Curse

Old Dood · Feb 07, 2006, 01:29 PM // 13:29

Ok...yes the "Quickie Oil Change" places can crossthread the oil plug...not good. We always put a little oil on the threads then set the plug before tightening it. Same with spark plugs...oil the threads.

EDIT: What did Homer say about changing your Transmission fluid and filter? I change mine every 25-30K miles.

I pwnd U · Feb 07, 2006, 01:30 PM // 13:30

Then i think thats probably what they forgot to do as well. The stupid people who are suppose to know how to do everything and make your car better seem to make your car worse. Coorporations SUCK!

Raptox · Feb 07, 2006, 03:28 PM // 15:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Dood

As much as I have always liked my Buicks I am looking at Toyota. They have some pretty nice cars at a reasonable price. Well built too.

I am looking at the Matrix, Corolla, and the Camery. Dunno yet...just looking for now. I want 30mpg City & close to 40mpg Hwy.

Are you considering a hybrid? Just curious.

Last time I did the math you really don't save any money but you do use less gasoline overall. I think they usually cost 3-5k more than a conventional gasoline engine and you don't make up that difference with gas savings before you have to replace the batteries.

So if you're into the principle of the thing it might be worth it, but otherwise not yet, I guess. Furthermore, the biggest gains are definitely not to be had at the speeds at which you've mentioned that you travel to/from work.

Old Dood · Feb 07, 2006, 03:35 PM // 15:35

No..not at this time. They are not worth the cost...plus they are so trimmed down they are real noisy. There is no sound proofing for weight. I want a quiet running vehicle. This is why I love my Buicks so much...they run real quiet. The Matrix still gets good gas mileage.

Loviatar · Feb 07, 2006, 03:40 PM // 15:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Dood

No..not at this time. They are not worth the cost...plus they are so trimmed down they are real noisy. There is no sound proofing for weight. I want a quiet running vehicle. This is why I love my Buicks so much...they run real quiet. The Matrix still gets good gas mileage.

hi DOOD

do you like to garden?

among the usual stuff i have been known to grow the occasional orchid (phals/epi) for the fun of it (cat loves to bat at the blossoms)

Divinitys Creature · Feb 07, 2006, 07:55 PM // 19:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Dood

Well I am consolidating all my debt into one big old debt. Refinancing my home and putting all our debt into it. This way I can free up allot of cash to purchase a new vehicle.

As much as I have always liked my Buicks I am looking at Toyota. They have some pretty nice cars at a reasonable price. Well built too.

I am looking at the Matrix, Corolla, and the Camery. Dunno yet...just looking for now. I want 30mpg City & close to 40mpg Hwy.

A friend of mine consolidated all his debts and it made his life a lot less stressful.
If fuel economy is important, have you thought about getting a diesel? European diesels run pretty well these days. They probably don't have the horsepower you are used to though.

labsenpai · Feb 07, 2006, 08:17 PM // 20:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Dood

...plus they are so trimmed down they are real noisy. There is no sound proofing for weight.

The hybrid Prius isn't noisier than any other car in its size/class. A friend of mine has had one for about a year, and it compares well to my Corolla. I'm talking about highway, not just the times it switches to the electric motor on 30mph streets. He could afford the higher price tag, but at least the gas savings are a comfort.

I'd like a Matrix for the extra stowage. Can't fit much more than my computer in my car.

Old Dood · Feb 07, 2006, 11:05 PM // 23:05

labsenpai...
I am talking about road noise. Not engine noise. I should have made myself more clear. When you are use to driving Buick Park Avenues and Lesabres you get very use to the quiet on the road. That is the great thing about bigger American cars....space & quiet.

I just went to the Toyota dealer and looked at a few cars. I am not liking the Matrix very much. However the Camry is sweet.

Oh...and no I do not want a diesel.

And I garden as little as possible. Mrs Dood loves that stuff and I will help when forced too. Mowing the grass on my tractor...sure! Planting flowers and scrubs...yuck!

labsenpai · Feb 08, 2006, 01:01 AM // 01:01

I too remember the old battleships fondly, but gone are the days of the American luxury liner priced for the working class. An affordable new car today is typically a plastic capsule for people under 5'10" with horsepower that at its best could be called "peppy".

I've driven the Camry; it has that extra comfort percentage above the Corolla.

Old Dood · Feb 08, 2006, 01:25 AM // 01:25

Yes the Camry does...and I am spoiled on that luxury. Driving a Park Avenue will do that too you. It floats over Railroad tracks. The best thing about a Buick is the police just do not "see" it like other cars. (Same for the Mercury Crown Vics too) They are considered Old Men cars and the police just let you speed right by them...hehehe

Ultimate Warrior · Feb 08, 2006, 01:39 AM // 01:39

Pwnd it is smart that you are going to start doing your own oil changes... the people at the quick-stop oil change places don't really have much knowledge of what they are doing. I fix my cars myself unless its way over my level of knowledge of cars or it will take too long. I have learned pretty much all I know about cars from my dad... hes really smart when dealing with cars. And the lube does play a pretty important part. Did they change your oil filter as well?? If they did, and didn't lube the ring, from what I know that is pretty bad.

I pwnd U · Feb 08, 2006, 02:12 AM // 02:12

My oil filter was realitivily new so i dont think it was changed, i do believe i got one just in the last 6 months though so it should be alright. But they might of put a new one in since it was a full service oil change. But the past two times i have got my oil changed i have had something done wrong so i am going to do them myself. might take a little longer but if its done right its worth it.

