Vehicle shopping

[Kingcreek]

Ben, they announce a shutoff date when they stop taking orders. Yes, some options and pricing can change. For awhile they were dropping the heated windshields because they couldn’t get them but then I hear they are available again in some markets. They added a couple minor new options.
I was hoping they would get the auto fold side mirrors like the telluride but I’m told not.

[Ben]

I’m having second thoughts about getting the heated windshield. I hope it doesn’t push insurance rates a lot higher. It’s $3k to replace it if a rock hits it.

My 4Runner's heated windshield got cracked during covid, and I was lucky to find even a non-heated windshield, but that one is still on the vehicle today. Even in Idaho, I haven't seen any big difference between the old heated one and this one (admittedly, the 4Runner is garaged). I would have to flip a coin if I needed a new one today, on if I went for heated or standard.

[Kingcreek]

I bought my first new vehicle in 1975. I was a junior in high school and I paid it off 2 weeks after graduation. This will be my 8th new vehicle and 4th one built to order.
My ‘75 Camaro LT was $5105 out the door
This new vehicle is 8x that amount.

[bedlamite]

I realize this is a little late, but in case you didn't know, Kia has been having timing belt issues with the current generation Sportage. In some cases there is a waiting list for replacement engines, and they are also apparently easily stolen.

[Ben]

I realize this is a little late, but in case you didn't know, Kia has been having timing belt issues with the current generation Sportage. In some cases there is a waiting list for replacement engines, and they are also apparently easily stolen.

We need to change your username to Buzzkill. 

[MechAg94]

My 4Runner's heated windshield got cracked during covid, and I was lucky to find even a non-heated windshield, but that one is still on the vehicle today. Even in Idaho, I haven't seen any big difference between the old heated one and this one (admittedly, the 4Runner is garaged). I would have to flip a coin if I needed a new one today, on if I went for heated or standard.

My Tacoma is 6 years old now.  I need to replace my windshield due to too many cracks.  Lots of big trucks in the area throwing rocks.  That and the cloth seats are trying to get a hole on the driver's side.  It is about time I got the leather seat covers. 

[Kingcreek]

I realize this is a little late, but in case you didn't know, Kia has been having timing belt issues with the current generation Sportage. In some cases there is a waiting list for replacement engines, and they are also apparently easily stolen.

I think the theft issues have been solved in the newer ones. I’m not aware of engine issues in the 1.6L hybrid. There have been some problems with the 2.0L gas only but I don’t know if they have resolved those. With a 10y/200k warranty I’m not too worried.

[Lennyjoe]

My wife just went thru the shopping fiasco after her 2016 Ford Explorer electronic steering started to fail. Dealer quoted $2900 and 3 weeks to fix since the Explorer (and other Fords using electronic steering) are having supply issues.  So we sold the car to CarMax and went shopping.

She initially thought of a sedan for a daily commuter and to get better gas mileage.  Drove plenty of sedans, trucks and SUV’s after she decided a sedan wasn’t what she wanted.  After several test drives she liked the Chevy Colorado, but ended up with a Toyota Highlander in the end.  Came out to a little more than she wanted to spend ($40K limit ended up financing $47K) but she definitely likes her decision. 

[Kingcreek]

Well I have the ford fusion sold as soon as the new vehicle arrives (this week?).
The lifeguard where I swim laps is graduating from high school and going to college. He has been desperately trying to find something he could afford (6 siblings with only one parent earning income). I offered it to him at a price that is fair both ways and said I would have it serviced and inspected tomorrow.
He and his parents looked at it and drove it today and they are thrilled. Didn’t hurt that I washed it and detailed it yesterday- waxed it a couple weeks ago and it looks like new for being 10 years old with 128k miles on it.
I could have easily made another $500 on it but I wanted to help this kid out.

