Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

berri

Arbitration is a racket and fine print forcing you into it should be prohibited. But this kind of crap will just keep increasing because of Big Money. Big business doesn't come up with these kind of concepts to help their customers. Meanwhile Small Claims Court is very limited and doesn't force payment, while regular court and a lawyer is cost prohibitive. It is stacked against anyone who is not wealthy.

ab348

I guess the question is whether there is any manufacturer who treats customers significantly differently post-sale? Toyota and Honda used to be the gold standard but Toyo fell to the wayside during their "oil gel" and unintended accelration debacles, and Honda had those bad transmissions a while ago that cost some people big money. I hear that Nissan also has issues with transmissions. My experience dealing with GM corporate has been OK but I have had a bad dealer too. Ford is notoriously tight-fisted when it comes to approving warranty claims, and FCA is just bad all-around from what I hear. VW/Audi has a bad rep, while locally here both the BMW and M-B dealers do not have a good reputation either and are famous for soaking their customers with exorbitant service costs. What's left? Mazda? Subaru? Jaguar?

carnaught

@graphicguy, I just hope that the ineptness being telegraphed is not a ploy to delay the arbitration hearing.....such as...the BBB never got the service order write-ups on the car.

Mr_Shiftright

berri said:

Arbitration is a racket and fine print forcing you into it should be prohibited. But this kind of crap will just keep increasing because of Big Money. Big business doesn't come up with these kind of concepts to help their customers. Meanwhile Small Claims Court is very limited and doesn't force payment, while regular court and a lawyer is cost prohibitive. It is stacked against anyone who is not wealthy.

Well I do arbitration and I give everyone what I think is a very fair and careful decision, as do my colleagues. Having said that, there is a great deal of corruption in the arbitration field, at least in the automotive/insurance end of things. I've witnessed it too many times to think otherwise.

driver100

Mr_Shiftright said:

berri said:

Arbitration is a racket and fine print forcing you into it should be prohibited. But this kind of crap will just keep increasing because of Big Money. Big business doesn't come up with these kind of concepts to help their customers. Meanwhile Small Claims Court is very limited and doesn't force payment, while regular court and a lawyer is cost prohibitive. It is stacked against anyone who is not wealthy.

Well I do arbitration and I give everyone what I think is a very fair and careful decision, as do my colleagues. Having said that, there is a great deal of corruption in the arbitration field, at least in the automotive/insurance end of things. I've witnessed it too many times to think otherwise.

I think that is why it is time to call in a newspaper/TV consumer writer. The BBB and arbitrators have to be watched and they have to know they are being scrutinized. Why would you call them in if you weren't sure you were in the right?

Payoffs, bribes, keeping the car companies happy by giving them a winning decision - all make the process stacked against you.

Funny how Cadillac had to find a suitable arbitrator. I'd like to have heard that executive board room meeting...." Ah, this is going to be a tough one, guy is on his 3rd car, it is in the garage for almost 3 months, it could catch fire, who has the best record of deciding in our favor"?

driver100

ab348 said:

I guess the question is whether there is any manufacturer who treats customers significantly differently post-sale? Toyota and Honda used to be the gold standard but Toyo fell to the wayside during their "oil gel" and unintended accelration debacles, and Honda had those bad transmissions a while ago that cost some people big money. I hear that Nissan also has issues with transmissions. My experience dealing with GM corporate has been OK but I have had a bad dealer too. Ford is notoriously tight-fisted when it comes to approving warranty claims, and FCA is just bad all-around from what I hear. VW/Audi has a bad rep, while locally here both the BMW and M-B dealers do not have a good reputation either and are famous for soaking their customers with exorbitant service costs. What's left? Mazda? Subaru? Jaguar?

Somehow everyone is lumped in with the Cadillac debacle.
#1 I consider this issue the same as a rumor. It isn't true to me unless I know of it first hand.

#2 "here both the BMW and M-B dealers do not have a good reputation either and are famous for soaking their customers with exorbitant service costs". As far as I know I have been treated very fairly as far as service goes on my BMW, Audi and Mercedes. Even my Jeep dealer was always fair. Even the BMW dealer in a ritzy town who doesn't discount their cars...has an excellent service department.

#3 I wouldn't say I would trust any car maker, but, I don't lump them together unless I know of a situation that I have heard about directly.

imidazol97

There were comments in recent days about GM's data plans in their cars. I just received an offer for $20 for an unlimited plan in my cars from OnStar.

graphicguy

Mr_Shiftright said:

berri said:

Arbitration is a racket and fine print forcing you into it should be prohibited. But this kind of crap will just keep increasing because of Big Money. Big business doesn't come up with these kind of concepts to help their customers. Meanwhile Small Claims Court is very limited and doesn't force payment, while regular court and a lawyer is cost prohibitive. It is stacked against anyone who is not wealthy.

