Are you a current Michigan-based car shopper? A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/2 for details.
The wheel covers Tim sent are great! I really can't think him enough (Thanks again Tim!)! I have yet to put them on though.
Fowler: I don't think that there is a clearcoat on the wheel covers, but I'm not 100% sure. And yes, we do have cattle here. Alberta beef is (I thought) known all around the world.
Another example...the entire production run of the Contour/Mystaque (1995-2000) is on CR's "used cars to stay away from" list. One of my pet theories is that since SUV's and Pick-Up trucks are the big cash cows that's where the bulk of development effort goes leaving actual cars with whats left over. Anyone care to comment on my theory? Maybe I'm way off base on this.
Dinu -- I believe you were looking for some info on the autoX in London. This is where I am from and I was at the last one. Its held at the Delaware race track (about 15KM west of London) and looks like alot of fun. Go to this web side "www.wosca.com" for all of the info. There is one more practice session on April 28th which I'm hoping to run my P5 in. It would be great if we could have another Protege there. Today it is summer as the temp is suppose to read 29C today!
Ford is one of the best trucks on the market to buy. It's also the best selling one (I think).
They slopped the Focus out the door so they could start selling it right away, because the Escort was not bringing anything in. Too bad the Focus does have bad reliability, they are nice cars. And the European ones seem to be very reliable as well. Why could they not to that here? Sloppiness, for no reason, that's why.
2 of my co-workers have Foci. One just bought her 2000 used with 40K on it, and likes it. The other bought a new 2001 ZTS, has 30K on it now, and has nothing but problems with the car. Brakes mostly.
In contrast, I am the 6th Jetta purchase in my office (1 2.0, 4 VR6s) and no one has had problems yet.
Ok people...I posted this yesterday and was totally ignored.
I've got these really thin scratches on my windshield. The only thing that I think they could be from are a)snow scraper or b)windshield wipers. Does anybody know of any way to get rid of these? The only time I can really see them is if the sunlight is directly ahead of me.
Rock chips....lots of em. Small, but totally annoying. I don't have glass insurance and here's my reasoning: My deductible is $500. Windshield replacement:about $300. I'm not going to make a claim an insurance claim and have my premiums go up because that will cost more in the end.
I can come anytime after May 7 with the PRO. I never auto-xed before and it seems to be a blast. Hank (big_h) got me hooked on it. If you know of any meets in southern Ontario (Oshawa to London and up to Barrie) let me know and we can hook-up with the PROs and see how they drive on a course, not just dodging traffic in rush hour.
I live in south Alabama and we have quite a bit of ice on the windows due to the high humidity. As a result, I have butchered my after-market windshield with a plastic ice scraper. Gravel got the first windshield. I used a cleaner wax with only moderate results in removing the scratches. I heard on a recent Car Talk episode that windshields in general are a lot more fragile these days on account of car companies using thinner, cheaper materials to increase fuel mileage. I couldn't agree more.
I am so f-ing pissed right now I can't tell you. To answer the questions I know will be asked....
Speed: about 15-20mph
Fault: Mine
What I hit: Driver's side rear bumper of a 2000 Jeep Wrangler Sport
Am I hurt: Not at all, thankfully. Neither was the other driver.
What'll it cost to fix: ???? Don't know. Took it to Roto Lincoln Mercury Mazda's body shop. They have a good reputation and will only use OEM Mazda parts to repair. They estimated about 2-3 weeks total.
Talk to you all later. I have to go to the store and buy something to make me feel better.
SOrry about the car man. It doesn't look so bad. I mean it's not drivable but definatly fixable. Had our 323 have similar front end damage. Fixed it, still runs fine. They just did a crappy job with the new paint so it's all faded. Good luck!!!!!!!
And with those new tires too. Man, that completely, totally, inconceivably, and really, really sucks!!! I feel for you, my friend. No more words. A day of mourning for our friend Pete.
Pete, I'm really sorry to here about the accident. Your damaged looks a tad worse then my Protege looked after I hit a deer going 65 mile per hour. My repair cost was $3,800. I'm thinking at least $4,500 to bring yours back to life. The good new? No more stone chips on the hood or the nose of your newly repaired Protege.
Dale -- thanks for another link. You know Chicago is only around an 8 hours drive to London. You could make it a great road trip and look at the advantage of your money in Canada, just by crossing the border you will feel like you have become rich with that exchange rate. Any chance you could bring me one of those Big Lotto tickets? Is it something like 300 million, that is like a gazzillion Canadian dollars.
