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Versa, DOA
Sep. 24th, 2008 08:04 pmPoor Thomas, He had a bad wreck at rush hour. His fault, of course, he rear-ended a van. No one hurt, but the car is most certainly a total loss. So, the before:
and then, the after: 
Poor Thomas, He had a bad wreck at rush hour. His fault, of course, he rear-ended a van. No one hurt, but the car is most certainly a total loss. So, the before:
and then, the after: Service -- or the lack thereof
Feb. 3rd, 2008 10:35 amI picked up the Versa Friday from the repair shop. It's a combined Versa/Mercedes body shop at the Dealer, so I was (mistakenly) sorta at least hoping for SERVICE. Politeness, on-timeness, attention to detail, that sort of thing. They even made me an appointment, for a week later, so they could get the bumper in. Ooh. how thoughtful.
So I bring it in Monday and leave it.
Tuesday, I get a phone call -- that bumper they ordered was damaged and they'd ordered a new one. (uh, nobody had looked at the bumper on Monday? Wasn't the point of waiting a week for an appointment so that they could make sure they had a bumper?) Did I want to come get it and bring it back Thursday (Two days to get the bumper? Thought that took a week?) so I could drive it Wednesday? I told them no, it was more trouble to get someone to help me pick it up and drop it off than to just be without it. Unless they were going to have it through the weekend, in which case I'd rather come pick it up and just start over Monday. No, no, they could go ahead and get started on some of the prep work (get started? I brought it in yesterday why?) and the bumper would get there and I'd have it by Friday.
So, Friday around lunch I call and ask about it. I'm assured that it's basically done and it just needed cleaning up, and they'd call me. About 3:45 they call, it's ready. ooh! Three hours of cleaning!! Must be beautiful (yeah, right)
I get there, it does look great from the outside. But the inside was the same as when I left it. Not vacuumed, and little gray kitty prints on the door and dash. Yes, it was all my mess. But, hadn't I just been waiting for 3 hours for it to be "cleaned up"?
So when I walked in, I said, in a casual, slightly surprised but not important, just commenting voice, "You didn't vacuum it? Saturn would have vacuumed it."
Man: (in disbelief) "What? We didn't vacuum it? Did we get it dirty?"
Me: Talking at same time "That's okay" (it's too late now) But he's already started out the door and was looking in the car"
Girl: "we usually only clean up if we mess something up."
Me: Still very casual, matter of fact, not important 'too bad about the rain' kind of voice "Really? well, you know, you take five days to do a two-day repair, I'd think you'd be wantin' to impress me...." (Man back inside for the end of this) "Whenever I take the Saturn in, they make it look like it just rolled off the showroom floor."
Man: "When was the last time this car was vacuumed?" (looks like your mess lady)
Me: (Still oh so innocent) "Well, I'm sure it's never been vacuumed -- it's barely 3 months old, it's never even had an oil change."
Man: (in a I'm doing you a big favor voice) "well, we could get someone to vacuum it."
Me: (Smiling that well aren't you an interesting little specimen' smile we usually reserve for children who've wet their pants in public -- I'm channeling my Southern Grandmother ) "Oh, no, no, not at all, I'm not complaining or anything, just letting you know that maybe you don't have THE BEST shop in town." (gauntlet thrown, Grandmother cheering)
Well, he must have had a Grandmother too, because keys were grabbed, car was disappeared, vacuuming and cleaning was commenced, and it became a car to be proud of. As he drove it back out he said something about "they even washed the windows." I just said "good" What? he was expecting a Thank you? then, "oh! well, streaked my windows anyway." door closed, car started
I'm resigned to the fact that I'm not going to get good service anywhere anymore (I mean really, if Mercedes can't be bothered, who can?) But I am through pretending like I like it.
So I bring it in Monday and leave it.
Tuesday, I get a phone call -- that bumper they ordered was damaged and they'd ordered a new one. (uh, nobody had looked at the bumper on Monday? Wasn't the point of waiting a week for an appointment so that they could make sure they had a bumper?) Did I want to come get it and bring it back Thursday (Two days to get the bumper? Thought that took a week?) so I could drive it Wednesday? I told them no, it was more trouble to get someone to help me pick it up and drop it off than to just be without it. Unless they were going to have it through the weekend, in which case I'd rather come pick it up and just start over Monday. No, no, they could go ahead and get started on some of the prep work (get started? I brought it in yesterday why?) and the bumper would get there and I'd have it by Friday.
