Cars and other kinds of motoring gibberish

Yikes, Kou. So the tranny flush was just a temporary fix to a major mechanical problem... Drag.

Hey, have all of your paperwork and maintenance in order and at hand when you hit the dealership... That way they can't make some chickenshit excuse that you were negligent with your maintenance and stuff. You can bet that if it's gonna cost them money, they're gonna try to wiggle their way out of it...

Did you ever check with any consumer agency about possible recalls or similar involving the tranny? That could help your cause as well...

Tough situation. Just be prepared and have all your ammunition with you...

Good luck!!

Yeesh. That really sucks, Kou. And yeah, you shouldn't have to take that kind of crap from them especially since it's supposed to be covered by the warranty. Good luck with that and I hope you get the situation straightened out. Or all hell will break loose if things go arwy from what I'm guessing. :beaten:

bmwracer wrote:

Hey, have all of your paperwork and maintenance in order and at hand when you hit the dealership... That way they can't make some chickenshit excuse that you were negligent with your maintenance and stuff. You can bet that if it's gonna cost them money, they're gonna try to wiggle their way out of it...

Did you ever check with any consumer agency about possible recalls or similar involving the tranny? That could help your cause as well...

Tough situation. Just be prepared and have all your ammunition with you...

Good luck!!

Yeah, I'm tearing the house apart looking for all of my receipts from maintenance and things. Actually I have found a large bit of them. But once I moved in December, stuff from 2003 got misplaced because my car is due each November for inspection. So of course in the midst of packing, small things like that got kinda thrown around. I believe I have all of 2004 and most (if not all) from 2000-2002. Damnit, I have to get up early tomorrow and now I'm up late looking for these few stray slips! :doh: FUN TIMES! :beaten: I even have my bill of sale within reach from when I bought it 4 years ago, LOL. Hahaha I bet not all people know where that is at all times :P

Next stop....my basement :bleh:

KouSeiya315 wrote:Yeah, I'm tearing the house apart looking for all of my receipts from maintenance and things. Actually I have found a large bit of them. But once I moved in December, stuff from 2003 got misplaced because my car is due each November for inspection. So of course in the midst of packing, small things like that got kinda thrown around. I believe I have all of 2004 and most (if not all) from 2000-2002. Damnit, I have to get up early tomorrow and now I'm up late looking for these few stray slips! :doh: FUN TIMES! :beaten: I even have my bill of sale within reach from when I bought it 4 years ago, LOL. Hahaha I bet not all people know where that is at all times :P

Again, good luck...

Next stop....my basement :bleh:

The one that got soaked from a rainstorm earlier in the year?

bmwracer wrote:
The one that got soaked from a rainstorm earlier in the year?

Nah, it wasn't that bad really. There was water puddles and mess and stuff, but nothing was destroyed. I tend to stack boxes on top of rubbermaid containers, so if (god forbid) water or critters are ever in my basement, they can't get to things. But Hurricane Jeanne couldn't flood my basement :hehe:

Hahaha, I'm still trying to find things. I'm only giving myself 1 more hour tops. If I don't find everything, they gotta deal with what I got. I know I didn't skip oil changes, my mechanic would yell at me if I did that. :hehe:

Not doing as well as I thought with finding the receipts though. I'm still missing some stray receipts from 2003 and maybe 1-2 from 2004, checking the rest of the years. I definitely have all of 2001, and in 2000 I had nothing done (got the car on 11/15/00). I hate when I procrastinate w/ organizing. :doh: I have to do this anyway, I'm due for inspection next month, so I gotta find my emissions paper from last year's inspection/emissions >__< GYAH!

