What is Your Daily Driver? (Automobile)

[chachp]

Another 'Benz guy.........

 

<span style="font-family: helvetica;">My daily driver.  2019 C300.  I haven't driven much since the lockdown started.  Hubby is essential so he switches off between the cars so they both get driven.</span>

 

[vacerator]

Eugene,

do you ever buy any difficult to find vintage Mercedes parts from Kash auto parts in Cleveland? I know a relative of theirs.

 

[pulltostart]

My only vehicle is a 2011 Toyota Rav4. lawrence

 

[warmsecondrinse]

My second Cube from a few posts back. Pics taken at a stop on the way home from buying it.
More BOL than the first one, but perfectly fine. One weird thing: This one is noisier at 65mph than my first Cube yet quieter at 85. Go figure.


Photo credit: NewVista58

[this post was last edited: 9/1/2020-19:41]

 

[philcobendixduo]

Car Collection

Some members here collect appliances.
I collect cars (but I'm not trying to do so - it just happened!).
2003 VW Passat GLX wagon with 5 speed manual - purchased new (factory ordered) August 2002. 105k miles.
2011 Nissan Leaf SL ordered online April 2010 and delivered May 2011. 36k miles.
2018 Buick Regal TourX wagon purchased new March 2019. 5k miles.
I thought I would sell the VW wagon after getting the new Buick but then I started having "separation anxiety".
The VW is in "like new" shape - no dents, no peeling paint, interior clean and free of rips or stains.
It even has some features my fully loaded Buick doesn't have.
I figure wagons are a vanishing breed so I will keep the 2 wagons and sell the Leaf at some point.
The Leaf's battery pack is down 5 "bars" and can only drive about 40 miles tops before it needs charging.
Because I'd get very little money for it, I continue to use it for short trips to the store etc.
One man. 3 cars. CRAZY!!

 

[gusherb]

Still drive a 2013 Nissan Altima. I like how comfortable the seats are and how smoothly it drives for a modern car. Have 69k on it now (didn't drive much the first 5 years with it) and then since lockdown have been driving all over just to pass time, it's a good highway cruiser. 

 

Drove a 2020 Altima the other week and they managed to ruin the two things I liked about it - the seats are less comfortable and the ride quality is harsher. They did a good job making the noisy engine quieter but now the CVT thinks it's a traditional automatic and "shifts" (complete with shift shock and all). 

 

Whenever I do replace this I want to get a full size truck of some kind. I always wanted an F150 for years but with the way Ford has been lately I wouldn't consider anything new from them. In fact I would run away like ones life depended on it... So that leaves Ram or a Silverado/Sierra or something used. 

 

[lorainfurniture]

@vacerator

My wagon is a 93 so parts are mostly plentiful. That car sadly has been demoted to “lawn mower hauler/winter beater” status so when things break now I just super glue or duct tape as needed.

Plus I barely put a thousand miles a year on it. I spend more on fuel stabilizer than parts

 

[warmsecondrinse]

#43

At only 36K miles might the batteries be covered under some kind of warranty? IIRC, Nissan also has/had some kind program for batteries that 'got got old before their time'. You still had to purchase them but there is/was a huge discount.

#44

My 2nd Cube developed a similar problem. It concocted its own "2nd gear" and insisted on starting off in that. It turned out to be a software issue.

 

[askolover]

No CVT for me...EVER!  Almost got burned on an Audi CVT once and several friends have had Nissan problems.  If I have to choose between a CVT automatic and a stick, I'll stick to the stick!  I've been shifting since I was 16 anyway so who cares?  Even in Nashville drive time on a Friday afternoon traffic.

 

[jamiel]

2019 Regal TourX. Choicest product of Russelsheim's art. Bought last October...just turned 6k miles. Still have the 2009 Saab 9-3 wagon...haven't driven it in months and months...need to air up the tires and jump the battery, no doubt. I actually think I prefer the Saab--it is more upright/narrower.

I was at GM when the TourX was conceived and brought out---unfortunately some of it's Europeanism, while charming in it's own way, when GM sold off Opel/Vauxhall to Peugeot became annoying in a couple ways.

The implementation of OnStar was altered to accommodate EU preferences starting in 2018, but with the sell-off of O/V, OnStar Europe became an island (and is being shut down in December), yet we in the US are still stuck with those features/lack of features.

The pedestrian-friendly hood-pop if you're in a slow speed accident (the hinges move up about 2-3 inches) are slightly more useful, but still isn't a familiar capability here.

The 3 model-year life of the model is going to make getting replacement parts a little chancy (there isn't quite the same installed base as with the Saab, which still has most non-electrical parts easily available--harnesses can be a bit troublesome).

 

[chachp]

2009 Audi Cabriolet

 

<span style="font-family: helvetica;">Years ago I had a 2009 Audi Cabriolet with the CVT transmission.  Literally, at 50,001 (I'm so serious) the transmission developed some kind of issue and needed to be replaced.  Since the car was just over the warranty limit I consulted the salesman.  I had bought a number of cars from him over the years so we had a good relationship.  He told me confidentially to call Audi and ask to file an out of warranty claim.  I had never heard of such a thing.  Have any of you?</span>

 

<span style="font-family: helvetica;">They took all the information and a couple of days later they got back to me.  They said because I had kept the car up on all it scheduled maintenance and had everything performed by the dealer they would honor the claim.  They said they would pay for parts if I paid for the labor.  So it cost me I think about $800 for the labor on a close to $8K job.  That seemed fair to me.  Traded it in with about 75K miles but didn't have any more issues with the transmission.  As a matter of fact other than normal wear items that's the only money I ever put in the car. </span>

 

[philcobendixduo]

Leaf Battery

Jim - regarding the Leaf battery.
The capacity of the battery decreases with time and use just like any other rechargeable battery.
When purchasing the car, one has to sign a multi-page disclosure agreement regarding battery life.
I was fully aware that the battery capacity would decrease with age when purchasing the car.
My hope was that by the time the car needed a new battery, there would be bigger and better ones available.
Such is not the case.
Nissan only replaces the battery with a like one to the tune of $8500.
There is a third party battery company promising something better but so far, no production.
Nissans big failure with this car was not having active temperature control for the battery.
Those in very hot climates DID get a replacement on Nissan but I don't live in that climate.
If I could afford one, I'd have a Tesla but even when used, they are very pricey.

 

[justjunque]

It's funny how "daily driver" has become a thing of the past for me.
I'm now unemployed, (unofficial retirement?) and the wife works from home.
Our two aging vehicles are a 2002 Ford Explorer that we bought in '05. One of the best vehicles either of us has ever owned.
And a 2001 VW Passat that was a hand-me-down from her parents a few years back.
I never thought I'd like it, but it really grew on me. It has decent get up and go for a four cylinder, handles quite nicely, and has like zero wind noise at highway speeds. Even at well over legal highway speeds. (So I'm told)
They're both starting to really show their age cosmetically, but they're hanging on.
We both have "toys" sitting in the garage, but they don't get driven any more. If we had the sense we were born with, we'd actually sell both of those. But, we've owned them since the 1980s, so there's some sentimental attachment issues.

Barry

 

[warmsecondrinse]

#50

Sorry to hear that. That's a serious bummer. And $8500? That's crazy! $3500 would be a bit more reasonable IMO, especially because the $8500 price tag might well scare off potential buyers.....