[Kingcreek]

Well finally.
355 days of waiting. The new vehicle is in the garage. My wife drove it and I followed her home with hail and tornado warnings and lightning strikes on both sides of the road.
I drove it out of the garage (after the storm passed) while programming the homelink garage door openers and the seat memory positions and the phone pairing.
Freaking amazing tech. I can check the app and get battery life of the hybrid system or even the key fob batteries, a 360 degree view on demand around where it is currently parked, door lock and window status, interior camera views, everything.
I have 2:18 hours of instructional videos to watch just to learn the vehicle controls and features.
I did pay a little extra ($2k over 3 years) for some warranty extensions on electronics when I found out the “infotainment” head can run close to $15k but I now have have 6 years/100k bumper to bumper everything warranty and 10 year/200k power train.
I won’t be driving it for a few days but it seems pretty nice. If the wife like it (so far 🤞) we’ll be good for 100,000 miles no worries.
My wife is almost 70 and I’m 66. She kind of withdrew and wasn’t part of the decision stuff. We have been married 33 years. I didn’t realize she had never bought a car, never.
KIA is not a luxury brand but this top trim level has a ton of luxury features, warranty is to the horizon, tech is incredible. She loves the size, ride, and handling.
I backed it out of the garage and pulled it back in.
One thing I noticed is the Harmon Kardon sound system sounds really, really good, transition from gas to electric is seamless and nearly silent.
Can’t wait to drive it more than 12 feet.

[JTHunter]

Can’t wait to drive it more than 12 feet.

At least then, you'll be "going places". 

[Declaration Day]

KIA is not a luxury brand but this top trim level has a ton of luxury features, warranty is to the horizon, tech is incredible.

Luxury features have trickled down to mass market brands such that the only reason to buy most luxury marques is to say / show that you have one. At least when I was a kid, when features considered luxurious at the time made their way into Chevys and Fords, the likes of Mercedes and BMW could still claim with authority that their cars were more solidly-built. That doesn't seem to be true any more.

[Boomhauer]

Luxury features have trickled down to mass market brands such that the only reason to buy most luxury marques is to say / show that you have one. At least when I was a kid, when features considered luxurious at the time made their way into Chevys and Fords, the likes of Mercedes and BMW could still claim with authority that their cars were more solidly-built. That doesn't seem to be true any more.

The luxury brands are by and large junk

The everyday brands are usually much more reliable

[K Frame]

I look at most of the features that come on a "luxury" vehicle and ask myself... why would I want that?

The only features I TRULY want on a vehicle are heated seats, heated mirrors, and fog lights.

Unfortunately, I also prefer standard transmissions, which anymore means that vehicles so equipped are generally bottom of the line.

Subaru went that route a few years ago. You want a standard transmission? Nope, you can't get heated seats, heated mirrors, fog lights, an engine or doors.

REALLY annoying. My first Outback, a 1997 model, had heated seats, fog lights, and heated mirrors with a standard.

My second Outback had climate control, leather seats, heated seats and mirrors and fog ligths and a standard.

My first Forester, a 2012, was an automatic, but it was more baseline.

The 2015 Forester I got back in 2020 has a 6 speed manual, but by then you couldn't get any upgrades on it. If you wanted heated seats/mirrors, you had to go up to Subaru's soul-crushing mind numbing CVT transmission.

I paid $500 to get the dealership to add fog lights, but there was no way for them to add heated mirrors or heated seats because the wiring harness for the base model didn't support those connections.

I REALLY miss the heated mirrors. Heated seats are nice, but heated mirrors I really see as a necessity.

I hate to say it, but if I ever replace this Subaru, if they don't have a manual transmission model available I'll likely go to another manufacturer. And I've been a loyal Scooby person for the past 20 years.

[MechAg94]

I look at most of the features that come on a "luxury" vehicle and ask myself... why would I want that?

The only features I TRULY want on a vehicle are heated seats, heated mirrors, and fog lights.

Unfortunately, I also prefer standard transmissions, which anymore means that vehicles so equipped are generally bottom of the line.

Subaru went that route a few years ago. You want a standard transmission? Nope, you can't get heated seats, heated mirrors, fog lights, an engine or doors.

