Stories from the Sales Frontlines

jmonroe

This may lead to a sales tale, if her car is dead enough to not warrant a repair.

Here’s what happened:

Mrs j is driving on the main drag in our town not going over 40 MPH and she hit something, maybe, and the car immediately starts to make a good bit of noise so she pulls into a gas station right where she hit this thing. I mean she didn’t drive the car 30 yards. Her car is an ’05 XG 350 with less than 41K miles and is in as perfect shape as you can get for that age or really any age for that matter. She calls to tell me what happened so I tell her to call AAA and I’ll meet her at the dealer. As usual, the girl at the AAA desk got the station screwed up with one about 2 miles away so the truck is going to be late. OK, good for me, so I meet her at the gas station and I can see dribbles to where she pulled into a parking spot from the road but by now there is a puddle of oil under the car. It is definitely motor oil so I check the dip stick and it isn’t even down a full quart but almost. I didn’t want to start it but I did and it did make a racket. It sounded like a heavy valve slap, not nearly as solid as a rod knock. I was pretty surprised that it was down less than a quart and made that kind of noise. I’d be willing to bet there are dozens of cars on that road that are down more oil than her car but they aren’t making that kind of noise.

I walk over to the road and there is this small thin piece of sheet metal (8 by 8 inches) lying at the curb. I pick it up and it has almost no weight to it. I’m pretty sure it is a piece of aluminum. I can’t believe that it could do too much damage unless it sliced through a rubber line. No other cars were pulled over so she is the only one that hit this metal if she even did hit it/something. She’s not even sure that she road over anything but there is no denying the problem. The car is flat bedded to the Hyundai store about 3 miles away. The guy at the service desk hears the noise, doesn’t want to venture a guess as to what it is and says they’ll look at it tomorrow. So that’s the story.

If I decide not to fix her car what should I expect to pay for a 2012 Sonata SE 2.0 Turbo with Nav that has an MSRP of $28,780 and what about a Limited 2.0 Turbo that is FULLY loaded with an MSRP of $31,430. I’m planning for the worst and I’m not going to lock myself into a Hyundai but I would appreciate a couple numbers if you can help.

The more I’m writing here the more I think it could be something that is not her fault, like a chain sprocket. I think that’s what my neighbor said went out on his ’06 Azera twice. If it’s that or something similar my 100K mile warranty should handle this. The bad part of this is that I opened my mouth and said she may have hit something.

Of course I’ll keep everyone tuned into what happens.

Thanks,

jmonroe

fezo

Better get it fixed. I can't buy your Genny yet...

Boy all this soothing roll with it talk when I've done Washington and NYC on consecutive days. :surprise:

Was up at SK where they say have have three matches to sort through and need to have an MRI done on my liver, see their neurologist and urologist as well as a stress test on my heart and lungs. We're looking at 4 to six weeks until transplant.

driver100

Is this an XG350? If it is I really like the looks of those cars.


Another car I like in that same vein is a Kia Amanti;


Good luck, hopefully your car will just need a minor repair. However, if you buy a new Sonata they are really beautiful. If you can swing it I think it is well worth getting the fully loaded model. It's a bit more, but averaged over 5 or 6 years it won't be much more a year to drive, and will be worth more at trade in time. That's just me, and I am usually sorry after if I don't get it the way I really want it. Having said that, try looking up an online price and I would go in trying to get 10% off or about $3k. I don't know how much play there is on Hyundai's MSRPs, but I would want at least 5% or $1.5k to $2k off minimum. But, I think they discount more than that. Maybe Brentwood will come up with a realistic price.

driver100

Better get it fixed. I can't buy your Genny yet...

How about a 2005 slightly damaged XG350?

roadburner

When I see the dumb things that some of them do I just play a game with myself trying to guess when and what will be their next dumb move. A lot of the times I’m not disappointed.

I simply assume that the other driver(s) will make the most idiotic move possible. When I'm riding my motorcycle I assume that I am invisible and that any driver that can see me is going to make every possible effort to kill me.

fezo

First thing I told my kids about driving is to assume everyone else on the road is an idiot.

jmonroe

Is this an XG350? If it is I really like the looks of those cars.

That looks like it but her's is prettier. Her's is golden beige.

Good luck, hopefully your car will just need a minor repair.

Of course I'm hoping for the best but I'm planning for the worst. Believe it or not the dealer I went to is BIG and when I said I wanted a Sonata brochure, they said they were out of them. :confuse:

However, if you buy a new Sonata they are really beautiful. If you can swing it I think it is well worth getting the fully loaded model. It's a bit more, but averaged over 5 or 6 years it won't be much more a year to drive, and will be worth more at trade in time.

