High dollar vehicles rant

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volshooter

Buckeye
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EAST TN, USA
Bud I help/work for had a nail in the side wall of his Porsche. My job to get it fixed before he gets home. Porsche comes with out a spare or a jack. I talked to dealer to find out if I could avoid a $182 one way tow if it was possible for me to remove tire safely and bring it in. No was the answer. So off it went on a special dolly tow deal. Only Porsche can change tires. Last May the battery went down. Turns out that a Porsche has to have a chipped battery installed and the 7 computers onboard have to be computers on board have to be reset, $800 bill.
Don't get me started on Range Rovers...….
He has several and I take them in for service. Every service has been a grand+!.
They have serious electrical problems x 10. Every Range Rover has to go to the shop every 3500 miles for something.
These are status symbols only. Maintenance cost are unreal. I been with him 7+ years and have seen the money spent.
I love driving these vehicles but if someone gave me one I'd sell it the next day.
If you win the lottery don't buy these POS.
Not a car guy but I know being ripped off by yugo products,
Buy American or a KIA.
 
Not enough people buy truly HIGH dollar cars. These companies have to stay in business somehow. High parts and service cost is how it works. Also a little ego plays into each purchase. We used to love sitting around at the track when we had joint Cobra/Ferrari track days. The Italian car owners would argue - well I spent 3 time that on my tune up so it must be better. No you were just too stupid to screw in your own plugs or pull a valve cover to adjust the valves.
American cars also have problems and why would someone even consider a Korean Imitation Automobile???
 
It sure seems that those that have enough income to truly afford vehicles in that
price category, have "earned" the right to pay that much more for their "service".

If you are that dumb . . . you get to pay what you (continue to) "need". :roll: . :roll:
 
RSIno1 said:
American cars also have problems and why would someone even consider a Korean Imitation Automobile???
Click to expand...

Hi,

Well, most of the KIA owners I've known have a sense of humor about their cars. Including a young lady at a big trap shoot I recently attended. The shoot was in Tucson, with folks from all over the country and some pretty good chunks of Canada attending. The lady had just arrived and met up with folks sitting near me.

Somebody asked if she'd flown or driven. She drove. "What did you drive?"

"The KIA."

Which model do you have?"

"The Soul."

"I'm not familiar wih KIAs, which one is that?"

"Oh, you know, the one that looks like a toaster. The two slice model!" ;)

Rick C
 
My daughter has a KIA van that's given excellent service for them for about eleven years or so. Only a couple of repairs which were done by a independent shop I use here in Medford. Good work, reasonable prices, Action Auto is hard to beat.
 
I have owned a Kia Rio that I basically used for a 37 miles per day work car. It was a great car and trouble free. Unfortunately, I was the meat in a 3 car sandwich and it was totaled. Replaced it with a Hyundai Elantra. Great car! Bought another one later. I really liked those Korean imports. Reliable inexpensive cars.
 
RSIno1 said:
why would someone even consider a Korean Imitation Automobile???
Click to expand...

Because they actually do have a 100,000 mile warranty that they stand behind. We had never had any trouble with our 2013 Hyundai Sonata and then suddenly at 5 years old with 91,000 miles on it the motor developed a noise one weekend. I took it to the dealer on Monday morning and got the car back in less than 3 days later with a new engine in it. No haggling, or we'll try this or we'll try that to fix it. They just replaced the whole motor that didn't cost us anything and that included a loaner car. That was back in October last year and we've not even had to take it back for any minor adjustments or anything. They got everything right when they replaced the motor.

If we ever need another new car it's going to be another one of those "Korean Imitation Automobiles" that you speak of.
 
Hi,

Just an observation on the side about Hyundai/KIA:

They have a proving ground here in SoCal, up in the high desert near Mojave. There's a small sign off the highway where it is, but there's no need for a big sign, because if you don't work there or have some serious credentials, you probably could have gotten into the Skunk Works at the height of the Cold War easier!

However, once in a while a reporter is allowed to bring back some video footage. One piece I saw showed miles of racks with all kinds of interior bits on them. Steering wheels, seat backs, dashboards, sun visors, all the items which really suffer in the heat throughout much of the country. They were not "computer modeled" to simulate wear, but actual production items which had sat out in the real live sun, some for years!

Then there was another test, with a live automobile, one of the top Hyundais. This one, run in the summer heat as well, involved the car running on the track for 3000 miles, non-stop except for fuel, tires and driver changes. The test ran essentially 24 hours. Factoring non-moving time out of the equation, the car ran at an average speed of 150 mph! Now I didn't know a Hyundai could go that fast, but knowing at least one model can, I wonder how Mercedes or BMW, supposedly engineered for Autobahn speeds, would compare. And I'm sure the Koreans have the Europeans and probably the Americans beat to pieces when it comes to electronics.

Since those horrid cracker boxes Hyundai sent over here in the late-'80s, it seems the Koreans have taken a lot of lessons from the Japanese, and may eventually beat them at their own game!

