Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

abacomike

@snakeweasel

Also, remember that these surveys are completed voluntarily - people who do not want to spend 30-45 minutes completing these surveys report nothing.  Owners with an "axe to grind" will take the time to respond.  Owners who are "in love with their brand" will take the time to respond.  But what about others who believe completing the survey will change nothing?

The only way to accurately determine which vehicles are more trouble-free and which vehicles are problematic is to have total access to warranty repairs for the term of the warranty.  That will never happen, so we have to live with the data gleaned from voluntarily returned JD Power, Marantz, etc., surveys.

snakeweasel

Michaell said:

Mike, I truly hope you get well. This in-and-out of the hospital can't be good.

I've been contemplating this post for a couple of days now ... I've been on Edmunds forums since the late 1990's, This particular discussion - and its antecedents - have covered a tremendous range of topics. Births, deaths, marriages, divorces, appliances, home improvement. You name it, we've probably discussed it.

So, for something perhaps completely different - I got a layoff notice from my employer earlier this week. I've been given 90 days notice; my last day is set for 5/31 unless I find something else. If not, I'll get one month's severance. Am meeting with the outplacement folks on Monday, but have gotten on-line and registered with them and will start their on-line programs today.

I've polished up my resume and have already submitted three applications - one external and two internal. I'm trying to stay positive, and I'm very lucky to be married to a woman who is very good with resumes, cover letters and interview techniques.

Such is the circle of life .. this is an annual exercise with my employer, and my number came up this year due to reorganization and consolidation.

While I've only met a couple of you face to face, I consider all of you my friends, and I'm not looking for sympathy, just support as I go through this process.

Everything happens for a reason - this is the second time I've had this happen. Thanks for letting me vent and share this with you all.

Back to our regularly scheduled programming ...

Mike, Bummer about the job and I hope all works out for you. You never know this might be your big opportunity. Keep the faith and give them hell.

cdnpinhead

On what planet has it ever been difficult to get Datsun 510 parts, especially 20 years ago? Yeah, I had a problem getting a heater control knob, but basic stuff was available then and probably still is. That car is much like an MGB in terms of finding parts -- they'll be available forever.

cdnpinhead

snakeweasel said:

Due to miserable rush hour traffic that I usually drive through I have opted to go with the automatic transmissions. I have taken many of those cars well over 150K miles and if you replaced one clutch in your life you spent more on that "simpler bulletproof option" than I have on all my auto trannys.

To each their own, I guess. I had to live with several Chrysler products in the '90s, and 3 of the 3 (including my mother-in-law's car) needed the transmission overhauled. My Eagle Vision and the family Caravan completed the hat trick. The Eagle was the only daily driver I've ever owned with an automatic, in 1.3 million miles of driving.

oldfarmer50

driver100 said:

I got this official looking notice in the mail today. It says the warranty on the 2013 Passat has run out and I should call this 1-800 number right away to maintain the warranty, until 2023 or 100k miles.

The wording and body make it look like it was sent from Volkswagen and it says "official response requested"
I wonder how many people fall for this one?

I get those every few weeks for the wife's car. Never any of the other vehicles I've owned. I suspect the dealer sells your information. Kinda tacky.

driver100

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

I got this official looking notice in the mail today. It says the warranty on the 2013 Passat has run out and I should call this 1-800 number right away to maintain the warranty, until 2023 or 100k miles.

The wording and body make it look like it was sent from Volkswagen and it says "official response requested"
I wonder how many people fall for this one?

I get those every few weeks for the wife's car. Never any of the other vehicles I've owned. I suspect the dealer sells your information. Kinda tacky.

I have a feeling the dealer doesn't sell the information...I don't think they want to be part of it. I think all the information is obtained from the government files....maybe it is available only in some states.

I get the feeling our VW dealer is pretty low key and seems to be pretty up front. I don't think they would tarnish their reputation for this scam.

driver100

Sorry ab, I got nothing for you on which a/c heating system to go with. Have you tried googling other people's experiences?

As a general rule I would try to see if I can find some positive info about the newer technology...and if I can't I would go with the tried and true system.

iluvmysephia1

Well, that's right, cdnpinhead, if I wanted ta save for a 510 and run it as a second car, parts would be available for me. Engine, tranny and exhaust parts. The most important parts. I've watched several YouTube vids now where commenters are saying that parts are plentiful - sometimes you have to buy an entire old beater and cannibalize it, but the process is still available. I saw on an auction site the little orange '68 411 Bluebird I liked sold at auction for $3,100. Goodbye, little tadpole.

bwia

A few weeks back I reported here that I had scraped the right rear passenger side of my LaCrosse and perhaps the repair bill would be over two grand. Well, I am not sure how much of a bargain I got but the final repair bill was $1,000.