C'mon now you know I'm spoiled and I always get what she wants. FWIW, I think the Kia Optima is just as nice looking if not better. The strange thing is (so I was told by the salesman, no brochure so I couldn't prove it), if you want the Sonata with full leather not just leather trim you have to get the Limited and when you get that you have to take the full view roof glass (a LOT of glass). That could kill the deal. I have a moon roof in the Genny but not because I wanted one, it just came that way. I rarely use it and when I do it's to purge the heat in the Summer when I get in after extended parking. Then the A/C goes on and stays on.

jmonroe

roadburner

First thing I told my kids about driving is to assume everyone else on the road is an idiot.

Precisely. Sad to say, it is more of a fact than an assumption.

driver100

FWIW, I think the Kia Optima is just as nice looking if not better.

I agree on that one. In fact, I saw an Optima today and looked like a really expensive car....almost exotic, like a Maserati or something...


Kia Optima;


I can understand not wanting the sunroof. Though most can be closed off these days. Besides, you get those sleek black roofs on the car that really set them off.

[Deleted User]

Wow. Sorry to hear about the incident, jmonroe. Hopefully the noise indicates a faulty motor and covered under the warranty, and if not, perhaps it would be covered by insurance? Losing a motor on such a young vehicle would be awful. Best of luck to you and the Mrs. If you do decide to go with a new car, there are many, many great options out there, Hyundai and Kia included. It's really hard to go wrong.

[Deleted User]

I've been jotting down a few notes today on my impressions and will put together a detailed review after I turn her in. The dealership confirmed a failed EGR and have ordered the part, so I have the Focus for another day.

imidazol97

Is it possible something starting to be bad in the engine causes a stumble and your wife felt that stumble and though she had hit something on the roadway?

houdini1

Those reviews were terrible. He really did not tell us anything much about the cars, he just gave us his opinion and personal likes and dislikes. Also it is hard to imagine that the steering operates the way he says it does on the Equus. I think he just threw that in to justify the last place finish.

imidazol97

The writer of that review comes across as over-reaching. When someone tries to use words larger than they are, they expose that weakness.

He used the word "disconcerted" to describe a nonliving thing that is not a human, dog, etc. Only something alive can be disconcerted, confused, by something that's not what they expected. I suspect he could have used "disconcerting" to describe the steering and it would have worked. But the steering is not going to be confused by something. It does what has been engineered into it.

houdini1

Yeah, I noticed that too. I thought he might have meant "disconnected".

fezo

I'm glad I'm not the only one that thought that about the review.

jmonroe

Is it possible something starting to be bad in the engine causes a stumble and your wife felt that stumble and though she had hit something on the roadway?

I thought the same thing and I asked her that while driving home after the car was at the dealer and she said, "I really thought I hit something but if that little piece of metal you showed me couldn't do it, I know I didn't hit something so big that I couldn't see it so thats why I'm not sure anymore."

Whether she hit someting or not that engine is making a LOT of noise but it started right up twice, no problem.

jmonroe

driver100

he could have used "disconcerting" to describe the steering and it would have worked.

Or he should have said, "There was no feel of the road". :P

Imidazol, thanks for the instructions for using photobucket to show photos. I haven't done it yet but I will try to once I pick up the new car. You explained to me how to put pictures on my posts from emails, and now you've created a monster.

One more thing, my car is ready to be picked up today, but I am waiting until Nov 28th, when we come back from Florida. No use getting the new car and leave it in the garage for a week. I'll forget how it all the things work by then.

If you think $35 for mop n glo is a lot you should see the extras they list for a 535. Most cost $500 or more, dent protection, upholstry protection, plastic stone chip protection, windshield insurance, extended warranty, Polymer paint coat protection, complete replacement parts for things that wear out except wiper blades etc .etc.

There are about 12 things listed and each costs about $500. I would pay about $1000 for Run Flat Tire protection but that is the only one I am interested in. You could pay about $5000 just in extras....if the car is that much trouble I'll trade it in in 4 years (and buy an Optima).

[Deleted User]

You're stronger willed than I, Driver. I'd be so antsy to drive the 535 I doubt I could wait.

