Friggen cars!

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jb6l6gc

Minister of Fire
Feb 26, 2015
820
Cayuga, Ontario, Canada
Friggen cars are such bad investments lately every time I turn around its something. I have a 2007 Mazda 3 170000km that's cost me 2gs in the last 6 months and counting and a 2009 Hyundai Tucson 170000km just off warranty that's starting the same vicious cycle. Not to mention how some of these parts are designed is ridiculous.

Sometimes feel like I'm chasing my tail.
 
My 2007 Mazda 3 with about 68k miles had the rear shock mounts rust out, twice, and needed new struts and shocks. Otherwise, not bad.

My observation about things in general is that it doesn't take much to knock them out of the box.
 
My 2007 Mazda 3 with about 68k miles had the rear shock mounts rust out, twice, and needed new struts and shocks. Otherwise, not bad.

My observation about things in general is that it doesn't take much to knock them out of the box.
Ya I have a rear end rattle on that car that I can't seem to figure out and the Hyundai just went in for a rear bearing which is quickly becoming expensive due to design issues of the rear spindle assembly that's causing problems for the mechanic to get the hub and bearing out.

I just needed a rant. But I do agree things are not build with maintenance in mind these days.
If you ever want a good kick look up how you replace the passenger compartment air filter in an 07 mazda3. Prett well have to take the whole dash apart!
 
I am hoping that the 1995 Suburban doesn't start having problems.
 
I hear your rant and join you;lol Called planned maintenance ....

When the 2013 Spark was still on warranty, Hubby's phone kept on getting dropped by the MyLink. 3 or 4 times he took it in and dealer service wrote it off as his phone. Not long after the warranty was up, the MyLink quit altogether. Dealer would not recognize it as a warranty issue and wanted us to hand over another $500 in addition to the diagnostic fees they had previously charged. It's been a quiet ride for over a year.

I took it to a new garage for an oil change and found out that the oil filter is proprietary and not one they routinely stocked from GM. Good thing they figured that out before they dropped the oil.

The on-board computer and monitoring all the sensors will drive a person crazy... and I never really get a good answer on what is going on. Aveos seem to be notorious for check engine lights from the cold:confused:
 
Funny thing is the sensors are supposed to show a problem however when there's a diagnostic code 9 times out of 10 it's the sensor that's the problem
 
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I am hoping that the 1995 Suburban doesn't start having problems.
I know. I have the same fear of the 99 Dodge. One of these days its liable to start giving me issues.
 
God I wish I still had my 99 Tahoe thing was a tank barely ever a problem except for the usual gm stuff. Problem is I couldn't afford the fuel driving 100km a day with a 5.7l v8
 
Brotherbart......are you hoping that the 21 year old Suburban is not going to have any issues ?........hahahahaha.......wish they still made them like that !
hoping for your continued success.......rn
 
Well, any car starts to cost money when you start getting to 10+ years and a couple hundred thousand miles. Even Toyotas and Hondas. Things wear out.

I sunk a couple grand into our 2008 Honda last year. Nothing was "broken" but at 100k it was due for the major service items - timing belt, water pump, new plugs, every fluid changed, time for a new battery, etc...
 
My 2003 Honda Accord went to a little more than 200,000 miles before I sold it in 2015 . . . other than a minor part and the usual wear and tear items it was near bullet proof (and I have to admit I was kinda bad about doing regular oil changes). Ended up selling it to a friend . . . who recently had the timing chain stretch on it. Instead of doing the timing chain he bought a junkyard engine and his kid and some friends dropped it in (which I was kinda impressed since I figured they would end up with extra parts).
 
^^ I will say I LOVE the fact that so many manufacturers are going back to timing chains. Eliminates one of the most expensive wear items and you have vehicles now that can go 200k on nothing but fluid, filters, spark plugs, tires and brake pads - assuming nothing breaks.
 
^^ I will say I LOVE the fact that so many manufacturers are going back to timing chains. Eliminates one of the most expensive wear items and you have vehicles now that can go 200k on nothing but fluid, filters, spark plugs, tires and brake pads - assuming nothing breaks.
I didn't like the belt on my VW TDI Beetle. When it came out at first, belt was supposed to be changed at 60k miles. I bought the tools and became adept at doing the job myself.
My MINI and Accent have chains. I hope the Mazda has a chain, lol, but I'm not sure.
 
I didn't like the belt on my VW TDI Beetle. When it came out at first, belt was supposed to be changed at 60k miles. I bought the tools and became adept at doing the job myself.
My MINI and Accent have chains. I hope the Mazda has a chain, lol, but I'm not sure.
Problem is you have to replace water pump too... Or you might as well!
 
yep
I recall now that the water pump on my MINI started leaking and I had to replace it, lol.
 
I know. I have the same fear of the 99 Dodge. One of these days its liable to start giving me issues.
You and BB can tempt fate if you want to, me I'm keeping my mouth shut.
 
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I buy used cars to avoid that first big depreciation hit then try to do what I can maintenance wise myself. Recently on my afternoon commute I noticed my brakes groaning a bit when letting off the pedal and some shimmy on the highway.

When I got it home I felt the drivers side wheel and sure enough it was hot. Garage wanted $500 to replace the caliper, brake line and pads. I explained it just started to happen and I didn't think it needed all that but he was adamant.

I took the car home and pulled the caliper. Freed up the frozen piston and cleaned it. Drove perfectly after that. Couple days later I changed the caliper for $65 to be safe.
 
I try to do what I can too. I am very mechanically inclined however without a hoist or impact and specialty tools it's quite tough to do everything! I do what I can and leave the rest to the pros. I've learned to weigh the cost vs my time now, this is how I determine what's worth my while as I have other things I'd rather be doing that working on my car. Ie. Fishing!
 
^^ I will say I LOVE the fact that so many manufacturers are going back to timing chains. Eliminates one of the most expensive wear items and you have vehicles now that can go 200k on nothing but fluid, filters, spark plugs, tires and brake pads - assuming nothing breaks.

Agree 100% . . . in fact I've tried to only buy vehicles with timing chains vs. belts for that very reason.
 
I guess I have perspective. In the sixties 60 K would usually mean the water pump, shocks, timing chain and exhaust would have been replaced and I woudl have had a couple of tuneups. The starter and alternator would have been out and rebuilt or replaced. The engine would be using oil. When you heard someone hitting 100 K it was rarity (odometers only had six digits). In the mid to late seventies smog controls made the engines run like crap, gas mileage was poor and performance was lousy. These days I expect a car will last 150 K and about all I do is change the oil every year when the car decides it needs changing. I do have to replace tires and brake pads every so often and my car gets 40 MPG. I cant complain.
 
I know. I have the same fear of the 99 Dodge. One of these days its liable to start giving me issues.
Never an issue with my 05 Dodge, and I work that little 1/2 ton like its a real truck.


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You and BB can tempt fate if you want to, me I'm keeping my mouth shut.
Add me and my trusty 1994 Ranger to the group. 59K miles and going strong.
 
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