Finding cars in general. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

barry12345 · #1 10-29-2013, 09:13 PM

Keeping my eyes open picked up a Honda civic with air and automatic basically this afternoon. Pretty stripped model but with only 65,000 kilometers or 40,000 American miles.

An older couple had it and other than a slight hitch in the passenger door window regulator and a tiny scrape below the front bumper that is really small can find nothing wrong with it. Now there are still a ton of cheap miles left in this car in my opinion. So why buy new?

We do occasionally but it does not make sense with these low milage older cars out there sometimes. Many people do not seem smart enough to charge a premium for low milage well maintained cars either. We will drive this perhaps 100 k more miles probably with few if any issues and possibly recover most if not all of what we paid for it.

I just decided buying this was cheaper than bringing my daily beater back to what it should be. I estimated it took about thirty hours to locate this car though.

Less purchase cost than the sales tax of 15 percent on new equivelant Hondas up here in eastern Canada. I drove it 150 miles home with my wife following behind. It is even good on gas. Like my wifes Toyota corolla when it comes to sound insulation they fall short. Cannot cost that much so I wonder why they skimp on it. Well I guess you might not buy a more expensive model of theirs if they did .

I may add some soundproofing to both cars I was thinking on the way home. Maybe a days time to do each car.

elchivito · #2 10-29-2013, 09:38 PM

Good, untouched older civics are hard to find down here and bring good money. Virtually all of the ones I see on Craigslist have been "riced" by overly tatooed teenagers. Stupid little tires, fart can mufflers, dopey-loud sound systems taking up the entire back end and worst of all, usually bad primer paint jobs.
I've owned three civics through the years going back to 88, not including my wife's Element, which is on the civic platform. They are ALL road-noisy.

Skippy · #3 10-29-2013, 09:53 PM

They leave out the sound insulation to save cost and weight. That leaves them with unpleasant road noise, so they put the fart can on to drown out the road noise with something more pleasant. Earplugs are also a viable option. I use them often on my bike.

Jim B. · #4 10-29-2013, 09:54 PM

Congrats on buying a lightly used small popular car for a cheap price.

Dollar per mile it should be a real bargain.

I preferred to do this, but @ 65 years old this year I said swcrew it, I want to buy a brand new car, and the one of my dreams.

It was a large black BMW 535i with the M-Sport package, new at the local BMW dealer, they wanted $65k USD for it (MSRP window sticker) but it wa a slow day so after 5 hours I got it for $60k which was about $420 over invoice, BUT they only gave me $31k - about $250 under low blue book) for my "old" 2011 Mercedes Benz e350 Sport, that was really boring by comparison to this.

And since it is so complex, (Navigation, iDrive & twin turbo ect) I warrantied it up the hilt and got extended maintenance too, AND they "bundled* all the warrantie3s and extended maintenance package together, so it was another $10k I paid for all that extra, about $70k out the door.

No I KNOW damned well, that thing depreciates like a rock, and will be worth maybe HALF that $70k on May 25, 2014 when it is one year to the day I bought it.

NO WAY I could ever recoup that in gas savings or savings in repairs or maintenance that was prepaid.

BUT I have no kids whining for an inheritance or college funds, AND I am closer to the END of my driving career that began back in 1966, so what the heck?

So I took it to my old hometown right away when I got it:

It's fun to drive too! I have already put well over 14,000 miles on the clock already and I love driving nice big cars and love to travel.

As a new one it's proven trouble-free, as I expected, its inline 6 is pretty reliable, it is said, it's comfortable, handles like something good that is half the siazem the turbo spools up completely by 1200 rpm of so, I had a street race on a deserted highway late one night with a guy that had a '11 Camaro SS - who beat me - but then again, I was doing 140 mph, he passed me like I was almost standing still. Told me later on, he had the SS with the "Vette engine to 155, but then, he is just 20 y.o. and like I was back then, thnks he can and will live forever!

Had it up to Canada for vacation and I checked the mileage (sticker said 20 mpg city, 30 mpg hwy, but one leg of it actually got me 33 mpg) --- I was astonished.

As a retiree I can drive wherever I want, and I do. With this and my other cars, I am probably going to hit a total for the year of about 36,000 to 50,000 miles in all.

