General Car Conversation 2024 - part 1
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,328
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From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
That wedge-shape, with the front end raised like that, would act like the wing-flaps of an airplane, creating extra lift, and, particularly at higher speeds, the air-pressure underneath could take so much weight off both front and rear tires that traction and steering-control could be seriously compromised, particularly on a slick surface. Personally, I wouldn't drive anything like that at anything over typical stop-and-go/local-neighborhood speeds. Not only that, but forward visibility over that raised hood could also be a problem.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 17,019
Likes: 496
From: Knoxville, TN
Then this:
We talk about people getting huge trucks and never using them…. lol this guy lives down the street. I’ve never seen him do one truck thing with it, ever.
A 1500 or even 2500 or Yukon/Expedition to drive alone I get.. But this is a seriously heavy duty F-450. The guy is as nice as can be He’s a doctor who had to retire early because of so many back problems and surgeries, so we get along well with sharing horror stories.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 17,019
Likes: 496
From: Knoxville, TN
Yukon has a raised hood but you can still see fine. It's remarkably easy to maneuver, as easy as our LX570 and it's much larger.
People who don't care for these that much, you do get used to it and the way they drive.
People who don't care for these that much, you do get used to it and the way they drive.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,466
Likes: 3,990
From: Maryland
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,328
Likes: 236
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Lead Lap
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 3,958
Likes: 409
So I heard from the dealer. This is what I was told (the car was promised Friday, and then today):
So that means...next week lol
I asked him how much it would have cost out of warranty:
From what I have found online its a 24 hour book job, so $225 an hour times 24 hours plus the parts means this is a $9K job at the dealer...for leaking valve covers...
So...no warranty...no S Class folks lol
So that means...next week lol
I asked him how much it would have cost out of warranty:
From what I have found online its a 24 hour book job, so $225 an hour times 24 hours plus the parts means this is a $9K job at the dealer...for leaking valve covers...
So...no warranty...no S Class folks lol
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Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
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From: Maryland
This is not at all a normal thing to have happen according to the dealer, this is the first valve cover leak on an M176 they have done. Lucky me.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 35,382
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From: ON/NY
‘Let’s say some leases for 9 years. 3 straight leases. $100,000 car each time. Interest at 3.99% how much would they pay in interest over the course of those nine years? And you can’t write it off to a tax scheme. I figure if you financed the car and once it’s paid off, you’d probably pay less interest. And if you pocket the difference between the interest and the lease, that pays for your big repairs. But I don’t know how the math works out
Last edited by Toys4RJill; Jun 4, 2024 at 06:16 PM.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
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From: Ohio
Lexus Champion
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 13,243
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From: WA
This is why I cringe when people say that reliability issues are not a concern as long as you're under warranty. No. I don't want to deal with any of this. My truck - 3 years - not a single warranty issue. My Highlander - 5 years - not a single warranty issue. My GS - 4 years - not a single warranty issue. I don't even like taking them in for oil changes. I don't want to deal with warranty issues too.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,466
Likes: 3,990
From: Maryland
‘Let’s say some leases for 9 years. 3 straight leases. $100,000 car each time. Interest at 3.99% how much would they pay in interest over the course of those nine years? And you can’t write it off to a tax scheme. I figure if you financed the car and once it’s paid off, you’d probably pay less interest. And if you pocket the difference between the interest and the lease, that pays for your big repairs. But I don’t know how the math works out
Buying something and keeping it for 9 years would be way cheaper, but I don't want to drive a car that long...to me its just a fixed expense for something I enjoy.
With the "$3,000 in parts" and I know they needed additional parts once they started the job, they could have had to replace a valve cover or something who knows.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,466
Likes: 3,990
From: Maryland
This is why I cringe when people say that reliability issues are not a concern as long as you're under warranty. No. I don't want to deal with any of this. My truck - 3 years - not a single warranty issue. My Highlander - 5 years - not a single warranty issue. My GS - 4 years - not a single warranty issue. I don't even like taking them in for oil changes. I don't want to deal with warranty issues too.
To be fair though...this isn't the longest one of my cars has been down for a warranty repair...that was my 2015 LS460...and it had 300 miles on it...it was down for over 2 weeks. Other than that though this is for sure the longest a car has been out of my hands for a repair, and until now the car was perfect. This won't stop me from getting another Mercedes but it sure does make it a lot less likely I would keep this one.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 13,243
Likes: 1,874
From: WA
1,000%. Don't want to deal with this at all, this is a huge annoyance.
To be fair though...this isn't the longest one of my cars has been down for a warranty repair...that was my 2015 LS460...and it had 300 miles on it...it was down for over 2 weeks. Other than that though this is for sure the longest a car has been out of my hands for a repair, and until now the car was perfect. This won't stop me from getting another Mercedes but it sure does make it a lot less likely I would keep this one.
To be fair though...this isn't the longest one of my cars has been down for a warranty repair...that was my 2015 LS460...and it had 300 miles on it...it was down for over 2 weeks. Other than that though this is for sure the longest a car has been out of my hands for a repair, and until now the car was perfect. This won't stop me from getting another Mercedes but it sure does make it a lot less likely I would keep this one.
