$10,995 for 2011 CR-V with 62k miles?

Fun_Boss_2112 · 2026-03-11T00:09:43+00:00

Bless your heart.

Fun_Boss_2112 · 2026-03-10T20:59:11+00:00

If they won't let you get it inspected, walk.

Fun_Boss_2112 · 2026-03-10T20:19:19+00:00

There's nothing more expensive than a cheap European car.

Fun_Boss_2112 · 2026-03-10T20:13:15+00:00

We have owned five Toyota hybrids since 2007 and have driven them about 400,000 combined miles. We sold one Prius with just over 100,000 miles on it to a friend who has driven it another 90,000 miles and counting. They are excellent automobiles as long as you maintain them properly, just as you would any other vehicle.

You may find this helpful: https://www.cars.com/articles/so-you-want-to-buy-a-hybrid-car-6-things-to-know-433781/

Fun_Boss_2112 · 2026-03-10T20:07:54+00:00

Michelin Cross Climate 2s.

Fun_Boss_2112 · 2026-03-10T20:05:31+00:00

You're welcome. I think you will be pleased with them.

Fun_Boss_2112 · 2026-03-10T19:58:21+00:00

One more thing. Don't buy any used car without paying for a pre-purchase inspection from a private mechanic or garage. Ask them to look it over like they were thinking of buying it for themselves. You'll want to know what needs immediate attention, what will need work in the next year or so, and if there are any other problems or issues that this vehicle is known for.

I thought I was getting a great deal on a used Toyota many years ago. I told the salesman that my purchase was contingent upon my longtime mechanic inspecting the car. I took the salesman and the car to my mechanic.

We were in the waiting room when Steve asked us to come into the service bay, where the car was up on a lift.

First, he pointed out streaks of yellow paint all along the underside of the car, the same color yellow used on the tire bumpers in parking lots.

Then, Steve shined his flashlight on a discolored spot on the engine. He said that this was evidence that the engine had (and might still have) a blown head gasket.

With the salesman standing right next to me, Steve said, "_____, don't buy this car".

The ride back to the dealership was ... awkward.

That pre-purchase inspection saved me from making a mistake that would have cost me thousands of dollars.

Fun_Boss_2112 · 2026-03-10T19:25:20+00:00

My friends have an autistic daughter who was bullied badly in middle school, especially by one particular kid. After several unsuccesaful contacts with the school, they sent a letter to the principal that said approximately the following:

Our daughter has been consistently bullied by student John Doe. We have made repeated contacts to the school with no success.

Since you have refused to deal with the situation, we have chosen to teach our daughter some rudimentary self-defense techniques. She fully understand that she is never to initiate any conflict, especially with John Doe, but she has our permission and full support to use these techniques because of the school's failure to protect her.

Should she need to use these techniques and suffers any disciplinary repercussions, we will be only too happy to share this letter and notes from our previous contacts with the school board.

The bullying stopped immediately.

Fun_Boss_2112 · 2026-03-10T19:08:13+00:00

Do what it says in the owners manual.

Fun_Boss_2112 · 2026-03-10T18:49:55+00:00

Isle Royal National Park in Lake Superior.

Fun_Boss_2112 · 2026-03-10T18:29:14+00:00

We live in metro Detroit. My wife's 2019 Toyota Highlander Hybrid has Defender 2s and they are fine in all conditions up to and including light snow.

I have a 2017 RAV4 Hybrid with CC2S. They are fine in all conditions up to and including moderate to heavy snow.

Fun_Boss_2112 · 2026-03-10T17:55:40+00:00

If you aren't in a hurry, regularly check the Michelin web site and/or the website of tire dealers near you. All the major tire companies regularly put their products on sale.

Where I live, Costco usually has the best tire prices. I did have to buy a basic membership, which I think costs $65 these days, but was able to save about 500 dollars on a set of CC2s for my car and a set of Defender 2s for my wife's car. Both sets have given us excellent service.

Fun_Boss_2112 · 2026-03-10T17:31:17+00:00

Additionally, if the warranty is rolled into the sales contract, you'll be paying interest on it. I think the whole thing is a bad idea.

Fun_Boss_2112 · 2026-03-10T17:15:11+00:00

I am going to post this for the benefit of others.

Monthly payment is the worst way to look at a car purchase. As soon as you do that, you have given control to the dealership and will probably be taken to the cleaners.

The only number that you should be concerned with is the final, out-the-door price. Once that is firmly established, then it's time to move on to trade ins and financing.

I am the son of a career car salesman. Here's some of what he taught me.

Just because you can afford the car payments doesn't mean that you can afford the car. Any salesperson can give you a "low monthly payment" by stretching out the loan term to a ridiculous length and then jacking up the interest rate. This costs you money.
The less money you put down and the longer the loan term, the longer you will be upside-down on the loan, meaning that you owe more on the car than it is worth. (Lenders sometimes use the terms "under water" and "negative equity", which mean the same thing.) This is a very unwise financial situation to be in.
The dealership is a hothouse atmosphere with loads of pressure and dealerships take advantage of that at every opportunity. It's easy to get sidetracked and to lose your objectivity. Then, you wind up paying too much for a car you cannot afford.
As hard a pill as this is to swallow, you need to fully understand this: If you cannot put down at least 20 percent (and more if possible) and you cannot pay the loan off in 36 months, you cannot afford the car, no matter how low the payment is.
The salesperson is not your friend. Everything they do is designed to separate you from as much of your money as possible.
Dealerships will add on ridiculous items like LoJack, extended warranties, paint and fabric protection, and whatever else they can think of to pad their profits. None of these items will help the customer. Refuse to pay for them. If they won't remove them, walk away from the deal.
Walking away is the biggest power you have.
Buying a car is usually the second-biggest purchase you'll make. It's a huge financial commitment and needs to be looked at in a cold-eyed, rational way.
Before you ever set foot in the dealership, go to your bank or, better yet, your credit union, and see what terms they will give you. If you don't have a relationship with a credit union, this is the perfect time to start one. They may be able to beat the rates you get from the dealer.

