Buying, Owning, Driving and Maintaining a car in North America

Otomobil · 21st December 2013, 04:10

Folks !

Ran into this website www.carvana.com apparently a discreet online used car portal, based out from Atlanta, GA.

The unique thing i like about this portal is they indicate and show alll big / small scratches,scuffs, dents, dings on the car exteriors and interiors. They ship to the desired location.

Thought i share this, as there are many Bhpian's in the Midwest and East coast area.

Pour your thoughts.

amitoj · 25th December 2013, 21:12

Sigh

Buying, Owning, Driving and Maintaining a car in North America-img_0645.jpg

I just couldnt fight it any more.

Buying, Owning, Driving and Maintaining a car in North America-img_0651.jpg

Well, at least its black

Buying, Owning, Driving and Maintaining a car in North America-img_0650.jpg

Buying, Owning, Driving and Maintaining a car in North America-img_0654.jpg

And it has nice alloys

Buying, Owning, Driving and Maintaining a car in North America-img_0656.jpg

And since its leased, I can console myself that its only a matter of 3 years!

vineethvazhayil · 25th December 2013, 21:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by amitoj

And since its leased, I can console myself that its only a matter of 3 years!

What is the plan after that

? You still need a big vehicle don't you?

Anyway, looks nice! And minivans are the champs of practicality.

amitoj · 25th December 2013, 22:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by vineethvazhayil

What is the plan after that

? You still need a big vehicle don't you?

Anyway, looks nice! And minivans are the champs of practicality.

Oh well, the plan after three years is that I would have paid off significant amount of the loan on the charger which would then enable me to get something more fun even if the minivan stays.

VLOCT · 26th December 2013, 18:26

'VANkenztein ' has stuck again.

Otomobil · 26th December 2013, 21:34

Built-in Vacuum cleaner was the deal sealer

I guess.

amitoj · 26th December 2013, 22:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Otomobil

Built-in Vacuum cleaner was the deal sealer

I guess.

Actually, thats in the Touring Elite variant. We have Touring. It only has the box to keep a vacuum cleaner. The deal itself was a good one.
We were this close to getting the Traverse. But we were not getting some of the bells and whistles we were looking for. They were all there in only the 7 seat configuration whereas we were looking for 8 seat configuration.

Otomobil · 27th December 2013, 00:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by amitoj

Actually, thats in the Touring Elite variant. We have Touring. They were all there in only the 7 seat configuration whereas we were looking for 8 seat configuration.

Well, Thanks for the insight on the variant. Enjoy your new Honda !.

Technocrat · 27th December 2013, 01:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by amitoj

Sigh

Attachment 1182472

I just couldnt fight it any more.

Attachment 1182473

Well, at least its black

Attachment 1182474

Attachment 1182475

And it has nice alloys

Attachment 1182476

And since its leased, I can console myself that its only a matter of 3 years!

Hahaha, welcome to the Honda owners club

You might hate it but you cant avoid it

So the Ford is out? Boy you are in a car buying spree since you arrived :-)

Do post an ownership thread, i did too, not sure if you checked it.

2008 Honda Accord EX-L V6 with Navigation - Ownership Review

amitoj · 30th December 2013, 20:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Technocrat

Hahaha, welcome to the Honda owners club

You might hate it but you cant avoid it

So the Ford is out? Boy you are in a car buying spree since you arrived :-)

Do post an ownership thread, i did too, not sure if you checked it.

Well, I wanted to take a picture of its engine and put that up too, titled, "at least its a V6"! But it was just too darn cold out there that day.

For the short time that I have driven it, I have to admit that it does not feel any different from driving a car. You just need to get used to the long body when taking turns. My friend who drives a Pilot said that its steering is not as heavy as the Pilot.

I will put up an ownership thread once the weather warms up a bit.

As for the ford, I need to sell it. So, let me know if anyone is interested in a 2011 Ford Focus SEL with 31.5K miles on it. Comes with a sunrood and heated leather seats. Asking 12.5K OBO.

Cheers
Amitoj

amitoj · 6th January 2014, 17:12

I hope all of you guys facing the winter blast are staying warm and safe!!

I have had to do a few trips in some extreme conditions over the past couple of weeks but managed to stay incident free! The Charger's AWD is starting to lack some bite because the tires are now 25K miles old. The Ody on the other hand seems to do well, thanks to new tires and heavy weight.

Technocrat · 6th January 2014, 19:33

Yep, warm & safe. The Accord too has been behaving very well with all the snow. So far no behavior to make me feel the lack of an AWD.

KiloAlpha · 6th January 2014, 19:36

Just got back after a fun weekend of long-distance driving. I went to Austin, TX from Chattanooga, TN. Left Chattanooga on Friday afternoon 1pm, came back Monday early morning 3:45am.

Total distance: 1979 miles
Drive time: 27 hours 35 minutes
Average speed: 71.75 mph
Average mileage: 34.8mpg
Which means the rental Ford Focus SE (2013 model) drank 57 gallons of gas for this round trip.

