Buying, Owning, Driving and Maintaining a car in North America

vineethvazhayil · 8th April 2014, 21:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by amitoj

What do you guys think about the CVTs though? In test drives, I have found CVT to be a big killjoy.

I have liked the CVT on the 2014 Altimas - as long as you are on regular no rush driving. If you have to really be on the high speed driving mode long (stepping on it), that is a killjoy - agreed.

AltoHoncho · 9th April 2014, 00:49

Sold off the Lexus IS250 and moved into SUV segment. Bought the Rx350. Was considering lot of others which is test drove, only liked the ML350 from the german stable.
Audi Q5 was a big disappointment. The drive and ride and interior etc are all good but the space is too less even for a small indian family. Luggage capacity also felt quite less.

bhardwhu · 11th April 2014, 21:23

Expert advice needed on this car.
http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/4410296184.html

Kia Rio - 2008/121000 miles.

After the test drive:

Good : No Oil leakage / New tires / linear power delivery.

Bad : repainted car / TPMC and Airbag check light on.

The owner purchased it from a dealer and showed me the title (attached here). It did not mention if the car was a salvage. Would request an input as to how to identify any problems on title.

I need a reliable workhorse. Does this fit the bill?

I am concerned if the car has met with an accident which might have been severe enough to deploy airbags and might have caused some structural damage.

Regards

Himanshu

Jomz · 11th April 2014, 21:46

Repainted and Airbag check on...... is a problem. I would think that is an accident car.
With the airbag check light on, The OBD would think that the airbag system is faulty and the AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY in case of an accident.

The car is kind of priced low. So maybe.....

If it was a car for me, I would go with ~8k budget. I had bought a 2005 Corolla with 56k miles from the original owner for 7.5k. This was in 2011.

I have a 100 mile commute everyday though.

Btw PM sent on a Camry.

VLOCT · 18th April 2014, 13:15

A week of joyful re-acquaintance. The lady is back, now with a much higher level of potency.

Buying, Owning, Driving and Maintaining a car in North America-dsc_0071-2550x1434.jpg

Buying, Owning, Driving and Maintaining a car in North America-dsc_0076-2300x1294.jpg

Buying, Owning, Driving and Maintaining a car in North America-dsc_0078-2150x1209.jpg

Jeroen · 18th April 2014, 19:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhardwhu

Expert advice needed on this car.
http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/4410296184.html

Kia Rio - 2008/121000 miles.

After the test drive:

Good : No Oil leakage / New tires / linear power delivery.

Bad : repainted car / TPMC and Airbag check light on.

The owner purchased it from a dealer and showed me the title (attached here). It did not mention if the car was a salvage. Would request an input as to how to identify any problems on title.

I need a reliable workhorse. Does this fit the bill?

I am concerned if the car has met with an accident which might have been severe enough to deploy airbags and might have caused some structural damage.

Regards

Himanshu

There are a million, billion, zillion second hand cars out there in the USA. Walk away as soon as you feel anything isn't quite right!
Why even bother?

I suggest go the Carmax or buy from any reputable second hand dealer. Gives you peace of mind

Jeroen

vineethvazhayil · 19th April 2014, 18:05

I was in an accident yesterday. I was going to work on my normal route. I was waiting first at the intersection below to turn southbound onto IL 59 from west bound IL 68.
Google Maps Link
The light turned green, I moved forward and started turning left only to see a red Chevrolet Express Van approaching from the south at good speed - instantly realized that I was going to take a hit on the driver side. Tried to dodge the hit by going straight on yet still got hit as the van also tried to avoid the accident by swerving left. Had he swerved right he would have hit the car behind me. So for him an accident was for sure. The van climbed the curb and ended up half on the fence at the side. My came to a rest on the edge of the road. Side curtain and driver side airbags deployed. Miraculously, I only had minor scrapes and bruises and walked out of the car myself. Here are a couple of pictures

Buying, Owning, Driving and Maintaining a car in North America-150495.jpg

Buying, Owning, Driving and Maintaining a car in North America-150496.jpg

The van belonged to a building contracting company - a family run business. The owners sons were driving, and they looked late teens early 20s. He admitted that he was looking down (I am pretty sure looking at the phone - texting/ facebook whatever) and did not see the traffic light. The emergency management folks checked me out and suggested that If I feel not ok, goto a doctor. The other driver went to the doctor. The police issued him a red light violation ticket and have set a court date for the hearing. The cars were towed away and I have informed GEICO my insurer about the accident. They are yet to inspect the car but hearing about the damages, they are already talking about a total loss.

I'm glad that I walked out of that one with minimum injuries and sad that our beloved forester may not be back with us ever.

NinadJoshi · 19th April 2014, 18:35

Sorry to hear about the accident. Looks nasty indeed, but also glad to hear there are no injuries.

