Not new, not classic, semi-old shitbox car thread

[TwiceHorn 31350]

18 hours ago, USCATX said:

I love a good shitbox convo.  What about an S2000?  You could probably get a driver grade higher mileage one for mid teens and that transmission is about the sweetest shifting piece on god’s green earth.  Nothing ever broke on the one I had and consumables like brakes and tires are very inexpensive. 
 

You could also get a 2.0 manual trans Cadillac ATS in the mid teens.  I’ve only driven a V but it’s a very competent chassis if a little boring on the motor.  
 

If you’re city parking it then I’d avoid anything that you see in street takeover vids.  The G35/37 is the king in those other than Chargers and Challengers.  

For a shitbox car, the 2.0T is not at all boring.  Certainly not compared to the other shitbox cars we're talking about. 275HP/295Tq.  However, I am skeptical of the long-term, high-mileage reliability of the engine.  Not so much because it's GM, but because I am skeptical of all of the current series of 2.0T.  They are pretty over-engineered to get away from the no-torque and low output except at redline of say the spicier Honda four-bangers.

Edited October 6 by TwiceHorn

[Pescado_Rojo 19344]

On 9/14/2024 at 11:00 PM, SurlyGator said:

This is essentially exactly what I did, and I got bit in the ass on one detail.  2018 RDX Advance, 42,xxx miles.  The online details put out by the dealership said it had Apple CarPlay, which was one of the must haves in my mind.  I didn't discover until driving off the lot that Acura RDX's started getting Apple CarPlay in 2019.  I have complained to the dealership, but I'm not holding my breath on that resulting in anything.  A local car stereo place said they can install a kit that will give me everything for $1,400 installed.  Looks like I will be living without Apple CarPlay.  I am not gruntled.

Did you ever get this resolved? My girlfriend has a 2018 MDX and it's got wired carplay. Did you try pluging in a usb cable? 

[SurlyGator 862]

Plugged in the cable, nothing.  From what I have read online the RDX didn’t get it until 2019.  
 

[Pescado_Rojo 19344]

1 hour ago, SurlyGator said:

Plugged in the cable, nothing.  From what I have read online the RDX didn’t get it until 2019.  
 

Might check with these guys. I'm half-ass looking at a Lexus RC-F that doesn't have carplay, and their Lexus integration is highly recommended. 

Acura Carplay integration

[ChickenSandwich 9805]

On 10/7/2024 at 2:43 PM, Pescado_Rojo said:

Might check with these guys. I'm half-ass looking at a Lexus RC-F that doesn't have carplay, and their Lexus integration is highly recommended. 

Acura Carplay integration

Are they reputable?  Would love to upgrade my 2018 4 runner to car play

[rage-a-holic 4311]

[locodos 5370]

On 10/11/2024 at 4:39 PM, ChickenSandwich said:

Are they reputable?  Would love to upgrade my 2018 4 runner to car play

These UVA guys got you..

https://www.crutchfield.com/S-GUdWBC3ZneT/

[SurlyGator 862]

On 9/14/2024 at 11:00 PM, SurlyGator said:

This is essentially exactly what I did, and I got bit in the ass on one detail.  2018 RDX Advance, 42,xxx miles.  The online details put out by the dealership said it had Apple CarPlay, which was one of the must haves in my mind.  I didn't discover until driving off the lot that Acura RDX's started getting Apple CarPlay in 2019.  I have complained to the dealership, but I'm not holding my breath on that resulting in anything.  A local car stereo place said they can install a kit that will give me everything for $1,400 installed.  Looks like I will be living without Apple CarPlay.  I am not gruntled.

 

On 10/7/2024 at 2:43 PM, Pescado_Rojo said:

Might check with these guys. I'm half-ass looking at a Lexus RC-F that doesn't have carplay, and their Lexus integration is highly recommended. 

Acura Carplay integration

 

On 10/11/2024 at 3:39 PM, ChickenSandwich said:

Are they reputable?  Would love to upgrade my 2018 4 runner to car play

Update:  after some emails back and forth with these guys, I decided to pull the trigger.  They are currently running a 10% discount with a code, so I'm in for a hair under $500.  For installation, they said they have had good success with Geek Squad for 8 years.  I did an online chat with Geek Squad, and they said they could do it and quoted me $129.99 for installation.  Time will tell if this proves to be worth it or a massive shit storm.

On 10/28/2024 at 6:17 AM, locodos said:

These UVA guys got you..

https://www.crutchfield.com/S-GUdWBC3ZneT/

Crutchfield does not sell any type of add-on Apple CarPlay/Android Auto module.

