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I've been reading on Leasehackr and other publications that prices are back down to MSRP unless you want something stupidly popular. Are you guys seeing this?
Looking around at Explorers, most (non ST or Timberline) are typically a couple grand under MSRP.
I think we're starting to get back to some stability. Now if interest rates could drop, I'd be closer to pulling the trigger on a Malibu replacement.
With poking around a few dealerships the past week more seem to have unspoken for cars sitting on the lots so the market may be softening. Interest rates shot way up.
We got unlucky & replaced the Flex on Labor Day.
5%
Luckily we put a chunk down, so it's not terrible, but definitely not the 1-2% we had on my F150 & Mercedes.
photos from the absolutely epic meetup I missed yesterday - and that I completely didn't know about. I don't know, who figures this kind of thing going on in Chicago in DECEMBER!?!?
I have been to a shit ton of meets over the years, and I miss this one. I have actually been SAD about this. Anyways.
I worked neighborhood security (gate entry) for a few lakeside neighborhoods in college.
Met a guy that had a 1957 Gullwing Merc, absolutely immaculate. Story went that him & his dad & brother bought it in boxes for $250k.
Full restoration, bright red with tan interior with matching luggage. Got a ride in it & it was amazing.
Was completely shocked to see him driving it in the rain. IIRC, at the time, 2007-ish, it was worth north of $2M. It's the last '57 [last model year of the Gullwing] produced (I'm assuming for the US market).
Shockingly only 1 visible officer nearby.
Went to a Ferrari show a few years ago, they had a roped off section for the halo cars. Lots of people hovering around the LaFerrari & Enzo. Almost no one looking at the 2 250 TdF at the older end of the line. 2 HPD officers on standby very close to those 2. IIRC, something like $5M each.
McLaren has been struggling financially with not only the car division but racing as well. The owners had to obtain loans from UAE(?) to payout $333M to the former CEO Ron Dennis when he was ousted by the other owners (Mansour Ojjeh and company).
FWIW, I've seen that Chicago F1 LM before at Amelia. One of the owner's assistants was there and he was telling how the owner does drive it frequently and as as imagines it's extremely well maintained and detailed. Nice it gets driven and used instead of being a garage queen like the five other LM's.
Anyone used one of those wireless Carplay/AndroidAuto adapters?
We have wireless charging in the Expedition, seems redundant to use that & still need to plug in to run AA.
The charging port on my S22 is getting to the point it's getting picky about when it wants to charge. I use a wireless pad at home & only plug it in to charge or run AA in the car.
^ clean out the usb-c port. It's probably filled with an unbelievable amount of dust and shit which is why it doesn't want to charge. AA is very picky about what cable you use too, might need a new one. Anker makes a great one.
^ Did that (on the phone side, blasted with compressed air keyboard duster) & it improved slightly, but still finnicky.
Changed cables too, as the OE Samsung cable was charge only
We're driving to CO next week, so uninterrupted Waze is going to be a necessity.
Compressed air isn't good enough. Try using a wooden toothpick or a thin wire and really get in there. Be really careful and you can dig out and unbelievable amount of stuff. Compressed air alone won't blow it out until you get all the stuff that's jammed in there loose.
Finding something long/thin enough to get to the bottom is the struggle, 2 different size paper clips, too thick, sim tray pusher, too thick, toothpick way too thick.
May have to find a thin safety pin or Christmas ornament hook when I get home. I do see a bit of lint/debris at the bottom of the charge port.
Edit: One of our lab techs sews & had a mini-kit in her purse.
Dug out 2 decent lint balls, we'll see how the connectivity performance is now.
But to answer your original question - I've heard good things about the wireless dongles from a few of my friends. I've not used one though. I've been thinking about getting one for the CRV because the females phone will no longer connect (and it's not a charging port issue).
Use a combination of compressed air, needles (be very careful not to damage the connector contacts), and use some alcohol on some card stock cut to fit inside the connector opening (this has worked excellent for cleaning out iPhone lightning connectors)
Compressed air isn't good enough. Try using a wooden toothpick or a thin wire and really get in there. Be really careful and you can dig out and unbelievable amount of stuff. Compressed air alone won't blow it out until you get all the stuff that's jammed in there loose.
This seems to have worked.
Much more positive latch when plugging it in my car (charge only).
