tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714922182513339530.post377423456641847513..comments2024-03-18T19:54:13.748-04:00Comments on Salt Water New England: Car: Buy new or used? Frugal or flashy?Salt Water New Englandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08940851375677714833noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714922182513339530.post-72462129953018252692021-03-11T13:48:36.132-05:002021-03-11T13:48:36.132-05:00I've explored some of the newer electrics comi...I've explored some of the newer electrics coming out and the RIVIAN looks it might be a great sport utility. I love the Forest Green! (SUV, not the truck).MaineWasphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06781744007503381382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714922182513339530.post-71363689031558256682021-03-11T13:46:35.612-05:002021-03-11T13:46:35.612-05:00May I ask if you live where they salt the roads? A...May I ask if you live where they salt the roads? A dear friend loves her TLCruiser but they rust horribly. MaineWasphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06781744007503381382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714922182513339530.post-49520375875370312432021-03-11T13:45:08.280-05:002021-03-11T13:45:08.280-05:00Living in Maine, the taxes on new cars is horrendo...Living in Maine, the taxes on new cars is horrendous so I tend to drive the car into the ground until is just falling apart. I have two vintage vehicles: Jeep Grand Wagoneer. The taxes are $45 a year and the same for my 1970 Mercedes Coupe. I have a 2013 SUV and I think it's time to get something different. Sadly in Maine, the salt roads just ruin the undercarriages and vehicles just don't last. It's awful because I only have 22 thousand miles on her. <br />I was hoping the new Jeep Grand Wagoneer(premiered today) is just too flashy for me. I'm at a loss as to what to get. MaineWasphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06781744007503381382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714922182513339530.post-33548843341020468332021-02-03T08:40:11.440-05:002021-02-03T08:40:11.440-05:00No, but one of my cars is a Mk1 Toyota Yaris which...No, but one of my cars is a Mk1 Toyota Yaris which must be pound for pound the most solid little car on the market. It's 15 years old, has done just over 103k miles, and has never missed a beat. The plan is to drive it until it dies. Some owners of the same model have reported well over 300k miles.<br /><br />On the subject of Land Cruisers, look at what vehicles are used for serious off-roading around the world. 9 times out of 10 the vehicle used will be a Land Cruiser (the other 1 out of 10 will likely be a Nissan Patrol). If I needed that kind of capability from my vehicle a Land Cruiser it would be.Mad Dogs and Englishmenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14592564330894131172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714922182513339530.post-69256061653763921652021-02-02T21:22:54.018-05:002021-02-02T21:22:54.018-05:00I believe everyone reading this blog should be on ...I believe everyone reading this blog should be on the lookout for a Toyota Land Cruiser. Yes they are expensive, the gas mileage is laughable, and they are not easy to find. However, the land cruiser is designed by Toyota to last for 25 years without unscheduled maintenance. They can fit the whole family, and are excellent in the snow and off road. It’s quite literally the most reliable car you can buy. I bought mine pre owned several years ago and I can’t imagine driving anything else. Any other land cruiser owners on here? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714922182513339530.post-19876611785630514082021-01-06T10:19:25.249-05:002021-01-06T10:19:25.249-05:00Interestingly enough, I was just reading an articl...Interestingly enough, I was just reading an article about how Norway just became the first country to sell more electric cars than gas-powered. Here in New England I have seen many people trading out their VW’s, BMW’s, and Lexus vehicles for Teslas. While battery technology, affordability, and electrical infrastructure are all obstacles, they are obstacles that many companies are working on - not necessarily because it is better for the environment, but because there is so much money to be made in that industry. While many of us might not be around to see it, I absolutely believe that in fifty years there will be predominantly electric cars on the road. I welcome it as a positive step for our environment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714922182513339530.post-18427612725412650692021-01-05T08:52:49.305-05:002021-01-05T08:52:49.305-05:00Mmmmm... That used to be sound advice, maybe 25+ y...Mmmmm... That used to be sound advice, maybe 25+ years ago, when the engineers were in charge. I don't think it's valid, these days, now the accountants are in charge.Mad Dogs and Englishmenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14592564330894131172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714922182513339530.post-60322942694626589322021-01-04T22:04:31.653-05:002021-01-04T22:04:31.653-05:00A used car that was previously leased can be a gre...A used car that was previously leased can be a great bargain. My Audi A4 was three years old and only had 11,500 miles on it when I purchased it. This was five years and 60,000 miles ago and it has never given me any trouble. <br /><br />My dad drove a taxi for 30 years and was a firm believer in oil changes every 3,000 miles, and meticulous adherence to the manufacturer's maintenance schedule. And he was right -- he'd buy used four-door American