Not wanting to jack up my insurance premium I paid out of pocket for it. I am with Liberty Mutual and I understand last year they lost over a billion dollars. With losses like that a premium increase across the board is probably inevitable but I wanted to reduce the impact further by not filing an individual claim.

For the four days that my car was in the body shop I rented a 2015 Ford Focus SE from Enterprise at $30 day, a $60 value for private rentals. Again, a good price since I negotiated for the insurance rate. The manager was reluctant but he gave in without much fuss.

About the Focus SE--other than good forward visibility, there is nothing redeeming about it. The car is noisy. Frequently I had to check the windows because wind noise was so intrusive. Ditto for road and engine noise. Oh, what an insult on my eardrums. Nonetheless, the SE was well equipped with back-up camera, Ford Sync, and a decent stereo system.

In short, I can understand *Driver and *Mike's willingness to pay more, much more for a premium automobile. The cacophony emanating from that Ford Focus SE is still paining my ears one day after turning it in.

houdini1

driver100 said:

"houdini1"

Well, I would love to have it happen to me....as long as I got to collect $50 to $75 million. I would be putting on a show for the judge and jury too. Crying, wringing my hands, maybe fainting a time or two.

Joking aside, that hotel was dead wrong to give her name and room # out to anyone, then double down by giving the guy a room next door. I have always thought it was SOP not to do this. I am sure the judge will send a message to other hotels on this one. Since any award is tax free, lawyer fee excluded, I could probably get by on $25 Mil

l.

Yeh, but, houdini, your video would only get about 27 hits!

I agree, the hotel made a huge error, not sure it was $100million error. Whenever I have called someone in a hotel they put you through to the room, but, they don;t give you the number of the room, for obvious reasons. How could they do that?



I am shocked that you think I would get as many as 27 hits. Thanks for the compliment !

ab348

driver100 said:

Sorry ab, I got nothing for you on which a/c heating system to go with. Have you tried googling other people's experiences?

That's part of my problem. When I Goggle the Lennox units proposed I get a very odd mix of positive and extremely negative reviews, along with the occasional posting from people in the business who say they would not buy Lennox. It just confuses me more.

I need to stop overthinking this. I suspect the mini-split system would probably be sufficient, but without direct experience it's hard to say. I'd hate to spend that money and later on find my bedroom is still too warm.

ab348

bwia said:

About the Focus SE--other than good forward visibility, there is nothing redeeming about it. The car is noisy. Frequently I had to check the windows because wind noise was so intrusive. Ditto for road and engine noise. Oh, what an insult on my eardrums.

Hah! Nothing like getting a firsthand review. Odd how none of the automotive journos who are supposed to write about these things ever seem to mention things like that. Same with the well-known automatic transmission problems in at least the first couple years of this generation.

PF_Flyer

fezo said:

OK, boys. Back to washing machines,,,

Yea, who would take sides on top loaders vs front loaders?

driver100

ab348 said:

bwia said:

About the Focus SE--other than good forward visibility, there is nothing redeeming about it. The car is noisy. Frequently I had to check the windows because wind noise was so intrusive. Ditto for road and engine noise. Oh, what an insult on my eardrums.

Hah! Nothing like getting a firsthand review. Odd how none of the automotive journos who are supposed to write about these things ever seem to mention things like that. Same with the well-known automatic transmission problems in at least the first couple years of this generation.

Many years ago my 95 Jeep Cherokee was hit by a guy coming out of a parking space. The body shop gave me a Ford Focus as a rental...a wagon. I often thought they made cute wagons....but, actually driving it was no a lot of fun. It was so minimal...poor steering and handling, tiny thin steering wheel, cheap plastic everywhere. Maybe life is just too short to put up with that is you can afford something better. Maybe it just doesn't matter to a lot of people.

I have owned minimal cars and I am fortunate to be able to drive something better...I sure hope the day doesn't come when I have to go back to minimal.

The review was good, just to hear the impressions of what a regular person noticed.

driver100

PF_Flyer said:

fezo said:

OK, boys. Back to washing machines,,,

Yea, who would take sides on top loaders vs front loaders?

My wife insists on a top loader....for one thing you can open it and add more during a cycle. For another thing you don't have a door in your way all the time.

The times I used it I think she is right....as usual.

What do you think?

qbrozen

bwia said:

For the four days that my car was in the body shop I rented a 2015 Ford Focus SE from Enterprise at $30 day, a $60 value for private rentals. Again, a good price since I negotiated for the insurance rate. The manager was reluctant but he gave in without much fuss.

