Cars & Bikes, Driving & Riding

Postby **NTP66** » Mon May 01, 2023 9:41 am

Estimate for my alternator replacement is between $400-500, depending on if they can get it cheaper at their other supplier. A quick check of RockAuto shows that reman Densos still go for over $200 for my car, so I guess that's not awful. I honestly expected it to be about half that. This month is going to bleed me dry between the cat surgery, HVAC replacement, and this.

Postby **robbiestoupe** » Mon May 01, 2023 10:55 am

Estimate for my alternator replacement is between $400-500, depending on if they can get it cheaper at their other supplier. A quick check of RockAuto shows that reman Densos still go for over $200 for my car, so I guess that's not awful. I honestly expected it to be about half that. This month is going to bleed me dry between the cat surgery, HVAC replacement, and this.

Feel ya, man.

Postby **mac5155** » Fri May 05, 2023 8:07 am

A few years back I posted about my mother's car (15 Kia Sorento) having a P1326 severe knock detected. I didn't hear one, so they did a replacement on the sensor and it's been fine since. Until yesterday it went into limp mode again, upon a restart a severe knock was audible from the engine. Sounds like that is the MY that was affected horribly by the 2.4 GDI engine and that it'll be replaced along with a loaner and a lifetime engine warranty. Fingers crossed that is how this goes and I don't have to fight with the dealer to get there

Postby **NTP66** » Sat May 06, 2023 12:25 pm

It was time to clean my K&N filter, so I figured I’d just buy a new one since this one was old and had some damage. Get the new one, and it’s just impossible to get on. Then it dawned on me - I had the same issue with this one. These **** dadholes put a lip on the inside of the sleeve that is preventing the filter from getting onto my CAI - and it’s even larger than the lip on my older filter. Long story short, I basically destroyed the brand new one and am now cleaning the old one. I’m going to have to look for another brand, because I will never buy K&N because of this horseshit ever again.

Postby **DigitalGypsy66** » Sat May 06, 2023 10:17 pm

We were driving around this afternoon, running the usual errands when we drove by a small-ish car show.

It appeared to be a local Chevy Malibu/Impala/Monte Carlo group. These were not 60s-70s muscle cars mind you, but recent models. You know, the same models that social workers and state fleets use. Bizarre. I mean they were cleaned up and had nice wheels? Would a big block V8 fit in one of those?

Postby **meow** » Sun May 07, 2023 5:38 am

Call the FBI on them

Postby **NTP66** » Sun May 07, 2023 6:42 am

Would a big block V8 fit in one of those?

Not even close, but that would be dumb anyway. If anything, they’d be going with LS swaps.

Postby **DigitalGypsy66** » Sun May 07, 2023 8:53 am

Call the FBI on them

The FBI might want their cars back…

Postby **RonnieFranchise** » Sun May 07, 2023 9:54 am

So a couple years after debating on a car, settling on the Mazda 3 Turbo and a year and a half later letting my wife convince me to let my son take it to college while I drive a 14 year old Subie, I'm thinking about another vehicle for myself. I really want another sporty sedan with some power, but wifey's knees make it tough for her to get in and out of a sedan and while she says "you should get what you want, you've earned it" it would be beneficial to have something we both can drive comfortably. With my son getting a job and rolling off the payroll (mostly) I'm starting to think about it more.

I gotta keep it to around $700 a month, probably and I have no trade in. Thought about leasing and being a wfh person, the mileage would not be an issue, I just don't like the idea of not having anything at the end. You can get something really nice for a $700 a month lease though, even now, while a $700 a month loan with no trade in gets significantly less. It can be a 72 month loan, I throw extra at it anyway at bonus time and usually pay off in 3 year or less so I'm not really worried about term.

Also, I haven't really seen any SUVs that get my blood flowing.

So, we'll see. I'm not on any specific timetable other than my youngest turns 16 in August and will inherit the Subie when she passes her drivers test, which leaves me with nothing.

Any thoughts on a nice SUV that hauls ass in my price range?

Postby **NTP66** » Sun May 07, 2023 9:57 am

Yeah, I couldn’t bring myself to lease another car ever again. It’s like renting an apartment for me.

Postby **DigitalGypsy66** » Sun May 07, 2023 10:02 am

I just read an article that said the average new car price is $48K, 30% higher than it was in March 2020. Dealerships have low inventory still, with mostly top tier trim levels. Like who is going to pay $115K for a Grand Wagoneer?

@RonnieFranchise you could probably kick the tires on an Acura MDX or RDX if you want a sporty SUV.

Postby **NTP66** » Sun May 07, 2023 10:06 am

Agreed with DG on the Acuras. They have some awesome trims on the MDX.

Postby **RonnieFranchise** » Sun May 07, 2023 10:07 am

I just read an article that said the average new car price is $48K, 30% higher than it was in March 2020. Dealerships have low inventory still, with mostly top tier trim levels. Like who is going to pay $115K for a Grand Wagoneer?

@RonnieFranchise you could probably kick the tires on an Acura MDX or RDX if you want a sporty SUV.

