Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

oldfarmer50

nyccarguy said:

I'm not sure if I posted this or not, but last week somebody swerved in front of my father in law.  He then swerved to avoid the guy that was going to hit him head on (local road, slow speed) & hit a parked car with his 2013 Escape SEL 4WD.  Air bags deployed.  My father in law didn't get hurt.  The Escape had to be towed to the body shop.  Of course the guy that swerved in front of him didn't stop, so it looks like my father in law was driving down the road & hit a parked car.  

He was pretty upset.  The cops asked him if he was drinking or texting.

The insurance company totalled (pictured below) his Escape.  It is a 2013 SEL 4WD Escape with 60K miles.  They offered him $13,000 for it.  Does that seem reasonable?  I think so.  

He went looking at a new 2017 Escape and liked it.  Then he went to the Subaru Dealer and is picking up a 2017 Outback 2.5i Limited on Thursday.  He wants to buy (4 years @ 0% financing).  I told him to look into leasing because of the Outback's high residual.  

Sorry to hear that. Infuriating for sure but good your dad is ok.

Drinking or texting? I supose they have to ask that but how old is your dad? Most seniors wouldn't tend to be texting. Bet the swerving driver was though.

Last Saturday I was on a field trip late at night in a sketchy school district. I brought my TracPhone with me so I didn't have to go wandering around in the dark. Gave the coach my number.

Around midnight the phone gives a funny buzz. I open it up and see something about a missed message. I didn't hear the phone ring so I was puzzled. I started pressing buttons at random and eventually a text came up saying the team was ready.

My first text ever. I doubt I will ever send one myself.

So if a cop ever asks "drinking or texting" I'll tell him I'd like a drink please.

28firefighter

nyccarguy said:

I'm not sure if I posted this or not, but last week somebody swerved in front of my father in law.  He then swerved to avoid the guy that was going to hit him head on (local road, slow speed) & hit a parked car with his 2013 Escape SEL 4WD.  Air bags deployed.  My father in law didn't get hurt.  The Escape had to be towed to the body shop.  Of course the guy that swerved in front of him didn't stop, so it looks like my father in law was driving down the road & hit a parked car.  

He was pretty upset.  The cops asked him if he was drinking or texting.

The insurance company totalled (pictured below) his Escape.  It is a 2013 SEL 4WD Escape with 60K miles.  They offered him $13,000 for it.  Does that seem reasonable?  I think so.  

He went looking at a new 2017 Escape and liked it.  Then he went to the Subaru Dealer and is picking up a 2017 Outback 2.5i Limited on Thursday.  He wants to buy (4 years @ 0% financing).  I told him to look into leasing because of the Outback's high residual.  

Glad he is OK - stuff happens though so hopefully it doesn't eat him up too much.

That sounds maybe a bit low on value but not by much. I've seen 2015 Escape Titaniums with 15-20k miles advertised with an asking of $21k and they're a dime a dozen, so I imagine it only gets worse on the older models. 

carnaught

Class action suits benefit the legal firms mostly. The individuals involved often have to wait years, and in the case of this issue involving Cadilllac, might get something like a discount voucher applied to a new Caddy purchase.

ab348

nyccarguy said:

Then he went to the Subaru Dealer and is picking up a 2017 Outback 2.5i Limited on Thursday.  He wants to buy (4 years @ 0% financing).  I told him to look into leasing because of the Outback's high residual.  

This part of your post made me look at Subaru Canada's website for the first time in years. I have not been a fan of Subarus generally in the past but figured maybe they make sense on a lease. Turns out, not here. They don't list the residual outright but you can derive it from what they tell you and the Canadian branch is giving their vehicles ridiculously low residuals. I priced an Outback 3.6 on a 3-year lease and it was $612/month. A Forester was $550 or so. Crazy.

roadburner

nyccarguy said:

@graphicguy - You seem pretty impressed with the Accord Touring. How did it ride on those 19" Wheels? How would you compare the ride & handling of the FWD Accord Touring to the AWD Acura TLX you test drove?

Glad he's okay; I'd be furious too!

abacomike

@nyccarguy

So relieved that your FIL was not hurt.  I would thank that Ford Escape and its airbags for that along with a tip of the hat to the Lord, based on what I see in your posted picture of the front end of that Ford Escape.  

nyccarguy

Thanks guys. It was my Father In Law, not my Dad.

abacomike

nyccarguy said:

Thanks guys. It was my Father In Law, not my Dad.

Corrected my post - thanks!

fintail

If I lived in the NYC metro zoo, I'd definitely splurge for a couple hundred dollars and get a dashcam. Lucky it wasn't serious in terms of injury.

abacomike

fintail said:

If I lived in the NYC metro zoo, I'd definitely splurge for a couple hundred dollars and get a dashcam. Lucky it wasn't serious in terms of injury.

I'd opt for peanuts so I could feed my neighbors - the elephants!!! 

Mr_Shiftright

nyccarguy said:

Thanks guys. It was my Father In Law, not my Dad.