Well I do arbitration and I give everyone what I think is a very fair and careful decision, as do my colleagues. Having said that, there is a great deal of corruption in the arbitration field, at least in the automotive/insurance end of things. I've witnessed it too many times to think otherwise.

Thanks for your insight from the other side. Having followed you for many years, I have no doubt you have been, will continue to be, a fair and honest arbitrator.

In this case, I guess I'm at a total loss. Do manufacturers really try to push away customers by treating them and their issues in this manner? I mean, I just don't get it.

Interestingly, BBB will only deal with information I provide via fax (which today, is about as antiquated as smoke signals). Not email attachments. Not JPGs, TIFFs, PDFs, etc. Yet, all of their paperwork is sent to me via email PDF files. I can't respond with PDF attachments, though. And, they can't "process" any fax sent for 24 hours. This is according to the BBB. Huh? The whole thing just reeks of inpropriety AGAINST the customer.

graphicguy

driver100 said:

ab348 said:

I guess the question is whether there is any manufacturer who treats customers significantly differently post-sale? Toyota and Honda used to be the gold standard but Toyo fell to the wayside during their "oil gel" and unintended accelration debacles, and Honda had those bad transmissions a while ago that cost some people big money. I hear that Nissan also has issues with transmissions. My experience dealing with GM corporate has been OK but I have had a bad dealer too. Ford is notoriously tight-fisted when it comes to approving warranty claims, and FCA is just bad all-around from what I hear. VW/Audi has a bad rep, while locally here both the BMW and M-B dealers do not have a good reputation either and are famous for soaking their customers with exorbitant service costs. What's left? Mazda? Subaru? Jaguar?

Somehow everyone is lumped in with the Cadillac debacle.
#1 I consider this issue the same as a rumor. It isn't true to me unless I know of it first hand.

#2 "here both the BMW and M-B dealers do not have a good reputation either and are famous for soaking their customers with exorbitant service costs". As far as I know I have been treated very fairly as far as service goes on my BMW, Audi and Mercedes. Even my Jeep dealer was always fair. Even the BMW dealer in a ritzy town who doesn't discount their cars...has an excellent service department.

#3 I wouldn't say I would trust any car maker, but, I don't lump them together unless I know of a situation that I have heard about directly.

Like you, I've had plenty of great experiences with many car brands......Chevy, Toyota, BMW, Ford, Honda, etc.

Cadillac is on the other (far) end of that spectrum. Something's wrong with the car you buy from them? They'll fight you tooth and nail to wiggle out of their responsibilities, or to admit they were wrong.

ab348

I think GG should buy an Alfa just for the entertainment value here:

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2017/03/consumer-reports-2017-alfa-romeo-giulia-ti-basically-lives-dealer-service-bay/

imidazol97

graphicguy said:

Interestingly, BBB will only deal with information I provide via fax (which today, is about as antiquated as smoke signals). Not email attachments. Not JPGs, TIFFs, PDFs, etc. Yet, all of their paperwork is sent to me via email PDF files. I can't respond with PDF attachments, though. And, they can't "process" any fax sent for 24 hours. This is according to the BBB. Huh? The whole thing just reeks of inpropriety AGAINST the customer.

If they demand faxes as the communication medium, then they should be faxing you.

This is like the people wanting me to mail in requests for rebates. They demand NO PO Boxes--they must have a street address. And yet the address to which I have to send my request for rebate is a PO Box number. (Menards, e.g.)

We have had a PO Box that we use for all our business, except for rebates. LOL.

driver100

ab348 said:

I think GG should buy an Alfa just for the entertainment value here:

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2017/03/consumer-reports-2017-alfa-romeo-giulia-ti-basically-lives-dealer-service-bay/

I so those Alfa's advertised on the tennis matches from Indian Wells this week and I really like them....looks like a souped up BMW 335. But, I would consider this as first hand knowledge these cars are trouble. Knowing what I know now I would definitely steer (unintended pun) clear.

This is also a pretty big warning sign:
Four other FCA brands — Fiat, Jeep, Dodge, and Ram — filled four of the four lowest positions in J.D. Power’s recent Vehicle Dependability Study of MY2014 vehicles.

driver100

imidazol97 said:

graphicguy said:

Interestingly, BBB will only deal with information I provide via fax (which today, is about as antiquated as smoke signals). Not email attachments. Not JPGs, TIFFs, PDFs, etc. Yet, all of their paperwork is sent to me via email PDF files. I can't respond with PDF attachments, though. And, they can't "process" any fax sent for 24 hours. This is according to the BBB. Huh? The whole thing just reeks of inpropriety AGAINST the customer.