One favor to ask. When you pick it up, would you mind asking if the Bimmer is waxed from the factory or the dealership? No pressure, of course, but if you think about it at the time I'd love to hear what they say. We had a quick exchange on waxing a new car, and since then I've been curious as to what the factory and dealership do for paint prep. I'll be picking up the Subie in January, not exactly the best time to wax a car in Utah, so it'd be nice if the paint is protected until at least spring.

mako1a

Driver, I'm curious. You bought the BMW to drive to FL, but you're going there by some other means and leaving your new car sit at the dealer. Why aren't you just picking it up and driving it to FL?

jwilliams2

Tyguy, from my experience, most new cars shipped from Europe come with a plastic wrap on all the horizontal surfaces, which the dealer removes upon receipt. And the MB's and BMW's we sold were always waxed and detailed. Can't really speak for Subaru, but I would be surprised if they weren't the same.

Probably best to ask your dealer, and if they don't wax the car as part of their detail process, just make it a requirement of the sale.

[Deleted User]

Nice. Thanks for the quick reply, jwilliams2. My favorite shipping protection is the Audi system with the whole vehicle bagged, and I think Subaru uses the plastic wrap you mentioned. I'll take your advice and request Subaru apply some wax before taking delivery.

sterlingdog

Sorry to hear about your wife's car and the stress involved. From all that you describe, I'm doubtful that she hit an object. One wouldn't think that a thin sheet of metal 8x8 inches would be the culbrit. Then again, strange things do happen. The positive from all of this is that you are covered. Keep us posted.

Richard

sterlingdog

I'm happy to hear that they found a match. Four to six weeks until transplant won't be long. It's great that you got the convertible and took a nice trip. You've done some excellent planning which included some positive experiences. Good for you!

Richard

sterlingdog

Thanks. I did my first weigh-in today after 8 days. I've lost 4 pounds. It took some work, but wasn't as bad as I thought. It's simply adjusting myself to a new life style. Reading the packages and cans is really important. It helps you to learn how to shop properly. Also, telling yourself that you can do wthout one or two items isn't that difficult. If I get really hungry between meals, I eat a banana or some mixed fruit. Leaving off the ribs and other fried foods makes me feel better. I don't feel so bloated after I eat. My goal is 35 pounds---only 31 more to go.

Richard

sterlingdog

Speaking of patience, here's one for you. I had a three hour appointment at the Duke Hospital Eye Clinic today. We arrived early, took our parking ticket from the machine and parked on the third level. As usual, I placed my parking ticket over the sun visor so that I wouldn't lose it. After the appointment, my wife was leading me back to the parking deck due to my blurred vision from all of the tests and those dark black glasses that you have to wear. As we entered the parking deck, the ticket agent asked for our parking ticket. I explained that it was in the car but that I would be down in a few minutes. He announced that I would have to pay the parking fee BEFORE I moved the car! I asked why and he said that it was a new policy. I told him that we were on the third deck and it was a bit much to ask my wife to return with the ticket before we moved the car. His only response to that was that next time I would need to remember the new policy. My wife told me that she didn't mind and that I really needed to get to the car and sit down. Had I felt better, I know that I would have said more. At any rate, my wife made the trip up and down to pay the fee. As we were leaving, I could tell that he was standing at the exit. I lowered the passenger window and , as we drove by, I said, "Thanks for your kindness to the elderly." My wife then said, "Honey, that's not the same man." Some days you can't win.

Richard

sterlingdog

After a church committee meeting last night, we happened to drive by the Ford dealership on our way home. I had earlier explained to my wife that they were offering $10k off of the MSRP on the Ford F150 XLT 4x4 trucks. Well, you may remember how that went over at the time. Also keep in mind that she had told my friend at the beach that no truck would be parked at our house. As we drove by, I really didn't pay any attention to the lot. My mind was still on the meeting that had just concluded. Suddenly, the conversation took this turn:

Wife: You know those trucks that you said were $10,000 off?

Me: Yes, I remember.

Wife: Well, they are now $12,500 off.

Me: What?!

Wife: That's what is written on the windshield of those two red ones.

I turned around and drove back to the lot. She was correct. The conversation continued:

Me: If you had to choose one upon penalty of death, which red color would you pick?

Wife: I don't like the fire engine red, but the candy apple red is a pretty color.

Me: Oh well, they aren't really practical. They sit up mighty high.

Wife: True. Still, I bet that you can see well in them.

Me: Oh yes, that is an advantage.

Wife: It probably wouldn't fit in our garage with the Cadillac. It's so wide.

Me: Well, I did measure. It's six inches wider than the convertible.

Wife: Is that all? I would have thought more.

Me: Me, too. I was surprised.