Settlement of $13K is okay. I'm seeing the same car listed at dealers here in CA at $14,5K. I suppose you could ask the insurance company to bump it $500 bucks but it's a pretty fair offer as it is--just a tad light IMO.

roadburner

@graphicguy I know you said that you don't want a 320i but I thought I'd mention that we have a RWD 320i with three pedals and the Track Handling Package:



We also have a 320i xDrive with automatic and the Track Handling Package:



I had a 320i for a loaner when the windshield was being replaced in the 2er and I really enjoyed it; a 6.5s 0-60 and a 15.1s 1/4 mile isn't dead slow but the car does feel faster than it is...

28firefighter

roadburner said:

@graphicguy I know you said that you don't want a 320i but I thought I'd mention that we have a RWD 320i with three pedals and the Track Handling Package:



We also have a 320i xDrive with automatic and the Track Handling Package:



I had a 320i for a loaner when the windshield was being replaced in the 2er and I really enjoyed it; a 6.5s 0-60 and a 15.1s 1/4 mile isn't dead slow but the car does feel faster than it is...

Those are sharp looking - I need to keep that in mind. But, I have to say, I hate the smaller iDrive screen inside and lack of Xenons.

roadburner

We actually took a in a 320i lease return that had navigation- talk about rare.

28firefighter

I'm really impressed with BMW 4 cylinder engines, and I think I'd be more than happy with the smaller engine - but I do want all the goodies that generally are only found on the 328.

roadburner

28firefighter said:

I'm really impressed with BMW 4 cylinder engines, and I think I'd be more than happy with the smaller engine - but I do want all the goodies that generally are only found on the 328.

I tend to agree, but the 320i(and the 230i) are the closest thing you can get to the old school type of BMW that emphasizes the driving experience without offering a lot of bells and whistles.

venture

oldfarmer50 said:

venture said:

explorerx4 said:

I was pretty disappointed with the interior of the Fusion Sport.
Seems like they ran out of money or something.
The seat material looks cheap and the center stack controls are from the 2016 Fusion.
My 2017 SE has a completely different center stack layout.

Like Fintail, I checked the inventory of a local Benz dealer. They have 28 E class listed. 26 E300's and 2 E400 coupes. I thought maybe they are holding back the 6 cylinder models because they are selling so many CUV/SUV's and are trying to keep their CAFE numbers up.

You have to add the Sport Upgrade Package to get the newer looking center stack. That includes the 2 - 4.2" LCD displays and the 8" center stack display, and the Sony 12 speaker sound system among other stuff. If you restrain yourself and don't get adaptive cruise, lane keep, BLIS, etc., you can have one for mid-30s. That's really not bad for a 325 HP, 380 lb./ft., AWD car.

The seats being only available in dark gray, and being suede and leather, made me not interested. I'm not a suede seat guy.

I took my Titanium out tonight and turned off the radio to listen to the squeeks and rattles. The only thing I heard was engine and tires. Couldn't find much hard plastic either except for the console top.

Impressive. Which engine is that?

That's the engine in the Fusion Sport.

graphicguy

Bradd...glad your FIL is OK. The TLX SH AWD handles better than the Accord Touring. But, it also costs about $10K more than the Accord, too. I could be happy with a Touring. I purposely hit some broken pavement in the Touring. Nothing really jarring.

OF....I'll,have to sniff around to see if I can find the agency. That would be good info to know.

RB....thanks! I should look at a 320i again.

jmonroe

uplanderguy said:

I love Chick-Fil-A. Sometimes during a work day (I work at home), I've actually driven to the nearest one, probably six or seven congested miles away, just because I've been hungry for one.

jmonroe, is the Chick-Fil-A you mention the one near Robinson Town Centre? When I go to our Pittsburgh office, that's the one I eat at.

No. The one I go to is in the Miracle Mile Shopping Center in Monroeville.

A little story about the building it is in:

The building was built as the home of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts not too long after they came to the Burgh area. It didn't last too long because people around here know what a REAL doughnut is and Krispy Kreme ain't it. They are very small compared to the mom and pop bakeries that are still around here and they aren't as tasty. It was a little novel though, you could see the doughnuts being made. I remember taking my oldest grandson there when he was about 3 to watch the process (he turned 15 two days ago). Of course he got a kick out of watching the doughnuts flip to the opposite side as they progressed down the assembly line.

The first time I went there I ordered 2 doughnuts the Burgh way. Which is a raised doughnut that has granulated sugar not the glazing. I see the girl ring it up and it is more than the price of 2 doughnuts per their overhead sign. I ask what is going on and I'm told, "oh, those doughnuts are our premium doughnuts just like if you ordered a jelly doughnut. They are more than our signature glazed doughnuts. That's why they are 10 cents more each." I was pretty surprised by that and asked her if she was from around here. She said "yes, and I know what you are getting at. A lot of people are surprised by that upcharge. I know that is how my parents and grandmother eat doughnuts."

You can't come barging into this area and pull stuff like that. You won't get away with it too long and they didn't.

Now tell me, you had to know I could not just give you a YES or NO answer, right? @driver100 knows that.

jmonroe

uplanderguy

LOL. I don't know if you saw me mention it previously, but I went to school at Clarion a long time ago, and I grew up in small-town Greenville, about midway between Pittsburgh and Erie and about ten miles south of Pymaturning State Park. Thiel College is there and about the only thing anybody's heard of. I'd like to move back but my wife says 'no way'.

