Car Rant

[rfath]

Libster -

YUM! I''m a huge fan of the M roadsters and coupes... such a rare car to find now, too. So sad that Bangle-mangler has gotten his hands on the latest BMW designs.

I''ve always heard the rumors that the German cars are fabulously engineered with fantastic engines and components, but the danged electronics keep giving out. Used to be that the Asian cars had a reputation for reliability, but less ''solid'' than the German cars. Every car is individual, though, and you can have a lemon or a problem child with ANY brand of car. I can''t comment on the latest MB''s since they don''t come in anything other than an automatic transmission - a big negative in my book! I LOVE the C6 ''vettes. I covet them as well, especially the new Z06... hello track car... hello... *drool*

I think that no matter what you buy, you HAVE to have a good relationship the person who services your car. If your car isn''t covered by the manufactorer''s warranty anymore, why keep going to the dealership if you''re not happy with their service? If your car IS under warranty, why keep going to a crappy dealer? If they''re the only ones near you, get on the phone with the regional company representative and TELL THEM how you''re being treated. The car has problems, make them fix them! I''ve scared my dealership a few times by visiting my regular mechanic (cheaper hourly rate, better hours), then scheduling an appointment at the dealership to have them fix what was wrong under warranty.... I''ve caught them doing sloppy work and they''re MUCH more careful with my car now, knowing that I''m checking up on them. Just like with diamond shopping, the more you know, the better off you are!

Also, AAA and other companies offer extended warranties for cars, up to 100,000 miles or so. It''s an extra peace of mind for those buying used cars or planning on keeping them long-term. Consumables like clutch, rotors, brake pads, and exhaust aren''t generally covered, but that''s pretty much par for any warranty...

 

[didiamond]

I'm so sorry to hear about the problems you're having with your MB. Welcome to the club!! I also have a MB and I have had more problems with it than with any other car that I've owned (mostly Japanese). DH gave it to me as a b-day present 2 years ago and I can't tell you how many times I have had it in the shop. Every time I take it to the dealership they need to keep it for a few days but it always turns out to be a week. I HATE that! In the first year alone I took it back 3 times for an oil leak. Then the tires are always off balance (same problem with the tires being a different size so there is no rotating of the tires). I hadn't had a problem with electrical instruments until last week when my airconditioner screen looked all warbly but the air worked fine. Luckily I haven't seen that again, as I have no urge to visit the dealer again.

My DH also has a MB that is constantly there for service. The one thing they keep going around about is that there is something banging around in the driver's seat every time he makes a turn. Like a loud clunk. They replaced the driver's seat and it still does it (or DID they?!?!?!).

MB service stinks!!!!!! No question about it! If Lexus had a body style that I loved as much as I love my current car's body style, I'd take it in a heartbeat! Lexus treated me like gold and the car was a dream to drive! Oh, and I wasn't in the service department very much except for maintenance checks. They took care of any problem I had promptly and IF they had to keep the car they had a loaner (a Lexus model) for me within minutes. MB? You're lucky if you get a loaner but don't expect it to be another MB. How many other dealerships have a car rental business right on the property?!?!? Screwed up if you ask me.

Okay, sorry for going on but it's a hot button for me!!!

 

[MrsFrk]

I drove cars for a tennis tournament a few years ago. All the cars were new Mercedes (a local dealership was a sponsor). Neato! I thought, I get to drive some sweet cars.

EVERY SINGLE ONE had something wrong with it. I was stranded in a car with Kim Clijsters because the POS M class decided to stall whenever I turned left. So many of them had little things go wrong that the volunteers began doing Rock/Paper/Scissors to decide who got stuck with the lemony-est one!

Mercedes (ahem, Chrysler) and BMW are not what they used to be.

Diamonds4Me, I'm sorry about your car woes.

But...how sweet of your man to buy you a car for your b-day!

 

[Madam Bijoux]

I was thinking seriously about getting a Benz CLK 320 (the lights they have around the rear view mirrors remind me of tennis bracelets), but after I read all the newspaper and magazine reports about their quality issues, I'm pretty sure I'll be getting a Lexus GS300 or an Infiniti G35. I know 5 people who have CTS'S, and they all love them. The only reason I would hesitate to get a CTS is that they don't have all-wheel drive, and you really need that in the northeastern US.

 

[Diamonds4Me]

Libster, that''s a beautiful car. I am so happy that you are thrilled with it!

A good friend of mine had one about three years ago and she let me drive it. Yes, I loooooooved it as well. My ONLY complaint wasn''t actually with the car itself. She wasn''t a neat freak so it was pretty messy inside

The top was down when I drove it so I took it down all the back roads instead of the main roads because I was scared that stuff would go flying out in the middle of the road, lol. But it was a fun car to drive.

Rfath, I don''t know anyone there at the service department of the MB dealership that well. I''ve been only once for the "tire rotation" and then for the tire problems. Its less than one year old and due to my work it does have a little bit of mileage on it. Um, 12,000+. The first oil change is coming up so I know its beyond that but I don''t know exactly what it is.

