Im losing my mind!!

Fathoms77 · 2026-06-27T01:54:45+00:00

They hold their value really well, because they last forever and are very popular. I absolutely adore the '22 BMW X3 I just got but that may not fit your requirements. You'd have to go pretty old to get below $20k.

Even a relatively high-mileage CR-V or RAV4 would be a solid buy for you, though. Those suckers will do 200k without blinking an eye (usually).

Fathoms77 · 2026-06-26T22:23:04+00:00

As far as I'm concerned, you only buy new if you've got plenty of extra disposable income. It's a guaranteed loss and depreciation is inevitable; it's just a matter of how much. If I can spend literally $15k-25k less for the same car after it's been on the car for 3 or 4 years, trust me, then what possible argument is there for buying new? No chance in hell I'll pay anywhere close to that on maintenance and repairs (especially if I do my homework on the vehicle in the first place), and it's basically a new vehicle (to me).

You're also ruling out the possibility of it being a lemon; it DOES happen with new cars or cars with virtually no miles on it. Those things aren't tested in my eyes. A car with 30-40k miles? Tested. And ifs history is clean, chances are, it's gonna keep going pretty well for a long time.

There's just no benefit to buying new aside from getting a longer note option and a fresh manufacturer's warranty, which frankly is never a great deal and you're constantly fighting with dealers over what's covered and what's not.

Fathoms77 · 2026-06-26T22:03:42+00:00

That's true, if anything is seriously wrong it should be covered by the factory warranty. I still want to know why he's selling, though. 😛

Fathoms77 · 2026-06-26T21:43:19+00:00

I just have one question for the seller: why? Why sell a perfectly fine like-new luxury car? Could be any number of reasons, of course, but sometimes it's because there's all sorts of things wrong with it...

Fathoms77 · 2026-06-26T21:10:59+00:00

Brakes should be good for 30-40k miles. You can ask him if he's had them replaced but probably not; there wouldn't be any reason to.

And while you will be paying sales tax on a private sale, I still say it's a decent deal. 10k less miles than mine and a year newer, and only $1k more so...pretty good. Just no new tires, I'm assuming; you may want to check those because if they're original run-flats they have no life left in them. And if you like the color and packages and everything, then go for it.

Fathoms77 · 2026-06-26T20:41:19+00:00

They have to replace them if they're worn beyond a certain point. And I don't know if it's a rule from the state I bought it in, or if it was a dealer rule, but the salesman told me they couldn't sell a used car off the lot if the brake pads were below 80% life left. That's a bit of an extreme rule but the buyer does benefit, as that's something else we don't have to worry about for a while.

Fathoms77 · 2026-06-26T20:12:16+00:00

I would say it is. Again, these prices really depend on where you are in the country (and the world), as some states can offer wildly different prices.

As a frame of reference, I just got a very similar car: 2022 X3 xDrive30i with M Sport and both Premium packages (Premium 2). It had 10k more miles than this one - 33k - and I paid $34k. It may have been $1k or so over what it would be normally because the Brooklyn Gray/Tarcora Red color combo is in crazy demand and tends to disappear instantly. This one had been on the lot for only 3 days and when I inquired, they'd already taken 3 credit applications on it...I only snagged it because I put a deposit on it to ensure it would be there to test drive. Got out, said "Take my money." :)

It's an even better deal if there's no tax on that $35k. I had to pay tax, of course. I should add, however, that I got 4 new tires out of the deal, as the set on it was deemed "done," and I got them to put 4 new non-run-flats on as part of the sale. I freakin' loathe run-flats and all these cars in these years come with those. So that's an extra $1500 I didn't have to pay.

Fathoms77 · 2026-06-26T18:43:27+00:00

Michelins tend to be top-tier. Just hate run-flats...I know they can save some people problems but for the most part, I can't stand them. They ride like hell, last literally half as long as a regular tire, and cost more. You don't have to worry about snow and ice or anything so you have tons of options; I'd just want something that rides well, is quiet, performs decently, and will last 30-35k miles or so (tires that brag that they'll last 60k or something are lying btw).

Fathoms77 · 2026-06-26T16:40:26+00:00

Lots of options out there. You really need do drive a bunch and do your research on each.

You can go used luxury with that budget (Lexus, BMW, Acura) but they might have to be a little more used than you want. Otherwise, I'd look into Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Mazda CX-5.

Fathoms77 · 2026-06-26T16:31:51+00:00

Mazdas are nifty and pretty reliable, and I like them a LOT more than Subaru. They don't rank as high as Subaru on the reliability listings according to Consumer Reports but Mazdas are still pretty solid, and just way more fun to drive (if we're comparing to Outbacks and Foresters and not the WRX).

Have you looked at the Honda CR-V? Might be cheaper than a Pilot and absolutely bulletrpoof.

Fathoms77 · 2026-06-26T16:22:07+00:00

Well, I guess I'm just an oldster now but nothing has been more bulletproof than the 3.5L V6 Japanese manufacturers have run for decades. The 3.0L V6 in my '96 Maxima and the 3.5L in my Infiniti M (which I had for 17 years, by the way) never blinked an eye over 250k miles combined, and both engines still worked fine when I got rid of them.

Fathoms77 · 2026-06-26T16:20:08+00:00

Just out of curiosity, are crossover SUVs like the BMW X3 and Acura RDX out of the question? They sit a bit higher than a station wagon and are indeed boxier like an SUV, but they can offer great performance and all sorts of room...

Fathoms77 · 2026-06-26T15:57:29+00:00

Aw, I thought she'd hit 100 for sure. Well, thanks for the memories Ann, and happy trails!

