I've been looking to upgrade my "getting rustier by the day" Honda CRV. Prices are insane due to supply chain issues, chip shortages for new vehicles etc. Increased demand and so forth. I know all the issues causing this and understand them. Prices for used cars are very high.

What I don't get are the a-hole sellers. I've been looking at Honda Elements, great pin hauler plus work vehicle for me. Been looking for 5 months with cash in hand. I want one with less than 150K miles, as close to rust free as possible and reasonably well maintained. I worked in automotive service sales for 20 years and know what vehicles have problems.

Yesterday a 2006 Element with just 109K miles was listed on CL 2.5 hours away. Called seller to ask a few questions. Is it inspected? "Yes, till next month"
Red flag. If I was selling, I'd get new stickers. Not a deal breaker, I do 75% of my auto work myself. Can I look at it this Sunday (tomorrow)? NO. "All the notaries are closed. Me: "I'd just like to look it over, crawl underneath and test drive it. Get the VIN to get a CARFAX. I'll come back in a day or two with someone to drive me there so I can drive it home after title transfer." NO. "Why would you drive that far without just driving it home?" I'm concerned about underbody rust. "Can you raise the hood and text me a pic of the engine compartment?" These rust from the engine brackets down. NO, all the pictures are in my listing. Then she just hung up the phone. Total WTF. I believe I dodged a bullet with this one.

Are we now at the "Car Nazi" stage of used vehicle buying? "NO pictures for you!" I'm patient and will find one.

I really hope not!

Edmunds just reported that 80% of new car buyers are paying above MSRP.

I'm not a "tire kicker". If it looked good, I would of given them a 2K cash deposit to hold it till I came back.

Work commitments. Off today.
.

Done!

Yeah, I would drive 5.5 hours roundtrip just to kick the tires.

I don't think asking for a single picture before driving 5.5 hours is asking the seller to bend over backwards. Would you drive that distance to buy a 16year old pin if the seller refused a picture of the playfield?

It's still for sale.

After months of looking, I found this 81K mile 2006 Scion XB about an hour away. The new pin hauler! It's in very good condition.

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My local dealerships both Toyota and Honda are advertising they are selling new cars at sticker or below. Not that way in the rest of the country.

Brought my 1st pin home with Scion and worked great, a Bally Party Zone slid right in with the head folded down. 31 MPG hauling it thru PA hills.

Mercedes has been doing that for years. 1st time I drove a 2018 S550 I was WTF the 1st time I stopped. Really annoying in NYC stop and go traffic.

Not that I could find. The 2020 Maybach was the same.

It wasn't my car, I was getting paid to drive a multi-millionaire back and forth to NYC several times a month. I put 20K miles on it.

Not when you have an upper west side 3K sq ft condo in Manhattan, offices in 2 World Trade Center and own a fortune 500 company in PA. Plus own 100 rental properties.

LMAO. I bought a set of front brake pads from Autozone for my CRV. After installing new rotors, I realized the pads had 3 outboard pads and 1 inboard pad. I was pissed. Took another vehicle to NAPA and got the correct parts. Returned everything to Autozone. Never got an apology over the grief, and when they asked what was wrong with the rotors, "Nothing, returning them for spite". Dead silence.

My favorite automotive parts supplier exchange after 22 years of buying parts for Firestone and AAMCO. We ran out of hand cleaner.

Me: I need a tub of GoJo sent over, PO is supplies.
NAPA: Do you want that with or without puss?
Me: Puss? What are you talking about?
NAPA: Puss. Do you want it with the grit in it?
Me: Do you mean Pumice? If so yes.
NAPA: Oh yeah, pumice.

All time classic in the stupidity of ordering stuff.

I don't think people are whining about it but more wondering why that happens and the fuel savings versus the hassle of thinking the engine shut off the 1st time you experienced it. It is what is but I prefer a car that doesn't shut off at lights.

I will consider the Hybrid Maverick if it has AWD. Rumors are it will be available. The last Maverick I bought was in 1978, Grabber Orange 4 door 67K miles, with A/C which was rare. $650 and it lasted for 3 years and another 70K miles.

Push button start is totally overrated. Wait till the battery dies in the key fob, it happened to me in a 2016 Escape at a football game. Couldn't start the car, or lock it. Missed the game having it towed. Turned out the battery in the car also needed replaced. Give me a real key every time.

I was. AAA couldn't even jump start it. Battery was so burrowed the wiper arms, cowl panels and 10 other parts needed removed just to replace the battery.

Remote start was a thing long before keyless ignitions.

A real key would have allowed me to lock the car doors and attended the game instead of leaving it unlocked. To each his own, I prefer a key. I worked in automotive for 20 years and when MB came out with their push button start, they made it so the start button could be removed, and the square head fob would turn the ignition switch like a regular key in the event the battery died.

My significant other wants a larger SUV than her Escape now. Doesn't want a 3rd row seat, never would get used and just hauling extra weight around. A Honda Passport fits between the CRV and Pilot.

I worked in auto service for 20 years and she wanted me to drive one locally. While she was at work today, I walked into a dealership that had one, a 2020 with 30K miles @ 32K. Asked to test drive it and explained the situation. Took a half hour to copy my license, insurance card, sign a waiver, which was fine but I hate the endless BS small talk I had to endure. Typical.

When I got in it there was a spilled soda stain on the console, looked like someone ate their lunch in the rear seats and some kind of goo on dash trim. Plus it smelled like cheap perfume inside. WTF. At least I didn't have the salesguy driving with me so I took to her work so she could see it. 1st words out of her mouth, "this interior is filthy".

