First I guess I should say I'm thankful nothing was serious.

Drove my car for the first time in 3 days yesterday to work, because of the snowbanks, everyone's parking spot got reshuffled. Nobody was expecting me to turn up in the AM, so someone took my spot. I parked at the spot next to the entrance, regularly used by the CEO of an investment company in the same building and his 7 series. 10:30AM, someone comes running into my office telling me a 94 celica backed into me, dammit.

Bent fender, luckily a customer coming to the building stopped the guy from running away. Time for a new fender, he can enjoy his new premiums. Scheduled repair next Tuesday.

Later that night, took a right turn, then the right wheel started to squeak. Every turn sounded like a grinding sound. Pulled over, calmed down. Opened the hood trying to act intelligent. There I found out the oil cap to the dry sump system wasn't screwed in tight since my last visit to AM service a MONTH ago. There's some motor oil dripping on the innards. DAMMIT.

Checked the levels (whew), wiped away what I can see. Then called my cousin, who told me the aluminum shield on the inside of the rotor could be rubbing. On other cars there's about half an inch gap, on the AM, only a few mm. Got down on all fours and pushed hard against the thin aluminum plate, squeak went away.

O2 Sensor throwing codes again, but that, for most of us, is no longer even considered a problem. :P

Got home at 3AM, sigh of relief. Just my luck, what can I say.

 

So the moral of the story is.....If someone takes your parking spot, make them move or tow them.

 

Sorry to hear about all the problems. Warmer weather will be here soon and you'll forget all about this soon enough!

 

Wrong moral...

It is, "Don't be an idiot and drive your AM during the winter when there's snow eveywhere, especially in parking lots."

Didn't many of us advise you months ago that a DD AM was ridiculous, esp in the winter, esp in NY ??

 

Wow. Such a nice guy.

 

Couldn't agree more!

 

FYI, I'm just outside NYC too and have still managed to drive the car 3-4 days per week without a problem. I just leave it off the road on snow days and the day after snow days. Works pretty well.

 

the ironic thing is that this accident did not involve snow at all. I parked at an investment company's CEO's spot, which happened to be near the main door. Some idiot was turning his car around near the main entrance, and in an effort to avoid my colleague's S5, backed into me.

I should go to the company next door and tell the guy I saved his 7 series from harm.

 

did you drive today?

I love the look of people's faces when they see you pull this car out of the garage on snow days. Go slow, avoid stupidity. Sure it's not a great car to drive in snow, but it's still safer than most of the "safe FWD" cars out there with worn tires and idiotic drivers.

 

No, actually decided not to drive anything today.

I have no problem driving these kind of cars around in bad weather. I drove my Vette's around in it for a long time. The reason I got a second car to go with the Vantage is that you never know what someone else will do and the consequences of something happening to the Vantage are just too high. A Vette, if necessary, can be fixed pretty quickly (luckily I never had to deal with this), but whose knows how long a Vantage would be off the road if something happened. So I'm playing it safe.

 

I have driven mine with some light snow on the ground. It is painful.

 

For those of us in the Northeast who don't drive these cars with snow/salt on the ground, it's a looooong dry-spell of NOT driving right now. I give you guys that use these cars a lot of credit and keep telling myself I should use it more. That is, until I get to the garage, see it all nice & shiny and grab the SUV keys ...

 

I completely agree with that, the toughest part is seeing it shiny and polished in the garage. Don't have a second car, it's that or the MTA in New York :P

Just a quick update, the car's still in the shop getting a new fender and a fairly comprehensive paint job. The price for this repair job, for those who have never dealt with AM bodyshops, is quite stunning. It is also the only way to fix it right though.

Colleagues are talking about banning my car from the company lot

 

Just like driving a Toyota.

 

+1 get real