REALLY annoying. My first Outback, a 1997 model, had heated seats, fog lights, and heated mirrors with a standard.

My second Outback had climate control, leather seats, heated seats and mirrors and fog ligths and a standard.

My first Forester, a 2012, was an automatic, but it was more baseline.

The 2015 Forester I got back in 2020 has a 6 speed manual, but by then you couldn't get any upgrades on it. If you wanted heated seats/mirrors, you had to go up to Subaru's soul-crushing mind numbing CVT transmission.

I paid $500 to get the dealership to add fog lights, but there was no way for them to add heated mirrors or heated seats because the wiring harness for the base model didn't support those connections.

I REALLY miss the heated mirrors. Heated seats are nice, but heated mirrors I really see as a necessity.

I hate to say it, but if I ever replace this Subaru, if they don't have a manual transmission model available I'll likely go to another manufacturer. And I've been a loyal Scooby person for the past 20 years.

Come on, deep down you really need to have your vehicle beep at you when you get to close too the edge of the lane.  And when you are coming up on another vehicle a bit too fast.  And when you seatbelt sensor is a little off and not seeing the seatbelt clicked in.   

[dogmush]

Luxury features have trickled down to mass market brands such that the only reason to buy most luxury marques is to say / show that you have one. At least when I was a kid, when features considered luxurious at the time made their way into Chevys and Fords, the likes of Mercedes and BMW could still claim with authority that their cars were more solidly-built. That doesn't seem to be true any more.

The luxury brands are by and large junk

The everyday brands are usually much more reliable

My 2014 3 series was supremely reliable.  Only need oil changes and tires, and the tires were kinda my fault.

In comparison I've seen some *Very* shitty reliability out of "regular" cars.  My Aunt's Dodge Journey is a rolling POS.  Chrysler as a whole got MORE reliable when it merged with Fiat, which is not a good thing. The wife had a cavalier and then a camaro that were both cheaply made crap.  Even my F150 (which I like) has needed some pretty expensive manifolds and turbos, plus it cracked transmission cooler lines and left me stranded.

Meanwhile every time I go to Africa and Asia I see 3 and 5 series and C classes with 500,000 miles on them still chugging along running goat-piss bio-diesel or whatever 15 octane gas they can find.

In the "Luxury brands are cantankorus" column I did have a 2018 Alfa Romeo for a while that was ....not reliable.  ANd expensive and time consuming to fix.

[Ben]

Even my F150 (which I like) has needed some pretty expensive manifolds and turbos, plus it cracked transmission cooler lines and left me stranded.

I was actually surprised at the quality of my 2016 F150. I have had zero issues with it (Don't jinx yourself Ben!), and it has felt well put together, which I wouldn't necessarily expect from something built by hillbillies in Kentucky.

Though I can certainly tell a difference between it and my 4Runner, which while not a luxury vehicle, was built in Japan by a culture with a high work ethic.

[K Frame]

"In the "Luxury brands are cantankorus" column I did have a 2018 Alfa Romeo for a while that was ....not reliable.  ANd expensive and time consuming to fix."

I SO love the Alfa Romeo Giulia's looks. It just hits all of the marks for me for how a 4-door sport sedan should look, and the interior is VERY nice, as well.

I've been severely tempted to buy one several times... but then the reality of how unreliable they can be hits me in the face and I regain my senses.

[dogmush]

"In the "Luxury brands are cantankorus" column I did have a 2018 Alfa Romeo for a while that was ....not reliable.  ANd expensive and time consuming to fix."

I SO love the Alfa Romeo Giulia's looks. It just hits all of the marks for me for how a 4-door sport sedan should look, and the interior is VERY nice, as well.

I've been severely tempted to buy one several times... but then the reality of how unreliable they can be hits me in the face and I regain my senses.

Yeah, we had a Stelvio, which while not as gorgeous as the Giulia, is pretty nice for a Soccer Mom Crossover.  Interior was great.  It drove and handled amazingly as well.  Quick, nimble, fun to drive.  But holy cow it needed parts almost as often as it needed gas, and it wasn't uncommon for the parts to have a 6ish week lead time from Italy.  Aftermarket parts were non existent.  It was a shame, because when it ran, it was a great car.