I do believe Homer changed my transmission fluid if i remember the recipt correctly. If not it wasnt too bad anyways. Also the filters havent been in there long enough for me to have driven 25-30k as when we got it there was only 60k miles on it. Right now there is 72k so i havent driven it too much since we got it 3 years ago.

Old Dood · Feb 08, 2006, 11:51 AM // 11:51

I pwnd U...

When I purchase a used vehicle no matter how many miles on it or what I was told about it's maintenence.....I always change all the fluids. I don't trust anyone's "word" on it. When it comes to tranny fluid...9/10 times it was not changed. Oil filters I always have changed...they don't cost that much. I have my mechanic check the differential fluids too. Power steering...brake fluid...all of it.

Well I talked to the Toyota salesman yesterday. Never stops to amaze me how much they are "My Friend" when I walk into a Dealership. I just wanted to "look" at a couple of Toyotas...not test drive. The salesman I ended up with was new at this dealership....older guy like me...but new to Toyotas...he came from a Buick dealership. I just wanted to get in and look, take some reading material and leave....haha...never that easy. I know the "sales game"...Keep em' talking....drag it out....get my personal info. As I was waiting for him to get me some brochures....he came back with his Sales Manager to "talk" to me too. I know what was up...the Sales Manager was feeling me out so he can instruct the salesman on how to "deal with me".

I always am pleasant with these people. I never talk price at this stage...it will give them an edge. When and IF I purchase a car from them....that is when I drop the hammer on pricing. Dood becomes real tough negotiator then. I am ALWAYS willing to walk away. That is how you win the battle of price. Walk away...make them call you up...never call back. The first to speak loses.

I pwnd U · Feb 08, 2006, 01:21 PM // 13:21

Well we got this car from a repair shop as it had been, as the insurance company words, totaled. It had been nailed in the passenger side door and caused a ton of damage. Thats why we got it fairly cheap, $2,500 i think is what it cost. Anyways i am almost 100% positive that i got all the fluids and stuff changed after we got it. On a power steering note the summer after i got my DL i was driving my dads Dodge Avenger when it became really hard to turn the wheel.

turns out the power steering belt just snapped right off. Well i live off a EXTREMELY twisty road so theres was no way i could get it home to fix it. Got lucky though and there was a repair shop 100 yards down so i just jogged over and got it taken care of.

My girlfriend drives a 1992 Toyota Camry. 1992!!! I thought my 95 olds was a good car but it hasnt been running near as long as her car. Though it sounds like her car is at the end of its line since it is really starting to squeal when its cold out. Yet it is a reliable car, hardly has ever broken and gets her from point A to point B no problem. I would defiently get a Camry if i were you Dood.

Old Dood · Feb 08, 2006, 01:24 PM // 13:24

It use to be in the "Old Days" when you broke a belt you could take your wife's nylons and make a temp belt just to get down the road to a shop....dunno if you can do that anymore.

Well I am looking at the Camry...it has the luxury items that Dood is very use to now....like heated/lumbar seats....ahhhhh!

I pwnd U · Feb 08, 2006, 01:32 PM // 13:32

The heated seats are great. My moms minivan has those, but they are only in the front and i sit in the back usually casue the only reason i ride in it is when we go to church on sunday morning. Yet still its a nice thing to have, though its not needed. The MPG is really good in the Camry (like all other toyotas) so that is a plus with the stinking gas prices at almost $2.50 a gallon. I find that ridiculous but thats another story... though my grandpa tells me he used to be able to buy gas for a NICKEL! what has this world come to?

TheEPIC · Feb 08, 2006, 04:18 PM // 16:18

The best thing about Toyotas and Hondas has to be that they are not made by Ford or GM or Chrysler. Every experience I've had with any American made automobile has been bad. I just don't understand it. It is usually stuff dealing with the engine too (like certain cars burning full quarts of oil in a couple thousand miles).

Buy the Toyota, or if you feel inclined, go look at some of Honda's newer Accords and Civics. Either way I don't think you can go wrong. My dad beat the crap out of his old Toyota pickup on his commute to Los Angeles (like 100 miles away). And the last Honda Civic I owned had 200,000 miles on it within 8 years, and it never had any problems, no need for major repair, and no problems our mechanic could see on the horizon.

Just take care of a Honda or a Toyota like your supposed to, and you will have a good care experience.

Raptox · Feb 08, 2006, 04:57 PM // 16:57

Yeah, if I was looking at a new car right now, it'd probably either be a Nissan Altima or a Honda Accord, and possibly even the Toyota Camry. I don't plan on buying for quite a while, but when I do I want to go one step up from my current car, the Ford Focus, and I simply don't like Ford's, GM's, or Chrysler's options there.

Something else of note: when I worked at a research lab for a while you couldn't help but notice that the majority of the cars in the lot were Hondas and Toyotas. It's probably not a coincidence that a lab full of scientists has a parking lot full of these cars. Just saying.

ShadowVoid · Feb 08, 2006, 05:04 PM // 17:04

I myself like the Mitsubishi style cars

Especialy the new 2006 Eclipse OMGZ I want that car so bad, but I think I will have to settle for a older modle like around 2000 or so.

But anyways hondas and toyotas are great cars made by great companies as toyota is the leading car dealer in the US right now and maybe the world.

labsenpai · Feb 08, 2006, 07:21 PM // 19:21

Car salesmen are rather mental. When I bought my Corolla, one of them felt compelled to mention that the previous owner was the sister of a Playboy Bunny. As if I'd buy the car hoping to find boudoir photos in the glove compartment...

Beware though, if your car was a babemobile, chances are the CD changer is worn out.