Good grief, that seems awfully expensive. I just booked an Explorer to be waiting for us when we arrive in Orlando. Picking it up Easter Sunday night, driving it around FL, then driving it all the way back to the Philly airport and dropping it off the following Sunday. Total bill is $199.80.

driver100

houdini1 said:

driver100 said:

"houdini1"

Well, I would love to have it happen to me....as long as I got to collect $50 to $75 million. I would be putting on a show for the judge and jury too. Crying, wringing my hands, maybe fainting a time or two.

Joking aside, that hotel was dead wrong to give her name and room # out to anyone, then double down by giving the guy a room next door. I have always thought it was SOP not to do this. I am sure the judge will send a message to other hotels on this one. Since any award is tax free, lawyer fee excluded, I could probably get by on $25 Mil

l.

Yeh, but, houdini, your video would only get about 27 hits!

I agree, the hotel made a huge error, not sure it was $100million error. Whenever I have called someone in a hotel they put you through to the room, but, they don;t give you the number of the room, for obvious reasons. How could they do that?



I am shocked that you think I would get as many as 27 hits. Thanks for the compliment !

I really thought 3 people, but I didn't want to bruise your ego

driver100

qbrozen said:

bwia said:

For the four days that my car was in the body shop I rented a 2015 Ford Focus SE from Enterprise at $30 day, a $60 value for private rentals. Again, a good price since I negotiated for the insurance rate. The manager was reluctant but he gave in without much fuss.

Good grief, that seems awfully expensive. I just booked an Explorer to be waiting for us when we arrive in Orlando. Picking it up Easter Sunday night, driving it around FL, then driving it all the way back to the Philly airport and dropping it off the following Sunday. Total bill is $199.80.

Florida and especially Orlando are about the cheapest place to rent a car....lots of them around and very competitive. But, even at that, $30 a day for a Focus sounds like a lot.

DRIVER TIP: If you are flying somewhere and getting a long term rental get it from a car rental place away from the airport, take a taxi. Cost could be a lot less than getting a rental car at the airport.

qbrozen

I booked mine through Budget.

Just for fun, I looked at the Atlantic City location. 1 week with a Focus comes to $290 with taxes and fees. So a hair over $40/day. Yikes.

suydam

Is Budget the one that charges $10 extra a day for the spouse to drive? Florida gets you that way. Not legal in Calif.

ab348

driver100 said:

Many years ago my 95 Jeep Cherokee was hit by a guy coming out of a parking space. The body shop gave me a Ford Focus as a rental...a wagon. I often thought they made cute wagons....but, actually driving it was no a lot of fun. It was so minimal...poor steering and handling, tiny thin steering wheel, cheap plastic everywhere. Maybe life is just too short to put up with that is you can afford something better. Maybe it just doesn't matter to a lot of people.

I have owned minimal cars and I am fortunate to be able to drive something better...I sure hope the day doesn't come when I have to go back to minimal.

The review was good, just to hear the impressions of what a regular person noticed.

My notoriously cheapskate older brother has actually had 2 Focus wagons, the first, he leased in '03 or '04, then got a second new one, an '07, when that lease was up. He owns that one now. He says he likes the utility they offer and frets as to what he will get when this one has to go away. It is already rusting out and has had a number of age-related issues. But I guess it is better than the first one, which they had back at the dealer a number of times with a complaint of wet floors. After several attempts at sealing leaks coming from up top, they finally realized it was leaking from underneath since the factory had neglected to use seal sealer on various sections of the floorpan/underbody. They finally stripped the interior out of it and sealed it up for him. Unreal. Yet he seems to love them. The odd thing is that he now drives very slowly and is not at all adverterous - odd because when he was in his 20s and 30s he had sports cars and actually had a '60s Mini Cooper that he did some racing with.

PF_Flyer

driver100 said:

PF_Flyer said:

fezo said:

OK, boys. Back to washing machines,,,

Yea, who would take sides on top loaders vs front loaders?

My wife insists on a top loader....for one thing you can open it and add more during a cycle. For another thing you don't have a door in your way all the time.

The times I used it I think she is right....as usual.

What do you think?

Heh... I love my front loader and the smaller amounts of detergent and water it uses make my septic system happy too!

ab348

PF_Flyer said:

Heh... I love my front loader and the smaller amounts of detergent and water it uses make my septic system happy too!