I was just looking at the RDX, actually.

I have really enjoyed my Mazdas and I want to like the CX-5 Turbo but frankly my Mom owned one (base model) and I have it in my head that it's an older person's vehicle. Which is stupid.

I had a rental Audi Q5 a couple weeks ago and frankly was unimpressed. Granted it was rental trim.

Postby **DigitalGypsy66** » Sun May 07, 2023 10:14 am

I looked into MDXs when we were shopping for a new car in 2020. It was around $10K more than the Pilot, at each trim level. EX Pilot was $34K and the equivalent MDX was $44K. Plus high octane gas is required for Acuras. That put me off of them for the time being. Once we’re empty nesters (ten years!) I’ll probably go the RDX or CRV route, when I don’t need the extra space.

Postby **Ad@m** » Sun May 07, 2023 10:32 am

I just read an article that said the average new car price is $48K, 30% higher than it was in March 2020. Dealerships have low inventory still, with mostly top tier trim levels. Like who is going to pay $115K for a Grand Wagoneer?

@RonnieFranchise you could probably kick the tires on an Acura MDX or RDX if you want a sporty SUV.
I was just looking at the RDX, actually.

Do you like blue?

https://www.blueknobauto.com/vehicle-de ... d-51071405

Postby **NTP66** » Sun May 07, 2023 10:39 am

^this looks amazing in person, though I prefer the other wheels.

Postby **RonnieFranchise** » Sun May 07, 2023 10:46 am

Yeah, it's a nice looking vehicle... I'd rather pay the extra $8k for one that's 2 years newer with 26k fewer miles though.....

Postby **Shyster** » Mon May 08, 2023 2:13 am

Toyota RAV4 Prime? Yeah, it's a plug-in hybrid. It also has 302 total hp (0-60 around 5.5 seconds) and can run around 40 miles on battery on a full charge, so for local errands and the like you'd likely never need to use the gas engine. With a full battery and a full tank of gas the range is around 600 miles at around 38 mpg combined.

Postby **tifosi77** » Mon May 08, 2023 8:27 am

I absolutely do not understand why anyone would ever lease a car. In the spirit of Mitch Hedberg, it's like you're putting a bag full of 25,000 of your dollars and handing it to the dealership saying, "Here, you throw this away for me. I'd set it on fire myself, but I'm out of matches."

Postby **robbiestoupe** » Mon May 08, 2023 8:35 am

I absolutely do not understand why anyone would ever lease a car. In the spirit of Mitch Hedberg, it's like you're putting a bag full of 25,000 of your dollars and handing it to the dealership saying, "Here, you throw this away for me. I'd set it on fire myself, but I'm out of matches."

It's the mentality of having a car payment vs. paying for a car. Two different things. If you're convinced that you'll always have a car payment, which kind of goes hand in hand with not liking to have the same car for too long, leasing makes sense.

I'm not going to admonish people for it, even if it will always be a foreign concept to me.

Postby **RonnieFranchise** » Mon May 08, 2023 8:40 am

When I was 23, I leased a new '94 Geo Prizm (rebadged Corolla), because I wasn't going to be able to afford a reliable car otherwise. Leased for 3 years then financed the buyout for another 3.

That thing lasted me 10 years, first 5 in Boston traffic, and the only issue I ever had was it left me stranded in Cleveland when the clutch bit the dust. Also the last manual transmission I ever owned, damn it. Traded it in on a far less reliable Chrysler minivan.

Postby **tifosi77** » Mon May 08, 2023 9:05 am

So you're saying you got your value when you bought the car?

Postby **Beveridge** » Mon May 08, 2023 9:12 am

Let some sap take the depreciation hit for brand new. I bought a one year older model with 8,000 miles for 75% of what it would cost new.

Postby **mac5155** » Mon May 08, 2023 4:41 pm

A few years back I posted about my mother's car (15 Kia Sorento) having a P1326 severe knock detected. I didn't hear one, so they did a replacement on the sensor and it's been fine since. Until yesterday it went into limp mode again, upon a restart a severe knock was audible from the engine. Sounds like that is the MY that was affected horribly by the 2.4 GDI engine and that it'll be replaced along with a loaner and a lifetime engine warranty. Fingers crossed that is how this goes and I don't have to fight with the dealer to get there

Confirmed motor is smoked, rod bearing spun. She gets a new 2.4 Kia motor with a lifetime warranty in 7-10 days and a rental from Enterprise. Part of the class action lawsuit that Kia has been dealing with I guess? Anyway, she'll now have that car until the literal wheels fall off.

Postby **meow** » Mon May 08, 2023 4:42 pm

I just read an article that said the average new car price is $48K, 30% higher than it was in March 2020. Dealerships have low inventory still, with mostly top tier trim levels. Like who is going to pay $115K for a Grand Wagoneer?

@RonnieFranchise you could probably kick the tires on an Acura MDX or RDX if you want a sporty SUV.

We have exclusively driven Acuras for 10 years now