The Car Discussion Thread

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Fat_Bulldog
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Re: The Car Discussion Thread

Post by Fat_Bulldog »

Freed Roger wrote:WHO LIKES A GOOD RANT?
At end of 2018, my wife needed a newer year car to fit in company car reimbursement program.

She went out and got a Buick Enclave off Carvana-it had to be done fairly quickly.

Carvana experience- I guess it was ok. I was pissed to find it was from Jacksonville FL, but apparantly the history was clean.

If this process for used car-buying doesn't sound very middle-aged mannish, it's because it wasn't. We've had decent luck with last couple of cars we bought (though one was new), and end of the year was busy, that I let my middle-aged man guard down. Not blaming my wife -she is a smart decision maker, but was in a bind.

I don't understand how old people drive this thing, the dash and controls as counter-intuitive as imaginable. I've driven dozens of cars between rentals and our own without any issue, and it frightens me to think of grandpa banging around a Sam's parking lot in this. I Dunno-Maybe the fake mahogany keeps them calm.

I drive it as little as possible, and it's a mess when I do.
Here we go:

Radio-if you touch about anything it goes to Sirius ads (we don't subscribe). Took some doing but figured out how to get it back to FM. Pairing with my phone- I don't even want to try. Changing a station by twisting the knob -it takes like 10 -13 full spins to get it all the way down the dial.

Odometer-its not on as a default. I watched a YouTube vid to find it and still could not, until my wife showed where I can get it to show.

Reason I was looking for odometer was because my wife had it at a jiffy lube last time, and I guess they didnt know how to reset the "needs oil change" message (not sure if I blame jiffy here, I'll bet the reset process is a total cluster-F. ) and it had been flashing that for quite some time-right in the place where odometer reading shows if you can change it to that.

Then that same message area had low tire indicator flashing too, in addition the more traditional static low pressure light. It said front passenger side low. I look at it, but that tire looked good. I took it to QT anyway since I needed gas (yep, had to wait -old men doing their militant QT free tire refill jerk off routine)

I use my gauge and that tire was good. Since I'm there, I check them all -passenger rear was 8psi low. it had a leak, but different tire. No big deal, just dumb though

It only has one one lever switch that is for front and back wipers and the turn signals. A bunch of buttons and dials for lights etc on the dash (I guess that is the way old people like it)

Has touch screen on dash, but damn if you touch it. But don't fear, it still has the poor functioning buttons for every task too.

Yep, to put in some wiper fluid I had to find a YouTube video to find where hood latch was. Felt like a teen trying to undo a bra for first time.

Took it in for oil change and checkup (which costs a lot more than normal car). Some of this is normal timeline for wear but much isn't - the battery is almost done before it should bs, fluids gone bad (trans, coolant).


Has a roof rack that is only the base for a roof rack. It is essentially just plastic trim without purchasing the full cross piece -you can't strap anything to it.

I disliked this car from the start. Now my wife has turned on it, which is bad because vehicles have a way of turning to shet at the point they know you don't like it.

So, I am thinking, maybe we cut our losses. I look at Blue Book value, and the value has tanked. My small Subaru Crosstrek(granted its newer by two yrs) is worth $4k more than this big hunk of junk.

It's got to go. I fantasized about parking it somewhere choice to let it get stole, but luck will have it that Buick does anti-theft well, and/ or that the kid that would steal it would give up trying to drive the POS and just mosey on to something better
Sounds like I'd hate to be a salesman at a dealership selling Buicks these days. The old folks probably come in on a daily basis for help on fixing their radio or odometer.

tlombard
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Re: The Car Discussion Thread

Post by tlombard »

IMADreamer wrote:
ThatGuy wrote:For any Corvette fans, Chevrolet is unveiling the C8 tonight at 10 p.m. CT - live reveal can be watched here.

After decades of rumors and speculation, the Corvette is finally switching to a mid-engine layout, meaning the engine will now be behind the driver's head. Mid-engine Corvette concept cars have been around almost since the beginning of the car's existence, and automotive journalists have spilled plenty of ink about the subject, especially in the last five to ten years.

Even though it's a niche car, this is still a big deal and I'm very excited to see the final product.

I'm excited too. Also curious how it effects C7 prices. There is going to be a group of purist who won't like the C8 being mid engine so there is a part of me that says C7 prices may stay strong, but I know most younger people are excited for the mid engine Vette and I think that could hurt C7 prices.
Oh, they are already whining about the mid engine Corvette. And I love it. Screw you old man yelling at clouds!!!! I really hope the starting price isn't crazy because I could see myself in the market for a used C8 in a few years. I've considered picking up a used Corvette for many years but I just tell myself that I'll wait a few more years until the newest is available to pick up cheap used. The mid engine might put me over the top if it ever hits the used market at a price I'm willing to pay for a fun second car.

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IMADreamer
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Re: The Car Discussion Thread

Post by IMADreamer »

tlombard wrote:
IMADreamer wrote:
ThatGuy wrote:For any Corvette fans, Chevrolet is unveiling the C8 tonight at 10 p.m. CT - live reveal can be watched here.

After decades of rumors and speculation, the Corvette is finally switching to a mid-engine layout, meaning the engine will now be behind the driver's head. Mid-engine Corvette concept cars have been around almost since the beginning of the car's existence, and automotive journalists have spilled plenty of ink about the subject, especially in the last five to ten years.

Even though it's a niche car, this is still a big deal and I'm very excited to see the final product.

