Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

oldfarmer50

Michaell said:

oldfarmer50 said:

ab348 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

That's a shame. I love the look of the Mazda 6 and @270hp it seems competitive with rivals. Aren't Mazdas supose to be better handling cars (zoom zoom)? That would seem to be a potent combo.

The Mazda 6 does not have a 270hp engine but rather a naturally aspirated 4 cylinder that puts out what one would expect of such an engine. It has been reported by reviewers as feeling adequate and not much more. The chassis dynamics are loved by reviewers. Others have complained of NVH issues and a tight rear compartment. Mazdas have also not been known to be the most robust vehicles. Finally they are a relatively small company with less of an ad budget, smaller dealer network, and less money to devote to R&D than the big manufacturers.

Doesn't Mazda have a 3.7L 6? Or did they do away with that?

The latest iteration of the 6 only offers the 2.5 SkyActive 4-cylinder. There has been talk of a turbo option with around 250HP, but no word when that might be available.

Well that sucks...What were they thinking with such a dumb move? No wonder the company is on the skids.

dino001

abacomike said:

@tjc78

I was with that insurance company until November when they raised my rates 15%.  I have had no tickets or accidents or claims since 2001, yet they raised their rates and lost a customer.

Now, I went back to the Statue of Liberty company and because I am an alum of NYU and carry my condo policy with them, my yearly (12 month) premium is about $1500, which is not bad for Southeast Florida.

These insurance companies must lose a hefty number of policy holders whenever they raise their rates more than 5%.  If I got a 5% raise every year, I would understand that - but 15%-20% is outrageous!

I think they are playing a bait and switch game. Their base rate is 20-40 percent higher and they apply marketing discounts for new customers, which later go away. They know many will drop them, but some may stay. I hate this business model, it's very disingenuous and values new customer over existing one. I switch now every 18-30 months, depending on their "schedule". Last switch was year ago, so perhaps not yet, I hope the renewal will be only 10 percent or so. It's not best to switch too often, but I feel no compelling reason to stay with somebody thinking I owe them 15 percent more every six months, just because.

PS.

What do you know - renewal in line! First time in ages. Progressive lowered the base rate, but they also lowered the paid-in-full discount, which I always use, bringing the effective rate up by about 1 percent. Way to go, Progressive!

oldfarmer50

cdnpinhead said:

PF_Flyer said:

A quick straw poll... How many transmission issues have you had with any vehicle you've owned?

It's worth differentiating between automatic vs. manual transmission issues. Of course, these days only a few percent of us still cling to manuals, but a significant portion of the reason why is that they almost never break, and when they do, they cost much less to fix.

I've made a reputation on more than one board making fun of the people who put up with automatic transmission miseries when they could have chosen the simpler bulletproof option.

I don't know about that. What did driver100's Audi clutch cost? $2000? I can get a new tranny for my Lincoln at Advance Auto for $1250.

As to problems my Lincoln has a slight 1-2 shift bump. Not bad enough to even investigate and hasn't gotten any worse after 24k miles that I've owned it. The manual in my van is on it's last legs but it's a $900 POS so I'm not crying.

My other cars are automatics and too new I guess to have problems.

If you want to go to the golden oldies I remember my father's 1965 Ford had a really crappy auto tranny that always shifted funny and my 69 Plymouth auto had 3rd gear blow at 103k miles but I use to drop patch that thing constantly so people would think it was a Roadrunner. Cost me all of $190 to rebuild it.

[Deleted User]

driver100 said:

Today's manuals are way different than the manuals of old.

The Audi clutch uses an expensive dual mass flywheel that feels different in engagement. It's taken me a little getting used to, but it does help the engine to rev easier due to weight savings. I checked the procedure for changing the clutch plate and it's really, really involved with the AWD system. I'm not looking forward to that job. At 28,000 miles my A4 clutch feels strong, but usually a clutch doesn't give an owner much notice before it slips. I'll just have to wish for the best. The good news is the forums report very few clutch problems and the manual is widely consider the most robust Audi transmission.

dino001

tyguy said:

driver100 said:

Today's manuals are way different than the manuals of old.

The Audi clutch uses an expensive dual mass flywheel that feels different in engagement. It's taken me a little getting used to, but it does help the engine to rev easier due to weight savings. I checked the procedure for changing the clutch plate and it's really, really involved with the AWD system. I'm not looking forward to that job. At 28,000 miles my A4 clutch feels strong, but usually a clutch doesn't give an owner much notice before it slips. I'll just have to wish for the best. The good news is the forums report very few clutch problems and the manual is widely consider the most robust Audi transmission.