If they demand faxes as the communication medium, then they should be faxing you.

My faith in the BBB and their arbitration system was about as low as it could be........having to use a fax machine to submit forms has just lost the tiny bit of hope I was hanging on to. Especially since they don't use it....doesn't even make sense?????????????

cdnpinhead

houdini1 said:

. . . he is legally blind and uses voice to text to post, so some of his posts will have funny spelling, etc. He is a true car lover though and a welcome addition here.

I've been watching Marco's posts with interest on the other board since the beginning. I'm mystified, however, by the number of video clips he posts. Clearly, I'm missing something.

jmonroe

roadburner said:

graphicguy said:

'Ya know....having been through the automobile mediation process previously, I'm amazed that people who are supposed to work through it are still employed....meaning both Cadillac Customer Service Reps and BBB Autoline Reps.

Just got a call from BBB. They somehow do not have the service order write ups that I sent to them, not once, but twice. So, I sent them again (they refuse to use unalrterable PDF files, and have a hard requirement to use antiquated faxes). In addition, the phone conversations with the BBB autoline personnel really make me think I'm speaking to them in Chinese. They certainly don't know the basics of what they're looking at (say, the time a car was checked in for service, and the time it was checked out as being "repaired").

The "new" mediator employed by both the BBB with the approval of Cadillac apparently can't read a service bulletin, nor a service write up by the dealership. BBB says the mediator doesn't understand the amount of time the car has been in the service dept. How difficult can this be? It's the delta between when the car was checked into the dealership, and the date the car was returned as "repaired". Tried to explain this simple concept to the BBB Rep who, as mentioned, acts like I'm speaking Chinese.

If the BBB rep doesn't understand the Cadillac service paperwork , and the mediator doesn't understand the paperwork, how likely is it that I'll receive a fair hearing?

How inept can Cadillac and their representatives in this matter possibly be? It's no wonder they can't do something as simple as route a wiring harness correctly.

Un-freaking-believable!

It's pretty clear that both the BBB and Cadillac only hire "useful idiots."

Slight correction: "useless idiots".

Clearly, whoever said, "take people off the streets and give them a job can't do anything but help the economy", never dealt will the BBB and similar useless professions.

If it wasn't so pathetic it would be laughable.

jmonroe

abacomike

driver100 said:

I think GG should buy an Alfa just for the entertainment value here: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2017/03/consumer-reports-2017-alfa-romeo-giulia-ti-basically-lives-dealer-service-bay/

I so those Alfa's advertised on the tennis matches from Indian Wells this week and I really like them....looks like a souped up BMW 335. But, I would consider this as first hand knowledge these cars are trouble. Knowing what I know now I would definitely steer (unintended pun) clear. This is also a pretty big warning sign: Four other FCA brands — Fiat, Jeep, Dodge, and Ram — filled four of the four lowest positions in J.D. Power’s recent Vehicle Dependability Study of MY2014 vehicles.

I lived 6 blocks away from the Indian Wells Tennis Center.  It's a beautiful stadium built exclusively for tennis.  The last match I saw there was Andre Agassi vs Pete Sampras in 1995.  The stadium is on Fred Waring Drive just west of Washington Street.  I really miss those matches.

imidazol97

I've never been impressed by the BBB folks. It seems to be like the AARP and to exist primarily to benefit itself and a few businesses that support it. The BBB head occasionally has appearances on TV "news" shows about the latest scam they are "protecting" us from, but that's about it.

andres3

ab348 said:

driver100 said:

Yeh, big difference between a new model car with no real promise of a delivery date and no control over government red tape.......and a car sitting in a service bay for 3 months waiting for a part that hasn't been made yet.

I don't see a whole lot of difference. But whatever.

You have to be kidding. On a new model car where the launch or order is delayed, you can always opt out and buy something else new that's on the market and readily available. A car that's already fully purchased and paid for sitting in the shop waiting for repairs is a much more urgent matter. A free loaner helps, but 30 days is 30 days and that's an automatic lemon in the first 18,000 miles.

Also, has anyone found out how GM figures a loaner can be taken away from a customer?

driver100

abacomike said:

driver100 said:

ab348 said:

I think GG should buy an Alfa just for the entertainment value here:

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2017/03/consumer-reports-2017-alfa-romeo-giulia-ti-basically-lives-dealer-service-bay/

I so those Alfa's advertised on the tennis matches from Indian Wells this week and I really like them....looks like a souped up BMW 335. But, I would consider this as first hand knowledge these cars are trouble. Knowing what I know now I would definitely steer (unintended pun) clear.