KouSeiya315 wrote:Nah, it wasn't that bad really. There was water puddles and mess and stuff, but nothing was destroyed. I tend to stack boxes on top of rubbermaid containers, so if (god forbid) water or critters are ever in my basement, they can't get to things. But Hurricane Jeanne couldn't flood my basement :hehe:

Hahaha, I'm still trying to find things. I'm only giving myself 1 more hour tops. If I don't find everything, they gotta deal with what I got. I know I didn't skip oil changes, my mechanic would yell at me if I did that. :hehe:

Not doing as well as I thought with finding the receipts though. I'm still missing some stray receipts from 2003 and maybe 1-2 from 2004, checking the rest of the years. I definitely have all of 2001, and in 2000 I had nothing done (got the car on 11/15/00). I hate when I procrastinate w/ organizing. :doh: I have to do this anyway, I'm due for inspection next month, so I gotta find my emissions paper from last year's inspection/emissions >__< GYAH!

I think if you have the paperwork for all/most of the major work (particularly pertaining to the tranny) you should be okay... They can't blame the wacked tranny on a missed tire rotation or some other unrelated work done on the car....

bmwracer wrote:
I think if you have the paperwork for all/most of the major work (particularly pertaining to the tranny) you should be okay... They can't blame the wacked tranny on a missed tire rotation or some other unrelated work done on the car....

Basically. I'm just trying to find all of my oil change receipts though. That may or may not be relevant. I assume I've had about 3-4 oil changes/filter and fluid checks and changers per year, so I wanna make sure I have all or at least most of those receipts (I only put on 7000-8000 miles per year now, before it was even less).

I know I shouldn't even be bothering with this crap because I don't feel I should be questioned as I have not abused the car nor have I neglected to maintain it. I'm not *that* uneducated about cars but I think they are gonna try to play that card :hehe: That's how I felt I was being treated as they explained "how warranties work", as if I'm just some dumb 23-year-old blonde ditz. BUT, if they try that, I wanna be ready to say "BAM! IN YOUR FACE, @$$licks!". I like being unable to be proven wrong, it's so much fun :rofl: Here's hopin' I can pull it off...especially because I'M NOT WRONG! :P

I've never had any work done on the tranny, except in May which was right at the dealer....and they have it on the computer (I also have the copy), because while I was up there, they brought it up.

KouSeiya315 wrote:Basically. I'm just trying to find all of my oil change receipts though. That may or may not be relevant. I assume I've had about 3-4 oil changes/filter and fluid checks and changers per year, so I wanna make sure I have all or at least most of those receipts (I only put on 7000-8000 miles per year now, before it was even less).

I know you mentioned that before... Seems like a lot of oil/filter changes for 7000-8000 miles per year, but that's beside the point...

I know I shouldn't even be bothering with this crap because I don't feel I should be questioned as I have not abused the car nor have I neglected to maintain it. I'm not *that* uneducated about cars but I think they are gonna try to play that card :hehe: That's how I felt I was being treated as they explained "how warranties work", as if I'm just some dumb 23-year-old blonde ditz. BUT, if they try that, I wanna be ready to say "BAM! IN YOUR FACE, @$$licks!". I like being unable to be proven wrong, it's so much fun :rofl: Here's hopin' I can pull it off...especially because I'M NOT WRONG! :P

Nothing wrong with showing up with all your facts straight and paperwork. If anything, that might show them that you're prepared and you mean business... DON'T @$%&* WITH ME, A$$WIPES!! :hehe:

I've never had any work done on the tranny, except in May which was right at the dealer....and they have it on the computer (I also have the copy), because while I was up there, they brought it up.

That might be to your advantage... :D

Not really a car. But related to transportation otherwise.


This has got to hurt. Damn showoff.


http://premium.uploadit.org/ahochaude/wheelie.mpg

bmwracer wrote:
I know you mentioned that before... Seems like a lot of oil/filter changes for 7000-8000 miles per year, but that's beside the point...

So far I can only find records for about 5, 6, or 7 oil changes. I can't find them all. I give up for now :hehe: From what it looks like, I got oil changes at least every 4-5 months. Probably when I hit 3000 miles from the previous one, then I got another. But in the meantime I always check my oil if I'm not doing it every 3 months on the dot. But, I'm missing some from this year as well as my emissions paper from last year, so there must be more that I just can't locate :sweat:

bmwracer wrote:That might be to your advantage... :D

It better be. They are the ones who let me drive off saying the transmission was shifting properly while it was not, which is what I was yelling at them about today. It was 90% better like I was telling ya before, but it was never quite right again, then BAM. They are basically saying to me "If the problem wasn't fixed, why didn't you bring it back?", but I didn't wanna get screwed with and charged $90/hour for their crap diagnostics, and I told them that.