Di, that totally stinks that both spend quite a bit of time in the garage. As bad as this sounds...at least it isn''t just me

I''m getting ready to call them in the next hour or so when they open and ask them about the radio. I''ve got a TON of driving to do today and I am NOT looking forward to the "silence"

. The 30 minute ride to Mooresville and then another 30 back is not what I had in mind for fun.

MrsFrk, yes, it was the sweetest thing. You should have seen his face when he came home. He didn''t come home with it because they wanted to clean it up first because it was bug laden from its journey here on the back of one of those monster car haulers. It was the week before my birthday and he told me he had to go meet with customers and go over their floor choices. He was gone FOREVER!! I was starting to get a little worried, lol. When he came home he couldn''t contain himself and told me all about it. I was jumping up and down like a fool, lol. I actually felt like I was in one of those MB commercials that I used to see when I was a little kid where someone got one for graduation or something. It was wonderful. I feel absolutely horrible about what''s started to happen these past few weeks. I guess that''s why I really am the most upset about it because he gave me something that I''ve always wanted and now I feel like he''s been ripped off. He laid out a nice chunk of change for me and lately all I talk about are all the things that is going wrong with it. But its not like I can NOT talk about it. Letting it go will only make it worse. There is no grinning and bearing it. It must be taken care of...like it or not.
The first newer MB that I saw up close and personal was at a golf tournament here (I got to see all the pros!!

) and that''s when I really fell in love with them. Sadly, it was only the look of it I liked and if I had researched them as much as I do diamonds...well..I guess I didn''t because it is MB. I will certainly know better next time!!

 

[Jennifer5973]

Date: 7/18/2005 8:06:34 AM
Author: Madam Bijoux
I was thinking seriously about getting a Benz CLK 320 (the lights they have around the rear view mirrors remind me of tennis bracelets), but after I read all the newspaper and magazine reports about their quality issues, I''m pretty sure I''ll be getting a Lexus GS300 or an Infiniti G35. I know 5 people who have CTS''S, and they all love them. The only reason I would hesitate to get a CTS is that they don''t have all-wheel drive, and you really need that in the northeastern US.

I am excited to know that, MB! I was concerned about the rear-wheel drive also and we''ll see how it goes. The only thing that makes me comfortable is that c an work at home when it snows even a little bit and hubby has a truck if we need to get aorund in really bad weather. SO, hopefuly, I''ll be okay. I agree that if you know you''ll have to drive in any weather, you need to think about the practicality of rear-wheel drive cars.

 

[rfath]

Date: 7/18/2005 8:21:25 AM
Author: Diamonds4Me

Rfath, I don''t know anyone there at the service department of the MB dealership that well. I''ve been only once for the ''tire rotation'' and then for the tire problems. Its less than one year old and due to my work it does have a little bit of mileage on it. Um, 12,000+. The first oil change is coming up so I know its beyond that but I don''t know exactly what it is.

D4M... I''m so sorry that you''re having to get to know your service department! My fiance was fortunate that he found a pretty active online community when he bought his Audi... lots of people in the area reporting their experiences with the various dealerships and who in the service departments knew what they were talking about. He had no compunctions about taking his car to a different dealership for service from the one that he''d purchased the car from if he felt that the manager there wasn''t listening to his complaints. Fortunately, he''s had few complaints about the service departments (we won''t say that the car has been perfect, but we knew going into the purchase that the first few years owning the car were going to be rough - fortunately everything was covered under warranty!).

.. and 12,000 miles is nuthin''! lol... my poor car... I''m at 37k in 2.5 years... it''s just too much fun to drive on the track...

Best wishes and hopes that everything works out well for you - without too much aggravation!

 

[rfath]

What makes the most difference for winter driving is getting a GOOD set of snow tires for the car. Even all-wheel-drive cars are greatly improved with snow tires. They help the car to get enough grip to not only get moving in the snow, but also to stop (more important!), where it doesn''t matter how many wheels you have to drive the car. Current generation rear-wheel drive cars have some pretty sophisticated anti-slip/skid and traction control.

I live in the Northeast, know plenty of people with rear-wheel drive cars making it well in the winter (see winter tire rant abover ... now, if I lived truly north (Maine or Vermont), I''d feel a lot better having something with more ground clearance than my Mini. Dear though it is, it''s less fun when the snow is deep enough that I''m plowing the road for the city! All-wheel-drive is nice for trying to get moving from a standstill on a hill... and for the best all-wheel-drifts and doughnuts around. Whee!

 

[MissAva]

My sister had the 50th anniversry corvette (it floated away in a flash flood right into the next county). We both now have the Lexus RX330, she has the light blue and I have silver. Both are really lovely. I am HUGE fan of Lexus. I had a post awhile ago about what great cars they are. I can tell you I will always, always but from them. The quality and customer service are 100% and they think of all the little details that make driving a pleasure.

 

[Diamonds4Me]

Date: 7/18/2005 10:31:27 AM
Author: Matatora
My sister had the 50th anniversry corvette (it floated away in a flash flood right into the next county). We both now have the Lexus RX330, she has the light blue and I have silver. Both are really lovely. I am HUGE fan of Lexus. I had a post awhile ago about what great cars they are. I can tell you I will always, always but from them. The quality and customer service are 100% and they think of all the little details that make driving a pleasure.

