4/5/16 car talk

Complain about your schedule. Apparently people like that sort of thing.
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4/5/16 car talk

Post by fluffy »

Last August I bought a used 2009 Beetle. It was fun to drive but kind of annoying in a lot of respects, and I'd spent more time working on it than driving it.

A few weeks ago when it stopped working entirely. I hadn't had a chance to take care of it until a few days ago but I finally have it at a mechanic. Apparently the car computer is totally fried. So this is going to be an expensive repair.

After I get it running again I'm going to sell this piece of shit and go back to Toyota or Honda or something. Fucking hell.
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Re: 4/5/16 car talk

Post by Lunkhead »

Until last January I was still driving my Honda Civic sedan that I bought new in '99. I'd had no major problems with it the whole time. It was awesome, although, after 5-10 years the excitement of having "fancy" features like a CD player, cruise control, and a moonroof kind of wore off. The last few years I started to have a fair amount of minor but annoying problems, all to do with the power locks and windows. So finally after a long research process I bought a new new car and sold my Honda. I know buying a new new car is kind of a waste of money, but I figure if I only do it once every 15-16 years I don't care. I got a Mazda 3, but with the same engine as the Mazda 6, so, not a sports car but a lot more fun to drive than my Honda. I'm really enjoying it, and the standard features nowadays seem very futuristic relative to my '99 car. I'm sure I will take them for granted soon but for now they're very entertaining. Time will tell about the reliability factor.
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Re: 4/5/16 car talk

Post by fluffy »

Yeah, I've usually bought cars new but then lifestyle changes would require me selling it and losing a lot of money on it. And I don't drive enough to really want to spend a lot of money on a car in the first place. Which is why I've switched to buying used, but that's not without its problems as well, as it turns out.

So the fun thing is that the mechanic it's at now can't do the computer repair - I need to get it towed all the way across town (and then somehow get a ride home from way out in the boonies), and then when it's time to get the car back, that means getting back out there. Ugh, I ain't got time for this shit. I wonder if it's worth just junking the car now and saving a lot of hassle.
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Re: 4/5/16 car talk

Post by Paco Del Stinko »

Hmm. I got a Mazda 3 two years ago when my Tacoma pickemup got hit and totaled. Had that for nine years. Loved it. The Mazda is a good car, but miss the truck. I'm fortunate to have a short and easy commute, but would love to be car free. Car troubles are the worst, so good luck Fluffy.

Lunk, we have the same car, same bass guitar, pedal steel (that I need to break out)...what else? Long lost brothers?
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Re: 4/5/16 car talk

Post by Billy's Little Trip »

Paco Del Stinko wrote:Lunk, we have the same car, same bass guitar, pedal steel (that I need to break out)...what else? Long lost brothers?
You two are both lunkheads? :P
Last edited by Billy's Little Trip on Tue Apr 05, 2016 8:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: 4/5/16 car talk

Post by Billy's Little Trip »

First off, don't you have mobile automotive repair where you live, fluff? Did you even check? They are everywhere here in my city.
Second, don't you have Enterprise rent-a-car where you live? If one of my pool guys break down, I have Enterprise meet him with a truck to off load his truck, then have AAA tow his disabled truck in to our shop. Enterprise will meet you basically anywhere.
Third, an 09 VW is worth a fair amount of money. Don't junk it. In fact, they would fix it and sell it themselves. Those VW bugs are 250k mile vehicles.
Fourth, if you do want to get rid of it, sell as broken down, don't junk it.

As Paco said, his Toyota pickup was great. They REALLY are great. I use them as my pool service trucks. My repair guys need bigger trucks and have GM and Fords. The Toyotas just keep on going, cheap to do tires and brakes, great on gas, etc. My Chevy Silverado just had a fuel pump go out and is waiting for my guy to fix it.

Also, just a reminder. Elon (my man crush) is taking pre-orders on the new model 3. Base price 35k. But you'll be walking until 2017, lol. I'm about 99% sure I'm buying one.
I own 5.whole.shares of Tesla stock, lol. I'm a big believer and felt I had to do something. Plus I'll be a hundredaire when Tesla blows up. (no SpaceX pun intended)

Also, does Glenny still work at Tesla? Can't he get you the friends and family plan? ...or move you up on the list? Just askin' in case I need to send him a nice gift basket and a Outback Steakhouse gift card. :)
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Re: 4/5/16 car talk

Post by fluffy »

Of course there's car repair here. I just don't have time to take care of it because I have a day job and I don't need to drive very often.

Anyway I tried getting my car towed to the one shop in town that'll replace and reprogram one without it costing a shitload. The tow truck couldn't find the place and now they're keeping my car hostage. (This company is notorious for it - all of their business comes from roadside assistance contracting so they give no fucks about the customer.) Fun times.

