Dealing with Dealers

[MrPoopyButthole]

It's all new cars from anyone. Germans are the worst right now with their electronic issues.

Ford old skool module engines were peaches. This push for better fuel economy and more tech in cars has pushed the limit of things. Gone are the days of R&D, they leave that to the consumer. The mid to late 2000s seem to the worst when technology was really just coming into its own.

As Matt Farah said these new cars need to still see the test of time because of all these electronics and he is right. AAA just reported they no longer show up for flat tires or a tank of gas, they show up because the electronics in these cars have quit working. We have the mechanics down, the tolerances are so tight on these engines that mechanical failure seems to be things of the past (for the most part), but what is truely scary is how these engines and transmissions only last 3 years in a vehicle before a refresh. Gone are the days of swapping parts between generations it seems.

You are right, my GP was a great car, it was damn reliable even after all the work, but my 01 Saab 9-5 was awesome too (I miss that car), my 04 is a little less awesome (more electronics and it does appear some cost cutting came in) but it has been damn reliable too.

[MrPoopyButthole]

I really wish we got the Volvo V40 here.

[LeadfootCJ7]

It's all new cars from anyone. Germans are the worst right now with their electronic issues.

Ford old skool module engines were peaches. This push for better fuel economy and more tech in cars has pushed the limit of things. Gone are the days of R&D, they leave that to the consumer. The mid to late 2000s seem to the worst when technology was really just coming into its own.

As Matt Farah said these new cars need to still see the test of time because of all these electronics and he is right. AAA just reported they no longer show up for flat tires or a tank of gas, they show up because the electronics in these cars have quit working. We have the mechanics down, the tolerances are so tight on these engines that mechanical failure seems to be things of the past (for the most part), but what is truely scary is how these engines and transmissions only last 3 years in a vehicle before a refresh. Gone are the days of swapping parts between generations it seems.

You are right, my GP was a great car, it was damn reliable even after all the work, but my 01 Saab 9-5 was awesome too (I miss that car), my 04 is a little less awesome (more electronics and it does appear some cost cutting came in) but it has been damn reliable too.

Absolutely spot on. When I worked on cars as a job 15 years ago customers always came into the dealer saying "My old Suburban/truck/car never had this many problems". Most of the time the problems were with items that did not exist on the last generation or older vehicles. People want all of this technology, creature comforts, etc along with the government mandating better mileage and such. It is just asking for trouble. When you look at the amount of wiring and computers in a vehicle from the 80's, then 90's, then 2000's, and lastly current it is amazing how much it has changed. Often times when I read articles about new cars or check them out at the auto show my mind goes straight to "OMG, that has so many things that can go wrong and it will be a nightmare for someone to figure out".

I also remember when there was a show on the 2000-2006 Chevy truck design and they interviewed a bunch of engineers and developers from GM about the R&D and things they had done over the past 4 years preparing for the new platform and the changes they made because of what they learned. I think that is the last time I heard about any significant R&D put into a platform. Now it always seems to be that they "just developed this" and it 's available to the consumer now. The consumer is the tester who deals with all the recalls. I would certainly never own the first year or maybe 2 years of a new design.

I want to believe the manufacturers get better at it, but it doesn't seem to be happening yet.

[WarStryker13]

exactly. I just got another recall for the wife's car, because of a...

wait for it...

electrical connector that can come loose. Lol

But other than that, it's held up very well to the abuse of an Alaskan winter. thank goodness for AWD and snow tires.

[MrPoopyButthole]

Cheaper to deal with warranty claims than do R&D. They simulate everything with computers now.

Wife's Mitsu has been really good though. Its a basic box with basic crap...so not a lot to go wrong.

[WarStryker13]

Lol very true, this is the third recall it's been in for.

First was a parking sprag, second was the ECU connector, now the trans connector... I see a trend here. Lol

But they did do a trans "update", I'm mostly sure that it was just an adjusted tune for shift points and line pressures and such, I expect a few more updates to be released for it.

I've heard the horror stories about the trans, and I haven't had any of those issues. I honestly believe it was just a bad trans tune from the start.

I have grown more fond of the car, it's got great handling and a impressive amount of power for being an "economy" sedan. Lol And the 9 speed trans makes for some interesting possibilities, not to mention the 30 mpg with a 3.6L V6 and AWD is pretty phenomenal.

Dealership has actually been very helpful and courteous, other than the $140 price tag for an oil change...

[04lss]

Ive had the Volvo for a week, and Ive been very happy so far. Its a torque monster. I went to merge the other day and this jerk in an escape wouldn't let me over, so I nailed it and shot ahead. lots of fun. Only a few minor issues, in Drive (has sport and drive selections) its pretty lethargic shifting from 1-2-3. But in sport its a non issue.
I looked at the price I payed for the warranty, and 6 months out im definitely cancelling it.

Biggest thing, is that the interior materials are nicer than anything else ive owned, I don't have the right stuff to care for it. Meguiars is fine for VW plastic, but not the Volvo.

[WarStryker13]

I had the same reaction with the 200C, it's all (really smooth and buttery) leather and brushed aluminum, and even some actual carbon fiber here and there...

There's plenty of people on here that have more experience than me, and I'm sure a quick search in the detailing section will get you on the right track... I need to read up some in there myself.

[04lss]

Honestly, I found out my meguiars stuff is water based, so im probably going to keep using it. I just need to buy good leather stuff.


on a more Ranty Note:

Last Friday when I went to turn in the ford and pick up my jetta (which they were holding as "collateral" until I brought the ford in, I was told I needed to give them a down payment. I mentioned like $300 the night I bought the car. I told them the night I bought it I had to go to a bank and was told "Don't worry about it, we will figure it out". So I get there and I owe the DP. of course my money is in a savings account at a bank 50 miles away. Im mad at this point another 100 miles of driving and ive just lost $300. I go to leave and I was told they needed to keep the jetta ... over $300. My response was, your going to hold a $20,000 car hostage over three hundred dollars? that's incredibly petty.

The last several times ive bought a car, ive done a "next check" down payment. I give x now and y when I get payed. Never ONCE has it been an issue. Every dealer said, ok just bring it in on xday. Gave me the car and sent me on my way.

If they cant trust me over $300 how the heck am I supposed to trust them for anything.
on top of this once I got the paperwork, I was missing my warranty contract, service contract, the we owe, the buyers guide (legally required btw). so I asked him where everything was. and I got "well we sent it of to your bank for copies etc" and I asked him why from every OTHER dealer ive been to Ive always gotten my copies upfront. he couldn't answer that. While I was waiting the sales people were talking crap about other customers. "did you see the A** on her?" "yeah but she the Dark night heath ledger face" I was planning to call and rescend my complaints, now I think im going to add another one. Completely unprofessional on every level.