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Automotive News & Views Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous
15055 messages, Last post on Nov 10, 2009 at 7:47 PM
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Thanks, guys, for the quick feedback. I knew I could count on you! The ION is at my wife's work today (daughter and wife work together in the summer, so they alternate which car to drive). I've called the wife to have her contact a parent in her child care program who does auto work to have him check the brake fluid level (I'd do it myself, but I've got workers coming to the house today to replace our kitchen floor). I've not noticed any change in behavior in the VUE with regards to shifting, but it does kinda suck that I can't check the transmission fluid level myself, since it's sitting in the garage today. I'll keep everyone posted as to what I find out. Still, no car buying on the horizon. |
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Replying to: fezo (Jun 23, 2009 2:29 pm) That's a good story, LOL--worthy of Peter Egan, or Jean Shephard even? I remember taking my '67 Barracuda--which I had already almost ruined in several ways--to a local gas station mechanic in the mid-west, with my 3 hippie-long-hair college buddies. His tune-up advice was to install "hotter spark plugs". I asked him why hotter spark plugs, & his answer included various graphic references to what one could do, or not do, with a hot, or cold, uuummmm......Whatever I paid him, $50 or whatever, I don't think the car ran better, but we laughed about it for weeks...... |
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Replying to: michaell (Jun 24, 2009 5:37 am) |
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Sorry, been busy with work and stuff. The guy came over and checked out the ION ... brake fluid looked fine, maybe a bit low, but not enough to set off the dash warning light. Cursory inspection of the pads and shoes showed no undue wear. He thinks it may be a faulty switch - of course, this had to happen 2 weeks after the 3/36 warranty expired. Does GM build this into all their cars? nippon - wonder if she got the 2.4L 4-cyl or the Honda sourced 3.5L V6. My wife had an '05 V6 and loved the power. The refinement of the '08, however, won her over.
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Okay, I don't know what I am going to do. I can't take that rolling retirement home anymore. Its a perfectly nice car, nothing is wrong with it at all, I am not upside down in it. It gets 30-34 mpg on my commute (on reg gas). It can carry real grown ups in the two rear outboard seat positions with the child seat in the middle position. Ride quality is pleasant, the controls are pleasant, it has one of the best FWD manual transmissions in the business, but it is just dull. So I have the '07 Accord EX 4 cyl sedan with a manual. It is totally practical and meets every need. Its wants where it falls on its face. The car is about as exciting to drive as, well, watching paint dry. I am not a CCB. I can add H&R mild springs that drop the car less than a inch and bump up the spring rate slightly, and put on some real shocks, and add sway bars and tires and wheels, but now I have a car that is unsellable, and I am out an additional $2k. So do I leave it stock and look for a cheap mid-90s Miata to add to the fleet? Accept a lot of miles and try to pick up an inexpensive E36 M3 (or an E46 330i) and deal with the maintenance? Initially I thought I was going to get a Speed6, but apparently with an '07 Accord with 4k in equity doesn't get me very far towards a '07 Speed6 GT that is running 19k. Another thought is a Legacy GT, but we already have a Legacy wagon (which I do seem to prefer driving dynamics to the Accord, if ride quality is a bit harsher). Or a WRX. So my paths are 1. Dump the Accord and get something ~$15-17k that is more fun (and is a real car with at least 4 seatbelts, likely 4 doors) 2. Keep the Accord and get something fun to play with on the side (Miata, 914, 90s 300ZX, Eclipse GSX, etc) 3. Drop some money into making the Accord more fun to drive and accept that I will never get it back. Wife has a real car (05 Legacy wagon) that we both love and its in good shape with relatively low miles (although we now kinda wish we sprung for the GT Limited vs the 2.5i base), so getting family around isn't such a big deal, but you can't use the outboard seatbelts when the baby seat is in the middle, so there is a utility trade-off there. I am too young to drive a car that makes me feel this old. |
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Replying to: michaell (Jun 24, 2009 5:13 pm) Not sure... There are days when I want to see how long I can make my G6 last, and there are days when I have an itch for a used G35. |
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Replying to: lilengineerboy (Jun 24, 2009 7:26 pm) "I can add H&R mild springs that drop the car less than a inch and bump up the spring rate slightly, and put on some real shocks, and add sway bars and tires and wheels, but now I have a car that is unsellable, and I am out an additional $2k." That's pretty much the same reason I sold my Altima. Looking back, that was one of the better cars I've owned. It wasn't perfect (the heater never worked well--a common problem with the first couple of years of the 3rd generation), and it wasn't exciting, but it rode and accelerated well, handled okay, was invisible to speed traps, and was easy as pie to maintain. "Accept a lot of miles and try to pick up an inexpensive E36 M3 (or an E46 330i) and deal with the maintenance?" Do you have a nearby independent mechanic who specializes in European cars? If so, I'd consider going for it. If not, we're in a similar situation, and I'd consider something like an Acura TSX or Lexus, which shouldn't need much work, or buying the BMW as a second vehicle and wrenching on it yourself. "...apparently with an '07 Accord with 4k in equity doesn't get me very far towards a '07 Speed6 GT that is running 19k." I also know that feeling. I have "retail equity" on my G6 (if it were declared a total loss, I wouldn't be in the hole), but not "trade equity" (wholesale is less than I owe). This is probably good from a financial perspective since it makes me more reluctant to trade.
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Replying to: corvette (Jun 24, 2009 7:52 pm) The TSX was underwhelming to me when I got the Accord, I test drove it and it felt the same to me, except for a little more cramped. Its main attractions were the extra gear and better tire size. I decided it wasn't worth $10k to me at the time. That vehicle was never on the short list. The Lexus seems to be going in the opposite direction of where I want to be. I am pretty proficient as far as backyard mechanics go and I have a house with a garage, so that's another thumbs up. I feel comfortable with wrenching on the small BMWs through the end of the E46s and parts availability seems fine. I have also noticed a lot of 944s popping up lately, I am sure with "deferred maintenance" issues. That could be fun as well. I don't mind sweat equity.
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Yes, I have traded in too many times in past 20 years and now will stick with my 4 year old Sentra. Step 1 of "Carbuying Anonymous", admit you are powerless over new cars and ... Or, just simply realize it is not worth it and keep the buggy  running as my grandparents did in the Depression and WW2. And parents did in 70s/80s recessions.
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Keep the Accord and get something fun to play with on the side.. (wait, is this marriage counseling?). You'll never find something practical to commute in, that you'll love... unless you want to commute in an M5.. The Accord is perfect for that.. I'm guessing that you thought the stickshift would turn your commuter drone into a fun car... I made the same mistake..
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