I do like hot Krispy Kremes, and watching them being made was cool, but it seems like the company grew too big, up north. I'm aware of some other stores that have closed. Also, it seemed neater when you could only get them in their stores, but around here drug stores, gas stations and everyplace else started selling them, and the uniqueness wore off.

jmonroe

nyccarguy said:

I'm not sure if I posted this or not, but last week somebody swerved in front of my father in law.  He then swerved to avoid the guy that was going to hit him head on (local road, slow speed) & hit a parked car with his 2013 Escape SEL 4WD.  Air bags deployed.  My father in law didn't get hurt.  The Escape had to be towed to the body shop.  Of course the guy that swerved in front of him didn't stop, so it looks like my father in law was driving down the road & hit a parked car.  

He was pretty upset.  The cops asked him if he was drinking or texting.

The insurance company totalled (pictured below) his Escape.  It is a 2013 SEL 4WD Escape with 60K miles.  They offered him $13,000 for it.  Does that seem reasonable?  I think so.  

He went looking at a new 2017 Escape and liked it.  Then he went to the Subaru Dealer and is picking up a 2017 Outback 2.5i Limited on Thursday.  He wants to buy (4 years @ 0% financing).  I told him to look into leasing because of the Outback's high residual.  

Sheet metal can be fixed or replaced although not with this hit.

As long as your FIL is safe that is the important thing.

Keep us informed about his buy or lease. Tell him to get the 6 cyl. He won't be disappointed.

jmonroe

Michaell

roadburner said:

28firefighter said:

I'm really impressed with BMW 4 cylinder engines, and I think I'd be more than happy with the smaller engine - but I do want all the goodies that generally are only found on the 328.

I tend to agree, but the 320i(and the 230i) are the closest thing you can get to the old school type of BMW that emphasizes the driving experience without offering a lot of bells and whistles.

I like the idea of a minimally equipped 320i with xDrive. But, trying to justify that cost over something like a Jetta Sport or Passat R-Line is something I'm struggling with.

I should probably drive the BMW, then I'll have a better sense of my thoughts about it.

fintail

We even have Krispy Kreme out here. I'm not into it as we have some good mom 'n pop type places (Chuck's in Renton has the best maple bars I have yet to experience), but Krispy Kreme chocolate pies are pretty good.

nyccarguy

jmonroe said:

nyccarguy said:

I'm not sure if I posted this or not, but last week somebody swerved in front of my father in law.  He then swerved to avoid the guy that was going to hit him head on (local road, slow speed) & hit a parked car with his 2013 Escape SEL 4WD.  Air bags deployed.  My father in law didn't get hurt.  The Escape had to be towed to the body shop.  Of course the guy that swerved in front of him didn't stop, so it looks like my father in law was driving down the road & hit a parked car.  

He was pretty upset.  The cops asked him if he was drinking or texting.

The insurance company totalled (pictured below) his Escape.  It is a 2013 SEL 4WD Escape with 60K miles.  They offered him $13,000 for it.  Does that seem reasonable?  I think so.  

He went looking at a new 2017 Escape and liked it.  Then he went to the Subaru Dealer and is picking up a 2017 Outback 2.5i Limited on Thursday.  He wants to buy (4 years @ 0% financing).  I told him to look into leasing because of the Outback's high residual.  

Sheet metal can be fixed or replaced although not with this hit.

As long as your FIL is safe that is the important thing.

Keep us informed about his buy or lease. Tell him to get the 6 cyl. He won't be disappointed.

jmonroe

@jmonroe - This 2017 will be his 4th Outback. He had an '06 LL BEAN (6 cyl), then an '08 6cyl, then a 2010 2.5i Premium (4cyl). He then got a 2013 Escape SEL with the 1.5L Turbo 4. I told him on the phone the other night to drive the 4cyl & the 6 cyl since he is used to the power of Ford's Turbo 4. I explained to him that the engine's power output is THE major fault point I find with my car on a daily basis. I spoke to him last night he said he's getting a 4 cyl.

suydam

@graphicguy --
I had the 2013 Accord EX-L 4 cyl. The suspension on Accords is generally firmer than on cars like the Camry or Avalon, which is to my liking but you will see some owners complain about it. Didn't they test drive it first? You will feel more bumps accordingly. That said, I took many 600+ mile trips in that car and I never felt stiff afterwards. The seats are great. It handles beautifully and as you said does everything well. I hope they've changed out the right side camera for actual blind spot warnings. Front sensors would be good too. For some reason it's hard to see where the car actually ends. This seems pretty common on a lot of cars now.

jmonroe

uplanderguy said:

LOL. I don't know if you saw me mention it previously, but I went to school at Clarion a long time ago, and I grew up in small-town Greenville, about midway between Pittsburgh and Erie and about ten miles south of Pymaturning State Park. Thiel College is there and about the only thing anybody's heard of. I'd like to move back but my wife says 'no way'.

I do like hot Krispy Kremes, and watching them being made was cool, but it seems like the company grew too big, up north. I'm aware of some other stores that have closed. Also, it seemed neater when you could only get them in their stores, but around here drug stores, gas stations and everyplace else started selling them, and the uniqueness wore off.