Rick C
 
Goodly number of years ago my wife bought a 2003 used porshe boxster she took it in for it's 60,000 mile check... with oil change... $800... the part that blew my mind besides the charge was the 12 quarts of oil that little car needs.
 
Dad was a rural mail carrier. He made a LOT of money driving vehicles that cost less than $800. I learned a little from that (probably less than I should have) and as a result have "owned" a total of 2 new vehicles in my life(both very conservatively priced). I still do most of my mechanic work, change tires, and all the nuts and bolts stuff so owning a non-user serviceable vehicle is out of the question. I've been known to walk away from a pretty decent used vehicle because I couldn't even see the spark plugs.
Currently, my work pickup is making approximately $750/month clear profit and all the personal use miles are free(except for the gas).
 
A friend bought a new HD Road king in 1998.
The dealer ship told him he needed to be sure and bring it in for the first service to keep his warranty intact,
which is illegal to begin with,but he complied.
I went with him to help with loading and tying the bike down,as it had to be stone cold they said to do the service.
45 minutes later,the mechanic and I had loaded it back on the trailer as Rich paid his $427 dollar bill.
 
High dollar autos that come with all these fancy features all carry a high dollar service bill. The manufacturers want it that way.
It's kinda like gun sales. (As well as many other things!)
Lots of guns out there,, and the purchase price is very competitive because the consumer can shop around etc. But after the sale the accessories, the services, etc all cost a lot more. The money is made AFTER the initial sale.
In automobiles,, the current craze is the "safe driving stuff." The stuff to keep you in your lane, to brake for you when a potential wreck may happen, cameras etc.
Heck, even the "low pressure sensors" for tires is a minor,, yet expensive repair.
All these features REQUIRE a computer,, a factory trained wrench monkey to calibrate, replace etc. The manufacturers do not want anybody other than them to do any kind of maintenance on a vehicle,, so they can hit you with their service fees.
A good friend of mine recently retired from working on Mercedes. The stuff he told me about the number of cameras, sensors etc that are being added to vehicles,, as well as the procedures required to "fix" something is scary as heck. We were discussing the simple tire low pressure sensors. It's a simple thing,,, or at least you'd think so. NOPE!!!!!!!!! One sensor goes out,, and apparently the others start failing right after. Calibration REQUIRES a special machine/tool to re calibrate all 4 tires after any sensor is replaced. Sensors cost $50 or more each. Then there is the tire shop that has to install them. Then the calibration. We recently spent over $400 to get that idiot light to go out on Miss Penny's car. She worries about anything going wrong on a vehicle,, so to constantly see an idiot light bugs the heck out of her. Even when she knows for a fact nothing is wrong. I'd check the tires,,, the pressures etc. All correct,, but that *&$^%(%*^# sensor issue was the only way to get that light to go out.
I'm a bit different.
My 2004 Chevy truck,, which has over 322,000 miles on it recently had a "check engine" light came on. I got out my code reader,, found out the issue was a minor one,, that when I get the time,, I can easily fix myself. The truck is doing just fine,, and I'll be fixing it myself. If I have any serious issues,, I take it to a shop,, and NOT the factory dealership. Too dern expensive.

On a side note,, I just heard an advertisement for a Chevy/GMC dealership offering a full, lifetime warranty. And they explained that it's good as long as you follow the agreed upon service schedule! Talk about an expensive warranty!!!!!!!!!! It will guarantee you spend a LOT on service,, to where they will make a lot of money doing the "regular maintenance!"

It all comes down to GREED!!!!!!!!!
 
nothings changed. we owned a 74 280 bends and 79 jag new. jag cost 300 bucks for a air filter change and the ac recharge on the bends was a grand....in the 70's.
dad bought metric tools and ended that.
since then...I learned and to this day, never owned a new car or truck. the newest car we own today is an 04 and that is pushing it with its stupid computers and battery under the back seat.
my 86 olds is still running and too is the 95 2500 pickup with rotted bumpers.
 
and don't get me going on my used b-m-trouble- u I had in the 80's. chick magnet indeed, but the cost to maintain the mouse trap was crazy.
 
I have owned, in my 82+ years, 27 different autos (yes I counted them). The last two we bought were a 2011 Hyundai Sonata and a 2016 Tucson. The Sonata now has nearly 90,000 miles and other than replacing a battery has been trouble free. It give great gas mileage and is built in the USA. From my home to Contenders is roughly 550 miles. I don't stop for gas along the way. Last trip with it was a wee bit over 40 MPG. Then we bought the Tucson so I could more easily fit "Trigger" in the back. It is the most comfortable auto I have ever driven.
If you are wondering what "Trigger" is here I am astride Trigger.
JefOIj3h.jpg
 
I drive Ford pickups.
My wife has a KIA. I have a hard time getting in and out of it , but once I am in it is OK.
My neighbors drive big SUV's and are always asking " How do you like the Kia ? "
I say " It gets 40 miles a gallon. What's not to like ? "
That usually shuts them up.
 
contender said:
. We recently spent over $400 to get that idiot light to go out on Miss Penny's car. She worries about anything going wrong on a vehicle,, so to constantly see an idiot light bugs the heck out of her. Even when she knows for a fact nothing is wrong. I'd check the tires,,, the pressures etc. All correct,, but that *&$^%(%*^# sensor issue was the only way to get that light to go out.
Click to expand...

