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  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    ...I remember back in the early 1980s when everybody was putting aftermarket fog lights on their cars. My Dad put fog lights with yellow lenses on his 1978 Ford Granada coupe and my best friend put fog lights with white lenses on his 1978 Chevrolet Impala sedan. Heck, my friend could drive with six lights on at the same time as the fogs worked off a separate toggle switch under the dashboard.

    Anybody ever see where people replaced the clear high beam sealed-beam units on their cars with yellow ones? It looks weird!
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,419
    I've seen that yellow headlight trend in France, apparently it has been a popular thing there for decades. I've never seen the merits of it explained...it being popular in France doesn't give it much cred :blush:
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,676
    I remember they said the yellow penetrates farther through the fog droplets less dispersion sideways due to refraction in the droplets. So it lets you see objects farther away.

    I see a few older Mercedes with yellow, large seal-beam headlamps in their grill. One may be the 300D turbo, gold, that I see driven by a little, little old lady who always wears a hat and is dressed impeccably but 20 years ago in style. I've seen her for a couple of decades now and can't figure out where she lives.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • silverfox5silverfox5 Member Posts: 84
    France mandates yellow headlights for good reason. They are much better in fog conditions.
    Fog is very common and in many locations a very serious problem in that country.
    Your negative comment about "credibility" wasn't warranted.
    I lived there for three years, got to know the culture well, and it certainly doesn't do justice to a great country with that kind of bigotry.
    BTW, we bought a couple of high end Peugeot bicycles while living there and still have them.
    They have yellow headlights too!
  • bumpybumpy Member Posts: 4,425
    Supposedly, the yellow light cuts through the fog better. Those late-70s aftermarket things were probably trying to ape the yellow foglights on Benzes of the time.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,419
    Oh yeah, the old MB fog lights are yellow, my W126 had those.
  • grbeckgrbeck Member Posts: 2,358
    ...for much-reviled, former GM CEO Roger Smith, who died on Thursday at age 82. It was during his tenure that the Japanese really began to make serious inroads into the American market, and the way he responded to that challenge still affects GM today.
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    Ueah, I saw that on Roger Smith. I'm waiting for Rocky to deliver the eulogy. ;)

    Oh, wait. I seem to remember that Rocky might think that Roger was less than perfect...
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • dieselonedieselone Member Posts: 5,729
    Ueah, I saw that on Roger Smith. I'm waiting for Rocky to deliver the eulogy. ;)


    LOL!!!!Thanks, now I have diet pepsi running out of my nose and all over my laptop:)
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    Whoops! Sorry. You needed a new one anyway.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    I'm going to break out that bottle of Cristal and smoke a Macanugo VSG in celebration! Say hello to Saddam when you get there, Roger!
  • grbeckgrbeck Member Posts: 2,358
    I'm waiting for lemko to contribute to that eulogy, too.
  • grbeckgrbeck Member Posts: 2,358
    I posted too soon! Hey, what's this I hear about you trading in the 2002 Cadillac? Details, please.

    Also, Brenner Cadillac - the dealer that sold you the Brougham - has closed down its Harrisburg East location and merged with Sutliff Hummer on the Carlisle Pike. Another sign of the times...
  • louisweilouiswei Member Posts: 3,715
    If I am Honda or Toyota I'll put Roger Smith into my Hall of Fame...
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    You can't pull me in two different directions, grbeck! I was so happy about the death of one of the 20th Century's worst monsters and you depress me about the closure of Brenner Cadillac. Well, at least I'll still have the Brougham.
  • grbeckgrbeck Member Posts: 2,358
    They should at least send a bunch of flowers to his funeral.
  • grbeckgrbeck Member Posts: 2,358
    Well, it isn't so much a closure as a merger and a move. The old dealership was where my old Oldsmobile club held its annual spring show, and since the closure of Oldsmobile, I'd heard repeatedly that the dealership couldn't survive on Cadillac sales alone.