Yes, I remember you mentioning where you are from. BUT, you are an outsider now and will be treated as such. :@

jmonroe

driver100

jmonroe said:

uplanderguy said:

I love Chick-Fil-A. Sometimes during a work day (I work at home), I've actually driven to the nearest one, probably six or seven congested miles away, just because I've been hungry for one.

jmonroe, is the Chick-Fil-A you mention the one near Robinson Town Centre? When I go to our Pittsburgh office, that's the one I eat at.

No. The one I go to is in the Miracle Mile Shopping Center in Monroeville.

A little story about the building it is in:

The building was built as the home of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts not too long after they came to the Burgh area. It didn't last too long because people around here know what a REAL doughnut is and Krispy Kreme ain't it. They are very small compared to the mom and pop bakeries that are still around here and they aren't as tasty. It was a little novel though, you could see the doughnuts being made. I remember taking my oldest grandson there when he was about 3 to watch the process (he turned 15 two days ago). Of course he got a kick out of watching the doughnuts flip to the opposite side as they progressed down the assembly line.

The first time I went there I ordered 2 doughnuts the Burgh way. Which is a raised doughnut that has granulated sugar not the glazing. I see the girl ring it up and it is more than the price of 2 doughnuts per their overhead sign. I ask what is going on and I'm told, "oh, those doughnuts are our premium doughnuts just like if you ordered a jelly doughnut. They are more than our signature glazed doughnuts. That's why they are 10 cents more each." I was pretty surprised by that and asked her if she was from around here. She said "yes, and I know what you are getting at. A lot of people are surprised by that upcharge. I know that is how my parents and grandmother eat doughnuts."

You can't come barging into this area and pull stuff like that. You won't get away with it too long and they didn't.

Now tell me, you had to know I could not just give you a YES or NO answer, right? @driver100 knows that.

jmonroe

Uplnder hasn't learned not to ask JM a question. He probably has learned now

driver100

Michaell said:

roadburner said:

28firefighter said:

I'm really impressed with BMW 4 cylinder engines, and I think I'd be more than happy with the smaller engine - but I do want all the goodies that generally are only found on the 328.

I tend to agree, but the 320i(and the 230i) are the closest thing you can get to the old school type of BMW that emphasizes the driving experience without offering a lot of bells and whistles.

I like the idea of a minimally equipped 320i with xDrive. But, trying to justify that cost over something like a Jetta Sport or Passat R-Line is something I'm struggling with.

I should probably drive the BMW, then I'll have a better sense of my thoughts about it.

In theory you may be justified, but, until you drive the car you have no idea why people would pay extra for the 320. There shouldn't in theory be that much difference between a 2013 Passat and a 2014 C250, but, they are like comparing apples and steak.

uplanderguy

It's OK; I know western Pennsylvanians are, ahem, "direct". LOL

I'm the fourth generation of my family from Greenville.

jmonroe

driver100 said:

jmonroe said:

uplanderguy said:

I love Chick-Fil-A. Sometimes during a work day (I work at home), I've actually driven to the nearest one, probably six or seven congested miles away, just because I've been hungry for one.

jmonroe, is the Chick-Fil-A you mention the one near Robinson Town Centre? When I go to our Pittsburgh office, that's the one I eat at.

No. The one I go to is in the Miracle Mile Shopping Center in Monroeville.

A little story about the building it is in:

The building was built as the home of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts not too long after they came to the Burgh area. It didn't last too long because people around here know what a REAL doughnut is and Krispy Kreme ain't it. They are very small compared to the mom and pop bakeries that are still around here and they aren't as tasty. It was a little novel though, you could see the doughnuts being made. I remember taking my oldest grandson there when he was about 3 to watch the process (he turned 15 two days ago). Of course he got a kick out of watching the doughnuts flip to the opposite side as they progressed down the assembly line.

The first time I went there I ordered 2 doughnuts the Burgh way. Which is a raised doughnut that has granulated sugar not the glazing. I see the girl ring it up and it is more than the price of 2 doughnuts per their overhead sign. I ask what is going on and I'm told, "oh, those doughnuts are our premium doughnuts just like if you ordered a jelly doughnut. They are more than our signature glazed doughnuts. That's why they are 10 cents more each." I was pretty surprised by that and asked her if she was from around here. She said "yes, and I know what you are getting at. A lot of people are surprised by that upcharge. I know that is how my parents and grandmother eat doughnuts."

You can't come barging into this area and pull stuff like that. You won't get away with it too long and they didn't.

Now tell me, you had to know I could not just give you a YES or NO answer, right? @driver100 knows that.

jmonroe

Uplnder hasn't learned not to ask you a question. He probably has learned now

Could be but you'll have to ask him. If I did you'd accuse me of trying to set up a story.

jmonroe

driver100

nyccarguy said:

Thanks guys. It was my Father In Law, not my Dad.

It happens so easily, and accident rates have surged lately, mainly because of distracted drivers. A dash cam sounds like a necessity these days.

Glad your FIL is well, though probably shaken up....that has to be a bad experience to go through. I really try to limit our time in the car since my chances of survival will be greatly improved.

driver100

roadburner said:

@graphicguy I know you said that you don't want a 320i but I thought I'd mention that we have a RWD 320i with three pedals and the Track Handling Package:



We also have a 320i xDrive with automatic and the Track Handling Package:



I had a 320i for a loaner when the windshield was being replaced in the 2er and I really enjoyed it; a 6.5s 0-60 and a 15.1s 1/4 mile isn't dead slow but the car does feel faster than it is...