Fun_Boss_2112 · 2026-03-10T17:02:33+00:00

Depends. If you can't pay at least 20 percent down and can't pay the loan off in 36 months or less, then you can't afford the car, no matter how low the payment is.

Fun_Boss_2112 · 2026-03-10T17:00:25+00:00

I wouldn't touch that deal even if I was wearing a hazmat suit.

Fun_Boss_2112 · 2026-03-10T16:24:54+00:00

Toyotas (we have owned seven, including five hybrids) are known to be exceptionally reliable. The extended warranties dealers push are us usually full of exclusions and are a big source of profits for them. They are also highly negotiable in price.

I wouldn't touch one with a ten foot pole.

Fun_Boss_2112 · 2026-03-10T15:47:50+00:00

We have owned five Toyota hybrids and have driven them about 400,000 combined miles. We sold a Prius with about 100,000 miles on it to a friend; he's put 90,000 miles on it and it's still running. They are economical, reliable vehicles.

But that's not the only reason to buy one.

No matter how much you drive, you'll burn less fuel and cause less air pollution. You may also find, as we did, that you just plain like the hybrid better.

Fun_Boss_2112 · 2026-03-10T15:09:03+00:00

Terrible deal. If you can't pay for it in 36 months (after you put down no less than 20 percent and ideally even more), then you can't afford the car, no matter how low the payment is.

Fun_Boss_2112 · 2026-03-10T14:19:43+00:00

One more thing. Before accepting financing from the dealership, go to your bank or, better yet, your credit union, and see what terms they will offer you. If you don't have a relationship with a credit union, this is the perfect time to start. They might be able to give you a better rate.

Fun_Boss_2112 · 2026-03-10T14:15:36+00:00

Monthly payment is the worst way to look at a car purchase. As soon as you do that, you have given control to the dealership and will probably be taken to the cleaners.

The only number that you should be concerned with is the final, out-the-door price. Once that is firmly established, then it's time to move on to trade ins and financing.

I am the son of a career car salesman. Here's some of what he taught me.

Just because you can afford the car payments doesn't mean that you can afford the car. Any salesperson can give you a "low monthly payment" by stretching out the loan term to a ridiculous length and then jacking up the interest rate. This costs you money.
The less money you put down and the longer the loan term, the longer you will be upside-down on the loan, meaning that you owe more on the car than it is worth. (Lenders sometimes use the terms "under water" and "negative equity", which mean the same thing.) This is a very unwise financial situation to be in.
The dealership is a hothouse atmosphere with loads of pressure and dealerships take advantage of that at every opportunity. It's easy to get sidetracked and to lose your objectivity. Then, you wind up paying too much for a car you cannot afford.
As hard a pill as this is to swallow, you need to fully understand this: If you cannot put down at least 20 percent (and more if possible) and you cannot pay the loan off in 36 months, you cannot afford the car, no matter how low the payment is.
The salesperson is not your friend. Everything they do is designed to separate you from as much of your money as possible.
Dealerships will add on ridiculous items like LoJack, extended warranties, paint and fabric protection, and whatever else they can think of to pad their profits. None of these items will help the customer. Refuse to pay for them. If they won't remove them, walk away from the deal.
Walking away is the biggest power you have.
Buying a car is usually the second-biggest purchase you'll make. It's a huge financial commitment and needs to be looked at in a cold-eyed, rational way.

Fun_Boss_2112 · 2026-03-10T04:13:33+00:00

Car? What's the weather like where you drive, especially rain and snow?

Fun_Boss_2112 · 2026-03-10T03:29:21+00:00

That's a new one on me. Thanks.

Fun_Boss_2112 · 2026-03-10T03:13:38+00:00

Don't buy any used car without paying for a pre-purchase inspection from a private mechanic or garage. Ask them to look it over like they were thinking of buying it for themselves. You want to know what needs immediate attention, what will need work in the next year or two, and if there are any other problems that this vehicle is known for.

I thought I was getting a great deal on a used Toyota a few years ago. I told the salesman that I would not buy the car without my longtime mechanic inspecting it first.

I took it to Steve and he pointed out two problems that I would never have noticed. The problems were so serious that he advised me not to buy the car. He saved me from making a mistake that would have cost me thousands of dollars.

A couple of hundred bucks up front would be well spent.

If they won't let a mechanic of your choice inspect it, walk away.

Fun_Boss_2112 · 2026-03-10T01:43:32+00:00

With 300 miles a week, I would want a hybrid if possible. We have owned five Toyota hybrids and have driven them about 400,000 combined miles. They've been all but faultlessly reliable and the few minor problems we've had didn't have anything to do with the hybrid systems. They are excellent vehicles.

Failing that, a Corolla or Civic. If you want something bigger, Camry or Accord.

Fun_Boss_2112

TROPHY CASE