Search found 586 matches

by sk2101
Fri Sep 15, 2023 11:40 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Used luxury car recommendation
Replies: 96
Views: 8375

Re: Used luxury car recommendation

Put the kids in the school bus. Problem solved.
by sk2101
Fri Sep 01, 2023 9:41 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to pay for a new vehicle with cash?
Replies: 80
Views: 7295

Re: How to pay for a new vehicle with cash?

I always pay with wire transfer, after putting the max allowed in a credit card. My time is limited, so any negotiations are done prior to me stepping in the dealership and I know the final amount beforehand. Some dealers offer delivery and in those cases I never even get to meet the salespeople in person.
by sk2101
Wed May 10, 2023 1:15 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Spouse on home loan or not?
Replies: 30
Views: 2872

Re: Spouse on home loan or not?

Wwwdotcom wrote: Wed May 10, 2023 9:15 am I have the opposite perspective. What is the upside of having two people be liable for a loan when one is sufficient?
Agree with you. It also simplifies the process since there is no extra pile of documentation to be submitted for the other person.

For those saying what happens if the spouse on the mortgage dies, just have adequate life insurance policy in place.
by sk2101
Thu Apr 13, 2023 6:23 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How should I negotiate for this car?
Replies: 16
Views: 2623

Re: How should I negotiate for this car?

I won’t comment on negotiating as others have commented on that. If you are able to you - tell them you don’t want the following 1). All Weather Floor Mats - $339 You can get much cheaper after market. (Amazon, weather tech etc…) 2) TOYOGUARD Platinum Includes: 2 Oil and Filter Changes at any Toyota Dealer, Four Tire Rotations, Roadside and Rental Car Assistance, Exterior Paint Sealant and Interior Protector $699 You don’t need the exterior paint sealant/interior protector. Also the Toyota care already comes with free maintenance for 2 years or 25,000 miles. That includes an Oil and Filter change at 10,000 and 20,000 miles and tire rotations at 5,000 and 15,000 and 25,000 miles 3) Phone Cable Charge Package Contents: 1-Apple Lightning to U...
by sk2101
Thu Apr 13, 2023 6:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How should I negotiate for this car?
Replies: 16
Views: 2623

Re: How should I negotiate for this car?

I have bought 2 Toyotas in the last 6 months. There is no inventory and there is a big waitlist of people who want to buy the cars. So just getting MSRP is a good deal, only watch for dealer junk fees. As long as they don't add any fees or unwanted accessories/warranties this is probably the best you can do at this time. There are some Toyota dealers out there selling for MSRP and no dealer fees, they want to foster long-term relationships instead of making a quick buck.
by sk2101
Tue Apr 04, 2023 1:02 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should I pay off my mortgage and go uninsured?
Replies: 81
Views: 7753

Re: Should I pay off my mortgage and go uninsured?

I have done what you are suggesting. I was going to keep liability only but found out that just removing windstorm coverage lowered the premium substantially and I have coverage for other perils such as fire. To me the way to think about this to consider the likelihood of your house being damaged and your ability/willingness to pay out of pocket for repairs. It seems you are on the shore (higher likelihood..) Like you I have the funds available to pay for the house to be rebuilt (even though it would suck) and my house was built with excellent wind mitigation so my assessment is that the chances of major damages are relatively small. Also, the roof is approaching its useful life so I will have to shell out a replacement anyway. I am not int...
by sk2101
Wed Nov 16, 2022 10:00 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Umbrella policy for $10m-$20m?
Replies: 44
Views: 7492

Re: Umbrella policy for $10m-$20m?

Chardo wrote: Wed Nov 16, 2022 8:43 am Will an umbrella cover a drunk driving accident?
Yes they will. See this notorious case, insurance paid $46M settlement in a DUI crash:

https://abcnews.go.com/US/florida-polo- ... d=16180762

If an individual has a history of DUI or too many tickets it will most likely be uninsurable or premius would reflect the high risk.
by sk2101
Wed Nov 16, 2022 9:59 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Umbrella policy for $10m-$20m?
Replies: 44
Views: 7492

Re: Umbrella policy for $10m-$20m?