Took it back and pointed out the issues. "Will you detail this before a sale?". Sure. Are car sales so easy now you'll send a customer out in a dirty 32K car which a dealership employee got into and moved to the door for me without a WTF moment when he got in it?

We'll get one, no rush but not at that dealership.

Yes, it is. But after owning AAMCO transmission franchise I'm trying to avoid CVT transmissions. I been out of that business for 9 years but previous CVT's can't be rebuilt, and are problematic, but they might be better now. I went thru horror with CVT Nissans, Saturn's and Mini Coopers. So I'll pass on any CVT transmission after having to tell a customer your 28K when new car needs a $8K new tranny we have to buy from the dealer after just 60K miles.

Too funny. That dealership called me today and said after I pointed out the flaws in the interior, they pulled it from inventory and sent it to auction. Beyond just a "clean-up" I assume. "Is they any others on our lot that interest you?" NO, thanks.

She doesn't want 3rd row seats.

Some trim levels have 2 rows, others 3. I looked at several but they are above our budget. 2018 models with 70K miles are fetching $35K or more.

It's a 2018 with 70K miles.

While I agree that miles aren't as big a factor as how it will last, getting her to trade a paid off 2016 Escape with the same mileage to incur 18K+ in payments isn't happening.

My daily driver is a recently purchased 2006 Scion XB I bought with just 82K miles. The perfect pin hauler that gets 32mpg.

Great trade up vs age.

She thinks an upgrade is newer with less miles. Not always true. I bought a 16 year old Scion XB with low mileage for more than a newer car by year. Why? They last 400K miles and this one was really nice.

I'd like a Maverick but looks like I'll wait a year to get one until hopefully the inventory increases.

Friday we're going car shopping. GF wants a larger SUV than her 2016 Escape. Looking at 2019 & 2020 Honda Passports & Pilots and Toyota Highlanders. With a 15K trade and 3K in cash we're looking at 35-37K vehicles.

No current car payments for either of us. She paid off the last car loan in less that 1/2 the term with double payments and with an almost 800 credit score, rates will be as low as they can be given the current market.

The Escape needs to go. Twice now after it sat for a couple days a large puff of white smoke left the tailpipe. After doing research the Ford Eco-Boost engines have a design flaw that allows small cracks to develop, and coolant enters the cylinders. Ford is facing 3 class action lawsuits which just moved forward when a judge combined them. Ford's solution to the problem is to sell you a new engine with the same flaw they knew existed since 2010. Trade value is so high, time to dump it before the problem gets worse.

https://www.lieffcabraser.com/2021/05/ford-ecoboost-engine-defect-lawsuits-consolidated-in-california/

No more Fords for us.

A year? Holy hell. I see used Mavericks with 5-10K miles selling for above new MSRP.

Agree. Been looking to upgrade my truck with a newer used one. Prices still higher than normal (pre-shortages) but inventory is increasing as higher interest rates are slowing sales. Patience if a want not a need.

Selling a car and it's listed on Autotrader, FB marketplace and CL. I'm used to all the normal scammers but today's was a step above. Got a text asking about the car. Asked quite a few questions that a normal buyer might ask. Car comes with extra wheels and tires and asked for a picture of those. Set up a time tomorrow to look at it. Cool.

Asked what town he lived in. Given one about 45 minutes away. Asked for a copy of the CFR, which I assumed was Car Fax Report. It's Carfactsfinder.com which looks like a legitimate web site. Told him I have a Car Fax Report when I purchased it 8 months ago and nothing changed but the mileage.

Said he didn't trust Car Fax and it's just a $25 report. Turns out after some research that's a scam website that steals your $25 and then screws you once they get your credit card number.

Sellers beware.

After a 3 month search I was able to upgrade my 1999 Mazda B3000 truck. After looking at multiple makes and models, I found a used Honda Ridgeline RTL from a private seller. Seller had a mini stroke and can't drive anymore after just owning it 6 weeks because of vision problems. It was 160 miles away and I drove out to look at it. Really nice, better than the pictures with every add on accessory possible. Asked for best price and he said just needs it gone, tired of dealing with scammers and dropped price 3K which was $2200 under KBB private party value without the $1.5K in dealer accessories. Sold! Handed him 3K in cash as deposit and returned in 2 days to transfer title.

I have AAA Premier which provides one 200 mile tow per year so in the past I just called my local tow company and had them go pickup and deliver my vehicle purchase rather than having to drag someone along for a long drive. They changed the policy. Tow must originate from the vehicle location not my home. So I had to drive back out a 3rd time to make the tow work. LOL.

I had to drive back because I took all the keys with me figuring I just give one to my local tow company (owner and I have a long history from my 20 years in the service industry) which is just 1.5 miles away. I told AAA it overheated there and I got a ride home. I wouldn't of needed to be at the vehicle if I had left a key.

I've driven 100's of pickups when I was in automotive service. Nothing rides as nice as a Ridgeline. For the 2021 Pinfest show I rented a U-Haul truck to haul 6 games and my parts to set up in the flea market because I didn't think the 22-year-old Mazda truck could handle a trailer. $647 rental. This Ridgeline will be the Pinfest tow vehicle.

WTF, Doc fees are $1199 and "non tax fees" $453.50!

Those are insane fees. My last divorce cost less with a real lawyer.