As my A&P used to say..." that's nothing that a burnt out light bulb won't fix"
Dave
 
A buddy purchased a KIA new 2-3 years ago. A SUV, I do not remember what the model name is. As with ANY newer vehicle, take a look at 2 things. The VIN and or the Federal Standards sticker (the white sticker on the body inside the drivers door area). The white sticker says which country the vehicle was made it. His is USA, I do not remember the state. The VINs 1st character if it's a number, USA is #1, Canada #2, Mexico #3. Foreign owed car makers that build the vehicles in USA #4, #5 or #6. #J stands for Japan. etc etc.
Same buddy got the talk about buying a import. From a Chev owner. I explained the VIN stuff. Next visit with same buddy. He showed the hate import car guy. That his KIA is made in USA, the guys Chev made in Mexico. You never know where the vehicles are made unless you look at the white sticker "made in XXX" or know the VIN codes. This information was started in 1981 as I recall.
 
High dollar is a very relative term, I have a customer who bought a $100,000 Jeep on a whim a couple of weeks back and I can assure it barely amounts to a rounding error in their bank account.
 
WAYNO said:
I try to buy American when I have a reasonable choice.

Then the discussion happens...

What's the best choice to preserve American interests?

An American branded company making their products in a foreign country, or a foreign branded company making their products in the U.S. ?
Click to expand...

Excellent point! If a foreign make builds their cars here, they pay American workers to assemble, ship, service and sell to Americans.

American makes built in Canada, Mexico, etc., May not contribute as much to the American worker. Just sayin’....
 
I saw a vid (independent garage) on YT of a Bugatti Veyron oil change. They had to remove several carbon fiber covers to get to the engine which is dry-sump-oiled and had,IIRC,16 oil plugs to r\r to access various areas inside.
 
WAYNO said:
I try to buy American when I have a reasonable choice.

Then the discussion happens...

What's the best choice to preserve American interests?

An American branded company making their products in a foreign country, or a foreign branded company making their products in the U.S. ?
Click to expand...

Hi,

How businesses are run today is different than it used to be, and not always for the better. Back in the '60s, VW was one of the first car companies I know of to set up manufacturing plants in several countries besides Germany. Their rationale was that being "a good corporate neighbor" had a tremendous value, even if much of it was intangible.

Today folks still set up plants on foreign soil, but too often that's a decision based on tariffs, taxes and legislative mandates so which model is better becomes complicated quickly... for myself, I'd think the "VW model" which turns into a foreign nameplate on a domestically produced vehicle is still "better" overall.

Rick C
 
volshooter said:
Bud I help/work for had a nail in the side wall of his Porsche. My job to get it fixed before he gets home. Porsche comes with out a spare or a jack. I talked to dealer to find out if I could avoid a $182 one way tow if it was possible for me to remove tire safely and bring it in. No was the answer. So off it went on a special dolly tow deal. Only Porsche can change tires. Last May the battery went down. Turns out that a Porsche has to have a chipped battery installed and the 7 computers onboard have to be computers on board have to be reset, $800 bill.

Now I know why my bullet proof, easy to maintain, air-cooled, 1990 Porsche 911 has tripled in value since I bought it. :)
Click to expand...
 
About a year ago I took our Chrysler 300C to the Dealership in Fort Collins for an oil change and filters, lube, etc. All of the years when my wife and I lived on our ranches, our own mechanic did this kind of work, but now I live in town due to my injuries on the ranch.

Before my wife and/or I drive a vehicle we check it, including the oil. The morning after I brought the car home from the dealer oil change, my wife took it to go shopping. I attempted to check the oil before she left but there was no dip stick in the engine. I drove it directly back to the Dealer's shop and notified the manager that the mechanic who serviced the car the day before had neglected to put the dip stick back in when he finished. The manager went into the shop and attempted to find the missing dip stick.

The missing dip stick was not found and I was informed that a replacement dip stick would cost me $52.00 The manager refused to replace the dip stick that his mechanic lost and I was required to pay for a replacement, even after I told him that unless the dip stick was replaced without charge I would never bring the car back to the Dealer Shop for service.

Our Chrysler has been serviced twice since then at an independent shop, McCormick Automotive Center where it will be serviced in the future also.
 
My wife and I have been driving Audi's since 1980, 13 so far. Currently a 2015 S3 (hers) and a 2018 RS5 (mine). While I rarely keep a car past 80k miles I have never had any issues with the cars or the service.
 
1989 Ford F-250 with a 7.3 IDI engine, with no turbo. Mine has 500K +. runs good pulls strong and sound like ^%$#. Looks even WORSE! Nobody gives it a second look but its paid for and is dead nuts reliable. Like Harley Davidsons and VWs it doesnt leak!! It merely marks its spot! with the additional fuel tanks I can travel 1900 miles without filling up. Guess Ill drive it until it dies !
 
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