sedans at the local police auction, with 100,000 miles on the odometer, and then he'd use those cars as taxis until they reached 400,000 miles. And this was in the 1980's, when American cars were incredibly unreliable. <br /><br /> <br />We've owned American, Japanese, and German makes. We always change the oil every 5,000 miles and perform all recommended maintenance. In our experience, some American cars will start falling apart around 125,000 miles. This is especially true of Chrysler products. My Jeep Cherokee, which was meticulously maintained, started overheating and burning oil at 125k, and that was that. It was a wonderful car but it just wasn't reliable. GM and Ford products can usually make it to 200,000 miles. <br /><br />Toyotas and Hondas, OTOH, really are as reliable as they are reputed to be. This is as true today as it was in the 1980's and 1990's. The American makes have narrowed the gap somewhat -- but there's still a sizable gap. The other Japanese brands are a tossup, we've had good luck with a Nissan Xterra that we inherited but others have had noting but problems with their Nissans. <br /><br />The entry-level and mid-range German luxury brands are more reliable than most people realize. They tend to have a lot of minor defects, but few major mechanical defects. For example, my wife's Mercedes C280 had a digital odometer that started displaying what can best be described as hieroglyphic characters instead of numbers. Then it stopped displaying the milage at all. We replaced it twice but the new units always developed the same defect. Once every year or so the odometer would start working again for a few hours, and then it would fade to black again. This was obviously very annoying -- but the car was otherwise reliable. It always started up and took us where we wanted to go, up until approximately 175,000 miles. We had an E-Class that was also reliable. Its turn signals would sometimes activate for no apparent reason, and the radio volume would sometimes spontaneously increase or decrease without any human intervention, but it too was reliable. I would never buy a used Mercedes S-class or BMW 7-series but the less expensive models are OK. If you buy the ones that were leased for three years and returned, you can find some fantastic bargains. We are in Southern California where lots of people lease luxury cars, but I'm sure there are bargains in other areas, too, if you keep an eye peeled for them. Lots of older people will lease a luxury car and return it after three years with very low mileage. <br /><br />So that's what we buy these days -- Toyotas, Hondas, and entry-level and used mid-range German luxury cars. The Toyotas and Hondas are very reliable and the German cars are a bargain. Joe Schmoehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15871134614183408024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714922182513339530.post-21315385477869942752021-01-03T19:16:43.623-05:002021-01-03T19:16:43.623-05:00Never buy any car that is not built in Germany.Never buy any car that is not built in Germany.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714922182513339530.post-51343392886978795482021-01-03T16:33:41.662-05:002021-01-03T16:33:41.662-05:00We were left with no choice but to purchase two ne...We were left with no choice but to purchase two new vehicles this year; my wife's SUV expired ignominiously following an in-vain (and costly) attempt to breath new life into a failing carcass. It was a Ford Edge, with only about 130,000 kms (not miles) on it. It was 11 years old. The other was a C300, which was hit by a deer. The Mercedes was in near perfect shape. That was upsetting. Nonetheless, we've purchased his and her VW Alltracks; with some of the best warranties in the business (read: they're less likely to come unscrewed than some others). Essentially, we boiled things down to two cars: Subaru Crosstreks, or the Alltracks. The Subarus were blingy on the inside and out - and aimed at a younger demographic with a prediliction for all things digital; to the point of distraction. And, they were noisy. Hate that in anything other than a performance vehicle (and, sometimes , even then...). The VWs are now more reliable than in the past, drive wonderfully, are all wheel drive, quiet, more comfortable, have better fuel consumtion, more horsepower, and analogue guages. My wife's has paddle shifters! And, the VWs feel more grown-up than the Subaru. The choice was easy. I still also retain a pristine Saab Viggen, for summer weekend jaunts. So frugality, but with a touch of Germanic engineering, and quality... at a better price.<br /><br />My two cents, from north of the 49th parallel,<br /><br />Banacek.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714922182513339530.post-70051744293884716062021-01-03T12:44:51.359-05:002021-01-03T12:44:51.359-05:00Don't underestimate her knowledge and breadth ...Don't underestimate her knowledge and breadth of contacts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714922182513339530.post-85930154125912320692021-01-03T12:22:46.455-05:002021-01-03T12:22:46.455-05:00Miss Vito: That's a bogus question.