I don't know if my mechanic dug inside any or has a guess as to what exactly it is, but I'll find out when I go to pay him in the morning. But he said to me on the phone "It's gonna be a lot of work with all the transmission problems, so they will probably fight you on it, but you have to get it done and they should only charge the warranty deductible". My sister's car, they hooked it up to the computer and it said what was wrong. Hmmm...wonder if that was done w/ mine.

KouSeiya315 wrote:It better be. They are the ones who let me drive off saying the transmission was shifting properly while it was not, which is what I was yelling at them about today. It was 90% better like I was telling ya before, but it was never quite right again, then BAM. They are basically saying to me "If the problem wasn't fixed, why didn't you bring it back?", but I didn't wanna get screwed with and charged $90/hour for their crap diagnostics, and I told them that.

Another dealer ploy: damned if you do, damned if you don't... Grrr.

I don't know if my mechanic dug inside any or has a guess as to what exactly it is, but I'll find out when I go to pay him in the morning. But he said to me on the phone "It's gonna be a lot of work with all the transmission problems, so they will probably fight you on it, but you have to get it done and they should only charge the warranty deductible". My sister's car, they hooked it up to the computer and it said what was wrong. Hmmm...wonder if that was done w/ mine.

They can only do the electronic diagnostics if your tranny is electronically controlled... Do you know if your tranny is electronic? Even so, there are still mechanicals in the tranny that could fail outside of the electronics...

bmwracer wrote:
They can only do the electronic diagnostics if your tranny is electronically controlled... Do you know if your tranny is electronic? Even so, there are still mechanicals in the tranny that could fail outside of the electronics...

Yes it is. I guess I'll find out in a few hours if he found something specific or whatever. He said, "Yeah, I drove it and it was real lazy :hehe: The shifting was terrible if it did it at all. Got it to 60 though, barely.", BWAHAHAHA.

Looks like I might have to be looking into a new car this year afterall, depending on this outcome ::sigh:: Plus I only have 2100 miles left on that warranty. :doh:

i think that you have suffice ammo to dump on the dealer. You did the best search anyone could have done, 'cause in 4 yrs, a lot of things get lost, so it seems that you should be OK in that dept. Also bear in mind that you are the CUSTOMER, and you do have rights. Be prepared to fight if you don't get what you've paid for (the warranty, i mean). If all else fail, you can raise you voice and use some profanity. That really works, because the sales reps, do NOT want other people hearing you b/c it may have an impact on impending deals and they may give you whatever they want to pacify you.

But in order to pull that you gotta have balls. And for a girl, I think you have more than enuff cojones to pull that off, if need be. (BTW, that was a compliment. ;)

Ganbatte, Kou-chan! :say_gdluck:

KouSeiya315 wrote:Looks like I might have to be looking into a new car this year afterall, depending on this outcome

A Jetta, er, Passat, er, Jetta?

:hehe:



BTW, manual trannies are less complex... :D

niko2x wrote:i think that you have suffice ammo to dump on the dealer. You did the best search anyone could have done, 'cause in 4 yrs, a lot of things get lost, so it seems that you should be OK in that dept. Also bear in mind that you are the CUSTOMER, and you do have rights. Be prepared to fight if you don't get what you've paid for (the warranty, i mean). If all else fail, you can raise you voice and use some profanity. That really works, because the sales reps, do NOT want other people hearing you b/c it may have an impact on impending deals and they may give you whatever they want to pacify you.

But in order to pull that you gotta have balls. And for a girl, I think you have more than enuff cojones to pull that off, if need be. (BTW, that was a compliment. ;)

Ganbatte, Kou-chan! :say_gdluck:

I definitely have potential to get irate. But I don't resort to cursing until it really looks like I won't get my way, because I don't wanna look like white trash (see, I do know when and where I can curse, LOL). At least by that point I can abuse them for pissing me off :hehe:

bmwracer wrote:A Jetta, er, Passat, er, Jetta?


