General question Wednesday: Ask your general car-related question and maybe someone will have an answer.
Posted by AutoModerator@reddit | cars | View on Reddit | 45 comments
Please direct all choosing/purchase questions to the weekly car-buying sticky. All rules of r/cars apply here.
iceair1111@reddit
Aastrategiesrepo LLC
Does anyone have any information on this company? I am attempting to figure out if this is legit or not. Vehicle auction site: https://strategiesauto.com.
I won an auction here for a ridiculous deal on a vehicle and was called and asked what bank I will be using to transfer funds directly to them. I provided zero information and asked why no escrow account. Basically was told it was not how they do business… so I declined the purchase.
Just wanted to know if anyone else had success doing things this way with them. Thank you.
Ok_Philosophy6829@reddit
did you find anything on it, looking at the site as well, lot of positive reviews from different forums
Connect-Duty4119@reddit
It's a scam, there are several sites out there that have the same cars/trucks/boats/heavy equip for sale/bid. Check out https://managerassets.com/ it's the same exact site as AAStrategiesrepo, LLC only in Boise instead of Denver. It even has the same webpage errors on it. It you do a review search for both companies, the reviews are exactly the same just different names. I won an award on one, then found the exact same car on the other page still open for bidders. How can you sell an $85K Mercedes for $33K and not have every dealer in the country bidding for it? Too good to be true!!!
iceair1111@reddit
Figured as much. The ending to the story regarding these websites is once the purchase was declined, they completely cancelled my account and basically moved on to whomever the next victim is. Buyer beware for real!!
serpent4433@reddit
I am in need of a new car and have always loved Honda but haven’t had one since an 03’ civic. I want a late gen 10 or early gen 11 civic or accord, but I am very paranoid about the 1.5t in majority of the cars. I’ve heard that the main problem is with short drives and cold weather. I live in central IL and it gets cold and I currently live less than 5 miles from my job so there’s that. I wouldn’t typically be paranoid about it but I am shopping with the intent of getting a car with less than 30k miles and keeping it until it has around 200k if possible. I’ve been looking at the 2.0 NA engine options but I would prefer something with a little more luxury to it as the sport models kinda seem like the ex but look “fancier”. Any recommendations or help? If you don’t think honda would be best for me what other mid sized vehicles do you think would work?
DiscloseDivest@reddit
Are suspension parts sturdier on a truck or suv? Why? Why can’t all suspension parts be as durable as ones for trucks and SUV’s?
timwang2006@reddit
The sturdiness of the suspension components are based on the GVWR or gross vehicle weight rating. Yes a truck or body on frame SUV will have heavy duty suspension because they are intended to hold up more mass. A Ford F-350 will have heavier suspension than a F- 250 which will be heavier than a F-150 because each step has a corresponding major decrease in GWVR. GWVR is a figure based on the vehicle weight plus max load so while a luxury car might weigh the same as a light truck, the truck will have a higher GWVR and heavier suspension since it has the potential to take on additional payload weight.
Cost, fuel economy, ride and handling, and even potentially safety if they are an energy absorbing component in a crash. Its entirely downsides if you don't need the extra carrying capacity. People aren't snapping control arms in light duty passenger cars, that's not a part that needs to be stronger.
dumahim@reddit
Don't forget size of the components.
Embarrassed-Tax5618@reddit
Cost might be a very big factor as well as its intended use. For example, suspension components on Land Cruiser 100 or 200 series are so beefy and sturdy looking/feeling that it reminds more of F250/350 than F150. But again, in most parts of the world it is considered a luxury car for corruptioners and businessmen while in North America Lexus LX is offered. There is a very good reason it costs 90k+ considering how much it lacks in features against other luxury SUVs. - Also you want your suspension components to be light generally, because they are semi unsprung mass that is why you hear all these weight saving measures for performance or luxury cars. Being light doesn’t mean that they are brittle though but it means they can withstand high loads on track but might bend or crack while going over potholes.