This is also a pretty big warning sign:
Four other FCA brands — Fiat, Jeep, Dodge, and Ram — filled four of the four lowest positions in J.D. Power’s recent Vehicle Dependability Study of MY2014 vehicles.

I lived 6 blocks away from the Indian Wells Tennis Center.  It's a beautiful stadium built exclusively for tennis.  The last match I saw there was Andre Agassi vs Pete Sampras in 1995.  The stadium is on Fred Waring Drive just west of Washington Street.  I really miss those matches.

6 BLOCKS! One year I was looking at going....tickets for finals were about $450 to $500. We would have to stay for at least 2 nights and hotels were $500 a night. If I had known we could have just stayed at your place and you could have delivered us to the door. Oh yeh, now you live near Miami. How about the Miami Open, are you close to that one?

driver100

imidazol97 said:

I've never been impressed by the BBB folks. It seems to be like the AARP and to exist primarily to benefit itself and a few businesses that support it. The BBB head occasionally has appearances on TV "news" shows about the latest scam they are "protecting" us from, but that's about it.

Exactly....the BBB has been exposed for selling better grades....after all, that is who funds them. They found plumbers who wouldn't pay their fees got Fs, while worse companies who paid got higher grades. BBB is in the business of selling and making reports, and charging to list your company.

driver100

andres3 said:

ab348 said:

driver100 said:

Yeh, big difference between a new model car with no real promise of a delivery date and no control over government red tape.......and a car sitting in a service bay for 3 months waiting for a part that hasn't been made yet.

I don't see a whole lot of difference. But whatever.

You have to be kidding. On a new model car where the launch or order is delayed, you can always opt out and buy something else new that's on the market and readily available. A car that's already fully purchased and paid for sitting in the shop waiting for repairs is a much more urgent matter. A free loaner helps, but 30 days is 30 days and that's an automatic lemon in the first 18,000 miles.

Also, has anyone found out how GM figures a loaner can be taken away from a customer?

Exactly. You can't guaranty when a new model will show up. They do the best they can do. Since the terms of the agreement weren't met I could easily opt out. BTW, my dealer....who is being equated with GM, did not require me to make a down payment......so I could walk away from the deal at anytime. I opted to wait, and it all worked out for the best. Even the insurance company making me wait 2 months before paying me helped, that way they paid for my car rental right up until the time we left for Florida. If they paid sooner they would have left me to pay for those two months.

I believe the loaner was taken away once they heard GG was going to go to arbitration. He crossed the line and has laid down the red line and indicated he is going to war. They dug in and took the loaner away....that will show him what happens if you complain.

andres3

driver100 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

jmonroe said:

driver100 said:

This happened about 10 miles from where I live back home.


Accused impaired driver totals high-end McLaren sports car in Burlington

The driver of a high-end McLaren Spider sports car is facing impaired driving charges after he crashed into a hydro box on a tree-lined residential street in Burlington late Thursday night. Car valued at almost $400000!
It was a 23 year old kid!

What parent gives their kid a $400k car to drive?

I wonder if insurance will pay....since he was DUI.?

VIDEO

Regardless of what anyone in here will say...that WILL NOT BUFF OUT.

As for the parents thingy, none in my hood.

jmonroe

The laws are a bit dodgy about that. Some insurance companies try to define DUI as "intentional conduct" and no insurance company pays for intentional conduct. However this has been challenged in court.

One thing for sure--an insurance company will probably pay for property damage to YOUR vehicle in a DUI, but when it comes to personal injuries to you or passengers or property damage to others (like that hydro-box), chances are that coverage will be denied and that it will hold up.

So the McLaren will probably be paid for, the insurance policy immediately cancelled, and the driver, once sobered up, will be paying for other damages and also repair to himself.

Thanks for the explanation. I think that would be a good point to make in DUI ads on TV.....they never really tell you that. I don't think people who get drunk and drive don't consider their insurance may not cover them if they are in an accident. They really don't think past the buzz they get from their drink....but, maybe that is a (sorry for the pun) sobering thought,,,,,I may be in an accident and I could do $200000 or more in damage....and do I really want to try to pay that off?

There is an effective ad on TV with a guy who just found out he has lung cancer, he is 39 and finds out he has at most 5 more years to live. He says, if I had known that I never would have started smoking.