AIG, Chubb or Pure will be the best options here. By my experience they will scrutinize you on the applicaton and you have to justify why you need $10-$20M coverage.
by sk2101
Mon Oct 10, 2022 3:48 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Best way to transfer $1million gift from Canada to US
Replies: 5
Views: 973

Re: Best way to transfer $1million gift from Canada to US

Wise (formerly Transferwise) is a pretty good option. You will get a much better FX rate and lower fees vs wiring through a bank. I believe the limit is $1M so you should be fine.
by sk2101
Wed Oct 05, 2022 9:01 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Dealership offer while waiting for new car to be repaired
Replies: 20
Views: 2322

Re: Dealership offer while waiting for new car to be repaired

What is the market value of your vehicle in repaired condition?
by sk2101
Mon Oct 03, 2022 7:55 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Florida Insurance and Hurricanes
Replies: 76
Views: 9316

Re: Florida Insurance and Hurricanes

I have switched to Kin Insurance early in the year with a significant drop in premium. They are a new company and do not use brokers, you get a quote online. However I have suggested a few friends to get quotes from them and the results have been mixed - some lower and some higher than what they currently pay. Anyway it's worth a shot.
by sk2101
Fri Aug 19, 2022 3:14 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Help with predatory loan
Replies: 11
Views: 1276

Re: Help with predatory loan

Thanks for all the comments. I have suggested him to pay off the loan, either by refinnancing or borrowing money from somewhere else. Even taking out a credit card debt may be better than the loan he has now.

I only wish he had asked for help before proceeding with this.
by sk2101
Fri Aug 19, 2022 3:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Help with predatory loan
Replies: 11
Views: 1276

Re: Help with predatory loan

Thanks for all your comments, really appreciate it. My friend is a non-sophisticated person with limited resources, so I am trying to guide him as best as I can and hopefully put him in a better position than he is now. Responses are below in red: This is not intended to be legal advice, but more of an FYI. 1. 30% interest stated in the contract often is not the same 30% interest that is treated as the max non-usurious interest rate under state law. The latter often depends on how often it compounds. That's why payday lenders stated interest is X% but the actual APR paid over the life of a payday loan is far higher. Sometimes loan agreements have a usury "savings" clause that ensures the loan stays on the right side of applicable ...
by sk2101
Fri Aug 19, 2022 2:39 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Private equity payout
Replies: 5
Views: 815

Re: Private equity payout

The value of RSUs on the vesting day is considered compensation income, therefore subject to regular payroll taxes.

See this for a complete explanation:
https://www.morganstanley.com/cs/pdf/60 ... 32_RSU.pdf
by sk2101
Fri Aug 19, 2022 12:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Help with predatory loan
Replies: 11
Views: 1276

Help with predatory loan

I am trying to help a friend that took out a loan to buy a semi truck that he uses for his business. He asked me to help and sent me the documents and my heart sunk reading them. Among other shady terms, he is being charged 30% interest and the lender seems to keep adding random fees which makes the loan payments extend way beyond the original term. I have tried contacting the lender on his behalf to get details of the charges they have been adding to the loan but so far got nowhere. I think he should stop doing business with this lender as soon as possible as I am sure this behaviour will continue. I checked Google and BBB and this lender is clearly in the business of preying on people with limited financial resources. I looked up the maxi...
by sk2101
Tue Aug 09, 2022 9:06 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: End of car life disposal issues...
Replies: 24
Views: 2503

Re: End of car life disposal issues...

Call the gas station and tell them that you want to dispose of the car. Very likely that they or someone they know will take it to sell for scrap. Also, usually there is a repair shop associated with the truck stop. Try calling them as well.
by sk2101
Wed Jul 27, 2022 4:41 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: INR Dispute eBay Strategy
Replies: 12
Views: 980

Re: INR Dispute eBay Strategy

Ebay is veered towards protecting buyers. Once the time to respond expires, ebay will issue you a refund. Nothing else to do.

