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Author Topic: The Pursuit of Happiness  (Read 1387 times)

Offline Scaerio

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The Pursuit of Happiness
« on: July 16, 2005, 06:48:15 am »
The Volvo is in for servicing.  Some little creature (a mouse or something - perhaps a bit of roadkill I ran over, has gotten into my HVAC system and is now rotting in there in this lovely Ontario heatwave.)  My mechanic needs to open up the whole dash to find the culprit.

I rented a car -  a Pontiac Pursuit - in the interim.

Likes: very responsive - great handling.  Fairly roomy inside - not much smaller than the 850.  This is the base model - no central locks, manually adjustable mirrors, roll-your-own windows.  These are good things - no stupid little electric motors to break down.

Dislikes: some cheap quality plastics inside, no place to rest right arm/elbow (no centre console - first thing I missed from the Volvo), no interior trim in trunk except for carpet on trunk floor.  All of the lock mechanisms in the trunk are exposed.  Looks like what you'd expect in a Samara.  You could easily lock the keys in this car - you don't even have to lift the driver's door handle (like in some Japanese models) to ensure the door stays locked.  In the Volvo, you can't lock the driver's door with the lock button unless the door is closed.  Pretty much impossible to lock the keys in that car.
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-Ken

SAAB: automobile design inspired by Salvador Dali on an absinthe bender.

Offline Scaerio

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The Pursuit of Happiness
« Reply #1 on: July 17, 2005, 09:31:11 am »
More comments.  In June in Germany, I rode in a friend's brand new Opel Astra.  It is a better quality vehicle, that's for sure.  The dash materials are up to the standards of the Volvo S40/V50.  But, keep in mind that in Europe they pay about $10G more for that Opel than the Pursuit/Cobalt retail for.  I personally think we get the better deal.  How much time do you spend caressing you dashboard?

Checked out a new ION yesterday as well - that has really shitty interior quality.  Saturn really needs to get the new models in.

(Message edited by gkjsooley on July 17, 2005)
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Offline safristi

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The Pursuit of Happiness
« Reply #2 on: July 17, 2005, 02:39:21 pm »
Whilst Gsjooley STROKES....................................................................


DASHBOARDS!!!?????
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THERE IS NO CURE FOR "LOTUS"......ONLY TREATMENT.....

Offline Scaerio

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The Pursuit of Happiness
« Reply #3 on: July 18, 2005, 01:59:47 am »
I'm getting than pain in my tongue again...
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Offline sirAQUAMAN64

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The Pursuit of Happiness
« Reply #4 on: July 18, 2005, 11:39:56 am »


My VW was in for servicing for 2 days. My bill was less than I feared and hope similar for you :-)

Pursuit's an alright car. It's certainly not expensive, and fully competent. From Sunfire to Pursuit, very little to complain about.
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Offline Scaerio

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The Pursuit of Happiness
« Reply #5 on: July 18, 2005, 11:56:56 am »
Thanks for the well wishes.  I also asked them to check over the suspension, the breaks, and ever since this heatwave started, I can't lock the car - -the alarm goes off constantly.
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Offline safristi

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« Reply #6 on: July 18, 2005, 12:41:38 pm »
Dems da "breaks"........
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Offline Scaerio

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The Pursuit of Happiness
« Reply #7 on: July 18, 2005, 12:43:10 pm »
Oh poop!
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Offline safristi

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The Pursuit of Happiness
« Reply #8 on: July 18, 2005, 12:51:18 pm »
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Offline sirAQUAMAN64