So, Friday around lunch I call and ask about it. I'm assured that it's basically done and it just needed cleaning up, and they'd call me. About 3:45 they call, it's ready. ooh! Three hours of cleaning!! Must be beautiful (yeah, right)
I get there, it does look great from the outside. But the inside was the same as when I left it. Not vacuumed, and little gray kitty prints on the door and dash. Yes, it was all my mess. But, hadn't I just been waiting for 3 hours for it to be "cleaned up"?
So when I walked in, I said, in a casual, slightly surprised but not important, just commenting voice, "You didn't vacuum it? Saturn would have vacuumed it."
Man: (in disbelief) "What? We didn't vacuum it? Did we get it dirty?"
Me: Talking at same time "That's okay" (it's too late now) But he's already started out the door and was looking in the car"
Girl: "we usually only clean up if we mess something up."
Me: Still very casual, matter of fact, not important 'too bad about the rain' kind of voice "Really? well, you know, you take five days to do a two-day repair, I'd think you'd be wantin' to impress me...." (Man back inside for the end of this) "Whenever I take the Saturn in, they make it look like it just rolled off the showroom floor."
Man: "When was the last time this car was vacuumed?" (looks like your mess lady)
Me: (Still oh so innocent) "Well, I'm sure it's never been vacuumed -- it's barely 3 months old, it's never even had an oil change."
Man: (in a I'm doing you a big favor voice) "well, we could get someone to vacuum it."
Me: (Smiling that well aren't you an interesting little specimen' smile we usually reserve for children who've wet their pants in public -- I'm channeling my Southern Grandmother ) "Oh, no, no, not at all, I'm not complaining or anything, just letting you know that maybe you don't have THE BEST shop in town." (gauntlet thrown, Grandmother cheering)
Well, he must have had a Grandmother too, because keys were grabbed, car was disappeared, vacuuming and cleaning was commenced, and it became a car to be proud of. As he drove it back out he said something about "they even washed the windows." I just said "good" What? he was expecting a Thank you? then, "oh! well, streaked my windows anyway." door closed, car started
I'm resigned to the fact that I'm not going to get good service anywhere anymore (I mean really, if Mercedes can't be bothered, who can?) But I am through pretending like I like it.
A boy and my Car
Jan. 11th, 2008 07:24 pmPoor T, he went out to pick up the pizza, already overly hungry and stressed about having to order it himself, and then thye couldn't find one of them and he had to deal with counter people. THEN, in the parking lot he bumps into someone! His fault. It took him a half an hour to be able to get the words out to me. (Not counting the eating time -- when he came in I could tell he was on his last nerve and made him sit down and eat before he even tried to speak). No one was hurt, even the cars were barely dinged, and the people were really nice to him, he said, and they told him they weren't going to file for damages. And they exchanged information, no police, everyone went home. But it really just killed Thomas. It may be quite some time before I get him to drive again. The people were really nice, I spoke to the woman the next day. Poor T, and my poor little Versa, two accidents before its first oil change.
The Good, the Bad, the Weird...
Dec. 8th, 2007 01:48 amJust life as it goes for me.
Dressed up in medieval garb and went to a feast today. Thomas was one of the troubadours playing medieval music. Way cool and lots of fun. (the good)
Well I've owned my new car for 9 days, as of tonight, and yesterday, when I had only only it for 7.5 days, someone rear-ended me. Yep, wrecked already. (the Bad)
Luckily it was a very small Honda, and her car actually when a little under my bumper, so the only thing I need is a new bumper. Which will only be, tax and all, about $585. And she's totally responsible. And she claims she has insurance, but I have a bad feeling about her and this alleged insurance. I, of course, the responsible citizen, have coverage for uninsured drivers, but it has a $500 deductible. (the weird)
I swear, if she doesn't have insurance, I will personally make sure she at least gets her license pulled.
When I was younger, I had a big vengeful streak, which as I matured, I learned not to act on, to be nice, play by the rules, blah blah blah. But as I get older, I'm a little more likely to say "what the hell." Like that lovely scene in Fried Green Tomatoes (movie version) where Kathy Bates just rams this little brat's car and says, "that's what it's like to be older, and well insured."