[ChickenSandwich 9805]

1 minute ago, SurlyGator said:

 

 

Update:  after some emails back and forth with these guys, I decided to pull the trigger.  They are currently running a 10% discount with a code, so I'm in for a hair under $500.  For installation, they said they have had good success with Geek Squad for 8 years.  I did an online chat with Geek Squad, and they said they could do it and quoted me $129.99 for installation.  Time will tell if this proves to be worth it or a massive shit storm.

Crutchfield does not sell any type of add-on Apple CarPlay/Android Auto module.

Subscribed

[Updawg 2262]

Subscribed as well. Keep us posted

[SurlyGator 862]

On 10/30/2024 at 4:36 PM, SurlyGator said:

 

 

Update:  after some emails back and forth with these guys, I decided to pull the trigger.  They are currently running a 10% discount with a code, so I'm in for a hair under $500.  For installation, they said they have had good success with Geek Squad for 8 years.  I did an online chat with Geek Squad, and they said they could do it and quoted me $129.99 for installation.  Time will tell if this proves to be worth it or a massive shit storm.

Update update:  Just got home from Best Buy/Geek Squad.  Installed without any major issues.  It has the option to connect via Bluetooth or USB (a USB-A female wire is now sticking out on the passenger side next to the glove box - I think I can tuck it essentially out of sight if I end up never using it.  When paired via Bluetooth and set to Auto Pair, the screen immediately shows Apple CarPlay as soon as I start the car.  The main menu gives a screen mirroring option that makes me wonder if it could show video with the associated audio coming through the speakers.  The audio all comes through the Aux input, so all other options are still available.

Downsides - so far I haven't been able to bring the OEM navigation up on the screen, but that is not a problem since I prefer Waze/Google Maps/Apple Maps.  Also, the buttons on the steering wheel to answer and hang up on a phone call do not appear to work, but its not an issue to do it with the CarPlay controls the same way you do everything else.

Road trip Sunday and Monday for a college visit for my 17 year old daughter (no pics), will report more after some real world experience.  So far, I am quite gruntled - well worth the $500 for the unit and $150 installation in my mind.

[blacklab 11883]

back in the market for a semi old shitbox. Looking at 2014-2015 e250’s

[Your Mom 4803]

I think you’ve had more car accidents documented on this site than I’ve ever had in my life.  If I were you, I’d be driving some kind of a tank with lots of airbags. 

[SurlyGator 862]

He's had enough that an incident like this didn't automatically lead to a post in the shart thread.

[Sam Lin 3543]

That won't buff out.

[Brisketexan 104779]

So, our foster refugee kid was driving my old 2012 Hyundai Sonata.  It only had about 40k miles on its new engine.  Some gal broadsided him, and due to the age and mileage of the car, insurance will total it.  Trying to decide between two options:

1) Take the money offered, then buy it back at its damaged value, and repair it and keep it under a salvage title (it only needs a new door and quarterpanel).  We know that it's mechanically sound and has been taken care of with maintenance etc.  And it's hard to find a good reliable cheap used car.  It has something like 140k miles.  Bit of a pain to do the whole pay me and I buy it back and repair it process, and will have a salvage title, but it's a daily driver, not an investment.

2) A friend is selling a 2013 Chevy Equinox with 170k miles.  Will need to dig into it more, but it's been their car the whole time, they've maintained it well, etc.  We'd get it checked out, but presume no mechanical issues at the moment.  Can probably get it for just a bit more than we'll get back from insurance on my Sonata.

He's 16, he needs safe and reliable wheels to get back and forth to school and soccer.  Maybe to get him up to his first year of college in a couple of years.

 

Any big thoughts on those options?

[texasdago 7553]

On 1/31/2024 at 6:56 PM, blacklab said:

I have an FJ cruiser. I love it and will probably never get rid of it. But it's not great for long highway drives.

Planning on taking mine up to Taos... haven't gone further than 3-4 hours in the FJ.  Going to be interesting.  Its a 2007 with less than 110,000 miles so as long as it gets a clean bill of health, I guess its fine.  Mileage sucks, though.

[blacklab 11883]

1 hour ago, texasdago said:

Planning on taking mine up to Taos... haven't gone further than 3-4 hours in the FJ.  Going to be interesting.  Its a 2007 with less than 110,000 miles so as long as it gets a clean bill of health, I guess its fine.  Mileage sucks, though.

