Ehh he is ok was our lot guy for several years before they made him a salesman back a couple of months ago and he is doing ok. Still gets to nervous though.
The couple who bought it our CPAs and just couldn't deny how good a deal this was buying a 37,000 dollar plus car for just over $25,000. Where else are you going to get a new sports sedan with 210 hp, six speed manual and torque vectoring AWD for that price?
on my lil guy. Yeah he's a joy, especially when he smiles at ya!
To stay on topic I bought him 2 Hot Wheels cars for Christmas. I know he's too young still but when he gets older it would be cool if he will end up to be a "car guy".
Almost anything that has a mid mount or low mount oil spin on oil filter taking the filter off before, during or after the oil drains from the plug changes nothing.
Good write ‘rover’ about the oil filter stuff. I’m sure since you ran a lube center you saw plenty of different systems on cars. However, and I’m not arguing with you, but my point was that you should never put the drain plug back in until you pull the filter out and have the oil filler cap removed. Until air gets in there you are not assured that all of the dirty oil is out. By all, I mean all that is normally accessible to drain out without taking the system apart or using pumps and the like.
Since you brought up the canister type systems, I have a continuation story about the kid at the dealers lube center that did the first oil change on my ’09 Genesis and this is again why I like to do the oil changes myself:
To refresh everyone, after I bought the filter at the Hyundai store because they could not do the oil change since they were too busy and the dealer lube center didn’t have the required filter, I drove to the nearby lube center with the filter to have the oil change done. I ask the manager there if I could look around under the car while his guy did the oil change and he reluctantly, finally, said OK. A no answer would have sent me home to do this job myself. I’m now sorry he didn’t stick to his guns and say NO.
I’m now under the car and I ask the kid how many oil changes he’s done on a Genesis V8 and he says he’s done “lots of them”. That surprised me because there are not “lots of them” on the road but I didn’t question him any further about this. As I mention before, he did one thing after another that was basically wrong about how to do an oil change. I corrected him as he did each thing wrong including trying to put the oil plug back in while oil was still flowing pretty good and before removing the filter. As you might imagine he was not too happy with me but I didn’t give a damn about that. It’s my car and I saw all the wrong steps, which BTW, I would not have seen if I wasn’t there.
It turns out I now knew he did not do “lots of them”, in fact he probably had not done any oil changes on them. Also, because I just did (about 2 weeks ago) my first oil change on that car myself, I now know that there is a drain plug (8mm recessed hex) in the bottom of the canister housing that he did not remove to drain the oil from the canister before removing the canister cover. That is not a big thing but it is just another thing that was not done right. The reason the plug is there is to prevent burning your hands and creating a mess by removing the canister cover from the housing that is full of hot oil. The design is right but if it isn’t used the designed is defeated and what does that say about the person that did this oil change? That was a rhetorical question that does not require a response.
One more thing I noticed when I did the oil change myself this kid used a universal pliers type jawed tool that was not rubber coated but had the jagged teeth to grip the outside heavy plastic canister cover which gouged the hell out of the cover. The cover is pretty thick and no real damage was done but again this is another thing, in a list of many that was done wrong. He should have used a 27mm socket that is made to fit the hex on the end of the cover like I did.
This is why I like to do the simple stuff myself. Well, it’s simple if you take the time to learn how to do it right which is what I always do before I do any job.
Again, good write.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I got my CSI survey for the 2010 Toyota Avalon. At purchase I informed the salesman that I would give him all 10s on the CSI if he would help me hold back the SM from over profitting on the sale. (see I do listen to you guys). He did and I reciprocated by doing my part and giving him all 10s across the board. I probably paid a couple hundred too much, but I did get some nice shirts and hats so I'm happy.
Toyota did leave me a space to talk freely after each group of questions and talk I did. The owners manual said I could unlock both doors with the fob in my pocket. I touch the black button to open just the drivers door (as per manual). That works fine. But the other part says if I just touch the chrome part it will unlock the passenger door as well. Hmmm, doesn't work. My wife will attest to being locked out while I tried fumbling with the handle again and again. Now I open her door like a gentleman or just hit the unlock button twice so we can enter the car together. So much for new technology. Toyota, don"t say it if it isn't true.
My other beef was the sunroof. I told Toyota they could omit that option and give me massage seats, auto door closer,more speakers (like the Genesis) or anything besides a sunroof which I will never use. I'm always afraid it will be left open and get rain inside.
Just for you jmonroe, my car is garage bound for the last 2 weeks now because of snow. I go by the rule that if you don't get it dirty you don't have to clean it.
The GMC AWD Safari van is a different story when it comes to foul weather driving. More on that later.
rover.....a SAAB sale, eh? Well, they aren't dead just yet. Last I heard the company that wanted to buy them (a company who's name I can't remember) jumped back in with another offer to GM. To me, I can't understand why GM would reject any offer for SAAB. That is, unless GM assumed all debt, with little in the way of cash coming back their way.
If the new company offered them a $1, and assumed all debt, done deal, in my estimation.
The SAAB dealer closest to me has been out of stock for months. They may have even closed up shop, from what I can tell.
The local newspaper did a story on this dealership a couple of weeks ago. The dealership in question had been selling SAABS for something like 20 years. This last year, every time I passed their store, it seemed they had less and less stock on their lot. It's a tiny dealership to begin with.
