Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/25 for details.
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/25 for details.
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Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)
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A newspaper reporter wants to talk with Southern California residents who have comments and/or anecdotes about the area’s car culture. Please respond to jfallon@edmunds.com no later than Wednesday, November 7, 2007, and provide your daytime contact info and a few words about your first car.
Silly me down at the Jersey shore....
I was shocked that Apple's standard warranty didn't cover onsite service for my iMac--I discovered this when its hard drive crashed a couple of weeks ago. Since I live in the boonies, I had to cart it off 40 miles to the nearest service provider. Thankfully, I had a backup, so I only lost a couple of weeks worth of documents.
Not surprising on Apple. I remember my first computer - a Gateway. They shipped it with less memory than I had ordered. I reported that and they said no problem - they would ship the extra memory and call them when it arrived. I did and their first words were - "open up the computer." Gee, thanks, guys.
That's one of the reasons I purchased the Hondacare ESC. Then again I don't expect it to ever be on the back of a wrecker. Its closing in on 7k miles and so far has been flawless except for the occational hard start, but even that is getting more and more rare.
I have never owned a car that is so sure footed on the ice/snow. I had to drive home 300 miles on bad roads with stock tires on Sunday, the Pilot never missed a beat. I now have Blizzaks on it and wow, talk about safe and secure. In fact my safe feeling got me into trouble yesterday with the troopers, lol.
My hubby asked me the other day (since the Pilot is now 3 months old) how I liked it. I told him I have no intention of trading it for a long long time. He breathed a sigh of relief. He knows that by the 3 month mark I'm prowling for a new car, lol. Not this time, I'm very happy with the Pilot.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Now the truck went in last week, so we asked them to install the dash piece. We told them that it should be warranty and we were not willing to pay them to install it (we would have my brother do it instead). They installed it and now want to charge us $51.50 for doing so. Are we obligated to pay for this even though we did not authorize them to do it if we had to pay?
They refuse to allow us to talk to the service manager and insist that we have to pay. They removed the $51.50 charge for getting the air out of the fuel rail, they still insist that hubby did this to the truck which is crap.
I'm soooo frustrated with this dealer, same one that jerked me around so badly on the Durango, never repairing it correctly.
Just yesterday, I was in a motorhome park and a couple came up to me as I was trying to disconnect the 'necessaries'. They were asking me about my electric sunvisors. Then they asked me about my Honda CR-V. They thought that the new CR-V couldn't be towed. I told them that it makes an excellent tow vehicle behind the motorhome.
They tow a 2003 Honda Pilot and love it. If I was needing a larger vehicle the Pilot would be at the top of the list.
I have 8,300 miles on my CR-V now... great vehicle!!!
Mark156
I was born and raised here, same as my mother and father, and all the way back through the Lenni Lenape tribe, so I get to complain about everyone. ;b
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
I especially like the shore around where fezo lives, though I haven't been there in a number of years.
fezo, you still have those "One night in Jersey" pictures?
What exit are they from?
The Jersey Shore is where we vacation every summer. I can't say that I love it, but at least it is only an hour and a half away(and it sure beats the Poconos).
LOL!
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Funny I have Cherokee in me so I do the same thing times.
Actually if you pick your towns even right on the coast you can do all right (if you can afford the property). Seaside Heights is lousy to live in but Seaside Park is nice - and you get miles of unspoiled beach just south of it.
Meanwhile, back on topic, not nearly enough damage to the Accord to get the CCB in me going. I can get away with just replacing a tail light lens.
we'll see what the dealer finds. But, yeah, this doesn't sit so well with me.
meanwhile, I also found a super low-mile Benz wagon on craigslist that I may take a look at this weekend if it is still available. It would make 6 vehicles at my house for just the 2 of us. Hmmmm...
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
He would have his good car, a beater car of some sort, a spare he'd lend out when somebody needed one (his previous good car), some nasty old van for deliveries for his business and my mom's car. Good thing it's a big driveway.
Just the one car there these days and he can't drive anymore.
I used to think my driveway was big ... it is getting smaller by the minute.