Or, as H.L. Menken said, "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats."
Dressed up in medieval garb and went to a feast today. Thomas was one of the troubadours playing medieval music. Way cool and lots of fun. (the good)
Well I've owned my new car for 9 days, as of tonight, and yesterday, when I had only only it for 7.5 days, someone rear-ended me. Yep, wrecked already. (the Bad)
Luckily it was a very small Honda, and her car actually when a little under my bumper, so the only thing I need is a new bumper. Which will only be, tax and all, about $585. And she's totally responsible. And she claims she has insurance, but I have a bad feeling about her and this alleged insurance. I, of course, the responsible citizen, have coverage for uninsured drivers, but it has a $500 deductible. (the weird)
I swear, if she doesn't have insurance, I will personally make sure she at least gets her license pulled.
When I was younger, I had a big vengeful streak, which as I matured, I learned not to act on, to be nice, play by the rules, blah blah blah. But as I get older, I'm a little more likely to say "what the hell." Like that lovely scene in Fried Green Tomatoes (movie version) where Kathy Bates just rams this little brat's car and says, "that's what it's like to be older, and well insured."
Or, as H.L. Menken said, "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats."
VROOM VROOM
Dec. 2nd, 2007 07:15 pmWe finally did it. We quit talking and shopping and Thomas and I went and bought the Nissan Versa Hatchback! Automatic, continuously variable transmission. You never even feel the gears change, much less have to worry about changing them yourself. Sapphire Blue. I think I'm going to call it Nellie.
Christmas shopping is going fairly well this year. Not done, but moving along, with ideas for almost everyone but one Aunt. Bought Christmas ornaments for all the nieces and nephews on my side. They'll be bored with them, but I generally never get the right thing anyway. Except for last year when I bought that pink feather boa for Princess. And I went to a lot of trouble to try to pick something wonderful for each kid. Well, and Mason loved the little science gadget I got him. So, 2 out of 10. So this year I went for easy.
The last few days we've been taking care of our friends' cats, fish, and turtle while they went off for a late vacation. It's been fun. Of course, the problem is that now Thomas wants an aquarium. And, so do I, sorta.
Christmas shopping is going fairly well this year. Not done, but moving along, with ideas for almost everyone but one Aunt. Bought Christmas ornaments for all the nieces and nephews on my side. They'll be bored with them, but I generally never get the right thing anyway. Except for last year when I bought that pink feather boa for Princess. And I went to a lot of trouble to try to pick something wonderful for each kid. Well, and Mason loved the little science gadget I got him. So, 2 out of 10. So this year I went for easy.
The last few days we've been taking care of our friends' cats, fish, and turtle while they went off for a late vacation. It's been fun. Of course, the problem is that now Thomas wants an aquarium. And, so do I, sorta.
At the Mall with TsO
Sep. 22nd, 2007 10:19 pmWell, Thomas and I went shopping yesterday, in the Mall. A real break of character. It was kinda fun, actually. We got Thomas a pair of real dress shoes, so he won't have to wear his sneakers under the gown at Graduation. And I got my way cool magic dancing shoes (in the user pic), and some bath powder, and a couple of simple shirts that were buy one, get one. And we had Cinnabons. And Thomas got his "class ring". Didn't get to bring it home, because it has to be sized to his giant fingers. I enjoy spending time with Thomas.
I love to spend time with Mat, too, but I've never spent so much time with him as I do Thomas now. I wish I could have spent more time with Mat before he left for college this fall. You always think there'll be more time.
Before the Mall, we'd stopped at Mitsubishi and tortured another couple of car sales people. Actually, what ever it was we sat in (some mini SUV, I think) wasn't that bad, and the price was good, but the gas mileage was mediocre. The Nissan Versa is still the front runner.
I love to spend time with Mat, too, but I've never spent so much time with him as I do Thomas now. I wish I could have spent more time with Mat before he left for college this fall. You always think there'll be more time.
Before the Mall, we'd stopped at Mitsubishi and tortured another couple of car sales people. Actually, what ever it was we sat in (some mini SUV, I think) wasn't that bad, and the price was good, but the gas mileage was mediocre. The Nissan Versa is still the front runner.