Once I get my car back and in a drivable state I'm selling this piece of shit. I'll probably just go back to renting zipcar as I need it because the whole reason I bought a car in the first place ended up evaporating a week later.
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Re: 4/5/16 car talk

Post by glennny »

I'm still here at Tesla. April 30th is my nine year anniversary. I was employee #251. 221 of those have left, so as for tenure I'm #30. I get priority if I throw down for a model 3. I haven't. I will get one. They will be awesome. Especially the motor! (my department).

Other than my obvious bias for Tesla, I too love Toyota Tacomas. I put 280K on my '94 Tacoma, and then 313K on my 2000 Tacoma. I just sold the Tacoma over the weekend. It needed a clutch, and I had a working car, so there was no urgency to get it fixed. About once a week someone would knock on my door asking to buy my Tacoma. I finally gave in on Sunday.
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Re: 4/5/16 car talk

Post by Caravan Ray »

I hate cars. But they are sadly necessary evils.

Had to look up what a Tacoma was. Seems like a shiny-arsed version of a Hilux. Have always driven Toyota - owned Corolla's for years (cheap and reliable), and always had Hiluxs or Landcruisers for work.

Now have a big-arsed Holden Commodore that I got cheap from my former employer (not sure what the US equivalent of a Commodore is - but Holden is owned by GM, so there probably is one - some big 6-cylinder car that bogans drive). Now handy because I drive a lot for work. Off to Thargomindah next week - a 10 hour drive dodging roadtrains, roos and cattle - but sealed roads most of the way. Glad of the big car. Will pick up a 4WD when I get out there for off-road. Best thing about the Commodore is it came already fitted with a big, scary looking roo-bar on the front. Now I just need to christen it with some cool blood stains.
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Re: 4/5/16 car talk

Post by Billy's Little Trip »

fluffy wrote:Of course there's car repair here. I just don't have time to take care of it because I have a day job and I don't need to drive very often.

Anyway I tried getting my car towed to the one shop in town that'll replace and reprogram one without it costing a shitload. The tow truck couldn't find the place and now they're keeping my car hostage. (This company is notorious for it - all of their business comes from roadside assistance contracting so they give no fucks about the customer.) Fun times.

Once I get my car back and in a drivable state I'm selling this piece of shit. I'll probably just go back to renting zipcar as I need it because the whole reason I bought a car in the first place ended up evaporating a week later.
Lol. I know you have auto repair shops. I asked if you had mobile auto repair there. Maybe I should have said mobile come-to-you auto repair. They are very convenient. But you're passed that at this point, from the sounds of it.

And that totally blows about the tow truck company! Get that car towed home before they rob you on storage fees! Worry about legal restitution later. Get AAA for $129 (maybe less for only 1 car) a year and get free tows, roadside assistance, 10% repair shop discounts, etc.

Anyway, good luck whichever way you go.
Last edited by Billy's Little Trip on Sun Apr 10, 2016 10:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: 4/5/16 car talk

Post by Billy's Little Trip »

Caravan Ray wrote:I hate cars. But they are sadly necessary evils.

Had to look up what a Tacoma was. Seems like a shiny-arsed version of a Hilux. Have always driven Toyota - owned Corolla's for years (cheap and reliable), and always had Hiluxs or Landcruisers for work.

Now have a big-arsed Holden Commodore that I got cheap from my former employer (not sure what the US equivalent of a Commodore is - but Holden is owned by GM, so there probably is one - some big 6-cylinder car that bogans drive). Now handy because I drive a lot for work. Off to Thargomindah next week - a 10 hour drive dodging roadtrains, roos and cattle - but sealed roads most of the way. Glad of the big car. Will pick up a 4WD when I get out there for off-road. Best thing about the Commodore is it came already fitted with a big, scary looking roo-bar on the front. Now I just need to christen it with some cool blood stains.
A search shows the Commodore looking like a really old video game. How do you drive it, up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, start? :/

....kidding, it looks like a GTO or SS Chevy. That Holden 6.0lt engine is a beast! But why are you driving a car in the outback? Your Landcruiser was the right idea.
Last edited by Billy's Little Trip on Sun Apr 10, 2016 10:41 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: 4/5/16 car talk

Post by fluffy »

Oh, the first thing I tried was mobile car repair. He couldn't figure anything out and said it was probably the ECU that was blown, which wasn't something he could handle. He also said I should get rid of my car because it was "girly" and doubled-down on it when I told him I like girly things.
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Re: 4/5/16 car talk

Post by Billy's Little Trip »

fluffy wrote:Oh, the first thing I tried was mobile car repair. He couldn't figure anything out and said it was probably the ECU that was blown, which wasn't something he could handle. He also said I should get rid of my car because it was "girly" and doubled-down on it when I told him I like girly things.
Ha! Wow, great customer service. Can't fix shit and judgemental. Awesome!
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Re: 4/5/16 car talk

Post by roymond »

In NYC it's cheaper to use Zipcar and Avis than to buy, insure, park and crash a car. And convenient! Sold or car about 8 years ago and love it. That said, I'd love a Tesla car-share out of the new Red Hook showroom.
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Re: 4/5/16 car talk

Post by fluffy »

Yeah I'd love to just do Zipcar only except that it's never actually available when I need it and I hate having to plan my car usage a week in advance.