Wife: With that kind of discount and what you would get for the convertible, the balance couldn't be much.

Me: No, it wouldn't be much.

Wife: You know that I never really liked these convertibles that you've had.

Me: I know. If we ever trade this one, I don't plan to get another convertible.

Wife: You're just like your father. He liked those pick-up trucks. Your mother certainly didn't.

Me: I know, but he always bought Mother a nice car.

Wife: Yes, he did.

On the way home today from Durham, we passed the large Ford dealership in Raleigh. My wife said, "I bet they have lots of trucks with good deals on them." I said, "Yep. They probably do."

How am I doing guys? Do you think that I'm winning her over?

Richard

bolivar

-If something inside the motor blew up enough to let oil out, if you have a 'powertrain' warranty in effect, you should be covered.
-If you have full insurance coverage:
If you hit something solid (the curb or big chughole, for example), it's covered by the collision coverage (I've been told that's called a 'roadbed collision'.)
If you hit something loose in the road, it should be covered under your comprehension coverage.
Deductables will apply.

Best of luck.

imidazol97

>winning her over?

I think lunch and a test drive to see how the high seating feels is next.

Also, on the width does that include the mirrors? And check the height of the door opening in the garage. And determine the actual height of the truck. Friends bought a pickup or van that wouldn't go into their attached garage for up to a year until it sagged.

driver100

would you mind asking if the Bimmer is waxed from the factory or the dealership?

I am excited too, and would love to pick it up tomorrow, which I could do. But we come back on Nov 25 and I will forget how things work by then (lots to learn, GPS, camera, gear - sport or normal, radio stations etc), plus it will sit in the garage for a week and I'll waste one week of warranty time.

Plus, I will withdraw money from the line of credit so will be paying interest for a week when I don't have to.

I have written to my salesman to ask him the question about the waxing. He is usually good at getting back unless it happens to be his day off. I'll let you know if he has an answer.

driver100

Driver, I'm curious. You bought the BMW to drive to FL, but you're going there by some other means

Mako, This trip to Florida is just to take possession of the house there, and to get the cable, electricity etc going. We will be there for just 8 days. Driving takes about 24 hours or 3 days, so we will fly this time...Direct Air from Niagara Falls $360 return for 2 people. After Christmas, when we stay for two months...Jan and February we will drive. By then, hopefully, I will figure out how some of the gadgets work on the new car, and I'll have a month to get used to it.

I feel like driving in tomorrow just to see it. It's about 45 minutes each way. I am thinking about it........

mako1a

I've got to hand it to you and your "will power". (will not power)

I'd have sugar plums dancing in my head. Not to mention playing

with the touch shifter in the driveway with the stereo cranked up.

I've had the 07 Escape over a year and just found the ambiance

lighting switch I didn't know existed while playing with the fog lights.

mako1a

I also understand the reluctance to take on something so complicated.

I just got an android phone (I hate it). The user manual is 1/4 in thick.

I haven't opened the book yet (after 2 weeks). My friends say "It's easy".

No it's not. At least not intuitive. I downloaded "Banjo" thinking it would

let me play music. Not! It's some kind of app that lets you text anyone

within a mile of your position. I need that...for what purpose? If the manual

can't be printed on a 3 x 5 card...it's too complicated.

jmonroe

How am I doing guys? Do you think that I'm winning her over?

Before I get to the above, I hope your eye exam went well. And as far as them having a “new policy”, if it isn’t written on your ticket that you have to pay first, although I’m not a lawyer, what the guy told you is just hearsay so you could have challenged his statement when you got to the booth to pay. Not important now but something to log into your cranium for the next time you’re “TOLD” something like this.

Now for your post:

It sounds like you can win this one. If she wasn’t interested she wouldn’t have mentioned it while driving by the local store. Then again and especially when Mrs. Richard said "I bet they have lots of trucks with good deals on them" when you were driving by the dealership in Raleigh. It sounds like you’re using the ‘jmonroe method’ when I got the Genny. That is, and I’ve said this before…”by the time I was through with Mrs. jmonroe I had her believing she was the one that wanted the V8 in Cabernet Red Pearl and I was just an innocent bystander”.

Good luck, especially with the eye exam.

jmonroe

driver100

And the MB's and BMW's we sold were always waxed and detailed.

Thanks for jumping in with an instant reply. That leads me to ask you this if you don't mind.

One of the extras BMW lists is interior protection....against things like pets, coffee, prolongs the life of leather. The salesman said at the time it was a good idea and would be about $200. On the list it costs $488! Do you think that is really worth it? I have a feeling I could buy a can of Scotchguard and do about the same. Or an independent detailer would probably do it for a lot less. What would you do?