I always had top loaders until about 5 years ago when the old one quit and I bought a new LG pair. I really like it although I think the wash cycle is longer, but it uses a lot less water and seems to clean better.

henryn

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

stickguy said:

Well, after a few years, being under warranty doesn't eliminate the risk of failure or breakdown. Just who pays for it (with certain wear part exceptions).

Your Benz hitting 4 years old doesn't mean it will become any less reliable.

Sometimes it's not a matter of becoming unreliable, but rather that around 80K-90K some expensive components become "expendable". It's not all that uncommon for things like struts, brakes, an alternator perhaps, the AC system, or even just a really expensive 100K service to start adding up.

e.g, On an Audi S4, 7-8 years old, an alternator is $665, a single headlight assembly is $1100, starter motor $745, axle CV joint kit $770, replace damaged wheel $800. + labor of course on all these. It can add up.

Exactly! It has become more costly to keep repairing a car than replacing it. It is like TV's, there aren't any repairmen left because it costs more to fix them than it is to buy a new one. Not quite the same, but, there comes a point when it is just better to bite the bullet and get a newer car......my tolerance for problems is low, so I'll pay the extra amount to lessen my chances of having a problem.

Or do like I do and buy old cheap beaters. Forget about repairing anything that doesn't move it down the road. When you can't stand to be seen in it any more you park it on the side of the road and walk home.

I couldn't stand the thought of paying $1100 for a headlight assembly.

Insanity. That alone would be enough to prevent me from buying a car, any car.

I remember back in the day, I was helping a friend change out the starter on a Vega. You had to unbolt the engine mount and jack up the engine to get the starter off. If you needed to change the rotor (inside the distributor cap), you had to remove the AC compressor.

Engineers who do things like that should be shot.

houdini1

ab348 said:

PF_Flyer said:

Heh... I love my front loader and the smaller amounts of detergent and water it uses make my septic system happy too!

I always had top loaders until about 5 years ago when the old one quit and I bought a new LG pair. I really like it although I think the wash cycle is longer, but it uses a lot less water and seems to clean better.

Well, years ago, top loaders were the only choice, other than commercial. When the new front loaders became available a few years ago we bought one. Kept it a couple of years and my wife wanted to go back to a top loader. She said she liked everything about the front loader..... except it didn't get the clothes as clean a a top loader. I guess in a washer that is sort of important.

houdini1

ab348 said:

driver100 said:

Sorry ab, I got nothing for you on which a/c heating system to go with. Have you tried googling other people's experiences?

That's part of my problem. When I Goggle the Lennox units proposed I get a very odd mix of positive and extremely negative reviews, along with the occasional posting from people in the business who say they would not buy Lennox. It just confuses me more.

I need to stop overthinking this. I suspect the mini-split system would probably be sufficient, but without direct experience it's hard to say. I'd hate to spend that money and later on find my bedroom is still too warm.

AB, please explain what the term "mini-split" means. Thanks in advance.

ab348

houdini1 said:

Well, years ago, top loaders were the only choice, other than commercial.

Not exactly. When I was a kid in the mid-60s my folks had the basement of our house finished, with a "rumpus room" in the majority of it but with a separate laundry/utility room as well. They bought a new Westinghouse laundry pair, and the washer was a front-loader. I remember the first time they used it, it was not balanced properly and it danced across the newly-tiled floor, tearing apart some of the newly-laid vinyl tiles. Such excitement!

ab348

houdini1 said:

AB, please explain what the term "mini-split" means. Thanks in advance.

They are the units that you have probably seen that look like this on the outside of a house:



In the house, something that looks like this gets mounted on a wall:



As you can gather, the inside unit shoot air in its general vicinity but would not cool another level or rooms that are not in its direct line of airflow.

The ducted variety is the kind that ties in with a hot air furnace and looks like this on the outside of the house. Inside it uses the existing heat registers:

stickguy

those split systems are great for retrofits into a non-ducted house. Or a garage!

roadburner

Someone once told me that the quality of the installer's work and any subsequent service they provide is much more important than the actual brand of the heat pump/furnace/etc., and I think that advice is pretty much spot on. Look up the comments on most any HVAC brand and there is usually a wide split of opinion.

driver100

ab348 said:

houdini1 said:

AB, please explain what the term "mini-split" means. Thanks in advance.

They are the units that you have probably seen that look like this on the outside of a house:



In the house, something that looks like this gets mounted on a wall:



As you can gather, the inside unit shoot air in its general vicinity but would not cool another level or rooms that are not in its direct line of airflow.

