Random Thoughts... [Automotive Edition]

93Flareside said:
Just put $2,000 down. Why such a precise number?
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The marketing men probably did a study and realized that $1393 is the ideal number to draw more customers thinking "look its not even $1500, what a deal" while maximizing profits.
 
CrazyRussian540 said:
Looks like you can actually get one for $99/mo at my local dealer.
http://www.smartcenterbloomfield.com/specials
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Fine Print said:
Available only to qualified customers through Mercedes-Benz Financial Services at participating dealers through December 01, 2014. Not everyone will qualify. Advertised 36 months lease payment based on MSRP of $14,370 less the suggested dealer contribution resulting in a total gross capitalized cost of $13,825. Dealer contribution may vary and could affect your actual lease payment.
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gaasc said:
Rick, DO NOT BUY A SMART!!! The Honda is miles better and I bet that's just a minor fix.
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Yeah, avoid smart cars. If you think repair bills are expensive with the Honda. Add in the German Repair Tax.
 
gaasc said:
Rick, DO NOT BUY A SMART!!! The Honda is miles better and I bet that's just a minor fix.
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93Flareside said:
Yeah, avoid smart cars. If you think repair bills are expensive with the Honda. Add in the German Repair Tax.
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Reading comprehension, guys. He's talking about a lease, so he knows upfront that he'd be throwing money away.
 
The trade-off between that sweet lease deal and them money it lets you plonk down on a Hayabusa motor to slip inside the car and the fact that the lease terms would totally prohibit that puts you at an impasse, Rick. An unfortunate impasse, indeed.
 
eizbaer said:
entirely the wrong conclusion, that thing won't get up any hills from the factory, without faults. look to the left, i know what i'm talking about...
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This!

Rick, take it from someone in an underpowered car : you do NOT want a ForTwo. Repair bills aside it's just not made for anything other than city traffic
 
A short time ago, you could lease a base base base model Jetta for less than $75/month around here.
 
NecroJoe said:
A short time ago, you could lease a base base base model Jetta for less than $75/month around here.
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We got a local dealer selling not 1 but 2 Kia Souls for $222/mo. Guess they're that desperate to try to sell them.
 
CrazyRussian540 said:
We got a local dealer selling not 1 but 2 Kia Souls for $222/mo. Guess they're that desperate to try to sell them.
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I know they look tarded but are they really terrible? Just thinking since Kia has gotten much better in the last few years, courtesy of being bought by Hyundai.
 
prizrak said:
I know they look tarded but are they really terrible? Just thinking since Kia has gotten much better in the last few years, courtesy of being bought by Hyundai.
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I drove one a few years ago and it was awful. Don't know about the current updated ones.
 
My boss had a previous gen 5 speed and was reasonably satisfied with it, the same guy has a 2010 Mustang GT and a Volvo semi tractor so he is no average consumer.
 
gaasc said:
Rick, DO NOT BUY A SMART!!! The Honda is miles better and I bet that's just a minor fix.
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93Flareside said:
Yeah, avoid smart cars. If you think repair bills are expensive with the Honda. Add in the German Repair Tax.
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That was mostly a joke. I'd never willingly buy a Smart. :nod: I'm just frustrated.

CraigB said:
Rick, with the hissing noise and lack of power, I'd look for a vacuum leak of some sort.

Edit: Especially one that would allow unmetered air into the engine.
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Yeah. I'm hoping I can get it to the shop tomorrow. I won't be going to class tonight - it's far too risky driving 2 hours away (from work) to get there.

laxmax613 said:
The trade-off between that sweet lease deal and them money it lets you plonk down on a Hayabusa motor to slip inside the car and the fact that the lease terms would totally prohibit that puts you at an impasse, Rick. An unfortunate impasse, indeed.
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:(

NooDle said:
This!

Rick, take it from someone in an underpowered car : you do NOT want a ForTwo. Repair bills aside it's just not made for anything other than city traffic
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I'm used to driving 85 to 88 horsepower automatic subcompacts, and they held their own on the same route...I think that, hypothetically, I'd do alright with a Smart as far as hills go. But yeah, twas a quip made in frustration.

prizrak said:
I know they look tarded but are they really terrible? Just thinking since Kia has gotten much better in the last few years, courtesy of being bought by Hyundai.
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I think they look alright. The first one had a crashy ride on the larger wheel options but the current model fixed that + substantially upgraded the interior materials. Reliability wise, both generations should be solid based on various reports/surveys.
 
Kia was bought by Hyundai? I didn't know that.
 
Kia and Hyundai has been producing different versions of the same car for quite some time now. At least two generations of cars.
 
rickhamilton620 said:
tl;dr: Don't let your Dad talk you into buying a car that you were going to walk away from.

I'm ready to push my car off a cliff. I drove to work fine yesterday morning. On the way home though the car felt "off"...it started struggling to keep pace with traffic and even sounded a little different with a hiss. When it would downshift into 3rd or 2nd gear to try and keep up on hills, i could hear the hiss more prominently and the car would just not move. Engine temp gauge was fine, transmission downshifting fine + warning lamp/gear indicator solid green and not flashing (counting my lucky starts I haven't had that happen yet...)

When i got home, i scanned for codes. No changes there...I did get a P1491 (insufficient egr valve lift) a month or so ago. That was still there but nothing new.
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Any idea how old the exhaust system is? I've seen very similar symptoms in cars with clogged cats - the whole thing feels strangled and powerless. The hissing could be the exhaust escaping from whatever leak it can find if the cat is plugged.
 
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