You should see the items you can buy for about $500 each, windchield chip protection, scratches from 2 inches to 5 inches in diameter, up to 6 dents removed, 24 hour complete towing service, complete replacement of anything that wears out except windshield wipers. They use scare tactics, your car has 179,000 moving parts and if just 1% breakdown that's 179 possible breakdowns and it could be a $25 part or a $10000 part. And you just know, whatever insurance you take out, it will be something else that will go. I am inclined to take the Run Flat Tire insurance because those might not be easy to find in some areas...and just take my chances with the rest. We have had 3 MBWs for the equivalent of alost 12 years and the only claim we made was for one RFT which cost $350, but the insurance for 2 cars cost $2000.

driver100

"Honey, that's not the same man." Some days you can't win

Love the ending to that story.
This is one of the funniest stories I know of and I like to explain it using glasses and spoons, but I will attempt it here, hope you can follow.

It happened to my brother who just happens to be like Mr Magoo, does the wrong things

*He was visiting someone at the hospital and they changed the way you pay for your parking.

*Instead of going with your ticket up to the gate and paying, they installed a machine inside. As most people would know, you take your ticket to the machine, pay, and get a ticket you just insert at the gate.

*He didn't realize it changed. So, he gets in his car with his ticket, drives up to the gate, doesn't see a guard or a slot, and the barrier is in the down position.

*He backs up to try to find a slot for his ticket, maybe he missed it.

*A woman drives up behind him. She inserts her ticket which she has paid for, the gate in front of my brother goes up, and he drives away.

*What you have to know is, the gate came down in front of the woman's car, and she doesn't have a ticket or proof that she paid for her parking. I'd like to hear her explain that to the parking garage manager.

*My brother asked me, "Do you think I should have gone back to help the woman out?" :sick:

driver100

Wife: You know that I never really liked these convertibles that you've had.

I think most wives are very smart. They really want to make their husbands happy by letting them get convertibles. They don't like them because sun is bad for you, they mess up hair, it's either too cold or hot to have the roof down etc.

Then you realize the convertible is almost useless, because you rarely get to use it...more trouble than it is worth.

Then they convince you that you will be happier if you get a regular car, SUV or truck so you will drop the convertible idea.

You had a few other things working for you too. A bit of sympathy because of your long hard day, and the biggest factor.....your wife noticed the $12500 off sale....not you. So now it is her suggestion not yours.

You are doing great, if you play this right you could end up with another sales story for us. You started by using the old sales trick too......which color of red do you prefer dear, fire engine red or candy apple red? Candy Apple Red. Well, we'll get that one then.......

imidazol97

I don't get how the setup was for Richard's parking.

I am used to paying at the little exit booth where you hand the person money and they raise the gate or they have a machine into which you put money, credit card, or a chit that you got at a doctor's office within the hospital, e.g.

The other parking described has the two-step requirement that you have to go to a location after returning to the parking garage, pay to get a ticket to enable the machine at the exit, place the ticket into the machine when you arrive with your car, and you're out.

Seems like there are unnecessary extra steps. Was just in a garage yesterday where a 5th floor skywalk takes one to the 1st floor in the hospital and some people exit at either end of the garage on the ground floor to the street and to the hospital's various entrances. Would those people all have to go to a single location to buy a ticket to be able to exit?

jmonroe

We have had 3 MBWs for the equivalent of alost 12 years and the only claim we made was for one RFT which cost $350, but the insurance for 2 cars cost $2000.

Didn’t you just answer your own question? :confuse:

jmonroe

fezo

Richard - I do hope you corrected you r wife's math on this potential truck purchase. The part that goies "I'm giving Steve the Sebring." My daughter will be greatly appreciated. I'll take it on a shakeout cruise to have jmonroe wax it!

driver100

we made was for one RFT which cost $350, but the insurance for 2 cars cost $2000. Didn’t you just answer your own question?

Indeed, I think I did!

Thanks, I needed that.

im_brentwood

Oh boy. This doesn't sound like fun, sorry man

OK, first as far as the XG goes, if she hit something, insurance should pay for it. If it does need a new engine though it may be a total. Don't shoot the messenger but XGs don't hold their value well... trade in on an 05 L with 41k is about $6k.

OK.. back to the car, if she hit something and damaged it, this is what insurance is for, period. Sounds like she knocked a hole in the oil pan, possibly damaging something inside the engine, but possibly the thing just lost oil pressure.

