The Car Discussion Thread

[Popeye_Card]

How exactly can we have a discussion on boring cars without mentioning this?

A Buick at least tells the world, "I'm old, and cannot afford a Caddy."

The new Buicks are nice though. I'd buy one in a heartbeat if shopping for a sedan, and you can probably snag one for about the same price as a Camry. So there you go, Rad.

Hahaha I bought a Buick Verano about 6 mos ago. It was an unexpected purchase for me to say the least. In my head I was like "A Buick. Really?"

I needed a compact car due to my small city garage and the Verano was the only near luxury car in its class with newer technology. Plus, I got a top of the line model for under 25k (with tax, no trade-in), which was a killer deal.

The Verano is actually a great car. It has awesome seats, new technology, a great sound system and a quite interior. But yeah... it's a Buick.

[SHOW]

My friend has nearly the exact Verano you posted pics of, and while we give him hell for driving an old man's car, I'm secretly jealous and pricing them for myself. Lots of bang for the buck.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

I am 100% certain Hyundai required check ups at XX,XXX miles and YY,YYY miles and possibly another one before the 100K powertrain warranty expired in order to keep the powertrain warranty. Those check ups were $700 and up. I had heard other guys talking at the office about it and could have sworn they mentioned having to get oil changed and work done at the dealership.

I was just checking. And the manufacturer can't require you to have the dealer handle maintence.
It is illegal.
The Magnuson-Moss act enacted in 1975 made it illegal.

You know what, now that I think back on it (my gf had a hyundai back in like 2003 and around that time), I believe the dealership didn't 100% require teh check ups to be done there per se, but it had to be completed and the report or completed checklist or whatever tf it was had to be submitted. Same thing with oil changes. They didn't have to be done there, but there had to be a decent recording of when/where they took place for the warranty to remain in tact. So you could take a checklist, iirc, to a mechanic and ask them to look over everything and give the checklist back that it was all good so you could take it to the hyundai dealership. Of course, no mechanic wants to just look over everything and make sure it is okay, that's cheap. They want the work if something is wrong, which of course they won't get, so getting a fair price was kind of the sticking point....

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

My friend has nearly the exact Verano you posted pics of, and while we give him hell for driving an old man's car, I'm secretly jealous and pricing them for myself. Lots of bang for the buck.

Wait, so you too have given up on life

[jim]

I take my car (Hyundai) to the dealership for oil changes. I really don't think it is that much more expensive, and they check everything in the maintenance book. That way, I didn't have to do the x mile check ups to keep the warranty intact.

Nothing wrong with it. I refuse to take my car to a Jiffy Lube type place. I have a mechanic that I take it to, and would recommend that. I know there are a few that still change their own, but I stopped doing that a long time ago. Just not worth it to me, but it does force you to get in and see the car.

Another thing .. you know those 50,000 point inspections at the 30/60K etc.. point? Rip off. Seriously go through those and almost everyone can knock off a bunch of those even with no mechanical skills. Then, the ones that do need professionally done, just go to your mechanic and have him do them a la carte. I just had my 30k done - the main things were check the brakes and tires and balance (just had new tires put on and had the brakes checked and the car balanced) and change the cabin filter and the gas filter. Other things like - make sure door closes and the windshield wipers work and the brake lights aren't burnt out - I did that on my own. Basically my 30K was an oil change and a gas filter change. I do synthetic so it probably costs me $150 total, dealer wanted close to $700. Of course some of that would have been stuff I had done with the new tires, but even then it's way overpriced. Lots of money they charge you to make sure that the electric mirrors still work and that the trunk closes.

[wart57]

[expletive] Applebees, Chili's is the way to go - or Red Robin for the Cheese sticks.

[Michael]

Buicks are great for old people. No denying it. Reliable, safe, boring as hell. If that's your thing get one.

Actually Buicks aren't really that reliable, but we only drive 2-4k miles a year so reliability isn't a huge concern for us.

My wife and I had very unusual wants/needs and the Verano was the only car that really fit. I certainly didn't set out to buy a Buick, it just kinda happened. The car was launched last year and was designed as "the new Buick" intended to attract younger buyers. There's really no other car quite like it right now.

Fortunately I really enjoy my Buick. I especially like when I pull up next to old people they give me a knowing head nod.

[IMADreamer]

I do all my own oil changes and work but then again I'm one of those weird people who enjoy it.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

i'll be honest, I didn't even know they still made buicks. Do they still make pontiacs?

[Michael]

i'll be honest, I didn't even know they still made buicks. Do they still make pontiacs?

As Rad noted earlier, it's rumored the only reason Buick exists is due to the brand's massive popularity in China. I saw Buick Excelle's (re-skinned Verano) in China all over the place when I was there last year. Otherwise I suspect Buick would have been discontinued just like Oldsmobile.

Pontiac is gone as well.

[haltz]

Pontiac exists


Edit: I stand corrected.