If the fact you could kill someone or multiple someones doesn't stop you, I don't think having to foot a big bill will.

abacomike

driver100 said:

driver100 said:

I think GG should buy an Alfa just for the entertainment value here: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2017/03/consumer-reports-2017-alfa-romeo-giulia-ti-basically-lives-dealer-service-bay/

I so those Alfa's advertised on the tennis matches from Indian Wells this week and I really like them....looks like a souped up BMW 335. But, I would consider this as first hand knowledge these cars are trouble. Knowing what I know now I would definitely steer (unintended pun) clear. This is also a pretty big warning sign: Four other FCA brands — Fiat, Jeep, Dodge, and Ram — filled four of the four lowest positions in J.D. Power’s recent Vehicle Dependability Study of MY2014 vehicles.

I lived 6 blocks away from the Indian Wells Tennis Center.  It's a beautiful stadium built exclusively for tennis.  The last match I saw there was Andre Agassi vs Pete Sampras in 1995.  The stadium is on Fred Waring Drive just west of Washington Street.  I really miss those matches.

6 BLOCKS! One year I was looking at going....tickets for finals were about $450 to $500. We would have to stay for at least 2 nights and hotels were $500 a night. If I had known we could have just stayed at your place and you could have delivered us to the door. Oh yeh, now you live near Miami. How about the Miami Open, are you close to that one?

I believe that is held on Key Biscayne, if I am not mistaken.  That's about 45 miles or so from where I live now.  Key Biscayne is one place I would love to live if I could afford the prices of condos over there.  The Key is about 8 miles east of Miami Beach. Truly a beautiful area of Miami-Dade!

suydam

Reasonable people don't drive drunk. The ones who do often have suspended licenses and no insurance and are hopeless alcoholics. They cause the vast majority of fatal accidents. Short of life sentences it's hard to figure out how to get that demographic permanently off the roads.

abacomike

suydam said:

Reasonable people don't drive drunk. The ones who do often have suspended licenses and no insurance and are hopeless alcoholics. They cause the vast majority of fatal accidents. Short of life sentences it's hard to figure out how to get that demographic permanently off the roads.

They call it "PROHIBITION", suydam!  

suydam

Umm, so you'd ban everyone from drinking just to get this tiny minority (who do such incredible damage) off the roads? Punish the many for the actions of a few?

explorerx4

These big snow storms are the gift that keeps on giving.
Cleared a lot of snow yesterday, but there was still a lot more to do.
Yesterday I had to put my truck into 4 high to get up my street because the street had not yet been plowed.
It was cold overnight and the snow in the wheels froze. I got a terrible vibration once up to 45 mph, so I had to exit the highway to get to work.
Most of it melted before my return trip, so I was able to drive 60 mph without much vibration.
There's still too much ice on the passenger side to open the door.
Took 1/2 a day from work.
The winter has not been that bad, so I'm not in peak snow shoveling shape.
Did 1/2 hour shoveling, half hour break 4 times.
There is still more to do but everything will be done in a couple of days.
Maintenance free living does have it's attraction, but I'm not willing to relinquish control of taking car of my own property.

abacomike

suydam said:

Umm, so you'd ban everyone from drinking just to get this tiny minority (who do such incredible damage) off the roads? Punish the many for the actions of a few?

Obviously no, suydam.  I should have elaborated my comment more.

This country (Congress and the President and the State Legislatures) eliminated alcohol by passing Prohibition based on the Women's Temperance Movement claim that the only way to stop people (men was their nemesis, IIRC) from becoming inhibriated and causing public alcoholism, wife and child beating, etc., was to totally eliminate liquor from being sold in the United States.  As a result, crime bosses and syndicates either brewed their own beer and liquor illegally or illegally brought it into the United States and sold it to a public more than willing to break the law by consuming it.

Thus, Prohibition inadvertently caused the rise of crime syndicates that acquired the alcohol and made millions but did not solve the main problem it was designed to solve - drunkardness!

So my facetious comment (Prohibition) was intended to prove that there really is no solution to the problem of drunk driving at present.  Eventually, technology will prevent a driver from driving while intoxicated - but not yet.

Sorry I did not take the time to elaborate prior to this.  

driver100

abacomike said:

driver100 said:

driver100 said:

I think GG should buy an Alfa just for the entertainment value here:

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2017/03/consumer-reports-2017-alfa-romeo-giulia-ti-basically-lives-dealer-service-bay/

I so those Alfa's advertised on the tennis matches from Indian Wells this week and I really like them....looks like a souped up BMW 335. But, I would consider this as first hand knowledge these cars are trouble. Knowing what I know now I would definitely steer (unintended pun) clear.

This is also a pretty big warning sign:
Four other FCA brands — Fiat, Jeep, Dodge, and Ram — filled four of the four lowest positions in J.D. Power’s recent Vehicle Dependability Study of MY2014 vehicles.

