New car rant

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I love my 2018 Challenger T/A. I don't have to fix it. I just enjoy it. I also have 3 classic cars. I love them all, but I have to work on one, or the other to keep up with them. All are in good running condition. I'm just glad I was able to afford the Challenger. It wouldn't matter which car I drove, I'd still flip out if someone damaged it.
I hear ya and it's scary in Hernando county isn't it?
 
I hear ya and it's scary in Hernando county isn't it?
Not really. It's any county south of Hernando where the nuts seem to thrive. When I go for a cruise, I go north, or east, since I'm on the west coast. Any of the highways are to be avoided. 75, 275, rt 4, the expressway, etc.
 
You traded in a WRX and got 1500 less than you paid for it after 3 years? WTH did you pay for it originally?? Uhh, if new was only $1500 more than 3 years old, I reckon someone would pony up for new. Ive never heard of such a return on a trade-in unless that WRX was a super model (Like the Buick GNX) and the next version tanked. Sounds like you got the deal of the century. Good on ya..
Not hard to do if you are smart, I bought a 2012 challenger RT 6-speed manual that was 9 months old and had 3,000 miles on it, clean car $28,000
Drove it until it had 18,000 miles, no winters, kept it clean.

Traded it in on a new 2017 RAM 3500 that came in on the car trailer with new 2018's.
The dealer had the RAM marked down $10,000 still on the trailer, I bought it and made them throw in a new tonna cover, got $28,000 out of the challenger, so basically I drove it for free.
And got a new truck for $11,000 difference, the challenger was paid for, and so is the truck.
So now I have a two year old truck, the first new vehicle I ever bought sitting in the driveway with 7,000 miles on it.
I use it to tow with, and it has never seen winter salt, so it should last me for a long time.

Granted I bought a new Tacomo in Feb for gas mileage/parts hauler and I love that little truck, already have 8,ooo miles on it. But only have to put fuel in once in a while is nice.
Toyota was dealing at the first of the year on their new ones, I bought it straight out with no trade, it stickered for over 30K, I said I would only give the 25K and they took it. I will wear this truck out.
 
Step son had a Ram 1500 eco diesel year ago, it had a antifreeze leak the dealer never could fix!!! He loved the mileage and the truck but... What good was is warranty if i stayed in the dealers garage so much!!?????/
He was paying for a truck he couldn't drive.
 
Oh, I forgot the price on new car bumper repair to include paint on a new car. Got rear ended in my SC400, 5mph chain reaction type. No frame damage but the rear bumper beam plus skin plus paint was $1200. Im not advising people to drive their classic to work everyday, but a 4 year old car today is gonna do everything a 4 day old car will do for far less.
 
Oh, I forgot the price on new car bumper repair to include paint on a new car. Got rear ended in my SC400, 5mph chain reaction type. No frame damage but the rear bumper beam plus skin plus paint was $1200. Im not advising people to drive their classic to work everyday, but a 4 year old car today is gonna do everything a 4 day old car will do for far less.

A little for the ford boys here :
My wifes 2017 ford escort , that has every option available , including turbo, ''has water in the oil'', and the dealer is talking about replacing the entire engine , only 50,000 on the clock , and is under a manteinance agreement w/ them, never been touched by anyone but ford..
They told her it could happen to anything, which is B.S. , depends on engine design / no. of headbolts aound the cyl ./etc.
I have never blown a headgasket on any mopar , even a hemi w/ 13 1/2 comp. and .020 steel shim headgaskets. I did blow a headgasket on a 406 sbc once tho.

yeah , ford has a better idea !!
 
My car has lane keeping assist and a warning that comes up when I go out of my lane. It still requires feedback on the steering wheel though. The best thing about new cars in my opinion is the ability to text and talk on the phone without taking your hands off the wheel. Too many idiots out there texting and driving and this will hopefully cut back on that.

My dart has Bluetooth.

Step son had a Ram 1500 eco diesel year ago, it had a antifreeze leak the dealer never could fix!!! He loved the mileage and the truck but... What good was is warranty if i stayed in the dealers garage so much!!?????/

Lemon law
 
I have a new car. Love it and have no regrets. However I have have three old cars. OLD CARS NEVER GO OUT OF STYLE
Ditto! I use the old ones as much as possible. Saving the Ram for the crap weather and hauling junk, Home DePot, engine shop, junk yard. It pays to have a capable truck.

You need 2, one to drive and a backup. :p

See that with anything you drive. My example above is also repeated with the wife. We drive our classics as much as possible. Bad weather, rain, snow, etc.... and the newer trucks come out.