It's a fun way to enjoy life to the extent income flow allows it. Especially if you enjoy driving and owning premium cars.

Last year I drove the Autobahn in a rented '12 Audi 2.0 turbo diesel and had a blast, It was kph, so I did not know at the time how fast I really went on the Deutsche Schnellstrasse but daily was ONLY in the fast lane, as I passed everything I could. Checking the kph/mph speedo on my 560SEC I discovered I was doing 130-160 mph.

Every day.

Safely, comfortably, serenely and legally!

I would like to do this again for sure.

rs899 · #5 10-30-2013, 07:45 AM

Nice. I am looking to retire very soon, but as I have a kid that is still 4 years away from college and I am still 6 years away from Medicare age my long distance travel may well be with a diesel converted 81 VW Cabriolet on free WVO. Don't tell my wife....

POS · #6 10-30-2013, 08:23 AM

Jim, good for you. I drive 140 miles round trip to my business four days a week, and I've always done it in 5 year old cars that I roll out of in two years. It keeps the depreciation at bay. This year, however, I bought my first new vehicle in 13 years - a 2013 Suburban 2500 4x4. What I had forgotten is that a new car is fantastic - no one has pre-scratched it for me, no one has sold it to me needing tires, etc. I take great care of my vehicles and it's nice it get a factory perfect one that I can keep that way.

I like 'new' so much, I'm now considering selling the Porsche and getting a brand new muscle car or some kind of toy. I still love the classics and I'll always own one, but perhaps only one classic is enough. They are a lot of work/time.

barry12345 · #7 10-30-2013, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

Congrats on buying a lightly used small popular car for a cheap price.

Dollar per mile it should be a real bargain.

I preferred to do this, but @ 65 years old this year I said swcrew it, I want to buy a brand new car, and the one of my dreams.

It was a large black BMW 535i with the M-Sport package, new at the local BMW dealer, they wanted $65k USD for it (MSRP window sticker) but it wa a slow day so after 5 hours I got it for $60k which was about $420 over invoice, BUT they only gave me $31k - about $250 under low blue book) for my "old" 2011 Mercedes Benz e350 Sport, that was really boring by comparison to this.

And since it is so complex, (Navigation, iDrive & twin turbo ect) I warrantied it up the hilt and got extended maintenance too, AND they "bundled* all the warrantie3s and extended maintenance package together, so it was another $10k I paid for all that extra, about $70k out the door.

No I KNOW damned well, that thing depreciates like a rock, and will be worth maybe HALF that $70k on May 25, 2014 when it is one year to the day I bought it.

NO WAY I could ever recoup that in gas savings or savings in repairs or maintenance that was prepaid.

BUT I have no kids whining for an inheritance or college funds, AND I am closer to the END of my driving career that began back in 1966, so what the heck?

So I took it to my old hometown right away when I got it:

It's fun to drive too! I have already put well over 14,000 miles on the clock already and I love driving nice big cars and love to travel.

As a new one it's proven trouble-free, as I expected, its inline 6 is pretty reliable, it is said, it's comfortable, handles like something good that is half the siazem the turbo spools up completely by 1200 rpm of so, I had a street race on a deserted highway late one night with a guy that had a '11 Camaro SS - who beat me - but then again, I was doing 140 mph, he passed me like I was almost standing still. Told me later on, he had the SS with the "Vette engine to 155, but then, he is just 20 y.o. and like I was back then, thnks he can and will live forever!

Had it up to Canada for vacation and I checked the mileage (sticker said 20 mpg city, 30 mpg hwy, but one leg of it actually got me 33 mpg) --- I was astonished.

As a retiree I can drive wherever I want, and I do. With this and my other cars, I am probably going to hit a total for the year of about 36,000 to 50,000 miles in all.

It's a fun way to enjoy life to the extent income flow allows it. Especially if you enjoy driving and owning premium cars.

Last year I drove the Autobahn in a rented '12 Audi 2.0 turbo diesel and had a blast, It was kph, so I did not know at the time how fast I really went on the Deutsche Schnellstrasse but daily was ONLY in the fast lane, as I passed everything I could. Checking the kph/mph speedo on my 560SEC I discovered I was doing 130-160 mph.

