Merrily we roll . . . wait, that's an engine light

[scarlettina]

Exactly two weeks after I brought home my lovely new car, the engine light turned on and would not turn off. On the exact same day, I received a phone call from the salesman who sold me the car to ask me how things were going with it--so I told him: engine light. Now, I bought the car as-is and I didn't buy a warranty. I'd already spent more than I planned, and I didn't want to push my budget any further. The salesman told me to bring the car back and he'd have his people look at it. He couldn't promise anything, because they're an Audi dealer (they had my car in stock as a trade-in) and don't usually service Fords, but they'd look and see.

Turns out that the car needs a new coolant thermostat. Cost: $300-$500. I grumbled, feeling like it was payback for beating them down on the price. But they offered to cover half the cost and said that if I brought the car back for repair, they'd give me a loaner for the duration. When I got home, I called a local Ford dealer to get a reality check. Yes, they said, the cost was about right to replace the entire thermostat assembly--which actually makes sense, according to them. So last night, I dropped the car at the dealership, got a VW Jetta as a loaner (nice ride, as it happens), and hope to retrieve my vehicle tonight after work--at least $250 poorer.

Since I bought the car, I've been making a point to transfer extra cash into my savings account to replenish the amount I hadn't originally planned to spend. This paycheck, it's going into the car instead. Regardless of the dealer's offer to split the cost, I'm annoyed about the whole thing: the problem--which I suppose they couldn't have anticipated--the driving back and forth to Lynwood which is a pain in the butt, the cost, all of it. They've been unfailingly polite and helpful--the University Audi/VW dealerships have an excellent reputation locally. I'm just . . . irritated. I thought that car stuff was behind me for a while.

Comments

[herself_nyc]

Oh feh.

[doranna durgin (from livejournal.com)]

Same thing happened to me when I bought my current car used back in '02. A week later...dead battery in the parking lot. The dealer wasn't going to handle it, but in the end we came to an agreement. The good news is, the car has been well-behaved since then. I hope the same for yours!

[oldmangrumpus.livejournal.com]

Right there with you on the car angst.

[varina8.livejournal.com]

Glad the dealer stepped up. I'll cross my fingers that this is it.

[seventorches.livejournal.com]

The car stuff IS NEVER OVER.

Never being over

[the-same-andrew.livejournal.com]

Quite right. The car stuff is never over, until you sell it for scrap. But don't forget to offer the springs-- leaf springs and coil springs are equally thoughtful gifts-- to your neighborhood backyard blacksmith.