:hehe:


BTW, manual trannies are less complex...

Damn, will I ever live that down? LOL :doh: Do they really look THAT much different besides the name on the back? :hehe: I really can't tell them apart without seeing the name :sweat: But nah, I highly doubt I can afford something like that within the next year or two at least. They start at like $17-$18K. I'm poor. I'd need like...$13-$15K tops :sweat: I don't even know if I can afford that.

I think the only foreign car I could afford that I like is a Toyota Corolla (or an Echo, but I hate those things....). So if not that, I'd end up American again :P But man...Cavaliers are boring, I hate Pontiacs, as for Ford I hate Escorts and they redesigned the Focus to be more plain (and 2 of my friends plus almost my entire family has a Ford, WTF), but oooo Dodge Neon and the Saturn Ion is kinda cute! Word has it Saturn doesn't haggle though :grumble: As for dirt-dirt cheap, NO KIA'S. JUST...NO.

I dunno, I have a lot of thinking to do for the next 6-12 months I guess. When the time comes, I dunno how fun it's gonna be. My first time buying, I loved putzing around and test driving stuff :woot: But this time I would have something to part with... :(

My baby is sick, I miss her!! Fix her for free!!!! :mecry: If they give me hell, I swear, I'm posting the website of my dealer for anyone in a bad mood to curse out in their leisure. I'm holding off for now in case they do deem it warranty-covered without fighting me. :hehe:

Waiting for a call on a rental....if they don't call in 2 hours I gotta beg someone for a ride to work. I refuse to give my dealer any more money than needed so I refuse to rent from them. I'm so stubborn :mrgreen: Gotta go to my mechanic to pay, get the news, and have my baby towed :(

KouSeiya315 wrote:Damn, will I ever live that down?

Probably not. :hehe:

LOL :doh: Do they really look THAT much different besides the name on the back? :hehe: I really can't tell them apart without seeing the name :sweat: But nah, I highly doubt I can afford something like that within the next year or two at least. They start at like $17-$18K. I'm poor. I'd need like...$13-$15K tops :sweat: I don't even know if I can afford that.

Have you considered used, er, pre-owned? I know a number of people who swear by it, since all the bugs have been taken care of by the previous owners/warranties... Many have extended warranties to boot... And *ahem* foreign cars (particularly Japanese cars) are quite reliable. :)

I think the only foreign car I could afford that I like is a Toyota Corolla (or an Echo, but I hate those things....). So if not that, I'd end up American again :P But man...Cavaliers are boring, I hate Pontiacs, as for Ford I hate Escorts and they redesigned the Focus to be more plain (and 2 of my friends plus almost my entire family has a Ford, WTF), but oooo Dodge Neon and the Saturn Ion is kinda cute! Word has it Saturn doesn't haggle though :grumble: As for dirt-dirt cheap, NO KIA'S. JUST...NO.

Heh, the Toyota Corolla was the first new car I ever bought: it cost me all of $3900... Quite a tidy sum back in '77...

I dunno, I have a lot of thinking to do for the next 6-12 months I guess. When the time comes, I dunno how fun it's gonna be. My first time buying, I loved putzing around and test driving stuff :woot: But this time I would have something to part with... :(

My baby is sick, I miss her!! Fix her for free!!!! :mecry: If they give me hell, I swear, I'm posting the website of my dealer for anyone in a bad mood to curse out in their leisure. I'm holding off for now in case they do deem it warranty-covered without fighting me. :hehe:

Waiting for a call on a rental....if they don't call in 2 hours I gotta beg someone for a ride to work. I refuse to give my dealer any more money than needed so I refuse to rent from them. I'm so stubborn :mrgreen: Gotta go to my mechanic to pay, get the news, and have my baby towed :(

Check Consumer Reports for info on cars and stuff... They're more concerned about reliabilty and quality over outright performance like Car and Driver/Road & Track... I subscribe to CR, so if you want me to scan any info, I can do it for you (.pdf format)...

