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Why Did You Replace Your Last Car(s) - READ ONLY

61 messages,  Last post on Aug 07, 2012 at 7:32 AM

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#1 of 61 Why Did You Replace Your Last Car(s) by hpmctorque

Aug 21, 2010 (3:04 pm)

What factor(s) led you to sell, trade, donate or junk your last vehicle(s).
 
In my case, I sold our '87 3 Series in April, because the cost to repair it would have been more than 150% of the market value. I replaced the 3 with a '07 A4 Quattro 2.0. Used Craigslist for the sale and purchase.

#2 of 61 Re: Why Did You Replace Your Last Car(s) [hpmctorque] by roadburner

Aug 21, 2010 (8:15 pm)

Replying to: hpmctorque (Aug 21, 2010 3:04 pm)
The last car I replaced was my wife's 1997 BMW 528iA. It had 130K miles on it and was still running great. My wife wanted an AWD vehicle so we bought a CPO 2004 X3 2.5 in December 2005. We sold the 5er privately for $10,000; Carmax had offered us $5,000.

#3 of 61 Re: Why Did You Replace Your Last Car(s) [hpmctorque] by andre1969

Aug 22, 2010 (8:11 am)

Replying to: hpmctorque (Aug 21, 2010 3:04 pm)
In my case, the fact that it doesn't take much, dollar-wise, to total a 2000 Intrepid with 150,000 miles on it, prompted me to replace it.

 
I would have tried to fix it myself, but Maryland's salvage laws regarding totaled cars are a real pain, geared towards getting them off the road. No doubt, partly, because junkyards and new-car dealers are lobbying for that.
 
Ended replacing it with a 2000 Park Ave, a couple weeks before last Christmas...

 
So, I replaced one 10 year old car with another...but, with 94,000 fewer miles, and a LOT more options!

#4 of 61 Re: Why Did You Replace Your Last Car(s) [andre1969] by hpmctorque

Aug 22, 2010 (9:16 am)

Replying to: andre1969 (Aug 22, 2010 8:11 am)
"...I replaced one 10 year old car with another..."
 
If you care to disclose it, how much difference was there between your insurance settlement for the Intrepid and the cost of the Park Avenue? Do you prefer the PA to the Intrepid, overall?

#5 of 61 Re: Why Did You Replace Your Last Car(s) [hpmctorque] by bumpy

Aug 22, 2010 (9:24 am)

Replying to: hpmctorque (Aug 21, 2010 3:04 pm)
I had a Hyundai Accent, then in 2008 I bought a smart car since it was 500 pounds lighter, RWD, and would have gotten about 10mpg better if the gas stations around here hadn't all switched to E10 right after I bought it.

#6 of 61 Re: Why Did You Replace Your Last Car(s) [bumpy] by hpmctorque

Aug 22, 2010 (9:29 am)

Replying to: bumpy (Aug 22, 2010 9:24 am)
The E10 would have decreased the mileage on the Accent too, so maybe you're still enjoying the 10 mpg gain you were hoping for. How do the two cars compare?

#7 of 61 . by fintail

Aug 22, 2010 (9:43 am)

I still have the first car I legally owned.
 
Second car, the W126 - was nearing 200K miles, developed a little (but pricey) oil leak and also needed tires and brakes...and I was feeling bad about abusing it in commuting duties. Also, newer cars were tempting me, and I could only have one modern car. I sold it privately and got top dollar due to the rest of the car being pristine.
 
C43 - was very fun to drive, but way too small inside if I carried a few people, drove me insane. I was looking to be tempted, and then a rarely equipped E55 popped up...and that's what I still drive.

#8 of 61 Re: Why Did You Replace Your Last Car(s) [hpmctorque] by andre1969

Aug 22, 2010 (10:15 am)

Replying to: hpmctorque (Aug 22, 2010 9:16 am)
If you care to disclose it, how much difference was there between your insurance settlement for the Intrepid and the cost of the Park Avenue?
 
Sure...got about $2,000 for the Intrepid from the insurance company. I got dinged a bit because it had prior damage on the passenger side, at the B-pillar, so it got both doors on that side. I think that cost me about $300.
 
The Park Ave ended up being $7500, but after tax, tags, et al, came out to around $8133. So, the price differential ended up being around $6100.
 
Sometimes I do feel like I took a risk, paying that much for a 10 year old car. But, with only 56,000 miles on it at the time, I figure I'm buying the low mileage. I've only put around 6500 miles on it since I bought it, and so far so good, for the most part. I did have a sway bar link break, and around the 59,000 mile mark, had them both replaced, and the supercharger oil changed for good measure.
 
It's still hard to say which I prefer, overall. I would've been happiest if the Intrepid never got totaled, and I was still driving it. So I guess that hints that I preferred it, but it's more complicated than that. I just didn't like the idea of having to cough up an extra ~$6100 around Christmas time, and just felt screwed in general, that someone would pull a hit-and-run on my car, gets away scott-free, and I'm left holding the bag.
 
I liked the handling, fuel economy, interior, and build quality of the Intrepid. With the Park Ave, like the acceleration, comfort, and amount of features. My guess is that the perfect blend of the two would have been if I could have found another Intrepid, or a Concorde, in a higher trim level. Around that timeframe, I did find a 2000 Intrepid ES, with the 3.2, leather, sunroof, fully-loaded, with around 76,000 miles, for around $4800. It sold before I had a chance to go look at it though.
 
And, while my Intrepid was fairly reliable overall, I had also bought it new, so I knew the car's history. When dealing with 10 year old cars with an unknown service history, I think I'd trust a LeSabre or Park Ave more than an Intrepid or Concorde.

#9 of 61 Re: Why Did You Replace Your Last Car(s) [andre1969] by hpmctorque

Aug 22, 2010 (2:46 pm)

Replying to: andre1969 (Aug 22, 2010 10:15 am)
The low mileage certainly has value, so I think you came out okay.
 
It was good preventive maintenance to have the supercharger oil changed. Some owners of supercharged cars never even think about that. I suggested that to an acquaintance with a 2000 supercharged Regal, and it didn't seem to resonate with him. If it's any comfort to you this guy's Regal has ~125,000 miles on it, and he's had no engine problems. Still, he's taking an unnecessary risk.
 
Yeah, you feel violated by hit and run. The perpetrator has no consequence, while the victim pays. I understand how you feel about your Intrepid, since I'd feel the same way.

#10 of 61 Re: . [fintail] by hpmctorque

Aug 22, 2010 (2:50 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Aug 22, 2010 9:43 am)
"I still have the first car I legally owned."
 
You're definitely in the minority in that respect. Your fintail must feel like a family member by now.

Messages Page 1 of 6

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