Both of those are nice, I really like the red though. Something about the simplicity of the 320 that makes it look special....you can appreciate the sleek lines of the car better too.

driver100

My Mercedes rep got back to me....I'll just copy and paste what he said:

The certification delay was to do with the emission system. All that has to be installed is the latest software to the computer system on the vehicle. No physical part needs to be installed.

For the intelligent drive package, there is a delay on that package as there is a part shortage on one of the parts required to build the package. It costs an additional $2700.00. If you were to order one you would be looking at August or September arrival.

Houdini and a few others were right, no need to go ballistic, first get a logical explanation. btw....I got a nicer explanation in 24 hours from Mercedes than GG has received in almost 2 months from Cadillac.

abacomike

driver100 said:

My Mercedes rep got back to me....I'll just copy and paste what he said: The certification delay was to do with the emission system. All that has to be installed is the latest software to the computer system on the vehicle. No physical part needs to be installed. For the intelligent drive package, there is a delay on that package as there is a part shortage on one of the parts required to build the package. It costs an additional $2700.00. If you were to order one you would be looking at August or September arrival. Houdini and a few others were right, no need to go ballistic, first get a logical explanation. btw....I got a nicer explanation in 24 hours from Mercedes than GG has received in almost 2 months from Cadillac.

Isn't that the truth?  Pathetic!

Still surprised that Mercedes did not plan for this problem before building the car.  Also seems like it is just a technical problem which their engineers are still working on.  If I had to wait until September to get a Driver Assistance Package, I'd either order a 2018 or be satisfied with the one sitting in Halifax.

At least you'll have your new car shortly. 

jmonroe

driver100 said:

My Mercedes rep got back to me....I'll just copy and paste what he said:

The certification delay was to do with the emission system. All that has to be installed is the latest software to the computer system on the vehicle. No physical part needs to be installed.

For the intelligent drive package, there is a delay on that package as there is a part shortage on one of the parts required to build the package. It costs an additional $2700.00. If you were to order one you would be looking at August or September arrival.

Houdini and a few others were right, no need to go ballistic, first get a logical explanation. btw....I got a nicer explanation in 24 hours from Mercedes than GG has received in almost 2 months from Cadillac.

OK, so you got an "explanation" of what has to be done. When is the car going to be done? Will it be there waiting for you when you get home in April?

This should not be a comparison to @graphicguy's Caddy. Your car is still in the shop so to speak longer than his. Had you gone home in February as planned you would have wasted a trip. Of course you would have checked before going home but you get the idea.

Until you have it, you don't have it.

jmonroe

imidazol97

To take the positive side of the recall on the Cadillac CTS, GG has been made whole because they have provided him a loaner for the entire time. To be even more clear about what I always found hypocritical I could parallel the folks who through the many years had problems with their mass market foreign brands but always said they didn't have any problem because Honda or Toyota fixed the problem under a warranty. Therefore their cars had been without problems.

Of course we could say the same about the CTS: the supposed problem is being repaired under warranty, therefore there hasn't been a problem. Clearly that's my Saturday Night Live type parody on some folks' dismissal of the problems they had with their cars that they didn't want to call problems because they liked their car.

However, in this case, I would want a replacement vehicle or a cash out. Cadillac can fix this one under warranty and send it to Wisconsin with a clean title.

ab348

jmonroe said:

This should not be a comparison to @graphicguy's Caddy. Your car is still in the shop so to speak longer than his. Had you gone home in February as planned you would have wasted a trip. Of course you would have checked before going home but you get the idea.

Until you have it, you don't have it.

jmonroe

I agree. Plus we are not privy to the actual conversations that occurred in either case.

Mr_Shiftright

Hey, here's good news: Los Angeles just beat out Beijing for a spot on the "world's worst traffic jams". World champs are still Bangkok and Mexico City however.

explorerx4

@verture,
Here is the center stack for a 2017 Fusion(non Sport) with tech package.

driver100

abacomike said:

driver100 said:

My Mercedes rep got back to me....I'll just copy and paste what he said:

The certification delay was to do with the emission system. All that has to be installed is the latest software to the computer system on the vehicle. No physical part needs to be installed.

For the intelligent drive package, there is a delay on that package as there is a part shortage on one of the parts required to build the package. It costs an additional $2700.00. If you were to order one you would be looking at August or September arrival.

Houdini and a few others were right, no need to go ballistic, first get a logical explanation. btw....I got a nicer explanation in 24 hours from Mercedes than GG has received in almost 2 months from Cadillac.

Isn't that the truth?  Pathetic!

Still surprised that Mercedes did not plan for this problem before building the car.  Also seems like it is just a technical problem which their engineers are still working on.  If I had to wait until September to get a Driver Assistance Package, I'd either order a 2018 or be satisfied with the one sitting in Halifax.

At least you'll have your new car shortly. 