Screw that ****. I have a 80 Mile round trip for work and I'm using a modern, reliable, good on gas and safer car for that. Even though my Honda was new it doesn't have to be new. My last Toyota was slightly used when we bought it. Think it was a year old with 3000 miles on it. Was a demo. My old cars are toys and that's all. I can't be bothered having to constantly fix the old **** if used as a daily driver. If I only worked 5 miles away it may be different but that isnt the case. I like high 30's mpg. Anything less kills me paying for gas and gas is only going to go up and make it worse.

Dang skippy. Even though I was just sayin I drive the old stuff as much as possible, when my old commute was 50 miles 1 way, all interstate driving, off hours, mad house traffic, idiots abound! I’ll preserve the old iron for better days and conditions to drive in.

I love my NEW 2017 Ram!
I’ll love my 2018 Ram Express. Hey got it from an early lease return. Less than 4 months. The dealer sold it to me as if brand new with 6600 miles on it. Then knocked 10K off the sticker. At the same time, I traded in my Challenger which had very low miles. They gave me $1,500 over book. When all was said and done, less than $36K and I was driving home.

Best on the (Rarely driven) Hwy. is 26 mpg.
 
Heres how I was thinking.....
I NEED a truck. Not every day, but.i got a set of balls so I need a truck. My 84 Prospector sat in driveway more than it drove and was declining in health. Couldnt keep on top of it and the 67. Then my daily driver...06 Spectra, great car but needed maintenance obviously. Bought an 08 Rogue...biggest mistake I ever made!
So now I have 4 vehicles that all require insurance maintenance etc. Pretty much sucks the fun out of working on the 67/69. My shop is jammed full, so no room to work on anything let alone fart in there.
Sold Rogue, dealer gave me $500 on trade in for Spectra and sold 84 Dodge for $1500.
Bought 17 Ram as demo and zero regrets.
Oh yeah then there is Lori's car and her mom moved in with us and her car.....
Like I said no regrets bought the truck from dealer 3 hours away, local dealers tried to rape me on a sale. They get my service business and that's it.
Zero regrets

Oh to add i have 4 grandkids and a 16' aluminum boat. Laying under a car isnt a priority for me.
 
I rented a Hyundai and got curious about how about how one with a manual transmission would drive, so I test-drove one ($50 gift card was a nice bonus.) The experience wasn't bad but the numbers don't add up for me, a 5 year old used car costs a fraction and gets the job done very nicely. The companies are getting people hooked on all the technology to keep them buying new.
 
just got done doing all the steel brake lines on my express truck. yup i remember why i don't like working on this old stuff any more.. and i really remember why i drive a modern car as a daily driver..lol
 
just got done doing all the steel brake lines on my express truck. yup i remember why i don't like working on this old stuff any more.. and i really remember why i drive a modern car as a daily driver..lol
I with you, my maintenance is washing and cleaning them.
Let the dealers change the oil.
 
I enjoy driving the older stuff, but you need to have a plan to make it work.
My newest vehicle is a 1996 GMC Sonoma with 244398 miles on it. Bought used in 1999 for about $8000 was a full time driver till 8 years ago, now is a winter time daily driver. With the Firestone WinterForce tires mounted, I would drive the '96 Sonoma anywhere. And I do.
2.2l with a 5 speed manual, replaced alternators, starters, rear wheel axels and bearings, believe it or not, has the OE exhaust system. The bed rotted away, got a replacement out of AZ, when I had it repainted to match, also did the hood and front bumper. The truck looks and runs great and I drive it everyplace I go from November through about April.
My May to October daily driver is the 1983 D150. Stripped the truck down to the frame rails in 2010.
Re built, renewed, replaced everything.
Added AC, tinted glass, power windows and locks, re wired electrical system to run relays, installed a nice Bluetooth radio, plenty of sound insulation.
I put a lot into it, maybe 1/2 the cost of a new truck in 2010, but nine years later, I could still get that value back out of this truck.
Every time I buy gas, someone walks over to ask about it.
And I like driving it. And I drive it everyplace I go, I put a lot into it, and I intend to use it up. It will never see snow again. That is what the ‘96 Sonoma is for.
Then there is the 68 Barracuda, but that is a different story.

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and when I mentioned a plan when daily driving the older stuff.
Each of my old daily drivers sits in a dry garage about 6 months a year, with a full tank of gas, with stabilizer added, a charged battery and all the required maintenance done. So if something ever happens and I need the spare vehicle it is just a turn of the ignition key away. To date, neither of these vehicles have ever stranded me, but the reassurance is knowing I have a back up. In IN, the cost of license plates on older vehicles is discounted, and I suspend the collision insurance on the vehicle that is parked in the garage, so there is basically zero extra cost in maintaining two vehicles while driving one.
 