DiscloseDivest@reddit
I am snapping control arms where I live in New Orleans pretty easily because our roads are so shit. Next car is definitely gonna be an suv. All the money wasted on gas will be saved on suspension and then some.
zzyzx85@reddit
sturdier compared to a compact passenger car? Yes they are. This is because they are larger, heavier vehicles and are designed to carry heavier loads compared to cars.
That extra strength and sturdiness come at the expense of weight, and weight directly affects fuel economy.
2pnt1@reddit
Is there a good time of year to buy tires, specifically summer tires? Just took mine off today and will definitely need a new set come next year.
Any recommendations? I drive a 2020 WRX. Stock suspension, engine etc
dumahim@reddit
Keep an eye on tire rack. They have a promotions page that shows all the current deals.
zzyzx85@reddit
Ditto what the other guy said about what time is best to buy tires. I live in SoCal and typically get my summer tires during fall/winter.
Continental tires are on sale at Tire Rack and I just ordered a set of ExtremeContact Sport 02 for my M3. I've ran the older versions and they were great.
FuzzelFox@reddit
Buying things off-season is generally how you get better deals. Buy summer tires during the winter (Jan/Feb especially), buy winter tires/jackets in the summer.
Consistent_Owl_1413@reddit
I need help on choosing a car.
I am located in the U.K. Recently I discovered that I can get 2 out of a few cars, at a reasonable insurance price at 18 years old, that have caught my eye ever since I got my license.
These cars being, a BMW 218I M sport 2017 1.5L manual and a Toyota gt86 2.0L 2012 Manual. (If I had the option for a better bmw, I would scrap the 218I for it, but the 218I was the cheapest out of all)
If I’m not mistaken both cars are RWD and I’ve taken an interest in wanting to modify my cars and have also wanted to try drifting. The bmw is the cheaper of the 2 to insure but honestly the difference in insurance cost isn’t a problem to me as I’m already paying quite a lot for my current car.
I’m not sure which one I should go for. Can I get some suggestions that can help me decide?
nogaesallowed@reddit
is there any tyres have an aspect ratio over 100? for example: a 225/110 R16 spec. can it be a real existing thing?
rudbri93@reddit
Technically possible but i dont think its done. That would mean youd have a huge sidewall so flex would become a problem.
nogaesallowed@reddit
Yeah a few tractor tyres I see have the 100 marks as well as electric dirt bikes. nothing on common passenger vehicles/trucks. ty!
m3lk3r@reddit
Was about to change to my studded tyres for the winter season, all in good condition and 2 of them brand new last winter. When I changed to summer tyres in april one of them had like 1 bar pressure but the other 3 tyres were fine. Now half a year later, stored in a warm cellar wrapped in plastic bags, 3 of the tyres had none to 0,4 bar pressure. I expected one of them to be lower on pressure but 3 of them and this low too? Have been googling in my language but finding nothing. No visible damages. What could have happened?
soo8@reddit
I've had this on a few wheels when there hasn't been any issues with them leaking in use. Every time it ended up leaking from the valve stem (tested with slipping a balloon on the valve stem for a month). I've come up with a theory that vibration helps the valve stem keep resealing as the orings rubber gets older.
Unless you fill up the tire and it keeps going down in pressure I wouldn't worry about it.
m3lk3r@reddit
Thanks a lot! Very reassuring to read that!
rudbri93@reddit
Fill to proper pressure, then spray with soapy water and check for leaks.
Amish_country_Rich@reddit
Is the Chevrolet Impala( 2014-2020 ) with the V6 a decent reliable car? I am looking to buy one as late a model as possible, and with the lowest miles that I can get my hands on.
nogaesallowed@reddit
impala and malibus are over looked af. rental car companies use them so they must be doing something right.
DoctorDetrimental@reddit
They're solid motors from what I'm reading. It seems that engines from 2012 or earlier are the ones with more common issues.
Amish_country_Rich@reddit
That's what Ive heard as well, and it looks like G.M got those year Impala's right!