Need to try it in the Exped to see how it fares there with AA.
what are you guys' opinions on ceramic coating? We live in Vancouver, weather-wise... probably the mildest part of Canada, but being PNW, it does rain a lot here... the (new) car will be garaged and I average only around 5k - 6k miles a year... They salt the streets in the winter when they forecast freezing or near freezing temp. But I will be taking the car on some off-beaten paths at times... no hardcore offroading or anything. Do you guys think ceramic coating is necessary? The dealership hit me up on it, and I turned it down... but I haven't picked up the car yet...
what are you guys' opinions on ceramic coating? We live in Vancouver, weather-wise... probably the mildest part of Canada, but being PNW, it does rain a lot here... the (new) car will be garaged and I average only around 5k - 6k miles a year... They salt the streets in the winter when they forecast freezing or near freezing temp. But I will be taking the car on some off-beaten paths at times... no hardcore offroading or anything. Do you guys think ceramic coating is necessary? The dealership hit me up on it, and I turned it down... but I haven't picked up the car yet...
I see value in it, but I'd do it through a local detailing business, not through the dealership.
It's fairly easy to DIY the ceramic coating with modern products. Way easier than a few years ago that is. If you have the ability/skillz/tools to correct any paint flaws yourself before doing the coating then it's not overly difficult to DIY the job.
I DIY'd the coating on my Golf. I used CQuartz UK. It was fantastic. If I wasn't so lazy I'd do the same to the 3 - but it's definitely worth it.
When you say off the beaten path - like offroading? If so, ceramic might help. But it's main purpose isn't to defend against physical damage (rock chips, scrapes, etc). That's where a clear bra comes into play.
I DIY'd the coating on my Golf. I used CQuartz UK. It was fantastic. If I wasn't so lazy I'd do the same to the 3 - but it's definitely worth it.
When you say off the beaten path - like offroading? If so, ceramic might help. But it's main purpose isn't to defend against physical damage (rock chips, scrapes, etc). That's where a clear bra comes into play.
not necessarily, I wouldn't say "offroading"... I would say at most... gravel roads with ditches. But I worked something out with the dealership and bargain down a little... it's a 10-year warranty and it's in writing... 10 years is a bit far fetched, but if it comes anywhere close to it, I'll be happy.
As for those of you that advised to do it myself... the problem is, I live in a highrise condo, and while there's a car wash bay, I really can't be hogging up the spot for hours and hours... and I'm not gonna lie... I suck at doing this kind of stuff. I'll start off kinda half-ass and then it goes down from there
If you chip it, you have to redo a substantial part of the car to make it even again. Ceramic coat is really only to keep a car cleaner, has nothing to do with protection against physical damage other than things like UV protection for the clear coat.
If you chip it, you have to redo a substantial part of the car to make it even again. Ceramic coat is really only to keep a car cleaner, has nothing to do with protection against physical damage other than things like UV protection for the clear coat.
Yup, that's fine. I'll chance it. I'm not spending the money to do PPF
I'm dropping the car off to get the front end PPF. It appears to have gotten a little more expensive than when it was done on the S6 in 2008. I did regret not getting it done on the Acura as the front end looked terrible after a few years. I'm curious about the ceramic coat (some info in the wash/was sub-forum).
I stopped by a very large Subaru dealership in SoCal while I'm in town (was looking for something at their parts department for my Outback), I haven't paid much attention to the WRX, but what happened to it? The back end looks very Honda-esque, I literally that they were Honda Civics
I'm dropping the car off to get the front end PPF. It appears to have gotten a little more expensive than when it was done on the S6 in 2008. I did regret not getting it done on the Acura as the front end looked terrible after a few years. I'm curious about the ceramic coat (some info in the wash/was sub-forum).
Got the front end PPF done on my truck. Quote for ceramic coating the thing was insane, like $1200 lol, so I'm going to DIY it this spring. Doesn't look too complicated and I already have all the tools to do the paint corrections ahead of coating it.
I imagine the majority of that cost is the paint correction? Which I'd assume is a bit less work on a newly delivered car, than on something like a 11 year old DD.
11-15-2022, 08:55 AM
That dealer would lose my business for pulling that after you called, confirmed in stock & MSRP.
We got unlucky & replaced the Flex on Labor Day.
Anyways.