Can I just say that the Focus is definitely not very comfortable long distance. In the end, my shoulders were aching slightly, and the noise from tyres & wind is definitely on the higher side.

amitoj · 6th January 2014, 20:19

Focus does have a steering that's a bit on the hard side. Maybe that's why you got shoulder pain? On the other hand, you seem to have got excellent mileage for that average speed!

Jomz · 6th January 2014, 23:44

The Snow tires which I've bought are becoming real useful this year.

Even when travel was banned In Indianapolis, I was able to make it to work - thanks to the Corolla and the Vredesteins. And i have a 100 mile commute (round trip).

The Snow tires actually gave an opportunity to yell at my team. Most of today's calls went like " Guys, If I can make it from 50 miles away on a FWD Corolla in ~ a foot of snow.....".

I'm becoming a Typical desi manager.

21st December 2013, 04:10	#3526
Otomobil BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: MKE,USA Posts: 116 Thanked: 26 Times	Re: Buying, Owning, Driving and Maintaining a car in North America Folks ! Ran into this website www.carvana.com apparently a discreet online used car portal, based out from Atlanta, GA. The unique thing i like about this portal is they indicate and show alll big / small scratches,scuffs, dents, dings on the car exteriors and interiors. They ship to the desired location. Thought i share this, as there are many Bhpian's in the Midwest and East coast area. Pour your thoughts.
	(1) Thanks

25th December 2013, 21:12	#3527
amitoj Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Windham, NH USA Posts: 3,376 Thanked: 3,287 Times View My Garage	Re: Buying, Owning, Driving and Maintaining a car in North America Sigh I just couldnt fight it any more. Well, at least its black And it has nice alloys And since its leased, I can console myself that its only a matter of 3 years!
	(8) Thanks

26th December 2013, 18:26	#3530
VLOCT BHPian Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Las Vegas, USA Posts: 558 Thanked: 633 Times View My Garage	Re: Buying, Owning, Driving and Maintaining a car in North America 'VANkenztein ' has stuck again.
	(2) Thanks

26th December 2013, 21:34	#3531
Otomobil BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: MKE,USA Posts: 116 Thanked: 26 Times	Re: Buying, Owning, Driving and Maintaining a car in North America Built-in Vacuum cleaner was the deal sealer I guess.
	(1) Thanks

6th January 2014, 17:12	#3536
amitoj Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Windham, NH USA Posts: 3,376 Thanked: 3,287 Times View My Garage	Re: Buying, Owning, Driving and Maintaining a car in North America I hope all of you guys facing the winter blast are staying warm and safe!! I have had to do a few trips in some extreme conditions over the past couple of weeks but managed to stay incident free! The Charger's AWD is starting to lack some bite because the tires are now 25K miles old. The Ody on the other hand seems to do well, thanks to new tires and heavy weight.
	() Thanks

6th January 2014, 19:33	#3537
Technocrat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: GTA Posts: 14,815 Thanked: 2,702 Times	Re: Buying, Owning, Driving and Maintaining a car in North America Yep, warm & safe. The Accord too has been behaving very well with all the snow. So far no behavior to make me feel the lack of an AWD. Last edited by Technocrat : 6th January 2014 at 20:00.
	() Thanks

6th January 2014, 19:36	#3538
KiloAlpha Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Cubicle Posts: 1,610 Thanked: 3,028 Times	Re: Buying, Owning, Driving and Maintaining a car in North America Just got back after a fun weekend of long-distance driving. I went to Austin, TX from Chattanooga, TN. Left Chattanooga on Friday afternoon 1pm, came back Monday early morning 3:45am. Total distance: 1979 miles Drive time: 27 hours 35 minutes Average speed: 71.75 mph Average mileage: 34.8mpg Which means the rental Ford Focus SE (2013 model) drank 57 gallons of gas for this round trip. Can I just say that the Focus is definitely not very comfortable long distance. In the end, my shoulders were aching slightly, and the noise from tyres & wind is definitely on the higher side.
	() Thanks

6th January 2014, 20:19	#3539
amitoj Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Windham, NH USA Posts: 3,376 Thanked: 3,287 Times View My Garage	Re: Buying, Owning, Driving and Maintaining a car in North America Focus does have a steering that's a bit on the hard side. Maybe that's why you got shoulder pain? On the other hand, you seem to have got excellent mileage for that average speed!
	() Thanks

6th January 2014, 23:44	#3540
Jomz BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Detroit, MI,USA Posts: 834 Thanked: 335 Times	Re: Buying, Owning, Driving and Maintaining a car in North America The Snow tires which I've bought are becoming real useful this year. Even when travel was banned In Indianapolis, I was able to make it to work - thanks to the Corolla and the Vredesteins. And i have a 100 mile commute (round trip). The Snow tires actually gave an opportunity to yell at my team. Most of today's calls went like " Guys, If I can make it from 50 miles away on a FWD Corolla in ~ a foot of snow.....". I'm becoming a Typical desi manager.
	() Thanks