I told my rep to go with the original plan....not worth waiting until August. You are right though, if I was to do that I would definitley go for a 2018. There is a way I could do that very nicely, but, my wife wouldn't like it. Drive the C250 back to Canada, use it until approx Oct or Nov when the 2018s are out. Pick up the 2018, drive the C250 back in November.

driver100

jmonroe said:

driver100 said:

My Mercedes rep got back to me....I'll just copy and paste what he said:

The certification delay was to do with the emission system. All that has to be installed is the latest software to the computer system on the vehicle. No physical part needs to be installed.

For the intelligent drive package, there is a delay on that package as there is a part shortage on one of the parts required to build the package. It costs an additional $2700.00. If you were to order one you would be looking at August or September arrival.

Houdini and a few others were right, no need to go ballistic, first get a logical explanation. btw....I got a nicer explanation in 24 hours from Mercedes than GG has received in almost 2 months from Cadillac.

OK, so you got an "explanation" of what has to be done. When is the car going to be done? Will it be there waiting for you when you get home in April?

This should not be a comparison to @graphicguy's Caddy. Your car is still in the shop so to speak longer than his. Had you gone home in February as planned you would have wasted a trip. Of course you would have checked before going home but you get the idea.

Until you have it, you don't have it.

jmonroe

Probably the slowdown was in getting the certification which seems to be a government certification issue according to the article ab posted. Calibrating probably isn't a big job. Mercedes got the car to the destination on schedule, but the hold up seems to be with the pollution police.

oldfarmer50

ab348 said:

nyccarguy said:

Then he went to the Subaru Dealer and is picking up a 2017 Outback 2.5i Limited on Thursday.  He wants to buy (4 years @ 0% financing).  I told him to look into leasing because of the Outback's high residual.  

This part of your post made me look at Subaru Canada's website for the first time in years. I have not been a fan of Subarus generally in the past but figured maybe they make sense on a lease. Turns out, not here. They don't list the residual outright but you can derive it from what they tell you and the Canadian branch is giving their vehicles ridiculously low residuals. I priced an Outback 3.6 on a 3-year lease and it was $612/month. A Forester was $550 or so. Crazy.

Can't be more rediculious than a lease on a Dodge Dart which had a 38% residual after 3 years. Something like $390 U.S.

driver100

imidazol97 said:

To take the positive side of the recall on the Cadillac CTS, GG has been made whole because they have provided him a loaner for the entire time. To be even more clear about what I always found hypocritical I could parallel the folks who through the many years had problems with their mass market foreign brands but always said they didn't have any problem because Honda or Toyota fixed the problem under a warranty. Therefore their cars had been without problems.

Of course we could say the same about the CTS: the supposed problem is being repaired under warranty, therefore there hasn't been a problem. Clearly that's my Saturday Night Live type parody on some folks' dismissal of the problems they had with their cars that they didn't want to call problems because they liked their car.

However, in this case, I would want a replacement vehicle or a cash out. Cadillac can fix this one under warranty and send it to Wisconsin with a clean title.

These are two issues which have some similarities, but some differences. GG gets no communication from Cadillac. In theory they could keep his car in the garage and hand it back to him at the end of the warranty period if that is what a warranty means....it is OK as long as you have a loaner. He has had no communication about how long this part will take to make and install or what they are actually doing.

The testing on the E400 got slowed down because the government is involved........and wants to do their testing.
There isn't an actual fault with the car.....they probably get tuned to the specifications once the government starts mucking about. btw...my warranty time doesn't start until I pick up the car, Gigi;s car has spent a quarter of it's life in a garage.

Michaell

oldfarmer50 said:

ab348 said:

nyccarguy said:

Then he went to the Subaru Dealer and is picking up a 2017 Outback 2.5i Limited on Thursday.  He wants to buy (4 years @ 0% financing).  I told him to look into leasing because of the Outback's high residual.  

This part of your post made me look at Subaru Canada's website for the first time in years. I have not been a fan of Subarus generally in the past but figured maybe they make sense on a lease. Turns out, not here. They don't list the residual outright but you can derive it from what they tell you and the Canadian branch is giving their vehicles ridiculously low residuals. I priced an Outback 3.6 on a 3-year lease and it was $612/month. A Forester was $550 or so. Crazy.

Can't be more rediculious than a lease on a Dodge Dart which had a 38% residual after 3 years. Something like $390 U.S.

You are too kind to the Dart, sir.

I just looked up the 36 month, 15,000 mile residuals for the 2016 Darts - they range from a high of 34% to a low of 27%.

And, the standard MF is being used.

There must be a ton of lease cash on these, but I don't see that information.

imidazol97

driver100 said:

He has had no communication about how long this part will take to make and install or what they are actually doing.

In my thinking they did keep him updated in that they did not know when Cadillac would be able to supply and "old work" cable to install on an existing unit.

driver100 said:

There isn't an actual fault with the car....

If the software needs to be changed, there was some kind of fault with the hardware that the software is adapting to for the purpose of keeping emissions within tolerance OR the software was wrong to begin with, which is what VW had intentionally put in place on their vehicles.

As for the other end of getting an '18 with the option package added that you'd really like to have? Ask when the '18s would actually show up. Drive you 250 home. Use it at home since it is an enjoyable car to use for you in your own words. Drive it back in the fall.