The owner said he was more or less blind sided by the brand's demise, and the declining support by GM for his store. Poorly handled by GM, ever since they bought SAAB.
Bad oil changes? Like isell, I long ago quite changing my own oil. There's an independent garage I go to for oil changes. They charge about the same as the quick change places (a little less if I use their newspaper coupons). They give me every 6th oil change for free, which mount up quick when having 3 cars needing oil changes.
I've learned to trust the oil monitors my cars come with. I change them when the oil monitors get between 15%-20%.
And, the worst oil change I've ever done personally was when I had to poke holes in the filter with a screw driver to get it off. As those things go, the oil in the filter was still hot (since the filter acted as an insulator), even after the car had been idle for about 2 hours. Messy, and I got burned.
Mentioned before about getting a bunch of Christmas cards from dealers I've done business with, for myself, or others.
Now, the snail mail, and emails are coming fast and furious as 2009 winds down.
Just a sampling.....
-Ford....any car in inventory is invoice, and I can keep the rebates (might be interesting for my friend who ordered a SHO, if he would take an "in stock" unit, and forgo his special order unit). -Infiniti.....G37x sedan, Journey package is $35K (well under invoice). -Cadillac....any Cady in stock is under invoice less $4K, if I was a GM lessee with a lease that is up by March 2010. -Acura TL.....FWD with tech package is $34K (I'm sure this is for an '09, which is very limited in stock)
Got some other mailers from BMW, Toyota and Honda, but they were little more than "we need your trade, we're dealing, great rates, best prices of the year" types of marketing.
If the new company offered them a $1, and assumed all debt, done deal,
Unfortunately, Saab is caput according to this article Dec 18th: Saab winding down
I might be wrong but the Saab technology might be of more value to GM than handing it over to a competitor. Maybe they turned down the offer in the hope the government will jump in to save the company.
At any rate it is sad to see Saab go. When I bought my 2008 bmw Cabriolet I tried a Saab convertible and it was a fantastic car to drive. Probably enjoyed driving it more than any car including the bmw Cabriolet. But, the Saab was behind technologically speaking, front wheel drive, soft top as opposed to hardtop convertible, no extended oil changes etc., and the cost of the car was almost the same as the more advanced bimmer.
However, now I see ads...any Saab on the lot for $10,500 below list price. That would make me reconsider, but I don't know if it is wise to buy a car that won't be made any more.
Since we have a driveway that is 1/8 mile long paved with asphalt we have a snow plow guy come and carve us a path and clear the turn around area.
I'm sure he saw the van sitting there off to the side away from the garage doors but figured it wasn't going anywhere. Wrong. That is my vehicle choice for last minute shopping, especially with 18 inches of snow in all the parking lots.
We used the van just before Christmas and all went well. I drove through Peebles lot over the mounds of snow away from other cars. It was a smooth trip until I got home and tried to park.
The plow guy had done a nice job on the turn-around, but left snow where the van parked. Not a single slip with the AWD until I hit the mounds in my own driveway. With no running room and passenger car tires on the van I did my best to park it.
I kept spinning and leaving off the gas waiting to hear the differential change. Not a sound. Wifey comes out and sees this and starts telling me I'm sitting in ruts from spinning. Three of the four tires are stuck. Finally I touched the brake and heard the diff change wheel power. Now I have 3 tires in ruts and the fourth on slick pavement. OK here we go. Pedal to the metal. I had blue smoke coming off the asphalt tire, but not enough power to un-rut the other three. Finally it jumps up and out. Van instinctively goes right into it's spot. As I went backwards all the roof snow slid over the windshield and landed in front of me making yet another mound. Moored...Shift Colors. Christmas at home was nice. Dave
And, the worst oil change I've ever done personally was when I had to poke holes in the filter with a screw driver to get it off.
I hope you're not going to tell us that you put that filter on. If not you're just splashing fuel on my fire. :surprise:
I will admit I've never had that happen on the few occasions when I went to a garage to have an oil change but I did think about it when I climbed under the car to do the next oil change myself. Sometimes I do get lucky.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
After reading that, there is NO WAY you should let ANYONE except yourself change your oil much less a quickie lube shop!
I'm glad to see that you finally agree with me and I'll try to remember that if I ever have a senior moment and start to think otherwise. :confuse:
And I'd like to remind you that all of this happened at a mega dealers lube center and I've heard of many people that have gone there and thought it was great. I know they never watched the work that was done and must have been talking about the price which I agree was very reasonable and more than competitive with others in the area.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
The last time I changed my oil was 1978. I remember it well because it was a memorable occasion. I had bought my wife a brand new 1978 Buick Lesabre. Baby blue (metalic) with a sort of faux suede baby blue interior.
The car was about 6 months old at the time and I decided that it needed some of that new fangled Mobil 1 synthetic oil. Hard to imagine that Mobil 1 has been around over 30 years...I could be wrong but that is how I remember it. On with my sad tale.
I drained the old oil out took off the old filter, etc. Put the new filter on, which I had bought a a service station, poured in all that very expensive oil, got in and fired her up. Something didn't sound right so I got out and looked under the car...to see a spreading puddle of oil pumping out like a east Texas gusher.
Turns out I had the wrong filter. Had to sop up all the liquid gold with old towels, etc. and finally got the job done while my wife looked on and kept saying "I told you not to do it" about every 3 minutes.
