Can you spell LEMON?!

bindi · 22-07-2005, 05:15 PM

: OMFG take me back 2.5 years ago please so I can decide NOT to buy the EA.

:

Since July last year we have replaced the engine and the transmission and done the brakes amongst other things... and now, this is the list of things we need to fix on the car before it can be reregistered (rego is due this Wed 26th).

LH lower ball joint (knew about it)
2 rear tyres (knew about it)
LPG leak at converter (gasket - knew about this one too)
Torque converter oil leak
Gas line less than 150mm away from exhaust (have to get a shield made)
RH axle seal
Rear muffler
RH parker light
Brake pedal rubber (fell off the other day)

I got a quote for the gas leak and mixer issues - over $600. Muffler, $145, don't even want to know how much the others are... include rego ($240), TPP insurance ($153) and green slip insurance ($313)...

IS THIS CAR WORTH ANY MORE OF MY TIME AND ENERGY AND MONEY?! ARGH!

:

The MaDDeSTMaN · 22-07-2005, 05:20 PM

Sounds like you wish you still had the XF? :(

bindi · 22-07-2005, 05:24 PM

Damn straight, Troy... but then again, even the XFs had their issues. I've just never had a car like this though!

The expense is just too much, we've already forked out over $1500 over the last year (not including last years' rego) and now THIS?

It makes you wonder when you cut your losses...

Psycho Chicken · 22-07-2005, 05:28 PM

I'll have a guess and say you are getting ripped off on those converter issues.

Sourbastard · 22-07-2005, 05:29 PM

I bet you wish you bought that Tye Dye Combi Van now dont ya.

bindi · 22-07-2005, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psycho Chicken

I'll have a guess and say you are getting ripped off on those converter issues.

Well I got a quote for a new one cos the gaskets are expensive to replace (it's an old crappy converter). The mixer needs to be replaced anyhow (that was something he said a few months ago) so I might as well do the lot.

Gawd, I just talked to hubby and he said we're just gonna have to get it all done, no real choice cos we need the car.

If it is not fantastic after this, I will scream.

And no sourbastard darlin, I am not into kombi's (also I am not that much of a hippie)

Sagerian · 22-07-2005, 05:42 PM

Jeez, sounds like you need to push it off a cliff, STAT!

RED_EL_XR8 · 22-07-2005, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sagerian

Jeez, sounds like you need to push it off a cliff, STAT!

Don't even suggest that .. Ian Keirnon will be putting his back out again..

bindi · 22-07-2005, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sagerian

Jeez, sounds like you need to push it off a cliff, STAT!

Lemme get comprehensive on it first... do you think I could manage to make it look like an accident?!

The MaDDeSTMaN · 22-07-2005, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bindi

Damn straight, Troy... but then again, even the XFs had their issues. I've just never had a car like this though!

The expense is just too much, we've already forked out over $1500 over the last year (not including last years' rego) and now THIS?

It makes you wonder when you cut your losses...

Cars are a money pit, simple as that. :( Sad but true.

If you can afford to get one that is new or close to new, you can hope (but not guarantee) that it not cost you as much to maintain, however as they get older, more and more things are likely to go wrong with them, but they're also worth less to purchase, so either way you end up spending money you'll probably never get back.

Sure, you do get your exceptions to the rule - a brand new car, done less then 1000kms and needs major work, and a 30 year old car that only needs fuel and a service regularly, but generally cars eat up money in the same way a teenage boy gobbles down food given an unlimited supply.

I'm sure this isn't new to anybody around here.

Sorry to hear it's going to cost you so much Bindi, hope you have a better run of luck with it soon!

Phil91EB · 22-07-2005, 07:10 PM

I spent nearly $7000 chasing problems in my last car (4wd Import) last year and then the bottom end went I had no money left so i had to sell and bought the EB on new years eve for $2000 and I have already had to put in a new gearbox and engine + the breaks need doing and i need 4 new tyres ohh and the diff is on the way out.

Now thats what I call lemons or just alot of bad luck :gren:

bindi · 22-07-2005, 07:21 PM

Yeah you're right... I've taken a deep breath and calmed down a bit now. Shyte happens!

Cars are money pits no matter what. It's just that I can't even keep up with normal repairs, let alone any mods

:

The main worry I guess is that I was a smart *** and left it all a wee bit late, hence the ranting panic attack

: Rego's due on Tuesday 26th (not Wed, and I had another little panic attack in the kitchen when I looked at the calendar!)

Oh well, such is life. It will get done, specially cos hubby's credit card is about to be maxed out to pay for all of this and he is fine with paying for it.

okin · 22-07-2005, 07:33 PM

wanna buy my car?

22-07-2005, 08:13 PM

perhaps attempt to fix some of the things your self? or get a friend to help out? if you were down this way i would lend a hand...

bindi · 22-07-2005, 08:26 PM

I'll do the ****easy things myself, but the harder stuff I will get the mechanics to do

Thanks for the offer - I am still considering an interstate move to be closer to e-series mecca!

ilsautomotive · 22-07-2005, 08:37 PM

Yep it does sound like some things are getting out of hand. I'm at a similar stage with the Laser where a few problems have accumulated and I can't keep up. It's not the car's fault, we have to remember how old they are.