The construction in Cincinnati does not have the quick lane changes like before. It's much more open as long you don't hit Nbound north out of downtown at 4-5 pm. Dayton is essentially finished and beautiful. Don't you want to see how nicely the Dayton downtown construction has turned out. Ohgo.com shows only minor construction at north edge of Piqua remaining on I75.

oldfarmer50

Michaell said:

oldfarmer50 said:

ab348 said:

nyccarguy said:

Then he went to the Subaru Dealer and is picking up a 2017 Outback 2.5i Limited on Thursday.  He wants to buy (4 years @ 0% financing).  I told him to look into leasing because of the Outback's high residual.  

This part of your post made me look at Subaru Canada's website for the first time in years. I have not been a fan of Subarus generally in the past but figured maybe they make sense on a lease. Turns out, not here. They don't list the residual outright but you can derive it from what they tell you and the Canadian branch is giving their vehicles ridiculously low residuals. I priced an Outback 3.6 on a 3-year lease and it was $612/month. A Forester was $550 or so. Crazy.

Can't be more rediculious than a lease on a Dodge Dart which had a 38% residual after 3 years. Something like $390 U.S.

You are too kind to the Dart, sir.

I just looked up the 36 month, 15,000 mile residuals for the 2016 Darts - they range from a high of 34% to a low of 27%.

And, the standard MF is being used.

There must be a ton of lease cash on these, but I don't see that information.

I'm going on what the salesman told my in-laws when they ended up buying last year.

27% after 3 years is dismal. Are these car that unreliable? Is there any other car that drops like that?

Funny my Ford dealer had one on his lòt back in 2015 and they wanted a lot more than 27% of MSRP for a 2 yo model.

abacomike

@graphicguy

GG, I am still confused regarding the issues with your CTS. This is what I understand, from all the postings:

You received a recall notice, I believe, from Cadillac telling you to bring your CTS in for a recall. The recall affected only a small number of cars based upon a change in specifications for a part or series of parts that were added to the assembly line. If I have this right, it was a coil or coils/wires that, based on the improper engineering design, could cause a fire because they were too close to the manifold or exhaust. I further understand that when the car was examined by the technician, he found that the car actually had sustained a small fire in the exact area that the recall was zeroed in on.

So, you brought the car in and they gave your an CT6 to drive while your car was being repaired with newly designed parts. There was a significant hold up on the repair(s) because the newly designed parts were not available and there was a delay in getting them to the dealer. So you drove the loaner CT6 for a bit over 30 days. During this time, an employee of Cadillac Zone indicated that, based upon your request, there should be no problem either putting you in a new CTS or getting your money back to you for the purchase price, whatever that would have been. This Customer Service or Zone employee never got back to you. You tried reaching her several times, but to not avail. Meanwhile, your car was still sitting at the dealership awaiting parts so the recall could be completed.

About 2 weeks ago, IIRC, the parts came in and they repaired the CTS. From my understanding, they had to remove the engine to complete the repairs. You get your car back and, on the way home, you hear clanking from underneath the car and the car is not responding to driver input correctly - something with steering or the like. You take your car back to the dealership and they give you a different CT6 to drive.

So, I think I am 90% in understanding or remembering what has transpired to date with the exception of your contacts with the BBB and your Lemon Law paperwork. You are informed by the dealership or Cadillac, I don't remember which, that the Lemon Law cannot be claimed on your existing CTS for some reason or another. You stated that you have received no help at all from the BBB, to date.

Now this is where I'm at right now. I am sure I have some gaps in my above recollection of your "SAGA" with the CTS and Cadillac/GM. I am also well aware of your two previous problems with CTS's and Cadillac's providing you with replacement cars. But that is not as important as the following, which I am completely in the dark about:

Where is your car now? What is wrong with the CTS now? Have they diagnosed the problems? Why has the CTS not been repaired/fixed so you can take it? These are the gaps in my recollection of this unfortunate saga of yours. What are you planning to do now - I know you mentioned something about getting an attorney and will be satisfied only with a refund of your cost for the car - but what is the status now? I just a bit confused.

Thanks, GG.

ab348

driver100 said:

These are two issues which have some similarities, but some differences. GG gets no communication from Cadillac. In theory they could keep his car in the garage and hand it back to him at the end of the warranty period if that is what a warranty means....it is OK as long as you have a loaner. He has had no communication about how long this part will take to make and install or what they are actually doing.

The testing on the E400 got slowed down because the government is involved........and wants to do their testing.
There isn't an actual fault with the car.....they probably get tuned to the specifications once the government starts mucking about. btw...my warranty time doesn't start until I pick up the car, Gigi;s car has spent a quarter of it's life in a garage.

I totally disagree. If you were in Canada I can only think you would be renting a car or driving your wife's car while you await your new $80K vehicle to be delivered. If your dealer there treated you like Cadillac is treating GG they would give you a new S-class to drive while you wait for your car to be released from impound. Only you can answer whether they are likely to do that. We also are not privy to the communication between him and the company, only what he posts here. There may have been much more that we do not know about. That is no reflection on him; I would not expect him to post every communication here. It is not unheard of for manufacturers to take cars with a serious problem off the roads and provide alternate transportation. Even in the VW debacle it took over 18 months for people to be made whole for their actions.

andres3

jmonroe said:

driver100 said:

jmonroe said:

fintail said:

You get the German options ethos - everything is optional. I've read old jokes that in the past people would say even the fluids in newly delivered cars were extra-cost options.