Dual mass wheels are big source of large and expensive problems in their diesels engines in Europe. Don't know if it's same for gas engines.

oldfarmer50

driver100 said:

houdini1 said:

I don't ever remember seeing one of these in the wild. I am thinking mid 50's. I like it.

It is a Nash Healey, made by combining the car made by Nash Kelvinator and the Austin Healey company. The story is quite interesting:

How the Nash Healey came to be made

The story starts with Donald Healey and Nash-Kelvinator CEO George W. Mason meeting on the Queen Elizabeth, an ocean liner going from the United States to Great Britain. They got together to make the first post war American Sports car in 1951.

The first one looked like this:


Then they made it look more Nash like in 52:

Clark Kent owned one:



The guys on Fast & Loud had a couple.

abacomike

When I was a kid, I had a crush on the early '50's Studebaker President Coupe.  What a gorgeous automobile.  That was when Studebaker did away with the "Buck Rogers/Flash Gordon" front end and replaced it with a better looking grille.

I got a chance to drive one on the 1960's when a neighbor of ours bought a two-tone baby blue and white one.  Three speed manual transmission and it handled beautifully.

imidazol97

abacomike said:

When I was a kid, I had a crush on the early '50's Studebaker President Coupe.  What a gorgeous automobile.  That was when Studebaker did away with the "Buck Rogers/Flash Gordon" front end and replaced it with a better looking grille.

I got a chance to drive one on the 1960's when a neighbor of ours bought a two-tone baby blue and white one.  Three speed manual transmission and it handled beautifully.

This?

abacomike

imidazol97 said:

When I was a kid, I had a crush on the early '50's Studebaker President Coupe.  What a gorgeous automobile.  That was when Studebaker did away with the "Buck Rogers/Flash Gordon" front end and replaced it with a better looking grille.

I got a chance to drive one on the 1960's when a neighbor of ours bought a two-tone baby blue and white one.  Three speed manual transmission and it handled beautifully.

This?

BINGO!!!  Yep, that was the car.  Truthfully, considering the time period, is that not a gorgeous set of wheels?

driver100

oldfarmer50 said:

cdnpinhead said:

PF_Flyer said:

A quick straw poll... How many transmission issues have you had with any vehicle you've owned?

It's worth differentiating between automatic vs. manual transmission issues. Of course, these days only a few percent of us still cling to manuals, but a significant portion of the reason why is that they almost never break, and when they do, they cost much less to fix.

I've made a reputation on more than one board making fun of the people who put up with automatic transmission miseries when they could have chosen the simpler bulletproof option.

I don't know about that. What did driver100's Audi clutch cost? $2000? 0.

$2300 to be exact. With some mercy got it down to $1200.

Only transimission problems I had were on my 58 Dodge push button drive car. It was the days when I was young and naive.......the transmission was slipping, the Aamco Shop showed me what were supposed to be ground metal filings....and I ordered a rebuilt transmission....cost $200, as much as the car (which had those blue lights around the windshield).

[Deleted User]

abacomike said:

imidazol97 said:

abacomike said:

When I was a kid, I had a crush on the early '50's Studebaker President Coupe.  What a gorgeous automobile.  That was when Studebaker did away with the "Buck Rogers/Flash Gordon" front end and replaced it with a better looking grille.

I got a chance to drive one on the 1960's when a neighbor of ours bought a two-tone baby blue and white one.  Three speed manual transmission and it handled beautifully.

This?

BINGO!!!  Yep, that was the car.  Truthfully, considering the time period, is that not a gorgeous set of wheels?

NICE! I love that front end. I wouldn't mind some retro options along those lines today.

stickguy

Farmer, Mazda went big on efficiency (Skyactive) with the latest designs. Worked too, because it comparisons they consistently get the best MPG. The V6 was not part of that concept. Plus, they were able to design the car to not need to accommodate the bigger motor, so easier to engineer.

that, and most likely, they sold so few of them it was not worth it to keep.

they do have a new turbo motor out (it will be in the upcoming CX-9), so good chance at some point they will plug that into the 6 also to create a hot rod version.

suydam

I stopped buying Mazdas because of the poor fuel economy. Now I'm interested again.

imidazol97

I saw this when looking for a Studebaker picture.
http://cdn.barrett-jackson.com/staging/carlist/items/Fullsize/Cars/70672/70672_Front_3-4_Web.jpg