Every day.

Safely, comfortably, serenely and legally!

I would like to do this again for sure.

As we age it probably makes little difference overall. I guess if we want something or to do something why not? I am 71 and just would like to get less busy and live long enough to get back to some of my other interests.

At my age many of your friends and aquaintences start to disappear or have health issues. You quickly notice that many also did not get to do what they wanted to. Kind of a shame but it is what it is.

What was really important to me yesterday was my wife following me out of a busy city in heavy traffic. In general she has not had much experience in high speed merging coming off a ramp in heavy traffic. We live in a large rural area and that's where she has spent most her driving time over the years.

As I entered traffic I noticed a transport truck could not get out to the next lane as there was too much traffic. In fact nothing could move out into the next lane and traffic was also tight. Thank god my wife squeezed in as well.. I was apprehensive she might freeze up or make some kind of error.

She did fine thank god. She is also without a doubt the most important thing in my life. Someday one of us will be alone. I try to make sure that whatever she wants she gets. In my string of what I consider good coincidence in life she really stands out.

Over the many years she has good naturedly put in far more hours of work raising the family than I have. She also asks for little so it is very important to me that any of her wishes are met.. For some bizzare reason she still thinks I try hard at many things and approves of my helping people. Few people in our age group get along as well as we do it seems. So to me my wishes and expectations and hopes have been well met. Even the four girls worked out well. Material things just do not mean that much although we have more than we need. Right now one of our dogs is looking down at me from the next level and asking for something. I am not sure of what as I type. Suspect it is going out though.

So life is pretty good and my most recient medical issue seems to have subsided. Now I get to keep both testicles I think. Still have to have the cat scan etc but think the problem has self rectified itself. I guess the urologist will make the final call. Years ago when I needed a urologist my doctor told me that he would locate the best he could for me rather than just average. It was not idle talk it seems. Overall it seems that if you treat people well it all comes home to you over the years. I have often wondered if older miserable people are that way because they cannot undo their past. If this is so what a price they pay for their not so positive behaviours in earlier years. At the same time nobody is perfect of course.

As for kids and inheritances. I had only one daughter ask about it many years ago when she was young. Simply told her that I assume I will go first. Your mother gets everything. Anyways she already owns half. Women can also live a very long time remember.

More importantly although it probably does not mean much to you yet. You have inherited her genes. That is an inheritance in itself of no small worth. Your mother as you are aware is far above average and really smart. Time since then has proven my guess was right.

We have helped each and everyone of you anyways. So if I were you I would fixate on acquiring your own wealth if that is what you desire. I can only assume your mother would spit up any remainder when she passes if anything is left fairly but I have no control of that. There will be trusts set up for any grandchildren as they come along in the future as well. They are actually set up for quite a long time now and running well. The wife puts money in them every month and I do not know the amounts. All I know is that it makes her feel good to do it and that is enough for me. That life can still be really good in your seventies was a pleasant surprise to me. Retiring and just laying back is not a good ideal unless health issues demand it in my opinion. I retired about twenty years ago and never looked back. If anything is some ways got even busier. Retirement to me was simply no longer having to work to put food on the table or pay bills. I worked hard in my earlier days and returned to school and then worked even harder. Fortunately I also enjoyed what I did.

As I shut down the computer in a few minutes will have to do a series of engineering equations to submit for a permit. I keep telling myself I am too old for this stuff but still do it anyways when required. As long as it is understood that I am not smart but more the victom of good coincidence over my lifetime. I can post things like this that are really the most important things to me.

Jim B. · #8 10-30-2013, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry12345

As we age it probably makes little difference overall. I guess if we want something or to do something why not? I am 71 and just would like to get less busy and live long enough to get back to some of my other interests.

At my age many of your friends and aquaintences start to disappear or have health issues. You quickly notice that many also did not get to do what they wanted to. Kind of a shame but it is what it is.

What was really important to me yesterday was my wife following me out of a busy city in heavy traffic. In general she has not had much experience in high speed merging coming off a ramp in heavy traffic. We live in a large rural area and that's where she has spent most her driving time over the years.