My first suggestion to you is to go to a doctor or to an ER right away (usually to be done within 24 hrs of the incident) and get yourself checked - let the doctor know you are visiting because you were involved in an accident.

During the check up, be truthful with the doctor, but let the doctor do his own assessment on your state (do not say "I've never felt better").

It will be handy to have on record that you were checked by a doctor after the accident, even if you are feeling fine. It is a precautionary thing to close the loop after an accident, and I recommend you get it done. Things will pop up in the future that could be linked to this accident and at that time you need proof that you were given a medical check after the accident.

If you get a choice, let the insurance company total the Subaru instead of getting it repaired, considering that the airbags have blown.

Again, sorry to hear about your accident. Hope you get back on track soon.

amitoj · 19th April 2014, 19:04

Sorry to hear about the accident but glad that you came out without a scratch! Reminds me of the "they lived" ad campaign by Subaru!

vineethvazhayil · 20th April 2014, 05:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by NinadJoshi

Sorry to hear about the accident. Looks nasty indeed, but also glad to hear there are no injuries.

My first suggestion to you is to go to a doctor or to an ER right away (usually to be done within 24 hrs of the incident) and get yourself checked - let the doctor know you are visiting because you were involved in an accident.

If you get a choice, let the insurance company total the Subaru instead of getting it repaired, considering that the airbags have blown.

Again, sorry to hear about your accident. Hope you get back on track soon.

Thanks! Yes, I did visit a doctor. Things seemed Ok. He suggested that I keep track of anything and everything.

I think there is frame damage on the car, which means that it is more than likely that insurance would like to declare the car a total loss. I would wait to hear from them on Monday. I prefer that as well.

Already lining up replacement options. Thinking of the new Highlander XLE.

Quote:

Originally Posted by amitoj

Sorry to hear about the accident but glad that you came out without a scratch! Reminds me of the "they lived" ad campaign by Subaru!

Yes, a bunch of my friends mentioned the same thing, I said "I lived"!

kraft.wagen · 20th April 2014, 07:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by vineethvazhayil

I was in an accident yesterday. I was going to work on my normal route..

Glad you walked away safe VV. Forester looks pretty badly hit.

Will your insurance pay up or the Van guys?

VLOCT · 20th April 2014, 11:11

@vineeth;

Glad to hear that you are ok. Give thanks to the man upstairs.

vineethvazhayil · 21st April 2014, 19:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by VLOCT

@vineeth;

Glad to hear that you are ok. Give thanks to the man upstairs.

Indeed. Many thanks to the force upstairs.

I'm still waiting to hear from insurance. I think the likely scenario is totalled.

I will be out in the market again then. Not yet sure what to look for.

Otomobil · 21st April 2014, 19:42

@Vineeth : Glad you are ok. Thank to all stars you came out with minimum injuries. Was anybody else in the car ? I do see that Driver side and Seatbelt airbags are deployed.

Strange that driver side window glass is not shattered for the impact but the side airbags were deployed. Shows that your beloved Subaru is well built.

Technocrat · 22nd April 2014, 00:17

That looks bad, Glad to know you are alright.

Great advice from Ninad, I remember a story from my brother, one of his friend's foot was run over by a car which was reversing. The car owner was good & asked if he needs to go to hospital or see a Dr. This fellow said no, after a few days its started hurting & turned out that he had a hairline fracture.

Then again a friend of mine who was hit from behind by a truck (proper container one) which totaled his civic. He got full the price for civic & some more from Truck driver's company as he got himself admitted to hospital & claimed impact.

9th April 2014, 00:49	#3677
AltoHoncho BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 581 Thanked: 14 Times View My Garage	Re: Buying, Owning, Driving and Maintaining a car in North America Sold off the Lexus IS250 and moved into SUV segment. Bought the Rx350. Was considering lot of others which is test drove, only liked the ML350 from the german stable. Audi Q5 was a big disappointment. The drive and ride and interior etc are all good but the space is too less even for a small indian family. Luggage capacity also felt quite less.
	() Thanks

11th April 2014, 21:46	#3679
Jomz BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Detroit, MI,USA Posts: 834 Thanked: 335 Times	Re: Buying, Owning, Driving and Maintaining a car in North America Repainted and Airbag check on...... is a problem. I would think that is an accident car. With the airbag check light on, The OBD would think that the airbag system is faulty and the AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY in case of an accident. The car is kind of priced low. So maybe..... If it was a car for me, I would go with ~8k budget. I had bought a 2005 Corolla with 56k miles from the original owner for 7.5k. This was in 2011. I have a 100 mile commute everyday though. Btw PM sent on a Camry. Last edited by Jomz : 11th April 2014 at 22:01.
	(1) Thanks