I'm excited too. Also curious how it effects C7 prices. There is going to be a group of purist who won't like the C8 being mid engine so there is a part of me that says C7 prices may stay strong, but I know most younger people are excited for the mid engine Vette and I think that could hurt C7 prices.
Oh, they are already whining about the mid engine Corvette. And I love it. Screw you old man yelling at clouds!!!! I really hope the starting price isn't crazy because I could see myself in the market for a used C8 in a few years. I've considered picking up a used Corvette for many years but I just tell myself that I'll wait a few more years until the newest is available to pick up cheap used. The mid engine might put me over the top if it ever hits the used market at a price I'm willing to pay for a fun second car.

60k, 0-60 in less than 3 seconds. Loads of technology and gadgets. I'm really impressed with what they did here for 60k.

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Re: The Car Discussion Thread

Post by tlombard »

Me too. I couldn't believe it when I saw the starting price. I really like it a lot.

And you can actually fit golf clubs in the back to shut up the old timers who were pooing on the new Corvette because it being mid engine is too much change for them to handle.

AWvsCBsteeeerike3
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Re: The Car Discussion Thread

Post by AWvsCBsteeeerike3 »

Had a total car failure today. Total cluster [expletive].

My wife popped a tire yesterday evening, too late to get the tire fixed. No big deal, I thought, I'll just put on the spare; take the tire in to the shop; pick it up after work; and put it back on. She'll have her car and what can go wrong.

As I was at the kids baseball practice when she got the hole in the tire, she called the roadside assistance people to change the tire. No big deal, but I got home in time to start the change. Got the car jacked up a little bit with the jack that comes with the car then the tire changing people showed up. They used their big jack to lift the car and finish the job as it was obviously much quicker.

I took the tire in and got a new one put on the rim. Then, I went to take off the spare tonight about 7 and put the new one back on. I've changed, idk, maybe 50 tires in my life. Never really had an issue. Until tonight. Used the jack that came with the car, got the car up enough to relive the pressure on the spare tire but not lose contact with the ground. Got 4 bolts off and as I was taking the 5th bolt off, the car shifted, the jack rolled over, and the tire fell off putting the dust guard around the rotor on the ground. FML.

I should have scotched the tires, but [expletive] the ground was relatively flat. I guess as soon as the car lost support from the spare tire, it caused the car to roll a bit which caused this piss ass little jack to roll over and the rest is history. So, yeah, my fault I guess. But, still, the jack should be more stable than that. So, I blocked the tires and tried to re-jack the car up. But, as soon as the dust guard got off the ground, even with the tires blocked there was still an inch or so of movement which immediately caused the jack to roll.

Now, normally I'd say this is 100% my fault for not knowing how to use a jack. But, the owners manual is very specific. The jack has a little knob on it that goes in a specific indentation in the chassis. And it has to go perpendicular to the length of the frame. So, the jack can only be used in one specific place and one specific orientation which I did. Kudos to me. Still it rolled over which makes me think the jack is a piece of [expletive] and this is the manufacturers fault. If it is going to fail in this location, it's going to fail in a lot of locations.

Regardless, that's of little consolation at 7:15 when I've got a car sitting on 3 tires and a rotor. So, I had to go to wal mart and buy a real jack. Called a friend that loves working on cars. He came over to look at the rotor. There were a couple bumps on the edge but nothing major. He said it would be fine, so I tried to sand it off (lol, good game good effort). Put the tire back on and it all seems to be alright.

Lessons learned:
1. Scotch the tires.
2. New age car jacks are [expletive].

Hope there's no long lasting repercussions from this. I'm sure the brake pads will wear quicker with an imperfect rotor but for now, knock on wood, the issue seems to be fixed. I mean, there's a new tire on it and it rolls. So, that's good.

Freed Roger
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Re: The Car Discussion Thread

Post by Freed Roger »

50 tires changed? I probably been party to about 20. Old cars it was regular event.

Jumping cars... probably 30-40 times.

AAA nearby.

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JoeMcKim
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Re: The Car Discussion Thread

Post by JoeMcKim »

I've jumped cars 30-40 times I'm sure at least that much in my life but only changed tire a few times. I let the AAA service I pay for take care of that stuff. I don't trust those little jacks that come with the car and if I bought a good jack it would defeat the purpose of having roadside assistance. As far as working on stuff under the hood outside of changing the battery I let the professionals handle that stuff. I'm not going to go messing around with that stuff and end up making stuff worse then it was before.

AWvsCBsteeeerike3
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Re: The Car Discussion Thread

Post by AWvsCBsteeeerike3 »

Maybe not changed, but took them off/put them on (ie, replacing brake pads).

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IMADreamer
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Re: The Car Discussion Thread

Post by IMADreamer »

I don't even have a clue how many tires I've changed. I used to drag race probably two dozen weekends a year. That meant driving to the track, swapping for some slicks, racing all night, swapping back to the street tires, then going home. I've never had one come off the jack, but I always use a good floor jack for that.

You can get jack stands stupid cheap, you might consider picking up a set to have just in case. I know those flimsy OEM jacks are complete garbage and can tip really easily. Anyway, thankfully you weren't hurt. Lost a good friend two years when the jack fell sideways and the car pinned him under it. He bled out before his wife made it home.


Now tractor tires, that's some fun stuff there.

As for under the hood stuff it depends on what it is, my mood, and time of the year. I had the engine and trans out of my Cad last winter putting a new cam and heads on. Took me and a buddy like 2 and a half days and a full brisket plus some burnt ends.

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Re: The Car Discussion Thread

Post by tlombard »

IMADreamer wrote:Took me and a buddy like 2 and a half days and a full brisket plus some burnt ends.
Worth it. I wouldn't know what I'm doing, but I'd gladly act like I did and try to help for brisket and burnt ends.

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