We also had alot of vehicles growing up, but there were 5 drivers in the house for a while, then there were project cars scattered about. I'm not sure what the biggest collection was. I'm not sure it ever exceeded 4 projects, so that's 9 including 1 vehicle for each driver. Oh, and all 4 projects were mine ... and none of them were completed before I left for college, so I was forced to give them up.
Right now it is my Alfa spider, my wife's Bimmer 'vert, her leased SUV, my leased Accord, and a pickup truck for yard work.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
If any of them fit my search for an MR2 Spyder,can I borrow it. Right now all I have is that I really want one , and it will keep the miles of my other car because it is up to 74k. I tried the better gas mileage route but she figured out that the pay back on that would be about 99 years.
well, the Alfa is PW (pre-wife), so I didn't need a reason. Although now the reason to keep it is sentimental, and she knows that and really won't let me sell it, although I've thought about it now and again.
The bimmer we got for her because she can't drive stick, so no Alfa, and she wanted a little convertible, AND it also keeps miles off her lease, AND it gets better mileage than her SUV.
The Accord is my daily driver, because lord knows you can't drive an alfa every day (or at least shouldn't if you live in Jersey).
The pickup is nothing more than a yard tool. And, for $1500, probably the best investment we've made in the house.
SOOO.. I don't think I got anything here to help ya.
The 6th car ... well, that's up in the air. We know we want to eliminate at least 1 car payment. So that means when one of the leases is up, we buy a car for cash. In 10 months, her's will be up, and this Benz wagon is just presenting itself a bit early. It may be a "hey, we won't find this deal again in 10 months, so we better buy it now" kind of thing. Or it may not be. But a Benz or Bimmer wagon is definitely on her list of cash cars to replace her SUV. She doesn't want to make the bimmer convertible a daily driver because it doesn't fit the baby stroller and groceries, nor is it easy to put him in and out of (unless the top is down).
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
25 NX 450h+ / 24 Sienna Plat AWD / 23 Civic Type-R / 21 Boxster GTS 4.0 / 03 Montero Ltd
The "Five Spice" in Burlington is a great Asian restaurant. And visiting Shelburne Farms on a sunny day is fantastic.
Of course if you went further out from Burlington you could get 10-20 acres if you really wanted. I looked at some houses in Brattleboro a few months ago. Brattleboro gets great reviews, but for me, I didn't really "get it".
If you've never seen Woodstock VT, would be well worth a trip or detour. One of the most beautiful towns on the planet, IMO.
You can never have too many cars or dogs!
My dad had the clutch resurfaced on one of his Hondas when it started to flutter (sort of like resurfacing a brake rotor). Not sure if they still do that, or if replacement is the only option. Edit: Never mind, if it's under warranty, I'm sure they'll replace it.
I'm glad I had a backup. I have some data files that go back to the mid-1990s (most of them are not that important, but still nice to have).
Still no answer as to why the truck had air in the fuel rail, guess we'll have to wait and see if it happens again.
The Pilot turned 7k today!
Yea, I have driven a couple. I was trying to get a FSBO but even though convertible season is pretty much over they(although it has been in the 70'sthe last few weeks)want outrageous prices for their cars. I pulled a carfax on one and it had seven owners since 2000. of course the current owner did not see that as a problem. I may try a dealer next, at least they understand that snow is right around the corner.
I love the Z3 also, but when I test drove one I had to sit sideways to get my leg between the steering wheel and transmission hump. The nice thing about the MR2 being mid engine is that it does not have a hump.
Hmhh I wouldn't mind 10-20 acres. Can you say go cart course. :shades:
These guys sound like the Keystone Kops of
automotive repair. The mind boggles that the dealer can't even do a minor repair on their own make of vehicle.
The Pilot w/Blizzaks sounds like a pretty serious Winter Vehicle.....did you get separate rims, or?
I want to create an offshoot group on facebook called CCBA. But since the group originated here, I'd like to ask everyone's permission first. thx
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
25 NX 450h+ / 24 Sienna Plat AWD / 23 Civic Type-R / 21 Boxster GTS 4.0 / 03 Montero Ltd
automotive repair. The mind boggles that the dealer can't even do a minor repair on their own make of vehicle.
The Pilot w/Blizzaks sounds like a pretty serious Winter Vehicle.....did you get separate rims, or?
Yup, pretty much, they are morons when it comes to repair. They could not figure out what was wrong with the truck, so they place the blame on the owner. I think this will be the last time they touch that truck, Anchorage is only an extra 200 miles and has a great dealer.
I did buy separate rims for the Pilot. Ordered tires, rims, and tire pressure sensors from the Tire Rack, got a great price, fast shipping too. Got some nice alloy wheels that were on closeout, look real nice on it too.
I was in Fairbanks all day today, lots of snow, bad roads, the Pilot never missed a beat. Even passed a semi on the way home having to navigate through 6-8 inches of snow in the passing lane, Pilot was steady and true. Really impressed with it, can't say I've driven better. Its a keeper no doubt! My CCBA days might just be over. Three months, 7200 miles, and I still can't find one single thing I don't like!!!
Should be easy to find, if not, look up my profile: Maciej Buczek. Thx guys.
By the way, I'm itching for a new car now as fall is usually my car buying time. The Benz C240 has been so-so. We took it down to LA and Vegas on our honeymoon and on the way back the alternator/charging system was acting up, right between Vegas and LA, so we had to to go back to LA and get it fixed ($1k later). Before that I changed the cam and crank shaft sensor, and did an oil change and that cost me $1k.
Seems like anything you touch on the car is $1k a pop.
For some reason I had my eye on a bare bones Hyundai Accent htchback. Good on gas, cheap to buy, low rates (0.9%), and it will help me save money over the Benz as I commute a lot now.
Others cars I've been eyeing were: Dodge Charger, Mazda3 Sport, The Accent, The Fusion, Chevy Impala, the new Malibu.
I'll get more serious on ti when we come back from our 3 week honeymoon.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
Trouble is, as you're finding out, that a German nickel is $1,000...
-Mathias
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
OTOH, your brain cells may be pretty much destroyed after a 3 week honeymoon, anyway, so who cares? But seriously, good luck with the cars, your honeymoon, etc.......Woody
25 NX 450h+ / 24 Sienna Plat AWD / 23 Civic Type-R / 21 Boxster GTS 4.0 / 03 Montero Ltd
I learned it during a Range Rover phase. One of the 2 most gorgeous vehicles I ever owned, but as it was in the shop all the time, I finally bailed. As much trouble as it was, I still miss it, in some wierd way.
Haven't had the guts to buy an Audi yet, but every one I've ever test driven, I've liked/wanted.....& I haven't even driven an "S" yet......(???)
I do like it but 1: I'm getting bored with it, and 2: it does cost a lot to run. Since I'm still young, I'd want to save some money and invest it (hence might get something barebones for now at least) instead of putting it into the Benz. Another option might be finisheing paying it off and parking it for a bit, while getting something cheap for a daily driver.
I don't mind making a sacrifice for now in terms of my car status (Benz to Hyundai). The end justifies the means, I could say.
I'll look closely into it when we return from our honeymoon.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
;-)
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
I have to admit that for a small car, the xD has a lot of content:
Power everything
Cruise
ABS/Traction Control/ESC
Aux jack AND an iPod connector
I took it on a test drive of city streets only, so no idea how it would handle my mostly interstate commute. Not bad power (128HP), and the stick shift is quite nice .. the last stick I drove regularly was the Focus, and Toyota has got them beat hands down.
Pretty flexible interior .. rear seat reclines, and also slides back and forth to increase leg room or cargo room as necessary.
The only thing I'm not sure of is the IP .. the speedo and tach share the same dial (at least it's in front of the driver this time), but the tach needle rotates counter-clockwise - 0 RPM is at 6 o'clock, while 8K RPM is at around 1:30 or so. Just strange.
Quiet riding and had a quasi-SUV seating experience. Not a lot of legroom, however .. andre would almost certainly not fit.
I think I need to drive it again, for a longer period, to decide if I like it or not.
Best part is that the lease rates are crazy low ... around $225/mo for a 48mo/48K lease with about a grand to start.
This is what happens when the styling guys don't talk to the usability guys. PASS.