That reminds me of what happened in Hickory a while back. Hickory, NC is about 20 minutes from me. Well anyway, a few years back, there were some terrible rain storms and this guy had his brand new Corvette parked in a restaurant parking lot while he and his wife were in eating dinner. There was so much rain that somehow it caused a water main to rupture and created a VERY large, VERY deep sink hole. It swallowed his brand new vette.

Insurance covered it and he had a brand new one. They recovered the car from the sink hole several weeks later and it was just awful. I almost cried when they pulled it out. What a nightmare!!!

 

[Libster]

Date: 7/18/2005 10:01:48 AM
Author: rfath
What makes the most difference for winter driving is getting a GOOD set of snow tires for the car. Even all-wheel-drive cars are greatly improved with snow tires. They help the car to get enough grip to not only get moving in the snow, but also to stop (more important!), where it doesn''t matter how many wheels you have to drive the car. Current generation rear-wheel drive cars have some pretty sophisticated anti-slip/skid and traction control.

I live in the Northeast, know plenty of people with rear-wheel drive cars making it well in the winter (see winter tire rant abover ... now, if I lived truly north (Maine or Vermont), I''d feel a lot better having something with more ground clearance than my Mini. Dear though it is, it''s less fun when the snow is deep enough that I''m plowing the road for the city! All-wheel-drive is nice for trying to get moving from a standstill on a hill... and for the best all-wheel-drifts and doughnuts around. Whee!

Do you just love your mini?! What a cool car!

I have the best of both worlds....if the weather is bad or I need to haul anything I just jump in hubby''s Land Rover and I can drive over mountains, thru floods, streams...etc. It''s quite a fun vehicle, too

 

[Diamonds4Me]

Somehow missed the mini part

sorry about that.

H2b''s brother just bought a mini and they drove it down when they visited. I got to drive it to the grocery store and was amazed at the amount of space in that tiny car. I absolutely had a blast zooming around in that thing. It was also fun because it had been a looooong time since the last time I drove a standard. I was a little nervous at first. But what fun it was!

 

[jaysonsmom]

Date: 7/18/2005 10:31:27 AM
Author: Matatora
My sister had the 50th anniversry corvette (it floated away in a flash flood right into the next county). We both now have the Lexus RX330, she has the light blue and I have silver. Both are really lovely. I am HUGE fan of Lexus. I had a post awhile ago about what great cars they are. I can tell you I will always, always but from them. The quality and customer service are 100% and they think of all the little details that make driving a pleasure.

I have to agree that my Lexus RX330 is the best car that I''ve ever driven. It''s so smooth and comes fully loaded for the price of a BMW 3 series! I was looking at the BMW 5 series, the Audi A6 and the Mercedes M class.....I wasn''t impressed with any of them, especially for their price tags, AND I also herad about their electrical problems from my bro (who owns a VW and an Audi)...he toldme NOT to get a german car. Glad I listen to him. My Lexus saved my whole family on July 4th, we got into an accident, and my car is pretty banged up, but we all came out unscathed.

 

[MissAva]

And that is why people love them! They are just great all around cars. I am trying to remember the name of a website I found through endmunds. It showed all the recalls on any vehicle any year. This also helps you know what you are getting into...the Pilot had problems with not being able to get the back doors to open!

 

[Diamonds4Me]

Date: 7/18/2005 12:30:49 PM
Author: jaysonsmom

Date: 7/18/2005 10:31:27 AM
Author: Matatora
My sister had the 50th anniversry corvette (it floated away in a flash flood right into the next county). We both now have the Lexus RX330, she has the light blue and I have silver. Both are really lovely. I am HUGE fan of Lexus. I had a post awhile ago about what great cars they are. I can tell you I will always, always but from them. The quality and customer service are 100% and they think of all the little details that make driving a pleasure.

I have to agree that my Lexus RX330 is the best car that I''ve ever driven. It''s so smooth and comes fully loaded for the price of a BMW 3 series! I was looking at the BMW 5 series, the Audi A6 and the Mercedes M class.....I wasn''t impressed with any of them, especially for their price tags, AND I also herad about their electrical problems from my bro (who owns a VW and an Audi)...he toldme NOT to get a german car. Glad I listen to him. My Lexus saved my whole family on July 4th, we got into an accident, and my car is pretty banged up, but we all came out unscathed.

Oh no, jaysonsmom! I am so glad that you and your family were safe and are doing OK.

Thank goodness!

 

[rfath]

Date: 7/18/2005 12:11:14 PM
Author: Libster

Do you just love your mini?! What a cool car!

I have the best of both worlds....if the weather is bad or I need to haul anything I just jump in hubby's Land Rover and I can drive over mountains, thru floods, streams...etc. It's quite a fun vehicle, too

I LOVE my mini. I take it to the racetrack, I take it to the barn, I take it into town... it's such a BLAST!

If I want to drive the greased pig, I'll steal my fiance's modified Audi. Super-fast, but just not as nimble in the curves. More fun in the snow, though... we take that one up to the rally school and drift on the ice skid pad and slaloms...