As I entered traffic I noticed a transport truck could not get out to the next lane as there was too much traffic. In fact nothing could move out into the next lane and traffic was also tight. Thank god my wife squeezed in as well.. I was apprehensive she might freeze up or make some kind of error.

She did fine thank god. She is also without a doubt the most important thing in my life. Someday one of us will be alone. I try to make sure that whatever she wants she gets. In my string of what I consider good coincidence in life she really stands out.

Over the many years she has good naturedly put in far more hours of work raising the family than I have. She also asks for little so it is very important to me that any of her wishes are met.. For some bizzare reason she still thinks I try hard at many things and approves of my helping people. Few people in our age group get along as well as we do it seems. So to me my wishes and expectations and hopes have been well met. Even the four girls worked out well. Material things just do not mean that much although we have more than we need. Right now one of our dogs is looking down at me from the next level and asking for something. I am not sure of what as I type. Suspect it is going out though.

So life is pretty good and my most recient medical issue seems to have subsided. Now I get to keep both testicles I think. Still have to have the cat scan etc but think the problem has self rectified itself. I guess the urologist will make the final call. Years ago when I needed a urologist my doctor told me that he would locate the best he could for me rather than just average. It was not idle talk it seems. Overall it seems that if you treat people well it all comes home to you over the years. I have often wondered if older miserable people are that way because they cannot undo their past. If this is so what a price they pay for their not so positive behaviours in earlier years. At the same time nobody is perfect of course.

As for kids and inheritances. I had only one daughter ask about it many years ago when she was young. Simply told her that I assume I will go first. Your mother gets everything. Anyways she already owns half. Women can also live a very long time remember.

More importantly although it probably does not mean much to you yet. You have inherited her genes. That is an inheritance in itself of no small worth. Your mother as you are aware is far above average and really smart. Time since then has proven my guess was right.

We have helped each and everyone of you anyways. So if I were you I would fixate on acquiring your own wealth if that is what you desire. I can only assume your mother would spit up any remainder when she passes if anything is left fairly but I have no control of that. There will be trusts set up for any grandchildren as they come along in the future as well. They are actually set up for quite a long time now and running well. The wife puts money in them every month and I do not know the amounts. All I know is that it makes her feel good to do it and that is enough for me. That life can still be really good in your seventies was a pleasant surprise to me. Retiring and just laying back is not a good ideal unless health issues demand it in my opinion. I retired about twenty years ago and never looked back. If anything is some ways got even busier. Retirement to me was simply no longer having to work to put food on the table or pay bills. I worked hard in my earlier days and returned to school and then worked even harder. Fortunately I also enjoyed what I did.

As I shut down the computer in a few minutes will have to do a series of engineering equations to submit for a permit. I keep telling myself I am too old for this stuff but still do it anyways when required. As long as it is understood that I am not smart but more the victom of good coincidence over my lifetime. I can post things like this that are really the most important things to me.

^^^^^^

I NOMINATE THIS FOR POST OF THE MONTH.

SwampYankee · #9 10-30-2013, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry12345

As we age it probably makes little difference overall. I guess if we want something or to do something why not? I am 71 and just would like to get less busy and live long enough to get back to some of my other interests...

Barry, it sure sounds like you've got your stuff in order! I hope to be as well prepared and focused on what's important.

My father retired full-time this past December at 69. He, too, has things in order. My mom passed away unexpectedly almost 3 years now so I'm glad that they spent as much time traveling as they did before she died. He worked 1/2 year for his last couple years so they did a number of cross country trips, a month or two at a time.

Without getting too sentimental, just enjoy your time with your wife, kids and grandkids and make the most of it!

SwampYankee · #10 10-30-2013, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

^^^^^^
I NOMINATE THIS FOR POST OF THE MONTH.

YES!

t walgamuth · #11 10-30-2013, 08:20 PM

Here here!

POS · #12 10-30-2013, 08:39 PM

Jim, all if that is nice to hear. I'm currently 44 with a wife and two boys, and my current outlook on life is similar to what you express. I can easily imagine myself in my 70s writing word-for-word what you wrote. I'll drink a toast to a) me living that long and b) to you making it that far with such a great outlook.

elchivito · #13 10-30-2013, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

Congrats on buying a lightly used small popular car for a cheap price.

Dollar per mile it should be a real bargain.