    What about your new car?
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    Where is that head of mine? How could I leave you off the list of eulogizers? Eulogists?
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • jkr2106jkr2106 Member Posts: 248
    Gee wiz guys! Every automotive board I've been on has the same sentiments posted. I can't say I'm torn up about his passing, but I don't know that he was a bad person so much as a bad executive. I mean a man did die today...

    (moral obligation over)...This man was clearly a beancounter at heart and that was why he was bad at his job in the automotive industry. Purchases are often emotional rather than objective and the rebadges typical of his reign through the eighties eroded the aura of individuality each of the brands had which brings us to where we are today where people don't know what a Pontiac, Buick, etc are.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Michael Moore gave Smith a dignified send-off.
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    I had last Friday off work, so I decided to take my Seville in for service for a squealing belt pulley. I could tell the pulley needed to be replaced because I could hear the bearing clicking. Anyway, as I'm waiting for the car to be fixed, I stroll around the lot and the showroom. The guy who sold the Seville to me about six years ago said they had 0% financing on leftover 2007 models and I was interested in buying a new car, but I wanted to wait until winter was over, or at least until the end of January. I really like the DTS as it pretty much is just a larger version of my Seville. I liked the restyling Cadillac did on the car in 2006. I always thought the 2000-2005 styling looked a bit clumsy and the rear looked more like a 1986-89 Lincoln Town Car than a Cadillac. I was interested in a Luxury III or Performance model as my Seville was a pretty well-optioned car and anything less would seem plain. I checked another dealer, and all they had left was two plain Luxury I models and the 0% financing only applies to '07 models.

    Anyway, the guy shows me a DTS Performance with just about everything on it. I took it out for a spin and I fell in love with it. I especially liked the XM radio, a cool feature a co-worker of mine had on his 2004 Honda Accord. Well, one thing led to another and I bought the car. I got a pretty decent trade for my Seville and put down a decent deposit and drove off.

    The car is a 2007 Cadillac DTS Performance. It is Black Raven with Ebony Tehama leather. It has XM radio, nav, built-in telephone, heated and cooled massage seats, ultrasonic parking assist, and is my first car ever with a moon roof. It even has a electrically operated sun shade in the rear window. All in all, the car is so well-optioned it makes my loaded Seville look like a plain Jane. Shoot, it's got many other features to numerous to list here such as power fold-in mirrors so I don't have to get out of the car and fold them in so I don't smack them against the sides of the garage door. It's got Rainsense wipers and the heated washer fluid ala the Buick Lucerne. To be brutally honest, it is overkill and I probably won't use a lot of the car's features, though they are cool things to show off to your friends the first time.

    It's got a 5-year/50K-mile bumper-to bumper warranty and a 5-year/100K-mile powertrain warranty. I did get the gap insurance coverage as well.

    I was a little mad at myself for going overboard on the car as I get really bad buyer's remorse every time I buy a new car. Buying the car was like having a really great time in Vegas the night before, but waking up the next morning with a hangover, a fresh tattoo, and married to a showgirl. I'm like, "Oh, man! What did I do to myself?" Of course, I remember feeling the same way about my Brougham almost 20 years-ago, but I don't now regret my decision. I am getting over it and starting to enjoy my new ride.
  • wtd44wtd44 Member Posts: 1,208
    Many thanks for the information, sincerely. Believe it or not, the ability to make my own choice about daylight running lights is VERY important to me.
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    I'm debating if I should go take a trip and go pee on his head stone like he did to GM and the UAW workers !!!! :mad:

    The guy might be the worst CEO, of all time and those of you that feel like I do feel he is to blame more than any other executive at GM, for a past that still haunts them to this day !!!! :cry: :sick:

    The guy is a greedy self serving mental midget and Michael Moore, exposed the truth in "Roger and Me"

    -Rocky
  • hpmctorquehpmctorque Member Posts: 4,600
    While I agree that Roger Smith's was a poor CEO, I'm no fan of Michael Moore, either. His presentations are laced with exaggerations and half truths, and, in general, are more self serving than objective.
  • dinofdinof Member Posts: 106
    Sure glad you got all that extra warranty and stuff........but
    haven't you heard, GM doesn't honor it's warranties !!
    Should have bought a Toyota, Honda or Hyundai if you want
    a repair made under warranty.............oh, but I forgot ;
    these brands don't break down.............they know how to
    manufacture them properly.
  • cooterbfdcooterbfd Member Posts: 2,770
    Hey Rocky, if you do, pinch one off for me ;););)
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Is that why Toyota, recalled some more products this year. I believe on "insideline" it was Lexus, who recently had a huge recall.....So much for manufactoring them properly. ;) I've read your posts and I still do not understand what major problem you are having ??? As others have said you can't see it when the door is close. Have you tried to contact Saturn, directly or tried another dealer ????

    If you think other manufactors back theirproducts tell that to the thousands of camry owners who have engine sludge and shoddy transmissions. Last I knew the tundra, is experiencing it's fair shair of issues and Honda, recalled a bunch of vehicles earlier this year.

    Do you have something to complain about ? Sure..... But others have given you a couple of fix idea's. I say try another Saturn, dealer when you get a chance. I'm a bit surprised the dealer hasn't made it right with you. I assume you contacted your salesman, and expressed how unhappy you are ?

    -Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    LOL, trust me I and my family have a strong dislike for Mr. Smith, and you didn't hear me whimper when the news came about his passing. ;)

    -Rocky
  • dinofdinof Member Posts: 106
    Your right.....you can't see it when the door is closed. So that's
    why they put a sunroof on the car....so you can get in that way
    and not have to SEE the defect. Yes I have tried the dealers,
    Saturn Customer Service and BBB Arbitration. Since Saturn
    claims it's a design/manufacturing defect common to all Auras,
    Arbitration can not order a recall. If it was ONLY a defect on
    MY car, they would fix it. Let's start talking sense here please;
    "since you can only see it when you open the doors " makes it
    OK I guess !! Want to buy my car ????
  • dinofdinof Member Posts: 106
    Oh sorry, I meant to say that you are right about the recalls you
    mentioned..................the magic word here being " RECALLS ".
    Do you really think Saturn will order a recall ???
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Well I recall a couple of the guys on here gave you a idea to fix it ???? Hey, I agree you have the right to be upset but honestly it seems like it's not a huge deal. My heater core went out and I'm a little upset because the car is only 4 years old but I'm not going to bash it. I'd love to own your Aura, but I finacially couldn't afford it at this present momment. I'm very shocked that no Saturn dealer(s) are willing to fix it. :confuse: I do wish you luck....... :)

    -Rocky
  • dinofdinof Member Posts: 106
    Sorry..didn't mean to be so mad. Appreciate your advice; but
    I do not believe that I should have to fix a car that is only 6
    months old and has less than 5,000 miles on it !! Sure I could
    cover the defect with a piece of rubber door gasket glued over
    the separations and it would probably not even be noticed.
    It's the principlel of the thing................the car is supposed to have a warranty to take care of things like this. Like I said, GM or at least Saturn does not honor warranties !!! Thanks again for the advice.
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    It's cases like yours that frusterates me. If I was president of GM, you would of been taken care of. I honestly feel for you and been in your shoes a few times myself. I do not understand why your salesman has not stepped up to the plate for you and make service department fix it ? I guess he doesn't want to sell you another Saturn down the road ???? I'm going to go check out this defect when I get some time at a Saturn dealer. :surprise: It seems like the fix's you listed above given by our edmunds regulars seems like ones any dealer with a half a brain would employ to make you a happy customer. It really ticks me off !!!! I'd ask to have a meeting with the owner or General Manager, and say look if you ever want me to buy another Saturn, again from you or this brand in general you better do something about it. I'd call GM, and say the same thing. If both do nothing then I would support your decision of choosing a non-GM, brand next time.

    I will also note I've had problems with my Chevy Impala's rims and have talked to a couple of dealers and nothing was done. I also called Chevy's customer service number and because the car is now 4 years old and out of warranty they wouldn't help me. I started out putting "fix a flat" in it a solution offered to me by our buddy's on here several months ago. Well unfortunately that didn't work for very long and would leak. I had the rims cleaned "roughed" up at Belle Tire. The $60 dollar fix lasted a week on my left and right tire. I brought it back and they tried selling me new rims and told me my rims were bad. I was kinda skeptical and took it to a local tire and garage by my fathers house. I had all 4 rims roughed up again and my back ones and right front were fixed. My left front one started to leak again and the reason why I didn't bring it back again was because somebody there stole my cell phone out of my car and I had to call Sprint and "kill" my phone. Well magically the next day it shows up !!!! Well to make a long story short I ended up taking the Impala, after several weeks of it leaking air slowly and weeks of frusteration to it leaking rapidly like 20+ pounds in a day or 2 to another tire place here in Grand Rapids, a place where dad told me to go. Well come to find out it had a small hole in the LF tire which they patched. Well they roughed up the rims also that day (November 19th) and it lasted well for a week and half and my TPM light came on about 5 or 6 days ago. I'm like oh crap not again !!!!!!!!!!! :mad: Well I took it back today and left it for a few hours and they said the patch wasn't leaking air and they roughed up the rim again and think it willseal finally. So we will see how long this one last's............... :surprise: :surprise: :surprise:

    -Rocky
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    What concerns me most about your experience is that what you are getting in the way of "service" is exactly what GM doesn't need. They need to be right on top of an unhappy customer and make things right.

    Best of luck on this. Sorry you have to go through it.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    What you say is exactly right !!!!! :cry:

    -Rocky
  • roadburnerroadburner Member Posts: 18,331
    What concerns me most about your experience is that what you are getting in the way of "service" is exactly what GM doesn't need. They need to be right on top of an unhappy customer and make things right.

    My wife came from a family where Buicks were the ONLY cars purchased. We also had problems with several inept GM dealers. As a result, my wife will not even consider a GM product. Ditto for her brother. Another generation lost...

    Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
    Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
    Son's: 2018 330i xDrive

  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    From my own experience, GM is very good about honoring its warranties. They fixed things for free on my last car I wasn't even aware were broken. Besides, why should my dealer care? They're getting paid whether it's by me or GM. I wouldn't have gone back to the same dealer or the same brand...FOR THE FIFTH TIME if they were that bad. I'd have purchased a Lexus instead.

    Hyundai has definately come up in the world, but I don't care for their derivative styling nor their plebian image. Toyota isn't all that. It's not 1992 anymore and 'Yota's no better than anybody else. Same thing for Honda.
  • dinofdinof Member Posts: 106
    Thanks for your support. The only way to resolve this problem
    is for every Aura owner out there to at least register a complaint
    with Saturn. That way , if they EVER do have a recall, they can
    be assurred of being included - because I am sure that Saturn
    will only fix those cars still under warranty !
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    Maybe they cremated him instead? If so, he just got a taste of what lies ahead for him. They should spread his ashes over Flint, Michigan's sewage treatment plant so all the ex-autoworkers could crap all over him as he did to them. Then they could give me his urn to use as a spittoon or an ash tray.

    Well, I'm sure Roger doesn't have to worry about Michael Moore anymore. He'll be rubbing elbows with bigger celebrities such as Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, Idi Amin, and Pol Pot to name a few.
  • dinofdinof Member Posts: 106
    Thanks, appreciate your support. I will let the Forums know how
    all this turns out as I keep taking my case higher up the ladder
    to GM Management and maybe even the CEO.
    I think it may take a civil suit against Saturn to get a $5.00 fix.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,676
    >Sure glad you got all that extra warranty and stuff

    I have noted a lot of bluster about the item on your Saturn. I looked at the picture finally. I'm with corvette. If you don't like that find a corner molding, drill screw holes through the plastic rocker cover, and place a cover in the crack. It looks like there is a seal at the right corner of the picture already.

    My own take is that plastic doesn't stay in shape sometimes. My first thought is water drainage is a good reason not to have the plastic tight and snug against the metal. I looked at the beauty covers on my Buick below the door. The fit against the door frame is tighter but they seem to be made of metal rather than plastic, although I'm not sure.