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The Pursuit of Happiness
« Reply #9 on: July 18, 2005, 12:51:29 pm »
I had to take mine in to Belleville Volkswagen the following issues (solutions):
- Oil/lube/filter/water separator/cabin air filter/tire rotation - was 17,5K since my last oil change
- Squeeling brakes (adjusted - have about 15K left on them, they said. They may squak but they're okay for now.)
- Rear wiper/washer. The washer nossle was corroded a bit, and when I used it the pressure built up and the hose developed a leak. It barely sprayed up and I was thinking "Where is the stuff going?" until I opened the rear hatch the next time and saw all the fluid - it was spraying inside the hatch door! My hatch ajar light was on for a day after that (They were unsure whether they could repair the hose itself, or whether a new motor assembly would be required, about $130. They wound up being able to stick a new hose on there)
- Roof trim that winds around the opening for the passenger side door was ripped off 1.5 years ago. My cousin didn't want to get out of my car and wanted a longer car ride... when I went over to his side of the car to take him out he grabbed his fingers around the A-pillar and ripped the lower part of the trim off Fackin' pest, he is! With the summer heat the glue began to give further and further toward the B-pillar. My friends and bro would try new things on it - we siliconed it to no avail, double-sided taped it, glued it... everytime the trim would fall again. I taped it REAL good with electrical tape last Thanksgiving and it stayed but looked ghetto with the zebra stripes. (They replaced the trim, and man does it ever look 100% better. The trim itself is glued onto a black moulded piece from the factory, so you buy both as one. $82!)
- My A/C wasn't working. Last time it worked was the fall. I don't use it much - typically to de-fog the windows or on long trips. Anywho, I was bracing for something big (At first they just said it was a bad fuse. At which point I thought "You mean I've been sweating my b*lls off this summer for THAT?" But after putting in a new one that blew too. They traced it to a small wire that wasn't getting the signal to turn on the compressor. They didn't order new A/C parts, but instead rigged the wire or something similar so it would conduct better. Nice and cool again now :-))
- Told them not to replace the headlight bulb that was out (this is a Golf/Jetta, after all), as I get the Sylvanias and stright up told him I didn't want to pay them to do it. After he told me the bill, he asked if it would be okay if he replaced it for free as he didn't want me driving back at night with the potential of the other blowing. With what I paid, wasn't really 'free' but it wasn't on my bill and he didn't have to, so I appreciated that.
- They washed my car and especially the rims REALLY well. Trust me, the brake dust on those puppies was caked on thick. Just for that, was worth bringing it in. This time I'm going to try and keep them looking cleaner, now that I'm starting from clean again.

The A/C diagnosing was the biggie. I left the car there overnight and used my bro's pimpin' black Jetta 1.8T in the interim (quite a difference in parts feel, programming, power, and ride between the two considering they're the same model year). The service manager liked telling me he'll give the "long distance discount" for me, but he's cool, easy, and informative to talk with.    

Anyhow, wound up being in the mid $500's Expensive, but an oil change alone is $100 with tax, so...

EDIT: LOL @ 'does fecal matter'

(Message edited by sirAQUAMAN64 on July 18, 2005)
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Offline Scaerio

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The Pursuit of Happiness
« Reply #10 on: July 22, 2005, 04:52:13 pm »
Got a call from my mechanic yesterday - seems I ran over a squirrel and the little bugger's carcass lodged itself in the strut assembly and proceeded to decompose in the heatwave!
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Offline safristi

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« Reply #11 on: July 22, 2005, 06:23:41 pm »
BBQ @ Gs's TONITE!!!
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Offline Scaerio

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The Pursuit of Happiness
« Reply #12 on: July 22, 2005, 06:52:38 pm »
We need a puke smilie on this forum...
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Offline Brigitte

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The Pursuit of Happiness
« Reply #13 on: July 22, 2005, 06:59:16 pm »
I've got two... Take your pick, Ken.  Right-click and save image.

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Offline safristi

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« Reply #14 on: July 22, 2005, 07:58:26 pm »
Save a leg fer Bridge.....!!!!
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Offline Scaerio

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The Pursuit of Happiness
« Reply #15 on: July 22, 2005, 10:24:43 pm »
She just needs a good bit o' tail!

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Offline safristi

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« Reply #16 on: July 22, 2005, 10:54:28 pm »
Anything but BUSH!!???..'y ....
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