TPC
Wrenching Dad
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2007
- Messages
- 30,437
- Reaction score
- 22,530
A niece finally got her lemon law settlement on her CRV. She paid off her condo and had enough left to buy a new car.
Subaru Outback was her first choice but she was priced out for a cash sale. Even negotiating a better deal was too expensive. Subaru sells out nationwide every year. No deals to be had. Toyota RAV4 with AWD is a priced-out situation too. They ain't cheap, dealers don't deal off MSRP. She thought a clunky ride and a buzzy engine anyway.
The Kia Seltos AWD fit her cash budget after we negotiated a price. A poor man's Subaru.
The people in RDP were happy with their Kias and those with issues reported the company fixed them to their satisfaction.
Nice cars at good prices and getting good reviews now.
Then the phone rang:
One of our adult kids got hit in their car last week. No injuries and our grandchild in the rear seat was unharmed.
This adult child suffers mental distress from years of fighting cancer. The drugs, the chemo, the surgeries, the treatments, the aftermath of botched surgeries, the sickness itself took its toll. A cross this child carries thru life.
We teach cancer doesn't define you, but that's a tough sell in this case.
Car totaled.
It was a good run with that car. Almost 200.000 trouble free miles. Bought new. Mazda 3 great cars.
So Wednesday morning I headed to Las Vegas and our adult child flew down from Reno Nv and we went new car shopping.
In the Southwest price negotiation (haggling) on a new vehicle is a ritual. A miserable ritual.
We had picked a bottom line cheap-O mini SUV off the car dealers website and they sent us a decent price offer about $5000 off MSRP + fees. 5 star crash rated. New driveline design, good reviews. They promised no shenanigans - just write a check, sign, take the vehicle.
Forget buying a new vehicle from San Francisco across thru Reno onto Fallon Nevada then North to The Canadian border. They just won't deal on price.
In Las Vegas they do and it can be fun. Best place to buy a new Vehicle IMHO.
So Wednesday morning we connected at the airport and headed to the car dealer. We were walking over to where the quoted car was parked on the dealers lot but walked by a nicer model that is “murdered out.” They just unloaded it off the car hauler. Still covered with stickers and tags from the shipping co and MFG.
"Murdered Out" means dark colors and all chrome is black chrome and the vehicle is loaded with every possible option. Bigger 18" wheels, nicer interior and such. AWD with locking center diff. Different off roading exterior trim that lowered the insurance cost and looks nicer.
Nice everything car but way more money than the much lesser model we came in for.
So an hour later we got way more than discount knocked off the price of the Murdered out Kia. No sales tax, no registration fees and another $500 knocked off because I was a veteran. Pop'd out the COSTCO buyers chit, they knocked off another grand.
Car ended up not much more money than the basic Cheap-O model we came in for.
Inked - took delivery.
So I spent last night night at the Southpoint Hotel with our adult child heading back up to Reno in a new vehicle that they paid cash for themself. No payments.
A lot more bang for the buck for sure.
I’m smiling.
They arrived home to an Amazon box at the doorstep.
The insurance co had sent a new child car seat.
Now, onto knee surgery
Subaru Outback was her first choice but she was priced out for a cash sale. Even negotiating a better deal was too expensive. Subaru sells out nationwide every year. No deals to be had. Toyota RAV4 with AWD is a priced-out situation too. They ain't cheap, dealers don't deal off MSRP. She thought a clunky ride and a buzzy engine anyway.
The Kia Seltos AWD fit her cash budget after we negotiated a price. A poor man's Subaru.
The people in RDP were happy with their Kias and those with issues reported the company fixed them to their satisfaction.
Nice cars at good prices and getting good reviews now.
Then the phone rang:
One of our adult kids got hit in their car last week. No injuries and our grandchild in the rear seat was unharmed.
This adult child suffers mental distress from years of fighting cancer. The drugs, the chemo, the surgeries, the treatments, the aftermath of botched surgeries, the sickness itself took its toll. A cross this child carries thru life.
We teach cancer doesn't define you, but that's a tough sell in this case.
Car totaled.
It was a good run with that car. Almost 200.000 trouble free miles. Bought new. Mazda 3 great cars.
So Wednesday morning I headed to Las Vegas and our adult child flew down from Reno Nv and we went new car shopping.
In the Southwest price negotiation (haggling) on a new vehicle is a ritual. A miserable ritual.
We had picked a bottom line cheap-O mini SUV off the car dealers website and they sent us a decent price offer about $5000 off MSRP + fees. 5 star crash rated. New driveline design, good reviews. They promised no shenanigans - just write a check, sign, take the vehicle.
Forget buying a new vehicle from San Francisco across thru Reno onto Fallon Nevada then North to The Canadian border. They just won't deal on price.
In Las Vegas they do and it can be fun. Best place to buy a new Vehicle IMHO.
So Wednesday morning we connected at the airport and headed to the car dealer. We were walking over to where the quoted car was parked on the dealers lot but walked by a nicer model that is “murdered out.” They just unloaded it off the car hauler. Still covered with stickers and tags from the shipping co and MFG.
"Murdered Out" means dark colors and all chrome is black chrome and the vehicle is loaded with every possible option. Bigger 18" wheels, nicer interior and such. AWD with locking center diff. Different off roading exterior trim that lowered the insurance cost and looks nicer.
Nice everything car but way more money than the much lesser model we came in for.
So an hour later we got way more than discount knocked off the price of the Murdered out Kia. No sales tax, no registration fees and another $500 knocked off because I was a veteran. Pop'd out the COSTCO buyers chit, they knocked off another grand.
Car ended up not much more money than the basic Cheap-O model we came in for.
Inked - took delivery.
So I spent last night night at the Southpoint Hotel with our adult child heading back up to Reno in a new vehicle that they paid cash for themself. No payments.
A lot more bang for the buck for sure.
I’m smiling.
They arrived home to an Amazon box at the doorstep.
The insurance co had sent a new child car seat.
Now, onto knee surgery
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