Judge Hal...Miss Vito: That's a bogus question.<br />Judge Haller: Why is it a bogus question, Miss Vito? <br />Miss Vito: Because it's a trick question. Cordings and Mercer don't make synthetic motor oil. But if they did, the correct answer would be, "It's terrific." Tim Gambininoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714922182513339530.post-58274738766466665982021-01-03T11:05:14.816-05:002021-01-03T11:05:14.816-05:00I didn't know Muffy ran a garage???I didn't know Muffy ran a garage???Robert Reichardtnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714922182513339530.post-86692469000256064242021-01-03T09:58:12.572-05:002021-01-03T09:58:12.572-05:00Buy used when you have time to spend looking for a...Buy used when you have time to spend looking for a good one. Buy new if you're busy with other things.<br /><br />Buy a flashy car when you are young and you will look good in it. Buy a discreet car when those days are over.R. Rafaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15946695654242698261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714922182513339530.post-64385569591997133862021-01-03T08:30:53.750-05:002021-01-03T08:30:53.750-05:00I applaud things that move us in the direction of ...I applaud things that move us in the direction of lowering carbon emissions. I had a Civic hybrid, but I also had a job that took me to remote areas from time to time. A friend had an issue with her Prius and got stranded in a remote city. My Civic had an issue, and my local service station would not touch it, insisting I had to go to the dealer. After one or two <br />ore small issues I decided the world was not ready for hybrids and bought my used Mini. I am sure things have changed for the better, but the issues of infrastructure to support electric cars go beyond supplying electricity. Also, for us New Englanders residing in Texas, range is a big deal. Last but not least by my reckoning, there is price. Many if not most electrics are quite dear, and the hybrids aren't exactly cheap. The payback through savings on fuel is not as dramatic as you might think on a hybrid. Before my Civic hybrid I had a Civic DX, and its overall mileage was nearly as good. Ironically I 'd probably still be driving my DX but for the fact that my then teenage daughter objected to crank windows and a basic radio. Plus the Green Rocket was not much of a looker. We all need to be hoping for a major breakthrough in battery technology! I'll end my early morning rant by saying that reducing my driving significantly has been a major benefit of retirement! Tim Irvinenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714922182513339530.post-36997323180105868522021-01-03T05:32:53.863-05:002021-01-03T05:32:53.863-05:00Even though there were electric cars have been aro...Even though there were electric cars have been around since before WWII, they certainly have their disadvantages. If you lived 15 or 20 miles from the nearest gas station, much less an electrical charging station, maybe an old-fashioned gasoline-powered car would be better. As for banning the sale of new gas-powered cars in one state, that's something that would easily be circumvented. It would also help boost the price of used cars.BlueTrainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15008640585987540252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714922182513339530.post-45657806635858975032021-01-02T17:27:04.169-05:002021-01-02T17:27:04.169-05:00I'm with Tim!I'm with Tim!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714922182513339530.post-71790102634051047642021-01-02T17:26:44.175-05:002021-01-02T17:26:44.175-05:00I'll go out on a limb here and predict that th...I'll go out on a limb here and predict that the electrics-only movement will prove to be a boomlet that gets watered down once it becomes clear that there won't be sufficient electric generating capacity to feed a nation's worth of electric vehicles. Unless we go big-scale into nuclear plants — to which the electric crusaders are highly allergic.<br /><br />We'll see. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714922182513339530.post-14303723625143102342021-01-02T15:29:22.379-05:002021-01-02T15:29:22.379-05:0020 years if running well. 20 years if running well. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714922182513339530.post-85284812553682367702021-01-02T14:43:59.026-05:002021-01-02T14:43:59.026-05:00Muffy, what do you think about synthetic motor oil...Muffy, what do you think about synthetic motor oil?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714922182513339530.post-47190303353101881662021-01-02T13:15:25.428-05:002021-01-02T13:15:25.428-05:00Or longer if still in decent shape, performing wel...Or longer if still in decent shape, performing well, and not needing big dollar repairs?Tim Irvinenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714922182513339530.post-91060735325072478602021-01-02T11:24:42.113-05:002021-01-02T11:24:42.113-05:00Buy new. Pay cash. Keep fro seven years.Buy new. Pay cash. Keep fro seven years.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714922182513339530.post-28512258620826894732021-01-02T09:59:49.947-05:002021-01-02T09:59:49.947-05:00Agreed - and I've always considered leasing. B...Agreed - and I've always considered leasing. But then I'd change my mind because my dogs go everywhere.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714922182513339530.post-54156386681053339782021-01-02T09:58:52.009-05:002021-01-02T09:58:52.009-05:00It's really such an individual choice. One of...It's really such an individual choice. One of our cars is electric, and any future cars will also likely be electric. It is better for the environment, and I think gas-powered cars will likely be phased out in a few decades. (That is the plan here in Massachusetts, which is banning the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714922182513339530.post-63323521179089232012021-01-01T18:14:52.172-05:002021-01-01T18:14:52.172-05:00Good advice. A paraphrase perhaps of the Hon. Budd...Good advice. A paraphrase perhaps of the Hon. Buddy Cianci’s advice, “never buy when you can rent.” Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com