18th April 2014, 13:15	#3680
VLOCT BHPian Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Las Vegas, USA Posts: 558 Thanked: 633 Times View My Garage	Re: Buying, Owning, Driving and Maintaining a car in North America A week of joyful re-acquaintance. The lady is back, now with a much higher level of potency.
	(4) Thanks

19th April 2014, 18:05	#3682
vineethvazhayil Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 1,513 Thanked: 456 Times View My Garage	In an accident - and glad that I'm in one piece I was in an accident yesterday. I was going to work on my normal route. I was waiting first at the intersection below to turn southbound onto IL 59 from west bound IL 68. Google Maps Link The light turned green, I moved forward and started turning left only to see a red Chevrolet Express Van approaching from the south at good speed - instantly realized that I was going to take a hit on the driver side. Tried to dodge the hit by going straight on yet still got hit as the van also tried to avoid the accident by swerving left. Had he swerved right he would have hit the car behind me. So for him an accident was for sure. The van climbed the curb and ended up half on the fence at the side. My came to a rest on the edge of the road. Side curtain and driver side airbags deployed. Miraculously, I only had minor scrapes and bruises and walked out of the car myself. Here are a couple of pictures The van belonged to a building contracting company - a family run business. The owners sons were driving, and they looked late teens early 20s. He admitted that he was looking down (I am pretty sure looking at the phone - texting/ facebook whatever) and did not see the traffic light. The emergency management folks checked me out and suggested that If I feel not ok, goto a doctor. The other driver went to the doctor. The police issued him a red light violation ticket and have set a court date for the hearing. The cars were towed away and I have informed GEICO my insurer about the accident. They are yet to inspect the car but hearing about the damages, they are already talking about a total loss. I'm glad that I walked out of that one with minimum injuries and sad that our beloved forester may not be back with us ever. Last edited by Rehaan : 10th May 2014 at 16:41. Reason: Please upload pictures directly to Team-BHP servers. See the thread in the Announcements section. Thanks.
	(1) Thanks

19th April 2014, 18:35	#3683
NinadJoshi BHPian Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Maratha Country Posts: 289 Thanked: 252 Times	Re: Buying, Owning, Driving and Maintaining a car in North America Sorry to hear about the accident. Looks nasty indeed, but also glad to hear there are no injuries. My first suggestion to you is to go to a doctor or to an ER right away (usually to be done within 24 hrs of the incident) and get yourself checked - let the doctor know you are visiting because you were involved in an accident. During the check up, be truthful with the doctor, but let the doctor do his own assessment on your state (do not say "I've never felt better"). It will be handy to have on record that you were checked by a doctor after the accident, even if you are feeling fine. It is a precautionary thing to close the loop after an accident, and I recommend you get it done. Things will pop up in the future that could be linked to this accident and at that time you need proof that you were given a medical check after the accident. If you get a choice, let the insurance company total the Subaru instead of getting it repaired, considering that the airbags have blown. Again, sorry to hear about your accident. Hope you get back on track soon.
	(2) Thanks

19th April 2014, 19:04	#3684
amitoj Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Windham, NH USA Posts: 3,376 Thanked: 3,287 Times View My Garage	Sorry to hear about the accident but glad that you came out without a scratch! Reminds me of the "they lived" ad campaign by Subaru!
	(1) Thanks

20th April 2014, 11:11	#3687
VLOCT BHPian Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Las Vegas, USA Posts: 558 Thanked: 633 Times View My Garage	Re: Buying, Owning, Driving and Maintaining a car in North America @vineeth; Glad to hear that you are ok. Give thanks to the man upstairs.
	(2) Thanks

21st April 2014, 19:42	#3689
Otomobil BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: MKE,USA Posts: 116 Thanked: 26 Times	Re: Buying, Owning, Driving and Maintaining a car in North America @Vineeth : Glad you are ok. Thank to all stars you came out with minimum injuries. Was anybody else in the car ? I do see that Driver side and Seatbelt airbags are deployed. Strange that driver side window glass is not shattered for the impact but the side airbags were deployed. Shows that your beloved Subaru is well built.
	() Thanks

22nd April 2014, 00:17	#3690
Technocrat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: GTA Posts: 14,815 Thanked: 2,702 Times	Re: Buying, Owning, Driving and Maintaining a car in North America That looks bad, Glad to know you are alright. Great advice from Ninad, I remember a story from my brother, one of his friend's foot was run over by a car which was reversing. The car owner was good & asked if he needs to go to hospital or see a Dr. This fellow said no, after a few days its started hurting & turned out that he had a hairline fracture. Then again a friend of mine who was hit from behind by a truck (proper container one) which totaled his civic. He got full the price for civic & some more from Truck driver's company as he got himself admitted to hospital & claimed impact.
	() Thanks