Seattle has a bunch of other car-sharing services like car2go and BMW's new thing, but those are only good for quick errands and not for the things that I actually use a car for.
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Re: 4/5/16 car talk

Post by fluffy »

Finally got rid of the POS Beetle and replaced it with something pretty:
Image

(It's a Mazda3. Best drive I've ever had, and I've driven current-model BMWs.)
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Re: 4/5/16 car talk

Post by Paco Del Stinko »

Hey, congrats on the car. I'm piping in cos I have a Mazda 3 as well. 2014 hatch, manual transmission. I like it a lot, sportier than one might think and great gas mileage. However, I do miss my Tacoma pickemup truck. Regardless, good luck with it!
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Re: 4/5/16 car talk

Post by JonPorobil »

I just started a new job in a new city, and I get to ride the bus to work now!

I'm looking forward to selling my car, if it looks like this job is a keeper.
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Re: 4/5/16 car talk

Post by fluffy »

If you have parking where you're living I'd suggest holding on to the car - it's great to have one for weekends or emergencies or whatever. Which is why I keep on going back to owning a car even though I walk to work (and it's literally faster for me to walk to work than to drive). Zipcar doesn't quite cover my needs (I mean they're fine from a practical standpoint but I have psychological hangups that prevent it from working for me).

Especially in Pittsburgh - there's a lot of beautiful countryside that you'll want to be able to go to on weekends. :)

(And congratulations on the new job and city.)
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Re: 4/5/16 car talk

Post by JonPorobil »

My wife and I both have cars, so I'm talking about going down from two to one for the family, not going totally carless. And mine isn't fully paid off yet, so I think it'd be well worth it to save that monthly payment (I'm practically salivating).

And yes, the countryside around here is amazing. I drove up here from the south, so I got a good eyeful. So is the city, for that matter. I work in the 11th floor of a skyscraper, and it's the best view I've ever had from an office window. Your comment about it being faster to walk than to drive rings true, because I timed my commute and found that it's faster to take the bus than to drive my own car. And faster during rush hour than during off-peak hours, weirdly. Plus the downtown parking would be $15-$20 per day, because my new employer doesn't offer free employee parking.

My brother-in-law (who also lives in Pittsburgh) used Zipcar for a while, then got rid of the service because he was so frustrated with the restrictions. Now he bikes, walks, and takes the bus, and doesn't seem to have any problems getting where he needs to go. It's a refreshing change of pace after eight years in Austin, which has practically no public transportation.
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Re: 4/5/16 car talk

Post by fluffy »

Ah, yeah, if she already has a car that's paid off then there you go. Although depending on which care is nicer, it might make more sense to sell the other one and use it to pay off a chunk of the car loan, especially if it's a lot newer and/or you're upside-down on the loan. It all depends of course.

And yeah commuting by car to a downtown area is for suckers, especially if your mass transit is adequate for the commute. Hell, even if a bus commute takes somewhat longer than a car commute, the bus is worth it because it's less to worry about and you can do other things while someone else is driving.

I really don't get why so many of my coworkers live in walking distance of the office and still just drive to work. I guess it's Because They Can thanks to subsidized parking. Just seems wasteful to me. Get some freaking exercise, y'know?
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Re: 4/5/16 car talk

Post by Billy's Little Trip »

Congrats on the new job, Jon. And congrats on the new car, fluf.

I too just bought a new car. Except it's a van! A Mercedes Sprinter. One of the weird looking ones with the really high roof. It's Mercedes new BlueTec turbo diesel. No smoke, no smell and 30 MPG. I would have bought a hybrid electric if they offered it. But the BlueTec is the next best thing for now. It's actually for my wife. After 25+ years of being a dog groomer working in her shop, she wants to go mobile. So I'm building her a salon on wheels. I just started ordering equipment for it. It's going to be a fun project! I love building things, creating, fabricating and cool engineering. The plumbing, tanks and pumps are no problem for me. The electrical is no problem either. My new areas on this build are my power limits and inverting from 12v to 110v. Trying to make everything as efficient as possible and providing all the conveniences a groomer needs to properly do her job. I LOVE it! :P

Oh, and it will have a battery bank and PV solar panels on the roof. The battery banks will be primarily solar charged with a back up of alternator charging from driving. From my calculation of wattage demands, I'll never need a generator for power. Between the solar and alternator, it will be enough. Cloudy day, the alternator will automatically be the primary charging source to make up what the solar can't produce to keep the battery bank topped off.
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