I sold the car about a year later but surprisingly, still have the wife !!
Now that I am warmed up I will tell you guys about another of my screw ups. I just got thru snow blowing my driveway for the third time in 4 days and could not help but recall what happened a few years ago.
Back in our old neighborhood my neighbor had a snow blower which I used from time to time. We had about a 6 inch snow and he was out of town so I thought I would do his driveway for him.....and mine of course (had his garage door code).
So I fired up his snow blower and started down his drive. I got about 2 feet and sucked his extension line (Christmas lights) into the auger and choked it down. I am pulling the extension cord out and my wife sticks her head out of the door and shouts unplug it, unplug it, you are going to electrocute yourself !
I shout back, unplug it? Don't be so dumb, it is a gas snowblower !! She shouts back, I mean the electric extension cord you idiot !! Dumbfounded, I stare back at her and say, "OW". I really have no idea how I have lived as long as I have.
I climbed under the car to do the next oil change myself.
My 1959 Austin Healy bug eye Sprint was the easiest car for changing oil. I just bought a gallon a week, and put about a quart of oil in every other day. Bought the cheapest oil I could find, I think it was 40 Grade. The oil was so new, the filter didn't need to be changed!
JM, since you don't want to sell cars, you might apply for part time work at the local Jiffy Lube place. You have lots of experience, and maybe they would let you do your own car.
I believe that you and I owned the same 1978 Buick LeSabre---two tone blue four door with blue velour seats, beautiful wood trim, large round dials on instrument panel, etc. What a beautiful tank!
Speaking of being a tank, allow me to tell you how indestructible the car was. On December 26, 1979, I took my wife, mother, and sister-in-law to the after Christmas sales in down town Southern Pines, N.C. We parked in the first parking space on a corner in front of their favorite shoe store. When they came out of the shoe store, we decided to walk down the hill to a soda shop on the corner in the next block.
While sitting in the soda shop, my wife was facing the large window which looked out toward the hill above us. Suddenly, she shouts,"Here comes our car!" None of us had time to respond. Everyone in the place scattered. Our car crashed into the soda shop, coming through the large window and the front door. Thank goodness no one was hurt. A car traveling behind ours appeared to be going 80 mph. It crashed into some parked cars down the street.
Here's what happened. The gentleman who was parked behind our car saw his wife coming out of the shoe store. As he started his car, he had a massive heart attack. With his foot on the gas, he accelerated the gas for all it was worth. He plowed into our car and sent it flying down the street. He followed suit. Yes, he did pass away from the heart attack.
Rather than calling a wrecker for our car, I decided to see if it would crank. It did so with no hesitation. We had to pull the fender away from the left front tire in order to drive the car. We drove the sixty mile trip home with no problem. The great body shop at the Buick dealer replaced the grill, headlights, etc. The paint job on the front of the car was a perfect match. We drove that Buick another seven years and then traded it for a Chevy Blazer.
After the accident, that Buick went across country once, to Canada, to Florida three times, to New York twice, etc. On top of that, I commuted forty miles to work each day for eight years in that car. I never had one major repair job to do. Outside of my Lincoln Towncar, it was the best car that we ever owned.
I was curious about what a 78 Buick Lesabre looked like...and this is what I found. Those cars were made when GM was king, and their cars were rock solid.
And then I found this one which you might want to buy for just $13,500.
I just got thru snow blowing my driveway for the third time in 4 days and could not help but recall what happened a few years ago.
Lucky you, I did mine 5 times in the last 36 hours.
Your story reminds me of when I had an electric lawn mower. Yes it was corded and the cord never really got in your way if you mowed away from the outlet. Well the very first time my wife used it she ran over the extension cord. Chopped it up nicely.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I shout back, unplug it? Don't be so dumb, it is a gas snowblower !! She shouts back, I mean the electric extension cord you idiot !! Dumbfounded, I stare back at her and say, "OW". I really have no idea how I have lived as long as I have.
LOL... I'm guessing the lights were turned off? :P
I shout back, unplug it? Don't be so dumb, it is a gas snowblower !! She shouts back, I mean the electric extension cord you idiot !! Dumbfounded, I stare back at her and say, "OW". I really have no idea how I have lived as long as I have.
OK, so now you know you weren't cut out to operate machinery or do oil changes. So, what is it you do now to get your wife's attention? :surprise:
It did, however, give me a chuckle when I read of those escapades.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Another funny story! You do very well at painting word pictures. I can see your wife focusing on the electrical cord while you are focused on the snowblower. :confuse:
Bought the cheapest oil I could find, I think it was 40 Grade. The oil was so new, the filter didn't need to be changed!
I remember those days. When I was in the Navy going to school for about 8 months, rather than take the bus to wherever we wanted to go, a friend and I bought a 9 year old ’51 Chevy 2 dr. 6 cyl. stick from an elderly guy that just bought a new Cadillac. That car took about 2 quarts to a tank of gas. We bought reprocessed straight 30 weight oil for about 12 cents a quart at gas stations. That car didn’t even have a filter so I got no experience doing oil changes and filter replacements with that machine.
That car never let us down even though it had about 65K on it which back then was more than half of its typical remaining life. When we got out of that school we had no trouble selling it to some sailors that just checked in for their class for the same $80 we paid.
You brought back some old memories alright.
Thanks,
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Back in those days, with 65,000 miles, it was way overdue for an overhaul and it probably needed a rebore too.