The windows and shape remind me of some of the sporty, sleek Mercedes models.

imidazol97

abacomike said:

when a neighbor of ours bought a two-tone baby blue and white

When you say baby blue..., did you mean the light blue on this card? Alpena blue?
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NjAwWDQ0MA==/z/bWEAAOSwxH1UDvA3/$_57.JPG?set_id=880000500F

abacomike

imidazol97 said:

I saw this when looking for a Studebaker picture. http://cdn.barrett-jackson.com/staging/carlist/items/Fullsize/Cars/70672/70672_Front_3-4_Web.jpg The windows and shape remind me of some of the sporty, sleek Mercedes models.

Interesting concept car - kept the nose but the rest of the car resembles the chassis of a '49 - '50 Mercury coupe.

abacomike

imidazol97 said:

when a neighbor of ours bought a two-tone baby blue and white

When you say baby blue..., did you mean the light blue on this card? Alpena blue? http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NjAwWDQ0MA==/z/bWEAAOSwxH1UDvA3/$_57.JPG?set_id=880000500F

Imid, you got it!  You're getting to be an artist in posting lately! 

imidazol97

abacomike said:

Interesting concept car - kept the nose but the rest of the car resembles the chassis of a '49 - '50 Mercury coupe.

I messed up again. I should have posted the full link-- there are 3 more pictures of this car that sold at Barret Jackson.

The picture insert link is not working.
http://www.barrett-jackson.com/Archive/Event/Item/1951-STUDEBAKER-2-DOOR-CUSTOM-SUPER-SONIC-70672

abacomike

@imidazol97

Beautiful car.  I am surprised it sold for only just over $100K.

Going back to that Studebaker President - that is a very personal vehicle.  I think it only sat 4 people - very tight in the back.  Studebaker was way ahead of the times in terms of design and function.  My Dad, rest his soul, had a 1940 Studebaker when he came back from overseas after WWII.  My grandfather had bought it for him when they heard he was on the Queen Mary in 1945 on its way from Liverpool to New York with thousands of soldiers.

When my Dad and Mom visited me when I lived in Palm Desert, I remembered driving Dad one day to Long Beach so he could set foot on the ship he crossed the North Atlantic on at the end of the war.  Tears came to his eyes! 

carnaught

Also, the mid 50's Gran Turismo Hawks and the '58 Parkard Hawk (actually a Sudebaker) were much the same styling-wise, very cool looking, and now quite rare.

abacomike

carnaught said:

Also, the mid 50's Gran Turismo Hawks and the '58 Parkard Hawk (actually a Sudebaker) were much the same styling-wise, very cool looking, and now quite rare.

My grandfather (maternal) retired to Coral Gables (Miami) in 1949.  Before driving from New York to the home they purchased, he walked into two GM dealerships with my grandmother and bought her a 1949 2-door Chevrolet Fastback Coupe with a 3-speed stick and then got himself a 1949 Oldsmobile 98 V8 Rocket 4-door Sedan w/hydrometric and then drove them both to Florida.

They kept those cars for many years.  My grandmother would only drive a stick shift - she used to tell me that she didn't feel as though she had complete control of a car unless it was a standard shift.  She's the one who taught me to drive a stick when I used to come down here to visit them in during winter and spring breaks.  She sure knew how to drive a car - well into her late 70's.

PF_Flyer

We've put close to 2.5 million combined on our cars with manuals, taught both of my daughters to drive them, they still both drive their first cars, with 170K and 50K on them, and we never replaced a clutch. Even on the 2001 Altima that we bought used with 12,000 miles on it (from CT) and we ran that to 220,000 before we traded it.

driver100

imidazol97 said:

I saw this when looking for a Studebaker picture.
http://cdn.barrett-jackson.com/staging/carlist/items/Fullsize/Cars/70672/70672_Front_3-4_Web.jpg

The windows and shape remind me of some of the sporty, sleek Mercedes models.

That would look good today........

nyccarguy

The cost of replacing the clutch on my 2001 Honda Prelude Type SH almost had me looking to part ways with it.  It is the 1st and only manual transmission I've ever owned to date.  I thought a clutch was supposed to be good for 100,000 to 150,000 miles.  I was absolutely floored when I was told that my clutch needed to be replaced at 52,000 miles.  Then I came close to passing out when I was told it was going to cost over $2000 to replace.

The main component that differentiates my Type SH Prelude from a base Prelude is the ATTS (Active Torque Transfer System) unit that routes power to the outside wheel while cornering, negating understeer in a FWD car.  In order for the clutch to be replaced, the ATTS unit needs to be taken out & re-installed.  According to Honda's shop manual, this results in an additional 5 hours of shop labor.  

Since the new clutch (Centerforce) has lasted over 100K miles, using a new Honda flywheel, throw out bearing, & pressure plate, so I guess the stock Honda clutch wasn't up to par.

qbrozen

had to rebuild the 3-speed manual in my first vehicle ('79 CJ7). At about 60k miles, my '98 S70 T5 started giving a little shudder shifting into OD, but flushing the fluid and putting in synthetic solved that. I bought the '85 MR2 knowing it immediately needed a clutch.

I believe that's it for trans issues.

abacomike

I know you are tired of hearing about my hospitalizationS, but I'm being admitted for leg and foot swelling and bruising.  Will be here overnight so they can do a CT-Scan with nuclear medicine.  Could be anything from medications to heart and/or kidney failure or nothing.  Just frustrated by always being in the hospital. 

dino001

Hold tight, Mike!

bwia

Mike, Another hospitalization? - it appears as though you are falling apart my brother.  Thanks to Medicare and Obamacare your medical expenses are manageable. Get well soon and stay off the red meat. 

imidazol97

abacomike said:

;Could be anything from medications to heart and/or kidney failure or nothing.  Just frustrated by always being in the hospital. 

Best of luck on the outcome. I'm hoping it's the medications that are causing it because
that should be easier to modify to effect a remedy.

driver100

Good luck Mike...report in when you are released.

btw.....talking about the mudslinging campaign (and I won't get political) I just saw a bumper sticker promoting one of the leading candidates.

Is it just me, or am I a bit paranoid, I would never ever put a bumper sticker on my car for any candidate...it sounds like it would be an invitation to for road rage or damage.

stickguy

I wouldn't do it for any sticker. Can't do that to my car!

College window clings excluded.

houdini1

abacomike said:

imidazol97 said:

I saw this when looking for a Studebaker picture.
http://cdn.barrett-jackson.com/staging/carlist/items/Fullsize/Cars/70672/70672_Front_3-4_Web.jpg

The windows and shape remind me of some of the sporty, sleek Mercedes models.

Interesting concept car - kept the nose but the rest of the car resembles the chassis of a '49 - '50 Mercury coupe.

Looks like they modeled that car after a shark ! Nice.

houdini1

abacomike said:

@imidazol97

Beautiful car.  I am surprised it sold for only just over $100K.

Going back to that Studebaker President - that is a very personal vehicle.  I think it only sat 4 people - very tight in the back.  Studebaker was way ahead of the times in terms of design and function.  My Dad, rest his soul, had a 1940 Studebaker when he came back from overseas after WWII.  My grandfather had bought it for him when they heard he was on the Queen Mary in 1945 on its way from Liverpool to New York with thousands of soldiers.

When my Dad and Mom visited me when I lived in Palm Desert, I remembered driving Dad one day to Long Beach so he could set foot on the ship he crossed the North Atlantic on at the end of the war.  Tears came to his eyes! 

I agree. That car was 20-30 years ahead of its time. Very nice.

houdini1

driver100 said:

imidazol97 said:

I saw this when looking for a Studebaker picture.
http://cdn.barrett-jackson.com/staging/carlist/items/Fullsize/Cars/70672/70672_Front_3-4_Web.jpg

The windows and shape remind me of some of the sporty, sleek Mercedes models.

That would look good today........

I wonder if those wheels are original.

imidazol97

houdini1 said:

I wonder if those wheels are original.

I think they're original 2009!!!

imidazol97

driver100 said:

mudslinging campaign (and I won't get political)

LOL

houdini1

abacomike said:

I know you are tired of hearing about my hospitalizationS, but I'm being admitted for leg and foot swelling and bruising.  Will be here overnight so they can do a CT-Scan with nuclear medicine.  Could be anything from medications to heart and/or kidney failure or nothing.  Just frustrated by always being in the hospital. 

They don't come any tougher than you Mike. Good luck, and I think you will be fine.

henryn

Found this on Wikipedia, none of which I knew before. 14:1 compression ratio (13:1 in USA), sounds almost like a diesel.