Dinu -- I'll keep in touch with you about doing the autocross. There are five events at the Delaware raceway and if you check that other web site I'm sure there are some closer to TO. I'm really wanting to do this so I'll be at the next practice run and will let you know how it goes. This will be my first time doing anything like this.
Most states do not have glass coverage on insurance. A friend of mine works for Geico and is originally from New York. There, he had glass coverage, but with a deductible. You don't get that in Maryland or DC. I know, I lost windshields in both Proteges. The first one (the DX) was paid for though, by a truck throwing stones ($306). The second one (in the ES) was not replaced because I traded the car in.
Man, really sorry to hear about your car. How did the accident happen, if I may ask. Since you hit soemone in the back, it's automatic fault. That sucks. You should be glad no one was hurt though.
And the front of the car doesn't look as bad as it could have been. New bumper, hood, and fascia and you should be in business. You are going to probably have to buy the lights again aftermarket though, if they were damaged.
Comments
Fowler: I don't think that there is a clearcoat on the wheel covers, but I'm not 100% sure. And yes, we do have cattle here. Alberta beef is (I thought) known all around the world.
http://www.auto.com/industry/focus16_20020416.htm
Meade
Send me some info on CAPP. I might drive up to Chi-town for that.
chowchi@aol.com
Meade
--Dale
They slopped the Focus out the door so they could start selling it right away, because the Escort was not bringing anything in. Too bad the Focus does have bad reliability, they are nice cars. And the European ones seem to be very reliable as well. Why could they not to that here? Sloppiness, for no reason, that's why.
2 of my co-workers have Foci. One just bought her 2000 used with 40K on it, and likes it. The other bought a new 2001 ZTS, has 30K on it now, and has nothing but problems with the car. Brakes mostly.
In contrast, I am the 6th Jetta purchase in my office (1 2.0, 4 VR6s) and no one has had problems yet.
check it out if you have Motorweek on TV!
But I'm sure the Jetta gets at least a 30 second review right?
Mike & Dinu,
You are both very welcome. Glad the hubcaps fit and all is well.
fowler3
I've got these really thin scratches on my windshield. The only thing that I think they could be from are a)snow scraper or b)windshield wipers. Does anybody know of any way to get rid of these? The only time I can really see them is if the sunlight is directly ahead of me.
Anybody have any suggestions?
I haven't a clue.
You could try taking the car to the dealership for an oil change...maybe they'll replace the whole windshield for ya.
(sorry, Malt and Rich, couldn't resist!
--Dale
My deductible is $500.
Windshield replacement:about $300.
I'm not going to make a claim an insurance claim and have my premiums go up because that will cost more in the end.
And a promising looking product (I have never actually used) may be found at this web site:
http://www.myclassiccar.com/MCCTV/016109/tip016109.html
VERY warm (25C+) in T.O.. Cruising was a breeze
Dinu
Dinu
theparallax, great shine, I may get that 3M stuff.
Protege_fan, take your Pro to a glass shop and see what they use to fill or smooth spider-web cracks. May not need replacing.
fowler3
-love train
http://www.canadiandriver.com/previews/mspeed_protege.htm
In a Jeep Wrangler vs. Protege...the Pro loses.
Check out the photos at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mazdaprotege/
Look in my photo folder: "A SpeedyPT album"
I am so f-ing pissed right now I can't tell you. To answer the questions I know will be asked....
Speed: about 15-20mph
Fault: Mine
What I hit: Driver's side rear bumper of a 2000 Jeep Wrangler Sport
Am I hurt: Not at all, thankfully. Neither was the other driver.
What'll it cost to fix: ???? Don't know. Took it to Roto Lincoln Mercury Mazda's body shop. They have a good reputation and will only use OEM Mazda parts to repair. They estimated about 2-3 weeks total.
Talk to you all later. I have to go to the store and buy something to make me feel better.
Regards,
Pete
Meade
-Larry
Great minds think alike huh?
Also...I did not get a ticket...that's a plus. No traffic school!
Regards,
Pete
http://www.soloontario.com/solo2/index.htm
...but just in case you hadn't.
--Dale
--Dale
Dinu -- I'll keep in touch with you about doing the autocross. There are five events at the Delaware raceway and if you check that other web site I'm sure there are some closer to TO. I'm really wanting to do this so I'll be at the next practice run and will let you know how it goes. This will be my first time doing anything like this.
Thanks for the exchange rate info. I'll file that with my other conversion formulae for future reference.
--Dale
And the front of the car doesn't look as bad as it could have been. New bumper, hood, and fascia and you should be in business. You are going to probably have to buy the lights again aftermarket though, if they were damaged.
Meade