The ducted variety is the kind that ties in with a hot air furnace and looks like this on the outside of the house. Inside it uses the existing heat registers:

Well the ducted one looks like the kind we have in our unit, and the other 76 homes in our community. They are fairly noisy, though newer models are supposed to be quieter. Ours has a heat pump apparently which makes it more efficient.....that's what my neighbor tells me.

I think it works pretty well, but noisier than I would like. If you go this way make sure the unit and filter are in a place that is easy to get to. Our is easy, older models put the furnace in the attic and you have to go up a ladder and crawl to get at it.

And, that's all I know.

oldfarmer50

henryn said:

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

stickguy said:

Well, after a few years, being under warranty doesn't eliminate the risk of failure or breakdown. Just who pays for it (with certain wear part exceptions).

Your Benz hitting 4 years old doesn't mean it will become any less reliable.

Sometimes it's not a matter of becoming unreliable, but rather that around 80K-90K some expensive components become "expendable". It's not all that uncommon for things like struts, brakes, an alternator perhaps, the AC system, or even just a really expensive 100K service to start adding up.

e.g, On an Audi S4, 7-8 years old, an alternator is $665, a single headlight assembly is $1100, starter motor $745, axle CV joint kit $770, replace damaged wheel $800. + labor of course on all these. It can add up.

Exactly! It has become more costly to keep repairing a car than replacing it. It is like TV's, there aren't any repairmen left because it costs more to fix them than it is to buy a new one. Not quite the same, but, there comes a point when it is just better to bite the bullet and get a newer car......my tolerance for problems is low, so I'll pay the extra amount to lessen my chances of having a problem.

Or do like I do and buy old cheap beaters. Forget about repairing anything that doesn't move it down the road. When you can't stand to be seen in it any more you park it on the side of the road and walk home.

I couldn't stand the thought of paying $1100 for a headlight assembly.

Insanity. That alone would be enough to prevent me from buying a car, any car.

I remember back in the day, I was helping a friend change out the starter on a Vega. You had to unbolt the engine mount and jack up the engine to get the starter off. If you needed to change the rotor (inside the distributor cap), you had to remove the AC compressor.

Engineers who do things like that should be shot.

I remember changing an alternator on my old Dodge Omni and having to take out the horn first. A surprise since up to that time you could usually fit a couch in the engine compartment so you would be comfortable while doing repairs.

I have a confession to make. Up until today I had never nailed the Mustang full throttle.

I was entering the interstate with the gear shift in "sports" mode and feeling frisky and I notice a big tractor-trailer coming up fast in the right lane. Normally I would lay back and merge in behind it but I saw an opening into the middle lane and took it...

Holy crap! The car just flew down the road like a jet. I've never felt such acceleration. I don't know how fast I was going but I had to brake about a mile down the road to avoid rear ending a car doing 70.

I was a very, very bad boy.

And I liked it.

Please don't judge me.

driver100

oldfarmer50"

I have a confession to make. Up until today I had never nailed the Mustang full throttle.

I was entering the interstate with the gear shift in "sports" mode and feeling frisky and I notice a big tractor-trailer coming up fast in the right lane. Normally I would lay back and merge in behind it but I saw an opening into the middle lane and took it...

THAT"S WHY HORSEPOWER IS A GOOD THING! AND IT IS SAFETY FEATURE, BEING ABLE TO GET AHEAD OF THOSE NASTY TRUCKS!

Holy crap! The car just flew down the road like a jet. I've never felt such acceleration. I don't know how fast I was going but I had to brake about a mile down the road to avoid rear ending a car doing 70.

THAT IS WHY YOU NEED ACCIDENT AVOIDANCE SYSTEM - BECAUSE YOU HAVE TOO MUCH HORSEPOWER......SELF PERPETUATING FEATURES............

I was a very, very bad boy.

And I liked it.

Please don't judge me.

imidazol97

driver100 said:

AB, please explain what the term "mini-split" means. Thanks in advance.

If I remember right, you have gas heat currently. We do not have gas on the street where we live,
but if it were to come along, I'd replace our central air heat pump with a gas furnace and heat pump together. Depending on the cost of electricity, the switch from using electricity and the heat pump to using the gas furnace for heat occurs when the heat pump can't keep up alone, getting the highest efficiency on both ends.

Currently the heat pump uses electrical heating strips--like a toaster or dryer to provide extra heat when the reverse AC doesn't provide enough to maintain the interior temperature. Dual fuel uses the gas for the backup.