FORluvOFdaGAME@reddit
Can one of those code readers tell me the mileage of my truck? The dashboard on my truck is completely dead - doesn't show the mileage at all. I'm trying to sell it but I'm guessing it will be tough telling people the mileage and just saying "trust me". Especially since it has quite low miles for it's age.
nogaesallowed@reddit
an experienced buyer will see the condition of your truck and can estimate the mileage within 50-80k km. if its really a comparable low mileage truck then a 'trust me' will work. even better if you have full service history
SSLByron@reddit
If it's a fullsize domestic, you might be able to pull the engine hours with a code reader, but it may need to be an OEM-specific tool.
FuzzelFox@reddit
Lemme guess, mid-00's Silverado/Sierra?
m3t1t1@reddit
To my knowledge, no. Or else all those cars with tmu will at least have a number.
U3011@reddit
If you live in a constantly wet and snowy area of the country is it advisable to rinse the underside of your car every day when you get home to rinse away the salt and nastiness in the driveway and then park inside the garage?
Our garage is insulated and climate controlled. I had read years ago that and salted roads contribute to under carriage rot faster than non-climate controlled garages which remain relatively cold through the winter. We plan on keeping our cars for 5-7 years each.
a_gallon_of_pcp@reddit
Yeah if you have the fortitude to maintain doing it every day.
U3011@reddit
I've been doing it for just over a month now but it had occurred to me only today to ask whether this was advisable or not. Most of our neighbors do it every few days when it snows or simply rinse the undercarriage and the body panels behind the wheels if all we get is rain. That's about 170-180 days a year.
I'm considering buying a rain collection tank or two and using that water for cleaning the underside of the car but I'm not sure if that's okay or not given the contaminants rain water can collect as it comes down.
nogaesallowed@reddit
its a great way to protect your car from salt corrosion. its fine
Kuttoosan47@reddit
Fellow petrol heads who have good knowledge of cars and are willing to spare ~30 minutes, can you watch this video and tell me if the person is factually correct?
You can get the gist of the video at around 5 minutes
It's about Koenigseggs and Bugatti's
rpfloyd@reddit
This is some real 'my dad could beat up your dad' shit. There are so many variables and unknowns.
If the overarching point is that Koenigsegg are lying about Regera's acceleration numbers, then maybe? But this video is dumb as a box of rocks.
Kuttoosan47@reddit
Thanks! I was getting that same feeling bht wasn't completely sure
unskilledfrog98@reddit
Hi, does a 190E petrol from 84 with a broken top fit a top from a 230 from 88 petrol?
CafecitoHippo@reddit
What is a good price to get for a car that needs a new engine? Wife's car died on the way to work. Our mechanic said he won't be able to get the engine working again. It's a 2014 Kia Forte with about 75,000 miles on it. Mechanic said he could get an engine for $6,500 but that doesn't feel worth it. Someone offered $500 for it. It's owned free and clear and clean title. Should we just take that? Have no interest in parting it out.
lliizzaarrdd704@reddit
We bought a new car & switched the license plate to it. Now, we aren't sure how to get a new plate for the old car and Google isn't helping. Do we have to register the old car again?? We're in Manatee County, FL if that helps any. Thank y'all
FuzzelFox@reddit
Generally speaking you don't swap the plate unless you're trading the old car in/selling it off. Did the dealer swap it for you or did you do it yourself afterwards?
I can't speak for Florida's DMV specifically but where I have lived you'd be pulled over the moment a cop scans the plate and sees it's the completely wrong car that's been registered to it lol.
zzyzx85@reddit
That's a question for your local DMV.
HouseFrosty780@reddit
Lots of info on buying a new car, but what about selling an old one?
Salesman is saying my car would only be worth $1k usd as a trade-in but I think I could get at least 2k if not 3k. Obviously we're not dealing with a great vehicle here, but I think with a little effort on my part I could get 100% more than what I'm being offered.
I could use anything from the most basic tips ("get it washed") to more sensitive things, like instance:
Should I even let someone test drive such a low value car? They can see me drive up in it and I would invite them to bring a mechanic, but I don't see the use in letting an unknown person drive it away.
Should I get my own Carfax and offer it for free?
Is it okay to ask for payment in something safer than an envelope of cash? I really don't want to marker a stack of hundreds, can I conduct transactions only at the bank?
Any other tips to screen time wasters?