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Comments
For the kids always get white grape juice or clear sodas - no stains!
The other issue I have is that the goo can deteriorate over time and requires replacement. Most drivers are not as conscientious as yourself. I know the first can of sealant was finally thrown away about 3 years past it's expiry date. Luckily we never had to find out if it still worked or not.
That reminds me, I need to drop the spare from the bottom of the truck for inspection - havent done it yet this year. So yeah, spares aren't perfectly foolproof either.
Two years back my friend took delivery of his new 2010 A4 sedan. Nice car, but the dealership somehow screwed up the whole deal and didn't license and deliver the right car! It took about 2 days for everyone to piece together the error, but by then it was no longer a new car.... The settlement was that he got to drive the 2010 for a few weeks until a brand new 2011 came off the truck, and they gave it to him for something like $1k. It had a few more features like xenon headlights and a fold down rear seat, so he was happy!
Agree, CPO vehicles can be a very lucrative way to buy. You get to see how the model 'ages' and if there are issues to avoid, someone else takes the huge depreciation hit, and the makers support and warranty takes the dread out of buying a used car. We bought a less than 3 year old Toyota Sienna in March 2011 with a mere 20k miles for 60% of new! Over a year later it still seems like an amazingly good decision.
Yeah, that's not happening. Unless it needs warranty work, this car won't go back to the dealership. My Evo went to the dealership once, for the 90k service-- which was right before I found a great, local independent shop who would've done the work for about half the price I paid.
Had a little fun on my lunch break. Went out for a 'test drive' with a buddy who is a former autocrosser as well as current avid cyclist, like me. :shades: He drives a '05 LGT Wagon 5spd.
He really liked the car, particularly how the stability program lets you hang it out a bit. It has 3 modes- full on, ESP only (traction control off), full off. ESP only seems to work really well, bearing in mind the limits of the performance all-season tires. You can get a little drift in a corner before it gently lets you know it's there.
'05 LGT Wagon 5spd
Unicorn sighting!
All the rest of the maintainance I am still able to do myself, although the old bones are getting creakier
Cheers pat.
I test drove a Mazda3 SkyActiv the other day, then an Impreza CVT sedan. Funny part was the dealer brought me a Mazda 3s 2.5 model by mistake, so it wasn't even the DI model I wanted to sample.
I liked the Impreza better, but the 3 is dirt cheap, I got a quote for $17.6k with a loyalty rebate. It was tempting. A similar Impreza is over $20k right now.
When I told my kids it would potentially replace the Miata, it was mutiny in my house. They didn't talk to me for about a day. Hilarious.
Regarding oil changes, my local servicer just confirmed that they don't have the scan tool necessary to reset the maintenance indicator for Audi. Darn. I might have to use another shop, or just buy the dang tool myself and reset after my favorite shop does the work.
That's the fix for idiot lights on NA Miatas with forced induction.
* Don't actually do that.
As for regular maintenance I still take care of that myself, like brake service including cleaning and greasing the sliders.
On the Mazda I have an info centre, I can reset all service intervals myself without any special tools.
This is one of my gripes with the Euro car makers, they don't want to cut the umbilical cord after you buy the damn car. They want you tied to the dealer forever more with special tools, and with-holding needed service info from independent shops.
As for cleaning and detailing, well that is still my way of unwinding, most of my neigbours think I am nuts
Cheers Pat.
You guys still get a big price break over us Canucks. I bought the 3GT in June 2010 and paid $28k out the door. MSRP was $32,995CDN All in.
However the models and content are different between US and Canada
The GT in Canada comes fully loaded with all options including heated seats and mirrors which are not available on some US models at any price.
As well I have auto climate control and the HID headlights, which again are not part of the GT package in the US.
This could explain some of the difference in pricing but not all.
Cheers Pat.
I have pictures in Tinypic and if I want to host them on any of the Mazda forums I just have to copy the URL and post it right into a post.
Not so here, I have tried every which way to post here but never successfully.
Cheers Pat.