I don't know about that, back then a car should have gone 65K with no major issues if well cared for.
Ok here is a sales story since we are on this topic (I might have told this before so if I did I apologize). Back in the 60's my parents went to trade in a 50's Ford that had 50K on the odometer (remember they only went up to 99,999.9) and the salesman was trying to get my parents to state that there was 150K on the car. My parents insisted that the car was not at 150K miles. So after the deal was done the salesman came up to my parents and said something like "OK the deal is done you can tell us that the car actually has 150K on it". My parents response was that the car was not at 150K but at 250K.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I was curious about what a 78 Buick Lesabre looked like...and this is what I found. Those cars were made when GM was king, and their cars were rock solid.
I had an ’80 Park Ave that looked pretty much like that. Hey, wait a minute those look like the rims I had stolen when that car was stolen in ‘86. Is that car in Canada? :surprise: Just kidding, I got my same rims back when the Buick dealer fixed the steering column/related stolen damage and I told that tale not too long ago.
You’re right about that car being rock solid. I had that car until ’97 and the tranny was just starting to slip at about 120K miles. I know, I don’t put a lot of miles on cars but even at that age it didn’t have any rust on it because I had it Ziebarted twice and that was before I took it south in ’92. Just before we left S.C. is when I noticed the tranny was starting to slip and when we got back to the Burgh in ’97 I was going to have a rebuilt unit dropped in that beauty until ‘you know who’ said, “isn’t it about time you let that thing go’? I told her it wasn’t a THING, it was a very nice car and I told that tale too. That was the best car I ever had.
I’m not going to thank you for bringing back that memory.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Sounds like we have led parallel lives. My Buick was not two toned, but other than that, they sound identical. Velour, that was the name I could not remember !
driver....I saw a news blurb just a few days ago that GM was mulling another offer from the original bidder. Sounded like a last ditch effort, and a hail mary pass type deal.
My older sister was a real SAAB enthusiast until the last 10 years or so (at which time she moved to become a Jaguar enthusiast). Remind me never to let her pick lottery numbers for me.
In any event, from what I remember, she had a couple of 900s, then a 9000. My former father-in-law had a prized 900 turbo convertible.....mid-late '90s version perhaps? The few times I drove it, it was indeed a fine 'vert......lots of torque steer if memory serves, though. I know nothing of their recent cars, however. I don't know any more about them than what I've read in the trade rags......that is, they were lobotomized by GM.
Interesting note about the dealership that the SAAB store (that was their actual name) I referred to. First and foremost, I remember about 20 years ago, I was actually shopping for an entry level Benz. And, that was one of two Benz stores that were relatively close. I remember the showroom itself (looked more like a converted house) could hold no more than 2 cars. Didn't buy the Benz at that time, but opted for my first BMW (325i) instead.
As history would have it, I think (not sure) that little store started as an MG/Triumph/Fiat dealership. That eventually gave way for it to briefly being a Benz dealership. Then, it became a Rover/Yugo dealership (when Rover actually sold a luxury version of the first Acura Legend). I may be wrong, but I think they actually sold Peugots there at one time, too.
Don't know if the dealership had the same owner throughout all those transitions, but one thing's for certain, if it was the same owner, he sure couldn't pick a more eclectic, nor any less successful brands of cars to sell in the U.S. (save for Mercedes).
You'd think he'd learn...stay away from selling/servicing cars made in the U.K. or France, or Switzerland, or Russia.
If someone could stop by the Buying with Cash/Credit thread and help a worried consumer, that would be great.
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name. 2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h) Review your vehicle
I remember the old 216 Chevys quite well. I worked on a lot of them in my youth.
As with a lot of cars in those days, it was a very common thing to do a valve job around the 50,000 mark if not sooner. That was the norm and most shops had valve grinding equipment. Around the 60-70,000 mark, most cars were using oil. People could feet the habit for awhile or they could have a ring job done.
Depending on the care the car received, a rebore was next. 100,000 miles was a ton of miles in those days and most cars were prettty tired if they made it that far.
A 250,000 mile Ford would have been totally unheard of.
That was the best car I ever had. 1980 Park Avenue
You know what would be really interesting? If you could drive that same car today, and compare it to your Gennie.
I have a feeling, our memory, filters out the negatives, and we only know what we knew at the time. Although, it was probably a fantastic car, in 1980, it would probably feel pretty rough if you could drive one today.
Although, it was probably a fantastic car, in 1980, it would probably feel pretty rough if you could drive one today.
I have always said it was a great car to take on the road and I didn’t have to replace all that many things given the age that it was. The thing about that car that still amazes me is that I never had to add Freon until the year before I sold it. If someone told me that about a car that age I wouldn’t believe them. Both of my sons still comment about how that car seemed like you were on the living room couch and they don’t mean that in a critical way. If you weren’t looking for handling, which you certainly didn’t get, that was a great car and it had pretty good pep for a boat like it was. It had a 350 CID V8 which was a main stay for GM back then. Darn near bullet proof.
As far as comparing it to the Genny, it didn’t come close to having that kind power but the Genny rides firmer than the Park Ave. I doubt that I will try to keep the Genny for 17 years. I’ve spoiled myself lately and like new things more often today.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
You have a point about selective memory. We tend to remember the pleasant things from our youth and young adulthood. It makes life more sustainable as we grow older. I'm sure that my '78 LeSabre would ride pretty rough now in comparison to my more recent purchases. Then again, my '89 Lincoln Towncar would be hard to beat even by today's standards. The ride just surpassed anything that I have experienced since. The quality, comfort, feel, power, etc. left a definite mark on my memory.
My wife loves the ride of our Sebring convertible. It's good, but not as good as a Lincoln or Grand Marquis. BTW, they made a 2010 Grand Marquis. They must not be ready to junk them yet.
That Skylark that you drove for work was one ugly dog! I bought an '85 model for my wife. It was a true :lemon: ! It was every bit as bad as the Caddy. The catalytic converter literally fell out of the car after the first week. The radio system failed the second week. The paint began to fade after six months. The rear window fell out after one year. We managed to keep it for three years until it was ours. I have never been so glad to trade a car---with the exception of the Caddy.
A car like that seems good in theory. A big Lincoln like that for $4k, but lets think about the reality....repairs every week. It will probably be in the garage more than on the road. And whats with a white wall tire on one wheel and not on the other...that is a really bad sign.
A big Lincoln like that for $4k, but lets think about the reality
Are we doing another cash for clunkas??????
Sorry guys.... just jumped on to last message and I see Lincoln.....
All I can say is I went to the sevrice side a few months ago... lets just say when you think you know everything life just likes to remind you that you don't know everything, and plays a little joke....LOL
Comments
The couple who bought it our CPAs and just couldn't deny how good a deal this was buying a 37,000 dollar plus car for just over $25,000. Where else are you going to get a new sports sedan with 210 hp, six speed manual and torque vectoring AWD for that price?
To stay on topic I bought him 2 Hot Wheels cars for Christmas. I know he's too young still but when he gets older it would be cool if he will end up to be a "car guy".
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
I know you ran an oil change place so you should know.
Anyone have a vote for the NASTIEST oil filter to replace?
I have one in mind.
WEll depends if you are talking modern cars, i.e. stuff built say 1980 and up, or 70s and older cars.
For modern cars either first generation FWD Nissan Maximas around 1987 or so or the 1979-1981 Turbo Pontiac Trans Ams.
Both would burn your arms in six places trying to get the oil filter base the exhaust manifold.
Mid 90s to early 2000 Nissan Pickup trucks or NIssan Frontiers are also really, really bad.
You are no doubt too young to remember these.
Good write ‘rover’ about the oil filter stuff. I’m sure since you ran a lube center you saw plenty of different systems on cars. However, and I’m not arguing with you, but my point was that you should never put the drain plug back in until you pull the filter out and have the oil filler cap removed. Until air gets in there you are not assured that all of the dirty oil is out. By all, I mean all that is normally accessible to drain out without taking the system apart or using pumps and the like.
Since you brought up the canister type systems, I have a continuation story about the kid at the dealers lube center that did the first oil change on my ’09 Genesis and this is again why I like to do the oil changes myself:
To refresh everyone, after I bought the filter at the Hyundai store because they could not do the oil change since they were too busy and the dealer lube center didn’t have the required filter, I drove to the nearby lube center with the filter to have the oil change done. I ask the manager there if I could look around under the car while his guy did the oil change and he reluctantly, finally, said OK. A no answer would have sent me home to do this job myself. I’m now sorry he didn’t stick to his guns and say NO.
I’m now under the car and I ask the kid how many oil changes he’s done on a Genesis V8 and he says he’s done “lots of them”. That surprised me because there are not “lots of them” on the road but I didn’t question him any further about this. As I mention before, he did one thing after another that was basically wrong about how to do an oil change. I corrected him as he did each thing wrong including trying to put the oil plug back in while oil was still flowing pretty good and before removing the filter. As you might imagine he was not too happy with me but I didn’t give a damn about that. It’s my car and I saw all the wrong steps, which BTW, I would not have seen if I wasn’t there.
It turns out I now knew he did not do “lots of them”, in fact he probably had not done any oil changes on them. Also, because I just did (about 2 weeks ago) my first oil change on that car myself, I now know that there is a drain plug (8mm recessed hex) in the bottom of the canister housing that he did not remove to drain the oil from the canister before removing the canister cover. That is not a big thing but it is just another thing that was not done right. The reason the plug is there is to prevent burning your hands and creating a mess by removing the canister cover from the housing that is full of hot oil. The design is right but if it isn’t used the designed is defeated and what does that say about the person that did this oil change? That was a rhetorical question that does not require a response.
One more thing I noticed when I did the oil change myself this kid used a universal pliers type jawed tool that was not rubber coated but had the jagged teeth to grip the outside heavy plastic canister cover which gouged the hell out of the cover. The cover is pretty thick and no real damage was done but again this is another thing, in a list of many that was done wrong. He should have used a 27mm socket that is made to fit the hex on the end of the cover like I did.
This is why I like to do the simple stuff myself. Well, it’s simple if you take the time to learn how to do it right which is what I always do before I do any job.
Again, good write.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Toyota did leave me a space to talk freely after each group of questions and talk I did. The owners manual said I could unlock both doors with the fob in my pocket. I touch the black button to open just the drivers door (as per manual). That works fine. But the other part says if I just touch the chrome part it will unlock the passenger door as well. Hmmm, doesn't work. My wife will attest to being locked out while I tried fumbling with the handle again and again. Now I open her door like a gentleman or just hit the unlock button twice so we can enter the car together. So much for new technology. Toyota, don"t say it if it isn't true.
My other beef was the sunroof. I told Toyota they could omit that option and give me massage seats, auto door closer,more speakers (like the Genesis) or anything besides a sunroof which I will never use. I'm always afraid it will be left open and get rain inside.
Just for you jmonroe, my car is garage bound for the last 2 weeks now because of snow. I go by the rule that if you don't get it dirty you don't have to clean it.
The GMC AWD Safari van is a different story when it comes to foul weather driving. More on that later.
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
If the new company offered them a $1, and assumed all debt, done deal, in my estimation.
The SAAB dealer closest to me has been out of stock for months. They may have even closed up shop, from what I can tell.
The local newspaper did a story on this dealership a couple of weeks ago. The dealership in question had been selling SAABS for something like 20 years. This last year, every time I passed their store, it seemed they had less and less stock on their lot. It's a tiny dealership to begin with.
The owner said he was more or less blind sided by the brand's demise, and the declining support by GM for his store. Poorly handled by GM, ever since they bought SAAB.
Bad oil changes? Like isell, I long ago quite changing my own oil. There's an independent garage I go to for oil changes. They charge about the same as the quick change places (a little less if I use their newspaper coupons). They give me every 6th oil change for free, which mount up quick when having 3 cars needing oil changes.
I've learned to trust the oil monitors my cars come with. I change them when the oil monitors get between 15%-20%.
And, the worst oil change I've ever done personally was when I had to poke holes in the filter with a screw driver to get it off. As those things go, the oil in the filter was still hot (since the filter acted as an insulator), even after the car had been idle for about 2 hours. Messy, and I got burned.
Now, the snail mail, and emails are coming fast and furious as 2009 winds down.
Just a sampling.....
-Ford....any car in inventory is invoice, and I can keep the rebates (might be interesting for my friend who ordered a SHO, if he would take an "in stock" unit, and forgo his special order unit).
-Infiniti.....G37x sedan, Journey package is $35K (well under invoice).
-Cadillac....any Cady in stock is under invoice less $4K, if I was a GM lessee with a lease that is up by March 2010.
-Acura TL.....FWD with tech package is $34K (I'm sure this is for an '09, which is very limited in stock)
Got some other mailers from BMW, Toyota and Honda, but they were little more than "we need your trade, we're dealing, great rates, best prices of the year" types of marketing.
Unfortunately, Saab is caput according to this article Dec 18th:
Saab winding down
I might be wrong but the Saab technology might be of more value to GM than handing it over to a competitor. Maybe they turned down the offer in the hope the government will jump in to save the company.
At any rate it is sad to see Saab go. When I bought my 2008 bmw Cabriolet I tried a Saab convertible and it was a fantastic car to drive. Probably enjoyed driving it more than any car including the bmw Cabriolet. But, the Saab was behind technologically speaking, front wheel drive, soft top as opposed to hardtop convertible, no extended oil changes etc., and the cost of the car was almost the same as the more advanced bimmer.
However, now I see ads...any Saab on the lot for $10,500 below list price. That would make me reconsider, but I don't know if it is wise to buy a car that won't be made any more.
Tribute to a great car
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I'm sure he saw the van sitting there off to the side away from the garage doors but figured it wasn't going anywhere. Wrong. That is my vehicle choice for last minute shopping, especially with 18 inches of snow in all the parking lots.
We used the van just before Christmas and all went well. I drove through Peebles lot over the mounds of snow away from other cars. It was a smooth trip until I got home and tried to park.
The plow guy had done a nice job on the turn-around, but left snow where the van parked. Not a single slip with the AWD until I hit the mounds in my own driveway. With no running room and passenger car tires on the van I did my best to park it.
I kept spinning and leaving off the gas waiting to hear the differential change. Not a sound. Wifey comes out and sees this and starts telling me I'm sitting in ruts from spinning. Three of the four tires are stuck. Finally I touched the brake and heard the diff change wheel power. Now I have 3 tires in ruts and the fourth on slick pavement. OK here we go. Pedal to the metal. I had blue smoke coming off the asphalt tire, but not enough power to un-rut the other three. Finally it jumps up and out. Van instinctively goes right into it's spot. As I went backwards all the roof snow slid over the windshield and landed in front of me making yet another mound. Moored...Shift Colors. Christmas at home was nice. Dave
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
After reading that, there is NO WAY you should let ANYONE except yourself change your oil much less a quickie lube shop!
I hope you're not going to tell us that you put that filter on. If not you're just splashing fuel on my fire. :surprise:
I will admit I've never had that happen on the few occasions when I went to a garage to have an oil change but I did think about it when I climbed under the car to do the next oil change myself. Sometimes I do get lucky.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I'm glad to see that you finally agree with me and I'll try to remember that if I ever have a senior moment and start to think otherwise. :confuse:
And I'd like to remind you that all of this happened at a mega dealers lube center and I've heard of many people that have gone there and thought it was great. I know they never watched the work that was done and must have been talking about the price which I agree was very reasonable and more than competitive with others in the area.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
The car was about 6 months old at the time and I decided that it needed some of that new fangled Mobil 1 synthetic oil. Hard to imagine that Mobil 1 has been around over 30 years...I could be wrong but that is how I remember it. On with my sad tale.
I drained the old oil out took off the old filter, etc. Put the new filter on, which I had bought a a service station, poured in all that very expensive oil, got in and fired her up. Something didn't sound right so I got out and looked under the car...to see a spreading puddle of oil pumping out like a east
Texas gusher.
Turns out I had the wrong filter. Had to sop up all the liquid gold with old towels, etc. and finally got the job done while my wife looked on and kept saying "I told you not to do it" about every 3 minutes.
I sold the car about a year later but surprisingly, still have the wife !!
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Back in our old neighborhood my neighbor had a snow blower which I used from time to time. We had about a 6 inch snow and he was out of town so I thought I would do his driveway for him.....and mine of course (had his garage door code).
So I fired up his snow blower and started down his drive. I got about 2 feet and sucked his extension line (Christmas lights) into the auger and choked it down. I am pulling the extension cord out and my wife sticks her head out of the door and shouts unplug it, unplug it, you are going to electrocute yourself !
I shout back, unplug it? Don't be so dumb, it is a gas snowblower !! She shouts back, I mean the electric extension cord you idiot !! Dumbfounded, I stare back at her and say, "OW". I really have no idea how I have lived as long as I have.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
My 1959 Austin Healy bug eye Sprint was the easiest car for changing oil. I just bought a gallon a week, and put about a quart of oil in every other day. Bought the cheapest oil I could find, I think it was 40 Grade. The oil was so new, the filter didn't need to be changed!
JM, since you don't want to sell cars, you might apply for part time work at the local Jiffy Lube place. You have lots of experience, and maybe they would let you do your own car.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
The trouble is, you shouldn't watch when people work on your cars.
For one thing, they just hate it when people do that and you would be none the wiser if you didn't watch.
And, it wouldn't have made one iota of difference in that car's life!
Speaking of being a tank, allow me to tell you how indestructible the car was. On December 26, 1979, I took my wife, mother, and sister-in-law to the after Christmas sales in down town Southern Pines, N.C. We parked in the first parking space on a corner in front of their favorite shoe store. When they came out of the shoe store, we decided to walk down the hill to a soda shop on the corner in the next block.
While sitting in the soda shop, my wife was facing the large window which looked out toward the hill above us. Suddenly, she shouts,"Here comes our car!" None of us had time to respond. Everyone in the place scattered. Our car crashed into the soda shop, coming through the large window and the front door. Thank goodness no one was hurt. A car traveling behind ours appeared to be going 80 mph. It crashed into some parked cars down the street.
Here's what happened. The gentleman who was parked behind our car saw his wife coming out of the shoe store. As he started his car, he had a massive heart attack. With his foot on the gas, he accelerated the gas for all it was worth. He plowed into our car and sent it flying down the street. He followed suit. Yes, he did pass away from the heart attack.
Rather than calling a wrecker for our car, I decided to see if it would crank. It did so with no hesitation. We had to pull the fender away from the left front tire in order to drive the car. We drove the sixty mile trip home with no problem. The great body shop at the Buick dealer replaced the grill, headlights, etc. The paint job on the front of the car was a perfect match. We drove that Buick another seven years and then traded it for a Chevy Blazer.
After the accident, that Buick went across country once, to Canada, to Florida three times, to New York twice, etc. On top of that, I commuted forty miles to work each day for eight years in that car. I never had one major repair job to do. Outside of my Lincoln Towncar, it was the best car that we ever owned.
Richard
Richard
And then I found this one which you might want to buy for just $13,500.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Lucky you, I did mine 5 times in the last 36 hours.
Your story reminds me of when I had an electric lawn mower. Yes it was corded and the cord never really got in your way if you mowed away from the outlet. Well the very first time my wife used it she ran over the extension cord. Chopped it up nicely.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
LOL... I'm guessing the lights were turned off? :P
Well they were after he ground up the cord.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
OK, so now you know you weren't cut out to operate machinery or do oil changes. So, what is it you do now to get your wife's attention? :surprise:
It did, however, give me a chuckle when I read of those escapades.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I remember those days. When I was in the Navy going to school for about 8 months, rather than take the bus to wherever we wanted to go, a friend and I bought a 9 year old ’51 Chevy 2 dr. 6 cyl. stick from an elderly guy that just bought a new Cadillac. That car took about 2 quarts to a tank of gas. We bought reprocessed straight 30 weight oil for about 12 cents a quart at gas stations. That car didn’t even have a filter so I got no experience doing oil changes and filter replacements with that machine.
That car never let us down even though it had about 65K on it which back then was more than half of its typical remaining life. When we got out of that school we had no trouble selling it to some sailors that just checked in for their class for the same $80 we paid.
You brought back some old memories alright.
Thanks,
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
My first car was a 1952 Chevy. I paid 35.00 for it and it actually ran pretty well after I (my dad actually) replaced a badly leaking fuel pump.
It was a rebuilt fuel pump that I paid 7.00 for.
Mine used some oil but nothing like yours did. Those were tough, rugged old cars.
Richard
I don't know about that, back then a car should have gone 65K with no major issues if well cared for.
Ok here is a sales story since we are on this topic (I might have told this before so if I did I apologize). Back in the 60's my parents went to trade in a 50's Ford that had 50K on the odometer (remember they only went up to 99,999.9) and the salesman was trying to get my parents to state that there was 150K on the car. My parents insisted that the car was not at 150K miles. So after the deal was done the salesman came up to my parents and said something like "OK the deal is done you can tell us that the car actually has 150K on it". My parents response was that the car was not at 150K but at 250K.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
The U.S. reps got these ugly Buicks. They really would have preferred the Malibus.
One of the Buicks was this sick green with brown seats!! :sick:
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I had an ’80 Park Ave that looked pretty much like that. Hey, wait a minute those look like the rims I had stolen when that car was stolen in ‘86. Is that car in Canada? :surprise: Just kidding, I got my same rims back when the Buick dealer fixed the steering column/related stolen damage and I told that tale not too long ago.
You’re right about that car being rock solid. I had that car until ’97 and the tranny was just starting to slip at about 120K miles. I know, I don’t put a lot of miles on cars but even at that age it didn’t have any rust on it because I had it Ziebarted twice and that was before I took it south in ’92. Just before we left S.C. is when I noticed the tranny was starting to slip and when we got back to the Burgh in ’97 I was going to have a rebuilt unit dropped in that beauty until ‘you know who’ said, “isn’t it about time you let that thing go’? I told her it wasn’t a THING, it was a very nice car and I told that tale too. That was the best car I ever had.
I’m not going to thank you for bringing back that memory.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
I do play golf but I don't think I will try Tiger's method of attracting attention from his wife !!
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
My older sister was a real SAAB enthusiast until the last 10 years or so (at which time she moved to become a Jaguar enthusiast). Remind me never to let her pick lottery numbers for me.
In any event, from what I remember, she had a couple of 900s, then a 9000. My former father-in-law had a prized 900 turbo convertible.....mid-late '90s version perhaps? The few times I drove it, it was indeed a fine 'vert......lots of torque steer if memory serves, though. I know nothing of their recent cars, however. I don't know any more about them than what I've read in the trade rags......that is, they were lobotomized by GM.
Interesting note about the dealership that the SAAB store (that was their actual name) I referred to. First and foremost, I remember about 20 years ago, I was actually shopping for an entry level Benz. And, that was one of two Benz stores that were relatively close. I remember the showroom itself (looked more like a converted house) could hold no more than 2 cars. Didn't buy the Benz at that time, but opted for my first BMW (325i) instead.
As history would have it, I think (not sure) that little store started as an MG/Triumph/Fiat dealership. That eventually gave way for it to briefly being a Benz dealership. Then, it became a Rover/Yugo dealership (when Rover actually sold a luxury version of the first Acura Legend). I may be wrong, but I think they actually sold Peugots there at one time, too.
Don't know if the dealership had the same owner throughout all those transitions, but one thing's for certain, if it was the same owner, he sure couldn't pick a more eclectic, nor any less successful brands of cars to sell in the U.S. (save for Mercedes).
You'd think he'd learn...stay away from selling/servicing cars made in the U.K. or France, or Switzerland, or Russia.
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2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
Review your vehicle
I remember the old 216 Chevys quite well. I worked on a lot of them in my youth.
As with a lot of cars in those days, it was a very common thing to do a valve job around the 50,000 mark if not sooner. That was the norm and most shops had valve grinding equipment. Around the 60-70,000 mark, most cars were using oil. People could feet the habit for awhile or they could have a ring job done.
Depending on the care the car received, a rebore was next. 100,000 miles was a ton of miles in those days and most cars were prettty tired if they made it that far.
A 250,000 mile Ford would have been totally unheard of.
You know what would be really interesting? If you could drive that same car today, and compare it to your Gennie.
I have a feeling, our memory, filters out the negatives, and we only know what we knew at the time. Although, it was probably a fantastic car, in 1980, it would probably feel pretty rough if you could drive one today.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I have always said it was a great car to take on the road and I didn’t have to replace all that many things given the age that it was. The thing about that car that still amazes me is that I never had to add Freon until the year before I sold it. If someone told me that about a car that age I wouldn’t believe them. Both of my sons still comment about how that car seemed like you were on the living room couch and they don’t mean that in a critical way. If you weren’t looking for handling, which you certainly didn’t get, that was a great car and it had pretty good pep for a boat like it was. It had a 350 CID V8 which was a main stay for GM back then. Darn near bullet proof.
As far as comparing it to the Genny, it didn’t come close to having that kind power but the Genny rides firmer than the Park Ave. I doubt that I will try to keep the Genny for 17 years. I’ve spoiled myself lately and like new things more often today.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
My wife loves the ride of our Sebring convertible. It's good, but not as good as a Lincoln or Grand Marquis. BTW, they made a 2010 Grand Marquis. They must not be ready to junk them yet.
That Skylark that you drove for work was one ugly dog! I bought an '85 model for my wife. It was a true :lemon: ! It was every bit as bad as the Caddy. The catalytic converter literally fell out of the car after the first week. The radio system failed the second week. The paint began to fade after six months. The rear window fell out after one year. We managed to keep it for three years until it was ours. I have never been so glad to trade a car---with the exception of the Caddy.
Richard
Richard
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
And whats with a white wall tire on one wheel and not on the other...that is a really bad sign.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Richard
Are we doing another cash for clunkas??????
Sorry guys.... just jumped on to last message and I see Lincoln.....
All I can say is I went to the sevrice side a few months ago... lets just say when you think you know everything life just likes to remind you that you don't know everything, and plays a little joke....LOL
Gp