I lived 6 blocks away from the Indian Wells Tennis Center.  It's a beautiful stadium built exclusively for tennis.  The last match I saw there was Andre Agassi vs Pete Sampras in 1995.  The stadium is on Fred Waring Drive just west of Washington Street.  I really miss those matches.

6 BLOCKS! One year I was looking at going....tickets for finals were about $450 to $500. We would have to stay for at least 2 nights and hotels were $500 a night. If I had known we could have just stayed at your place and you could have delivered us to the door. Oh yeh, now you live near Miami. How about the Miami Open, are you close to that one?

I believe that is held on Key Biscayne, if I am not mistaken.  That's about 45 miles or so from where I live now.  Key Biscayne is one place I would love to live if I could afford the prices of condos over there.  The Key is about 8 miles east of Miami Beach. Truly a beautiful area of Miami-Dade

!

Yes, Key Biscayne to be exact. 45 miles isn't too bad....better than $500 a night for a hotel room. What do you serve for breakfast?

We have friends coming on Monday, staying until Saturday. That is one problem with having a place in Florida, people like to stay over.

driver100

Mike, this explains it:

If you were around in 1919 and came upon the following poster...





I mean, seriously,
wouldn't you just keep drinking?

stickguy

one thing that has been proven over the centuries. Government really can't legislate away something the majority of people want to do anyway. otherwise, we would all actually be driving 55!

stickguy

Explorer, I more and more can't figure out why people want to live where you get bad winters. I hate being really cold, and would be perfectly happy to never shovel snow again. Heck, I have no need to ever see snow again!

oldfarmer50

imidazol97 said:

graphicguy said:

Interestingly, BBB will only deal with information I provide via fax (which today, is about as antiquated as smoke signals). Not email attachments. Not JPGs, TIFFs, PDFs, etc. Yet, all of their paperwork is sent to me via email PDF files. I can't respond with PDF attachments, though. And, they can't "process" any fax sent for 24 hours. This is according to the BBB. Huh? The whole thing just reeks of inpropriety AGAINST the customer.

If they demand faxes as the communication medium, then they should be faxing you.

This is like the people wanting me to mail in requests for rebates. They demand NO PO Boxes--they must have a street address. And yet the address to which I have to send my request for rebate is a PO Box number. (Menards, e.g.)

We have had a PO Box that we use for all our business, except for rebates. LOL.

Doctors now want new patients to pre fill in intake info on line. I get some pretty odd looks when I refuse. I just tell them I don't own a computer.

explorerx4

@stickguy,
I really don't mind the snow. It can be a pain, but it's short lived. I use it as an excuse to skip my pushups.

driver100

Personally, I would rather do push ups!

I don't like snow, I don't miss snow, I have no use for snow.........Thank goodness for Florida!

abacomike

driver100 said:

driver100 said:

driver100 said:

I think GG should buy an Alfa just for the entertainment value here: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2017/03/consumer-reports-2017-alfa-romeo-giulia-ti-basically-lives-dealer-service-bay/

I so those Alfa's advertised on the tennis matches from Indian Wells this week and I really like them....looks like a souped up BMW 335. But, I would consider this as first hand knowledge these cars are trouble. Knowing what I know now I would definitely steer (unintended pun) clear. This is also a pretty big warning sign: Four other FCA brands — Fiat, Jeep, Dodge, and Ram — filled four of the four lowest positions in J.D. Power’s recent Vehicle Dependability Study of MY2014 vehicles.

I lived 6 blocks away from the Indian Wells Tennis Center.  It's a beautiful stadium built exclusively for tennis.  The last match I saw there was Andre Agassi vs Pete Sampras in 1995.  The stadium is on Fred Waring Drive just west of Washington Street.  I really miss those matches.

6 BLOCKS! One year I was looking at going....tickets for finals were about $450 to $500. We would have to stay for at least 2 nights and hotels were $500 a night. If I had known we could have just stayed at your place and you could have delivered us to the door. Oh yeh, now you live near Miami. How about the Miami Open, are you close to that one?

I believe that is held on Key Biscayne, if I am not mistaken.  That's about 45 miles or so from where I live now.  Key Biscayne is one place I would love to live if I could afford the prices of condos over there.  The Key is about 8 miles east of Miami Beach. Truly a beautiful area of Miami-Dade

!

Yes, Key Biscayne to be exact. 45 miles isn't too bad....better than $500 a night for a hotel room. What do you serve for breakfast? We have friends coming on Monday, staying until Saturday. That is one problem with having a place in Florida, people like to stay over.

I serve IHOP or Denny's for breakfast - I'll pick up the tab!!! But lunch and dinner - you're on your own - so long as you take me with you!!!  

driver100

Sounds good to me, I'll get tickets....starts March 20 to April 2nd.

Can't go this year, we leave April 2nd and there are bets on whether I will be able to pick up my car on April 3rd.

bwia

stickguy said:

Explorer, I more and more can't figure out why people want to live where you get bad winters. I hate being really cold, and would be perfectly happy to never shovel snow again. Heck, I have no need to ever see snow again!

I understand Mexico has the best climate in the world, (perpetual spring) if this is indeed true, then it's about time to begin learning Spanish.

qbrozen

bwia said:

Explorer, I more and more can't figure out why people want to live where you get bad winters. I hate being really cold, and would be perfectly happy to never shovel snow again. Heck, I have no need to ever see snow again!

I understand Mexico has the best climate in the world, (perpetual spring) if this is indeed true, then it's about time to begin learning Spanish.

Guess it depends on the area. It was crazy hot and humid when we went in an October to the playa del carmen area.

abacomike

qbrozen said:

bwia said:

Explorer, I more and more can't figure out why people want to live where you get bad winters. I hate being really cold, and would be perfectly happy to never shovel snow again. Heck, I have no need to ever see snow again!

I understand Mexico has the best climate in the world, (perpetual spring) if this is indeed true, then it's about time to begin learning Spanish.

Guess it depends on the area. It was crazy hot and humid when we went in an October to the playa del carmen area.

The west coast of the Baja is delightful.  Spent many a time at Rosarita Beach area.  Great food, horsebackriding on the beach, just don't drink anything but American bottled water.  Climate there is similar to San Diego year-round.

graphicguy

driver100 said:

Mike, this explains it:

If you were around in 1919 and came upon the following poster...





I mean, seriously,
wouldn't you just keep drinking?

WOW.....be tough to let my lips meet the lips of any of them.

Driver....yeah, once I filed to go to arbitration, the loaner car went away. If fairness, the dealer said they'd provide courtesy transportation to my home or a nearby restaurant or shopping venue, but that was all they were required to do.

So, got a call from the dealer yesterday. Apparently they had to replace the entire exhaust system. As you could guess, the latest fiasco had them waiting for parts (what parts, I'm not certain). But, they expect to have them tomorrow and have the car ready early next week.............JUST IN TIME FOR THE ARBITRATION HEARING! 10K mile exhaust system gone bad. That's a first for me.

At this juncture, I'd take that Alpha over the CTS, and not even blink.

graphicguy

Why do they keep the habitual DWI offender on the road? Money.....the elevated insurance premiums, fines and fees to the municipality, fees paid to lawyers. DWI is big business. Keep letting the habitual offenders back on the road and keep milking them.

imidazol97

suydam said:

Umm, so you'd ban everyone from drinking just to get this tiny minority (who do such incredible damage) off the roads? Punish the many for the actions of a few?

There are so many responses hanging from the tree. But can't respond, 'causeThis is bringing us into politics.

qbrozen

graphicguy said:

So, got a call from the dealer yesterday. Apparently they had to replace the entire exhaust system. As you could guess, the latest fiasco had them waiting for parts (what parts, I'm not certain). But, they expect to have them tomorrow and have the car ready early next week.............JUST IN TIME FOR THE ARBITRATION HEARING! 10K mile exhaust system gone bad. That's a first for me.

At this juncture, I'd take that Alpha over the CTS, and not even blink.

Not sure you remember, but the exhaust is the one thing I had go wrong with my Vsport. The weld on the bracket closest to the cats broke, causing an exhaust leak. I think mine was in the shop for something like 10 days for that.

imidazol97

graphicguy said:

Why do they keep the habitual DWI offender on the road? Money.....the elevated insurance premiums, fines and fees to the municipality, fees paid to lawyers. DWI is big business. Keep letting the habitual offenders back on the road and keep milking them.

Spot on, Bro.

ab348

graphicguy said:

Driver....yeah, once I filed to go to arbitration, the loaner car went away. If fairness, the dealer said they'd provide courtesy transportation to my home or a nearby restaurant or shopping venue, but that was all they were required to do.

I would love to see the fine print where it says they can no longer provide a loaner.

So, got a call from the dealer yesterday. Apparently they had to replace the entire exhaust system. As you could guess, the latest fiasco had them waiting for parts (what parts, I'm not certain). But, they expect to have them tomorrow and have the car ready early next week.............JUST IN TIME FOR THE ARBITRATION HEARING! 10K mile exhaust system gone bad. That's a first for me.