On a Sonata... I'll check when I get back to the store tomorrow.

im_brentwood

It's also possible that the engine threw a rod through the oil pan..... Long shot but possible.

jmonroe

On a Sonata... I'll check when I get back to the store tomorrow.

Thanks for getting back to me but hold off on this, see below.

OK.. back to the car, if she hit something and damaged it, this is what insurance is for, period. Sounds like she knocked a hole in the oil pan, possibly damaging something inside the engine, but possibly the thing just lost oil pressure.

I called my insurance company and they said they will pay for an engine but only a used engine because the car is more than 2 years old. Sounds a lot like they do with sheet metal damage. But it gets waaaay better than this.

I no sooner get off the phone with the insurance company and the dealer calls back. Let me back up a second. They called earlier today and said, “yeah, she hit something alright and put a hole through the side of the block. The engine is a goner”. This is when they started to work up a price that I knew wasn’t going to be pretty.

Now back to the return call:

The Service Advisor said there was a misunderstanding and the tech said it was NOT something thrown into the engine the engine failed and Hyundai wants them to remove the valve covers to see how the engine looks as far as regular oil changes. If that is the case, I’m saved. That car has not had an oil change that has gone over 7000 miles tops, if that. I have a log of all the times I did the oil changes myself so I hope I’m clean here. FWIW, the dealer did the last oil change less than a month ago. There is a tale about why I didn't do it that time but that's not important.

The dealer is doing their investigative work as I post and I’ll report back with the outcome.

WHEW,

jmonroe

driver100

When you pick it up, would you mind asking if the Bimmer is waxed from the factory or the dealership?

YOu have had a few answers, but this is what my salesman emailed back....and i think it would be true of Subie too!

We polish and wax every car that leaves our dealership after a sale. Cars have a lot of build up from transport and that is the only way to give it the factory shine. Does not do any damage to the car.

driver100

Hyundai wants them to remove the valve covers to see how the engine looks as far as regular oil changes.

Good luck, sounds like it was your lucky day, and if Hyundai comes through I will be very impressed. Especially they seem to be fair if they do an honest check up.

My tennis friend is getting no response from the dealer about his Avalanche, they said it is normal. That's the one that makes the buzzing noises and hurts his ears when it goes from 8 cylinders to 4. When I googled that problem, some people had no problem and some hated the noise. In some cases the dealer said it was normal, some fixed the problem. I told him to check the torque converter as some suggested, so he'll ask about that.

sterlingdog

Bless your heart (the good way). I do hope that the dealer won't give you the excuse that they won't replace the engine because you did your own oil changes. You know how so many companies use any excuse to get out of paying. On the other hand, they should be able to tell that the oil had frequent changes, regardless of who did them. Do keep us posted.

Thanks for the comment about the eye exam. I have a hereditary condition passed down to the eldest son of each generation. Though it rendered me pretty much visually impaired, I have adjusted to it quite well over the years. Getting a driver's license renewed every four years has been a test of the wills, but I have won out since I got my first license at age 20. Many years ago, I used to pay off the license examiner with some cash, cases of beer, ball game tickets, etc. In more recent years, the Duke Eye Clinic has taken care of the situation because my doctor has a good relationship with the state highway patrol chief. At any rate, no new surgery for at least two years. I'm a happy camper.

Richard

sterlingdog

I should have met your brother first. The two of us have much in common; I'm forever doing the wrong things.

Richard

sterlingdog

"I don't get how the setup was for Richard's parking."

I don't either. :P Seriously, let me try again. You pull up to the machine and get a ticket. After you park, you take the ticket and put it in your pocket. When you return from the hospital, you pay BEFORE you go to your car. After paying, the stub is what lets you out of the parking deck. You stick the stub in the exit machine and it disappears. Then the gate opens and you're on your way. My mistake was leaving the original ticket in the car. Other than being a bit complicated with extra steps, I found another disadvantage. Since the stub disappears when you exit, you have no proof for tax purposes that you paid a parking fee at the hospital. I'll take the $7 deduction anyway. If the IRS questions it, I'll send them to Duke to find a parking space on the street. That will be proof enough. :P

Richard

snakeweasel

They don't like them because sun is bad for you,

Thats why God created hats.

they mess up hair,

Hair? Whats that?

it's either too cold or hot to have the roof down etc.

Can never be to hot to have the top down. As for cold thats why they put heaters in them. But trurh be told as long as its 60 (sometimes in the 50's) or above and not raining the top comes down. :shades: