Topic: The things that make me sad, angry, and upset

[mlin32]

No Amazon Music? Found them to be generally less hassle.

Then again, I own no Apple nor Android products so I don't know about compatability.

[rrocket]

No Amazon Music? Found them to be generally less hassle.

Then again, I own no Apple nor Android products so I don't know about compatability.

Amazon is compatible with Android.

[redman]

Recently placed a coupled of items for sale on Kijiji.

Just hate the guys that respond with "I'll give you half of what your asking and for both, cash" Like I was accepting other payment options outside of cash.

I think these guys are testing the waters for drug user, stolen items or desperate sellers in need of some quick cash.

I know I should just delete these responses but prefer to reply with something like this:

http://i1.wp.com/theverybesttop10.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/the-world_s-top-10-best-images-of-laughing-horses-6.jpg?resize=550%2C525

[Solstice2006]

Recently placed a coupled of items for sale on Kijiji.

Just hate the guys that respond with "I'll give you half of what your asking and for both, cash" Like I was accepting other payment options outside of cash.

I think these guys are testing the waters for drug user, stolen items or desperate sellers in need of some quick cash.

I know I should just delete these responses but prefer to reply with something like this:

http://i1.wp.com/theverybesttop10.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/the-world_s-top-10-best-images-of-laughing-horses-6.jpg?resize=550%2C525

where's the link for the stuff for sale?   

[aquadorhj]

Just learned that one of my tire pressure gauge is reading 3~4 psi too high.
 

[Solstice2006]

Just learned that one of my tire pressure gauge is reading 3~4 psi too high.
 

on the car?  or a handheld one?  could be worse, could be too low...

[mlin32]

Finding some awesome roads, and then realising that my car can't take them properly without getting all upset.

Scene 1: New interchange in Charlotte. The ramps are wide, flat, and have excellent sight distance. It's amazing:

https://youtu.be/8czDkgzpSco?t=43s



I took the exact same ramp illustrated in the video above at 130km/h. The Mazda felt like it was going to roll over. Summer tires held on but the car felt tippy, for lack of a better term. Unacceptable for a car billed as "sporty". When I had my BMWs, I was grinning ear to ear doing this.

Today, I discovered NC 181 (I realise all of you all are in Canada so I don't mind sharing this). Hugely popular with motorcyclists, and I can see why. Really for them, it's 15km of "how low can you drag your knees". For my Mazda, it was toasted brakes, brake judder, and shattered expectations. The actual braking performance wasn't bad, but they started burning up quickly- these are higher speeds where I'm hammering 120+ down to 80-90km/h within 100m of the corner. The tires clug on and shouldered the burden. But the chassis and suspension was completely overwhelmed. Disappointment and massive anger at the car.

[Firm]

sorry to hear about that. I can definitely understand being frustrated with a car that doesn't meet your expectations. Going back to your other thread, clearly this isn't the car for you. I guess the Mazda 3 is more of a "sporty" car for the masses, rather than an enthusiast's sporty car.

[2JDM]

Its time to trade it in.

A GTI would have been a better choice for you for not so much more $$.

[Fobroader]

Try a nice FR-S/BRZ........power to the proper wheels, light, sticky, comfortable and comfortable.

Sent from my Galaxy S3

[mmret]

Just learned that one of my tire pressure gauge is reading 3~4 psi too high.
 

on the car?  or a handheld one?  could be worse, could be too low...

Reading high is bad. You'll end up filling low.

Funny I just found mine was the same. I had a mechanical one with a little reset button that I thought was the bees knees since the seal was very good unlike some crappy electronic ones I've had in the past... just press on and no real leak of air.

however cross checked it with the new air compressor that is included with the Volvo and it seems to be 4-6 PSI high. I'm inclined to trust the Volvo pump here but I will get the one from the GLK out to test as well.

Today, I discovered NC 181 (I realise all of you all are in Canada so I don't mind sharing this). Hugely popular with motorcyclists, and I can see why. Really for them, it's 15km of "how low can you drag your knees". For my Mazda, it was toasted brakes, brake judder, and shattered expectations. The actual braking performance wasn't bad, but they started burning up quickly- these are higher speeds where I'm hammering 120+ down to 80-90km/h within 100m of the corner. The tires clug on and shouldered the burden. But the chassis and suspension was completely overwhelmed. Disappointment and massive anger at the car.

Just to play devils advocate.... are you sure you're not projecting what you want to see and feel and hear onto the car? I've been there and done that
Also are you sure that this is a reasonable set of expectations for what is ultimately an economy car?

I think you need a GTI with performance package or WRX. Brakes are always going to be skimped on a bit in mainstream cars.... people don't buy cars for the brakes for the most part.

[mlin32]

The good thing is that soon, I will be working in Germany for 6 months, with a company car provided, so I don't need to do anything about it now since I will drive the Mazda to my parents' place and leave it there. Probably a good errand runner for them, although for unknown reasons, they haven't warmed to it either. Lovely urban runabout though, worked great in Montréal and in downtown Charlotte.

The hope is perhaps I can find a job while in Germany so I'll be able to stay there for add'l years, eliminating the headache process of finding a car here. A GTI or Golf is what I originally wanted and I love the hatchback practicality as a MTBer. But BMWs are a bit less watered down, so I fancy a used one of those is possible too. Not a near term worry.

Clippit of the road I was driving. Obviously, not at full speed with one hand on the camera.

https://youtu.be/6UAR5uQyZ8g

Because we were shuttling bikes, I did that stretch multiple times. For a reference point, at full tilt (not filmed), I held onto a maximum of ca. 125km/h that long straight (at 0:25) in 3rd. Braked last 100m to take that turn at about 80-85km/h (signed at 30km/h), opening to full throttle halfway. Repeat thru various iterations. Amazing road.

[redman]

Purchased new tires and had them installed at same tire shop in Oakville on Thursday.
Son informs me that something feels odd with the car and hears a rattle on Saturday.
I check around and find that the drivers front wheel lug nuts all 5 were hand loose and never torqued at the shop.
I end up checking each rim for peace of mind, all others are fine.
I did inform the shop this morning and they apologized, claiming that they will speak to tire tech who did the job. Offered to torque and check all tires etc..
Son planned to go to Ottawa next weekend with GF to see Carlton. I'm glad it was not this weekend.
Low mileage and low speed driving since new tire install, so chance of any damage low.
Sad that my once go to tire place dropped the ball and has lost my confidence for future purchase and installs.
Do I just chalk this up as $h!t happens ? The thought of a wheel flying off at highway speeds due to negligence really disturbs me.

[tortoise]

IMO, all shops will occasionally drop the ball. It's how they respond that is the important part.

[mlin32]

Call me skeptical of human beings in general, but I always check every single lug nut/stud immediately when I get home when wheels are mounted by someone else, and retorque if necessary. If I'm able to be at the shop (e.g quick tire mounting), I will periodically peek thru the window while my car is being serviced to oversee the process. Once, a shop used an air gun to overtighten the studs on one of the wheels (I couldn't loosen with my torque wrench) and I was back within 24h to politely ask that they do the job properly.

[Snowman]

Uncooperative Accounts Payable departments   

[tenpenny]

The worst AP we've dealt with are certain Brazilian companies, mining and breweries.  They find every excuse to not pay.

'Your shipment is on Receiving Hold, so we can't pay the invoice.'
Why is it on Receiving Hold, your people signed for it?
'We don't know, you'll have to clear it up'
Umm, no, it's your people who have it on hold, they never told us about it, or told us why, we'll just put you on Shipment Hold until you're current with your AP.

[blur911]

Call me skeptical of human beings in general, but I always check every single lug nut/stud immediately when I get home when wheels are mounted by someone else, and retorque if necessary. If I'm able to be at the shop (e.g quick tire mounting), I will periodically peek thru the window while my car is being serviced to oversee the process. Once, a shop used an air gun to overtighten the studs on one of the wheels (I couldn't loosen with my torque wrench) and I was back within 24h to politely ask that they do the job properly.

I've changed enough wheels on my own vehicles to realize that "stuff happens".   The proper procedure is to drive a few km and then recheck the torque, but nobody does.    I've twice had wheels I know I tightened down with a torque wrench come loose after a few heat cycles.   

[wing]

Some places recommend customers return to check after X km.

I think it might be 1000 or 500 at Costco.  I hear people talk about how, they have to go back at exactly 500 or something, they think it's some golden rule lol

[Northernridge]

Uncooperative Accounts Payable departments   

This could also be a separate thread topic. Some of the hoops we've had to jump through to comply with US headquartered clients...

Been in court once in 25 years to collect on a bad debt and won and even got paid! ($12k).

Lifetime tally on uncollected bad debt is about $95k...clients went broke in every case...we were far down the priority creditor list.