Pat, these are from Imageshack.us -- go there and create a free account. After you upload a group of photos, look on the right at "Get links and codes for Images" and chose HTML codes in the drop-down box. Then click on the box below and it will highlight it all for you. Now press control-c or right click your mouse and choose copy. Then paste here (ctrl-v or right click then paste).
You should get this:
...weird. the first one is busted. don't know why.
I asked for a SkyActiv model, but they goofed and brought a 2.5l engine instead. It was funny because I commented to the salesman that the shifter would only go to 5, but he was oblivious.
Turns out the 2.5l comes with a 5 speed auto, while only the SkyActiv gets the 6 speed. I realized it after getting out that he had brought the wrong car! LOL
The Touring has a leather steering wheel cover and shifter, which the Impreza lacked at that price point. But Subaru lets you get the AWP a la carte, so the Impreza had the heated seats.
In the USA, to get heated seats you have to get leather, Navi, and a moonroof. No heated cloth.
Seats felt a bit hard, how are they over the long haul? Are yours leather? It had more road noise than the Impreza, too. It was peppier, 2.5l vs. 2.0l, and I liked the steering and handling.
Cheers Pat.
No I didn't get leather I opted for cloth, this is what I mean by different content between Canada and the US. The GT comes with heated seats in either leather or cloth.
Seats are firm but comfortable over the long haul. With my back problems a good seat is mandatory, and I find I can drive the Mazda over longer distances than I could theTitan.
I didn't like the leather in the 2nd generation Mazda3, the first Generation had perforated leather and I would have gone for that.
In 2011 the leather was standard in the GT, in 2010 it was optional.
The Mazda3 navigation is a joke, it has a small little screen that can hardly be seen and is a real PITA to program, for a lot less money I got a top line aftermarket indash DVD/navigation, with blue tooth and USB and sim card.
I believe in 2013 they are going to install a full screen unit in place of the stereo that is installed at present in the top line models like the GT, bottom line will still get a push button stereo but with USB hookup.
Cheers Pat.
I think I recall at least one of your other cars having many-spoked wheels like that, so it must be your signature touch? :shades:
How do you deal with the tire pressure monitoring valve stems with 2 sets of wheels? (I assume Canada has them as the US does, legally mandated on 2008 and up.) I thought about wheels for both my wife's Suzuki and the new Audi, but to be honest there is no way I'm going to pay The Tirerack $212 for a new set of 4 TPMS sensors. Not today, not ever.
Now there is a neat looking car. That engine is so clean that you could eat off it!
In contrast, my now 7.5 year old Toyota Kluger has several dents and scratches which I do not intend to repair as I have two teenagers learning to drive.
Cheers
Graham
Well here is a photo intentionally taken in the same spot as I did when he was new.As you can see it was not an idle promise. Unfortunately I sold the car just before the ten year anniversary, however he did still look as good. I asked well over black book retail when I sold and the person who bought did not even haggle the price.
The car went to a good home as the new owner is just as careful as I was.
As for TPMS I don't have it, it wasn't mandatory when I bought the car in 2010. I am not a believer in it anyway I consider it a royal PITA. Give me a good tire gauge any day. BTW if you buy aftermarket rims you can have your sensors installed in the new rims, unless you intended to run the OEM rims as winter rims.
Cheers Pat.
Cheers Pat.
Cheers Pat.
but this might make me pull the trigger on wheels for the Suzuki this Fall. at 20k the stock Yoko Geolander tires are not on the wear bars, but not looking good at all for getting around properly in the snow.
..and your engine compartment is show-worthy. whoa!
Also got the windows tinted this week, lovely vietnamese family-owned place that does great work for good prices, with a lifetime warranty.
The crossbars themselves took 5 minutes to install. The rubber strip in the center, however, took 45 minutes in the beating sun. I kid not. I have a blister or two! And yes, I was using soap. The really scary thing is that the Audi-branded accessories (ski & bike rack, cargo tub, etc) bolt on with 2 bolts underneath that rubber strip. Is that insane or what? I never want to take that rubber off and re-install it again, but that's exactly what they would have you do with their own racks!