I preferred to do this, but @ 65 years old this year I said swcrew it, I want to buy a brand new car, and the one of my dreams.

It was a large black BMW 535i with the M-Sport package, new at the local BMW dealer, they wanted $65k USD for it (MSRP window sticker) but it wa a slow day so after 5 hours I got it for $60k which was about $420 over invoice, BUT they only gave me $31k - about $250 under low blue book) for my "old" 2011 Mercedes Benz e350 Sport, that was really boring by comparison to this.

And since it is so complex, (Navigation, iDrive & twin turbo ect) I warrantied it up the hilt and got extended maintenance too, AND they "bundled* all the warrantie3s and extended maintenance package together, so it was another $10k I paid for all that extra, about $70k out the door.

No I KNOW damned well, that thing depreciates like a rock, and will be worth maybe HALF that $70k on May 25, 2014 when it is one year to the day I bought it.

NO WAY I could ever recoup that in gas savings or savings in repairs or maintenance that was prepaid.

BUT I have no kids whining for an inheritance or college funds, AND I am closer to the END of my driving career that began back in 1966, so what the heck?

So I took it to my old hometown right away when I got it:

It's fun to drive too! I have already put well over 14,000 miles on the clock already and I love driving nice big cars and love to travel.

As a new one it's proven trouble-free, as I expected, its inline 6 is pretty reliable, it is said, it's comfortable, handles like something good that is half the siazem the turbo spools up completely by 1200 rpm of so, I had a street race on a deserted highway late one night with a guy that had a '11 Camaro SS - who beat me - but then again, I was doing 140 mph, he passed me like I was almost standing still. Told me later on, he had the SS with the "Vette engine to 155, but then, he is just 20 y.o. and like I was back then, thnks he can and will live forever!

Had it up to Canada for vacation and I checked the mileage (sticker said 20 mpg city, 30 mpg hwy, but one leg of it actually got me 33 mpg) --- I was astonished.

As a retiree I can drive wherever I want, and I do. With this and my other cars, I am probably going to hit a total for the year of about 36,000 to 50,000 miles in all.

It's a fun way to enjoy life to the extent income flow allows it. Especially if you enjoy driving and owning premium cars.

Last year I drove the Autobahn in a rented '12 Audi 2.0 turbo diesel and had a blast, It was kph, so I did not know at the time how fast I really went on the Deutsche Schnellstrasse but daily was ONLY in the fast lane, as I passed everything I could. Checking the kph/mph speedo on my 560SEC I discovered I was doing 130-160 mph.

Every day.

Safely, comfortably, serenely and legally!

I would like to do this again for sure.

This story has a familiar ring. You've either told it before a time or three or I dreamt it. Or something. Anyhow, how nice for you.

The Clk Man · #14 10-30-2013, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by POS

Jim, good for you. I drive 140 miles round trip to my business four days a week, and I've always done it in 5 year old cars that I roll out of in two years. It keeps the depreciation at bay. This year, however, I bought my first new vehicle in 13 years - a 2013 Suburban 2500 4x4. What I had forgotten is that a new car is fantastic - no one has pre-scratched it for me, no one has sold it to me needing tires, etc. I take great care of my vehicles and it's nice it get a factory perfect one that I can keep that way.

I like 'new' so much, I'm now considering selling the Porsche and getting a brand new muscle car or some kind of toy. I still love the classics and I'll always own one, but perhaps only one classic is enough. They are a lot of work/time.

I get up, get out of bed and walk down stairs to go to work. I use zero gas and drive no miles.

my customers come to me. I love my job.

G-Benz · #15 10-31-2013, 04:27 PM

I kinda got my car fetish out of my system in my late 20's when I did car shows and stereo sound offs.

I'm thinking more of getting debt-free before I retire, and at my income level, I can't do that and pick up AMG versions of cars I like!

Still, I have a kid I'm trying to get though college. If I do find a few pennies lying around, she generally gets them!

I did enjoy bringing the old '98 up to it's glory days (and a bit more), but an old car requires attention...not something you give to a kid who is hours away and has zero mechanical skills.

So this week, I'm surprising her with this:

Yeah, I know...another Mustang. My blood courses through her veins, and she will never settle for anything stodgy.