Lennox makes them. Called dual fuel.

nyccarguy

This is why you got the V8!  Good for you!

abacomike

I remember changing an alternator on my old Dodge Omni and having to take out the horn first. A surprise since up to that time you could usually fit a couch in the engine compartment so you would be comfortable while doing repairs. I have a confession to make. Up until today I had never nailed the Mustang full throttle. I was entering the interstate with the gear shift in "sports" mode and feeling frisky and I notice a big tractor-trailer coming up fast in the right lane. Normally I would lay back and merge in behind it but I saw an opening into the middle lane and took it... Holy crap! The car just flew down the road like a jet. I've never felt such acceleration. I don't know how fast I was going but I had to brake about a mile down the road to avoid rear ending a car doing 70. I was a very, very bad boy. And I liked it. Please don't judge me.

I, Judge abacomike, ajudge you guilty! 

ab348

oldfarmer50 said:

I have a confession to make. Up until today I had never nailed the Mustang full throttle.

I was entering the interstate with the gear shift in "sports" mode and feeling frisky and I notice a big tractor-trailer coming up fast in the right lane. Normally I would lay back and merge in behind it but I saw an opening into the middle lane and took it...

Holy crap! The car just flew down the road like a jet. I've never felt such acceleration. I don't know how fast I was going but I had to brake about a mile down the road to avoid rear ending a car doing 70.

I was a very, very bad boy.

And I liked it.

Please don't judge me.

I hope you had some fresh undies wait for you when you got home.

I test-drove a 2011 GT and tried something similar on an expressway on-ramp. It scared the bejeezus out of me. The power was unlike anything I ever experienced. My ATS is quick, but nothing like that.

ab348

imidazol97 said:

If I remember right, you have gas heat currently. We do not have gas on the street where we live,
but if it were to come along, I'd replace our central air heat pump with a gas furnace and heat pump together. Depending on the cost of electricity, the switch from using electricity and the heat pump to using the gas furnace for heat occurs when the heat pump can't keep up alone, getting the highest efficiency on both ends.

Currently the heat pump uses electrical heating strips--like a toaster or dryer to provide extra heat when the reverse AC doesn't provide enough to maintain the interior temperature. Dual fuel uses the gas for the backup.

Lennox makes them. Called dual fuel.

From what I have learned, your need for a gas furnace to back up these things depends on a few things.

The best of the new mini-splits can produce significant heat down to somewhere just above 0 degrees F. Add some inexpensive electric strip heat as a supplement on the very coldest of days and you're good. No real need for a gas furnace and the cost of all that. The issue with the ducted systems I have found is that those heat pumps are not as advanced and do not produce heat at those low temps. So in that case you might need either a gas furnace or perhaps some electric heat, depending on where you are. If a house is designed in such a way that a few mini-splits can service the entire space then in a lot of the country you do not need a furnace at all, assuming the house is well built and properly insulated.

It is amazing how things have changed in both home construction and heating tech over the years.

Michaell

oldfarmer50 said:

henryn said:

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

stickguy said:

Well, after a few years, being under warranty doesn't eliminate the risk of failure or breakdown. Just who pays for it (with certain wear part exceptions).

Your Benz hitting 4 years old doesn't mean it will become any less reliable.

Sometimes it's not a matter of becoming unreliable, but rather that around 80K-90K some expensive components become "expendable". It's not all that uncommon for things like struts, brakes, an alternator perhaps, the AC system, or even just a really expensive 100K service to start adding up.

e.g, On an Audi S4, 7-8 years old, an alternator is $665, a single headlight assembly is $1100, starter motor $745, axle CV joint kit $770, replace damaged wheel $800. + labor of course on all these. It can add up.

Exactly! It has become more costly to keep repairing a car than replacing it. It is like TV's, there aren't any repairmen left because it costs more to fix them than it is to buy a new one. Not quite the same, but, there comes a point when it is just better to bite the bullet and get a newer car......my tolerance for problems is low, so I'll pay the extra amount to lessen my chances of having a problem.

Or do like I do and buy old cheap beaters. Forget about repairing anything that doesn't move it down the road. When you can't stand to be seen in it any more you park it on the side of the road and walk home.

I couldn't stand the thought of paying $1100 for a headlight assembly.

Insanity. That alone would be enough to prevent me from buying a car, any car.

I remember back in the day, I was helping a friend change out the starter on a Vega. You had to unbolt the engine mount and jack up the engine to get the starter off. If you needed to change the rotor (inside the distributor cap), you had to remove the AC compressor.

Engineers who do things like that should be shot.

I remember changing an alternator on my old Dodge Omni and having to take out the horn first. A surprise since up to that time you could usually fit a couch in the engine compartment so you would be comfortable while doing repairs.

I have a confession to make. Up until today I had never nailed the Mustang full throttle.