No way, Jose. I'm putting a pair of Yakima Frontloader universal fit bike racks up there. The rubber will stay on.
Oh, and here's the real workhorse of the family. She got detailed too. BTW I use the term 'detailed' in the capacity of normal people, not award-winners like Pat.
I do know that you take very good care of your cars, however you need to deep six those rims on the Suzuki ASAP
Cheers Pat.
The Suzuki's TPMS went off Thursday or Friday. Wifey was driving it alone and told me about the light on Saturday morning. Sunday morning I aired up the tires-- 3 of them fine (probably overinflated by a zealous dealership guy, actually, 40psi) and what do you know.. the last tire was at 28psi.
While filling it, I started looking for nail. In seconds I found one... It would cost me around $20 to repair the nail puncture, but the tires have less than 3,000 miles of life left and they have to go before winter for sure.
So, I ordered a set of tires today that I'd been looking at-- Hankook DynaPro ATM RF10. (Is that a great model name or what? :P) There's hardly any 225/70-16 to be had, and even fewer good ones. I picked this tire because it has good offroad and snow capability, but is still quiet and well-mannered on the road.
And sorry Pat, but the ugly 16" steelies will stay. Not worth putting decent wheels on the Suzuki!
Pshh, it gets rinsed off when it rains, plus I wash it once a year whether it needs it or not!
The Miata gets better care. Heck, the wife's Forester gets better care and it's not mine!
Colin's steelies would look good painted matte black, or maybe gunmetall if you want glossy.
ATM? Do they dole out cash?
RF? Run-flats, except they're not?
BTW, black or gunmetal grey wheels on a Gold/Bronze/Metallic Beige SUV? :surprise:
Cheers Pat.
Hankook Optimo 4S. It is a summer tire but also an RAC approved winter tire, so you can run it year round.
Edmunds need to feed the gerbils, the site is so slow I thought I had dial up internet again.
Cheers Pat.
It would appear it has never seen salt for it looked brand new.
Unfortunately he wasn't stopping otherwise I would have been interested in the history. I love seeing a well kept older car.
Cheers Pat.
I think the color depends on the vehicle. Black can look nice with bright yellow or red.
http://saabworld.net/content/ally-financial-auction-900-new-saabs-stored-seaport- s-usa-886/
$22k for a $44k 9-3 convertible does sound tempting...
Or I could get a 9-3 convertible for me and a 9-4x for the wife.
The 9-4 shares parts with the Caddy SRX so she could service it there.
I was referring to this-- http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/06/saab-automobile-parts-ab-throws-lifeline-to-n- orth-american-owner/ -- which I bet you've read.
But I think these cars could be a good value. I don't need or want one, though!
A 4 seat convertible would be nice, but the dog would make us feel crowded even on the 2.5 hour drive to the beach.
I doubt I'd do it but $22k would be tempting if it really cost just that much.
You and your convertibles. :P
Bet you don't have any bike stories to match this one!
Bob
Correct. This past November the NHTSA restated their position on this to the Tire Industry Association, so expect it to be enforced with more vigor.
We went thru this with our 'new to us' '08 Toyota Sienna. It turned out that the Tire Rack winter package from our '02 Honda Odyssey fit the Sienna. TR confirmed it was within offset tolerance (off by 5mm), and that all we needed was a new set of centering rings. But at issue was the lack of TPMS sensors.
I found a number of sellers on eBay. These guys buy box lots of TRW and other sensors, and many have 'make an offer' on their page. I bid $90 for 4, and the seller agreed. The service pack kits for all 4 (seals and retainer nuts) cost an additional $10 from another seller.
Tire Rack suggested a local installer that would update my winter package, inserting the sensors in place of the rubber valves and rebalancing.
I don't know about Subaru or Audi, but Toyota systems are not self learning. You need to manually program the TPMS computer with the sensor's ECID thru the OBD port, and tell it which set of 4 you are running with each changeover. Not wanting to have to return to the dealer for this, I invested in an ATEQ Quickset module. I store all the codes on my PC, and use this black box to transfer and update the Toyota.