That just seems to add to my confusion re the above. The dealer is still diagnosing and working on the car? But will not provide a loaner while they do?

None of this even remotely adds up.

jmonroe

abacomike said:

driver100 said:

abacomike said:

driver100 said:

driver100 said:

I think GG should buy an Alfa just for the entertainment value here:

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2017/03/consumer-reports-2017-alfa-romeo-giulia-ti-basically-lives-dealer-service-bay/

I so those Alfa's advertised on the tennis matches from Indian Wells this week and I really like them....looks like a souped up BMW 335. But, I would consider this as first hand knowledge these cars are trouble. Knowing what I know now I would definitely steer (unintended pun) clear.

This is also a pretty big warning sign:
Four other FCA brands — Fiat, Jeep, Dodge, and Ram — filled four of the four lowest positions in J.D. Power’s recent Vehicle Dependability Study of MY2014 vehicles.

I lived 6 blocks away from the Indian Wells Tennis Center.  It's a beautiful stadium built exclusively for tennis.  The last match I saw there was Andre Agassi vs Pete Sampras in 1995.  The stadium is on Fred Waring Drive just west of Washington Street.  I really miss those matches.

6 BLOCKS! One year I was looking at going....tickets for finals were about $450 to $500. We would have to stay for at least 2 nights and hotels were $500 a night. If I had known we could have just stayed at your place and you could have delivered us to the door. Oh yeh, now you live near Miami. How about the Miami Open, are you close to that one?

I believe that is held on Key Biscayne, if I am not mistaken.  That's about 45 miles or so from where I live now.  Key Biscayne is one place I would love to live if I could afford the prices of condos over there.  The Key is about 8 miles east of Miami Beach. Truly a beautiful area of Miami-Dade

!

Yes, Key Biscayne to be exact. 45 miles isn't too bad....better than $500 a night for a hotel room. What do you serve for breakfast?

We have friends coming on Monday, staying until Saturday. That is one problem with having a place in Florida, people like to stay over.

I serve IHOP or Denny's for breakfast - I'll pick up the tab!!! But lunch and dinner - you're on your own - so long as you take me with you!!!  

If you ever tried to push IHOP or Denny's down my throat if I stayed with you, our friendship is OVER. :@

jmonroe

jmonroe

driver100 said:

Sounds good to me, I'll get tickets....starts March 20 to April 2nd.

Can't go this year, we leave April 2nd and there are bets on whether I will be able to pick up my car on April 3rd.

Sorry I started that but I have the over by 3 days.

jmonroe

driver100

qbrozen said:

graphicguy said:

So, got a call from the dealer yesterday. Apparently they had to replace the entire exhaust system. As you could guess, the latest fiasco had them waiting for parts (what parts, I'm not certain). But, they expect to have them tomorrow and have the car ready early next week.............JUST IN TIME FOR THE ARBITRATION HEARING! 10K mile exhaust system gone bad. That's a first for me.

At this juncture, I'd take that Alpha over the CTS, and not even blink.

Not sure you remember, but the exhaust is the one thing I had go wrong with my Vsport. The weld on the bracket closest to the cats broke, causing an exhaust leak. I think mine was in the shop for something like 10 days for that.

Which makes me think of a few questions I have Q.
What was the year of the V Sport?
How long did you have it?
Overall, how was the experience?
Would you recommend the car to a friend? Enemy?

driver100

ab348 said:

graphicguy said:

Driver....yeah, once I filed to go to arbitration, the loaner car went away. If fairness, the dealer said they'd provide courtesy transportation to my home or a nearby restaurant or shopping venue, but that was all they were required to do.

I would love to see the fine print where it says they can no longer provide a loaner.

So, got a call from the dealer yesterday. Apparently they had to replace the entire exhaust system. As you could guess, the latest fiasco had them waiting for parts (what parts, I'm not certain). But, they expect to have them tomorrow and have the car ready early next week.............JUST IN TIME FOR THE ARBITRATION HEARING! 10K mile exhaust system gone bad. That's a first for me.

That just seems to add to my confusion re the above. The dealer is still diagnosing and working on the car? But will not provide a loaner while they do?

None of this even remotely adds up.



I think it adds up perfectly. They won't give out a loaner because their good customer has gone to arbitration....that means war. They are digging themselves into the trenches and they know this might stop some complainers from going to arbitration and just settle, but, not GG, whom they don't know has a new car anyway...doesn't need their loaner.

Of course they will finish working on the car and throw it together like they did last time...just so they can show the arbitrator the car is all fixed and ready to go....because it has a new exhaust system! Probably a new harness or one attached with duct tape.