    As for all the saying that GM doesn't honor their warranty. That's malarky. I've never had a problem or question about a real item I've taken a car back for repair or change. I've been much pickier than most Camry/Accord owners are about their cars; they often aren't as astute or criticical it seems and accept rattles and squeaks and driving problems as part of the experience.

    In a serious attempt to help you..., go to the body shops at the Saturn dealers and ask the body shop manager to look at your car and see what they'd suggest. If you feel your purchase store's body shop is not suitable, travel. Then stop to see the service manager at those stores. Just let the body manager and service manager know you're going to check with both because you're looking for a fix or for ideas--not that you don't trust or value their opinion.

    I noticed the first thing my service manager, not the repair writer, did on one question about some on one of my currrent Buicks did was to pick up the phone and call the service manager at another area dealership who's a techie. They help each other. Their goal is happy customers and not upset customers if there's a real problem and a potential fix.

    Keep your paperwork about the concern and your visits. Sometimes a repair or change happens after months.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • dinofdinof Member Posts: 106
    Thanks for the support. I wonder if anybody from GM ever
    reads these comments?
  • dinofdinof Member Posts: 106
    Thanks for the advice; but I live in Western Norh Carolina and
    every Saturn dealer within 100 miles of me is owned by the
    same person......................Saturn headquarters is located
    only 4 hours away. Like I said - it's the principle of the thing.
    I could easily fix this myself for $5.00, but if Saturn balks at this
    repair, can I expect the same type of "service " if my engine
    falls out of the car at 6,000 miles ???
  • dinofdinof Member Posts: 106
    I meant to tell all of you that the picture I have posted on my carspace site is showing only one of the separations. There are
    actually 3 or 4 similar gaps on both sides of the car at different
    points along the rocker panels...................! The pic I posted
    is only to show a partial example of the problem.
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    ROTFFLMAO @ lemko !!!!! :D OMG, you are freaken hilarious !!!! After watching my Lydowns this sunday I needed a good laugh. ;)

    -Rocky
  • obyoneobyone Member Posts: 7,841
    depending on which division of GM you're dealing with. A lot also depends on the owner's philosophy on warranty issues. With Chevy it was like pulling teeth to get any kind of warranty service. However, once one of the dealership principals made a phone call it was clear sailing. It was quite the opposite at the GMC dealership. They would bend over backwards to help you out. Course my GMC cost twice of what the chevy did.

    Not so sure on Saturn and unfortunately it is not a high line vehicle resulting in somewhat shoddy service. Bottom line is that most think dealerships make money off of warranty. I assure you they do not. The factory's allowable time for repairs assumes that the tech does the same job all day. Haven't seen anyone come close to the allowable time for repairs as allowed on TSB's issued by GM.

    For your sanity I would do the repair myself if all it took was $5.00 in parts. Life is short. Enjoy your ride.
  • galvanggalvang Member Posts: 156
    Hockeypucks. GM sells plenty of diesels in Europe, in their Opel, Vauxhall, and Saab lines.

    True but the diesels they sell in Europe are not the clean diesel type. Though they are introducing one this year. Hopefully they can transfer some of those clean diesel engines here to the State side very soon.
  • dieselonedieselone Member Posts: 5,729
    I've had my issues with a Saturn dealership. My wife used to have a Saturn SL2 that burned a lot of oil by 70k miles. My wife had an extended warranty and the dealership stated that burning a quart of oil per 500 miles was considered in the range of normal oil use. Maybe for POS Saturn but certainly not any other vehicle I've owned.
  • dinofdinof Member Posts: 106
    I get what your saying, but my point is that if Saturn balks on a simple repair such as this.........how will they react on a really vital engine or transmission defect , if one should appear ??
    I try to enjoy life and my ride.................except every time I
    open the door to get into my car, my whole attitude changes !
  • sls002sls002 Member Posts: 2,788
    I thought the breakpoint on oil consumption was about 1 quart per thousand miles. This is going back some time though. New cars these days should do much better than that. My 2002 Seville used about 1 quart of synthetic oil in 2000 miles, but on conventional oil I think it may have been better. My 2007 SRX has yet to need an additional quart with 10,000 miles on it.
This discussion has been closed.