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I enjoy driving the older stuff, but you need to have a plan to make it work.
My newest vehicle is a 1996 GMC Sonoma with 244398 miles on it. Bought used in 1999 for about $8000 was a full time driver till 8 years ago, now is a winter time daily driver. With the Firestone WinterForce tires mounted, I would drive the '96 Sonoma anywhere. And I do.
2.2l with a 5 speed manual, replaced alternators, starters, rear wheel axels and bearings, believe it or not, has the OE exhaust system. The bed rotted away, got a replacement out of AZ, when I had it repainted to match, also did the hood and front bumper. The truck looks and runs great and I drive it everyplace I go from November through about April.
My May to October daily driver is the 1983 D150. Stripped the truck down to the frame rails in 2010.
Re built, renewed, replaced everything.
Added AC, tinted glass, power windows and locks, re wired electrical system to run relays, installed a nice Bluetooth radio, plenty of sound insulation.
I put a lot into it, maybe 1/2 the cost of a new truck in 2010, but nine years later, I could still get that value back out of this truck.
Every time I buy gas, someone walks over to ask about it.
And I like driving it. And I drive it everyplace I go, I put a lot into it, and I intend to use it up. It will never see snow again. That is what the ‘96 Sonoma is for.
Then there is the 68 Barracuda, but that is a different story.

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and when I mentioned a plan when daily driving the older stuff.
Each of my old daily drivers sits in a dry garage about 6 months a year, with a full tank of gas, with stabilizer added, a charged battery and all the required maintenance done. So if something ever happens and I need the spare vehicle it is just a turn of the ignition key away. To date, neither of these vehicles have ever stranded me, but the reassurance is knowing I have a back up. In IN, the cost of license plates on older vehicles is discounted, and I suspend the collision insurance on the vehicle that is parked in the garage, so there is basically zero extra cost in maintaining two vehicles while driving one.

The dodge is kick *** , I had an 87 longbed, totaled it in Hesperia , cal. , w/ 9000 something on the clock.
 
Was responding to a new car issue and it went off the rails, decided it was better to just start a new low value thread.

Id never buy a new car or truck...again. Whats the upside? You got the new car smell and a warranty that's not worth squat.
Downside: You lost 30% when you drove it off the lot. Your tied to a 60-70 $400+/month payment and you have to keep enough insurance on it to please the bank who owns it before its paid off. Soft tires on new cars aren't worth 30k miles. Your in that new 60K car or truck about 3 hours a day and your driving next to other potentially uninsured people who dont give a **** and would ding your new ride with a shopping cart as easy as blowing their nose. You worry about scratches, mud puddles, dirty boots....wary of any creak or whine or whistle and are at the mercy of the dealership to either believe you, or take your car for 4-5 days to diagnose and maybe repair it or worse, give you the green weanie and tell you its not anything they can hear or fix. Whats the next recall for? They are only tools to get me from my house to work and back, not status symbols. My fun cars are all used, or built by me. Im aware of all the cosmetic dysfunctions, and they don't bother me unless I cant fix them, ie. paint. I find squeeks, ticks and vibrations a challenge. I scoff at the new car ads on TV. The new Mercedes or Audi or whatever the Kardashians are driving nowadays parked alone at an odd angle, always with the wheels cranked to one side in front of a posh restaurant, beach or some other hip joint, when in reality there are 6 of the same cars parked in the back next to all other forms of generic econo boxes. Face it, your brand new car is not that special, not that unique...they sold 17 that day that look exactly like yours and they are all parked in the same mall parking lot, stuck in the same traffic your stuck in, driving the same speed....My paid off POS Mazda pickup is ahead of you, Hows that 50K ride smelling?. Just a rant. Been there once, never again. 2-3 years old with a nice detail service and maybe 24k on it to work out the bugs is new enough for me, and its 30% off. Just let your new teen driver who's gonna buy their first 5 year financial prison sentence, ie. a new car, in on this secret: Buy used. They will thank you.

It’s not as big a deal for young successful workers, but especially in the big city where high income offsets high costs of living.

There are two basic economics in America, rural and big city/California-West Coast/North East.

My rent here is $550, it’s $2300 for a two bedroom apartment for Bangor, Washington.

Way more than that in New York City.

I completely agree with you on car prices, law suits, insurance companies, created federal-Mandated safety-costs have gone thru the roof.

It does impress me that car model sizes constantly grow.
 