You get a badge, styling that usually ages very well, and usually also receive driving dynamics and tactile feel that can be hard to beat.

jmonroe said:

If @driver100 did not get what you described I am pretty surprised, maybe even shocked, that an 80 grand car of whatever make does not have that. Even my dinky '15 Genesis has it.

Just what is it that you get with German cars, other than a badge?

jmonroe

Do you really expect me to believe you only get that with German cars. I'm surprised you didn't throw in the "it holds it's value longer". That may be true but aren't you paying up front for that?

All of this driving dynamics is lost on me. I never felt that I had to take corners quickly and have the car hold the road like that. I also never felt that it took a lot of skill to mash down on an accelerator peddle that someone else designed for you. I'm more of the type that wanted to design the accelerator peddle and what was behind it.

When I was a kid I always felt better throwing a ball (football or baseball) better than the other kids and especially the kids that ran their father's car's on Friday night to impress the girls how fast it was in the quarter mile.

While they were doing that, I was in the back of my fathers station wagon.

Some thing are more fun than others.

jmonroe

You're right JM, if it means nothing to you then it is a waste of money buying a fine automobile if it doesn't matter to you.
The Genesis is a fine car with a lot of toys on it for the money, but, it won't be quite the same. Some people appreciate fine wine, a good cigar, premium beer, steak instead of hamburger and a true German luxury car - compared to the wannabe car.

I'm always right. I thought you knew that by now. Mrs. j calls me a "know it all" and I'm not going to argue with her.

I don't care for wine, even some of the expensive ones I've tried over the years. I don't smoke. When I drink beer I stick to the almost local Yuengling's and I like steak and hamburgers.

Now about owning a true "German luxury car":

I don't want one, although I'm pretty sure I can afford most of them. At least up to an E Class. I admit I own a wannabe. I know my place in life and I can live with that. Some can't and some pretend that they must have "driving dynamics", as if you really need that on public roads.

jmonroe

"driving dynamics", as if you really need that on public roads.

I can't think of a more important active safety feature than driving dynamics. The ability to make an emergency lane change or avoidance maneuver without spinning out or spinning off the road is essential to me.

Like all safety features, you don't "need" it until you really NEED it, and then you'll wish while waiting for a tow-truck to pick up the wreckage, that you had it if it could have prevented the wreck you just got into.

For the same reason, I don't like skimping on cheap tires because that could lengthen an emergency braking stop, or lessen the amount of G-force you can pull when trying to avoid someone.

andres3

jmonroe said:

driver100 said:

jmonroe said:

fintail said:

You get the German options ethos - everything is optional. I've read old jokes that in the past people would say even the fluids in newly delivered cars were extra-cost options.

You get a badge, styling that usually ages very well, and usually also receive driving dynamics and tactile feel that can be hard to beat.

jmonroe said:

If @driver100 did not get what you described I am pretty surprised, maybe even shocked, that an 80 grand car of whatever make does not have that. Even my dinky '15 Genesis has it.

Just what is it that you get with German cars, other than a badge?

jmonroe

Do you really expect me to believe you only get that with German cars. I'm surprised you didn't throw in the "it holds it's value longer". That may be true but aren't you paying up front for that?

All of this driving dynamics is lost on me. I never felt that I had to take corners quickly and have the car hold the road like that. I also never felt that it took a lot of skill to mash down on an accelerator peddle that someone else designed for you. I'm more of the type that wanted to design the accelerator peddle and what was behind it.

When I was a kid I always felt better throwing a ball (football or baseball) better than the other kids and especially the kids that ran their father's car's on Friday night to impress the girls how fast it was in the quarter mile.

While they were doing that, I was in the back of my fathers station wagon.

Some thing are more fun than others.

jmonroe

You're right JM, if it means nothing to you then it is a waste of money buying a fine automobile if it doesn't matter to you.
The Genesis is a fine car with a lot of toys on it for the money, but, it won't be quite the same. Some people appreciate fine wine, a good cigar, premium beer, steak instead of hamburger and a true German luxury car - compared to the wannabe car.

I'm always right. I thought you knew that by now. Mrs. j calls me a "know it all" and I'm not going to argue with her.

I don't care for wine, even some of the expensive ones I've tried over the years. I don't smoke. When I drink beer I stick to the almost local Yuengling's and I like steak and hamburgers.

Now about owning a true "German luxury car":

I don't want one, although I'm pretty sure I can afford most of them. At least up to an E Class. I admit I own a wannabe. I know my place in life and I can live with that. Some can't and some pretend that they must have "driving dynamics", as if you really need that on public roads.

jmonroe

"driving dynamics", as if you really need that on public roads.

I can't think of a more important active safety feature than driving dynamics. The ability to make an emergency lane change or avoidance maneuver without spinning out or spinning off the road is essential to me.

Like all safety features, you don't "need" it until you really NEED it, and then you'll wish while waiting for a tow-truck to pick up the wreckage, that you had it if it could have prevented the wreck you just got into.

For the same reason, I don't like skimping on cheap tires because that could lengthen an emergency braking stop, or lessen the amount of G-force you can pull when trying to avoid someone.