The seller probably hasn't responded because he shipped without tracking. In that case, if a buyer claims the item was not received (even if it was), the seller loses the dispute. There is no "penalty" for him not to respond other than you may leave a negative feedback.

Always ship with tracking when selling on ebay.
by sk2101
Fri Jul 08, 2022 10:35 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Detroit area 3 day visit
Replies: 18
Views: 1665

Re: Detroit area 3 day visit

Ford Rouge tour would be on the top of my list.
by sk2101
Tue Jun 21, 2022 5:17 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Cars - Repair vs Replace in this environment?
Replies: 36
Views: 3016

Re: Cars - Repair vs Replace in this environment?

You can buy an used ABS module on ebay for about $200, that will cut in the total repair almost in half. No much gain in putting a brand new part when the rest of the car has 150k miles.
by sk2101
Wed Jun 08, 2022 1:53 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Experience negotiating at end of lease?
Replies: 12
Views: 1568

Re: Experience negotiating at end of lease?

It will depend on what brand your leased car is. Some leasin companies are not allowing third party buyouts (Carmax, Carvana etc) anymore, so your only option is to sell to a dealer of that brand. I have recently turned in a leased vehicle. I called a few dealers 2 weeks before the lease was up and asked them to make me an offer to buyout the car. I ended up with a couple of thousands in my pocket (I had a very cheap lease, so my residual was high. some people are getting way more $$). I suggest you start by getting online quotes form Carmax/Carvana/Vroom so you know what the trade-in value is. Then figure out if you can actually sell to them. If not, offer to dealers knowing how much you are aimimg for. If you want to purchase the car, see...
by sk2101
Wed Jun 08, 2022 10:17 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Where to look for an used Mercedes GLE 350
Replies: 11
Views: 1498

Re: Where to look for an used Mercedes GLE 350

Johny Fever wrote: Wed Jun 08, 2022 10:03 am Buy the extended warranty. Electrical issues are often very expensive. Good luck.
I am generally against extra warranties, but in this case I agree!
by sk2101
Wed Jun 01, 2022 3:28 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Faucet driping issue
Replies: 27
Views: 2081

Re: Faucet driping issue

Start by replacing the cartridge. Should be very easy.
by sk2101
Thu May 19, 2022 1:35 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Renter in Houston pays for extermination. Suggestions?
Replies: 30
Views: 2605

Re: Renter in Houston pays for extermination. Suggestions?

Hot humid state. Around here it is customary for the landlord to contract and pay for pest control, lawn and pool care, trash collection. AC filters are tenant's responsibiltiy.

Pest control needs to be done preventively and not only when there is a problem.

I would try, at a minimum asking the landlord what company to use (he probably already has one), and find out how much it costs. But ideally shift that burden to the landlord.
by sk2101
Mon May 16, 2022 12:51 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Private Equity: Silver Lake Partners - Fund VII
Replies: 46
Views: 6491

Re: Private Equity: Silver Lake Partners - Fund VII

Silver Lake is a reputable PE firm and their funds generally perform well. The only reservation I have with this deal are the fees charged by JPMorgan. They have placement fees (one-time) and management fees (ongoing), and those are usually very high unless you are investing $5-$10M on a single fund. The fees can make a good investment turn into an underperforming one. I suggest you scrutinize those fees to make sure you understand them very well.
by sk2101
Mon Apr 18, 2022 10:28 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Dual citizenship?
Replies: 76
Views: 6326

Re: Dual citizenship?

Triple citizenship here. I think it's very valuable when traveling, as some countries are not so friendly towards the US and in those cases I can use another passport. Also, some countries require Visas for Americans and not for other citizenships, it's nice to be able to travel (almost) everywhere without a visa.