I was entering the interstate with the gear shift in "sports" mode and feeling frisky and I notice a big tractor-trailer coming up fast in the right lane. Normally I would lay back and merge in behind it but I saw an opening into the middle lane and took it...

Holy crap! The car just flew down the road like a jet. I've never felt such acceleration. I don't know how fast I was going but I had to brake about a mile down the road to avoid rear ending a car doing 70.

I was a very, very bad boy.

And I liked it.

Please don't judge me.

@oldfarmer50 - I test drove both a Mustang with the 5.0 and the Camaro with the 6.2 V8. Stick shifts.

Yes, you could easily scare yourself silly using full throttle in regular traffic.

But, in the immortal words of Tim Allen - "UHNN! UHNN! UHNN!"

Good on you for letting the ponies out of the barn.

houdini1

ab348 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

I have a confession to make. Up until today I had never nailed the Mustang full throttle.

I was entering the interstate with the gear shift in "sports" mode and feeling frisky and I notice a big tractor-trailer coming up fast in the right lane. Normally I would lay back and merge in behind it but I saw an opening into the middle lane and took it...

Holy crap! The car just flew down the road like a jet. I've never felt such acceleration. I don't know how fast I was going but I had to brake about a mile down the road to avoid rear ending a car doing 70.

I was a very, very bad boy.

And I liked it.

Please don't judge me.

I hope you had some fresh undies wait for you when you got home.

I test-drove a 2011 GT and tried something similar on an expressway on-ramp. It scared the bejeezus out of me. The power was unlike anything I ever experienced. My ATS is quick, but nothing like that.

That story reminds me of a catastrophe that I barely avoided when I was about 24 years old. As a teenager, I grew up with an old Allstate motorcycle. about 16 HP as I recall. You could twist the throttle all the way open and it would make a lot of noise and leisurely gain momentum.

Fast forward to when I was 24, and a friend of mine had just gotten a new motorcycle of some kind, I don't remember the brand, but it looked very similar to my old Allstate. He asked me if I wanted to take a spin and I said sure, I know how to ride as I used to have one of these.

I hopped on and slowly rode up to the highway (practically deserted) lined her up, and slammed on the throttle. Wow! That thing took off and very, very, nearly ripped my hands off the handlebars. I guess there is a huge difference between 16 HP and whatever that thing had !!

oldfarmer50

Michaell said:

oldfarmer50 said:

henryn said:

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

stickguy said:

Well, after a few years, being under warranty doesn't eliminate the risk of failure or breakdown. Just who pays for it (with certain wear part exceptions).

Your Benz hitting 4 years old doesn't mean it will become any less reliable.

Sometimes it's not a matter of becoming unreliable, but rather that around 80K-90K some expensive components become "expendable". It's not all that uncommon for things like struts, brakes, an alternator perhaps, the AC system, or even just a really expensive 100K service to start adding up.

e.g, On an Audi S4, 7-8 years old, an alternator is $665, a single headlight assembly is $1100, starter motor $745, axle CV joint kit $770, replace damaged wheel $800. + labor of course on all these. It can add up.

Exactly! It has become more costly to keep repairing a car than replacing it. It is like TV's, there aren't any repairmen left because it costs more to fix them than it is to buy a new one. Not quite the same, but, there comes a point when it is just better to bite the bullet and get a newer car......my tolerance for problems is low, so I'll pay the extra amount to lessen my chances of having a problem.

Or do like I do and buy old cheap beaters. Forget about repairing anything that doesn't move it down the road. When you can't stand to be seen in it any more you park it on the side of the road and walk home.

I couldn't stand the thought of paying $1100 for a headlight assembly.

Insanity. That alone would be enough to prevent me from buying a car, any car.

I remember back in the day, I was helping a friend change out the starter on a Vega. You had to unbolt the engine mount and jack up the engine to get the starter off. If you needed to change the rotor (inside the distributor cap), you had to remove the AC compressor.

Engineers who do things like that should be shot.

I remember changing an alternator on my old Dodge Omni and having to take out the horn first. A surprise since up to that time you could usually fit a couch in the engine compartment so you would be comfortable while doing repairs.

I have a confession to make. Up until today I had never nailed the Mustang full throttle.

I was entering the interstate with the gear shift in "sports" mode and feeling frisky and I notice a big tractor-trailer coming up fast in the right lane. Normally I would lay back and merge in behind it but I saw an opening into the middle lane and took it...

Holy crap! The car just flew down the road like a jet. I've never felt such acceleration. I don't know how fast I was going but I had to brake about a mile down the road to avoid rear ending a car doing 70.

I was a very, very bad boy.

