go

For the most part, but both of these have had some pretty significant quality issues the past 7-8 years or so, including some safety recalls.
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Ladislaus on September 20, 2022, 10:20:18 PM
Yes, we can finance it for 28k and some change. That's about 8k more than I want to spend, especially finance, for our next vehicle. And I'd rather get something that may be older, but we can buy outright, especially since my wife doesn't really drive a lot anymore. So, I have been thinking about that. But, since we close on selling our house next week, and we can pay off virtually all of our debt including my Pilot (praise God!); our credit wouldn't yet be where it needs to be for us to get a good rate by November.

And when we assume the mortgage for her parent's home (they have about $100k left on it at 3-3.5% interest, much better than the 5.5-6.5% right now), that'll be an increase of about $500/month. So I don't really want to be paying another $400-500 for this Jeep on top of that. When I still had by Silverado lease the monthly payment to finance was almost $500/month, which was more than the lease payment I originally had.

At 28K, depending on the year and the mileage, you might be able to purchase it for that and then sell it for a pretty significant profit.
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: DigitalLogos on September 20, 2022, 11:50:37 PM
At 28K, depending on the year and the mileage, you might be able to purchase it for that and then sell it for a pretty significant profit.
That is the other possibility, for sure.
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Mark 79 on September 21, 2022, 03:55:58 AM
I don't know where you're getting these crazy ads. …

Random sample from edmunds.com for Phoenix.



 2009 Accord with 85k for $8600 (https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/7535489552.html). … 2004 Accord with 131k for $5900 (https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/pts/7530833678.html).


To my thinking neither $8600 nor $5900 are "a couple of grand."

I also ask myself, "In this market, why would someone unload a '300,000 mile car'?"


… 2004 Civic for $3500 (https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/7529308760.html). The last one has 246k but as I said, these things last forever so that isn't a huge deal. Here's a great 2002 Camry with only 132k for only $3600 (https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/7535047769.html).…

Closer to "a couple of grand," but 246,000 miles???

We had a 2000 Camry that died (head gasket, repair estimate from reliable independent mechanic was $3500 in 2014 Jєωbux) at 120,000 odometer miles, scrupulously maintained, and no hard driving.

I'm not saying there is not a needle in the haystack, only that I burned out on the car shopping process until the spirit moves me again.

It's possible that our inflation rate in Phoenix (currently the highest in the nation) may be coloring our local prices. I also looked out-of-state, but that added to the headache and burn-out.
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Ladislaus on September 21, 2022, 08:40:48 AM
That is the other possibility, for sure.

I actually have a Jeep that's worth several thousand more than what I paid for it about 2 years ago.  I could sell it ... but then I'd overpay for something else to replace it.

Interestingly, I had a 2000 Jeep Wrangler that I bought new that year.  After we were expecting our third child (in 2005), I sold it (to replace it with a van) and got about $10,000 for it.  I looked the other day, and the exact same 2000 Jeep Wrangler Sahara (with about 175K miles on it ... probably what I would have put on it over the years) is currently selling for about $10,000-$11,000, so the same price as what I solid it for in 2005.  Except that back then it was only 5 years old and had about 30,000 miles on it.  That says a lot about inflation.
Title: Re: Bodeens vehicle advice
Post by: Mark 79 on September 21, 2022, 11:00:59 AM
I actually have a Jeep that's worth several thousand more than what I paid for it about 2 years ago.  I could sell it ... but then I'd overpay for something else to replace it.

Yes, that's the rub. Sell-at-a-profit (a.k.a. drive-for-free) only works if you are in a situation like DigitalLogos where he doesn't need to replace the car.



…That says a lot about inflation.

(((The Economic Cycle))) of inflation/ deflation boom/bust has been a key tool used to loot all nations. That is why the US$ only has about 3% of its buying power compared to before (((the Fed))) and IRS tax-farming for the JMFs.