Another value is the optionality. It gives the option to go live in other countries at retirement, or to spend considerable amounts of time in different countries. I see myself living at least part-time in Europe when retired.
by sk2101
Mon Apr 11, 2022 2:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 2018 Nissan Sentra Maintenance
Replies: 25
Views: 2019

Re: 2018 Nissan Sentra Maintenance

Follow what the manual says. Avoid flusing transmissions, it's better to just drain and refill.
by sk2101
Tue Apr 05, 2022 1:08 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Stanford vs Brown vs Rice
Replies: 120
Views: 10487

Re: Standford vs Brown vs Rice

I would go for Stanford even if paying full freight.

Question, if you don't mind sharing, what is the student's background to be accepted in several highly competitive schools.
by sk2101
Fri Mar 18, 2022 8:47 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Being taken advantage by the middle man!
Replies: 20
Views: 2582

Re: Being taken advantage by the middle man!

You can try going into the ODL website and searching for the list of distributors in your area. Then start calling and see if any of them would be able to order it directly for you.
by sk2101
Wed Mar 16, 2022 8:08 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: passive k-1 losses and tax implications
Replies: 4
Views: 642

Re: passive k-1 losses and tax implications

Rainier wrote: Wed Mar 16, 2022 7:20 am I believe TurboTax will carryforward the loss for you on Form 8582. Why not just enter in TT then check out the forms that are created.
Can confirm this is correct.
by sk2101
Thu Mar 03, 2022 9:13 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Is auto purchase through Costco a good deal?
Replies: 25
Views: 5409

Re: Is auto purchase through Costco a good deal?

michaeljc70 wrote: Thu Mar 03, 2022 9:06 am Just thought I'd give an update for 2022. I used the program (only as a starting point) 8 years ago when I bought my last car. I got a price over the phone. Now, it seems they want an appointment and want you to go in. No way. The dealer is 35 miles away (I live in a major city with a ton of dealers) and the only reason I would be using Costco is to not be jerked around. I am not going to make an appt to go sit there and listen to nonsense. Email me a price for what I asked for or bye bye.
Please submit a complaint to Costco, hopefully they will get rid of the dealers that don't behave as they should:

https://www.costcoauto.com/talktous/
by sk2101
Mon Feb 28, 2022 3:00 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Landlords: best strategy to raise rents?
Replies: 44
Views: 6056

Landlords: best strategy to raise rents?

I have some rental properties that are rented on a year-to-year basis. The rents on comparable units have skyrocketed and in some cases are 50% higher than what I am currently getting.

What is the best strategy to catch up on rents? Should i be non-renewewing the leases and put the units back on the market for the higher price or is would it be worthwhile trying to raise the rent by 30-40% on the current tenants? My thinking is that tenants would resent such a steep increase but unsure if there are any ramifications of not reneweing then renting it again the next day.

State: FL
by sk2101
Mon Feb 21, 2022 3:29 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Buying a house anonymously (Florida)
Replies: 33
Views: 5120

Re: Buying a house anonymously (Florida)

finfire wrote: Mon Jul 29, 2019 10:45 am
Homestead exemption will not apply.
by sk2101
Mon Feb 21, 2022 2:44 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Uninsured & Underinsured Motorists
Replies: 21
Views: 2226

Re: Uninsured & Underinsured Motorists

I have dropped the Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. I made this decision because I have excellent medical coverage and my understanding is that the medical insurance would pay for any medical costs if I am injured by an uninsured/underinsured motorist. In my state that coverage is very expensive and costs as much as my liability premium.

Interested to learn if others have different points of view.

ETA: I could add Uninsured/Underinsured coverage to my Umbrealla, but for that I need to carry the coverage on my auto policy, and the umbrela only kicks in after the auto policy coverage is exhausted.
by sk2101
Sat Feb 19, 2022 9:20 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Insurance Trying Not to Pay because of Walk Out
Replies: 32
Views: 5157

Re: Insurance Trying Not to Pay because of Walk Out

I have been told by a friend who is an ER doctor that these things happen and if in the ER don't leave until they tell you can do so. Otherwise the insurance can deny coverage.
by sk2101
Fri Feb 11, 2022 8:59 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Paying for Car Repair - still not fixed - next steps?
Replies: 30
Views: 1538

Re: Paying for Car Repair - still not fixed - next steps?