The SKYACTIV-G or formerly SKY-G[6] is a family of direct injection gasoline engines. The engine compression ratio is increased to 14:1. To reduce the risk of engine knock at high compression, residual gas is reduced by using 4-2-1 engine exhaust systems, implementing a piston cavity, and optimizing fuel injection. In addition, combustion duration is shortened by intensifying air flow, increasing injection pressure, and using multi-hole injectors.

It features an all-aluminum construction with chain-driven dual overhead camshafts with VVT and gasoline direct injection; with direct ignition, it meets ULEVemission standards. SKYACTIV-G engines for the U.S. market have a lower compression ratio of 13:1 allowing them to operate on standard instead of premium fuel with an approximate 3-5 percent reduction in torque and fuel economy.[7]

The SKYACTIV-G 2.5 or (PY-VPS) is a 2,488 cc (151.8 cu in) engine first used in the 2013 Mazda 6 and features a 89.0 mm (3.50 in) bore and a 100.0 mm (3.94 in) stroke.
The U.S. version with a 13.0:1 compression ratio produces 184 hp (137 kW) at 5,700 rpm and 185 lb·ft (251 N·m) of torque at 3,250 rpm.[15]
Applications:
• 2014–present Mazda3
• 2013–present Mazda6
• 2013–present Mazda CX-5

henryn

Hang in there, Mike. No one likes being sick, everyone hates the hospital. Just be glad that you do HAVE the necessary insurance / wherewithal to get the treatment that you need. Hoping for a speedy recovery for you.

stickguy

The sky active is really a nice engine. And well matched to a great AT.

Mr_Shiftright

abacomike said:

@imidazol97

Beautiful car.  I am surprised it sold for only just over $100K.

Going back to that Studebaker President - that is a very personal vehicle.  I think it only sat 4 people - very tight in the back.  Studebaker was way ahead of the times in terms of design and function.  My Dad, rest his soul, had a 1940 Studebaker when he came back from overseas after WWII.  My grandfather had bought it for him when they heard he was on the Queen Mary in 1945 on its way from Liverpool to New York with thousands of soldiers.

When my Dad and Mom visited me when I lived in Palm Desert, I remembered driving Dad one day to Long Beach so he could set foot on the ship he crossed the North Atlantic on at the end of the war.  Tears came to his eyes! 

That was my very first car that I bought used with my own money---'55 President, green and white, V-8, stickshift with overdrive. Drove it through college in NYC. Very sturdy car, didn't have a lot of gadgets say like a '55 Olds. Finally got rid of it when rust ate through the spring shackle anchors to the frame. I used to race it many nights down Rockaway Blvd. Because of the overdrive it had a very 'low' differential ratio, so it could get out of the hole pretty good for an old wheezer. I used to keep it nice and clean and I was proud of it, even though it was an "old" car by the time I got it. Not a great pickup car though. Girls didn't even know what a Studebaker was. Even then, I was one step behind The Trend of the Week.

roadburner

imidazol97 said:

Best of luck on the outcome. I'm hoping it's the medications that are causing it because
that should be easier to modify to effect a remedy.

X2!!!

carnaught

Mike, here's hoping the problem is nothing serious. Hang in there buddy...

graphicguy

dino001 said:

Hold tight, Mike!

+3

dino001

Just got scraped today on a parking lot The bozo drove away before I was able to realize what had happened Unbelievable, people have no sense of decency, whatsoever.

The damage looks superficial, it was a rear bumper tapping my driver door, scraping it a little. Some residue from the bumper, couple of scratches and what looks like top coat "sanded off" Hopefully, buffing will be enough.

graphicguy

So, been a week on the road....Denver, to Salt Lake City and now in Houston (home tomorrow night).

Drove the wife's Accord to the aiprot (not good just letting it sit). I Uber-ed in Denver. Rented a Hyundai Sonata in Salt Lake. Hertz screwed up my reservation in Houston (IAH). Long story short, the reservation was so screwed up, and the proceeding comedy of errors ensued, they put me in one of their so called "Prestige Collection" rentals....a Mercedes CLA. So, drive the Sonata yesterday, and the CLA today. Good back to back comparison. Both rentals had less than 500 miles, so for all intents an purposes, they're new.

What? Not fair you say? One's a Hyundai and the other is a Mercedes.

Well, I"m here to tell you, they can be compared. I know Driver and Mike love theirs, and rightfully so. But, Mercedes built the CLA to a price.....and it shows.

