Dec 23 2007
Argh…
Mid October the city of Guelph tore up the street in front of my office. This construction project appears to have been managed by Mickey-Dumbsh*t Construction Ltd, and the result was that every two or three days the workers would abandon the project during a rainstorm and allow the road to become a mini-version of the Somme complete with trench systems and shell-holes. As the construction was taking place across the only way in or out of the parking lot I had no choice but to drive through the mess 10 times a week in my poor beat-up Taurus. Even at low speed (5km/h) zig-zags the car would inevitably catch a pot-hole and bottom out with the usual distressing crunch noises.
One immediate consequence was that my passenger side front tire gave up the ghost, picking up three nails in ten meters (an inspection of the scene makes it pretty clear that the potholes had caused some building supplies to fly clear of what I assume to be a contractors truck as the roadway had a nice coat of nails, and some misc scrap scattered across it) in a single trip. A used tire replaced the old one, but the vehicle still drove as if the alignment had been knocked askew.
The construction has finally reached a point where the road is passable (paving having mostly been done) and I figured it was time to get the vehicle sorted out. Turns out it’s more than the alignment (and brakes) and there’s a littany of issues with the front end (which I’m largely blaming on the off-roading I was forced to do ten times a week).
The car goes in on Monday, repairs slated at over $1,000. Here’s keeping my fingers crossed that they don’t discover anything else when they’re mucking around underneath it.
So, 5km/h is equal to what 10mph for us still using the English meausurments.
As for car problems, don’t get me started, my check engine light has been on for a year now, and still can’t figure out why. It sputters and sometimes just shuts off. Ussually, at the most inpropt times. They the wife busted a tire the other day, hopefully it’s still covered by warrenty.
Sounds like “Y’all” need a friend that can turn a wrench.
Erik: That “Tore-ass” has been pretty good to you. At least compared to the Grand Am. Dad always said “Owning a car isn’t cheap”, and unless you can do the work yourself that’s really true.
Consider yourself lucky, I’ve been tasked to maintain all the cars in the immediate family. Worst of all, I’m in charge of making the POS the Mother-in-law drives last as long as possible.
Bill the construction company. They may be liable for damages done to your car.
“Bill the construction company. They may be liable for damages done to your car.”
Nope, you’d lose. Unless you can conclusively prove a connection between the mechanical failures in the car and the roadwork, SOL.
For you Mugwug, I just dropped $2,000 into my Miata for a used engine(130K on it vice the 120K that the damn original had on it). At this point, I seriously wouldn’t blame the wife if she shot me. I think that’s why you keep me around: No matter how sucky your life is, mine is one step worse. In an interesting side note, that’s why I keep in contact with Taylor and Hanning!
See, it could be worse, you could have a Miata.
Oh, I mean you could have to get a new Miata engine.
Wait what was my point… OH yeah, it could be worse.
Greg, you probably get bugged for the Miata all the time,
so I’ll spare you the “Nice Dude Canoe” comments.
You know I’m joking right?
Seriously, I don’t need to get my ass beat by a Miata driver.
“Seriously, I don’t need to get my ass beat by a Miata driver.”
I don’t need to beat your ass over that comment. I’ll just laugh as my Miata zips past the next short yellow school bus filled with hockey helmets and assume yours drives that slow too.
Michael: Nah, 5km/h is closer to about 3 mph. I’d call it a crawl.
The joys of car ownership, no?
Piet: A friendly grease monkey would be handy, but I’m fairly confident the shop I’m using isn’t raping me too bad. I could be wrong of course, we’re talking about cars not guns, so I’m out of my element.
Thomas: I’d agree with you, had I just had the front end worked on and then damaged I’d get the mechanic to document the damage, but I can’t demonstrate adequately that it was that stretch of road that caused the damage, and it sounds like a lot of paperwork and a lost cause.
Last time I heard someone beat the city with this sort of thing he was at them for over two years, and got a pittance for his efforts.
Greg: I keep forgetting you own a Miata. How the hell is Pigpen anyway? What’s he been up to in the last ten years?
Ha! Shows what you know.
I wasn’t smart enough to go to school.
Greg … Personally, I don’t think the Miata is a girlie car
Actually, you likely saw Discovery Channel’s Greatest Ever episode on sports cars. The automotive writers interviewed for that show rated the Miata ahead of the McLaren F1 (and other chick-magnets like the Lamborghini Countach, Aston Martin DB5 and Ferrari Enzo!).
The Miata was beat out only by the Porsche 911 … which few will argue has, for decades, been the standard for sports cars.
http://www.discoverychannel.co.uk/greatest_ever/sports_cars/index.shtml
Somehow, Matti, a Miata just doesn’t have the same appeal as Lamborghini Countach, Aston Martin DB5 and Ferrari Enzo. But what do I know…
Thank you Matti, it’s good to know some people recognize class and taste. I just wanted a little two seat sports car for zipping around to class and work, as we have the minivan for family outings, etc. I like the handling, the options(Hardtop that clips on over the convertible) and the fact that it doesn’t act as a constant reminder that I’m now married with kids and waiting for death.
I’m also somewhat planning to give it to my two oldest boys in a couple of years when they turn 16 and start driving. I’ve done the measurements and the combination of no back seat, high dash, raised centre console and both of my sons rising rapidly over 6 feet tall means that the car will not be a factor in my becoming a grandfather. Toss in the fact that they’ll have my same ability to pick up chicks and I’m looking at a good 20-30 years before somebody calls me grandpa!
Wow, I didn’t mean to steer the tread in this direction.
As far as the Miata ranking higher than a Enzo or F1, come on….
The fact that you can “Small block” it saves it some face.
Bugatti Veyron.