This seems to be a fairly common problem. I would not fix it, assuming you can live with the problem.
by sk2101
Thu Feb 03, 2022 11:00 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Citibank Costco Card won't raise my limit above $5K?!
Replies: 39
Views: 7207

Re: Citibank Costco Card won't raise my limit above $5K?!

seawolf21 wrote: Thu Feb 03, 2022 10:22 am Costco card definitely can have a CL more than $10K. Not sure if card was opened in October. If it was, Citi probably wouldn't even entertain an increase so soon.
Yes, a couple of years ago I wanted to put a large purchase on my Costco Citi card and asked them to raise the limit to $25k. They did it immediately.
by sk2101
Mon Jan 24, 2022 8:14 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How many stimulus paments 2021?
Replies: 16
Views: 2051

Re: How many stimulus paments 2021?

The IRS will be completely overwhelmed by incorrect returns stemming from stimulus payments and the trades of the Crypto/Hobinhood crowd.
by sk2101
Tue Jan 11, 2022 8:15 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Turbo Tax at Costco
Replies: 26
Views: 13558

Re: Turbo Tax at Costco

gtd98765 wrote: Tue Jan 11, 2022 7:54 am
EricaInvestPink wrote: Sun Jan 09, 2022 8:17 pm Which version should I get : married, two W2s, one 1099 with schedule c, multiple expenses/deductions on the schedule c but otherwise, nothing else complicated. No real estate etc. just backdoor Roth x2. I used deluxe all previous years but this is the first year with 1099. Thabks
Agree with others that Deluxe will be fine for you. But need to specify it's the Deluxe download or CD version, not the online version.
Will Deluxe handle K1s and Rental properties?
by sk2101
Thu Dec 09, 2021 10:49 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Toyota hybrid forum/blog
Replies: 7
Views: 867

Re: Toyota hybrid form/blog

rav4world forums
by sk2101
Thu Sep 16, 2021 9:51 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How to maximize privacy when buying a home?
Replies: 51
Views: 7033

Re: How to maximize privacy when buying a home?

Random Poster wrote: Tue Sep 14, 2021 7:32 pm Don’t know the answer, but if the house is purchased by a trust or LLC, will you lose any tax/bankruptcy benefits like homestead exemption, head of household exemptions, etc?
In my state it's not possible to have homestead exemption if the house is under a LLC. However it's allowed if under a trust (certain conditions apply).
by sk2101
Fri Sep 10, 2021 2:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Long range wireless doorbell for large home
Replies: 33
Views: 2682

Re: Long range wireless doorbell for large home

Nest dorbell would solve the problem, why not a smart device? Yep, I would have suggested a Ring doorbell and Chimes where necessary. They likely wouldn't be necessary in as many places as the receivers that OP has distributed through the house, because the doorbell would also ring on any devices that are logged in--which specifically would resolve the Jacuzzi concern. But I haven't looked at old-school wireless doorbells in over a decade, so unfortunately I can't be helpful here. I don't always carry my phone, it can be on mute, it can lose Wifi signal, and it certainly won't be heard if I'm in the jaccuzzi with the jets on. Yes, I have actually tried this, I know the jet sound way overpowers the puny speaker in my Note 20 Ultra. I have t...
by sk2101
Fri Sep 10, 2021 10:20 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Long range wireless doorbell for large home
Replies: 33
Views: 2682

Re: Long range wireless doorbell for large home

Nest dorbell would solve the problem, why not a smart device?
by sk2101
Tue Sep 07, 2021 10:05 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: BMW 4-wheel alignment
Replies: 46
Views: 4008