First up, the Sonata. Assuming it's a base model, cloth seats, no push button start. Pretty good car. Road well, especially considering the price point. Built quite well. Quiet and tight. While there were plenty of hard plastics on the inside, they didn't look cheap. Suspension hid all but the worse bumps, and steering was light, but direct, with the typical "plenty of FWD understeer" that family cars exhibit. You're not going to win many drag races with it, but the drivetrain did its job quietly (so quietly in fact, I thought the car had shut itself off more than a few times). Transmission shifted smoothly and almost imperceptibly. Stereo is probably the best base stereo set up in this price class I've ever heard. Impressive. Seats were comfy, but not much support. Everything was simple to use, and straight forward (including blue tooth pairing). All-in-all, I liked it. Would make a great run around car.

CLA...no question it's a looker (as are all Mercedes'). I know MB touted that it was a $30K car when introduced. But, I'm guessing this one was probably a $35K-$38K car.. I was expecting more than just good looks, but things went sideways as I got in it. I know MB Tex is supposed to be close to real leather, but at least in the CLA, it wasn't even close. Lots of hard plastic (and it showed). Steering wheel had leather, which was nice.

It tried to get into higher gears way to soon. The suspension was sloppy. Way too much understeer. The ride was OK, but had way too much tire slap, which was particularly annoying. The steering was way too light and not very accurate. But, wait a minute, there's a button that allows you to adjust from Eco, Comfortable, and Sport. Let's try sport.

Ahhhhh....much, much better. Drivetrain woke up.. It held the engine in its power band. It shifted well. The sloppy suspension became much tighter (but also rode a rougher, as expected).

I've made no secret about my lover for the current crop of tubo 4 cyl cars out these. The Mercedes turbo 4 is no exception. Torquey and ready to rumble at a moments notice (right after a brief deep breath ). Still like the Caddy's better, but this is a good one. The trans shifts well and mostly smoothly.

I dare anyone to master something as simple as pairing the blue tooth in the car to your phone. How the hell do you change the radio station? More importantly, how do I get this thing in reverse? Or forward? Or even worse, Park?

I always try to find where manufacturers spend their money. While the exterior is pretty, and the interior so-so, it must be in the suspension. Yes, it's sporty. But, bumps actually transmitted into the cabin structure. I hadn't felt that in a car in a very long time. And, there was some sort of buzziness coming from the window sill.. This is a Mercedes?

Anyway, I don't want to give anyone the impression the CLA isn't a good car. It is, or at least it could be, without a whole lot of effort. If you are enamored with having a Mercedes but find yourself a few sheckles short when you reach into your pockets, this is where you should look.

For me? That Sonata is a better car. And, the Accord is better than the Sonata. You'd have a tough time cracking $30K for a well equipped example of either.

I know the C class is better (but at a higher cost) and the E class is better still (at a Much Higher cost). But, I expected more of the CLA.

imidazol97

dino001 said:

Just got scraped today on a parking lot The bozo drove away before I was able to realize what had happened Unbelievable, people have no sense of decency, whatsoever.

The damage looks superficial, it was a rear bumper tapping my driver door, scraping it a little. Some residue from the bumper, couple of scratches and what looks like top coat "sanded off" Hopefully, buffing will be enough.

Sorry your car got scraped. Hope it will be hidden by a good buffiing coat. My Cobalt's plastic bumper and fender (bumper extended) got scraped by an Explorer's rubber bumper in the school lot long ago. There was a residue that turned out to be the Explorer's top coat and dirt off the bumper. The Cobalt was mostly unhurt except for some damage on the metal in front of the wheel after I washed and waxed the area. Hope yours is as lucky.

imidazol97

graphicguy said:

For me? That Sonata is a better car. And, the Accord is better than the Sonata. You'd have a tough time craking $30K for a well equipped example of either.

I know the C class is better (but at a higher cost) and the E class is better still (at a Much Higher cost). But, I expected more of the CLA.

I always enjoy your reports on the cars you get to drive.

explorerx4

Hey Mike,
I'm sure the doctors will fix you up just fine.
I appreciate your many trips to the hospital.
One of my kids works for a medical records software company, and I'm sure you're giving their products a workout.

abacomike

@graphicguy:

I totally agree with your assessment of the GLA.  I reviewed that car over a year ago and found it to be much like an over-inflated balloon - it looks like a Mercedes but, like the balloon, it blows up in terms of quality and handling once you try to (the head of a pin) to enter its environs.

Just got home - bottom line is I have to learn to live with this!