Marc Smith

we don't get much snow, and when we do wife doesn't drive much so AWD or 4wd isn't a must. Since we have the cmax, we don't really need a smaller car and I'm not sure she wants to go much smaller, if at all than what she's got now. If she needed to go into DC she could alwasy us e my daughters 2004 Civic

So Its time. My wifes 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line is nearing the end. It still has some useful life at 80K miles, but the CEL came on, needs new cats, and it has what I would consider a disturbing bit of rust on the "frame" under the seat pans. It looks like it rusting from the inside of the frame out. We are the second owners (GM exec car for 5000 miles, according to carfax) We bought the hybrid solely for the HOV exemption which has since evaporated. So we no longer need her hybrid. I'm driving one and saving the environment ;) for the both of us. She stand a whopping 5' tall and still wants to stay in a SUV doesn't need to be a big one though. her biggest issue, besides, being short, is the rear sight lines. Its seems that a thick slanted D pillar is the norm. She's gonig to go out and sit in some of the SUVs On the wifes Short list. 2018 Mazda CX-5 2018 Nissan Rogue 2018 Ford Escape 2018 Hyundai Tucson 2018 Kia Sportage 2017 Subaru Forester 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan I've asked her to also look at the Toyota Rav4 and Honda Crv as well. Anyone have any experience with any of the above models from 2016, 2017 or 2018

2013 60K on the clock. it has been to the dealer fro recall items like door handles, and I think the seat back. nothing major or earth shattering. it was an inconvenient, but ford gave me loaners each time. been through one set of tires. brake pads still nice and thick. I will occasional use the E brake or brake in Neutral to scrub the rotors never had any of the 12v battery problems (still on the original battery so I know I'm on borrowed time) I hear the occasional body creak/groan but its not a sports car, its not like it has a frame like a truck, Its a unibody, it flexes.

funny, my 2013 sel fob battery went out last week. conspirairacy. maybe... :) but I did happen to leave my keys in the car in the garage on the coldest night as well. but fob batteries are pretty cheap... made the change...

fir trip to work was a 45mpg trip. so nice to not have a gas guzzler again...

well got the car back. YAY so nice to be driving a decent car again. so far only one mistake but it was an easy fix. they put the windshield wipers back on the wrong way. IE they put the drivers side on the passenger side. the wipers did not like it. thankfully I'm a big fan of rain ex, so it wasn't a bad drive back down to the shop to have them swap them over. waiting for a nice sunny day to really go over everything. but the cursory glances look great. All the gaps in panels are consistent. the car drives as it did a month ago..no pulling no funny noises, ect..

well no car today. pesky traction control light won't go out.. so body shop took it to the ford dealer. maybe they'll do any current recalls on it while its there ... FFH would be on my short list for a nice family sedan...

maybe friday..... had to fill up the patriot for the second time. 250 miles between fill ups sucks... 24mpg.... UGH

Car still in the shop. they got started late on the repairs, waiting on parts. working on the suspension now....and they found more damage.. claim they are still on target for Nov 28. driving a rental jeep patriot. love the inside space. hate the mileage...hate the ride, just a POS....

repairs were authorized. $6400 bucks... now just have to determine cash value of the car, and figure out a diminished value payment

thanks it will be interesting to see how it shakes out...

Paul, I hate buying a car under duress. Which if my car gets totaled, I'll have 5 days to make a deal a happen. I bought the ford that way. and was happy. but it only had 10-11K miles on it. fairly stress free purchase for a like new car.. buying another 2013 would require some research since they vehicles are now older, more miles, ect. ect....and I would even consider an energi so I could buy the camry hyrbid for 6300 from the university where I work. and then use it while I do my research and then be able to trade the camry in and make a few bucks on it as well. The other reason. I promised my wife a few weeks ago that is her turn for a "new" car. her 2008 saturn vue green line is getting tired, and with the HOV exemption on hybrids expiring in our area, she doesn't need a hybrid anymore. so she may look for something else. so Id rather take the money from my accident and put towards a newer car for her. I could see myself getting another c-max very easily...I like it.... Spoke to the body shop a few minutes ago, they are only up to $5500. but they have not really studied the engine cradle. which would probably be the go/no go from a totaled vehicle point of view... Body shop also thinks that it would only be a 15-18 day job... in VA the total loss threshhold is 75% and I'm pretty sure USAA stays pretty close to that. Not sure if State Farm would be any different, so I might give them a call and see. Rigth now I'm running the claim through my own insurance let them subrugate, but maybe I could push state farm to a total loss, since once they pay for damages, and rentals, and then diminshed value, it might be the smart choice to just total the car.

It does look exactly the same damage. Jus other side.. since my 2013 has a value around 10k. 8000 would total it. So no having to wait for parts....

Well, the body shop is up to $5000 as of 3pm. And they have not been able to put it on a lift yet... usaa says that they usually try to get to 70 percent before they total. Started looking for a replacement vehicle. Found a 2009 Camry hybrid that was purchased for the university president where I work. Only 50k miles only $6000. Well below market value....would be a quick and dirty replacement to allow me time to search and not be under duress.

tough one. very minor damage to the acura MDX... no air bags deployed. just the perfect angle shot, a glancing blow. twilight, raining hard.... it will be interesting to see what happens. 2013's are going for a little over 10K right now so it may not take much damage to put it over the top. i worry about the transmission. i'm sure getting the half shaft pulled out while the car is moving isn't good... among other things... i figure my basic power train warranty was almost up any how...

Bummer 57K miles guy turned left in front of me from a stop sign and cut the corner and bam I was through traffic with no stop signs. and then the tow truck driver really cinched it down tight. to be honest looks pretty good with the wheels tucked under the fenders. not keen on the rear bumper cover trying to pull away from the 1/4 panel though...

I figured I'd ask here first the way I read the TSB is that it woudl only apply during the 3/36 b2b warranty.... I'll try talking to the dealer, I don t have much goodwill with them since I don't visit them for service. one would think that a seat cover would last more than 5 years with what i would consider typical mileage. i'm sure its a $300+ part as well... labor doesn't look to hard to remove and replace though I guess in the short term I could pull the cover off and add some fabric tape to the inside to help keep it from pulling apart and getting any worse..

so does this apply beyond the 36,000 warranty? just noticed this on my seats. and I'm at 56K

just did a 1005 mile rip from Vienna Va to Toronto and back. speed limit +5 was as fast as i went. I think one spot on the highway that was 75. but by and large kept the speeds under control rained for 12-13 hours of the 17 hour drive. sometimes just misting, other times down pour. spent some time driving around once in toronot but no much. car was loaded with weekend gear for sailing and me. so the equivalent of driver plus one passenger. 1004.9 miles 41.9 mpg 23.97 gallons 315 EV 19:00 time on road (complete trip) not hateful mileage, though the hill climbing and rain did not not help.

what was really odd that it was the rear tire that picked it up, which means i ran over it with the front tire, which probably got the bolt moving. ended up buying two new tires and put them on the front axle... made the trip to Toronto and back with no problems... Raad. my wife caught a peice of rebar sticking out of a curb . went through the tire side wall took out a small chunk of the rim and hit the TPS. expensive flat tire....