Re: BMW 4-wheel alignment

I only do aligments when something is wrong. My car has 150k miles and never been aligned after being manufactured, and tires wear perfectly even.
My thinking is that an uncessary aligments is another chance for a mechanic to screw up.
by sk2101
Thu Sep 02, 2021 8:27 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Car lease ending
Replies: 25
Views: 2680

Re: Car lease ending

pgs59 wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 5:30 am Lease payments go directly to Nissan. Lease says have to buy the car via the dealer and there may be other fees, taxes, etc. I'm thinking I'll let the lease run out, pay a disposition fee, but no taxes. Last year I bought another car at Car Max. It was good experience and I certainly preferred it to the dealer hassles.
This is right. Some dealers will charge a dealer fee (again) to process a lease buyout. Some financing companies allow lessees to purchase with no dealer involvement, but not all.

Best is to find a Nissan dealer who is interested in buying the car from Nissan Financial Services.
by sk2101
Thu Sep 02, 2021 8:22 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Car lease ending
Replies: 25
Views: 2680

Re: Car lease ending

Highly discussed topic on LeaseHackr. Nissan finance since end of April stopped allowing dealer buyouts so they cant hold title while you sell to CarMax/Carvana/Vroom/etc (Where the buying "dealer" would payoff the balance to your leasing bank). What you can still do though is buy it outright by paying off the full balance so the title is reissued in your name and then sell it. Only drawback to this is if you have to pay sales tax on the buyout amount that would otherwise not be applicable under a dealer buyout that was possible before end of April. You probably would make a much higher profit either way even after paying sales tax! Nissan dealers are still allowed to buy the leased car. So the other option is to get offers from ...
by sk2101
Mon Aug 30, 2021 2:52 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Need help buying my first road bike
Replies: 63
Views: 5535

Re: Need help buying my first road bike

I'm always perplexed - if you want to bike for fitness, wouldn't the LEAST efficient bike, provide the greatest amount of exercise? That $100 walmart special is going to take a lot more work to ride 20 miles than a $12k custom jobby. :D I disagree, a nice bike begs to be ridden more and more while a crappy bike turns it into a despicable experience. Try to ride 100 miles in a Walmart bike and let us know how it goes. Having said that, I think that $2K is a sweet spot for an entry level bike. This price will give you decent components and a decent aluminum frame. I would not buy a carbon bike at the $2K price point though. I also have a Specialized Allez Sprint, which is a superb aluminum bike that costs around $2K. I use it for races in wh...
by sk2101
Mon Aug 30, 2021 2:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Need help buying my first road bike
Replies: 63
Views: 5535

Re: Need help buying my first road bike

hexagon wrote: Mon Aug 30, 2021 2:15 pm For me it's always the engine that seems to need an upgrade.
Agreed! But a nice bike is a great motivator, as no one wants to be the "dentist" that shows up in an expensive bike but can barely hang on.
by sk2101
Mon Aug 30, 2021 1:51 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Need help buying my first road bike
Replies: 63
Views: 5535

Re: Need help buying my first road bike

Businesscasual wrote: Mon Aug 30, 2021 7:19 am without the desire to upgrade.
Ha, good luck with that! I currenly ride a 2020 $12K road bike and already looking at other bikes.
by sk2101
Mon Aug 30, 2021 1:48 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Need help buying my first road bike
Replies: 63
Views: 5535

Re: Need help buying my first road bike

I would also consider a gravel bike, either Canyon Endurace or the Grail. Those take wider tires which can ride on unpaved roads and are more comfortable. Many people are switching from road bikes to gravel for the added versatiliyt. By my experience, a gravel bike can keep up with a fast 25MPH+ group ride.

Component wise, 105 is pretty good. I would not buy anything beneath that though, as those low level components cannot be as easily upgraded. I agree that a aluminium frame is a good way to save some money vs carbon. I really like Canyon and think that they make top notch bikes nowadays and cheaper by not having dealers in the middle. However you have to know what you want and either know how to fit a bike or pay someone to do it for you.