Heres how I was 222aawwthinking.....
I ]2NEED a truck. Not every day, but.i got a set of balls so I need a truck. My 84 Prospector sat in driveway more than it drove and was declining in health. Couldnt keep on top of it and the 67. Then my daily driver...06 Spectra, great car but needed maintenance obviously. Bought an 08 Rogue...biggest mistake I ever made!
So now I have 4 vehicles that all require w-w maintenance etc. Pretty much sucks the fun out of working on the 67/69. My shop is jammed full, so no room to work on anything let alone fart in there.
Sold Rogue, dealer gave me $500 on trade in for Spectra and sold 84 Dodge for $1500.
Bought 17 Ram as demo and zero regrets.
Oh yeah then there is Lori's car and her mom moved in with us and her car.....
Like I said no regrets bought the truck from dealer 3 hours away, local dealers tried to rape me on a sale. They get my service business and that's it.
Zero regrets
W Aaawa2]2-2- 22 a2
Oh to add i have 4 grandkids and a 16' aluminum boat. Laying under a car isnt a priority for me.
Honda Civic, Toyota Camry or celica or whatever (but not 2018+ Toyota)
And classic mopar-winning formula

Not Hyundai, not Nissan, Honda and Toyota usually make quality vehicles

My 1991 civics are classics, get 29mpg’s
Low maintenance, start every time.
Ask Rusty about riding in it to Ohio.
 
Honda Civic, Toyota Camry or celica or whatever (but not 2018+ Toyota)
And classic mopar-winning formula

Not Hyundai, not Nissan, Honda and Toyota usually make quality vehicles

My 1991 civics are classics, get 29mpg’s
Low maintenance, start every time.
Ask Rusty about riding in it to Ohio.

I had a civic, got to playing with hydrogen on it and went from 34 to 39.9 mpg on it , devoted a whole summer to it instead of racing back then. Wish I`d raced .
Was glad to get out of that 'little " piece of ---- , myself.

Gave it to a poor person .
 
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I had a civic, got to playing with hydrogen on it and went from 34 to 39.9 mpg on it , devoted a whole summer to it instead of racing back then. Wish I`d raced .
Was glad to get out of that 'little " piece of ---- , myself.

Gave it to a poor person .
That would be me for the moment!

I have got as much as 40mpg
Nonethanol gas, mild driving

They register for $25 as a classic -more Mopar money!

Tires installed $50 each more Mopar money!

Gas just went up from $2.14 to $2.39 -who gives a ****? Not me. 29-32.x mpg

A guy north of Atlanta has a complete mopar interior for me? No problem. Round trip is $78 and I filled the civic with two bucket seats, seat tracks, and a mint rear seat-it gets the job done.

Someone rubs paint with me driving aggressive - I don’t give a **** about the car

Parts are cheap -more Mopar money!

This a VEHICLE of my Mopar budget
 
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My best buys have for a run around, parts hauling, go to Wally type, is finding a suburb guy that has an older half ton, he bought new or close, ....no rust, no real dents, not wore out, but depreciated down to pretty cheap. It is not new it is an older vehicle. That truck will keep its value as long as it runs and you take care of it.. Plus I can get in and out of it.
Last one I bought was 4 years ago, an 89 1/2 Ram, /6 833OD, costs $1000 ( IN MOISOURI not Texas)!), straight, no rust ran great but had a leak at the slave cyl. OK so it was older but not woreout!
 
Honda Civic, Toyota Camry or celica or whatever (but not 2018+ Toyota)
And classic mopar-winning formula

Not Hyundai, not Nissan, Honda and Toyota usually make quality vehicles

My 1991 civics are classics, get 29mpg’s
Low maintenance, start every time.
Ask Rusty about riding in it to Ohio.
Civic,
Just bought a cream puff 83 with 54,000 miles on it off my little old neighbor lady.
Should have left it sitting in her garage.
The inspection sticker was 6 years dead, parts are a sob to get, you have to order everything, but being garage kept all it’s life it is rust free.

I bought it to give to one of my kids, as soon as I get all the issues fixed, I think I am going to sell it.
 
one of these? you don't see those often. something that old i'd expect to have to order most things..

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one of these? you don't see those often. something that old i'd expect to have to order most things..

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It’s twin except this one is silver.
It’s a solid little car but the part situation makes it suck.
A month wait on a radiator in today’s society is un-exceptional to me.
Old Mopar parts are easy to get.
 
Parts Probably have to shop from Japan.

Can't be too many of those around anymore. Damn things usually rotted away by the 90's like most card built then
 
Parts Probably have to shop from Japan.

Can't be too many of those around anymore. Damn things usually rotted away by the 90's like most card built then
No rot on this one, garage kept.
Parts, just bang your head on the table, simple things like fuel filter a month
 
I am sure after the old car sitting blues are taken care of, it will be a good car.
 
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