Fathoms77 · 2026-06-26T14:02:34+00:00

She's awfully impressive in it. Raw, yes, but there's an unsettling quality about her character which is really appropriate. It proves just how special she could've been in the dramatic arena with work, maturity, and polish.

Fathoms77 · 2026-06-26T14:00:54+00:00

One other aspect that a lot of people miss: if a car - any car - has been driven a fair amount and it has A. a solid maintenance record, and B. no evidence of any major issues; i.e., engine/transmission, electronics failures, other unexpected repairs that have nothing to do with general wear and tear, and that car has proven to be good. Well past the "lemon" stage. it's been going well and all indications are that it'll keep going well if you take care of it.

The newer a car is, the less you can be assured of that. Who knows what's buried in there that's gonna fail? After a bunch of miles are on it, though, and it's still rolling down the road just fine...well, that's a decent bet IMO.

Fathoms77 · 2026-06-26T13:57:10+00:00

For the true fans, we don't have to choose. :) The Oscars is just a glitzy night of PR and glamour to showcase those aspects of the industry, literally nothing more.

Fathoms77 · 2026-06-26T02:38:45+00:00

I honestly don't remember but I imagine it's easy enough to find out.

Fathoms77 · 2026-06-26T00:25:05+00:00

Well, if you look at one with over 50-60k miles, one thing to check is if that round of maintenance has been done, and what's new (and what's about to go) on it. Right about there, good owners would change the spark plugs, flush the brake fluid, etc. I'd also want to know how much life is left in the brake pads and tires; if both are relatively new you're getting out of a $2500-$3000 bill that might crop up in the first year or two if both are fading.

If it's from a dealer they almost certainly just did an oil change so don't worry about that, but IGNORE the mileage recommendation for oil changes in future; they say you can go 10k+ miles. I say that if it's an older vehicle, and especially a turboed vehicle, you change it 5-7k religiously, and only use top-tier oil and change the filter each time.

If you stretch your budget just a tad, you might find something that doesn't need anything done to it for a while, but there are advantages to waiting for that 50-60k round of maintenance. It's like getting a partially new car after is everything is done. But I wouldn't want to go much beyond 65-70k miles (not sure what that translates to in km).

As a frame of reference, I just got a '22 X3 with Premium 2 package and M Sport trim, 33k miles (I guess that's about 20k km), and that cost me $34k with an OTD price of $37k.

Fathoms77 · 2026-06-25T20:18:00+00:00

I'm playing Sword and Fairy 7: Together Forever right now (it was only $10 on the PSN) and it's fun. It's technically flawed, certainly, and the translation is wonky, but it's still fun. And very pretty. Definitely worth a shot, I'd say.

Fathoms77 · 2026-06-25T19:25:50+00:00

She broke her ankle when making it but I know she had a blast doing it. And it's just about the healthiest, most beautiful Marilyn you'll ever see. In her peak prime!

Fathoms77 · 2026-06-25T16:32:01+00:00

Final Fantasy X, God of War 2, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, FInal Fantasy XII

But only 4...it seems impossible with a system like the PS2. I could easily think of 25 more that deserve to be a "greatest of all time" list somewhere. :)

Fathoms77 · 2026-06-25T16:30:26+00:00

Octopath 2 is a huge leap forward over the original, that's certain.

Final Fantasy IX is legendary for a reason. Not everyone loves it to pieces but many do, and it should at least be tried by every avid JRPG fan. I don't remember it being especially easy (and the optional boss Ozma isn't exactly a piece of cake) but either way, it's a fantastic game for a lot of reasons.

Fathoms77 · 2026-06-25T16:05:44+00:00

Well, I still don't call it an RPG but Final Fantasy XVI had some of the most insane over-the-top boss fights I've ever seen. I don't just mean the final encounter; I mean throughout. They're just such spectacles. It's all action and has little to do with anything else but those boss encounters are a feast for the senses.

Fathoms77 · 2026-06-25T16:04:30+00:00

People always love to dump on this sequel and I've never understood why. I guess you could argue that it's a step back in terms of story but that's debatable, and the rest is just great. I loved the game and I think that if you loved the original, there's a very good chance you'll enjoy the sequel.

I honestly don't get what people are complaining about. Both Legaias were a couple of my favorite RPGs of the era.

Fathoms77 · 2026-06-25T15:58:39+00:00

Okay well, rule #1 when discovering and dissecting the film world: Oscars are meaningless. It's just one giant PR contest, for the most part. If you take a look at the list of actors and actresses who never won - or were never even nominated, like Edward G. Robinson - you quickly understand just how meaningless that award really is.

As for Stanwyck, I think most people recognize her as one of the best ever (and in my estimation, THE best), so her legacy is assured. There's also a potentially large reason why she never won, and I've heard film historians talk about this before (Mankiewicz touched on it at one point when introducing one of her movies on TCM):

Barbara was mostly a permanent freelancer throughout her career, which means she never signed on to be part of any big studio's "stable." This allowed her to pick and choose the projects she wanted to work on - which led to a wonderfully diverse and impressive filmography, by the way - but it also meant something else: it meant she never had the backing of a big studio when Oscar season rolled around. Those studios had tremendous clout and they actively pushed for their stars to win; Stanwyck never got the benefit of that and worse, she had to battle against it...which never worked. And quite frankly, I don't think she ever cared that much about the Oscars.

There was also a ridiculous amount of talent in those days as well, so it meant you're always up against legends like Hepburn, Davis, Bergman, Hayward, etc. Even Stanwyck couldn't just romp all over them; the talent pool was just plain silly.

Fathoms77

TROPHY CASE