And I liked it.

Please don't judge me.

@oldfarmer50 - I test drove both a Mustang with the 5.0 and the Camaro with the 6.2 V8. Stick shifts.

Yes, you could easily scare yourself silly using full throttle in regular traffic.

But, in the immortal words of Tim Allen - "UHNN! UHNN! UHNN!"

Good on you for letting the ponies out of the barn.

The Mustang is more than enough car for me but you have to consider THIS if you are a real speed fanatic:

http://www.motortrend.com/news/comparison-2015-bmw-m4-vs-2016-chevrolet-camaro-ss/?_wcsid=803D36F0164E42D5126522EAB2C8C7A91DD643B7F08DF0FF

abacomike

@oldfarmer50:

I think the Mustang GT has the Camaro beat in styling and ride.  You made the right decision.  You'll have many years of extra enjoyment because of your decision.

stickguy

question for the experts here. Exactly how bad should I expect traffic to be on 95 from about Daytona up into NC on Easter Sunday? is that a major traffic day with potential nightmares?

roadburner

oldfarmer50 said:

The Mustang is more than enough car for me but you have to consider THIS if you are a real speed fanatic:

There's not that much difference between those cars and your GT- or my 2er for that matter. Looking at Car and Driver road tests the 0-60 times for the Camaro SS automatic, M4 DCT, Mustang GT automatic, and M235i automatic range from 3.9 to 4.5 seconds. In the quarter mile the ETs range from 12.3 to 13 seconds. Mine should be a bit quicker when I get the limited slip installed, but it probably won't affect acceleration times by more than a couple of tenths.

bwia

The split AC system is something I've been wanting to get for my Caribbean home. But I have a couple concerns, are these things energy efficient? And since my home is built to take advantage of the trade winds a Haiku "Bad [non-permissible content removed]" fan might be a better solution. 

ab348

bwia said:

The split AC system is something I've been wanting to get for my Caribbean home. But I have a couple concerns, are these things energy efficient? And since my home is built to take advantage of the trade winds a Haiku "Bad [non-permissible content removed]" fan might be a better solution. 

The better ones have Seer ratings well over 20 so they are extremely efficient. Much more than the usual whole-house ducted heat pump, and much quieter.

bwia

Wow! 20 SEER, that's pretty efficient. My Boston home has a 20-year old whole house ducted system that is only 12 SEER. At the time it was one of the most efficient systems on the market.

Speaking of efficiency, I replaced three toilets in my home with dual flush systems and cut my water bill in half. Now, only if I could do the same for my electric bill.

graphicguy

driver100 said:

ab348 said:

houdini1 said:

AB, please explain what the term "mini-split" means. Thanks in advance.

They are the units that you have probably seen that look like this on the outside of a house:



In the house, something that looks like this gets mounted on a wall:



As you can gather, the inside unit shoot air in its general vicinity but would not cool another level or rooms that are not in its direct line of airflow.

The ducted variety is the kind that ties in with a hot air furnace and looks like this on the outside of the house. Inside it uses the existing heat registers:

Well the ducted one looks like the kind we have in our unit, and the other 76 homes in our community. They are fairly noisy, though newer models are supposed to be quieter. Ours has a heat pump apparently which makes it more efficient.....that's what my neighbor tells me.

I think it works pretty well, but noisier than I would like. If you go this way make sure the unit and filter are in a place that is easy to get to. Our is easy, older models put the furnace in the attic and you have to go up a ladder and crawl to get at it.

And, that's all I know.

Driver...all true. Actually, as others pointed out, it's more about the installation than the actual equipment. All the brands are made by only a couple of manufacturers to spec and rebranded, at least that's true for the major components like the condenser and motors. Usually, the louder ones are cheaper because there is little insulation in them, and the motors aren't braced well.

All sorts of heat pumps, geothermal, refrigerant cooling these days. The more efficient they are, the more expensive they are. Places without basements sometimes put HVAC in the attic. But ordinarily, the heat unit, with fan, is inside and the A/C condenser is outside.

nyccarguy

https://www.yahoo.com/autos/why-bought-nissan-leaf-electric-car-2-hours-160000187.html

Attention Colorado Residents

sda

We have Carrier central air, gas heat. One unit is a SEER 10, the other SEER 12. The SEER 10 was installed when we built the house in 2004, the SEER 12 when we finished the bonus room in 2006. Both have operated well and have been trouble free. With our rather warm summers, the air is on almost constantly. I am anticipating having to replace them at some point due to their age, and given the good service the they have given, will seriously consider Carrier as a replacement. What is standard these days SEER 14?