I drove mine from Austin to New Mexico and back. It sucks on the long stretches of west Texas. Set the cruise at 75 and it was continuously downshifting, had to set the cruise lower.

[texasdago 7553]

8 minutes ago, blacklab said:

I drove mine from Austin to New Mexico and back. It sucks on the long stretches of west Texas. Set the cruise at 75 and it was continuously downshifting, had to set the cruise lower.

Well that sounds like it will be pleasant.  

I'll be taking the Austin > Winters > Lubbock > Clovis > Ft Sumner > Santa Rosa > Taos route.  I'm sure anything uphill will suck, not to mention the crosswinds on the way to Clines Corners.

[ChickenSandwich 9805]

6 hours ago, blacklab said:

back in the market for a semi old shitbox. Looking at 2014-2015 e250’s

[blacklab 11883]

7pm last Wednesday, going south on Mopac over Town Lake, light traffic, turned my head to check for cars to get into right lane to exit on Bee Cave road, looked back and car was stopped in my lane. Swerved to get over and hit the front left of my car to back right of hers. Still wondering how/why the fuck they came to a complete stop, there were only a few cars on the bridge. The only thing I can think of is the car ahead of her brake checked her.

[Jerry Callo 8673]

41 minutes ago, texasdago said:

I'll be taking the Austin > Winters > Lubbock > Clovis > Ft Sumner > Santa Rosa > Taos route.  I'm sure anything uphill will suck, not to mention the crosswinds on the way to Clines Corners.

Last trip to Santa Fe we didn't turn north at Ft. Sumner, but instead proceeded on to Vaughn and got on 285 to SF.  Avoided I-40 all together - I hate that stretch of I-40.

[texasdago 7553]

1 hour ago, Jerry Callo said:

Last trip to Santa Fe we didn't turn north at Ft. Sumner, but instead proceeded on to Vaughn and got on 285 to SF.  Avoided I-40 all together - I hate that stretch of I-40.

Yeah, I'll have to think about it. I'm such a creature of habit on that drive that I almost always take the same exact path

[RDCanecutter 26346]

8 hours ago, Brisketexan said:

1) Take the money offered, then buy it back at its damaged value, and repair it and keep it under a salvage title (it only needs a new door and quarterpanel).  We know that it's mechanically sound and has been taken care of with maintenance etc.  And it's hard to find a good reliable cheap used car.  It has something like 140k miles.  Bit of a pain to do the whole pay me and I buy it back and repair it process, and will have a salvage title, but it's a daily driver, not an investment.

#1 all the way. It's the plan with the fewest moving parts and is direct and simple. (For max funkiness, don't even repaint the replacement door or quarterpanel.) This car has saved a life and deserves to live, and will gratefully give you 300,000 miles if you believe in it.

[AUinHsv 577]

17 hours ago, Brisketexan said:

So, our foster refugee kid was driving my old 2012 Hyundai Sonata.  It only had about 40k miles on its new engine.  Some gal broadsided him, and due to the age and mileage of the car, insurance will total it.  Trying to decide between two options:

1) Take the money offered, then buy it back at its damaged value, and repair it and keep it under a salvage title (it only needs a new door and quarterpanel).  We know that it's mechanically sound and has been taken care of with maintenance etc.  And it's hard to find a good reliable cheap used car.  It has something like 140k miles.  Bit of a pain to do the whole pay me and I buy it back and repair it process, and will have a salvage title, but it's a daily driver, not an investment.

2) A friend is selling a 2013 Chevy Equinox with 170k miles.  Will need to dig into it more, but it's been their car the whole time, they've maintained it well, etc.  We'd get it checked out, but presume no mechanical issues at the moment.  Can probably get it for just a bit more than we'll get back from insurance on my Sonata.

He's 16, he needs safe and reliable wheels to get back and forth to school and soccer.  Maybe to get him up to his first year of college in a couple of years.

 

Any big thoughts on those options?

Totally avoid number 1.  You probably are aware that salvage titles make it difficult to get rid of later on. Also your insurance may not work.

[Jerry Callo 8673]

2 hours ago, AUinHsv said:

Totally avoid number 1.  You probably are aware that salvage titles make it difficult to get rid of later on. Also your insurance may not work.

I tend to agree.  You never really know what was damaged in an accident unless you pull the entire thing apart.  If the airbags deployed, it can get quiet expensive to put back together.

We bought a vehicle back that was totaled due to hail damage, but that scenario is much different - no change in title, no change in ability to get insurance, etc.  Used about $500 to repair the dents on the hood and its still in use.