Good luck!

ever thought of getting a toyota scion? it'll remind you of all those boxy looking cars of when you were in JPN! The best part about them is that they're in your $ range. $13K-$15K, plus they're Toyota.

Or even a used car is all right too, but not in PA tho. they used WAY too much salt on the road in the winter that it rusts out the bbottom of the car. Go to NJ or MD for used cars, especially auctions. That's where i got 2 of my cars.

niko2x wrote:ever thought of getting a toyota scion? it'll remind you of all those boxy looking cars of when you were in JPN! The best part about them is that they're in your $ range. $13K-$15K, plus they're Toyota.

Or even a used car is all right too, but not in PA tho. they used WAY too much salt on the road in the winter that it rusts out the bbottom of the car. Go to NJ or MD for used cars, especially auctions. That's where i got 2 of my cars.

Two great points, Niko.

Totaly forgot about the Scions... My niece just picked up the new, sporty TC Coupe... Very nice!

Yeah, I forgot that you guys have pretty harsh winter weather over there... And that beats down a car big time, particularly the salt. I think new cars nowadays are better protected from the salt, but you still have to be wary...

Speaking of salt, I'd better go gargle again... Gack :bleh:

bmwracer wrote:Have you considered used, er, pre-owned? I know a number of people who swear by it, since all the bugs have been taken care of by the previous owners/warranties... Many have extended warranties to boot... And *ahem* foreign cars (particularly Japanese cars) are quite reliable.

Hahaha, I did that ;) Mine is preowned w/ extended warranty...which is almost up, btw. Luckily the previous owner replaced the head gasket :woot: That would have SUCKED. I did want my next car to be new though, but definitely NOT a first year car. NO. I know that little :hehe: That's kinda why I wanted a new version of mine. They have done a hell of a lot from 99-00, then even more since then.

bmwracer wrote:
Check Consumer Reports for info on cars and stuff... They're more concerned about reliabilty and quality over outright performance like Car and Driver/Road & Track... I subscribe to CR, so if you want me to scan any info, I can do it for you (.pdf format)...

Good luck!

Yeah, I definitely check out all this stuff before buying. I'm such a tightwad that I have to or else I won't feel right, LOL. My dealer thought I was a paranoid schizophrenic when I was buying...I had that car checked out thoroughly and did the title trace, the whole nine. 98 was when they made big improvements, which is why I aimed for that year (and it was 2 years after 98 that I bought it).

niko2x wrote:ever thought of getting a toyota scion? it'll remind you of all those boxy looking cars of when you were in JPN! The best part about them is that they're in your $ range. $13K-$15K, plus they're Toyota.

Or even a used car is all right too, but not in PA tho. they used WAY too much salt on the road in the winter that it rusts out the bbottom of the car. Go to NJ or MD for used cars, especially auctions. That's where i got 2 of my cars.

I never looked into Scions. I don't tend to like the boxy look, I thought those cars in Japan were ugly :sweat: ::dodges flames:: I have odd taste I guess. I want a compact/economy again, but....I do like some space. Those Scions look kinda small.

But oh yeah....salt. I don't think I can avoid that in New Jersey either though if I went used again. PENNDOT is getting cheap w/ using salt, LOL. Usually NJ seems to be the first and most thoroughly salted compared to here. At least South Jersey is :)

KouSeiya315 wrote: never looked into Scions. I don't tend to like the boxy look, I thought those cars in Japan were ugly :sweat: ::dodges flames:: I have odd taste I guess. I want a compact/economy again, but....I do like some space. Those Scions look kinda small. :)

Actually, they DO look geeky, but that is very IN, apparently by the sales numbers. ALso with the space issue, they are a lot roomier in the interior, which explains all the "car-soup-upers" to be allowed to put their Bass/subwoofers in the rear. If you look at the specs here:
Specs of a Scion.,
you'll have more than enough space in the backseat to make cute little JPN mulletheads. :naughty: LOL!