I honestly wish I still had my 335i.  That was a great car.

[HankB]

I learned how to drive on my folk's 1972 Mercedes 280 SEL 4.5. It drove nicely and - once - I got it up to a speed which would have placed me in the passing lane of an Autobahn. (There were no consequences, but I thought long and hard about what could have happened if something had gone wrong - and never drove on a public road THAT fast again. Ever.) But the car needed a LOT of maintenance - lots of stuff kept going wrong. My Dad said it was "Over engineered and under executed." No more Eurotrash for me.

Nowadays I'm not interested in a car I have to tinker with incessantly - car repair isn't my hobby. Ideally, normal maintenance is all that should be required. (I DO maintain my cars!) I just sold a Pathfinder I'd had for 18 years because it was going to require some major $ervice soon and I was getting some intermittent issues that undermined my confidence in the vehicle, so I bought a 2024 4Runner, based on reviews and recommendations - but I'm still going to keep my fingers crossed. (Lots of nice tech features - I hope those are as reliable as the drivetrain is reputed to be.)

Prices are up, but dealers ARE negotiating prices. At least, more than they were during the Covid supply chain shortages.

[K Frame]

"I got it up to a speed which would have placed me in the passing lane of an Autobahn. (There were no consequences, but I thought long and hard about what could have happened if something had gone wrong - and never drove on a public road THAT fast again. Ever.)"

I did that once with my friend's 1971 Corvette when I was visiting them in Iowa.

I was on a very nice, VERY straight Iowa back road, so I hopped on it.  I had it up to 110 when I had a sudden realization...

It was autumn in Iowa, harvest time, and I was driving down a road with standing corn on both sides with ample evidence of farm machinery having recently been on the road (dirt tracked onto the road from the fields).

If something, or someone, suddenly came out of one of those fields, there wouldn't be enough left of either me OR the car to put in a coke bottle.

[K Frame]

Yeah, we had a Stelvio, which while not as gorgeous as the Giulia, is pretty nice for a Soccer Mom Crossover.  Interior was great.  It drove and handled amazingly as well.  Quick, nimble, fun to drive.  But holy cow it needed parts almost as often as it needed gas, and it wasn't uncommon for the parts to have a 6ish week lead time from Italy.  Aftermarket parts were non existent.  It was a shame, because when it ran, it was a great car.

I honestly wish I still had my 335i.  That was a great car.

The frightening thing?

The Stelvio is considered to be significantly more reliable overall than the Giulia.

Again, thanks but no thanks.

[HankB]

. . . I had it up to 110 when I had a sudden realization . . .

Slowpoke. 

My self-reflection afterwards wasn't terribly different from yours.

I sometimes have a moderately heavy foot on the open road, but I've since avoided triple digits or double the posted limit.

. . . The Stelvio is considered to be significantly more reliable overall than the Giulia . . . 

A lot of automotive scribes were wondering if Alfas were going to be more reliable when they re-entered the US market after leaving it in 1995, when they had a TERRIBLE reputation for reliability. I guess now we know.

[Cliffh]

Come on, deep down you really need to have your vehicle beep at you when you get to close too the edge of the lane.  And when you are coming up on another vehicle a bit too fast.  And when you seatbelt sensor is a little off and not seeing the seatbelt clicked in.   

And to tell you if the status of the door locks or windows..... 

[K Frame]

Come on, deep down you really need to have your vehicle beep at you when you get to close too the edge of the lane.  And when you are coming up on another vehicle a bit too fast.  And when you seatbelt sensor is a little off and not seeing the seatbelt clicked in.   

I really prefer passengers to fulfill that function for me.

OH MY *expletive deleted*ing GOD WHAT THE *expletive deleted*ck ARE YOU DOING WE'RE GOING TO DIE YOU ahole!!!!