Your first option is as John said going DIY where possible. Tiny things like pedal rubbers are very easy to fix (they're even cheap new from Ford) and it would be nice having someone who can help with more serious jobs like bushes. An E Series Falcon is an extremely cheap car to run for the home mechanic because parts themselves are almost always available for next to nothing.

The only other decent option is changing cars, but the only way you are reasonably guaranteed a trouble-free run is looking at something like a late model Camry, or a late Falcon (AU etc) that's been really well maintained.

I hope you can figure something out, but it's a fact of life that cars cost big money. And that includes new cars because the resale losses are probably even more than the cost of running an older car, albeit without the inconvenience of repairs, and with arguably more to show for the money lost.

Damo · 22-07-2005, 09:10 PM

EA's rock.

Kryton · 22-07-2005, 10:24 PM

why not just move to another state where you dont need to get a RWC every year.

as for the insurance, all you need to do is pay it up, hook up a boat and trailer and head down to the nearest boat ramp.
back it down the ramp, get confused and sink the car. water damage is a write off as well!

montyv8 · 23-07-2005, 03:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davway

why not just move to another state where you dont need to get a RWC every year.

one of the few good things about living in SA.

i wonder if my drinking water has boiled yet?.........

bindi · 23-07-2005, 08:09 AM

I'll let you all know how I get on this week as I am taking her various places to get stuff done

Then maybe she'll be a good car and like me (I swear she hates me - even though I treat her so well!). I put a pic of her in the EA-ED section of show and shine, hopefully she'll appreciate it and be nice to me again lol.

Thanks for the advice guys and the opportunity to vent my frustration! ARGH!

Hubby's point is that we've spent so much on the car so far, we aren't going to sell her so we may as well make her the best we can (at this stage)... and we need her anyway. So she gets fixed.

Also we have decided to get a younger model e-series in the next few months for the hubby, saving our butts off, so I get the EA.

Now I have the issue of where to fit a sub or two with the LPG tank in the way!.......................

pepsimax · 23-07-2005, 10:06 AM

well it aint getting younger ,, preventative maintanance is a good thing,,i'm glad i never put gas on the car,,not really worth it in the long run

Kenaz · 23-07-2005, 10:11 AM

^^That's pretty harsh mate.

pepsimax · 23-07-2005, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenaz

^^That's pretty harsh mate.

i knew that,,had a brain fart and lost the plot,,thought i was replying to someone else,,but i hope i fixed it now,,but in all honesty if you let things go for to long don't winge when something goes wrong or it won't pass a rego inspection,,its your responsibility to make sure it's 98% working order..

LUXO_8 · 23-07-2005, 11:25 AM

is yours in 98% working order pepsi?
would yours pass a RWC inspection.... i dare say it wouldnt...

i know mine wouldnt.

bindi, like i said in the pics thread every falcon of this age has issues, on the plus side, falcon parts are cheap though:P

The MaDDeSTMaN · 23-07-2005, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MADNC_8

is yours in 98% working order pepsi?
would yours pass a RWC inspection.... i dare say it wouldnt...

i know mine wouldnt.

Well said, I know mine wouldn't right now either, it will very soon, but give it a year or so and it will probably have something else that would need to be fixed to pass a RWC inspection, such is the nature of car ownership :(

Phil91EB · 23-07-2005, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MADNC_8

on the plus side, falcon parts are cheap though:P

Thats a very good point. Lucky you have never had to buy parts for an import 4WD

_

bindi · 23-07-2005, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pepsimax

i knew that,,had a brain fart and lost the plot,,thought i was replying to someone else,,but i hope i fixed it now,,but in all honesty if you let things go for to long don't winge when something goes wrong or it won't pass a rego inspection,,its your responsibility to make sure it's 98% working order..

I didn't realise some of these things were an issue at all, no warning signs. That's why I said some of these things I knew about

For eg... when I got the transmission done, they must've moved or twisted the exhaust pipe in some way cos it now needs a shield for the LPG line whereas last year it didn't need that.

pepsimax · 23-07-2005, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MADNC_8

is yours in 98% working order pepsi?
would yours pass a RWC inspection.... i dare say it wouldnt...

i know mine wouldnt.

bindi, like i said in the pics thread every falcon of this age has issues, on the plus side, falcon parts are cheap though:P

well as a matter of FACT smart **** mine just did with flying colours

:
and as a side point the mechanic that did it who had never seen it before as we have just moved to the area ,said it was one of the most well maintained cars for it's age he'd seen,and i've got that comment on all the cars i've ever owned.

i never let it get to the point of being failed at inspection time.and if you know something is wrong or needs fixing don't go crying about it when it fails the rego inspection.

LUXO_8 · 23-07-2005, 10:06 PM

ooh big red words.....supposed to be intimidating or something eh?

pepsimax · 23-07-2005, 10:11 PM

no just high lighting the fact you made a total **** of yourself by assumeing something that you had no right to assume